Submit your questions about the school levy

Will the SD be putting out a detailed list of where the money will be spent?

Thank you for clarifying the 2.8 per year.

I would like to know what is possibly going to be cut even if the levy does pass.

1.) When will school district/school board release a straight forward accounts payable ledger sheet showing exactly where every penny of the $ 2.8 Million will be used? Not just a general fund!

2.) Which part of the operations budget will actually effect the education of our children most?

@Nomad4:

From what I understand the levy money will be used to to ensure that deeper cuts do not have to take place. There will be no new spending. I just discovered a new link on the school district's web site the illustrates what the levy will allow the district to preserve. Go to the SDs website:

http://mountainhome.id.schoolwebpages.com

On the main page you will find the "Supplemental Levy Information". Click on the Budget Cut Options.

I am not from Mountain Home, but I am from Bruneau, I personally think some of the sports should be cut don't cut actual classes like music or art. yes i know sports could get kids scholarships, and other funding. but personally so could music or art. I know what it feels like to be good at something that you like and then have the school tell you that no longer will we have such classes or sports. I had a scholarship to go to school on choir and if it hadn't been for the fact that our school took that class out of curriculum I wouldn't be sitting almost ten thousand dollars in debt just trying to pay for a good education. don't cut school sports or classes just because we can't get money for the schools there has to be another way. there always is...

I'm for the school levy. We need to give the kids in this small town every chance for a good education just like anywhere else. We do not need to cut anything from the various school programs.

I read in the Mtn.Home News(4-28)that the "Parents as Teachers" program would be eliminated. What is this program? Who is paid? The article stated that the program helps prepare children 18 months old to 5 years prepare for school. Who/how/why is a 18 month old child prepared to attend school. Any education/learning they receive SHOULD BE the sole responsibility of the parents. What is the cost of this program?

So, at the meeting the other night the MHSD Board represented that this was a 2.8 million dollar levy---PERIOD. It was very clearly stated that this would be for ONE year and if they needed more money, they would go back to the voters for more money. They never said it would be a 2 year levy. Why is that?

Against Violence- There were other options. None of them were favorable, but this was the most favorable option. And we're not the only district pursuing a levy. It was the most viable option.

Parents as Teachers program should be cut regardless if the levy passes or not.

Anyone ever think to look at how much the administration is making in the Mountain Home School District. I know at one point the Superintendent was getting $150,000 a year. I think some money could be saved there as well.

Even if the levy passes administrators will take at LEAST a 6.5% salary cut... if the levy fails, it could go past 20%.

@biggin9900

You state,

"I know at one point the Superintendent was getting $150,000 a year."

While I have only lived in Mtn Home for 10 years, I don't recall ever seeing/hearing this information. I'm curious, where are you getting your info from? Which superintendent at MHSD made $150,000 per year? When? Would you mind sharing where you got your info from?

Thanks!!

i go to the high school and to live with out sports and activities lots of kids are going to drop out of school not only will that happen but we will lose teachers also the most important things are our educations and with out passing this bill are grades will slip and our school will go down with us.

u may have to pay twenty dollers more but if u had to go to high school with a roof thats ready to collapse and a school with no sports how would u feel. School may be some of our only oppertunities to move on to collage my family is poor and with out these sports i may never have that chance.

I just want to see my peers suceed but when majority of teens get board they often get into troube not only help us but help our future to thank you

...need I say more.

If the children want to be in sports bad enough let thier parents foot the bill. Don't make the homeowners foot the bill. It's hard enough in these bad economic times to scrap up the mortgage for a majority of the population yet you suggest that we as homeowners foot another bill and take food or medicine away from our families. $20 a month for some will put them over the edge and then what? It's terrible that education funding was cut but come on now you've got to think about the homeowner for once. Aren't there enough empty homes in this town?

