SWCS Students, Parents Adapting To Changes On 1st Day

Think First,it’s ironic that you think the district is solely to blame for financial problems. You’re smoking weed or your name is…TERRY. In August alone, there were 18 school issues on the statewide ballot. In November, 2008, Maryville passed a levy after several attempts. In May 2009, Newark City Schools passed an operating levy after four tries. In November, Worthington will have a phased-in levy on the ballot. A state School Board Association official says nearly 62 percent of school levies have passed so far this year, showing education remains a priority for many voters.

Let me remind you that Ohio’s school funding system has been unconstitutional since March 24, 1997. The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that Ohio’s elementary and secondary schools are neither thorough or efficient, thus unconstitutional. The complete systematic overhaul, which has yet to occur, involves but is not limited to:
• a determination of a per-pupil base level that is predicated on the learning resources required and the outcomes expected of a constitutional thorough and efficient system of
public education
• fund an adequate education in every school district
• reduction in reliance on property tax
• elimination of forced borrowing to meet ordinary school district expenses
• provision for adequate funding for school facilities
• elimination of unfunded mandates
• elimination of phantom revenue
• provision for a statewide school facilities assessment
• provision for strict statewide academic standards including input and output standards

Obviously Taft didn’t fix the problem, and Strickland can’t get anything done. It’s more than obvious with the plethora of levies occuring in the state, and the fact that the STATE OF OHIO hasn’t done jack to fix the problem, SWCS is in the same boat as many, many other districts in this state.

Many districts that projected deficits will pass levies and/or reduce programs and personnel in
order to balance their respective budgets. (see www.ohiocoalition.org)The addition of local millage runs counter to the Ohio Supreme Court’s admonition to reduce reliance on property tax. Reductions in programs and personnel diminish educational opportunities for students. This diminishes the potential of accomplishing a thorough and efficient system of public common schools.

If all of you want to complain, get off of this Web site and get your email, pens, paper and feet working and push the state to fix this statewide problem. As taxpayers, no one wants more taxes, but as opposed to federal taxes being spent on bailing out Detroit and Wall Street, these dollars are going to fund something the entire community benefits from. The issue isn’t salaries - the are at parity with all of the districts mentioned in the post and more. BTW, the SWCS comparison group isn’t small districts like Grandview, it’s districts on similar size like Dayton and Toledo and larger ones in central Ohio.

So here’s where I agree with you…get busy and advocate for change. If you or I were doing something unconstitutional, we’d likely be arrested, wouldn’t we? Where’s the accountability from the STATE?

Vernon:You know going to the board with ANY discussion of pay restructure is futile.They(SWCS) actually believes that they’ve made a concession(a temporary pay freeze),that as you full well know will be made up for in future contract agreements.
The only thing that can fix SWCS is pay cuts and restructuring of future agreements.Pay cuts are definately in order,because many of us taxpayers agree that they have not earned previous increases(proof is in SWCS ratings)and that they should receive NO INCREASES until their performance is brought up.10% cuts (and more from top paid administration employees)would more than balance the budget.
SWCS should do a poll of the community.If they would have asked people in the district if teachers,principals and administrators deserved raises and those raises would result in SWCS having to cut bussing and extra curriculars,what do you think residents would have chosen?
Vernon,do you remember when coaches were volunteers? Not paid?! EVERYONE’S in it for what they can get!

Just because you’ve been retained,doesn’t mean you perform up to par.This system fosters laziness.There is no reason to excell at your job when the do nothing next to you is going to receive the same pay increases and benefits as you.SWCS best teachers are the newer ones-not yet indoctrinated into the “pay for nothing(or showing up)club!
And you are right-there is a big difference from 20 years ago-MAINLY THE PAY and the struggling economy.What does it mean that homeowners cannot sustain the pay and increases that SWCSD employees recieive? Your pay has outgrown the communities ability to “sustain” its continued growth.It’s past the time to restructure the entire system!

What’s ironic here is one, I am not a SWCS employee, and two, that you say the same thing in every post, just with different words, every time.

What’s pathetic here is that you seem to have no other purpose in life than to totally disregard the work others have done to improve this district despite overwhelming financial challenges.

What’s insane here is that you constantly discredit teachers and administrators who’ve helped the district achieve numerous schools of excellence. The vile attitude of people like yourself who constantly barrage them with personal attacks is sick and sad. You don’t make yourself look taller by making other people look smaller.

What’s appalling here is that you cannot prove better performance from years ago and compare it to now! Hello, it’s a different world than it was 20 years ago. It’s a different economy, a different state funding scenario and it’s a larger, more diverse district.

Why is it, Laura, that teachers and coaches that just left are already employed by other districts and are being interviewed in the paper which you seem to read all the time?

As an employer, I can tell you that your application/resume would not likely be placed at the bottom of a potential employer’s list - it wouldn’t even make it to the list - because you thrive on instigating negativity.

I don’t understand. Every property owner will be equally affected by an increase in property taxes. And, yes voters will also be impacted by increased fees if they have students participating in extracurricular activities.