tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post6380089729821421419..comments2023-06-24T10:52:34.846-04:00Comments on EducateHilliard.com: Pay to PlayPaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05960574627644930183noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-25175767765605244032011-06-03T17:20:31.927-04:002011-06-03T17:20:31.927-04:00Correction: The Web site referred to in the email...Correction: The Web site referred to in the email to parents should be www.hilliardschools.org. The email I cut and pasted had a typo in it.Douglas Davidsonhttp://www.about.me/douglasdavidsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-27496837645482255382011-06-03T12:59:40.595-04:002011-06-03T12:59:40.595-04:00One person's "sharply declining revenues&...One person's "sharply declining revenues" is another person's "spending issue that must be addressed." <br /><br />The only way we will find a solid foundation to move forward is if we stop with the camps of like thinkers agreeing with each other and collectively support a community conversation like Paul has proposed.Douglas Davidsonhttp://www.about.me/douglasdavidsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-87201360814046030442011-06-03T12:56:14.351-04:002011-06-03T12:56:14.351-04:00This is the message sent to parents from the Distr...This is the message sent to parents from the District regarding Fall Sports and the Board's plans.<br /><br />Hilliard City Schools Creates Community Committee to Explore Athletic Pay-to-participate Fees – Delays Elimination of Middle School Sports and Reinstates Elementary Gifted Programs<br /><br />The Hilliard City Schools Board of Education today announced its intention to form a community committee – called the Hilliard Athletics Sustainability Committee — to study the challenges and benefits to a full pay-to-participate program for athletics.<br /><br />The committee’s charge is to provide a long-term sustainability study of the district’s entire sports program (grades seven through 12).<br /><br />On Monday, June 6, the Board of Education is expected to take action during a special board meeting that will delay the elimination of middle school sports for the fall season. This move will allow the committee to look into the long-term options associated with a full pay-to-participate program.<br /><br />“The severity of our financial crisis has not ended,” stated Doug Maggied, Hilliard board president. “If we want to continue offering athletic opportunities for all students for the long-term we must begin now with taking a good look at what the future holds in an environment of declining funding.”<br /><br />The committee will include approximately 30 community members and two board of education members. Tim Hamilton, assistant superintendent, will facilitate the committee work and meetings. Support from the district’s coaching and administrative staff will be provided.<br /><br />Committee members will meet over the summer months to review information, ask pertinent questions and report their findings to the board in August. Final decisions regarding the committee’s research will be determined by the administration and board.<br /><br />Community members interested in participating on this committee are asked to fill out the online application and submit it by Friday, June<br />10 at 5 p.m. Those interested may fill out the online application or complete a paper application and mail it to Hilliard City Schools,<br />Attn: Karen Wright, 2140 Atlas Street, Columbus, Ohio 43228; email it to karen_wright@hboe.org or fax it to (614) 771-6965.<br /><br />Tentative contract extensions with both of the district’s employee associations provided the flexibility to offer the current participation fee structure option to middle school athletes for the fall season. In addition, the board is also expected to reinstate the elementary gifted program. The contract extensions are expected to save the district more than $9.6 million over the next three fiscal years and will provide some assistance with the district’s overall financial crisis. However, it will not fix the problem of sharply declining revenue. During the June 6 meeting, board members will engage in conversation about the district’s long-term financial challenges. More information related to the contract extensions and the special board meeting can be found on the district’s website at www.hilliardschool.org.Douglas Davidsonhttp://www.about.me/douglasdavidsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-48235699784836391392011-06-02T17:59:52.449-04:002011-06-02T17:59:52.449-04:00Lloyd:
WE = everyone in the whole school communit...Lloyd:<br /><br />WE = everyone in the whole school community. This fiscal situation isn't a recent phenomenon - the same scene gets repeated every few years.<br /><br />Many (most?) parents who never gave the district's fiscal operations a thought while their kids were in 3rd grade are suddenly outraged when their so-to-be 7th grader is going to be denied the opportunity to play sports.<br /><br />It's come to be viewed as normal for a school district to pass a levy that generates revenue in excess of current spending, and in doing so build up a cash reserve. Then when the rate of spending growth causes expenses to exceed revenue, the cash balance starts being drawn back down.<br /><br />Some district will put the next levy on the ballot before the cash situation becomes a problem. That gives them some wiggle room to deal with things like material cutbacks in State funding without cutting programming.