Is there any way families who live on the base can help? We are not Idaho residents, do not own property here in MH, but have two teenagers who will spend their whole HS 'careers' in this school district due to our assignment here. I'm well aware that throughout the years my kids have probably spent as much time with teachers as with their parents!!! I have many friends who teach and I appreciate what they do...this is above and beyond all the extracurricular activities which I feel are absolutely necessary! So what can we do to help? I wasn't aware that we could vote? How would we be taxed? Those of us whom are living on the base send our kids to school but may not have any options to help...that's my question.

It is about education. However the students do need other activities. SUch as the debate and dance and sporting programs. It builds the students up in moral, how to compete and how to be leaders and helps them work hard for the next levels if that's what the choose to do. We take all of this away we are going to find trouble. The students are not playing in the games, the dance team is not dancing at halftime, the students are not at the games cheering for thier high school team. What are they going ot be doing? They will be doing what I did on a more often basis. I was in sports. But then again I liked to drink beer and be w/ my buddies. So what did we have to do in the off season and or in the summer we would get some beer and drive out somewhere and have a little party. After that just guess what we did...Not proud of this at all we drove home. With all of the extra time on our hands this is what we did. We were not vandalist, we did not harm any property. However we did endanger alot of lives by doing what we did. Including our own. I am thankful nobody ever got hurt. The point is, we give all of this time to the students I assure you it will be a tragedy. Kids will turn to alcohol and or drugs, somebody will get really hurt or even killed. And it stems from money. It stems from the admistration not taking a bigger cut in pay.

If the admistration really really cared they would take more than a 10% cut in pay. If the coached really really cared they would tell the district hey I will coach this year at no fee. Are we coaching for the money or the love of the game and the love and the pleasure of seeing the kids excel at what they are doing. There could be the best athlete in the state, and the parents that dont have the 500-600 dollars for the kid to play the sport. We don't know but that student could have been the state player of the year. And went off to a great college and on from there. Could had even been one of the leaders in our country, but never could find out because we took away the student athlete out of his game. Is the answer make the parent play NO NO NO. Lets see the administration take a bigger cut, lets see the coaches volunteer the time for a year. There are other ways around this situation. Maybe talk to Glens Ferry and see what they did. Lets look around our country and see what some of the other school districts have done. Lets not jump into this on a vote before we searched for more options. REMEBER our future people are in our schools!

Ohhhhh BTW, why dont you have the Assistant principle do the AD job. He can sweep the floor and be at the games and yell at the kids just like our present one does. It is not that difficult to schedule games and fix turmoil. And for 74.000.00 a year look at that savings. PASS OR FAIL that job should be illiminated!

Im just wanted to state that we should not be cutting programs unless absolutely possible, for me to lose music and art in my last two years of school was hard. we need these programs, it helps students, and the sports is a good thing for after school, i just think we should be making the parents pay for the sports.... that should not come out of the funding at all...

As a Mountain Home High School Alumni, I often look back at my high school years, fondly. If I were able to live them over again, I would in a heartbeat. I can thank my teachers, coaches and sports for the gratifying memories.

I moved to Mountain Home on September 17, 1998, my freshman year of high school. My father was in the Military so moving around was nothing new to me. I enrolled into Hacker a couple months after the school year already began. So, I was the "new girl", coming into a very small town school. Wasn't long before I found out that this little school, was full of ruthless bullies with nothing better to do than to torment the new kids, just because we were new. These students were ones you would find at the local "party hole" smoking weed, drinking beer and picking fights on their spare time. These individuals were not the ones involved in any kind of sports, art, music or any other extra activities.

Growing up, I was always playing some sort of sport and participated in many youth activities, but upon my arrival to Hacker, as a freshman, hardly any were available to play until my sophmore year. Just to depict the kind of things I had to deal with; I had gum thrown in my hair, my locker was vandalized, my things were stolen, and believe it or not, one student put out a "death date" for me to be killed, March 4, 1998. I was tormanted enough that I wanted to dropout. Needless to say, I stuck it out, having no real friends and probably the most lonesome year I think possible and don't wish on anyone.

