District officials outline $2.7 mil levy request

MH School district already has a $15M budget and 3800 students....Come on! That's not enough? The school administrators are threatening large class sizes and teacher cuts. Why are they not saying, "we can cut the unnecessary programs such as the sports programs, Drama and Debate classes, Study Hall (which cost $78K a yr by the way) and make ends meet w/o the levy. Come on people, this levy is a misguided attempt to keep the extravagant salaries of the administrators (not the teachers) and sports program alive. Vote "NO" and demand that the school administrators shut down unnecessary activities, stop buying bottled water and other luxuries, reconsider their own salaries and do what you and I do in tough economic times.....Make ends meet. They keep putting out their hands saying "more money" because it's easier.

Back in the day when the band or debate needed money they raised it themselves. New Uniforms= cookbooks bake sales donations etc. last year it was 1.8 mil what now?

Yes, and it is not 2.7 million...it is 2.7 million PER YEAR for 2 years. This is kind of misleading Brian Orban. Amen townman.

Grumpy old man, please dont tell me about fundraising for debate..the school district provides me with $800..the other $14,200 or so we fund raise. To have one of the top 50 debate programs in the country, send 7 kids to Nationals, 28 to state speech, 8 to state debate and most importantly show the rest of the state and country that Mountain Home Idaho has some sharp students.. I think it is worth $800 as a matter of fact I think what our students have done is priceless. You probably did not know this week the debate team also gave away $1,000 in college scholarship money to MHHS students...and NONE of that money was from the district!

And Townman calling debate unnecessary? I have 63 current students hundreds of former students and parents that would beg to differ... but if you feel an academic program that teaches students critical thinking is not necessary..come to my class and and try to debate that with my students. You will see we have some really sharp kids in MH. I am proud of every one of them.. Someday I will say Senator so and so was a former student....that is priceless!

I too, am raising children to be assets instead of burdens to society. However, they do not participate in sports, make straight A's and are National Honor Society participants. I do not foresee them landing in jail in the future due to non-participation in a sporting program. You stated you would rather pay for sports for your children now vs. getting them out of jail later. If the only thing keeping them out of jail is going to be playing sports, I think you have a bigger problem on your hands.

We need to cut this SB off of its drug (taxpayer money) NOW.

They lie, they try and tell you it is 2.7 mil but it is for two years, their math doesn't add up.

They told us last time it was a temp levy, they will keep wanting more and more and more.....it is all about greed and power.

I am a student at Mountain Home High School and I truly wish that people will vote yes. If you vote no, you are not only ruining my future but yours as well because the students are the countries future and without a quality education with classes that challenge us such as debate we will not be able to succeed in college and go on to bigger and better things. I know that myself among other students have dreams for the future and are looking toward specific colleges, but how are we supposed to get accepted with all we have to offer is a gpa? I am sorry townman but I wish to keep sports alive because we live in a small and many students need sports to keep out of trouble, would you rather have kids playing sports or go around town making trouble for you? I truly hope that you vote yes because I do not want the future of every first grader in the district to be ruined, the choice may be yours but I am strongly encouraging you that this is the best thing you can do for yourself in the long run. All cuts in education are just damaging the countries future.

dosomething:

If you truly need sports to stay out of trouble, there is a problem. There are many really great, talented kids in the MHSD that DO NOT play in sports. When it comes right down to it---it is more important that you kids (young adults) have books and the tools (computers) required for a good, solid education. It is less important that you throw or kick a football.

I am sorry but it is very hard out there for some of us who pay taxes. We are out of work, have had our incomes cut and just generally need to make more money to get by than was required 5 years ago (food costs are higher, fuel is higher, power is higher, etc.). You can eat out less and not go out but things in general are more expensive while wages are lower.

When we, as taxpayers look at how the MHSD spends OUR money...well...it just does not warm the old heart.

In tough times, things have to be cut. The MHSD refuses to do this and continues to go to voters for levy after levy. It gets offensive as a taxpayer.

It is more important that you kids have books and safe buildings to learn in and up to date technology than having a football team. Choices will HAVE to be made by people a lot smarter than the current admin for the MHSD if we want to have quality education.

