Education Etc.
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Taxed To Death
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Currently 2/3 of my property taxes are marked for the Springboro Schools and now you want more. Enough is enough Mr Baker. In these hard times, I have to adjust my budget, I think you/the schools should do the same. And don't ask us to support your keeping up with the "Jones" idea of thinking.
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Dan for Defeat
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The tactics and money wasted by Dr. David Baker and the Springboro schools are truly amazing. You got your renewal levy and you have fine buildings in place so now you ask for more money in tough times to help with your Operational Expenses. Do the "tough" thing - if you can - which is making parents play for sports and extra-curricular activities, making teachers and administration pay for the own professional activities, not buying new text books, and curtailing other unnecessary charges. Your threat to stop high school busing is to try to get at those parents who will have to make sacrifices to drive their children to school or buy them a car. Shame on you, Dr. Baker! Since the high school is right next to the Junior High and the same children grades 6-12 ride on the same buses. We better see all those additional bus drivers fired, the buses sold, etc. I would really like to know how you got this position and when your tenure is up. I guess it is up to us to vote out the members of the Springboro School Board who continue to let you do this without consequences. I will vote them all out.
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Boro equals Taxes
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I had to go vote against another springboro school levy. Didn't we just have one on the ballot? Didn't we just defeat it? Why is this on the ballot less than five months after being defeated but yet could not wait until November? This 'special' election cost us all alot of time,$$s and energy for one issue on the ballot. I will continue to vote 'no' on every single issue until some real cutbacks are shown, starting with Baker and his double-dipping salary.
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BoroBrad
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It's looking good! From: http://www.co.warren.oh.us/bdelec/election_re ... Springboro School Levy SPRINGBORO CITY SCHOOL VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN 1 (WITH 25 OF 30 PRECINCTS COUNTED 83.33%) FOR THE TAX LEVIES ....... 1,929 38.51 AGAINST THE TAX LEVIES ...... 3,080 61.49
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Dail D for Defeat
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Springboro taxpayers won a victory this time and were able to put the brakes on increase funding for more waste and incompetence. This was definitely a no confidence vote. Springboro needs to get rid of the BOE and the super. Note to both: Little Muffy and Buffy do not need caviar and Pierre - Pizza rolls and chocolate milk will be fine.
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smilin today
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Congrats to all but our work is not done! We do need another place to post and stay connencted - this administration is petty and angry - they will cut where it hurts most - with a "we'll show you attitude". I know and have worked with them. We also need to start discussing running three new board members for next years election! We can make major changes - I know there are some good decent qualified people who would truly represent this communitiy - to run for the BOE. No more spiteful and spineless Baker's puppets - no more egotistical and arrogant administrators. We can even change the hostile environment at the high school - There is a lot we need to do. These people work for us - and they should be fired! Let's get organized
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Concerned for Springboro
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As has been stated above there are serious issues with the current tax system in our community and how our schools are being managed. Dr. Baker and his board are overstepping the line. His tactics over the years has been to constantly assault the voters with non stop tax levy after tax levy ignoring the message from the voting results that the well is dry. When the recent previous levy failed at the ballot what is his response? How about trying a multi tiered levy that grows as it goes and when you add it up is larger then the recent one we voted down. Anyone remember what "baloon payments" have done to our credit and housing situation in this country. Shame on you for trying to pass that by our community. The answer to all this maybe that the school system should be fiscally managed just like any other large corporation. His job may be better served by someone that understand how to run a company rather then a being a teacher. In other words we do not place the inmates in charge of the system. Let the teachers do what they do best, teach and let true company managers run the system. Ask any small company owner in Springboro. They do not have the luxury to hold out their hands for more millions to make their companies survive. They have to work to make that happen. Pay for play? Yes, it works in both the private and public system. Large wide screen TV's in the student cafe? Please, are you serious. This when many of the families of this community are struggling in this economy to adjust for gas prices and keeping their homes. Time for a change.
