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Post by casey on Feb 28, 2012 12:23:31 GMT -6
Approved low bid for SD's refunding bonds. Total 7 bids one accepted supposedly saves $2M but debt is scheduled not to be paid off until 2026 - originally callable in 2013). CV voted no, DD abstained. All others yes- passed.
LMC reductions of media assistants - cutting all media assistant positions by .5 A few speakers were there speaking on behalf of those who lose their positions. Martha from admin said that eliminating those media assistant positions equals 7 1/2 full time teacher positions. Recommendation is to eliminate positions and use more parent volunteers.
Mike Popp and Linda Rakestraw presented athletic department cuts of a proposed $8.5M. Talked about reducing but not eliminating. Also mentioned proportion between boys/girls sports and parity between 3 high schools.
Key points proposed:
boys' basketball eliminate 1 coach, reduce JV/Soph games and play 5 less (losing 2-3 games/season).
girls' basketball eliminate 1 coach, reduce JV/Soph games and play 5 less (losing 2-3 games/season).
football - eliminate 1 coach per school. Reduce JV/Soph B schedule by 2-3 games, Fresh A & B, Sophomore play 7 instead of 9 games.
Girls volleyball - eliminate 1 coach from NV and WV. No impact on schedule.
boys/girls swimming - eliminate 1 coach
Boys baseball - eliminate B team
Girls softball - eliminate coach at each school and level B at NV
Boys soccer - eliminate coach at each school, eliminate B level.
Girls soccer - no changes
Cheerleading - keep 2 levels at all HS. NV loses 1 level
Wrestling - eliminate 1 coach
ELIMINATE MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER entirely.
Registration fees increase - grades 1-5 raised from $20 to $25
grades 6-8 raised from $35 to $45, grades 9-12 raised from $40 to $50.
Athletic fees middle school $60 to $100 and high school $100 to $125.
I think this was about it. Hope I did not confuse anything. Next meeting is March 12 so supposedly there's time for the community to add input if warranted.
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Post by doctorwho on Feb 28, 2012 12:47:45 GMT -6
Approved low bid for SD's refunding bonds. Total 7 bids one accepted supposedly saves $2M but debt is scheduled not to be paid off until 2026 - originally callable in 2013). CV voted no, DD abstained. All others yes- passed. LMC reductions of media assistants - cutting all media assistant positions by .5 A few speakers were there speaking on behalf of those who lose their positions. Martha from admin said that eliminating those media assistant positions equals 7 1/2 full time teacher positions. Recommendation is to eliminate positions and use more parent volunteers. Mike Popp and Linda Rakestraw presented athletic department cuts of a proposed $8.5M. Talked about reducing but not eliminating. Also mentioned proportion between boys/girls sports and parity between 3 high schools. Key points proposed: boys' basketball eliminate 1 coach, reduce JV/Soph games and play 5 less (losing 2-3 games/season). girls' basketball eliminate 1 coach, reduce JV/Soph games and play 5 less (losing 2-3 games/season). football - eliminate 1 coach per school. Reduce JV/Soph B schedule by 2-3 games, Fresh A & B, Sophomore play 7 instead of 9 games. Girls volleyball - eliminate 1 coach from NV and WV. No impact on schedule. boys/girls swimming - eliminate 1 coach Boys baseball - eliminate B team Girls softball - eliminate coach at each school and level B at NV Boys soccer - eliminate coach at each school, eliminate B level. Girls soccer - no changes Cheerleading - keep 2 levels at all HS. NV loses 1 level Wrestling - eliminate 1 coach ELIMINATE MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER entirely. Registration fees increase - grades 1-5 raised from $20 to $25 grades 6-8 raised from $35 to $45, grades 9-12 raised from $40 to $50. Athletic fees middle school $60 to $100 and high school $100 to $125. I think this was about it. Hope I did not confuse anything. Next meeting is March 12 so supposedly there's time for the community to add input if warranted. Wow, we just keep moving that debt like someday it's not going to really have to be paid -- 13 years !!! and no middle school soccer- do they plan on telling the community how they arrived at that ? What happened to transparency- back to dictatorship |
