Those of you who attended one of the MSD Decatur Township School Board public hearings -- staff or community -- what was your take on what happened?
Did you testify? If so, what points did you try to make? What points did other speakers make that resonated with you? What do you wish you, or somebody else, had said? How did the School Board and Adminstration react to the comments?
Your turn.
Posts
Mark Small posted blog posts
7 hours ago
20 comments:
Tonights meeting was not bad. There was a lot of support for our teachers and for not closing the Pavillion. I wish the board or Mr Stinson would have addressed the public more in what they are leaning towards doing. I think any decisions should wait until June since 3 seats are up for re-election. I know there has to be other options out there still. I know Mr Stinson has said that there will be cuts at administration but just how much. I would love to know exactly who all works at the administration building and what there job and salaries are. And secondly, what is their reasoning for leaving their currnet building and needing to move into the Concerta building?
I did attend the meeting however, I did not get up and speak. It was nice to see that everyone handled themselves nicely and there were no arguements.
I agree that no decisions on any of these matters should be made until the re-election.
It was nice to see a community come together and support what they wfeel is right. There were alot of topics touch on but I do feel that the most important things are to not cut teachers, bus drivers or close the Pavilion. Kids have to walk far enough as it is to get to their bus stops. If they cut bus drivers kids will only have to walk farther, it just is not safe.
The people that got up and spoke on behalf of the Pavilion i think did a very good job.Pam Nihiser got up and let people know just how much the Pavilion has helped her son, and I think it was very nice that Pat from the Pavilion daughter stood up and let people know how important the Pavilion is. She touched on the topic that if the Pavilion is gone some kids will have nowhere to go. I have went to the Pavilion for many years and if they keep it open, I plan to still go for many more. I hope the school board makes the right decision and keeps the Pavilion open and keeps the management there as well. When you go in there you feel as though you know them and that is how a community center should be. It would not be the same if the Pavilion was ran by any other people than Wayne Fisher and Pat Knight. I just hope the school board got the hint at last nights meeting.
Why is it that when we need to cut the budget they always go for the the janitorial staff, the drivers, the cafeteria, the IA's and then the teachers. These people are paid the least and more of them have to leave to make up short falls. These people are the ones directly involved with our kids. Cut the excess at the top. Get rid of half of the people that work at the administration building (and I'm not talking about the receptionist) that's where we can save wasted money!
i agree to cut admin. i also agree feb. is way to soon to make such a drastic decision. with those who spoke up last night, i'm very excited to see who will be appointed next to the school board!
i'm very upset with the way that mr. stinson and the board have decided to spend money. they very well may be "good people". however,
their "job" is to represent and look after our well being. they have failed, but it is those who are most important that will be the ones to suffer!!!!
I AGREE NO DECISIONS UNTIL NEXT SCHOOLBOARD ELECTION!I WAS OFFENDED BY THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THERE WOULD BE NO SCREAMING AND SHOUTING OR WE WOULD BE ESCORTED OUT. THAT IS THE MENTALITY THIS ADMINISTRATION AND SCHOOLBOARD HAS ABOUT DECATUR RESIDENTS. THIS SCHOOLBOARD AND ADMINISTRATION HAS PUT US IN THIS MESS BY OVERSPENDING AND FEATHERING THEIR OWN NESTS. WHEN THEY MOVED OUT OF THE OLD ADMIN. BUILDING THERE WERE 9 PEOPLE WORKING THERE.THERE ARE NOW 33. THEY THINK THEY NEED TO MOVE BECAUSE THEY ARE OVERCROWDED NOW.WE HAVE A SUPERINTENDENT MAKIN THE SECOND HIGHEST SALARY IN THE STATE AND WE ONLY HAVE AROUND 6,000 ENROLLMENT, WHICH HAS NOT CHANGED THAT MUCH IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.THEN TO GIVE STINSON $40,000 FOR A NEW ANNUITY IN HIS NEW CONTRACT THIS YEAR IS UNBELIEVEABLE! HAD ENOUGH DECATUR? " YOU BET"
Overall the meeting ran ok. I am not sure how we can get the format of the meeting changed to more of a question answer session. I also feel that if someone has done researched and prepared something to say to the board they should be allowed more than 5 min. to talk. One lady had some good points but they cut her off before she had finished. The corporation knew the tax cap was going in place and knew they would be short. Why did they not do anything before now? We need to work on the education of the kids!!!!!! The graduation rate could be a lot better. We have been supporting the school corporation spending spree for awhile now. It is time these taxpayers get a break and the corporation makes the cuts where they need to be. I do not feel buying the concentra building and moving corporate offices is inline with these goals. Also why would teachers want to give up a dime when the corporation is buying buildings?
Does the community have any means to stop Stinson and the Board from making some of these changes and is there any way to force them to cut there staff by 1/3. Let's lay the administration off that we do not need at this point and time. When we have enough money in the bank to bring them back, then we will. Yeah Right like that's going to happen anytime soon.
So who is running for the schoolboard? How do you run for the schoolboard? What qualifications do you have to have? How long are the terms? What does the job entail?