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Good Steward
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As a Springboro teacher, I'd have Dan know that I am doing "The Tough Thing". I've been using the same textbook for eight years. My class ratio for this past academic year was 1:28, and because of the levy defeat it will probably rise to 1:32, for starters. I buy my classroom materials through a charity, which costs the district no money. I turn off all the electricity in my room before I leave each day. I do not give the district a bill for any professional activities I undergo--I typically do these on my own time at my own expense. When my students need paperback novels, I try to get them from an area library or I buy the cheapest ($1.00-$3.00 per copy) books. In short, I do everything I can to keep district expenses to a minimum. Personally, I pack my lunch each day when I go to work. I'm driving a ten year old car that is about ready to die at 200K miles--it needs multiple repairs which I can't afford to make; the minivan my wife drives is just as old and almost has as many miles. I have two young children. We rarely buy any food at Kroger--instead we buy from discount places such as Aldi. I ride a bicycle whenever I can. We do not keep balances on credit cards, nor do we use them for that matter. I'm also currently working without a contract with the district, like every other teacher in the district. I do not live a gold-and-glitter life, sir. When I read your comments, I was offended to say the least. I try to be a good steward of the funds the community provides for me to do my job and to live my life. As it is, I'm getting-by by the skin of my teeth. You're entitled to your opinion, and I feel horrible whenever a levy is put on the ballot. Even though my taxes go up as well, I vote for the levies whenever my district places them on the ballot because I want a superior education for my children. I've already explained to you how I'm doing "The Tough Thing". Unfortunately, as inflation increases (and gas prices), so does the operating cost. It's the same for any business, and I don't see why schools should be looked at any differently. Dan for Defeat wrote: The tactics and money wasted by Dr. David Baker and the Springboro schools are truly amazing. You got your renewal levy and you have fine buildings in place so now you ask for more money in tough times to help with your Operational Expenses. Do the "tough" thing - if you can - which is making parents play for sports and extra-curricular activities, making teachers and administration pay for the own professional activities, not buying new text books, and curtailing other unnecessary charges. Your threat to stop high school busing is to try to get at those parents who will have to make sacrifices to drive their children to school or buy them a car. Shame on you, Dr. Baker! Since the high school is right next to the Junior High and the same children grades 6-12 ride on the same buses. We better see all those additional bus drivers fired, the buses sold, etc. I would really like to know how you got this position and when your tenure is up. I guess it is up to us to vote out the members of the Springboro School Board who continue to let you do this without consequences. I will vote them all out.
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Tom
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Good Steward wrote: As a Springboro teacher, I'd have Dan know that I am doing "The Tough Thing". I've been using the same textbook for eight years. My class ratio for this past academic year was 1:28, and because of the levy defeat it will probably rise to 1:32, for starters. I buy my classroom materials through a charity, which costs the district no money. I turn off all the electricity in my room before I leave each day. I do not give the district a bill for any professional activities I undergo--I typically do these on my own time at my own expense. When my students need paperback novels, I try to get them from an area library or I buy the cheapest ($1.00-$3.00 per copy) books. In short, I do everything I can to keep district expenses to a minimum.
Personally, I pack my lunch each day when I go to work. I'm driving a ten year old car that is about ready to die at 200K miles--it needs multiple repairs which I can't afford to make; the minivan my wife drives is just as old and almost has as many miles. I have two young children. We rarely buy any food at Kroger--instead we buy from discount places such as Aldi. I ride a bicycle whenever I can. We do not keep balances on credit cards, nor do we use them for that matter. I'm also currently working without a contract with the district, like every other teacher in the district. I do not live a gold-and-glitter life, sir. When I read your comments, I was offended to say the least. I try to be a good steward of the funds the community provides for me to do my job and to live my life. As it is, I'm getting-by by the skin of my teeth.
You're entitled to your opinion, and I feel horrible whenever a levy is put on the ballot. Even though my taxes go up as well, I vote for the levies whenever my district places them on the ballot because I want a superior education for my children. I've already explained to you how I'm doing "The Tough Thing". Unfortunately, as inflation increases (and gas prices), so does the operating cost. It's the same for any business, and I don't see why schools should be looked at any differently.
<quoted text> If are really doing all of these measures that you list, then you really should be more ticked off than even the rest of us at the waste. Hopefully you are at least able to take your bologna sandwich and eat in front of one of the schools flat screen TVs at lunch.
