special response

This continues my responses to the April 9th article. The individual I wish to offer my response to has challenged me to tell the truth.



"Mr. Kadel, Clearly you misrepresented the truth by telling voters that that you had to pass it or the funds would not be available. I call that lying. In addition, when I contacted the state they indicated that the option to remodel was always there. The board tried to pressure voters by telling us that is was a "one time only deal." Turns out it was not. How do you expect people to trust you when you have a proven history of, let's call it "compromising" haha Lying.
youcanttrusttheboard"
9:35 PM, 4



youcanttrusttheboard: thank you for your comment. First, let me say that the board or the administration never stated it was a "one time" offer. The OSFC gives a school district one year to get the district's share of the funds for new construction. The clock started on August 24, 2009. Referring to the "one time" offer means we have one year to get our share. There were some who took this to mean one election. There were many others who understood what was said. We have stated many times that it was one year. You may refer to it as misrepresentation or lying; I refer to it as misinterpretation.

When the OSFC came into the district and assessed our buildings prior to our opportunity to get the funds, their evaluation was to abandon all buildings. As a result, the various plans we had on the table at the time, were removed and only about 3 or 4 plans which were to build new was considered. At that time, we were informed the only way we would be eligible for the funding was to abandon all buildings and replace them with new buildings. This is documented.

There was no pressure by the board or anyone else to get this levy passed. Once a voter got to the ballot box, there was no board member, administrator or anyone who forced the voter to vote yes. All we did was offer the facts as to why the buildings were needed and let the voters make their decision at the ballot box.



"Moreover, only an operation using public funds would promote and hire a proven failure (PR person). In the private market you would be fired and someone new would be hired to do a better job. In the private market the Wellness position would be added to someone else's existing position and you probably would not even get a raise. Need I remind you that we the voters are paying for these decisions, that to me sound like simple bad business practice. Kadel you missed the point on that one.
youcantrusttheboard"
9:40 PM, 4/10/2010

Again, thank you for your comment. When dealing with public sector and having to place levies for funding, there is no magic formula for being successful at the ballot box. What is important is to get information to the public and let them decide. If you go to the Northeastern School District Website and find the history of passing levies in the district, you will find that it takes 5+ times in order to pass a levy. the PR person is used for more than trying to pass levies. They are used to get information to the public about what is going on in the district, promote the events that is being put on, show the successes of our students, faculty, staff and administration. In addition, "show off" the good things going on. We have always had a lot of good things happening in the district that never got promoted or advertised. As a result, many good things were never known.



"Lastly Mr. Kadel, Why do you fear responding to these concerns in a public forum. You want me to call you so the rest of the voters won't hear your response? Typical!
youcanttrusttheboard"
9:43 PM, 4/10/2010


Again, thank you for your comment. I do not fear responding to the comments. Normally when the board of education gets letters that are unsigned, or signed "concerned citizen" or some other name other than an individual, it is generally discarded because we do not know to whom to respond. Even in this forum, I don't know if I am responding to someone in the district or outside the district. I do know some of the people who comment, however, I would never give their name. Secondly, I never respond to the public forum because it would take a lot of time to set and wait for comments like yours. I have a day job that I choose not to respond during that time. I use my evenings to make these responses.

As I stated, I do this blog because it is never "edited" or abused by me, only those who wish to remain anonymous. As to fearing that the voters won't hear my response, first you should come to a board meeting or community meeting and see if I fear making a response. Secondly, I have told the papers public forum where to find my responses. Anyone can get on this blog and read the responses. I do not fear telling the truth, nor do I hide behind any other name than Leonard Kadel.

I don't know if you have been to any of our meetings or work sessions, but I encourage you to come and see for yourself how we function. This board of education is made up of 5 individuals of character and integrity, who's only motivation is to provide the children of our district a good, quality education, and to be fiscally responsible and good stewards to the resident's money. We do that.