Storms damage school roofs

Here we go. Next vote for new, higher levy in May. Play it up folks, play it up.

Sadly, they are not playing up the damage. My kids attend West and there are dozens of buckets collecting dripping water throughout the school. Some classrooms have had ceiling tiles crash to the floor from the water. It's ridiculous.

However, I do believe strongly the district is wasteful in the money they do have, especially in the district office and administrative positions. A safe, clean school should be far more important than they are placing emphasis. More money isn't necessarily the answer. Getting the existing money spent better and getting rid of the existing problems in the district office and on the school board should be priority if you care about our schools and our kids' educations.

The dues for the Union are payed out of the teachers pocket not the SD.

Union dues are indeed paid by the teachers and IA's employed by the MHSD. Tax dollars do NOT pay those dues...tax dollars do however pay for the pay raises, etc. negotiated by the union.

As far as the people who come on here to **** and moan about the MHSD and how money is spent, I have this to say---

I went to the meeting last night on how to get a levy passed for the money "needed" for the MHSD. I was NOT invited to sit in this room but elected to do so, on my own so that I would know, first hand, what in the heck is going on.

40-45 people were asked to sit on this "board of citizens." The MHSD, Mr. Gilbert to be more specific, told me last night that they asked senior citizens, people who are "anti" MHSD/bond/levy/more taxes, school employees, etc. to participate. Of those people asked (face to face mind you and through direct contact by the MHSD) very few attended/took part/showed up---who were specifically contacted.

Last night at that meeting, there were 25-26 people present (not including Mr. Gilbert, Mr. McMurtrey and the MHSD Budget & Finance guru). Of that, many were MHSD employees (teachers, head of maintenance, coaches, etc.).

If you are really and truly concerned about what is going on with the MHSD and how your money is being spent, YOU should attend the meetings. I was encouraged to speak at this meeting and my questions were answered. Even more important, while it was fairly clear that I was one of the most "anti-education" or "naysayers" (naysayer was a word used last night at the meeting by a person at this meeting), my questions were answered and in a respectful manner (mutual respect mind you by myself as well as the MHSD employees).

If you choose (and it is a choice) to not be involved, then you have no reason/standing to complain. They are asking for input. If you choose not to attend and be informed then do not complain when another levy is approved and you do not like how that money is being spent.

I heart my boys, I do not think that the MHSD is playing up the problems with these buildings such as a leaky roof (many of them to be more specific) and I really did not intend to come across in that manner. I just find the timing of all this to be very suspect. Cuts need to be made. Enrollment is down and times are tough. They propose cuts with very vague language. Will these cuts really be made? The way some of the proposed "cuts" read as of last night, in my opinion, they will not be made.

I had a very interesting post meeting conversation with Mr. Gilbert last night. He was very straight forward. IMHO, 10,000 more "concerned citizens" need to have a similar conversation with him or a member of the MHSD Administration (I would skip the MH School Board myself, they do not want to hear from the public---in my persoanl experience).

So, if you do not attend these meetings, you probably should not really say anything. Because by not attending these meetings, you are a part of the problem and not the solution.

My 2 cents.

Next meeting is at the Mountain Home Public Library on February 9, 2012 at 6:00 P.M. Do your own research and be informed.

On a side note, I spent 1 hour on the phone yesterday with the State Dept. of Education. Teachers pay cuts from last year will be reinstated. They took a 2.83% cut and will see a 3% return (per the State Dept. of Education, yesterday) for the 2012/2013 budget year. Teachers will also be eligible for up to $8,000 in performance based pay which is on top of their base salary (also per the State Dept. of Education) for the 2012/2013 budget year.

Hope that helps some of you out. If you do not want this "Citizens Board" to be all MHSD employees, attend the meetings. If not, please do not complain. Good day.

The question was asked about why buildings that are so old...and would obviously need work...have no "rainy day fund"

(pardon the pun) just knowing that roofs, windows, HVAC units, etc. do not last forever. When you own a home, you know that just about every 15 years, you will need a new roof. You plan for that expense. I asked why all of these expenses were not budgeted for knowing these buildings were old. They will have more info on that at the next meeting.

I hope people will attend. If not, we will get what we get. It was interesting that there was not a single student present.

I have a bad feeling they are going to use this to extort more money from the homeowners by parading the children under the roof. It is typical of the SD to not live within a budget and waste then cry when the roof caves in.

They didn't see this comming? They didn't budget for this? No they let this event create it self so they would have proof to get more money.