JHB Column 4/19

[sleeplessinnpvl]

Apr 19, 2008 7:37:03 GMT -6 d204mom said:

Apr 19, 2008 7:23:50 GMT -6 @sleeplessinnpvl said:

I guess I am one of the few stupid ones around here that still tries to see the good in people and I want proof before I go hating someone. If it comes out that there were deceitful things going on behind closed doors, I may change my tune. Yes, I am more skeptical based on rumors right now. I want facts.

Sorry, sleepless, I re-read my post and it sounds harsh. I wasn't directing it at you (the harshness . I appreciate your perspective on things.

I usually am pretty defensive when I post on here since my views are not what people on this board want to hear. I really did not think you were being harsh to me, and thank you for appreciating my perspective!

[sleeplessinnpvl]

Apr 19, 2008 7:54:24 GMT -6 snerdley said:

Let's move SB to WVHS or MVHS and see what Joni has to say! Since Fry can walk in the fall to NVHS, leave them there. SB is bused anyway. This is probably what should have happened anyway. (And I think she knows that)

And the notion that it's just a vocal minority opposed to the SB is more spin. I bet there are more unhappy people than happy. I think the vocal supporters (like Joni) are the true minority.

Does Joni even have kids that would be impacted?

[d204mom]

On another note, why does Joni think it's a good idea to re-open old wounds and p!ss off the district's biggest supporters right now? You know, the 2005 NO voters that she's laying the blame on ... Ginger Woods, Stonebridge, Brookdale, Young, Brooks, Gombert.... ?? Not a very bright strategy on her part.

Or maybe she did it to remind us that sometimes it pays to vote NO? Thanks, JHB - I'll keep that in mind going forward.

[3woodgal]

Apr 19, 2008 8:09:05 GMT -6 @sleeplessinnpvl said:

Apr 19, 2008 7:54:24 GMT -6 snerdley said:

Let's move SB to WVHS or MVHS and see what Joni has to say! Since Fry can walk in the fall to NVHS, leave them there. SB is bused anyway. This is probably what should have happened anyway. (And I think she knows that)

And the notion that it's just a vocal minority opposed to the SB is more spin. I bet there are more unhappy people than happy. I think the vocal supporters (like Joni) are the true minority.

Does Joni even have kids that would be impacted?

I hear she is buddies with AT

[steckmom]

Apr 19, 2008 8:09:07 GMT -6 d204mom said:

On another note, why does Joni think it's a good idea to re-open old wounds and p!ss off the district's biggest supporters right now? You know, the 2005 NO voters that she's laying the blame on ... Ginger Woods, Stonebridge, Brookdale, Young, Brooks, Gombert.... ?? Not a very bright strategy on her part.

I think many of those areas are on some kind of a shiny-new-high-school high right now that they won't mind.

I also think she wanted to write a column about a different blame but decided to change her angle.

ETA: I think she wanted to blame someone else, but decided not to go through with. The article seems kind of off to me, and I think that's why.

[sleeplessinnpvl]

I personally wish everyone would get rid of the fingerpointing at anyone and everyone.

[entitled]

Apr 19, 2008 8:25:03 GMT -6 @sleeplessinnpvl said:

I personally wish everyone would get rid of the fingerpointing at anyone and everyone.

One of the reasons problems are repeated is because careful examination of cause and effect does not occur. This SB/SD has made similar mistakes, repeatedly, because they don't accept accountability. And when their missteps favor a particular group, they get a new set of cheerleaders who are quick to say let's move on. Those who attempt to understand what went wrong are demonized.

We should be holding a public evaluation of the board.

[entitled]

Apr 19, 2008 8:09:07 GMT -6 d204mom said:

On another note, why does Joni think it's a good idea to re-open old wounds and p!ss off the district's biggest supporters right now? You know, the 2005 NO voters that she's laying the blame on ... Ginger Woods, Stonebridge, Brookdale, Young, Brooks, Gombert.... ?? Not a very bright strategy on her part.

Or maybe she did it to remind us that sometimes it pays to vote NO? Thanks, JHB - I'll keep that in mind going forward.

