SOS! Save Our Schools! needs volunteers.

[Scott Meeson]

From the Minutes of the February 1, 2010 Regular Meeting of the Lakewood City Council:

****

15. (1B) RESOLUTION NO. 8399-10 – A RESOLUTION in support of Lakewood School Operating Levy. (Pg. 21)

Motion by Mr. Summers, seconded by Mr. Butler, to adopt Resolution No. 8399-10.
Motion adopted. All members voting yea.

****

RESOLUTION NO. 8399-10 is attached.

Thank you, 2010 City Hall!

Support the School Levy, 2013 City Hall!

Matt,

For me, that resolution had no influence on my vote in May of 2010.

I'd be surprised to learn that Mike Summers(Mr. Schools) has EVER voted no regarding a levy and/or bond issue for Lakewood City School District. I just don't think he's ever seen a levy and/or bond issue that he didn't support/like.

Just give me the facts and figures to make an informed decision.


Scott Meeson

[Jim O'Bryan]

Matt,

For me, that resolution had no influence on my vote in May of 2010.

I'd be surprised to learn that Mike Summers(Mr. Schools) has EVER voted no regarding a levy and/or bond issue for Lakewood City School District. I just don't think he's ever seen a levy and/or bond issue that he didn't support/like.

Just give me the facts and figures to make an informed decision.


Scott Meeson

Scott

I would agree, that each person needs to look at every issue and how they apply to themselves and their family, and family needs, to cast the vote. While I question the impact of endorsements as a whole, the LO Endorsement does come from a wide group of people both Democrat and Republican who sincerely want kids educated in this city.

Dollars are inanimate objects, and have very little impact on how they are used. However the management of those funds is done by elected officials who have the ability to change what they do and how they think. This is one reason I support the Levy, and see the election of School Board and Council people as the way to regulate how things are used and abused.

To work with the old adage, "A fool and his money are soon parted": If the fool is responsible
for the well-being of others, and has been parted from our money, giving him less money only hurts those that need help. Meanwhile, finding better managers of those funds is what will fix the mistakes in the system, and help manage the funds better, down the road. Good management will give good results.

Because of the way schools are required to find funding, and with the cuts from the state
that saw our last Levy that I believed was going to raise $6 million, in actual funding
after state cuts raising closer to $700,000, additional funding is needed. That is a fact.

Contrary to the negative headlines of others, we have 5 schools rated as excellent
and 2 that are listed as excellent with distinction. The schools have proven to me that they
are doing a great job with funding, but outside oversight is always a good thing, and
perhaps a look at the management could not hurt either.



.

[marklingm]

For me, that resolution had no influence on my vote in May of 2010.

I'd be surprised to learn that Mike Summers (Mr. Schools) has EVER voted no regarding a levy and/or bond issue for Lakewood City School District. I just don't think he's ever seen a levy and/or bond issue that he didn't support/like.

Just give me the facts and figures to make an informed decision.

Scott,

I hope that Peter Grossetti, Associate Editor for Community Engagement, has already reached out to Mayor Mike Summers - in Mike's official position as the levy co-chair - to share the facts and figures with us in "interactive forums" to give all of us the facts and figures to make an informed decision.

As Peter explains, these interactive forums are "designed to help The Lakewood Observer Project reach our mission and goal: to attract, articulate, and amplify civic intelligence and community good will in the city of Lakewood and beyond (mission) in order to help Lakewood residents and neighbors learn as much as possible about the city. (goal)"

See http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=11655.

Stay tuned ... and ... Support the School Levy!

Matt

[Scott Meeson]

For me, that resolution had no influence on my vote in May of 2010.

I'd be surprised to learn that Mike Summers (Mr. Schools) has EVER voted no regarding a levy and/or bond issue for Lakewood City School District. I just don't think he's ever seen a levy and/or bond issue that he didn't support/like.

Just give me the facts and figures to make an informed decision.

Scott,

I hope that Peter Grossetti, Associate Editor for Community Engagement, has already reached out to Mayor Mike Summers - in Mike's official position as the levy co-chair - to share the facts and figures with us in "interactive forums" to give all of us the facts and figures to make an informed decision.

As Peter explains, these interactive forums are "designed to help The Lakewood Observer Project reach our mission and goal: to attract, articulate, and amplify civic intelligence and community good will in the city of Lakewood and beyond (mission) in order to help Lakewood residents and neighbors learn as much as possible about the city. (goal)"

See http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=11655.

Stay tuned ... and ... Support the School Levy!