Come my sophomore year, I decided to try every sport possible. During that time, I made the greatest of friends, most of who I still speak with, learning all about teamwork, integrity, morale, responsability and compassion. Sports saved me, sounds so cliché, but I really believe that sports played a huge role in making me the person I am today. Not to mention, in order to play any sport, your GPA had to be up-to-par. If ONE 'D' or 'F' showed on any of our progress reports, which were due to turn in to our coaches, we sat the bench until we raised our grade. We loved the sport so much, we did all we could to keep our grades up. I will admit, I was never great at school, but sports made me realize how important an education really is and you bet your bottom dollar I kept my grades up. My dad always told me, "if you're not playing a sport, get a job." His point, stay out of trouble right? Learn responsibility. I don't even want to imagine the trouble our students, OUR FUTURE, would be in if we lost our programs. It's part of every childs school years.

Sports and all school activities are a great way for students, families, neighbors and friends to come together. Please say yes to the levy, I know of coaches willing to coach for free.

Oh, and those wondering where my favorite bullies are today, the ones who thought throwing gum in my hair was funny, well, one is sitting their pretty little butt in prison and the other, well, lets just say they never bullied me again.

Thank you for your time...not looking for an argument, just wanted to share why sports were so significant to me.

Go Tigers...

Money is tight, but I still believe that an extra $20 or about that will not hurt most households. Car pool or cut out some of the extras (Dish with 200 channels, cell phones, etc..). For myself, I will vote YES and my wife, also stated that she would vote YES. How can we reduce the expenditures even more: cut the busing program, for anyone with in two miles of school, all coaches should be volunteers and recieve no compenstion, parents with children in sports and extra activities need to fund the transportation for competion, or hold fund raiser to offset the cost, if a family cannot afford the cost, then they need to volunteer (cleaning, ground maintenance, etc..).

For those of you with concerns about paying an extra 20.00 a month for this levy and have small children attending school, please take in to consideration what it will cost for day care when school days go down to four days a week. Although I agree that administration (principals and vice) could take on a lot more responsibility, I disagree with removing ANY programs or elective classes that are a positive outlet for youth in our community. As it sits now the Golf and Dance Line programs have been cut, why would we want to take away any more of what little they have as a result of poor choices made by our legislation? Like one of the posters commented below, if the coaches are coaching for the love of the game and its players, then volunteer to continue coaching without pay until we can get our school district back on track. It is not the MHSD fault that our legislators decided not to give money for books, technology gifted and talented program etc. but, as a community we will be partially responsible for the damage not passing this levy will cause.

In addition I would like to suggest that during these difficult times, the MHSD may want to find a way to limit cost of paper and postage by NOT sending the same information to the same house, in separate envelopes, because a family has more than one child attending school. Further more they could take the time to call parents and tell them about a tardy rather than put a slip of paper in the mail. This is an example of how the principals and their vices can pitch in to save money, unless of course they feel it is not in their job description. I have only two children in the HS and receive double mail with the exception of the one sheet of paper, which is the size of an index card, for one of my children if they have been tardy three times. Again this is just a suggestion, it may only save a little but when you have nothing a little is a lot.

@TMOM

Great question, perhaps I can shed some light for you. The MHSD (and other communities across the states that have a DoD installation in their community)receives Federal Impact Aid each year for all federally connected students. Each school year your children should bring home an Impact Aid Survey Card for you to fill out and return the next day. These are submitted by the district office and the school district receives Impact Aid payments every year. Here is more information:

http://www2.ed.gov/programs/8003/index.html

I hope this answers your question.

Nomad4: This levy does not allow for new spending. The levy covers a deficit. If the levy fails we will lose things we already have. The list goes as follows: All athletic and adademic competitions. the athletic director position, 8 receptionist positions throughout the district, Teacher/administrator pay cuts up to 18%, and 4 day school weeks with longer hours to make up for the 2.8 million dollars.