<br /><br />Other districts wait until the last minute, and put themselves in a situation where it's either pass the levy or programming gets cut. That's us.<br /><br />My core mission since the creation of this blog in 2006 has been to try to inform and engage the community in a regular dialog about the fiscal strategy for our school district. It matters much less to me whether you agree with my opinions than it does that the outcome of the process is a workable strategy supported by the community.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960574627644930183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-5392914342930277252011-06-02T15:40:49.760-04:002011-06-02T15:40:49.760-04:00As I understand it based on an email sent to paren...As I understand it based on an email sent to parents:<br /><br />Fall middle school sports are back on the schedule. Details are to be coming out on Monday, June 6th with information coming home with the kids on Friday (tomorrow).<br /><br />This is from an email we received from the Athletic Coordinator at our middle school.<br /><br />In the email he asked that we hold the questions because he had no more information than what he shared. <br /><br />So I think we all have to stay tuned for details.<br /><br />Douglas DavidsonDouglas Davidsonhttp://www.about.me/douglasdavidsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-5901851357091652962011-06-02T13:37:07.385-04:002011-06-02T13:37:07.385-04:00Paul - per your posting May 31, 2011 5:41pm - you ...Paul - per your posting May 31, 2011 5:41pm - you said "And once again we let ourselves get into a deficit spending mode, voted down the levy to fund the deficit, and then started whining when cuts had to be made". Was wondering who you define the "WE" as in that sentence? (I'm hoping your referring to the school board, teachers union, and administration). Where the heck was / is Brian Wilson in all this? As a private sector finance leader, if I took the approach of "letting my company move into a deficit spending mode", I would be fired immediately (along with my staff)!!!! It's time this district starts being held accountable and run like a business. This whole district administrative office, teachers union, and school board needs an ENEMA! Clean everyone out and bring new people in. By the way, the word on the street is that the November '11 levy is going to get hammered worse than the May one.Lloydnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-73063952622394612732011-06-02T13:18:23.206-04:002011-06-02T13:18:23.206-04:00I heard through the middle schools that "FALL...I heard through the middle schools that "FALL" sports are back on. There was no information around winter and spring? I'm not sure what has changed? Someone at work told me that Olentangy just received some additional funding from the State that was initally cut. Wonder if that what happened in Hilliard? Regardless, the district still has a spending issue that must be addressed. A November levy is not the answer. Taking a hard line with the union is the answer. Look for winter and spring sports being held in the balance of November's levy outcome.Lloydnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-38108994587707895742011-06-01T12:52:57.035-04:002011-06-01T12:52:57.035-04:00so is it true?sports are saved?so is it true?sports are saved?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-40722468265628163172011-05-31T17:41:27.279-04:002011-05-31T17:41:27.279-04:00Oh, and spending authority comes, in part, from th...Oh, and spending authority comes, in part, from the Five Year Forecast. That's the reason I voted against accepting the <a href="http://savethehilliardschools.blogspot.com/2011/05/five-year-forecast-may-2011-update.html" rel="nofollow">latest version</a>, presented to the Board last week.<br /><br />I too believe we need to slow down the rate of spending growth. But as I said, we're already deficit spending, so the one option we don't have is to freeze spending and not pass a levy.<br /><br />We either need to pass a levy and simultaneously reign in the rate of spending growth, or not pass a levy and make some big and likely painful cuts.<br /><br />By the way, this is substantially the same thing I said in <a href="http://savethehilliardschools.blogspot.com/2008/09/why-we-need-to-vote-for-levy.html" rel="nofollow">2008</a> when a levy was a last on the ballot. That's because the issues are substantially the same - spending going up faster than revenue. <br /><br />And once again we let ourselves get into a deficit spending mode, voted down the levy to fund the deficit, and then started whining when cuts had to be made.<br /><br />How about we get out in front of this thing this time around? Otherwise we'll do one more lap around this game board in 2013...Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960574627644930183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-86329106521829203982011-05-31T17:31:39.348-04:002011-05-31T17:31:39.348-04:00Yeah, but the thing is that most people are showin...Yeah, but the thing is that most people are showing up to this party after the horse has already escaped the barn.<br /><br />By that I mean that we are already in a deficit spending mode, funded partly by one-time Federal stimulus money and partly by drawing down our cash reserves.<br /><br />We would have to cut back our spending to less than the 2009 levels to balance the budget at our projected revenue for the next few years, given the cuts in state funding. That's about $5 million/yr more than the cuts that have already been made with the levy defeat.