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Post by macrockett on Mar 18, 2010 18:34:57 GMT -6
Casey, here's the problem in a nutshell: Over the past 20 years , we ( taxpayers and voters) have been treated like fools and idiots by our elected school board. The collective response was not to stand up and demand better, but rather to throttle anyone who dared raise any type of criticism. (I know, I was pounded down on more than one occasion, at meetings, in one on one sessions and on this very board.) The electorate collectively responded to the threats -- large class sizes, split shifts, no band, no athletics -- just as they were supposed to - by approving whatever the school board said we needed. Yes, many on this board saw the train wreck coming, but what the school board saw was: repeated approval of referenda, and re-election of incumbent board members, and a lot of vocal praise for the wonderful job the district is doing. No one was voted off the board. We allowed the board to hand pick replacements time and time again and then endorsed those selections by voting them in for another term. Our School board president heaps verbal abuse on a parent and they circle the wagons. Why is he still on the board? Because the voters have shown a willingness to accept whatever they're given. We've brought this upon ourselves. Absolutely no disrespect intended for those - especially on this board, who take the time to review an analyze the information provided ( or dug up in spite of efforts to keep it out of the public's view) or dared to challenge the assertions and actions of the administration. The sad fact is that you've been lonesome voices in the wilderness and the administration gets proof every single election. Now, it begins again. Blame the state. Stir up emotions over layoffs, ( keep in mind the Tribune's recent article that suggests many of these have historically been rescinded). Focus on sports and music, two segments of the population with strong, active booster groups to carry the message. Help the newspapers by writing press releases that the newspapers dutifully reprint. All of which shifts the focus away form who is ultimately responsible and who will ultimately pay the price for all the decisions that have been made "for the kids." Sorry, but I think this is, in essence, how things have been done for a long time and now, we're going to pay a very high price indeed. Sadly, there's no going back. My last point: remember the last teachers' contract? As I recall, the board felt it wouldn't be fair to take advantage of a poor economy and negotiate a tough, or even multi-year contract with the teachers . Instead, they accepted a one year deal ( with an effective increase of 4%?) in hopes that times would improve -- according to what the newspaper reported. Keep in mind that when it was done, there was real reason to anticipate that property values were falling and that the tax rate would be capped and there would be no money to pay for the contract! As I recall, the explanation was that the contract was funded from prior year's taxes as they are collected in arrears. Well, they have to pay that increase forever, not just in the year after taxes are collected! Was the decision a lack of foresight or did they just think we'd just accept the answer that school finances are complicated? They may be, but shouldn't management understand how it works? Those of you old enough to remember, let me paraphrase Pogo -- "We've met the cause,, and it is us." Couldn't agree more Sam2, well said |
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Post by EagleDad on Mar 18, 2010 18:59:11 GMT -6
Agreed, well said sam2! I only regret that for years, I too was played the fool and was guilty of propagating this very throttling of others that raised criticism or questioned. Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.
We have brought this upon ourselves, it does not mean that we need to continue to do so, or sit idly by while we our board and administration continue this path, and assign blame to others. I have had enough and I plan to continue to let others know the games played in the past so those mistakes are not repeated.
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Post by blankcheck on Mar 18, 2010 19:28:35 GMT -6
I am just FINALLY glad to see so many people seeing things for they way they truly are.
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Post by brant on Mar 18, 2010 20:39:19 GMT -6
Sam you have said it all. I was one of the many that was duped by this dishonest, despicable SB. Many of us were just naive thinking a SB would never cheat and decieve their own community. But then 204 is like no school district I have ever been a part of or even heard of. We had a chance to vote them out but too many people still don't realize how dark our SB is. Maybe now with all the cuts that are sure to come they will wake up and see what has been obvious all along.