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Post by casey on Feb 28, 2012 12:51:06 GMT -6
Yeah, I thought the same thing about MS soccer. There's going to be some angry soccer moms! The rationale was that 203 doesn't have it and the majority of kids play club soccer anyway. The debt thing is just disgusting. Just keep pushing it off - no worries as we're saving $2M this year  . |
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Post by EagleDad on Feb 28, 2012 16:11:45 GMT -6
Yeah, I thought the same thing about MS soccer. There's going to be some angry soccer moms! The rationale was that 203 doesn't have it and the majority of kids play club soccer anyway. The debt thing is just disgusting. Just keep pushing it off - no worries as we're saving $2M this year . And at least one pissed off soccer dad, but at least this one saw it coming. This is only the beginning folks, hope we're really enjoying that half full third high school while we start chopping the crap out of the programs, or eliminating them altogether as is the case for the now eliminated altogether soccer. My guess - say goodbye to lacrosse soon, and volleyball shortly thereafter. |
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Post by casey on Feb 28, 2012 16:47:28 GMT -6
This is only the beginning folks, hope we're really enjoying that half full third high school while we start chopping the crap out of the programs, or eliminating them altogether as is the case for the now eliminated altogether soccer. My guess - say goodbye to lacrosse soon, and volleyball shortly thereafter. You are absolutely right ED. Things will definitely get worse and as you said buh bye to lacrosse. I'm guessing you mean volleyball at the MS level, right? Heck why not just eliminate all middle school sports (sarcasm). I'm alright with the pay to play mentality as I think many parents are and before they just eliminate sports like MS soccer I think they should notify parents to see what could be done. There are ways around it without just eliminating. I know this probably hasn't happened but I'm curious if they have ever done a cost/benefit analysis on some of the sports. In the case of MS soccer why not look at it and add up costs (coaches' stipends, transportation, officials, etc.) and divide by the number of kids participating. I'm not sure what that number is but maybe just maybe there'd be plenty of parents who would say "what the heck, I'll pay it so my kid can play". I know sports are expensive from the administrative level so this may not be doable but before eliminating it entirely why not see what that cost per player is. The other option is why not consider just doing local competitions. In other words just play one or two of the closest middle schools for competitions. Run it almost like intramural sports and have 2 in-house teams. Ask parents to provide their own transportation to games, etc. I don't know if these ideas are even feasible but my point is there are parents who would try to make this work. Why not include them in brainstorming ideas before eliminating an entire sport. |
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Post by EagleDad on Feb 28, 2012 18:39:29 GMT -6
Quick question, does anyone know whether middle school soccer has been demolished for this season (Spring 2012) or is it next?
I'd like to know so I can break the news to my daughter who plays for Still and was looking forward to tryouts again this year. Birkett's communication was devoid of info in this respect.
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Post by jimbob on Feb 29, 2012 7:21:22 GMT -6
LMC reductions of media assistants - cutting all media assistant positions by .5 A few speakers were there speaking on behalf of those who lose their positions. Martha from admin said that eliminating those media assistant positions equals 7 1/2 full time teacher positions. Recommendation is to eliminate positions and use more parent volunteers.
Not quite -- the LMC assistants make $11 per hour -- their elimination hardly equates to 7-1/2 teachers. That's bull!
