I know we all hate paying taxes, we get that. But those taxes go to pay for things that people all want and now EXPECT from the government. Here in Ohio, the Southwestern school district just had a levy on the ballot in the local elections, it failed. Well now parents are raising hell because the school is forced to cut out extracurricular activities and some bussing:
A Columbus-area mother wants to take on school-funding reform.
She’s ready to file a class-action lawsuit to change the system.
Maggie Stiltner’s daughter is a junior at Franklin Heights High School. She says she wants to make sure her daughter gets the best education possible and if that means going to court, so be it.
"I want to file a class action lawsuit against Southwestern City Schools," Stiltner says. She plans to include the State of Ohio, too.
Like Ohio’s 613 other districts, Southwestern City Schools depend on property taxes. With the failure of last week’s 8.3-mill levy, the district is facing severe budget cuts including the elimination of all extra-curricular activities and busing for high school students. The district says it has already cut $14 million from its budget and laid off 260 teachers and support staffers.
But Maggie says her daughter deserves better and that’s why she wants to file a lawsuit to force a change in the way the state funds schools.
I'd be interested in seeing how they think states should fund schools, because states are already strapped for money, and we all know parents don't want the FEDS controlling local schools.
Now the parents in the Southwestern School District are trying to get their kids into other school districts. The local CBS station had video of students standing up and being mad because now they won't have extracurricular activites to put on their college applications.
Now, I feel these people's pain, really I do. But schools just DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. Everyone knows that they are paid for with local property taxes (which is why some school districts get more money than others). No it's not fair, and I think maybe there should be a change in how schools are paid for, but any change like that is going to take a long time, which means the children of the parents who are complaining now may very well have graduated from high school by then.
One top concern is the cuts of extra curricular activities. Some parents want to know why the district wont enact pay-to-play sports and activities.
Others say they want the district to consider other cuts and to reevaluate spending. Most people in attendance were in support of putting another levy on a future ballot.
Source
Well apparently, the district doesn't think pay to play will actually cover all of the costs, and then I have to wonder, what about the kids who can't afford to "pay"? As far as other cuts, what else do they think the district can cut? I'm pretty sure if they've started cutting things like FOOTBALL, they are at the end of their list of options. I see now they want another levy on future ballots, well good. Maybe next time they'll vote for it. I can't help but wonder how many of them voted on the one that just failed.
I may not have kids, and I don't plan on having any anytime soon, but I still vote for the levies for school districts, I know they need the money. I do think there should be some reforms in how they spend the money, but in these horrible times when schools are consistently being forced to cut programs (like Music), I'm going to do my small part to help.