School Bond Issue

[Mike Deneen]

The school bond issue is coming up for a vote on May 8th. I am curious to hear everyone's thoughts on the matter.

Are you for it or against it?
Does the Franklin Elementary situation have any bearing on your decision?
Do you think it will pass?

Here is the website with info on the issue:

http://www.lakewoodschildren.org/

[Heidi Hilty]

The school buildings in Lakewood were overdue for an overhaul. This project was undertaken with careful planning and involvement of school, city, and community participants. The committee made every effort to apprise the community every step of the way. We have an obligation to see it through to completion.

Good schools are a cornerstone for maintaining property values.

I will vote yes and I urge all of you LO Observation Deck perusers to vote yes as well.

Heidi

Disclosure: Our children all attended Lakewood schools from K-12. My husband & I both attended Lakewood schools from 3rd & 2nd grade - 12 (LHS '72) respectively. I have worked on levy campaigns in various capacities since the late 1980s.

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

i'm very disappointed with the school board on this.
I don't think we have a choice but to vote yes, because one of the main reasons they are re-doing a not-so-old building is because they FAILED to get rid of all the asbestos on three floors of the building a few years ago.

there's still some mold left from the outbreak, where more than half of the building was closed off and we were still forced to go to school and have classes next door to the asbestos filled rooms.

I'd much rather vote yes for an operating levy, than vote yes to raise our taxes to fix a problem that should've been taken care of when it happened.

shame on you, Lakewood BOE and whoever you hired to clean that mess up. Now we the residents will have to pay (literally) for your mistakes.

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

if you're going to renovate any part of the building, I as a student would suggest starting in the "old building". The name gives everything away.

Bathrooms that are dirty, hallways that are dirty, classrooms that are dirty and have old ceiling tiles, no AC and old heating vents/system, you name it. it's nasty.

no cameras are also a letdown because that's where everyone goes to skip class, get their hourly drag of nicotine, snort of cocaine, shot of whiskey. hah, the really narrow hallways from the 30's get clogged like an all-american artery.

rooms aren't big enough to hold the demand of students/teacher that is now present. ODE numbers say it's 16 students per teacher, but in reality everyone in the school has classes that have 25+ students in them. Art classes especially, because every senior has to take them and every freshman, sophomore, and junior wants to as well. the old rooms can't hold 37 students like they do now.

when's this board going to get anything right.

[Bryan Schwegler]

I will vote yes, and I think it will pass.

Ivor, the bond isn't only for rebuilding the high school, it's actually the second part of the money they need to finish the entire project. They decided to only ask for half of what they needed in the first levy.

Personally I'm quite impressed with the way the board has managed the reconstruction project, that's why they've earned my vote.

[Rick Uldricks]

How much will this cost us if it passes? Taxes are already pretty high.

[Joe Ott]

when's this board going to get anything right.

Come on Ivor, tell us how you really feel. Don't hold back.
Just kidding...



Joe

[Jim O'Bryan]

How much will this cost us if it passes? Taxes are already pretty high.

Rick

I have the figures, and will post everything I have later into s separate thread. I believe it is less than $1.50 a month per $100,000 of home value. I could be wrong. But it is not much.

This is a no-brainer. We must pass this and finish the schools. I have been in two of them, and have to admit they are pretty nice and well thought out.

While I think that Ivor is pretty off on this one, as we have already set the course with the new buildings, he does hit on an interesting point. Let's finish the building then revisit the administration of the schools. It would seem, even from the questions asked by Mike, that the trouble stems from the operation not the buildings. The buildings are long overdue, and will be a centerpiece for this city.

New schools, new library will set us apart from the rest. It will underline our dedication to education, youth and the future of Lakewood.

We cannot allow the buildings to be held hostage by the mistakes of a few, at the wrong time.

I will vote yes, for this.


.

[Joe Ott]

The school bond issue is coming up for a vote on May 8th. I am curious to hear everyone's thoughts on the matter.

Mike.

I have mixed feelings about it. Not sure how I'm going to vote. I generally support these things though.

What happens if it does not pass?

You would see from my other posts I am generally pretty happy with the schools (as far as the education my kids have rec'd in the GT/AP programs). However, I think some changes are needed on the board. I know other people who feel the same. Those people might show their feelings with the board by how they vote.

I know the city should benefit from the new schools and so on. My kids graduate in a couple years and as of right now I hope to be one of those that heads out of the county when they do. So, my kids do not directly benefit from the last increase and will not from the newest one if it passes. And, quite frankly, I am not sure I want to pay for nice schools for the people/element I see moving in. Our Lakewood of the 60's and 70's is gone.