You are forgetting Joni's neighbors -- Springbrook.

[snerdley]

Apr 19, 2008 8:09:05 GMT -6 @sleeplessinnpvl said:

Apr 19, 2008 7:54:24 GMT -6 snerdley said:

Let's move SB to WVHS or MVHS and see what Joni has to say! Since Fry can walk in the fall to NVHS, leave them there. SB is bused anyway. This is probably what should have happened anyway. (And I think she knows that)

And the notion that it's just a vocal minority opposed to the SB is more spin. I bet there are more unhappy people than happy. I think the vocal supporters (like Joni) are the true minority.

Does Joni even have kids that would be impacted?

She has a home in SB - right? Reason enough.

[snerdley]

Apr 19, 2008 8:25:03 GMT -6 @sleeplessinnpvl said:

I personally wish everyone would get rid of the fingerpointing at anyone and everyone.

Gosh, I know.

I found her article to be more finger-pointing. So I pretty much tuned it out.

I just found it striking (and funny) how it matched CB's rhetoric.

[sleeplessinnpvl]

Actually, I think a lot of people in SB prefer the site at BB, not AME.

It's all about not getting your way. I bet if you changed SB around, there would be people from that area that are OK with that and people in that area that are not OK with that. I'm not professing SB is all saints. There are people in that SW area (God forbid I name names here) that are not OK with the changes and people that have moved on. It doesn't matter if it's 50/50 or 30/70 or whatever. This whole community is filled with people that get mad when they don't get their own way. I am certainly not revealing anything that anyone doesn't already know. I am actually surprised about the Ashbury thing and the buses. Again, people mad because they don't get their way. Happened in 2001 and 2006. Some people teach their children that it is the right to express your opinion in the voting booth. Some people teach their children that it is your right to express your opinion with a lawsuit. I will still continue to believe a lot of people are persuing this because they didn't get their way and that is not what is best for our kids, nor the best example to teach your children IMO.

ETA: I agree with you snerdley. Her article did finger point. I was referring to EVERYONE fingerpointing. I'm tired of the SB fingerpointing at TG, I"m tired of PTA presidents fingerpointing at elitists. I'm tired of newspaper people pointing at something that happened back before many of us were here.

[blankcheck]

You have to remember that when the referendum for the freshman centers was going on, it was a two part referendum. The second part was for the operation fund (teacher salaries). Howie was pretty specific that if the operating fund did not pass but the building one did, they still would not build. That is why I believe they did not go for a third high school because the reerndum amount would have been to high.

At that time, many people thought a third high school was the answer. The district would not even allow them to consider it. That is when Joni posted her message about how her high school closed, and the freshman centers were the right choice.

Sleepless- you are right -no one has a crystal ball. However, at that time, housing was booming. Today, it is not. Times have changed hence why we should have gone back to the drawing board and re-evaluate our situation instead of rushing into another high school which may only be needed for a short time.

I really take offense to her article that she blames the taxpayers on this because if you go back in history, it was actually the SB that would not let the citizens committee even consider a 3rd high school.

[d204mom]

Apr 19, 2008 8:52:16 GMT -6 @sleeplessinnpvl said:

Actually, I think a lot of people in SB prefer the site at BB, not AME.

It's all about not getting your way. I bet if you changed SB around, there would be people from that area that are OK with that and people in that area that are not OK with that. I'm not professing SB is all saints. There are people in that SW area (God forbid I name names here) that are not OK with the changes and people that have moved on. It doesn't matter if it's 50/50 or 30/70 or whatever. This whole community is filled with people that get mad when they don't get their own way. I am certainly not revealing anything that anyone doesn't already know. I am actually surprised about the Ashbury thing and the buses. Again, people mad because they don't get their way. Happened in 2001 and 2006. Some people teach their children that it is the right to express your opinion in the voting booth. Some people teach their children that it is your right to express your opinion with a lawsuit. I will still continue to believe a lot of people are persuing this because they didn't get their way and that is not what is best for our kids, nor the best example to teach your children IMO.

