The Observation Deck

Lakewood High School has been named one of U.S. News & World Report's Best High Schools and a Silver Medalist for 2013! The magazine awards Gold, Silver and Bronze medals according to state proficiency standards and how well schools prepare students for college.

Overall, the nation's high schools are scored on student/teacher ratio, college readiness and math and reading scores. More than 21,000 schools were evaluated and the schools scoring in the top 25% overall made the list. Congratulations LHS staff and students for all your hard work!

See ranking:http://tinyurl.com/mlwqgwb

Christine Gordillo
Communications & PR Specialist
Lakewood City Schools

Then why was it necessary to burden Lakewood homeowners with yet more property taxes when we are already one of the 2-3 most highly taxed in the county?

And can this be moved to the schools thread?

Tim Liston wrote:Then why was it necessary to burden Lakewood homeowners with yet more property taxes...

Fortunately, almost 70 percent of Lakewood voters have figured out why. The levy passed overwhelmingly.

Tim Liston wrote:And can this be moved to the schools thread?

This is a fine place to post good news about our schools.


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Congratulations to Lakewood High School's staff and students, as well as to the entire Lakewood City School District!

I agree completely with Steve. This is community and yes, NATIONAL news, and as such, is more than appropriate to share here.

While more taxes not always welcome, a community's support for its public schools reflects an investment in the most valuable resources that a community has- its students.

Adding to that would be the secondary benefit of helping to keep Lakewood's competitive place as a leader in Northeastern Ohio. Home values, and a community's "curb appeal", both continue to be well supported by this sort of recognition.

We've had a number of other recognitions for our community lately, but none mean more than ANY recognition received for helping our students to succeed.

Yay for our Lakewood Schools!

Back to the banjo!

Frankly, I would like to see all of Mr. Liston's bitterness moved to another website.

Gary Rice wrote:We've had a number of other recognitions for our community lately, but none mean more than ANY recognition received for helping our students to succeed.

Could not agree more!!! NONE!!

Michael Deneen wrote:Frankly, I would like to see all of Mr. Liston's bitterness moved to another website.

Michael - I'll bet you a cup of coffee that Mr. Liston thinks YOU are bitter!

We all have our opinions ... and we all have this venue to state them. Thanks, Tim, for being here. (you, too, Michael)

stephen davis wrote:

Tim Liston wrote:Then why was it necessary to burden Lakewood homeowners with yet more property taxes...

Fortunately, almost 70 percent of Lakewood voters have figured out why. The levy passed overwhelmingly.

Tim Liston wrote:And can this be moved to the schools thread?

This is a fine place to post good news about our schools.


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I think you are misleading us. I seem to recall that participation in the election was something like 10 percent of registered voters, of which almost 70 percent voted in favor of the levy. It would appear that the levy was passed with the approval of about seven percent of the registered voters, hardly a showing of overwhelming support.

Still, it is heartening to read that LHS is in the top 25% of public schools, at least with respect to the college prep program.

Perhaps all those who were qualified to vote and those who were actually registered to vote who nevertheless decided not to vote thereby in their non participation in effect decided to accede to the wishes of those who actually did give a F****** D*** and actually go out and vote!!!!!!

Michael Deneen wrote:Frankly, I would like to see all of Mr. Liston's bitterness moved to another website.

Michael

Tim has his reasons, some of them are personal.

The fact is, the schools needed the money, and we need smart kids.

I would encourage all that send their children to charter schools to come on back to
Lakewood Schools. They have never been as bad as some seem to think.

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Will Brown wrote:

stephen davis wrote:

Tim Liston wrote:Then why was it necessary to burden Lakewood homeowners with yet more property taxes...

Fortunately, almost 70 percent of Lakewood voters have figured out why. The levy passed overwhelmingly.

Tim Liston wrote:And can this be moved to the schools thread?

This is a fine place to post good news about our schools.


.

I think you are misleading us. I seem to recall that participation in the election was something like 10 percent of registered voters, of which almost 70 percent voted in favor of the levy. It would appear that the levy was passed with the approval of about seven percent of the registered voters, hardly a showing of overwhelming support.

Will,

I am not misleading anybody.

In the 90's, there were almost 30,000 registered voters in Lakewood. I don't know how many there are today.

Full participation never happens. Even if only 5,000 people vote, the rest are still non-voters.

We can't guess the sentiment of non-voters, so we only count the votes of actual voters.



Steve

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Kudos to Lakewood City Schools, ALL of the staff, Superintendent Patterson, and the Board of Education - this is a proud moment for us!

Tim Liston wrote:"... was it necessary to burden Lakewood homeowners ..."

Some think of it as a burden; others think of it as an investment.

And, frankly, this is not just a "burden" for homeowners ... as renters will have (or in some case already have) their rents raised to help offset the tax increase.

But back to the OP ... YEAH!!!!!

While it is nice to get national recognition, the actual numbers do not seem to be very heartening to me. They aren't above the OH average in college prep or math, and Ohio isn't exactly the top state in the nation as far as either of those go.

So I would look at this with measured enthusiasm. I still think the district needs some work.