If this levy fails I would bet that the MHSD keeps sports and buys no new books. I would bet on it.

If we had an actual recreation district (another taxing district that does nothing) that would help to bridge this gap as well. I am not anti-education but I do object to the current pattern of spending. Debate is a good program. The students in debate do a lot of fundraising. It is a good program for teaching critical thinking. However, it does you no good if you are unable to read and write (and by you I do not mean "you" I mean the collective you as students).

I will vote no. I sat in on the BRC for this levy and it was a sham. The MHSD does not want to make cuts and choices. And it was not at all about the kids. I wish your debate teacher would teach you the other side of this.

mhdb8:

Did you attend any of the meetings for the BRC on this levy? Did you, as the debate inst. for MHHS look at the info that Gilbert and McMurtrey were passing off as factual in that information (the packets)?

You do a GREAT job with your debate students but this levy issue is not all that the MHSD makes it out to be---if they want to be factual.

The MHSD has a history (well settled) of being less than honest with its voting public and seem to have no interest in changing the way they operate. Do the kids a favor and teach them the factual side of this levy debate. This has very little to do with the kids and much to do with teacher pay, etc. At least be honest about that. Making threats like the MHSD does is a real turn off (the nuclear solution, no more sports, no heat because we can't afford a new heating system, etc.). Really?

I am sorry but without sports many students will drop out because they are large incentives for alot of the students at MHHS. But what I am most concerned about is the future of these students, how would you feel about a levy if your children or even yourself were on the end of the stick hoping that the levy passes and I am sorry but my debate teacher only tells us the facts and we are able to make our own opinions and we are taught how to express them fluently. Obviously you have not seen the books we use because they are not the newest editions, and you want to cut spending and make it harder to come up with the money to buy new school books. Obviously opiomissy you have not been in our high school, do you really think that we have the money for new heating. We cannot be in a safe environment (as you stated is important) if we have no heating or money for mateinence or even to fix the roof when it leaks. Opinionmissy do you know how much teachers are paid because, for professionals, they are not paid much for the amount of work they put in to make sure that we are prepared for what the world has to offer. Also, opionon Missy your comment on being able to read and write, how are we supposed to learn when the only thing that teachers are concerned with is the safety of their jobs. The issue here is that of the future and the success of the upcoming generation, without it the country is nothing, we are the feetthat keeps the country moving forward.

Just to be clear, sports are fine, however, teamwork, competitiveness, ect can and should be instilled in any classroom....and oh by the in the home. My point is, if you have your kids in sports, like I was as a youngster, you should have to do what my parents did....pay for it yourself. 100% of it.

dosomething94:

NONE of the money for this levy will be used to improve the school buildings. This money will be used to maintain current class sizes, teacher pay, maintain sports and purchase some books. Two of the four items have to do with teacher's jobs and pay.

I have been in your high school (OUR HS) and I have seen the books that you use so your assumptions are not correct. I also sat in on the BRC for this levy and what the MHSD should do/not do. I am very involved and up to speed on education in Idaho and what is going on/proposed.

You state that if there are no sports, kids will drop out. This is not true. Simply put, your job as a child/young adult, is to get your HS education and go on to college, the military, etc. That is your job. If your parents allow you to drop out or do not mandate that you obtain your HS diploma---that is not on me, that is all on you. That was a pretty weak argument in reality. The MHSD stated in the last levy that the 9th graders HAD TO be moved from the MHJHS to the HS because there was a "disconnect" (higher drop out rate) with the 9th graders being kept at the MHJHS. So, the MHSD caused, on purpose, over crowding at the MHHS and moved the 9th graders. Do you think this helped with the "disconnect?" Nope. Fact---it did nothing but create a lot of empty classrooms at the MHJHS and over crowded classrooms at the MHHS when in reality, there really was no problem to begin with (based on the Satte Dept. of Ed numbers relating to this). If you are going to drop out of high school, you will do it with sports or without. YOUR education is what you choose to make of it. YOUR choice.