Matt

Matt,

Who is co-chair?
A) Mayor Mike Summers
B) Mike Summers (private citizen)
C) Both A &B
D) Neither A & B
E) Scott you're a dumb ass.

Try to restrain yourselves.

Scott

[marklingm]

Matt,

Who is co-chair?
A) Mayor Mike Summers
B) Mike Summers (private citizen)
C) Both A &B
D) Neither A & B
E) ***

Try to restrain yourselves.

Scott

Scott,

Based upon the following press release excerpt from the last school levy, I would guess "(A) Mayor Mike Summers:"

LEVY EFFORT EARNS CITY LEADERS' ENDORSEMENTS

With city officials and community leaders in its corner, the Lakewood Board of Education at its Feb. 1 meeting unanimously voted to send a request to the county to place a 6.9 mill operating levy on the May 4 ballot. It will be the first new operating levy on the Lakewood ballot since 2002. Heading up the campaign effort will be co-chairs Mayor Ed FitzGerald and City Councilman and former school Board member Michael Summers.

***

The Mayor pledged to offer his support in any way that he can, noting that strong cities only exist with strong school systems. “There is no city in the country that is thriving that doesn’t have a thriving public school district,” Mayor FitzGerald said at a joint Board of Education/City Council meeting held Jan. 25.

http://www.lakewoodcityschools.org/districtNewsArticle.aspx?artID=667 (emphasis added)

Did I get the answer correct?

Matt

[marklingm]

The schools have proven to me that they are doing a great job with funding, but outside oversight is always a good thing, and perhaps a look at the management could not hurt either.

Jim,

One of the reasons that I am supporting the school levy is because of Superintendent Jeff Patterson's management of the Lakewood City Schools.

The City of Lakewood is lucky to have Jeff Patterson at the helm of the Lakewood City Schools!

Treasurer Tim Penton is a class act as well.

Matt

[Scott Meeson]

Matt,

For me, that resolution had no influence on my vote in May of 2010.

I'd be surprised to learn that Mike Summers(Mr. Schools) has EVER voted no regarding a levy and/or bond issue for Lakewood City School District. I just don't think he's ever seen a levy and/or bond issue that he didn't support/like.

Just give me the facts and figures to make an informed decision.


Scott Meeson

Scott

I would agree, that each person needs to look at every issue and how they apply to themselves and their family, and family needs, to cast the vote. While I question the impact of endorsements as a whole, the LO Endorsement does come from a wide group of people both Democrat and Republican who sincerely want kids educated in this city.

Dollars are inanimate objects, and have very little impact on how they are used. However the management of those funds is done by elected officials who have the ability to change what they do and how they think. This is one reason I support the Levy, and see the election of School Board and Council people as the way to regulate how things are used and abused.

To work with the old adage, "A fool and his money are soon parted": If the fool is responsible
for the well-being of others, and has been parted from our money, giving him less money only hurts those that need help. Meanwhile, finding better managers of those funds is what will fix the mistakes in the system, and help manage the funds better, down the road. Good management will give good results.

Because of the way schools are required to find funding, and with the cuts from the state
that saw our last Levy that I believed was going to raise $6 million, in actual funding
after state cuts raising closer to $700,000, additional funding is needed. That is a fact.

Contrary to the negative headlines of others, we have 5 schools rated as excellent
and 2 that are listed as excellent with distinction. The schools have proven to me that they
are doing a great job with funding, but outside oversight is always a good thing, and
perhaps a look at the management could not hurt either.



.

Jim,

Here is my largest motivation(last 10 years) for voting in the affirmative for Lakewood City School District's funding needs:
Lakewood High School Principal, Dr. William Wagner

"Every Period, Every Day!"

http://www.cleveland.com/sunpostherald/index.ssf/2012/02/lakewood_high_school_principal.html

Dr. Wagner being Dr. Wagner...sells it for me!! I know the facts and figures of what he has meant to my three sons.

[Peter Grossetti]

I hope that Peter Grossetti, Associate Editor for Community Engagement, has already reached out to Mayor Mike Summers - in Mike's official position as the levy co-chair - to share the facts and figures with us in "interactive forums" to give all of us the facts and figures to make an informed decision.

As Peter explains, these interactive forums are "designed to help The Lakewood Observer Project reach our mission and goal: to attract, articulate, and amplify civic intelligence and community good will in the city of Lakewood and beyond (mission) in order to help Lakewood residents and neighbors learn as much as possible about the city. (goal)"

See http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=11655.