An excellent point has been made:

"3. Fact - Home Owners will be taking the brunt of this, not the local businesses or people living on base or renters. Most renters have a lease and their rent won't go up for this, at least not right away. All arguments about we will all pay are false, unless everyone that does not own a home donates $20.00 every month. Would be better to charge a onetime registration fee of $200.00 per child when they register. This would put the responsibility on the parents and not a homeowner that doesn't have kids pay for someone that has kids and not a home. This would be like having someone that doesn't drive pay to fill someone's car with gas every month and then watching them drive away."

I fully plan on supporting school programs. I will pay whether it be levy or through student fees. However, if I am willing to support other children, I would ask that mine be supported as well. Why has this task fallen strictly to the property owners? Why has the school district not decided to involve parents of all children within the district, whether they own property or not, to help pay for this levy? Parents of EVERY child registering for school should be asked to pay fees to support this levy.

CuriousParents, I agree and what you are saying makes total sense. If it is being asked by the SD that we help then we should all help. I am with you, I will pay what is needed but that is not true for all. The SD can not force people to pay 200.00 at registration if they do not have it (it is a public school already paid for by tax payers.) that would be like telling a child of a welfare recipient that they can not attend school if they can not pay registration fees, I do not believe public assistant cash receivers pay taxes on that money. However, home owners have to pay their taxes so it will reassure the SD the money will in fact be paid. I think if people joined together we could come up with many creative solutions to solving these issues. It just seems that everyone has not been invited to the problem solving table. People react in totally different ways when they are asked rather than told or when they are simply just uninformed. I support doing what is right and in my opinion if this levy is all that we can do then it is the right thing to do.

@CuriousParents

"I fully plan on supporting school programs. I will pay whether it be levy or through student fees. However, if I am willing to support other children, I would ask that mine be supported as well. Why has this task fallen strictly to the property owners? Why has the school district not decided to involve parents of all children within the district, whether they own property or not, to help pay for this levy? Parents of EVERY child registering for school should be asked to pay fees to support this levy."

I don't know for sure but I am going to bet that there is something in Idaho code that restricts districts from implementing a fee schedule such as the one that's been suggested. I would imagine this would require a change at the state legislative level. And let's be sure not to forget what this year's legislative session left us with:

SB 1418 makes the following changes for the 2010-2011 school year (And keep in mind, even after shifting funds, districts will still face a reduction of 14.4% in discretionary funding):

* Reduces state funding for salaries for teachers and ESP by 4% and administrators' salaries by 6.5%.

* Freezes both the education and experience lanes on the teacher funding formula grid.

* Reduces the minimum teacher salary from $30,915 to $29,655.

* Reduces the salary base index from $24,567 to $23,565.

* Eliminates authorized funding for classroom supplies and moves the $4.6 million to discretionary funds.

* Eliminates state funding for textbooks and technology and moves the $15.1 million to discretionary funds.

* Reduces funding for Early Retirement Incentive Program to $1 million and allows for the remaining $1 million to be used for discretionary spending.

* Removes $1.4 million from transportation funding for field trips, moving that funding to discretionary.

* Eliminates the Safe and Drug Free Schools program funding and shifts it to discretionary funds.

* Eliminates Gifted and Talented Teacher Training funds and transfers the $1 million to discretionary funds.

* Eliminates Teacher Incentive Awards.

* Reduces transportation funding by 10% and moves $7.5 million to discretionary funds.

* Reduces funding for Limited English Proficiency from $6 million to $4 million and shifts the remaining $2 million to discretionary funds.

* Eliminates funding for Programs and Expectant Mothers and allows school districts to utilize those funds for discretionary purposes.

* Allows school districts to carry over unspent money in 2010 to 2011 from school supplies, Gifted and Talented Teacher Training, textbooks, technology and Safe and Drug Free Schools.

* Transfers an additional $22 million from the Land Board to dedicated funds.