ETA: I agree with you snerdley. Her article did finger point. I was referring to EVERYONE fingerpointing. I'm tired of the SB fingerpointing at TG, I"m tired of PTA presidents fingerpointing at elitists. I'm tired of newspaper people pointing at something that happened back before many of us were here.

I think the underlying problem is NOT that a few people did or did not get their way.

It is the WAY those people that brought legitimate concerns forward were TREATED.

It's not always WHAT you say it's HOW you say it.

SHUT UP AND GO HOME creates animosity and distrust. IF this board and admin had acheived my buy in I might be AME's biggest cheerleader. IF THIS BOARD AND ADMIN had involved the EPA and done thorough due diligence, I might be on board. IF THIS SCHOOL BOARD AND ADMIN didn't constatly have "mis-statements" that favor their position printed and never retracted in the paper, I might be on board. IF THIS BOARD AND ADMIN had a clean bill of health for MWGEN before proceeding, I might be on board. IF THIS BOARD AND ADMIN had given Macom or Hamman a fair shot, I might be on board.... I should stop now because otherwise I could go on all day.

[sleeplessinnpvl]

Thanks for clarifying that blankcheck.

I was "sleeping" through most of what has happened in this district up until 2005. People tend to not vote when they aren't affected. I was guilty then of not caring. Only in 2005 did I get interested because my kids are now affected. (Shame on me, I know)

I think the district has examined the new enrollment numbers but still feels a third HS is needed. Again, optimum school sizes. The smaller the better IMO. Plainfield has 4 schools? And blankcheck, do you still think the Macom land is going to sit undeveloped forever?

[sleeplessinnpvl]

Apr 19, 2008 8:58:33 GMT -6 d204mom said:

Apr 19, 2008 8:52:16 GMT -6 @sleeplessinnpvl said:

Actually, I think a lot of people in SB prefer the site at BB, not AME.

It's all about not getting your way. I bet if you changed SB around, there would be people from that area that are OK with that and people in that area that are not OK with that. I'm not professing SB is all saints. There are people in that SW area (God forbid I name names here) that are not OK with the changes and people that have moved on. It doesn't matter if it's 50/50 or 30/70 or whatever. This whole community is filled with people that get mad when they don't get their own way. I am certainly not revealing anything that anyone doesn't already know. I am actually surprised about the Ashbury thing and the buses. Again, people mad because they don't get their way. Happened in 2001 and 2006. Some people teach their children that it is the right to express your opinion in the voting booth. Some people teach their children that it is your right to express your opinion with a lawsuit. I will still continue to believe a lot of people are persuing this because they didn't get their way and that is not what is best for our kids, nor the best example to teach your children IMO.

ETA: I agree with you snerdley. Her article did finger point. I was referring to EVERYONE fingerpointing. I'm tired of the SB fingerpointing at TG, I"m tired of PTA presidents fingerpointing at elitists. I'm tired of newspaper people pointing at something that happened back before many of us were here.

I think the underlying problem is NOT that a few people did or did not get their way.

It is the WAY those people that brought legitimate concerns forward were TREATED.

It's not always WHAT you say it's HOW you say it.

SHUT UP AND GO HOME creates animosity and distrust. IF this board and admin had acheived my buy in I might be AME's biggest cheerleader. IF THIS BOARD AND ADMIN had involved the EPA and done thorough due diligence, I might be on board. IF THIS SCHOOL BOARD AND ADMIN didn't constatly have "mis-statements" that favor their position printed and never retracted in the paper, I might be on board. IF THIS BOARD AND ADMIN had a clean bill of health for MWGEN before proceeding, I might be on board. IF THIS BOARD AND ADMIN had given Macom or Hamman a fair shot, I might be on board.... I should stop now because otherwise I could go on all day.

I agree with you. The SB has made matters worse by not caring and plowing ahead on this. I understand you wanting to be heard. I guess I just feel this district is getting too big for that to happen. I really wish they could try. But of course, when they do, (ie: JS oops CB at Fry) they still get bashed. Maybe they just don't know how to deal with people anymore. I know when I worked in the public service area, you can only take the complaining for so long. Maybe it is time for them to step down so someone else can hear the complaining.