Seems like in Lkwd we are always being asked to give but never see much in return. I know, don't say it, you can "see" the new schools...

I dunno, I'm kinda on the fence right now. But when I drive down Clifton on a Sunday morning before 10:00 a.m. (yesterday) and see 7 rentals with piles of garbage loaded up on the tree lawns (very typical and the city allows it to continue) between Rocky River and Bunts I think to myself, I'm going to pay higher taxes for people like that to benefit from? Hmmmm.

Joe
On the fence.

[David Anderson]

Pass it. Completion of the work must be accompanyied by adequate oversight.

However, with new schools in Cleveland, and newer buildings in Rocky River and Bay, don't think this differentiate's Lakewood. We're just keeping up with the Jones'.

I agree completely that the quality of our educational facilities has a direct impact on the quality of life in Lakewood across the board. This investment can also lead to greater student/school achievement - no guarantees here.

I've been a home owner in Lakewood for 11-years and now also own two rentals. While property taxes hurt, I feel we must continue to invest in our educational facilities. Until there is a way to take the pressure off the reliance of property taxes ...

My daughter will be attending Hayes in August 2008. My first son will start in 2009 and second in 2011.

[Rick Uldricks]

I dunno, I'm kinda on the fence right now. But when I drive down Clifton on a Sunday morning before 10:00 a.m. (yesterday) and see 7 rentals with piles of garbage loaded up on the tree lawns (very typical and the city allows it to continue) between Rocky River and Bunts I think to myself, I'm going to pay higher taxes for people like that to benefit from? Hmmmm.

Joe
On the fence.

I agree with Joe - I'm on the fence.

As Jim pointed out, this won't cost much - but any additional costs on top of already high costs keep people like me on the fence.

The new schools, the library, the Y are all great - BUT, when I see piles of garbage, graffiti, and more, I can't help but wonder if voting for this is a good investment that will last. After all, a lot of these same people will be attending the schools. In addition, I wonder how many students attending the Lakewood schools DON'T live in Lakewood.

I am concerned about my property values and most likely I will vote for this. I would like to hear how the city intends to protect the investment.

[Jeff Endress]

I would like to hear how the city intends to protect the investment

IMHO, two separate issues. Whether the schools are new and efficient, or old, and money pits for utlities and upkeep, you are still going to need to "protect the investment".

The existance of a plan to keep any facility graffiti free really has no bearing on the issue of whether an old facility that costs a great deal to maintain, should be replaced by a new facility.

Jeff

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

A brand new building doesn't guarantee a good education.

you can have the newest technology in the world.....

Joe, that's funny that you say "tell us how you really feel".
after being denied to take my Advanced Placement (AP) test because the school doesn't have the money to hire a proctor, and doesn't have anyone in their current staff to give me the test, I went straight to Dr.Wagner and told him how I felt. he said the same thing to me.

Frankly, I was upset that they said the test was available for students to take, and they wouldn't let me take it. My brother received 6 semester hours for college from that test, and I can do the same if not better. That's more than a fourth of the semester credits that I need to get to transfer to OU. and they denied it time after time.

Needless to say, the head of the AP tests at LHS was waiting for me outside of my class the next period. "you must have friends in really high places" she said.

I got the AP test, since no other school here in the county gives it and after all, they did say it was "available".


Now, do we need a newer building, one that has proper AC, heating, water, walls, ceilings, electricity, etc. or do we need more staff so that classes aren't 37 kids per teacher...or an average 25-30 kids a teacher. So that no kids get denied from furthering their education in college, because they can afford the AP test but not the classes, but the school can't proctor the tests. What would you rather throw money at?

[Jeff Endress]

Now, do we need a newer building, one that has proper AC, heating, water, walls, ceilings, electricity, etc. or do we need more staff so that classes aren't 37 kids per teacher...or an average 25-30 kids a teacher. So that no kids get denied from furthering their education in college, because they can afford the AP test but not the classes, but the school can't proctor the tests. What would you rather throw money at?

Bond monies are for facility construction ONLY and cannot be used for operations......

Jeff

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

yes, I know that jeff.

that's why I asked.
is the construction levy more important than the operating levy?
I feel that there should be a operating levy, since teachers get $8.12 checks every year for supplies. Not making that one up either.

6 years is too long, and they're going out on a limb to provide us with education and supplies. The more the school board brags about going 6 years "strong" without having to ask for an operating levy, the more they distance themselves from us (the students) and our teachers.