I attended the meeting last night and was very prouid of how the residents that attended handled themselves. But how many of you will be at that February 11th school board meeting when they tell their decisions of what will be done. As I came in the back drive to the school I looked at the parking lot of the pavilion , it was packed with cars of people that were in there. How many school board members go in there and see how many people use that building. Well I do and have for many years . I have been in there and have heard how and what some of those coaches say that are in there with those youth teams. If you think that the school board is listening to you you better think again I have heard the coaches making their plans for that building. Unless people demand that decisions wait till a new school board is in place you will lose the many things you have . Just remember those people sitting there last night are all politians and they will do whats best for them not necessarily what the community wants. I would not be surprised if decisions on the pavilion were made a long time ago. And why does the football team need astro turf on a football field when there was nothing wrong with them playing on grass? That money could have been used for something that was needed more. Sell that extra property get the administration back in line before we are all in trouble down here. Lets worry about our community and our kids and cut some of these perks the school board and administrators get. With the money they make they can pay for their own trips or dont go on them.
There is a meeting you must attend if you want to join the school board. It will be held at the Beech
Grove High School Feb. 16th. The cost for the kit is $35.00. Go to the Indiana School Board Association website for all the info.
Lots of peoople are getting hurt who did not cause this to happen. Why is it not possible to eliminate Candy Milhon Baer who was hired on a grant that has expired? Why is it not possible to eliminate both Peterzak and Lineweber who was hired for very expensive programs? Why is it not possible to eliminate Rather since no more construction can happen? Why is it not possible to hire a new superintendent for less money? There are others like Susan Adams that we don't need.
Sorry, but I am going to have to jump in here.
undaunted -- you DO NOT have to attend any meeting... you DO NOT have to pay any money to anybody... to run for School Board.
I will post tomorrow the link to the form you have to fill out. It takes 10 signatures of registered voters in your School Board District. It is free to download. It is free to submit. The deadline for submitting the Candidate form is noon, February 19.
Sorry to interupt.
What qualifications does a person have to have to run for a seat on the school board?
By the way, isnt it a little bit of a conflict of intrest when the fire chief is sitting on the board?
This is for the person that asked about the astro turf on the football. Could it be that they laid that turf cause the new head coach for the high school football team is the grandson to Don Huffman that is on the school board???
I play basketball at the Pavilion a couple times a week and there are places on the courts where there are holes. That money could have been used to help fix that.
I attended the meeting very late and left very early, thus using my time to wash my dog. Well if I had a dog. I felt people were talking to an open mike that was being piped directly into Don Stinson's "I really don't give a s#!t file".
Cuts clearly have to be made. Salaries have to be cut, services have to be cut, personnel need to be cut, efficient use of existing resources need to made by redistricting and yes closing the pavilion. Pat mentions all of the real estate the township has purchased. I believe that selling it now would not be a good move. The property that was purchased by the school was too high priced then and to sell it now would cause the taxpayers to take a huge hit that we would never get back. Not to mention if the district ever needed land we would have to buy it back!. The run down house and concerta were bad purchases. I would let those go.
Decisions need to be made and waiting is not an option. These problems developed on their watch and maybe a little earlier and should addressed on their watch.
I am in favor of pay as go for sports but, the athletic directors pay will need to take a hit.
On a last note of ridiculous thought.. a salary cap should be in place that no one in government employment should make more than twice the median incomes of those paying their salary. What is median income for Decatur? 35-37,000
had enough indy
sorry!!!!
I was at that meeting and couldn't help but notice how Stinson looked as if he could fall asleep any minute. Once the meeting was over he popped up, grabbed his things quickly to get out of there. Anyone else observe this? Glad he is so concerned about our children!
Well as a teacher i understand the mess the state government has caused! Namely DANIELS!!!!! If it wasn't for all his stupidity schools would not be facing this situation.
If you want a real response the the problem let's cut only two things:
1. Transportation....... get your own kids to schools.
2. All sports and extra-currlculars... boy if all schools would do this at the same time...DANIELS would have a fit and rage.
I like most other usually stay away from things like this. They always seem to clean themselves up. I did attend the community meeting and the meeting the next night. Talk about turn out. The community meeting had to have had at least 200 to 300 people attending with great comments and suggestions. I for one am very happy I'm not in the shoe of the board and supt.
I expected the same kind of turn out for the next evening session and was taken aback becuase there was noone in attendance.
Dale did mention to everyone that there would be a meeting the next night and I also remember one gentleman speaking at the community event, that people need to attend and assist and participate in our school ventures.
Well community, I guess we have noone to blame but US. Wow, what a poor turnout. There were board members than community members. It speaks of our interest in schools.
Don't complain unless you have something to really complain about for you are the source and maybe possibly the cure.
The next nights meeting was a board member work session. It was not a public event. They did mention the public would be able to come at the very end but would not be allowed to say anything. That was not a regular meeting but an extra work session for the board. 200 people is a good turnout for a school system with 6000?
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