* Combines funding for ISAT remediation, Math Initiative and the Idaho Reading Initiative, and reduces total funding for these programs by 20%, and allows the Superintendent of Public Instruction to determine how the remaining funds will be spent.

* Declares a statewide financial emergency for all school districts, regardless of their fund balance.

I agree and it would be more than likely that I would not have $200 to give on registration day myself. Instead, I will have a smaller, monthly payment in the form of property tax. I just would like to see the district make this a responsibility for all that utilize the school district.

Why if the Levy passes will it raise $1.03M, but if it fails the cuts will save $2.7M? Info is on the district 193 website.

I would not mind seeing all teachers, admin folks, etc keep their job and cut all nonessentials like sports, debate, etc. If students and parents want those items they should pay for it all, not the city (taxes). Don't give me the old song & dance, "it builds character, team building, blah, blah". Next to none of them will make a career of sports. Mandate financial planning, investing, business, etc.

I think some foggy math is being used to make it look bad if the levy does not pass. Too late now, but this levy should be reworked to save $1.03M if the Levy fails just like if it passes.

It's a shame the school district manipulated it in this way that we almost have to vote for it.

@Idahogrinder

"Of all the comments posted on here, I would first like to tell the kids that I am happy to see them involved in the process, and as educated as they are on the situation. The best thing that I have heard come out of the discussion is to charge a 200$ fee at registration if your kids are to be involved in any after school sports program. If the parents can't afford it, then Johnny better cut some grass, and earn the right to play sports. Like it's been said on here, school sports is not a entitlement...."

My parents didn't have the money either. I worked all summer long to be able to play basketball.

@townman

Where are you getting your info? If you look at the "Budget Cut Options" on the school district's website it seems pretty clear to me. Whether the levy passes or fails the school district will be making approximately $1,033,028 in cuts (total from scenario A). If the levy fails then they will also cut an additional $2,695,555 (total from scenario B). So either way the district is making over a million dollars in cuts BEFORE asking taxpayers for money to cover the rest of the budget shortfall.

why don't I see any signs around town advertising the SCHOOL LEVY?

I think it is unreasonable to think the SD can charge 200.00 to go to a public school. We already pay for supplies, deposits, agendas ASB cards etc. I will only have one child left in school after this year and my child with one year left does not play sport however, I am still willing to do what is needed to get the SD out of the red because it essential to our future. Many of the youth attending school will be the people making decisions for our City, County, SD, Region, State and fighting for our country. We owe it to them to support them in getting to their future so we can secure that future decisions are being made by educated people. There are many kids in this area that are currently going to school and holding jobs to help with family finances during these bad times however, if people start suggesting they grow up to fast and start providing for themselves you might expect for them to start making adult decisions without being an adult. I truly feel that if we take away all the things that make school fun we should not expect to be surprised when the teen pregnancy, drug abuse, fighting and underage drinking rises. I think going with the pay as you play method could be reasonable as a last resort, but I do not believe that youth should have to suffer if their parents can not afford for them to play. It is my opinion that what has happened in the past is out of our control, but we do have a choice to contribute to the future. I have offered to do fundraising in the way of car washes and such to earn money over the summer to put into programs at the HS. I was told it was not a good idea because then the community may think what ever program that money goes to, received favoritism and funds to continue. To me that is simply sad. If there is a way I can do it and inform the community where the money came from and to which program it was given I would still be happy to do it. There are a lot of students that would be happy to participate and we would be able to teach them what making a difference is all about. This is simply my opinion, not an invitation to argue.

paperclip:

We already have ALL of those things with all of the school programs that are "fun." Parents need to take a hand in this as well. Why should some of us who are taxpayers and already pay taxes (and have no kids in the district) be forced to pay for the things in school that are "fun." In tough times, things get cut, that is the way it is. I suggest you read the local laws on just what taxpayers are "required" to fund. It is not "fun" for me to get up 7 days a week and go to work/work. It is not "fun" to have my pay cut, my workload increased and my befefits (employment benefits) totally taken away. It is also not fun to listen to these young people tell me what they are "entitled" to in life. Life is not all about fun. Sometimes things are just crappy. The schools should be run like a business. If they were, we would be in better shape.