As for how little teachers are paid. Have you looked at what they are paid? It it right on the MHSD web page. They make quite a bit more than the average/median salary for most in MH. Most are well above the average pay for this community/area. Teachers work about 8 months out of the year and have very liberal time off, good health coverage and PERSI. I also work hard. I obtained a college degree (with student loans). I too worry about my job like many people in this community. It is day to day. All extras have been cut. My office has downsized and pay has been cut by nearly 25%. We work harder, do more and with less people and there are no raises.

For a debate student, you have failed in critical thinking on this one.

If I had kids in the MHSD, I would feel the same as I do now. You can only spend what you take in. If you are short, then you had better make some serious cuts and tighten things up. Do not just say you are going to make cuts (as the MHSD has also done) and then once funding is reinstated reinstate everything that you "cut."

What will prepare you for what the world has to offer is to be able to read, write, have a working knowledge of historical facts and be able to figure math (please refer once again to Idaho Code and what is REQUIRED as far as education, by law). Not that I am the grammar police by any means but it would appear from what you write and how you write that our education system is lacking. I would concentrate more on those fundamental skills and worry less about sports and the other "extras." If you are unable to write, you will have a long road ahead of you.

Supply and demand. We have less students. Enrollment in the MHSD has been on a fairly steady decline for the better part of the last 10 years. Money and students are in short supply. Demand is high for more money, more money, more money. Doing less but wanting more. Sorry but the laws of economics just are not working here. Less Students = Less Money. Guess the MHSD should have worked harder on retention of their students instead of making it so kids wanted to be home schooled or go to McKenna because the admin at the MHSD were so hard to deal with when kids did not fit their "model."

Sorry, still a no vote. If you drop out, that is on you. It is also less funding for the MHSD. Many of us "old farts" survived with far less in our education system and turned out just fine. We are still on the down slide with this economy. Things are still going to get worse. In order to have a future, cuts HAVE TO be made so that there is hope for a future.

This is what living high on the hog for 10 years does. The wild boar has now come back and taken a big bite out of the MHSD's backside. Ya think they would learn.

townman, you are 100% correct but very few will understand.

Opinionmissy,

I am truly sorry for your misjudgement of what my main concern is, my concern has been simply for the future of myself and my fellow students. You have not once looked toward my opinions on college acceptence and or even the fact that it will be beneficial to you and all adults likewise. To say that I have failed as a debate student in critical thinking is a comment that I take lightly because it shows your inhability to come up with legitiment statements. How would you know that kids will not drop out if there are no sports, do you speak with several athletes and involved students daily because I do and the only thing that even keeps several students grades up are sports and extracarricular activities. If you want people to be able to read and write in the future as you continually state, then why would you wish to cut funding and increase the quality of education at Mountain Home High school. You said yourself that the enrollment at Mountain Home High School has been on a decline, why would you want to increase the rate by making students have nothing to do? A simple understanding, if someone is bored they will move on, and in this case it will be dealing with the school district. I am a very involved student and am making the choice of staying in school, but do you really think that every kid on the football team loves to go to school, of course not many of them dread the thought of it. By passing this levy it will give me a far better chance for a successful future as a functioning, independent citizen in society, again colleges are looking far into the extracarricular activities that students are involved with and how successful they have been in extracarricular activities. You bring up the economy, did you know that a person that graduates from college has far better health throughout their lives, live longer, and make about 30,000 a year more than that of high school graduates on average. Obviously if you want the economy to build itself back up then you will need people within society that can put money back into the economy. Again you bring up that the levy has deal with teachers pay, do you actually know how much they get paid because for all of the time, effort, and stress that they put into their jobs they get paid hardly anything. Many teachers do teach, not for the money, but for the reward they get when their students succeed. How are they supposed to keep teaching and be able to support themselves. They are professionals who deserve far better than they receive and you want to down grade them? And honestly how can you say that you are truly for education when it seems that you want to ensure that the students of MHHS have a very difficult time getting into colleges? I am sorry to inform you but modern technology is being instilled into education and now being able to further itself although you do not believe so. I am strongly encouraging that the citizens of Mountain Home vote yes on this levy because again I want the best for Mountain Home's students, I have big dreams and I hope that you may be able to see the light and allow all the students in Mountain Home to go onto bigger and better things.