<br /><br />Is that what you're advocating? Just trying to understand your position.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960574627644930183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-60481342665382635432011-05-31T16:43:27.303-04:002011-05-31T16:43:27.303-04:00"Elections matter, votes count" Sure th..."Elections matter, votes count" Sure they do. But revenue is just one side of the equation. Voting yes on a levy right now is giving the schools carte blanche to overspend.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-78899162735938217442011-05-27T11:12:40.542-04:002011-05-27T11:12:40.542-04:00Paul, you are correct, and more people need to bec...Paul, you are correct, and more people need to become involved and stand up for what they believe in, and have some solutions, painful as they may be, instead of just no new taxes at all which down the road is just not in the cards.<br /><br />I still think we need a citizen committee to look at the entire program and detail, "what the community thinks"ricknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-15308783343550858792011-05-26T21:07:20.810-04:002011-05-26T21:07:20.810-04:00Unfortunately, the resources available to the scho...Unfortunately, the resources available to the school district are defined by the minority who show up at the polls (14,490 in this election), not "the community" of 56,926 registered voters.<br /><br />If the people of the community want to "take back our schools" as was stated at the last Coffee with the Board, they need to participate in the governance process.<br /><br />Elections matter; votes count.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960574627644930183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-92002191014212941392011-05-26T20:02:19.209-04:002011-05-26T20:02:19.209-04:00By your calculations, the pay to play seems very r...By your calculations, the pay to play seems very reasonable. One way to address the economical disadvantage is to do a sliding scale based on household income.<br />Also, I think that relying on the “club” sports truly create disparities in a community. Not only are the club sports considerably more expensive, but you also have to consider that not every child if they tryout will make a club team. It is very stressful for 13 and 14 years to have to try-out and go through the process of being cut for every sport they want to play or try. Also, if they end up making the team they are not necessary coached by a professional who is vested in their emotional and developmental success. At least with middle school sports there are a variety of sports to try, and some are no cut, so everyone at least has a chance to be part of the team, they are not discarded from the beginning. In addition it makes your community stronger, and helps children develop a sense of pride for their school and feel like they are part of something. Those experiences cannot be replace.<br />So, I was happy to see the school board take action to work through this. I think that this is a scenario that parents can work with the school to solve and that for the sake of the kids we put aside our individual philosophy, and come up with a solution. These kids only experience middle school once. In addition, I think it shows good faith by the board, because I think the board needs to remember that they are elected and represent the community, and the community is behind coming up with a solution to keep middle school sports, even if includes pay to play. In addition, we parents were the ones out there that supported the levy, called our friends and neighbors, and passed out literature among other things. We volunteered when there was a need, now we asking for the board to support us and help make it possible for our children to participate in school sports.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-75919245243296455962011-05-24T17:58:31.194-04:002011-05-24T17:58:31.194-04:00Unfortunately was unavailable to attend the board ...<em>Unfortunately was unavailable to attend the board meeting last night. The minutes from the meeting are not yet posted.</em>It is the practice of this Board to not post the meeting minutes until they have been approved at the following meeting. I've seen other Board post drafts of the meeting minutes soon after the meeting, and sometimes even audio recordings. I'd like to see us do that - and maybe some day even live stream the meetings.<br /><br />There were many speakers on the subject of P2P, and the members of the Board expressed their feelings as well. The next step seems to be the formation of a community group to discuss the issue and offer recommendations to the Board.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960574627644930183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-34602437105206775282011-05-24T14:20:04.115-04:002011-05-24T14:20:04.115-04:00I was unable to attend the meeting last night. How...I was unable to attend the meeting last night. How did the discussion go regarding pay to play?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-87892085029296374662011-05-24T14:18:44.038-04:002011-05-24T14:18:44.038-04:00(Paul - thank you for the follow up on the Supers ...(Paul - thank you for the follow up on the Supers contract.) <br /><br />Unfortunately was unavailable to attend the board meeting last night. The minutes from the meeting are not yet posted. Could someone please post a summary or recap of the meeting? Specifically interested in Paul's Community Involvement proposal and the Pay to Play. Thanks!!!!Lloydnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-35982394688358285552011-05-24T13:04:13.865-04:002011-05-24T13:04:13.865-04:00Lloyd asked way back when the Superintendent's...Lloyd asked way back when the Superintendent's contract expires. It's Dec 31, 2013.