Responses to May 5th article: Part 3

Once again, I come with responses to articles from the Springfield News-Sun concerning the Northeastern Local School District. These responses are from the article dated Friday, May 5, 2010 by Kermit Rowe, titled "Northeastern to seek voter approval for $58.9 million for new schools". Unlike previous comments and questions, I will respond to those that are legitimate and not redundant.

As always, I am speaking on my behalf, not the board's. I recommend that the reader validate my statements so as to ascertain that I am responding with the truth.



"Have they ended open enrollment yet?

No? Well then sorry, I'm voting no again.

Have they taken a pay cut for all the top earners (80-100k/year)?

No? Well then sorry, I'm voting no again.

Have they ended Sports, extracurricular clubs, and any other nice-to-have but superfluous programs?

No? Well then sorry, I'm voting no again.
Crusty
4:36 PM, 5/7/2010"


Crusty: thank you for your comment. I will be writing an article on the Open Enrollment issue. Suffice at this time to say that doing away with Open Enrollment will cause us to lose about 18 teachers. Hopefully you'll understand why open enrollment is a money issue and not anything else. You need to understand the facts around open enrollment. Please don't rely on your neighbors to explain it. As for salaries, we do not pay the highest salary for our people. You can check out the data on the Ohio Department of Education website and also on the Ohio School Boards Association website. Do some comparisons. Also, understand what a typical day is like for a Treasurer and the Superintendent and the Principals. Very few people would never try to do their jobs.



"JC: Open enrollment brings in additional kids, yes. But none of that money they bring with them goes towards building new classrooms or other areas to house them.

We can't stop district kids from leaving the district anyway. We CAN stop non-district kids from entering and then needing additional capital resources.

I'm mandated to pay for my districts' kids education, not all these other kids that they recruit but then can't house.
Crusty
5:11 PM, 5/7/2010"


Crusty: Sir, you have this Open Enrollment issue all twisted around. First the money from Open Enrollment helps to offset the loss of revenue of those kids that leave the district. The additional kids that come into the district are screened to assure we do not get other district's problems. In addition the additional kids that come into our district are dispersed into buildings and classrooms where space is available. Finally, the additional kids allow us to hire 11 teachers at no cost to you!!!! Please understand the term FREE TEACHERS! Please sir, get your facts straight.



" help me understand the point here. a levy to build new schools is what i understand. but for what purpose. is it to provide the children a better education? there is no link between the quality of a child's education and the building the education takes place in.

there must be a secondary agenda. if you just would prefer a prettier building in your community or hope it may raise property values or whatever the purpose just say so but you cannot link it to a better education.
dana
6:26 PM, 5/7/2010"


dana: You ask some good questions and then I don't know where you are coming from. There most definitely is a correlation between new schools and better education if the technology that is so important in today's and tomorrow's global economy is not feasible in the current buildings. You need to go through the buildings and see the infrastructure. The electrical outlets in Northeastern, South Vienna and Northridge buildings in insufficient to handle the computers and technology so badly needed. When these buildings were built in the early 50's and 60's there was no vision of computers like we have today. I know I was there! If you are telling me that new buildings that can allow the technology, design and environment is not conducive to educating children better, then I'm totally dumbfounded over your logic. Please consider going through our buildings, ask questions, see for yourself. At least have the common sense to see what the facts are before going to the polls. Then after you see what the situation is, then you can comment with facts and logic.



"Leaving a school in South Vienna, shortening the levy from 37 years to 28 years and dropping the income tax portion. This former no voter will now be voting yes. To the board, thank you for listening to the concerns of the community and making the changes needed to now hopefully getting this levy passed.
Marcia Rose
6:58 PM, 5/7/2010"


Marcia Rose: thank you for your comment and name. We worked hard on this plan after hearing from the voters and directing our issues with the Ohio School Facilities Commission. I appreciate your comment and support. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me through the board office.



"58,900,000.00 is alot of money. If you made 35,000.00 a year and paid every penny towards this agenda it would take you one thousand six hundred and eighty two years to pay this debt.


dana
6:55 PM, 5/7/2010"


dana: you, personally don't have to pay the entire $58,900,000 back. That's the idea with the community. Let's say you have a home valued at $100,000. Your obligation would be $240 a year. If you are over 65 on the Homestead Act opportunity, you would pay about $180 a year. But let's say you will be paying $240 a year for 28 years. That amounts to $6,720!!! And your kids get new buildings with latest technology, and your property values will strengthen, and when more people move into the district your taxes for the new buildings will decrease because more people will be paying for the schools, and the best part is that you will have buildings that cost $99,000,000 and only have to pay $58,900,000!!!!!!!!!!! What a bargain....what a country.



"JC, we r about to vote fore the third time on what was a one shot deal.this story i
n Mr KADEL'S words says there might b a forth vote.shows me red flags everywhere. missleading and untruth r the same.Do u work fore NELSB or a co. the hired?
Dave
7:01 PM, 5/7/2010"


Dave: thank you for your comment. What I said was this is our last chance at the guaranteed funds. We can go on the ballot anytime, however there is no guarantee the funding will be available or if we would get the same amount from the OSFC. Failure of this levy would not guarantee us any money from the OSFC. If you are seeing "red flags" you should be attending the board meetings and raising them. That is your obligation as a voter. If you feel the board is misleading you then it is your obligation as a voter to bring this to the board's attention and redirect them. If you feel there is any untruth in what the board is saying, then it is your obligation to take action to bring the truth out. I will tell you that JC does not work for the school board or the district. He is an informed individual who comes to board meetings, asks questions, researches the issues and makes his own determination.