Clearly right over the young ones head. Another perfect example of what is wrong in education and how are system is failing. Reading for content must not be taught any longer.

The levy is a lost cause. Throwing good money after bad. After reading what some of these kids think, I am very worried about the future of this country.

Still a no vote based on the facts before me. That is critical thinking. Being able to compare the crap the MHSD feeds us as fact and then obtaining factual info from other sources and discovering that once again the MHSD is pulling a fast one. Being able to look at data from 2 sources and realize that you are being duped.

Enrollment in the entire district is down.

The MHHS is overcrowded because the MHSD ELECTED to move the 9th graders from the MHJHS to the MHHS to bridge an imaginary "disconnect." The State Dept. of Ed. numbers indicate there is no change. The numbers are pretty much the same as when the 9th graders were at the MHJHS. IMAGINE THAT!!!

If enrollment in our local schools is down, we need LESS/FEWER teachers as less kids are in the classrooms.

Less kids=Less money. Less money=less teachers. Seems pretty simple.

Why was there a cabin rental on the list of expenditures for the MHSD last month for $400.00?

Why was there a hotel bill for $180.00 to house a "homeless students family" on the MHSD list of expenditures for last month?

Why are we sending 4 staff members to a migrant conference at the cost of $1,200.00 when the MHSD claims there will be no travel?

And the list goes on and on and on and on and on and on. And paying school employess to blog while on MHSD time. PRICELESS!!

WHY????????

Opinionmissy,

Apparently you have not done your research about education because less students=smaller class sizes and smaller class sizes=a better quality education which looking at several of your statements you want a better quality education. Idaho does not have the best education in the nation by far, why would you wish to hinder it further?

It is nice to know that there are people who are willing to gamble with the future of every student attending a school within the MHSD, for a person who claims to be 'not anti-education' opinionmissy you don't seem to want to further it as I do. When you stated that you would bet that you know what the school district would do if the levy failed, you seem to be making assumptions that have no factual basis.

OM... I hope your comment about blogging on MHSD time was for me..First, because it is TRUE!!! But I think MHSD is OK with it since it was at 10:06 PM (that's at night) ..and yes I was working..had just gotten back from a debate coaches meeting in Boise and was researching the National Debate Topic when I came upon this blog. So please I encourage you to let everyone know the debate coach was doing his job at 10:06 p.m...along with a lot of other fine teachers I know! Thank you!

They have dosomething94 brain washed, instead of teaching our children they are turning them into little money grabbing zombies. The SD uses the kids as pawns to get more money.

I am truly sorry for your misjudgement of myself, I am my own person. A very opinionated person that wishes to have the best education that I can recieve, I think for myself because I am myself. If you truly believe that I am a money grabbing pawn then you are mistaken, I just cannot see why other countries such as Switzerland are putting more money into edcuation while here we are being forced to cut, cut, and cut some more. I am an idependant American that wishes to see the best future for my generation instead of hindering it. Please I strongly encourage all voters to vote yes on the upcoming election.

dosomething94

You can ask your parents to donate more money.

You can ask for a ticket to a Swiss school.

You can not listen to the dribble from the SB.

Until you own your own home, pay your own bills, and LIVE a little on the edge of loosing your house, and everything due to the strain caused by over taxing and groups like the SB thinking everyone has the money they have. Thinking everyone has a 6 figure job like some of our SB members...then I will take you seriously.

VOTE NO ON THE CONTINUE GREED AND TAXATION.

mhdb8:

My comment was NOT directed at you. It was directed at the MHSD employee on this web site who has a blog. If my comment was directed at you, I would have stated so. I can also read time stamps sir. While I have you on here I will express to you that it is very disappointing that you teachers feel the need to fill these kids heads full of lies with regards to this levy. You are doing them (the students) a great disservice. Thank you for that sir.

Trouble2011:

Regarding your statement: "Thinking everyone has a 6 figure job like some of our SB members...then I will take you seriously."

