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To the Editor: Writer cites errors in donkey basketball story |
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Written by Virginia Holmes
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Friday, 03 May 2013 10:02 |
Regarding your article http://www.sent-trib.com/local-news/walbridge-mom-upset-about-donkey-basketball-game
I wrote to the reporter there were a couple mistakes you need to be aware of.
1) Title. Walbridge mom is upset is not what describes us, a "group of parents opposing to the Donkey basket Ball Game in our School." I was the contact person as the organizer, but the article shows it is just one person, me. That is not true. On the other hand, it is not that me as a parent do not agree with the game, but I am an animal advocate for Nitro Foundation and I educate the people about animal abuse.
2) Mr. Witt never told me this: "Witt, she said, told her Lake had a contact with the company that would be difficult to break and the money was being counted on from the fundraiser".
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To the Editor: Quality BG schools deserve voter support |
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Written by Gary and Rose Hess
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Friday, 03 May 2013 09:57 |
The Citizens for Financial Responsibility urges citizens to vote against the school levy. The reasons for the opposition are misleading. For instance, the group criticizes the schools for being "downgraded" last year; true, but they were downgraded from "excellent with distinction" to "excellent"-hardly a reason to vote against a levy. The group, and others opposing the levy, are especially critical of personnel cost. Sounding much like the "tea partiers" assault on public employees as overpaid and coddled, the levy's opponents lament that the average teacher costs $84,000 a year (in salary and benefits) to teach a mere 32 hours a week (plus eight hours for class preparation, grading papers, etc.) for just nine months. These data fail to acknowledge that teachers' work typically extends into the evening and week-ends and that many teachers enroll in summer courses and workshops that enhance their knowledge and skills.
Moreover, the opponents of the levy imply that Bowling Green's personnel costs are unreasonably high. The increase in the number of employees with total compensation of more than $80,000 results principally from an increasing number of senior faculty, and the rising cost of health care over which teachers have no control.
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To the Editor: BG schools deserve support election day |
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Written by Lisa Codding
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Friday, 03 May 2013 09:17 |
What is the first thing someone asks when they are looking to move into a new community? They ask, "How are the schools?"
We do wonderful things in Bowling Green schools and we'd like to continue doing wonderful things. Please vote yes for BG City Schools.
Lisa Codding
Bowling Green
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To the Editor: Support of schools a community priority |
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Written by Sherry Frye
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Friday, 03 May 2013 09:15 |
Those in the Bowling Green School District have the opportunity this election to show our support for our schools. I hope we, as a community, will embrace that opportunity and pass this much-needed levy.
We have an excellent school system. Most recently, the Bowling Green School District was rated higher than 78% of all districts in the state of Ohio, scoring a designation of Excellent. (At the level the district scored - the top 22% of all Ohio districts -- the differences between districts are statistically very small.)
You'd expect that our per student expenditure would also be at 78% compared to all Ohio districts, but it's far less. The most recently reported per student expenditure was less than the average of all Ohio districts. In other words, we provide an excellent educational experience for our students at a cost less than the average of all Ohio districts. That, clearly, shows a district being prudent with our tax dollars.
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To the Editor: State covers about 26 percent of BG costs |
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Written by Ellen Scholl
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Friday, 03 May 2013 09:14 |
The school board has placed another levy on the ballot. For many the response is "There they are again asking for money." Why, you ask? Did you know that state funding only covers about 26 percent of the school systems' annual budget and that number is going to be reduced? The rest of our funding comes from the BG Community. Approximately 85 percent of our budget is spent on people. We are a people business. Our doors are open to everyone. A private school can turn students away.
I read in the paper recently that there are businesses moving to BG. The first question most people ask when they move to a new community is, "How are the schools and does the community support them?" How will you answer them?
What will the future of this community be if we do not provide every child with a good education that enables them to go out into the world and become successful adults?
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To the Editor: Fees, taxes, regulations choke us to death |
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Written by Carlene Creps
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Friday, 03 May 2013 09:13 |
Taxes, fees, regulations, we are rapidly being choked to death by them! Does the average person realize how much of this we have to pay? Every tiny thing we use, consume, eat or drive has already had some of this charged to the manufacturer, transporter, raw materials, etc. that is folded into the price we pay. Then we pay again in federal, state and local taxes in the cost of gasoline, insurance, food eaten in restaurants, coffee, cleaning products, furniture, automobiles, any labor we have done, and even the clean air we breathe.
Property or real estate taxes include tax for schools, senior citizens, parks and recreation, roads and streets, assessments for water and sewer, cemeteries, trash collection, and more! Your phone bill includes franchise fees, more state sales tax, (2) FCC fees, Federal Universal Service fee, Regulatory fee, Ohio TRS Recovery fee, lease and convertor fees and more! Then there are extra fees charged for sports participation, school books, and fees for joining an organization. There are license fees for vehicles, permits to build, and install water or sewer, cut a curb, open a business or enter a theater. There are federal and state taxes paid (death taxes) when you die for heirs. Plus, more taxes not mentioned.
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