tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post5275647878976910269..comments2020-04-11T03:30:02.282-05:00Gary R. Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-74325220078963145952008-01-09T18:00:00.000-05:002008-01-09T18:00:00.000-05:00Has Long killed SJR8?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-83428271540807291482008-01-09T12:25:00.000-05:002008-01-09T12:25:00.000-05:00Few school boards reflect the family demographics of their district. For example, in Washington Township, over 80% of the voters do not have children in school; however, only one school board member is from that group. The parents group recruits and run a school board slate in a very deliberate and organized fashion. Therefore, only rarely is a candidate ever elected to a school board without the endorsement of the parents group. Powerful forces want this system to continue because they can manipulate it to their own benefit. In politics 101 we learned that, if you control the nominating committee when there is only one political party, you control the organization. In the case of Washington Township, if you follow the money, the special interest group with the most control to pull the nominating strings appears to be the construction industry. In our case, an architect is chairs the parent nominating committee. Since the voters allow this to happen, then they should not be surprised when those handpicked school board members build $14 million swimming pools and $2 million stand-alone athletic locker facilities. A $200 million construction orgy is to follow shortly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-41016996712673281142008-01-09T06:02:00.000-05:002008-01-09T06:02:00.000-05:00The exemptions are part of the lobbying efforts of superintendents and school boards. Their lobbyists are influential.<BR/><BR/>I'm torn on this concept. I think we elect school boards, and they ought to live or die by the choices they make. Too few people vote in school board elections.<BR/><BR/>If referenda become easier, as under this bill, we'd let those school board members off the hook.<BR/><BR/>We ought to direct our anger at the specific board members in elections. And if you need a guide on just whom that might be, it's easy:<BR/><BR/>Basiclaly, it's all of them. They get cozy with superintendents, for reasons undetermined, and we all know how most superintendents love to build things.<BR/><BR/>This insane obsession with construction outweighs all reason and ability to pay. <BR/><BR/>Finally, taxpayers have had enough. No more $15 million North Central pools, or $20 million Franklin Central football stadiums.<BR/><BR/>Taxpayers would look much more favorably at $15 million for language and science labs, I'm guessing. Sooner or later, all buildings wear out or need updated. When those solid academic needs are demonstrated, taxpayers will likely step up.<BR/><BR/>They've just been burned so long and so badly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-985260790012856322008-01-08T22:00:00.000-05:002008-01-08T22:00:00.000-05:00As I understand SB18, it seems to be very weak. The bill exempts districts that have a 4 percent increase in enrollment. 4 percent is a small increase and I am concerned schools could easily work the numbers to stack the enrollment in their favor to bypass the referendum. If someone knows more about this bill, please enlighten me. As of now, I am less than pleased with the strength of this bill.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-92130549936594044222008-01-08T19:43:00.000-05:002008-01-08T19:43:00.000-05:00Thank you Gary Dillon for SB 18 which may help limit some of the inappropriate school construction projects. If you support property tax reform, remember the names of those that voted against this bill: John Broden, Frank Mrvan and Connie Sipes. They are no friends of property taxpayers. Vote them out!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com