Matt - I have extended an invitation to Mayor Summers, as co-chair of the Levy Committee, to be a part of our LOKOL Public Forum Series. (Just as I would invite anti-levy representation if I could identify any formal organization who rejects the levy concept.) No word back yet.

[Peter Grossetti]

Happy to report that the upcoming issue of Lakewood Observer will include an Opinion piece by levy committee co-chairs Mike Summers and Christina Gill McCallum.

I still hope they--and/or anyone from the anti-levy side--take up our invitation to participate in a late-April LOKOL Public Forum. I'm holding off on scheduling anything for April until I hear from the pro- and anti-levy folks. (It's THAT important).

Until then, This Observer says: SUPPORT THE LEVY!

Peter Grossetti
Associate Editor for Community Engagement
The Lakewood Observer Project
petergrossetti@lakewoodobserver.com

[marklingm]

Happy to report that the upcoming issue of Lakewood Observer will include an Opinion piece by levy committee co-chairs Mike Summers and Christina Gill McCallum.

See the opinion piece written by levy co-chairs Mayor Mike Summers and Christina Gill McCallum at http://lakewoodobserver.com/read/2013/03/05/levy-needed-to-keep-lakewood-schools-excellent-accountable.

[Bill Call]

Happy to report that the upcoming issue of Lakewood Observer will include an Opinion piece by levy committee co-chairs Mike Summers and Christina Gill McCallum.

I still hope they--and/or anyone from the anti-levy side--take up our invitation to participate in a late-April LOKOL Public Forum. I'm holding off on scheduling anything for April until I hear from the pro- and anti-levy folks. (It's THAT important).

Until then, This Observer says: SUPPORT THE LEVY!

Peter Grossetti
Associate Editor for Community Engagement
The Lakewood Observer Project
petergrossetti@lakewoodobserver.com

I'd be happy to take the pro-student, pro-Lakewood, pro-citizen (aka so called anti-levy) side in this debate on the condition that Matt Markling be the moderator.

[Peter Grossetti]

I'd be happy to take the pro-student, pro-Lakewood, pro-citizen (aka so called anti-levy) side in this debate on the condition that Matt Markling be the moderator.

Bill - email me: petergrossetti@lakewoodobserver.com

[marklingm]

"MAY 7 LEVY: WHAT'S AT STAKE" ... see http://www.lakewoodcityschools.org/districtNewsArticle.aspx?artID=1895

[marklingm]

I'd be happy to take the pro-student, pro-Lakewood, pro-citizen (aka so called anti-levy) side in this debate on the condition that Matt Markling be the moderator.

Bill - email me: petergrossetti@lakewoodobserver.com

Peter and Bill,

While I am not serving on the school levy committee, I am a shameless school levy supporter.

I would be honored to moderate any discussion of “Good Neighbors Talking Face–to-Face
About the School Levy” provided the LOKOL Public Forum takes place before the second week of April 2013. I am unavailable after the first week of April 2013.

If the levy co-chairs - Mayor Mike Summers and/or Christina Gill McCallum - cannot participate in the LOKOL Public Forum, the levy campaign committee does have numerous “official” speakers who are dividing up community events. So far, I understand that there has not been a problem getting in to speak to about 20-25 events. I’m sure they can fit in an LOKOL Public Forum as well – especially since The Lakewood Observer was one of the first entities to officially endorse the school levy.

Support the School Levy!

Matt

[Peter Grossetti]

I would be honored to moderate any discussion of “Good Neighbors Talking Face–to-Face
About the School Levy” provided the LOKOL Public Forum takes place before the second week of April 2013. I am unavailable after the first week of April 2013.

If the levy co-chairs - Mayor Mike Summers and/or Christina Gill McCallum - cannot participate in the LOKOL Public Forum, the levy campaign committee does have numerous “official” speakers who are dividing up community events. So far, I understand that there has not been a problem getting in to speak to about 20-25 events. I’m sure they can fit in an LOKOL Public Forum as well – especially since The Lakewood Observer was one of the first entities to officially endorse the school levy.

Matt - While I do not conduct LO business via The Deck, I thank you for your offer and will be in touch. I will say this:

- The For Lakewood Schools Levy Committee has been invited several ways to participate in a LOKOL forum.
- Representation from the anti-levy community is lined up.
- I will not present a LOKOL Public Forum unless both sides are represented.
- If the forum is presented, it will not be a formal debate ... but rather a opportunity for both side to present their case (most likely with moderation) and the opportunity for the public to also chime in.

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