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Good Steward
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Yes, I really am doing all these measures, and yes I always see the need for fiscal responsibility; I did not agree with or deny anything that has been said regarding the administration's handling of funding--I only shared what I have been doing personally to be a good steward. I spend my lunch time at my desk grading and recording papers--I have to use every moment I can scratch out of a day (and I don't mean before the school day is out; I mean the 24-hour day) in order to keep up with the volume of students in the classroom; I don't have the luxury of watching television while I eat my lunch. I am at the school early at 6:30, and I usually leave no later than 4:00, taking additional work home with me for the evening. To my knowledge there are no flat screen TV's in the academic area and cafeteria that I am aware of; I know for sure there isn't one in my classroom. To clarify, the televisions in the cafeteria were there when I started teaching for the district eight years ago and they are all basic tube TV sets (I'm not sure what the inches are--possibly 26" or 32"). I'm not writing back in order to argue. I just want to put a voice out there from the teacher side of things. If we step outside our little bubble here and look at the rest of the world, Springboro is blessed. Also, argue about the administration all you want, but the brunt of criticism and expectations eventually trickles down to the teachers. Tom wrote: <quoted text>
If are really doing all of these measures that you list, then you really should be more ticked off than even the rest of us at the waste. Hopefully you are at least able to take your bologna sandwich and eat in front of one of the schools flat screen TVs at lunch.
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Tom
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Good Steward wrote: Yes, I really am doing all these measures, and yes I always see the need for fiscal responsibility; I did not agree with or deny anything that has been said regarding the administration's handling of funding--I only shared what I have been doing personally to be a good steward.
I spend my lunch time at my desk grading and recording papers--I have to use every moment I can scratch out of a day (and I don't mean before the school day is out; I mean the 24-hour day) in order to keep up with the volume of students in the classroom; I don't have the luxury of watching television while I eat my lunch. I am at the school early at 6:30, and I usually leave no later than 4:00, taking additional work home with me for the evening.
To my knowledge there are no flat screen TV's in the academic area and cafeteria that I am aware of; I know for sure there isn't one in my classroom. To clarify, the televisions in the cafeteria were there when I started teaching for the district eight years ago and they are all basic tube TV sets (I'm not sure what the inches are--possibly 26" or 32").
I'm not writing back in order to argue. I just want to put a voice out there from the teacher side of things. If we step outside our little bubble here and look at the rest of the world, Springboro is blessed. Also, argue about the administration all you want, but the brunt of criticism and expectations eventually trickles down to the teachers.
<quoted text> I applaud you and any other teacher or administrator that is taking any cost cutting measures. The outcry is not with individual teachers but rather the general waste and attitude of the administration. I am aware of the “trickle down” impact to teachers and I am sorry for that. But the community as a whole is fed up with some of the policies and financial decisions of the administration. The only recourse that the administration seems to understand is a ‘no’ vote. I can only hope that someday the cost cutting attitude you have spreads and bubbles up through the administration. However, with the attitude of the current administration, I doubt it. The key is change at the administrative level.
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Jeff
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I am encouraged to see so many responses. I never see advertising contradicting the propaganda being spread by the school board. I saw an article in the Cincinnati Enquirer two years ago that showed Springboro as the third highest property tax in all of SW Ohio. Mason and Finnytown were one and two respectively. However, the article was smart to note that Mason and Finnytown have no city tax. This effectively makes Springboro residents the highest taxed residents in all of SW Ohio. In an e-mail reply to Dr. Baker I pointed this out, but he would not respond to me. The school board needs a clean house. Before the last levy, we were promised 20:1 student teacher ratios and our classes are not anywhere near that; my kids are getting more than 25:1 each year. We need to unite and bring some very much needed change to this community.
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Tom
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Jeff wrote: I am encouraged to see so many responses. I never see advertising contradicting the propaganda being spread by the school board. I saw an article in the Cincinnati Enquirer two years ago that showed Springboro as the third highest property tax in all of SW Ohio. Mason and Finnytown were one and two respectively. However, the article was smart to note that Mason and Finnytown have no city tax. This effectively makes Springboro residents the highest taxed residents in all of SW Ohio. In an e-mail reply to Dr. Baker I pointed this out, but he would not respond to me. The school board needs a clean house. Before the last levy, we were promised 20:1 student teacher ratios and our classes are not anywhere near that; my kids are getting more than 25:1 each year. We need to unite and bring some very much needed change to this community. Jeff, you can read a whole host of comments on this issue at: http://www.topix.com/city/springboro-oh/2008/...