Which school board members make 6 figures? They don't make that as school board members (unpaid positions per Idaho code) and looking at who's on the board, I don't think that any of them are pulling in six figures. Luise House works at the library, I believe Toni Reynolds works for Les Schawb, etc.

OpinionMissy:

Regarding your comment: "Did you attend any of the meetings for the BRC on this levy? Did you, as the debate inst. for MHHS look at the info that Gilbert and McMurtrey were passing off as factual in that information (the packets)?"

Which info was passed off as "factual" that you believe to be false?

Trouble2011,

I have spoken to my parents about this matter and they strongly agree with what I have stated. This is not only an issue of myself, but also teachers whose jobs are at risk with the levy passing or failing. I know teachers and the amount of time, effort, and stress that they put into their job.

Opinionmissy,

I want to know what 'lies' are filled into my head daily because throughout my entire debate carreer I have been taught to express what I think not what others think. Such as, I consider myself a conservitive person through my ideals but I am not on this issue because I am more than just one sided. Do you know any debate students personally because if you did you would know that our heads are not so easily filled with lies.

Idahogrown,

I completely agree with everything that you have stated.

Please everyone vote YES on the upcoming levy, because I want the future for you and me to be the best it can.

Idahogrown,

My I ment to say the School Administators....such as the Super.

dosomething94,

How do I explain this....the school admin tells the teachers to tell the students that the sky is falling. That if this levy doesn't pass everyone will loose their jobs, the students won't know what a football is, and that there will be panic in the street.

The teachers in turn tell the students (pawns) to go hope and spread the panic and lies. The best part about this plan is the pawns have no idea what is true and what isn't. They believe whatever the teachers tell them....that is why they are the teachers.

Meanwhile the SB and andministration laugh at the nieve children being used to spread panic and lies...

JYD,

I know for a FACT the teachers in many of my sons classes have spread the fear that teachers would be fired and students would be forced to use 30 year old books for the next 20 years.

I could name names but lets just say one of the classes he wasn't learning math, they were discussing how they can help spread the word to save the teachers jobs. It was suppost to be a math class.

So your option is just that, yours. You think what you want but I know from actual events what is happening. Now wonder they advertise it as a 2.7 mil levy instead of what it is. They are not teaching the math in math class they are spreading fear.

I agree with "the dog"..no one in admin has EVER told me what to say about the levy and we discuss both sides of ANY issue in debate class. And believe it or not we have not discussed the levy other than to point out that a few people on here seem to think debate is not important.

Thank you dosomething94...you are so right I try to teach you how to think on your own (not what to think) and then you make up your own mind on issues.

In the fall I invite all of you that are so concerned about teachers indoctrinating students to help out in my class with the debate team. Then you can have a much better idea of what goes on in the classroom rather than just assume.

http://www.ktvb.com/news/School-districts-relying-on-voters-to-approve-levies-ne...

I guess pretty much all the school districts in the area have school districts that can't manage their money very well because, if you have even read a newspaper or listened to the news in the past 6-12 months you would see that they are ALL asking for levies to maintain their operations. Heck, some, like ours, are asking for a continuation of their levies. People wake up!!!!!! This is not a MHSD phenomenon! The state government decided in order to balance their budget that they would make severe cuts in the education department and told the school districts to go ask their taxpayers to help out. Well guess what, that is what they are doing. Yes, there are some things that should be cut, bottled water for instance, but there are things that shouldn't be cut. Yes I am talking about speech/debate, arts, and yes even sports!

If you cut the speech/debate, foreign languages and arts (performing and painting/drawing), tell me where do the kids get required classes for graduation? These classes fill humanities credits for the kids. These kids need choices. Not every child likes to play a musical instrument or sing, not every child is comfortable getting up in front of a crowd and speaking. Not every kid is an artist. This year the high school cut carpentry, I was shocked! Not all kids will go to college, that class while only touched on the craft, may have inspired a child to learn a trade and to help them earn a decent living at that craft. I hope they don't cut welding or auto tech. Trades also a child could learn to better themselves. But wait certain people only want reading writing and math to be taught. That is the law right? As for sports, yea they aren't required for graduation but they are needed.

