[Vision2020] School Levy (Vote No)

[Donovan Arnold]

Jford, or whoever you are, you write, "When was the last time you even 
stepped foot in the High School?" 1992, and it was ust renovated and more 
classroom space was added, despite no real increase in student population.

You continue on, "When was the last time you tried to walk the halls of the 
Junior High during class change over?" Last semester, it was about the same 
as when I was in junior high.

"What homeless in Moscow do you see the need to spend $29mil on"

I said low income and homeless. Look and see how many students are on a 
subsidized lunch program. The homeless shelter in Moscow is also very under 
funded and nearly went bankrupt and was almost forced to shut down. It is 
too bad that your do not deem them worthy of support.

"With Idaho Housing, is there a real need for MORE housing in Moscow?"  
There is a 3-10 year waiting period to get into Idaho Public Housing 
(depending on where in Idaho), if someone is able to make it through all the 
red tape. Further, subsidized housing in Moscow is more expensive in Moscow 
then unsubsidized housing is in Spokane, Lewiston, Pullman, and Boise.

"Teacher salaries not an issue we can settle locally, is it?  Aren't they 
paid by the state standards?  Wouldn't your argument be better placed at the 
feet of the legislators?"

If we get them to pay teachers more, we would not have the money to pay it 
would we? But even so, there are numerous other city workers that are 
grossly underpaid. We can also hire more teachers, specialists, and aides to 
assist in the classroom, especially in regards to special education.

"Just how many "crosswalk bridges" can Moscow support or even should 
support?"  As many is needed to make sure K-12 students can cross 6th 
street, Dst. Street, and college students can cross Third street safely. 
Many parents have complained to me how unsafe they feel about their children 
crossing these roads. College students have complained to me about trying to 
cross Third Street, not wanting to walk all the way downtown to cross Third 
because cars will not stop for them.

"The only issue you bring up that merits consideration is the water."

Well, I am sorry that the welfare of the poor and the safety of children and 
college students crossing busy streets to get to school does not merit your 
consideration.

I also find it interesting that you think people in Moscow are sitting on a 
big bag of cash and just being stingy about sharing and not consider the 
fact that just maybe 70% of Moscow Residents are broke and are not to sure 
about their financial future to have two High Schools when the student 
population has not seen an serious increase in student population since the 
1950s.

"It is rather obvious you "know not of which you speak" very well."

If is obvious you do not know how to speak every well and not aware of the 
problems facing parents and students in Moscow.

"Simply put, when was the last time you did anything ACTIVE besides typing?"

There are many people in Moscow that have done much more than me. However, I 
have logged many hundreds of hours doing community service for Moscow in 
just the last few years, including the high school and junior high, so free 
to attack me all you want.  I am not perfect, but I think I hold my end, and 
I have the right to speak out and ask questions about the construction of a 
new school in my community, and about my old high school. And I will.

You have not proven to me the need of a new high school, in fact, I am 
leaning more strongly against it because your only response to my questions 
of concern has been to attack students and the welfare of the poor. This 
shows a lack or real need and more of someone trying to take advantage of 
the good people of Moscow and support for education by creating a problem 
that does not exist. Moscow High School, is large enough and we like it 
where it is. You want to add more classrooms, update, repair, add a new 
science lab, a new computer lab, add more teachers, let us talk about that. 
But do not sell us a line of garbage about the school being too small. That 
is crap, and those of us that have been here for a few generations know it. 
Go wreck your own hometown, this is ours to wreck.


Take Care,

Donovan J Arnold


Mr. Arnold;

When was the last time you tried to walk the halls of the Junior High during 
class change over?  When was the last time you looked, REALLY looked at the 
Russell and West Park Schools?  Simply put, when was the last time you did 
anything ACTIVE besides typing?

What homeless in Moscow do you see the need to spend $29mil on?  With Idaho 
Housing, is there a real need for MORE housing in Moscow?

Teacher salaries not an issue we can settle locally, is it?  Aren't they 
paid by the state standards?  Wouldn't your argument be better placed at the 
feet of the legislators?

Just how many "crosswalk bridges" can Moscow support or even should support? 
  I see the need for one that links the dorms to the mall area, but I 
certainly don't see the need for multiple ones especially since we do have 
plenty of crosswalks that the students refuse to use now.  (Popular sport in 
Moscow is not Dodgeball but Dodgestudents.)

The only issue you bring up that merits consideration is the water.  But if 
people would stop over developing Moscow, that may take care of itself.  Not 
to mention a WHOLE lot of rain...

It is rather obvious you "know not of which you speak" very well.