| BG narrows school millage options |
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| Written by MARIE THOMAS BAIRD Sentinel Education Editor | |
| Wednesday, 19 December 2012 11:13 | |
At Tuesday's meeting, the board passed a resolution of necessity for a school property tax, sending to the Wood County Auditor's Office a request to provide the current tax valuation and the millage needed to generate $3.8 million, $3.945 million, and $4.033 million annually. Treasurer Rhonda Melchi has estimated those amounts would be equivalent to 6.5 mills, 6.75 mills, and 6.9 mills, respectively. The district is specifically staying shy of the 7-mill mark. As for the highest dollar request, "We're guessing it will be under 7 mills," said board President Eric Myers. That's less than a dollar a day, said board Vice President Ellen Scholl. When asked his preference of the three options, Myers said he wished "we never have to ask the voters ever again." But he added he would like to see an amount that "keeps the school district solvent as long as we can." Of the options presented, a 6.5-mill issue would keep the district in the black until June 2015, then, based on Melchi's calculations, the district would be in the red at $46,996 in June 2016 and $2,621,316 in the hole June 2017. A 6.75-mill property tax would put the district in the good to the tune of $1,197,470 in June 2015, and $318,373 in June 2016, but it would slide back into a deficit the next year to the amount of $2.1 million. The 6.9-mill option would give the district a positive balance of $1,329,000 in June 2015, and $537,595 in June 2016. But the district would be in a deficit the following year to the amount of $1.8 million. Melchi pointed out the $537,595 balance of the 6.9-mill option in three years "would not cover one payroll." While a 6.5 mill request would cost the owner of a $150,000 home an additional $298.59 a year, 6.75 mills would add $310.08 and a 6.9-mill request would cost $316.96, according to Melchi's calculations. Melchi uses a $150,000 home for her calculations because in the Bowling Green community, a $100,000 home is not the norm, she explained at a meeting earlier this month. The board will vote at its regular January meeting on which ballot option to choose. The tax issue will be on the May 7 ballot. Also at the meeting, the board was entertained by four songs from the high school Madrigals, under the direction of Adam Landry. The singers got a standing ovation after their performance. |
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| Last Updated on Wednesday, 19 December 2012 11:19 |
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Comments
They need to present their cost savings plan before asking for more money.
The board needs to do the following before they get my vote.
1- Eliminate all step raises. Raises should only be merit based. Not on years of service or completing arbitrary educational accomplishments . (Not every deserves a raise every year or is there money to do this. This is Business 101.)
2- All employees must cover 20% of their health care premiums and eliminate free dental and vision.
3 - Elimination of sick time payout at retirement. This can be changed at the local level.
Please share your cost savings plan.
1. violate current law, determine how to measure merit and how to monetize it, figure out how to incentivize educational accomplishments without money and with the fact that teachers have to pay for them up front out of pocket.
2. if you eliminate rationed free dental checkups (2x/year) and eye exams (1x every 2 years), you put the teaching profession behind other health plans
3. I have no opinion.
I sure am.
Teachers should be paid on thier merit to the class room. Not on years of service or an "Educational acheivement".
All a masters or doctorate shows, is that you have learned more information from acidemics who may have never worked out side of academia.
Some of the smartest people I know and respect never went to college.
It is a requirement of basic competence that teachers pursue masters degrees, as well as updated certifications, especially when they are specialists. They have to pay tuition usually up front and with the help of loans, and only get partial reimbursement from their districts. Without a balancing salary increase, it would be difficult if not impossible to require them to get that further training.
Since you think you are so smart, how do you measure merit in the classroom?
You seem pretty smug in your assertion that educational achievements have no relevance to education. It's stunning, really. But I suppose someone without a college degree might be more willing to drill students on uncritical embrace of conservative ideas, since they wouldn't be distracted by knowing anything about their subject matter or be distracted by ideals of critical thinking.
Ever heard of the phrase "Those that can do and those that can't teach"
Well the best educators I have had the experience of leaning from were teaching as a second career.
Sharing all they have learned and experienced in the world outside of Academia.
That phrase you smugly and tauntingly quote is also untrue. The best teachers are excellent practitioners.
You seem very dismissive of academia. Let me remind you that that is the world of scholarship and research--scientific, historical, interpretive--that provides the information on which our society often depends.
The most powerful teachers are also role models who also exemplify the best in scholarship and research.
(in case claim you aren't saying that, just bear in mind that public schools would not exist without the taxes. You admit as much when you refer to tuition).
I would be willing to bet you are also against unified statewide academic standards, or wish they were less stringent than they are.
This entire notion is educationally and sociological naïve and extremely destructive.
You couldn't teach if you tried and I have no doubt you'd be the the first to run and abandon your students.
You want all the services but don't want to pay for them. You are the real takers.
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