tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post4888228137717342212..comments2023-06-24T10:52:34.846-04:00Comments on EducateHilliard.com: The Cut ListPaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05960574627644930183noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-66010265704704130152011-08-31T15:32:07.884-04:002011-08-31T15:32:07.884-04:00Your community is a real world example of why Ohio...Your community is a real world example of why Ohio needs Senate Bill 5. Every public school district in Ohio is facing the same basic economic model: Every year, revenue is flat or declining while expenses increase each and every year. As things now stand, to maintain what you have requires the voters to pass a new levy every couple of years from now until eternity.<br /><br />Thanks to the step system, tenure and seniority-only based staff cuts, the public dollars cannot be expended in a manner that best serves the public. Rather, the current system preserves the status quo for as many public employees as possible with little or no regard for the quality of service offered to the public.<br /><br />It would be nice if school districts could enact across the board pay cuts, but this is not allowed without the consent of the teachers union. The best you can hope for is that the step increases could be eliminated. No school district in Ohio has ever implemented an across the board pay cut.<br /><br />Pass your levy to protect your community and pass Senate Bill 5 to begin the long process of fixing the system.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-79416544643766956142011-08-23T18:59:11.495-04:002011-08-23T18:59:11.495-04:00Anon. Lets say first, everyone appreciateswhat eve...Anon. Lets say first, everyone appreciateswhat everyone is doing. Lets say again many do it year around and for less money, and have taken pay cuts, and contribute 25 to 30% of their medical. NO pension , no 401 etc. So everyone should probably walk in everyones shoes.<br /><br />Poor spending habits, not having a reserve as <br />noted in the HCSD business plan board wouldnot enforce have led us to this position. <br /><br />WE knew 10 years ago (because I asked) that the PPT would be reducedand going away gradually. NO budget<br />adjustment and we continued to give away significant<br />compensation increases. NO issue with that, but when things get tough economically similarly <br />there have to be givebacks and adjustments.<br /><br />Had we had our reserve in place we also could have<br />absorbed the state cut, and we could have passed 3<br />mills to be in good shape. I asked about this last fall. Where were you ?????????????<br /><br />A vast area of our community got deliberatly <br />ignored by the May levy committee and the district.<br />So why are you suprised that sympathetic ears are somewhat lacking. The end run when kaput. Their decision not mine or others.<br /><br />Things will get better, but not in the short term<br />and when they do the community will continue to support the schools over and above as THEY HAVE IN<br />THE PAST ON A CONSISTENT BASIS><br /><br />WE will do well to make some short term adjustments just like regular everyday people do?Ricknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-49882852694465188732011-08-23T13:59:18.697-04:002011-08-23T13:59:18.697-04:00Rick maybe you need to spend a day with a vice pri...Rick maybe you need to spend a day with a vice principal. I go to many events at the high schools and there is alway one or two principals in attendance. These events conclude late into the night creating a 15 hour day for these vice principals. They attend weekday events and weekend events. They manage a caseload of 300 plus students daily in addition to other responsibilities. <br /><br />How many people do you know manage and guide the lives of 300 plus people on a daily basis? How many of them are CEOs, CFOS getting paid 100s of thousands of dollars yearly. These vice principals that you want to get rid of Mike get paid very little for the hours they contribute to the students and families of our communities. They are the lowest paid vice principals in Franklin county.<br /><br />Take a walk in their shoes before you pass judgement.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-1620227044856397412011-08-19T11:33:54.510-04:002011-08-19T11:33:54.510-04:00And M would be totally correct in their assessment...And M would be totally correct in their assessment of financial challenges in the hcds<br />by many in the community. <br /><br />In many cases there are significant housing valueloss and not anywhere near the 5 to 8%<br />as advertised. How about 40 th to start.<br /><br />Also perhaps those with the open check book <br />philosophy and no economic challenge can suggest<br />some ways to where they think homeowners can cut their budget. Pay cuts, not freezes, layoffs etc have all ready gotten many to<br />the "BAre Bones" and not breaking even. <br /><br />The busing cuts can be handled by eliminating adm overhead, vice principals and the athletics needs to go to a much larger pay to play to 300.00 perhaps per sport with a sliding scale for additional sports<br /><br />Reduce curriculum offerings that at this point are like to have like sports mgt<br /><br />3 mills would pass, 5.9 will be .... a non starter. We would still be spending significant sums per pupilRicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-53116657510836784162011-08-19T09:28:34.530-04:002011-08-19T09:28:34.530-04:00M: Just to be sure we keep the facts straight:
3....M: Just to be sure we keep the facts straight:<br /><br />3.3 mills represents the reduction in state funding<br /><br />1.4 mills represents the size of the FY11 deficit.<br /><br />I won't pretend to have a good handle on how this vote will come out. Some may still change their mind after they see the final cut list, or find out what gets decided on "Pay to Participate." <br /><br />Keeping our "Excellent with Distinction" rating might not change any NOs to YESs, but it might keep the reverse from happening.<br /><br />It's all about who shows up, as is always the case. With the SB5 repeal on the ballot, I suspect the turnout will be higher than might have otherwise been the case. But who knows which way it will go. <br /><br />It might depend on how nasty the pro-SB5 folks want to portray things in their fall campaign (e.g. "while you - private sector worker - are going to be slaving until you are 80 years old because of stock market loses in your 401(k) accounts, the collapse of your home value, and cut backs to Social Security and Medicare, you'll still be paying taxes so retired teachers/policeman/fireman get 80% of their final salary for life, with great health benefits"). <br /><br />Note that I'm not saying that these are my views, but it might be what we hear this fall if the pro-SB5 folks feel desperate, and it might get a lot of traction in this economy. And it would probably bring a strong anti-levy sentiment to the polls.<br /><br />Or a deal might get struck to pull the SB5 repeal off the ballot. In that case, there might not be so much turnout. If we have just 15,000 voters show up again, it could go either way...Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960574627644930183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-72660185818497050922011-08-19T09:09:58.459-04:002011-08-19T09:09:58.459-04:00@Paul
Sorry, but I was explicitly addressing your...@Paul<br /><br />Sorry, but I was explicitly addressing your point on the 1.4 mils that's going toward replacing the budget money that the state cost. I was not in any way talking about the bigger picture.<br /><br />I am hearing pro-levy people use the "but the state cut our budget" line already.<br /><br />I am telling you right now that that particular line of reasoning is a non-starter in this community at this time.<br /><br />The responses I am getting to that from people out there is "so what?" <br /><br />People do not want to see the board "pass the buck" and simply pass that particular "cut" onto them as a tax increase.<br /><br />So, it's just a word of warning, that's all.Mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-60909180698737213172011-08-19T08:03:56.963-04:002011-08-19T08:03:56.963-04:00M, you wrote
(Sorry, the more I think about this, ...M, you wrote<br />(Sorry, the more I think about this, whether the "loss" is educational or extra-curricular, it makes no financial sense to move out of the district in this housing market...)<br /><br />As my kids approach school age, I'm coming to realize that what makes 'financial' sense to our family is of little consequence; what makes 'educational' sense is MUCH more important. Me attending a four year college and receiving a Master's Degree did not make financial sense. The fact that my mother, 10 years after my first degree, is STILL repaying loans she took out to help me (and all my siblings) does not make financial sense. I'll probably finish repaying my student loans only a few years before I take on loans to assist my children.<br /><br />The point: Some people would go to the ends of the earth to provide a high quality, first class education for their children, money be damned. I'm personally willing to pay the cost to provide that opportunity for all the students in our school district.<br /><br />I get tough times, I get that the schools need reorganized, but I will ALWAYS vote for kids. I received a really great education from HCSD, and I intend to pay it forward. That cost will always be worth it to me.musicmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-58653332898444265982011-08-18T22:43:09.320-04:002011-08-18T22:43:09.320-04:00Paul, I like your car comments. That is a very goo...Paul, I like your car comments. That is a very good explanation of what goes on. Sadly when you say, "many will be indifferent as long as they get transportation that affordable to them" I think that a more accurate comment would be, "MOST will be indifferent..... period."Edwardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-12576822570559484862011-08-18T19:01:31.891-04:002011-08-18T19:01:31.891-04:00M:
Except a school district is not a business. It...M:<br /><br />Except a school district is not a business. It is a community-owned entity granted by law the exclusive right to levy taxes in order to operate. However, those taxes are levied only with the permission of the voters.<br /><br />That's what's about to happen. The community will be asked if they're interested in having their taxes raised by about $180/yr per $100,000 of home value in order to continue operating the school district in about the same manner as it is being operated now.<br /><br />The law says a simple majority of those who bother to vote will make that decision for all of us. Some are already committed to vote yes, some are already committed to vote no, some won't bother to vote at all, and some have yet to make up their mind.<br /><br />Public schools aren't operated by the rules of a free market. I wish they were. But they're not.<br /><br />It's more like 50,000 people are given the challenge of deciding what one model of car everyone in the community will have to purchase and own. Some will want a Porsche, some a Prius, some a used Chevy Cavalier, and some a pickup truck. Regardless of individual preference and economic means, the whole community will get what the majority decides.<br /><br />To simplify the process, they elect five representatives to narrow the choices down to just one, and then the community will simply vote YES or NO.<br /><br />The folks who like and can afford a Porsche hope it's not the used Cavalier the Board picks. Those who want a utilitarian pickup truck would be very annoyed if the only choice is a Prius. Whatever the choice, some will be thrilled, some will be outraged, and many will be indifferent as long as they get transportation that affordable to them.<br /><br />That's more what it's like.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960574627644930183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-60037766904444482282011-08-18T12:50:13.086-04:002011-08-18T12:50:13.086-04:00@Paul
>> 4. We are already spending at a de...@Paul<br /><br />>> 4. We are already spending at a deficit, to the tune of $3.3m in FY11 (ending June 30, 2011). So just to keep things the same, we need to cover the 3.3 mills worth of State funding that has been lost, plus the 1.4 mills equivalent of a $3.3m spending deficit. That's 4.7 mills just to stay where we are.<br /><br />Let's look at this another way.<br /><br />You are a company with two customers; one customer is the State, the other is a conglomeration of local residents.<br /><br />The State decides to cut its business with you by $1.3m. You decide to up the price on your "product" for the other customer by $1.3m to make up the difference.<br /><br />Now, in the private sector, one of two things would happen: 1) the conglomeration would refuse to pay the price increase; or, 2) the conglomeration would pay the price increase, but in the process you would lose goodwill with the conglomeration, making any future price increases harder to impose.<br /><br />Oh, and the conglomeration would still expect the same level of service from your business, even if they rejected the price increase.<br /><br />Sound familiar?<br /><br />Now, as someone who worked in the private sector for a number of years, what usually happens when you impose price hikes on your customers?Mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-41527105552013189852011-08-18T12:41:47.380-04:002011-08-18T12:41:47.380-04:00A comment on the finances issue of people in the d...A comment on the finances issue of people in the district.<br /><br />I predicted at the beginning of this year that HCSD would struggle to pass the May levy because of the economy.<br /><br />The reason I am "all in" on that now, is because having spent a month talking to people prior to the last levy vote, I was *stunned* just how badly some people were hurting. And these were people who up until then had supported levy votes, bond issue votes, school fundraising, PTO membership, etc.<br /><br />One of the issues we have today is that as a community we are too distant from our neighbors. Some of us are doing fine right now; some of us have neighbors who are really struggling, but we don't know it. There ARE a lot of our community members right now who ARE struggling badly. I stress this because even though I thought things would be tough earlier this year, until I got out there I didn't realize HOW tough they were.<br /><br />And to @aBoredMember -- I can tell you right now that to those people struggling, a "pay freeze" isn't enough when they've taken anywhere from 5% to 70% cuts in income in the past three years. (Yes, the high end is usually the result of a job loss somewhere.)<br /><br />So yes, things are dire for some folks, and for a lot more folks than I ever realized.Mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-34790618516984281452011-08-18T12:33:02.975-04:002011-08-18T12:33:02.975-04:00@Cathy
Your point is valid. I should have been c...@Cathy<br /><br />Your point is valid. I should have been clearer: the point was that anyone who can afford to move and take the kind of loss they'd probably be taking today, can afford alternatives. Maybe they stick with a public school and hire a private tutor for the area their kid isn't getting what they need.<br /><br />In fact... anyone who would seriously move if this levy fails (and take the associated loss, yada yada) should probably just hire the aforementioned private tutor. <br /><br />(Sorry, the more I think about this, whether the "loss" is educational or extra-curricular, it makes no financial sense to move out of the district in this housing market...)Mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-86202864118857454362011-08-18T10:33:18.382-04:002011-08-18T10:33:18.382-04:00ABM:
I didn't endorse the last levy - I simpl...ABM:<br /><br />I didn't endorse the last levy - I simply said that would vote for it.<br /><br />I'll vote for this levy too. I'm not thrilled with the amount of money we're spending to run our schools, and I regret that our economy is such that we've lost an appreciable amount of funding from the State of Ohio. Our community remains a net funder to the rest of the State, meaning that communities that didn't see their State funding cut so much are benefiting from the fact that our local economy isn't so bad, and unemployment in our community is low, thereby continuing to generate a lot of State income tax that funds OTHER school districts.<br /><br />But a number of positive things have happened in this particular levy cycle:<br /><br />1. The teachers and support staff agreed to contracts that have no base pay increases for three years, and postpone steps until 2013 (one step year is eliminated altogether). I think they knew that an ugly negotiation, as happened in 2008, would not have a good outcome this time. It was also worth it to them to neutralize the specter of SB5 for a few years - a tactic chosen by teachers' unions all over Ohio in the past months.<br /><br />2. An early retirement incentive program has been offered to the teachers which needs to be funded. In the short run, it will cost us a few bucks. But it will give us an opportunity to reconfigure our teaching staff to a lower total cost basis with much less pain than would normally be the case.<br /><br />3. With these things, an others, the rate of spending growth has been slowed appreciably compared to the last decade. The work is not over, but this is a good start.<br /><br />4. We are already spending at a deficit, to the tune of $3.3m in FY11 (ending June 30, 2011). So just to keep things the same, we need to cover the 3.3 mills worth of State funding that has been lost, plus the 1.4 mills equivalent of a $3.3m spending deficit. That's 4.7 mills just to stay where we are.<br /><br />Levies are about community choice and individual values. What I value and what you value may be quite different. I drive a simple work truck, you may drive a Ferrari. I'm not going to tell you what you should drive, and I'm not going to tell you to vote for the levy.<br /><br />All I hope to do is help, through my actions on the Board, present a reasonable option to the community, and give you information that helps you make your decision. We're still working on the first - the stuff that gets put on the "cut list." I have some problems with the current list, and hope we can work them out at our special working session next Monday.<br /><br />Now it's the community's turn to make a decision. Sadly, most people make up their minds without spending an iota of time on research or analysis, then are surprised at what happens.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960574627644930183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-9414608105581097802011-08-18T09:57:24.597-04:002011-08-18T09:57:24.597-04:00@M--you told another poster that if they could aff...@M--you told another poster that if they could afford to move, they could probably afford private school. There are a few problematic assumptions embedded in there, but let's just look at one: that private schools are inherently superior to public ones. I'd like to address that. Having taught in a Columbus Catholic school, I can assure you that they are by NO means automatically superior to public schools. Sure, if you compared my school with the local Columbus public school, you would come out ahead at the Catholic school. But compared to Hilliard Schools? NO WAY! I could have transferred my kids there for free tuition, but by the end of my first year, I knew there was no way I would even consider doing that. Literally everything EXCEPT religious instruction and parent support was more impressive to me in Hilliard. When I say "everything," that included the facilities, curriculum, class-size, teacher quality, opportunities for exceptional students (gifted OR special ed), etc. The ONLY ways the Catholic school was superior were in providing religious instruction on a daily basis, and in having a highly active, organized group of engaged parents to support the schools (which many, if not most, of our Hilliard schools also have). <br /><br />I should mention that I am a practicing Catholic. I am in no way trying to disparage the Diocesan or other private schools; I'm sure some ARE better than Hilliard, but some are clearly not. I just really want us to be careful not to assume private education always trumps public. It's simply not the case. <br /><br />Are the test scores better in private schools? Yes. But guess what? They have few students (sometimes none depending on the class) with learning disabilities or other special needs. They have few ELL students who are still learning English. My school was nearly 100% white, upper-middle class (though not all are this homogeneous). My own kids are both close to graduation, and so ultimately, the outcome of this levy probably won't affect my family's educational opportunities anymore. But I hope we will keep in mind the value of paying it forward and of continuing to invest in our own property values.Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-30272041966102975442011-08-17T18:52:33.996-04:002011-08-17T18:52:33.996-04:00I am also glad to hear others say that the financi...I am also glad to hear others say that the financial situation for many of us in Hilliard is not as dire as many have made it sound here. Regardless of our viewpoints, I think we all need to work on avoiding hyperbole and sweeping generalizations.L.E.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-83819885318354892882011-08-17T16:09:14.477-04:002011-08-17T16:09:14.477-04:00I'd like to echo @J, @GoBucks, and @STJ - I...I'd like to echo @J, @GoBucks, and @STJ - I'm so glad you spoke up. I was feeling like I was the only one who thought that things don't seem as bad as @M and @Old Hilliard keep saying it is. I can certainly afford to pay a few extra dollars a week to support the schools and community.<br />In fact, I was thinking this would be a PERFECT time to pass a levy. It is my understanding that the teachers and other workers have a pay freeze in place for a 3 year contract. With the Board making the commitment to not asking for more money for three years, we are virtually guaranteed that any money raised by this levy wouldn't be going to paying them any more money...it would be going to pay for just the things that we currently have - keeping our schools awesome!<br /><br />And Paul - I had asked you if you were supporting the levy openly this time (if I recall you threw your endorsement behind the last levy the day before the vote) - any decision yet?aBoredMembernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-70662630969821966832011-08-17T14:56:43.286-04:002011-08-17T14:56:43.286-04:00In regards to M's comment about their being &q...In regards to M's comment about their being "zero" stipends in Arizona. You're just flat out wrong. I know people that coach there. They are paid for it. As an example, here is a link to the Tucson ARIZONA Unified School District contract. Look on page 51 at the supplemental pay schedule. The numbers represent the percentage of a teachers pay they are given in supplemental pay for the various duties.<br /><br />http://www.tusd.k12.az.us/contents/employment/Documents/11-12TEA.pdfEdwardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-15687776054124699512011-08-17T13:22:11.102-04:002011-08-17T13:22:11.102-04:00M/Old Hilliard/Go Bucks,
In response to your disc...M/Old Hilliard/Go Bucks,<br /><br />In response to your discussions as to whether people would move out if the levy passes/fails, all we have to do is go back a few years and look at Grove City when the Southwestern CSD levy failed, and they eliminated sports. Families were trying to move out of the district, and were left trying to sell $200,000 homes for around $150,000, and having homes on the market for over a year. I agree with all points in that we can't afford to lose sports/band/extra activities, but I also have a real problem with how they are holding sports/bussing over our heads when they only acount for less than 2% of the budget. They know this is the only way they have a chance to get this passed. <br /><br />From what I've read, it seems like everyone feels that we are the only school district that has financial problems. If you look around, basically every school district in the Columbus area has either just passed a levy, or has one coming up in November. While I don't agree with the current cuts, and I'm not happy having to pay extra in taxes, the only alternative is to vote "no", and then watch as the surrounding neighborhoods deteriate with people moving out of the district. <br /><br />I'll continue to make my voice heard and challenge the current administration to provide us with detailed information, but we still need to learn from the past (Grove City), and make sure this doesn't happen to us. I would rather pay an extra $28/month in taxes, than the alternative......Jnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-61425745793663714152011-08-17T11:36:12.467-04:002011-08-17T11:36:12.467-04:00The national average for Principal to student rati...The national average for Principal to student ratio is 1 - 306. There are +-1800 students at davidson 5 princpals. You do the math. The same ratio is evident at Darby and Bradley.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-20254507035030217212011-08-17T10:37:13.903-04:002011-08-17T10:37:13.903-04:00Paul,
