Health & Fitness
In Case You Weren't Sure Where I Stand On The Facilities Bond Issue...
I dunno, maybe I was a little wishy-washy?
After another 22 minute sales pitch from the LFC, you know, the "Extended Community Comments", I spoke, thusly:
My name is Garry Kanter, I am a Heights High graduate and a resident of Cleveland Heights.
I've been paying close attention to things at the school district for the last year. I mean, real close. And I don't like what is going on around here in the least. And I don't like the way it's being done.
Great educations do not come from great buildings alone. And they don't come from buildings that are neglected. Not easily, anyways. You know about that $42 MILLION backlog of repairs that Plan C was going to take care of, right? Per the superintendent, that was his big justification for us to pass Plan C - ”The Ghost Of Building Repairs Future”. Well, that huge backlog is barely an afterthought at the 7 elementaries - if that, in this new scheme.
Great educations from from great EDUCATORS. And great students, heck, GOOD students, all have one thing in abundance – HOPE!
And while you all are going on endlessly about this $250 MILLION Master Facilities Plan BOONDOGGLE, 42 teachers have been notified that they are being laid off. Plus another 34 non-teaching positions received the same disturbing news.
And the $ for teachers and the $ for buildings all come from the same source, guys. From the taxpayers. You and me.
And I'd rather spend my tax $ on teachers, and properly fixing up buildings, than whatever crappy crap these guys are coming up with. Which hasn't been explained to my satisfaction at all. Nor has it had any of that repeatedly promised community input. No, not at all. And I tried.
Because it's those teachers BEING IN THE CLASSROOM, with the proper tools and support, and not some half-baked ideas of some grand and glorious $100 MILLION HIGH SCHOOL buildings, that give kids HOPE.
Because kids aren't dumb. They know when they're being sold out. They know when they've BEEN sold out. Like, when the Denison Pool was closed. Or when more time is spent discussing how to “sell” the football stadium to the voters, than was spent deciding to close Noble Elementary.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, ALREADY.
ENOUGH OF THIS BOND/LFC CHARADE.
ENOUGH OF THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION, THIS SUPERINTENDENT, THIS TREASURER, AND THE LAY FINANCE COMMITTEE SAYING WORDS THAT HAVE NO MEANING.
ENOUGH OF FUTUREHEIGHTS, REACHING HEIGHTS, AND THIS SO-CALLED “ALUMNI FOUNDATION” ENABLING AND PROMOTING THIS CHARADE.
AND ESPECIALLY, ENOUGH OF THIS CAN'T-BE-FORGOTTEN-SOON-ENOUGH LAY FACILITIES COMMITTEE. PERIOD
It's time for real civic engagement. That includes the “invisible” people in our community.
A rising tide lifts all ships. That's how it's going to happen. All that tide needs is “HOPE”.
It's time for big changes around here, and this is NO time to pass that bond levy.