I think it is very sad that the MHSD administration has used class time to promote their agenda without having these same kids that are "entitled" to the stars, moon, etc. read the law and understand what WE, as taxpayers, are required to fund (by Idaho law). I think it is sad that these kids are fed "facts" without the proof to backup what the district represent as a nuclear option. Scare tactics and a school yard bully are not likely to get this passed. The MHSD only has themselves to blame when it comes to public perception and their images. We have been down this road with them before. Nothing is as it would seem---it NEVER is.

Ms. Lauric,

You wrote:

"I think it is very sad that the MHSD administration has used class time to promote their agenda without having these same kids that are "entitled" to the stars, moon, etc. read the law and understand what WE, as taxpayers, are required to fund (by Idaho law). I think it is sad that these kids are fed "facts" without the proof to backup what the district represent as a nuclear option. Scare tactics and a school yard bully are not likely to get this passed."

Can you please let me know what administrator did this, when it occurred and the names of the people who witnessed it? If you can do that, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you

William Murray

Question...

Did the school district just pay for two teachers/coaches to attend a clinic in Las Vegas last weekend?

@tigerfan

"Question...

Did the school district just pay for two teachers/coaches to attend a clinic in Las Vegas last weekend?"

Are you asking because you want an answer or to prove some point about the school district wasting money? I'm going to bet you could make a few phone calls and find out for yourself. (Maybe start with the activities director.)

@OpinionMissy

"Why should some of us who are taxpayers and already pay taxes (and have no kids in the district) be forced to pay for the things in school that are "fun." "

This is not just about preserving activities and athletics.

Parents that I have spoken with don't believe that going to kindergarten everyday for 1/2 a day vs. every other day for a full day is a "fun" frivolous extra. Do you also believe that a five day school week with approx. 7 hour days vs. a four day school week with approx. 9 hour days is another one of those "fun" things that students should not "enjoy" at the expense of the taxpayer?

Forgot to include the data with my previous post:

Estimated savings by cutting the "fun" extras

*4 day school week: $430,000

*every other day K: $5000

Eliminating all activities and athletics is estimated to save $250,000.

Looks like the "fun" isn't the biggest ticket item.

Tigerfan,

"Did the school district just pay for two teachers/coaches to attend a clinic in Las Vegas last weekend?"

Since I was one of the two coaches that recently attended Nike Championship Basketball Clinic in Las Vegas I figured I would answer your question. The School District DID NOT pay for us to attend. Throughout the basketball season and in the first few weeks of summer, the girls' basketball program partakes in various fundraisers in order to fund things such as summer basketball tournaments/camps, equipment, spirit packs, coaching clinics, etc. In this instance we used $240 towards coaching development and that only paid for our registration fee (I have attached a link regarding the clinic below). We did not use any of the funds toward travel, hotel rooms, or food. All of those additional expenditures came out of our own pocket. Once again we did not touch district money. If you have any additional questions you can contact me at the high school.

Stehvn Tesar

http://www.basketballcoach.com/cgi-bin/basketball/clinics/2010/lasvegas-nv-baske...

I think we need to start thinking of this issue as a "team." Many people want the base here to succeed, and "hopefully" we get the F-35's in here to boost our economy. Our education system is key to enticing people to move here. If the education system goes down, this base is going to look like a death sentence. Any takers on this comment? I don't want to pay more money, but seriously, this is an issue to everyone living here whether they have children "in" the school district or not. If you live in this district, this is an essential priority to maintaining many standards. Either way your consideration may lie, you must consider the "whole" future of Mountain Home.