If my previous post mentioned the figure fo...Paul,<br /><br />If my previous post mentioned the figure for the shortfall ($8+ million), I should have mentioned the figure that was on the cut list ($10+ million). Sorry for the confusion.STJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-35602826850621194522011-08-17T10:35:18.675-04:002011-08-17T10:35:18.675-04:00"No one can afford, everyone is financially i..."No one can afford, everyone is financially in trouble, etc, etc, etc". Forgive me, but these exaggerations are a bit much IMO. I realize the economy is not good. I realize "some" are struggling. But Hilliard schools cover approx 50K I believe. I highly doubt a HIGH percentage of people in Hilliard are in dire straights. I don't mean to sound too sensitive. I but I believe there are some who want to make it out like things are so bad, that no one can afford this or that. Sorry, but when I see people WASTE money doing certain things, things they could do without, I have a hard time feeling bad for many. Our children and school system are important. Sacrifices can be made if people really look at what they spend per month in certain area's of their life. Lets prioritize what is important people. And then make the right decision. <br />PAUL, I am still waiting on a reply to my above comments about administrative movement/cuts, freezes. We have yet to hear anything in this area. ThanksGoBucksnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-75847405338120069512011-08-17T09:55:00.767-04:002011-08-17T09:55:00.767-04:00M/Old Hilliard,
As far as people moving, it was a...M/Old Hilliard,<br /><br />As far as people moving, it was an observation, not something meant to convince people to pass this levy. I respectfully disagree with you when I say that I believe that the levy's failure will hurt the community is not inflammatory rhetoric. <br /><br />I have respected your opinions and not used characterizations to minimize them, please respect mine. Disagree with my opinion wholeheartedly, but please do not minimize it by calling it "rhetoric". I believe that term is one that shuts down communication, as it has a derisive tone to it.<br /><br />Old Hilliard... I have already said that the district needs to do a better job of communication, and I have said that the rate of spending increase cannot continue as it has in the recent past. <br /><br />As for the cut list... I am not thrilled with it, either. However, if Hilliard CSD doesn't cut bus transportation and athletics (in the event of a levy failure), where should those cuts come instead? Less administrators? (That wouldn't get us the whole way to $8.4 million.) Fewer teachers? Teachers salaries cut? (Although, there was just a contract agreement, so I don't know if that is even possible.)STJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-39199249184435579352011-08-16T21:04:07.350-04:002011-08-16T21:04:07.350-04:00To STJ: Using rhetoric such as levy failure will ...To STJ: Using rhetoric such as levy failure will "harm" the community" and Hilliard will be a "less desirable place to live" are unnecessarily inflammable.<br /><br />The administration is literally holding this community hostage to the cuts that hurt the most people--high school busing and sports. Yet the cost of these two items, at $2.6million is just 1.67% of the total general fund of over $156.4 million. <br /><br /> Did you know that federal and state mandates and self insured medical insurance, among others, account for an ADDITIONAL $62 million in expenditures, for a total for FY2011 budget of $218.1 million? And they want to cut $0.4 million for high school busing!! <br /><br />We are being manipulated to pass another levy. Why do we have to take or leave their list of cuts, with no community input? Why isn't that seen as the "harm" being done. Why isn't the school administration's lack of responsiveness and extremely poor communication being seen as why we may become a "less desirable place to live"? Why is there no discussion of the $2 million in the budget for the latchkey program and exactly how our 1180 teachers are being untilized.(Source: HCSD internet web pages, and HCSD FY2011 BUDGET, also found online.)<br /><br /> I don't even have any children in Hilliard schools and I'm sorry for my neighbors who do. (My children were each only in kindergarten in HCSD, then on to Catholic schools for 12 years). <br /><br />The real issues, beyond just "pass the levy" are not being addressed.Old Hilliardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-12867782327869867122011-08-16T18:58:31.695-04:002011-08-16T18:58:31.695-04:00@STJ
I forgot to mention, that yes, there are def...@STJ<br /><br />I forgot to mention, that yes, there are definitely different perspectives. And I appreciate Paul giving folks the opportunity to actually debate them.<br /><br />Pity the rest of the board seems so against this...Mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-35971149365170368022011-08-16T16:00:50.348-04:002011-08-16T16:00:50.348-04:00@STJ
It IS rhetoric today. The "people will...@STJ<br /><br />It IS rhetoric today. The "people will leave" rhetoric is just that, because as I pointed out, no one who can afford to leave -- again, TODAY -- is worried about a levy failing. <br /><br />In fact -- again, TODAY -- I would argue that passing the levy will lead to more people leaving (because they're out of money!) than the reverse.<br /><br />5-6 years ago things were different.<br /><br />But it IS rhetoric, because the reality is the number of people that would actually leave (regardless of pass or fail) is tiny. The statements are simply made as some kind of veiled threat.<br /><br />Frankly it's really no different than those celebrities that claim they'll "move to Canada!" if such-and-such politician gets elected. Funny how they usually all end up staying...Mnoreply@blogger.com