Have you looked at a college application lately? Have you seen the cost of college lately? Mtn. Home may not turn out #1 draft choices but they have some great athletes and the only way in this town for them to shine is in high school sports. THERE IS NO WHERE ELSE IN THIS TOWN FOR THEM TO GO!!!! For the younger kids there are choices, for football they have optimist from ages 7-12, there is parks and rec programs for t-ball, softball, basketball, and soccer up to age 12 or 13. For baseball there is Babe Ruth, which usually fizzles out at 14, there is a softball league but the same for them, around 14, basketball, good luck!! There is a soccer league. Tell me, where do the rest go that want to continue on? They need them at the high school. The kids may not get full ride scholarships for their sport but may get a little help because they applied for a scholarship and put down that they have played sports in school and that helped them get that scholarship, Or, showed on a college application that they played and maintained a B average and that helped them get in to that college.

This levy, while some of you would like to think it is about how much the school district administrators are getting paid, or about bottled water, when it comes down to it, it is ALL about the kids. You cut the teacher's pay or even teachers and you are hurting the kids. You don't like your administrators then get rid of them! I believe our school board has to run again and aren't they the ones ultimately responsible for who our administrators are? We have the power to make change, vote the old ones out and get some new ones that will do something. Don't punish the kids or the teachers by cutting their funding even more.

MHMomof 3: Thanks for posting that link. From my research that I have done, it looks like about 80% of districts in Idaho are running supplemental levies.

Trouble2011:

According to my research and a call to the school district office, no one in the Mountain Home district makes 6 figures. Instead of maligning people why don't you get the facts before posting on here? And if you have a problem with the way your kids teachers are conducting themselves, rather than again, maligning them, why don't you talk with the teachers involved and if you don't get a satisfactory response, then go up the chain of command, so to speak?

Trouble2011,

I just wanted to let you know that the alternative school that will be implemented will be completely funded by the state and the school district will have nothing to do with it.

werborg:

Are you calling me a liar? Sure sounds like it. I did do my research and found just what you found. No 6 figure salaries, plain and simple. And if YOU did your research you would find that what Mountain Home School District officials, administrators and teachers make is in line with what other school districts our size in the state of Idaho pay their employees.

This levy is not about teacher salaries. It is about being able to serve the students effectively and equip them with the skills they need to be successful. It is far easier to teach a smaller group of students successfully and make significant progress than it is to teach a larger group. There are fewer opportunities for individual attention when there are more students in the class, so some students who need that extra help may not get it.

Let's say, for the sake of example, that we have 3,500 students and spread them across 150 teachers/classrooms. This would make an average class around 25 students. With an average of $40,000 salary, that is a $6,000,000 budget for teacher salaries. If there are more teachers cut due to budget issues, let's say we end up with 130 teachers, but the same amount of students to teach. That would raise the number of students per class to around 30. While the cut of 20 positions would save MHSD $800,000, the rise in class sizes would have a significant impact on the ability of the teacher to teach as effectively because of the increase in the number of students in the class. Five more students per class may seem insignificant, but it makes a huge difference.

Some of those people did have 6 figure incomes before the pay cuts---and when their pay is reinstated...there will be your 6 figures. But the MHSD is not talking about that.

Just because nearly every other school district in Idaho runs a levy means that MH should too and that it is okay to just spend, spend, spend? Really?

Less students = Less teachers. Less money = Less spending. Pretty simple. You parents need to be accountable for what your kids choose to do or not do in school. Our school system is not daycare. Keep funding this sham and see where it gets the kids.

If you can't do the job, find another one.

When you said that some people made 6 figures BEFORE pay cuts it is completely different than what you were saying before. Your comments insinuate that they are currently making 6 figures, therefore the past is behind us and the levy is about now not before. I still strongly recommend that everyone votes for the upcoming levy.

Dosomething94

How much did you pay in taxes last year? Do you pay taxes, health insurance, electric bill, gas bill, car payment, water bill, gasoline, car insurance, groceries?

Any of these?

Another debate student trying to hone thier skills like last time a vote was up.

