And in response to llgem’s comments that the levy went down because of the expenditures on things like smart boards – I beg to disagree. The levy went down because of the economic conditions that are plaguing this area. Northeastern Ohio is suffering and I fear it isn’t going to get better for quite some time. The levy went down big in the Geauga Lake area where i”m sure the increase in taxes would create hardship for many. There were also many seniors on a fixed income that voted against the levy as well. The nightly news brings about talk of recession. People have only so much money available to them. Health care costs are escalating, as are utilities, gas and food. I think most voters in this district would support the operating levy but the board insisted that they tie the building in, too. I heard the board was concerned that the voters would vote for the building but not the operating if they put two levies on the ballot. I think they have not given the voters the credit they should have. Voters would have supported in the very least the operating levy but they aren’t going to get that chance. I fear it was a huge mistake on their part.

Very interesting results indeed. One of the things I have wondered about as I have read this blog since the levy’s defeat is, when measuring the success of the children in the school district (whether we measure by blue ribbons, gold medals, SAT / ACT, AP, IB, and other standardized measures) is how much of it has to do with the effectiveness of the schools, and how much of it comes down to pure demographics (household income, education levels of the parents, single parent vs. 2 parent households, etc). To use an extreme case, if we were to transplant this administration and the teachers to a less successful district, what would the results be?

here 

Technology is great. However, in my house we spend our money on nice-to-have technology when we can afford it. Not when things are tight. I’ve mentioned two examples of questionable priorities that have recently come to my attention. I’m concerned there are many more.

Olive: I really appreciate this site and read it often. Thank you for your hard work. Some of your “Olive Pits” comments may mistakingly give the impression that you are editing posts because the ideas expressed are inconsistent with your own. While that is your prerogative, please consider the value of an open exchange of ideas. Strong ideas stand up fine against opposition. Thanks!

Olive pits: i don’t know, i have been having server “issues” and have instated a new comment policy. It may have been deleted on purpose or lost accidentally.

The Aurora Board of Education and Superintendent invite the community to share its feedback and concerns regarding the levy failure, recent cuts, and the district’s plans to move forward. The Community Meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 5 at Aurora High School in the auditorium. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

The Board scheduled the meeting Saturday at its special Board Meeting. “There is a sense of urgency to have this meeting as soon as possible to hear the voice of the community. The Board does not have much time to consider feedback on this issue as the Ohio Department of Education requires us to decide on the particulars of filing to go on the ballot by December 15,” said Board President Jerry Kohanski. The meeting date was also chosen to be December 5, because all other days early this month had holiday concerts or other school events scheduled.

The Superintendent, Russ Bennett, and Board Members will also make themselves available following holiday concerts this month in room 100 at the high school.

Olive notes: If you want the answers to your questions from the Board go to the meeting on Wednesday. I believe the budget was over $2,000 for the Farewell. Contact the board with your concerns they are willing to listen.

Olive pits back: I have edited this post in light of the announcement of a public meeting. If the writer has comments or questions for the board he/she should attend the public meeting on Dec 5 at 7 in the high school. Televised board meetings will be very boring, and after the board has taken action is no time to complain. Go to meetings if you want to be in the know.

Olive pits back: if you have questions about the reasons for the cuts call Russ Bennett he will take the time to talk with you, or come to the public meeting on Dec 1. The Board will be there to get your feedback and answer questions. I attend several of the cuts meetings and i think i would be forced to do the same cuts if I was in their shoes. There are good reasons for their actions.

I can’t help but feel that the board is trying to manipulate us into voting for the levy. I felt more supportive before I saw the cuts letter. It seemed like they implemented a plan designed to anger our kids: scrap clubs, walk farther to bus stops, pay for games. These aren’t real cuts. However, they are the cuts that will cause kids to lobby for the March levy. It’s no wonder these board discussions were not public. The public would have little tolerance for such tactics.

Based on the cuts letter, the board has much more work to do to convince me that they will be good stewards over more revenue.

Olive pits back: If you have comment or question for the Board go to the meeting on Wednesday, they will explain and answer questions. The discussions were public, you just didn’t go to the meetings or get informed. They aren’t tactics, they are reality-based financial decisions. if you need to be convinced go to the meeting and stand up and voice your concerns.

My children are on the sports teams and I am not opposed to paying to play. I think it is sad to drop the ax on all the clubs and not give parents an opportunity to pay to participate.

This is democracy in action. This is the way it was intended to function and if citizens want to offer positive comments and support, without prompting, they will. However, not all positive comments and support come wrapped up as Pollyannaish fawning – some come as constructive criticism that needs attention, and it appears this site has become the opportunity for citizens to do more than just spew forth “petty bitches;” this is an opportunity to air their concerns and complaints in an open forum that some believe does not exist in a school board meeting. All too frequently citizen comments have been squelched by the board in general, and the board president in particular who has used his bully pulpit to silence public dissent.

Yet we should rejoice – it seems that Olive has begun to have an effect as witnessed by the fact that the board is now publishing the agenda on the school Website. Previously, citizens wanting to review the agenda had to request a copy in person at the board office – let me restate that for emphasis, PREVIOUSLY, CITIZENS WANTING TO REVIEW THE AGENDA HAD TO REQUEST A COPY IN PERSON AT THE BOARD OFFICE. All too frequently those wanting agenda copies where questioned as to why they wanted a copy.

However, Olive does raise one issue – why don’t more citizens attend school board meetings. I’m certain we can find a number of reasons behind the question, not least of which is a lack of interest. But anyone willing to ask around will find a myriad of other reasons that exist as well. There have been too many reports from past attendees who have: 1) been asked why they are still attendance after the opening public comments (after all it is a public meeting); 2) public comments dismissed by board members using the old, “You don’t know the whole story line” (or similar like statements) or; 3) the lack of a publicly published agenda for citizens to scrutinize and see if they have a reason or a need to attend.

One problem has found a solution: the Web publishing of the board agenda. Another solution: videotaping and airing the meetings could increase interest in board proceedings.

But let’s move beyond the board, the agenda, and the proceedings and take a look at what is being said here: mainly that some citizens want a more transparent process and want to let their opinions be known in advance of the decisions. They are asking tough questions and those questions deserve answers. The decisions may have been made early on but they appear to be decisions made in a vacuum. A school district is responsible first and foremost to the education of the students. I believe it says a lot when the board is willing to hire on new assistant coaches, athletic trainers and so on while cutting into clubs and after-school activities that truly appear to have more academic value.

One parent, Concerned Dad, points out that the approved cuts were selected just to get the parents attention. This is a trick that has been utilized by many school districts – make the cuts where it hurts the students the most so parents will pass the next levy. Oddly enough this trick is more effective when athletic programs are cut, not academic. In truth it seems as if the approved cuts are more of a half-hearted attempt at looking like something is being done than a serious effort at separating the wheat from the chaff.

Finally, Olive, while it is true that we, the citizens, don’t directly run the school, we do indirectly through the process of representative democracy – we vote in the school board members and they are to represent our best interests, nay, the best interests of all the citizens in this community. It behooves the school board members to be more responsive to the citizens, and to find more ways to elicit citizen response, then they have in the past.