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Jeff
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Tom wrote: <quoted text> Jeff, you can read a whole host of comments on this issue at: http://www.topix.com/city/springboro-oh/2008/... Tom, thanks for the link. We need to clean house. My in-laws have lived here over 20 years and have to move because of the rising tax costs and fixed incomes.
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Concerned for Springboro
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For the most part good generated information and feelings expressed. If the information on the TV's is incorrect I do appologize but this is what I was informed. The prevailing feeling is not issues with the teachers. I am sure like any other business they work hard, however to be fair they have have some of the best benifits and retirement set up that most other non teachers would give their right arm for. My sister law after working 30 years as teacher retires with pension of 75% of her salary. For the most part she worked 9 months out of every year. No one will argue that is not bad. But as I said that is not the issue. So how do we take the feelings and concerns expressed here and make something positive out of them? We can not keep adding a tax levy every election. We will scare away or force people out of our community. I would be personaly be ashamed if fixed income retired long term residents of Springboro had to give up their homes because of taxes for schools that they no longer even have children in. I seem to remember something in our countries past history about representation and taxation. I think we felt strongly about it then and should now. Why can we not look at alternate means of support of our education. One of the issues is our growing population. I think it is in Indiana where any new housing development or subdivision is required to have a built in tax on the development. This is passed thru to the actual cost of the property by the developers but foces a one time capital cash inflow that is ear marked for community support such as schools, fire and police. The theory being that it can pay for capital costs such as new schools for the new population and other taxes can be better utilized for operating expenses. It seems to work for them but I am not an expert on this. Any other ideas out there and how do we get action on them?
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Boro equals Taxes
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It seems they are putting this exact same levy on the November ballot!! Why is it they are cutting buses siting there is no money but yet they can reinstate them after Christmas break IF the levy in Nov passes? They will not get the Nov dollars until 2009 - why is there magically money after Christmas break IF the levy passes? Seems like the same old scare tactics to me.
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Guyfromboro
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Concerned for Springboro wrote: If the information on the TV's is incorrect I do appologize but this is what I was informed. Have you ever been in any of the schools? I guarantee there aren't any "Large wide screen TV's in the cafe" (I'm assuming you mean the lunch room). You probably heard that from the same person who said township people don't pay taxes for the school. Probably from the same person that Liz from the other board said that pizza is a "big expense" for the school. It's hardly consider nearly $100,000 in revenue an expense. An XXL-pizza (yes, it's bigger than an extra-large) which has 12 slices, and is sold to the school for $5-$6 (let's use $6). At $1.50 a slice, that's $1 profit per slice. If only half of the more than 5,000 students get pizza every week, thats $90,000 (36 weeks). Big expense there!
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Tom
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Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Citizens of Springboro and Clearcreek Township, We the Board of Education of Springboro, led by our dubious leader Sir Baker, have decreed the following. In place of the democratic process subjects shall adhere to the following: 1. BOE members shall approach each residence each lunar month and ring said door bell. 2. Citizen of said residence shall answer door and present open wallet and/or purse. 3. BOE members shall remove from said wallet and/or purse that which has been deemed necessary. 4. Citizen shall not look any BOE member directly in eye and shall divert eyes downward.(Better yet, citizen shall answer door blindfolded). 5. Questions shall not be asked and shall not be tolerated. 6. Upon appropriate riffling through wallet and/or purse, citizen shall joyfully thank each BOE member and quickly shut door. 7. Citizen shall not talk to other citizens about any of this process and shall not protest or cause any discourse; hence ye be deemed a child-hater. 8. BOE members (led by our dubious leader Sir Baker) also reserve right to first born and to kick any family pet on the way out. 9. Hear Ye, Hear All the supreme power of Springboro BOE.
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Jeff
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Good point from "Boro equals taxes". Obviously, scare tactics and dirty politicking. I have been in the schools and I am amazed at the amount of unnecessary expense is in these schools. The gym alone is staggering. This is just elementary schools. The operational expenses must large. I have no particular gripe with teachers, but 9 months and a solid pension is better than the average Joe gets. School teachers are put on a long waiting list trying to get into the Springboro school system. I'm not worried about teachers leaving us bare.
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PayToBreathe
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So, now I lack cohesiveness with the people in my community because of the levy failure. I apologize. I will try dunking myself in maple syrup or honey from now on. ;)
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Judge it!
Scorpio
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