No from this voter again.

dosomething:

I NEVER said a thing about 6 figure incomes. What each and every district employeee makes is on the MHSD web page as well as a listing of expenditures for the MHSD (by month). Interesting reads.

Please have your facts straight before you state that I have said soemthing that I did not say. It really does not matter what these high paid admin people do such as Gilbert and McMurtrey. The point is that they do not do their jobs. In the real world, people get fired for that.

Weborg, I am glad that some can see what is going on. The MHSD thinks that by deleting your comments they are doing this community a service. This has been the way they have done business for many years. I hope that enough people vote no so that the district is then forced to do the things they should have been doing for the last 10 years. I had 40 people in my classes in high school. Sometimes, there were not even enough desks to go around. I still managed to get a college education and not end up in jail---and did it without sports.

Education is what you make of it. If you choose to fail, then you will fail.

No vote for me.

Nice Letter to the Editor this week on the MHSD Board (Checketts and Alexander) and more of their lies. Trashing McKenna with no idea what you guys are talking about.

I guess this is all you can do and the best you can come up with. Pretty sad.

VOTE NO-NO-NO!!!!

Clam Chowder,

If you didn't know my parents are tax payers and completely agree with everything that I have said. Therefore just because someone pays taxes, which I do, does not mean that they will vote no for this levy. Many people want to better the future not hinder. I am not just a debater, I am part of the future of you and our great country. Voting no is just a temporary solution to money because when there are no more jobs available with teachers fired then taxes will go up because the unemployment rate will, and with it the amount spent on unemployment checks.

Opinionmissy,

Obviously you can not scroll down and look at what you have written before because here is just a short jist of it, "Some of those people did have 6 figure incomes before the pay cuts." Can you guess what I was talking about, just look right below my entry and you will be able to tell that you contridicted yourself. Yes it is possible to go onto college in bad situations but does that mean that it will be possible for more or less people? Obviously less, and I would rather have a majority of my classmates succeed instead of going nowhere in life.I am not choosing to fail, but by you voting no you are failing for me and many other fellow students that wish to go on to bigger and better things.

Please vote YES on the upcoming levy for not just myself but for my classmates, your future, and the countries future.

I've been watching this thread the past few days and it's simply impossible to not notice the deja vu.

I graduated more than a decade ago. The school board has proposed levies multiple times, starting before I graduated. Every time, it's the same arguments being made for the levy. At this point, it's practically a script.

The flowery prose, pleading with the voters to "please think of the children and their futures!!", the doomsday prophecies, the warnings of everything that will be cut and lost should the money not come through--none of it is anything new. The saying "same stuff, different day" has long since graduated to "same stuff, different decade."

Yet, every time it comes up, the people posting in favor of it think their words and arguments are original. They think the ideas are all their own. No one has ever put these ideas in their heads; they came up with it all on their own! I'm sorry, but no. It's propaganda and fear mongering, sending the district's words from the children's mouths. And, it's always the SAME propaganda and fear mongering. Either the people for the levy have quite the amazing psychic connection, or their similar (or identical) words are not as coincidental as they'd like to think.

None of these doomsday prophecies ever come to fruition. Magically, somehow, the district manages to keep their sports and arts programs, even though there was no way they'd be able to without the extra money, according to them.

The district makes it sounds as though without these levies, they'll have NO money for the school year. Obviously, that is not true. They are given a budget every year. The fact that they do not feel that's enough is unfortunate, but it's the way of the economy. Please, a show of hands in here for those of us who don't need more money in our own budgets. If it's not there, it's not there. We don't get to just run around taking what we need out of the pockets of others--even if it's "for the children." Harsh reality is: we have to figure out how to make do with what we have, or we have to find a way to come up with more, ON OUR OWN. The children being churned out of the schools and into the real world would do quite well to learn that lesson about money.

The students would also do well to learn about integrity and trust. The district's misleading statements, and/or flat out lies, have left too many voters devoid of trust in the school board and school district. That distrust has been very much earned. Clearly, plenty of people simply do not wish to give more money to an entity they don't trust, especially when it's money they really can't spare. And, even if they DID want to give them money, again, they may genuinely not have it to give.