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To the Editor: Maurer urged to debate school levy in town forum |
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Written by Adrian Smith
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Thursday, 25 April 2013 09:52 |
Since 2008 BGCS has cut 31 teaching positions.
They have closed and sold South Main School, the old bus garage, the old Junior High, the old Central Administration Building, and Milton School. Ridge School will close at the end of school.
They have frozen the base salary for all teachers and other employees for the last two years, reduced extended time, reduced supplemental contracts by not filling those positions, reduced supply budgets, eliminated staff appreciation measures and eliminated the HVAC position.
Replaced vacancies were hired at lower salaries. This cost management both in efficiency in buildings and managing expenditures was not due to any past mismanagement but rather to address decreased state funding which in the same time period was reduced $1.3 million from $6.4 to the current $5.1 million. (Source: ODE (Ohio Dept of Ed) SF-3 Reports)
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To the Editor: Metz is not funding anti-levy campaign |
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Written by Rick Metz
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Thursday, 25 April 2013 09:51 |
People that write "Letters to the Editor" should be very careful slandering people without the facts to back up their accusations.
Such was the letter written by William Sweeney in Wednesday's paper. For the record, Rick Metz has not invested one $$$ in "Citizens for Financial Responsibility, or any of the signage around town.
As referenced in some of the comments, Rick Metz is not a "slum Lord." All of his houses are ones he constructed and all are newer than 8 years old.
A wise man once said, "there are no secrets in real estate."
The proposed permanent property tax levy will add about $30 per month to the tax bill on each property.
Knowledge is power!
Rick Metz
Bowling Green
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To the Editor: Raising taxes not the solution |
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Written by Steve Lab
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Thursday, 25 April 2013 09:50 |
160% is more than 150%. I know they teach that in the BG elementary schools. I am certain that when a BG teacher gives a math assignment to a student and the student's answer is wrong and is told it is (way) too high and to try again, the teacher expects the student to come back with a lower answer the next time. If the second answer is even higher, the teacher knows that either 1) the student is ignoring the teacher, 2) remediation is needed, or 3) the student just doesn't care about facts.
It is a good thing that the BG schools' Excellent rating is based on student test scores and not those of the school board. The Board asked to increase our income taxes 150%; the voters said no, that it was too high; and now they ask for a 161% permanent increase in property taxes! I would hope the voters are insulted by this request (I am).
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To the Editor: Board needs to live within its budget |
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Written by Bonnie Redmon
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Thursday, 25 April 2013 09:48 |
How much is enough?
We all want outstanding schools. They are the foundation of any community. The question becomes, how much funding is enough?
In the private sector, the cost of goods and services is set by supply and demand. When GM's products get too expensive, customers buy elsewhere. Private sector unions are fine because they are offset by competition. Employees always feel they are underpaid; that is nature. However, supply and demand drives what someone receives.
Unlike with the private sector, in government there is no competition to keep costs in check. Hence the abundance of inefficiencies in government - it goes unpunished as long as money is available.
When a school district wastes money on cashed in sick leave, and picks up the employee share of pension contributions for administrators, what is in place to punish that inefficiency?
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To the Editor: Anti-levy mailing left out key facts |
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Written by Steven W. Knape
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Thursday, 25 April 2013 09:47 |
The recent mailing from "Citizens for Financial Responsibility" designed to convince voters of the Bowling Green School District to vote no on the upcoming levy leaves out important facts.
They point out that the 6.75 mill levy raises taxes over $400 a year on a $200,000 home. That's true, but not applicable to most folks. The average home value in the district is right around $131,000. That's about $309 a year. That breaks down to eighty-five cents a day. Surely a continued tradition of high-quality education for our kids is worth that?
They shamefully attack and insult our teachers, misstating a teacher's work week. 7:40-3:20? Try 7:30-4:30+. In fact, I usually see teachers still working when I arrive for evening PTO meetings. Furthermore, my daughter's classroom is filled with books, supplies, incentives, etc., all paid for by her teacher. Teachers are responsible for their own continuing education, mandated by state guidelines to keep up their certification.
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To the Editor: Ridge teachers and staff thank city of Bowling Green |
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Written by Ridge faculty and staff
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Wednesday, 24 April 2013 11:32 |
Bowling Green is a fabulous community in which to teach. There is strong parental support of academics and extracurricular activities.
Dedicated volunteers in our libraries, classrooms, and through programs such as "Breakfast Buddies," build bridges to the greater community.
Collaboration with BGSU strengthens the supports we provide to our students through tutoring programs like "Project More;" while we in turn help develop future educators by supervising their field experiences in our classrooms.
Local businesses, organizations, and community members consistently encourage and sponsor our students' endeavors in and out of the classroom, through financial support of levies and fundraisers, and through their supportive presence at our events.
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