Why I Will Vote No!

["John Danahy" <JDANAHY@turbonet.com>]

Why I Will Vote NO!

     As a former trustee of the district, who spent five years working with
and understanding the district budget process, I know there are sufficient
funds within the current budget to pay for all the items requested in the
levy increase.   However, the board cannot pay for these items and pay for
the current employee compensation package too.  What we are being asked to
do is provide almost 2 million dollars in increased property taxes for
salaries and benefits of district employees.  The board is deceiving the
public with its request for funds to pay for the items it has listed.  For
example, the board wants $900,000 to replace money currently budgeted from
the fund balance.  That is fine, but the supplemental levy increase is not a
one time increase.  It will collect that $900,000 every year.  The board
will replace the fund balance the 1st year, then what is it going to do the
$900,000 it collects the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. years??  What will this money
be spent on?  While this level of deception and lack of honesty is typically
associated with the MEA, it is unfortunate to see the Board of Trustees
stooping so low!  I notice that the board has published the impact of the
levy increase as referenced to owners of $100,000 and $150,000 houses.  What
about businesses??  What about rentals??  Are homeowners the only ones
impacted by this levy increase??  There is a large contingent in our
community who are not as well off as school district employees.  They will
be negatively affected by this increase.  Why doesn't the board publish the
change in rent for a two bedroom apartment or a rental in Syringa Trailer
Court??  Is this to hide the impact and reduce the votes?  Remember we are
already voluntarily paying 4.5 million dollars in local property taxes over
and above what is required be the state.  That is a huge burden for many.
     As a 25 year resident of Moscow, I have always supported the public
schools by voting yes on every funding request.  This will be the first time
I will vote no.  As a property tax payer, I supported the past levies,
including the vote that made the supplemental levy "indefinite" because the
teachers and administrators of the district promised that the students of
the district would receive a quality education in return for my support.
That promise has yet to be kept, and in my opinion, will never be kept.  The
quality of work being pandered in the classrooms of this district can be
optimistically describe as poor.  The reduction in class sizes that has
occurred over the last six years has not improved student learning or
improved classroom instruction.  There is a reason why the schools have lost
more than 350 students over the last several years.  The time has come to
return to the practice of voting on the supplemental levy every year.  This
practice would allow the community to voice its opinion of the local schools
every year and require the Board to become more responsive to local
community opinions.
     Who else will vote no on Thursday?  The parents of students in our two
charter schools will vote no because none of these funds will be used to
educate those students.  The parents of the students of our several
successful private schools will vote no because these parents are already
paying extra to insure a quality education for their children.  The parents
of our high school students who are attending classes for high school credit
at the UI or LCSC will vote no because they're paying tuition to insure
academic quality.  The parents of our numerous home schooled students will
vote no because those funds will be better utilized at home than they will
ever be utilized by Moscow's public schools.
     As a parent of two former students in Moscow's public schools, I will
vote no.  One student graduated and the other dropped out her senior year.
The graduate discovered upon entering post secondary school just how far
behind he was from the vast majority of other public school graduates.  The
drop out was certainly better off as she had no illusions.  She dropped out
because MHS offered her nothing that met her needs.
    When one of my children was in junior high, a counselor was approached
regarding taking a more academic work load than what was recommended.  The
counselor's response was essentially: why would anyone want to do that; it
is just more work.  Unfortunately, I have found that attitude to be
prevalent among many of the staff, too.  What! Actually teach? Why would
someone do that, it is just more work!  This attitude is seen in the teacher
who refused to help when asked for assistance from students who were
confused by his lectures.  It is seen in the teacher who verbally abused and
physically threatened a student who was simply bored in class.  It is also
seen in the professional opinion of the high school principal who feels it
is more important for students who are academically failing to spend time
with a coach than a classroom teacher - an opinion that was fully supported
by the Moscow Education Association and the current board.

There are dedicated teachers in the Moscow School District.  They are hard
working individuals who believe in what they are doing and epitomize what a
professional educator is.  Unfortunately, there are more eggs in the carton
than the few professional educators in the MSD!

I Will Vote No!

John Danahy
2341 Henry Court
Moscow, Idaho  83843
208-883-0926
jdanahy@turbonet.com