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Post by doctorwho on Mar 18, 2010 21:02:56 GMT -6
Casey, here's the problem in a nutshell: Over the past 20 years , we ( taxpayers and voters) have been treated like fools and idiots by our elected school board. The collective response was not to stand up and demand better, but rather to throttle anyone who dared raise any type of criticism. (I know, I was pounded down on more than one occasion, at meetings, in one on one sessions and on this very board.) The electorate collectively responded to the threats -- large class sizes, split shifts, no band, no athletics -- just as they were supposed to - by approving whatever the school board said we needed. Yes, many on this board saw the train wreck coming, but what the school board saw was: repeated approval of referenda, and re-election of incumbent board members, and a lot of vocal praise for the wonderful job the district is doing. No one was voted off the board. We allowed the board to hand pick replacements time and time again and then endorsed those selections by voting them in for another term. Our School board president heaps verbal abuse on a parent and they circle the wagons. Why is he still on the board? Because the voters have shown a willingness to accept whatever they're given. We've brought this upon ourselves. Absolutely no disrespect intended for those - especially on this board, who take the time to review an analyze the information provided ( or dug up in spite of efforts to keep it out of the public's view) or dared to challenge the assertions and actions of the administration. The sad fact is that you've been lonesome voices in the wilderness and the administration gets proof every single election. Now, it begins again. Blame the state. Stir up emotions over layoffs, ( keep in mind the Tribune's recent article that suggests many of these have historically been rescinded). Focus on sports and music, two segments of the population with strong, active booster groups to carry the message. Help the newspapers by writing press releases that the newspapers dutifully reprint. All of which shifts the focus away form who is ultimately responsible and who will ultimately pay the price for all the decisions that have been made "for the kids." Sorry, but I think this is, in essence, how things have been done for a long time and now, we're going to pay a very high price indeed. Sadly, there's no going back. My last point: remember the last teachers' contract? As I recall, the board felt it wouldn't be fair to take advantage of a poor economy and negotiate a tough, or even multi-year contract with the teachers . Instead, they accepted a one year deal ( with an effective increase of 4%?) in hopes that times would improve -- according to what the newspaper reported. Keep in mind that when it was done, there was real reason to anticipate that property values were falling and that the tax rate would be capped and there would be no money to pay for the contract! As I recall, the explanation was that the contract was funded from prior year's taxes as they are collected in arrears. Well, they have to pay that increase forever, not just in the year after taxes are collected! Was the decision a lack of foresight or did they just think we'd just accept the answer that school finances are complicated? They may be, but shouldn't management understand how it works? Those of you old enough to remember, let me paraphrase Pogo -- "We've met the cause,, and it is us." nice post Sam and yes it did take some of us a little longer to see thru the crap than others --( which is what motivates me to this day to be there when the house and cards comes down and the truth behind what has happened here and who orchestrated it sees the light of day to everyone ...and I truly believe it will. re: teachers contract - one of the other motivators behind that was they wanted to avoid any potential for disruption of the opening of their pride and joy on Eola.... |
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Post by sam2 on Mar 19, 2010 8:33:18 GMT -6
Good point about the need to avoid anything that would diminish the opening of MV.
I notice the mea culpas in response to my post and I want to stress, again, I was not trying to be critical of anyone. We all know the effort that the district has made to shape public opinion and while district pronouncements are now viewed with what I consider to be healthy skepticism, there was a time when none of us had cause to doubt what we were being told. I do believe that some members of the school board, past and present, had the community's best interest at heart -- unfortunately, IMHO, some were misguided.
What is important, in my opinion, is that we find a way forward. It is going to be very difficult and probably very expensive to solve the problems. As others have pointed out, salaries and benefits represent the majority of the budget and the only solution I can see is to both reduce expense (jobs), get larger contributions from employees toward health insurance and pensions, stop this foolish idea of boosting salaries just before retirement to boost pensions, and, then, and only then, raise taxes to help pay for the deficits already created. Despite what I've previously said about never supporting another referendum until there were changes on the school board, I would support one if meaningful changes are made in the areas where they need to be made. Or, when someone demonstrates another workable solution that reduces costs, not just raises revenues.
Teachers won't like it. ( Hell, I'm 60 years old and can remember an 8th grade teacher complaining about pay -- it's nothing new.) The administration won't like it, the pta won't like it, parents woun't like it. However, it is a management problem. In the private sector, management would step up, find a solution and spend their efforts convincing those affected why theyv'e chosen the course of action they have. They'd win support or they'd be replaced or the entity would fail.
Our situation is no different. The question: will the administration lead us toward a solution? The early indications are not encouraging, in my opinion.
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Post by rew on Mar 19, 2010 10:26:01 GMT -6
In the private sector, management would step up, find a solution and spend their efforts convincing those affected why theyv'e chosen the course of action they have. They'd win support or they'd be replaced or the entity would fail. Or they'd ask for a government bailout... sorry to say, but much of the private sector has followed the lure of taxpayers $$$s as well. And once you've drunk at that well, there's not much motivation to step up. |
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Post by slp on Mar 19, 2010 10:45:43 GMT -6
In the private sector, management would step up, find a solution and spend their efforts convincing those affected why theyv'e chosen the course of action they have. They'd win support or they'd be replaced or the entity would fail. Or they'd ask for a government bailout... sorry to say, but much of the private sector has followed the lure of taxpayers $$$s as well. And once you've drunk at that well, there's not much motivation to step up. very true. And all the more reason why I was so against the tarp funds and bailouts! next thing you know the fed. govt. will want to take over our schools....oh my...i think they've mentioned that...  |
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Post by slp on Mar 19, 2010 10:47:39 GMT -6
At least Representative Darlene Senger is aware of the games being played with education funding...
"What's especially troubling is the fact that education funding is now specifically being used as leverage in the quest for a tax increase. We've heard this line before, give us new revenue and we promise it will go towards education, but what was notably missing was a commitment to change the way the state spends money. " - Darlene Senger
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Post by lacy on Mar 19, 2010 15:05:33 GMT -6
Or they'd ask for a government bailout... sorry to say, but much of the private sector has followed the lure of taxpayers $$$s as well. And once you've drunk at that well, there's not much motivation to step up. very true. And all the more reason why I was so against the tarp funds and bailouts! next thing you know the fed. govt. will want to take over our schools....oh my...i think they've mentioned that... Yep, how long before they "nationalize" education? Pretty soon we'll all either work for or be dependent on government. Then who will produce anything? I think the district should work to fix their problems before they ask for more handouts from government. I'm seeing things getting worse, not better, on the road we're on. |
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