Does the Worthington Board of Education really get it???

Board of Education nixes August ballot, sharpens ax

news:www.snponline.com/NEWS5-10/5-10_wolevyloss.htm

The above headline was seen in the current issue of the SNP Worthington News and after the last school board meeting it will be interesting to see just how sharp the ax really is & where these cuts will take place.

There was an obvious look of disbelief and confusion upon the faces of this board of education, gone were the partisan remarks that typically seems to come from board president Gary Tyack (who recently won the democrat primary nomination for the 10th District Court of Appeals) concerning coming to the left side of politics which is absolutely out of place considering the business that takes place during this time shouldn't be partisan to begin with.

"Voters will not see a levy request from Worthington City Schools on a special August ballot."

The presidents of the certified and non-certified employees where seen actively engaged in conversation with board members. Information delivered from within the unions is that at least one board member has given the unions a strong committment to deliver another levy request on the November ballot. The certified and non-certified employees of the district have a fresh 3 year contract with the certified members receiving an average raise of 5.43% for the duration of the current contract, the Deparment of Labor cites the typical worker receiving a 2.9% annual raise .

Recent information released showed that in 1995 the district's enrollement was 10,818 with an annual expenditures of $67.9 million and while in 2006 the district's enrollement was 9,562 with an annual expenditures of $105.5 million. This shows there has been a loss of 1256 students while spending has increased by $7.9 million. There also is a well documented past of the district requesting a new levy every 2 years.

While there was some recognition from some board members that perhaps it was time to actively engage the public in finding a financial solution to the situation at hand it was apparent from at least one board member there was a rather eagarness to begin cutting programs within the district. The district spends an average of $12,000 to get the word out concerning the passage of levys. Those who oppose the levy are left to their own devices to spread the word of why a levy shouldn't be passed.

While board member Bob Horton recognized there was no organized opposition to the last levy that failed perhaps it would benefit him to realize that the voters merely sat down and did simple math to know they couldn't afford what the board had asked for.

While alot of the these taxpayers work hard long hours day in and day out there is also the segment of the population of retirees who are on a fixed income of which many are past employees of the school district that had attended the previous public forms (which ran 4 to 5 in opposition of the failed levy in their remarks) to request the board reconsider posting the failed levy.

There as well was a certain amount of whining from the board concerning the taxpayers believing their voices weren't heard in opposition to the failed levy. To better understand what the voters are complaining about you need to look no further than the comments there were made election night such as "I call that a mandate. People don't want to pay more taxes and are taking it out on the Worthington Schools" Dr. Bob Horton This Week Worthington May 4th, 2006.

I believe that more accurately the taxpayers are sick and tired of being sold out to the unions at the bargaining table by the school board they elected to look after the taxpayer's money. All except one board member (Marc Schare) gave the unions that represent the district's employees what was asked for. I understand there was a game of 3 card monty when it came to the increase in health care yet in the end the district lost money and the unions once again walked away with their pockets full of the taxpayer's cash in the form of their 5.43% raises.

The big question now is what's the plan and how will this not impact the students of the district?