Mr. Murray:

The students have admitted/stated that teachers have discussed the matter in class and have allowed them to post comments while in school/in class, on lunch, etc. You know who these kids are---ask them. To me the answer was fairly clear and easy to narrow down. Anything else?

Are these students 18 years of age and of voting status? If so...good!! "We" never had the opportunity to make our thoughts count at that age!! Good for them if they are. So many adults that have been out of school for years, do not even care to vote. I wasn't even sure how to register to vote except from information my parents gave me, and many parents do not teach that one voice does matter. If these students are not 18, again I need clarificatin. I don't think this would be an issue if it was a presidential vote. I think maybe this town is being hyper-critical.

"The students have admitted/stated that teachers have discussed the matter in class and have allowed them to post comments while in school/in class, on lunch, etc. You know who these kids are---ask them. To me the answer was fairly clear and easy to narrow down. Anything else?"

Miss Lauric, as a journalism student, I have every right to be on this website during my journalism class period and during lunch. Christina is only on during lunch or before/after school. Becca is only on before/after.

And if the class is done with it's work, and students are worried, the educators have full right to discuss a matter to calm fears, or to educate the students on the issues.

AGAIN. Sports/ After school activities are not even close to important figure wise.

EVERYONE WHO OPPOSES THIS LEVY- please, give me a reason why you think the levy should fail OTHER than you don't want pay for our activities.

I am not really sure how your animosity towards your employer is relevant to or can be compared to students. I am sorry that you do not like your job or getting up for work everyday, but, how does one compare that to youth that are passionate about school programs. I am a parent who suggested that she would do what she could to help students keep there programs even if that meant fund raising and informing the community where the money for programs came from. I believe I am doing what I can to let folks know I am a hands on parent who is willing to participate in doing whatever I can to help our youth. Again I am sorry you feel your employer has let you down, I hope in the future things work out for you, maybe then you will find something besides being rude to be passionate about.

Ms. Lauric

You stated,

"I think it is very sad that the MHSD administration has used class time to promote their agenda without having these same kids that are "entitled" to the stars, moon, etc

Here is a definition of administration

the management of any office, business, or organization; direction.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/a...

By making your first statement, you implied the leadership in MHSD has pushed their agenda on students during class time.

Did this happen? If so, when and who did it?

In regards to your second comment

"The students have admitted/stated that teachers have discussed the matter in class and have allowed them to post comments while in school/in class, on lunch, etc. You know who these kids are---ask them. To me the answer was fairly clear and easy to narrow down. Anything else?"

Has "lilmissmelmo" cleared up your concern?

If the journalism or debate classes are discussing or researching current events, I can't say I see a problem with it. As far as other classes go, I would be naive to believe that every student goes to class and only asks questions that pertain to the subject of classroom they are in at the time.

William Murray

Stehvn Tesar,

Thanks for answering my question, and for the record I think you and Mr. Keener are great coaches!

If the levy does not pass or even if it does, what can parents that want to help do? This is a question that needs an answer not an opinion. So if someone from the district could answer that would be good.I know that we can not solve all the problems but some times a lot of little things can turn out big. Thank you

Lilmiss:

Here is the best reason to your most recent question. Because they CANNOT afford them. Read the law and what education is supposed to be. I do not expect you to be able to reason the facts contrary to the crap in the paper about how you guys are urged to see both sides. Until you pay taxes and have to make choices, you do not get it and will NEVER see the other side of this levy issue and what it will do to people. So, you want your programs. I want a Merceds but cannot afford one. So, no Mercedes. I expect the education system to teach you about economics and finance. If you cannot get that (understand it) then you do not need sports. IMHO only of course.

Do I like to see these cuts? No. However, they are a fact of life for most of us and I have a choice when it comes to more taxes and more government spending and what I want to spend MY money on. More taxes is not why I work harder for less money. Do I expect you to get it? Nope. If you ask me, Ashley has more sense than most of you. Maybe she will be on the MHSD Board one day.