Cuts Coming To Reynoldsburg School District

So Laura what are you suggesting we (the district and taxpayers) do?  The 10% majority spoke?? - The taxpayers have made their statement on what they want?? Ok, the 10% said that’s no more taxes.  So now how do we provide an education for the kids?  So school districts should just continue to cut and cut and cut and never have any hope of receving additional funding?  You are FACTUALLY wrong when you claim the school system refuses to make cuts.  I won’t put all the facts here as many have before me - research them - they cannot be disputed.  But you refuse to acknowledge the district has made MANY cuts (not just athletics)and WILL continue to do so. 

How do you know they aren’t doing their job of trying to solve the funding issue?  Right now by law the only way to increase their funding is to ask the taxpayers.  They absolutely are lobbying the state and federal governments.  But they need help from the taxpayers to do this.  Other than voting NO what are you doing?  Nothing from what I have seen, but I could be wrong.  I suppose you are lobbying the politicans to change the funding system with letters and phone calls just like you keep posting to these websites. I’m asuming you have come to the meetings and tried to speak and offer ideas??  They will listen. 

The school districts absolutely see the affects on the tax base - decreased revenue to the district.  So again how do you propose the district continues?  Accept the fact they will never receive another dime from the taxpayers?  That would be a dream come true - school districts don’t get enjoyment from taxing the residents.  Other school districts besides SWCS and Reynoldsburg are able to get levys passed in this very same economy.

There is one point you and I agree on and the point of my original post - stop passing the buck and help solve the problem. The no voters AND the yes voters need to work together to solve this problem not blame each other.  I swore I wouldn’t get pulled into these crazy posts - but I just want this fixed for all of us.

Yes you are correct FAPE is specifically spelled out in that act.  However ALL children regardless of disability or not are entitled to a free appropriate public education.  Public schools cannot pick and choose the type or number of students it educates in its schools.  If you live in a district that public school must provide an education to those students.  The number of students as well as the money the district receives is out of the districts hands.  I say defining FAPE is up to the tax payers.  What kind of education do the residents want to provide with the money it has available??  If you are so unhappy with this current administration or educators attend board meetings and volunteer in schools.  You may walk away with a different understanding or find some solution they have not seen.  I want to find a solution to this funding problem and not blame districts and school boards for funding issues. Hence the only reason I posted in the first place.  Continue trying to discredit everything written - in the meantime I will be doing the hard work of working collaboratively with the taxpayers, district and board to find a solution and not just complain on discussion boards.

To all you no voters, especially Laura - If you spent half the time you waste in blogging on this site on helping solve the real issue we might not be in this situation.  I have sat back for the past few months and quietly read all the ranting, ravings and incorrect information posted to this site and other similar sites.  If you are so unhappy with paying more taxes and with this corrupt system become part of the solution and not the problem.  You, continually voting no on all school district taxes no matter what is NOT solving the problem.  You calling for resignations of all school board members is NOT solving the problem.  You posting to this site and other forums is NOT solving the problem.  Have any of you run for school board or even attended a taxpayer meeting to provide solutions?  The real problem exists at the state level.  If everyone would spend their time writing legislators, organizing rallies at the state house or attending the school board meetings to offer up all your solutions you must have instead of property taxes you might make a real difference and solve this “corrupt” system.  Instead you hide behind these discussion boards ranting and raving about how horrible the administrators, teachers and school boards are.  Wake up and become part of the solution.

Schools like Reynoldsburg and South-Western City are in real financial binds like many families in this country.  They have had to make tough choices just like families in the same situation.  They do not exist to gouge taxpayers from their livelihood.  They do not exist to purely fund extra curricular activities.  Teachers AND administrators are EDUCATING children not filling their pockets full of tax payer money.  By you voting no the problem of not having adequate funding does not go away – thus the reason districts continue to ask.  Not because they don’t understand what no means.  They have no other choice at this time.  Can a district lose their buildings to foreclosure or file for bankruptcy as taxpayers can when their expenses exceed their income?  Can they go out and get an additional job to supplement that lost income or to pay for higher costs?  I don’t know – but I am willing to do the work to find the solutions instead of complaining.  There is no secret agenda by school boards to pad their pockets with tax payer money. 

Stop the ranting and raving on these websites – come to the next meeting of taxpayers in SWCS or Reynoldsburg.  EVERYONE (yes or no voter) is invited and people would love to hear your solutions.  Let’s solve this problem together – not pitted against each other.  The laws of this country state that ALL students are to receive a free, appropriate, public education – FAPE is the acronym.  Step up to the plate and become involved in the solution and defining what FAPE is.  And most of all stop these ridiculous posts that mean nothing.

“.... the well has run dry!“

So simple and yet so eloquent.

I grew up in Grove City pre-Interstate 270 and still have family living there. I have lived in the ‘Burg since 1985.

Reynoldsburg School District has moved past the levy defeat and is facing up to the reality of what it means. Cuts and Pay to Play are part of that reality. I will repeat something I have said several times before: I do not begrudge the students of Reynoldsburg their education but do not ask me to finance their extra-curricular activities.

RE SWCS: Bodie and others in SWCS have a school board that still thinks they know what is best and the taxpayers should just shut up and pay. The taxpayers have indicated they think otherwise and they will just continue vote NO until fundamental changes are made in the way the district is run.