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Post by casey on Feb 29, 2012 10:14:12 GMT -6
Quick question, does anyone know whether middle school soccer has been demolished for this season (Spring 2012) or is it next? I'd like to know so I can break the news to my daughter who plays for Still and was looking forward to tryouts again this year. Birkett's communication was devoid of info in this respect. I never heard it mentioned for this year so I would think it would be starting next year but again, nothing would surprise me. It definitely so I think your daughter would be ok for this year. |
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Post by casey on Feb 29, 2012 10:18:50 GMT -6
LMC reductions of media assistants - cutting all media assistant positions by .5 A few speakers were there speaking on behalf of those who lose their positions. Martha from admin said that eliminating those media assistant positions equals 7 1/2 full time teacher positions. Recommendation is to eliminate positions and use more parent volunteers. Not quite -- the LMC assistants make $11 per hour -- their elimination hardly equates to 7-1/2 teachers. That's bull! C'mon Jimbob. You haven't caught on to 204 Math. Trailers in the school yards equal revenue ;D. Eliminating half of all media assistants at $11 will not do much to the bottom line though if it eliminates all benefits that would add up. For the record one of the football POW dads did speak out at the SB meeting albeit very briefly about the high number of 26 administrators in the district. Couldn't help but chuckle. I just don't see admin taking any cuts though do you ? |
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Post by rew on Mar 1, 2012 11:06:04 GMT -6
Someone employed by the district told me they have hired outside consultants to draw a big redo boundary plan. Has this been discussed at the board meetings? I am not commenting on the redraw or the consultants, just asking if it's common knowledge?
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Post by EagleDad on Mar 1, 2012 11:43:59 GMT -6
Someone employed by the district told me they have hired outside consultants to draw a big redo boundary plan. Has this been discussed at the board meetings? I am not commenting on the redraw or the consultants, just asking if it's common knowledge? Haven't heard anything like that. You sure it's not a rumor in D203 bleeding over? (reboundarying is all the rage in those parts these days). In D204 I don't know why anyone would want to go there unless they were a complete and absolute glutton for punishment - what problem is there to be solved? With now continually decreasing enrollments coming into elementarys, unless they were already thinking of closing some elementary schools and selling off the real-estate why would you open that can of worms, as the scabs have barely formed from the last go-round. |
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hon
Frosh
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Post by hon on Mar 1, 2012 12:45:41 GMT -6
I too know if this as well, I was told it was just for a few elementary schools. I know for a fact Young was one of the schools, the other I do not know. Young was supposed to be reshuffled this upcoming fall since they have had portables for the max amount of time the district is allows. However, instead of making a decision they put it off and were going to hire a consultant.
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Post by EagleDad on Mar 1, 2012 14:13:14 GMT -6
If Young needs more space, there's plenty across and up the road a bit  |
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Post by EagleDad on Mar 1, 2012 16:35:34 GMT -6
I too know if this as well, I was told it was just for a few elementary schools. I know for a fact Young was one of the schools, the other I do not know. Young was supposed to be reshuffled this upcoming fall since they have had portables for the max amount of time the district is allows. However, instead of making a decision they put it off and were going to hire a consultant. On a serious note, I don't know anything about Young, but I would think, given declining enrollments the first step would be to ask the parents of current students (via a vote) if they feel that boundaries need to be shifted to address the issue, or if they are OK sticking it out until enrollments decrease naturally. If they are OK with the current arrangement, why go through the headache and associated costs? Knowing good ol D204, they'll probably split up siblings in the same school and tell em to sit down and shut up anyways. |
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Post by casey on Mar 1, 2012 18:26:41 GMT -6
Knowing good ol D204, they'll probably split up siblings in the same school and tell em to sit down and shut up anyways. Oh, you've got that right. I'm still annoyed about that one. Though it has worked out fine and the right kid ended up at the right school. Over the past 3 years any time I tell the story of my girls being split up at different HSs everyone is shocked. Needless to say 203 is NOT doing that to siblings in their boundary reshuffling. They listen to common sense. That was honestly the most spiteful ridiculous decision our SB made. If I'm remembering correctly there were like 17 sets of siblings that would have been affected. You know it's awful hard to fit 17 more kids in any HS. ;D My girls are going to college together next year just to be together. Seriously. |
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