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960574627644930183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-69515644932874112152011-05-22T07:51:05.867-04:002011-05-22T07:51:05.867-04:00I'll certainly be bringing it up again.I'll certainly be bringing it up again.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960574627644930183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-74208062635804884152011-05-20T22:54:38.470-04:002011-05-20T22:54:38.470-04:00Paul, will you have an opportunity to speak to you...Paul, will you have an opportunity to speak to your Community Involvement in Planning proposal again on Monday?Douglas Davidsonhttp://www.about.me/douglasdavidsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-13933502081281548342011-05-20T22:53:31.076-04:002011-05-20T22:53:31.076-04:00I hope that even those who are against Pay to Part...I hope that even those who are against Pay to Participate or disagree that sports is the right topic to be focused on at the moment attend. <br /><br />I wish I could predict how many will come. We have some commitments mostly from the Heritage/Darby community. <br /><br />If anyone has ties into the Weaver/Davidson and Memorial/Bradley parents and boosters please email me at ddavidson@jacadis.com. Or simply get an email out suggesting they attend the meeting.<br /><br />I completely realize that "discussion" is a far cry from a commitment to implement Pay to Participate.<br /> <br />But my hope is that this topic will create an influx of previously uninvolved parents into the mix. <br /><br />Outside of the people that were at the May 7th Board meeting and that read this blog I would venture to guess that no one in the community even realizes that Paul has presented a proposal to create a community conversation. <br /><br />If you talk to people about Paul's proposal or the $38M cliff at the end of the 5-year plan their eyes glaze over. Or they get emotional and argue about how they feel.<br /><br />Talk to them about it in the context of what they care about and I think you'll educate and activate people to the bigger issues.<br /><br />I hope Monday night can be a constructive discussion of Pay to Participate and a chance to introduce previously unaware parents to the deeper issues within our schools.Douglas Davidsonhttp://www.about.me/douglasdavidsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-67263387789184322402011-05-20T17:24:10.488-04:002011-05-20T17:24:10.488-04:00I hope people show up to hear it...I hope people show up to hear it...Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960574627644930183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-22133140946579442582011-05-20T17:23:40.837-04:002011-05-20T17:23:40.837-04:00The agenda has been published. Item G1 is "Pa...The <a href="http://www.hilliardschools.org/board/agendas/052311agenda.pdf" rel="nofollow">agenda</a> has been published. Item G1 is "Pay to Participate Discussion."Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960574627644930183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-31960891301845326532011-05-20T15:01:28.508-04:002011-05-20T15:01:28.508-04:00Paul, do you know of any updates on our Remedial r...Paul, do you know of any updates on our Remedial rates for our graduates. At one point it was about 25% and went down to like 19% <br /><br />Somehow double digit remedial rates dont seem to come up very often. I asked this question about a year ago at a board meeting, and ........... well I allways liked the song Silence is Golden<br /><br />Noticed that that the Clowns of the Alladin Shrine Temple were going to be at the statehouse<br />raising money for children. I thought for sure there were allready enough clowns at the statehouse. One could also make comparisons ...locally.. but lets not go there today.Ricknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-78885104250569700622011-05-20T14:53:46.724-04:002011-05-20T14:53:46.724-04:00Doug Davison: I very much agree with you, but the...Doug Davison: I very much agree with you, but the issue is even Paul cant get a response.<br /><br />And yes I am glad to see another interested citizen involved ,no matter what their opinions might be. <br /><br />I would prefer not having an independent citizen committee, because Doug does make an excellent point. However, I also dont want it stacked with the Happy Happy everything is wonderful group that says more and more money is needed, or we cut stuff that has an impact<br />that gets enough blood curdling from the parents<br />whose kids participate IE middle school sports.<br /><br />The campaign committee, created a thousand volunteers according to information and pulled<br />in 6,000 They chose not to go out to everyone<br />and that sends a signal that this district, and perhaps some of its board members, bargaining units, dont really care what you think unless you are fully on board with them.<br /><br />Despite, pay to play proposal increases, scholarships, business funding, the bottom line remains constant. <br /><br />We have a current spending issue. We need to make some adjustments, and yes at some point pass a levy as costs do go up. But we need<br />to put some reins on the spending horse, that thinks the community has an open checkbook, and our district seems to allways want one to spend with.ricknoreply@blogger.com