[Vision2020] 1912 Levy Issues
Donovan Arnold
donovanarnold at hotmail.com
Sun Apr 3 17:33:12 PDT 2005
Janice,
I totally agree with you. I do not support spending $30 million on a new HS.
To me, there are other things to spend the money on that students and
members of the community need. Unfortunately, there are bureaucrats that try
to use the public goodwill and willingness to help our youth by abusing the
system and trying to get things that help their career rather then the
students. They want bigger offices and more buildings, not accommodations
for the children with disabilities and current textbooks, that does not look
as good on a resume as a new high school. When you try to point out the
wastefulness of the program or how the money and resources could be better
spent on something else, you are branded as stingy and ignoring the "needs"
of the students. This even despite the fact that you are willing to spend
even more than they are asking, but under the condition that it being used
to actually help people and in the most effective manner, not be wasted on
things we do not need.
All people should be willing to pay taxes as a moral obligation to their
community. The community leaders in turn have a moral responsibility to make
sure that money is spent as responsibly as possible.
The $29 million that is being suggested is just the suggested construction
costs, this does not include additional operational costs, and the future
costs of repairing the old High School, which will have to be done also
regardless of if we build a new one or not.
I think we should repair the high school and provide updates to the
classroom, more text books, and resources. We should also invest in other
things that the community needs like affordable housing, abundant clean
quality water, and safe pedestrian walkways.
I do not understand how fishing is even considered a sport. Anything that
you can do while smoking and drinking a beer should not be considered a
sport in my opinion.
Take Care,
Donovan J Arnold
>From: "Janice Willard" <jwillard at turbonet.com>
>To: "Timothy Rigsby" <timo5277 at uidaho.edu>, "Donovan Arnold"
><donovanarnold at hotmail.com>
>CC: vision2020 at moscow.com
>Subject: Re: RE: [Vision2020] 1912 Levy Issues
>Date: Sun, 3 Apr 2005 15:37:18 -0700
>
>Tim, Donovan and other visionaries,
>
>I have two children with learning disabilities who are now in the Moscow
>School District. As is often the case with LD children, my children are
>also gifted in some other ways. There is a written school record of my
>trying to get testing and adequate assistance for my children since 2000.
>I
>started out having them attend a charter school, because I thought perhaps
>there they would have the flexibility to teach my uniquely gifted children.
>But that did not work--I could not get help for their disabilities. I
>finally gave up and took them to district schools. I told the principals,
>counselors and teachers that the testing had shown that my children had
>specific learning disabilities, were intelligent but significantly below
>grade level and they needed help. Because of class sizes, my children
>ended
>up in two different elementary schools. One school, bless their hearts,
>got
>right on it and started giving my daughter the help she needed. It has now
>been a year and a half since that I have been asking continuously for
>assistance for my son from MSD and he still does not have an appropriate
>program. The teachers have, in some cases, been as helpful as they have
>been able, but it is not enough. My son has starting to ask me to home
>school him. We are tired of him getting Fs in classes while at the same
>time the teachers tell me my son knows the material--but because of his
>disability, can't show them his knowledge in the proper structured way and
>he is not receiving the accommodations and assistance I have been
>requesting
>for him from MSD since the Fall of 2003.
>
>One of the things that held us up significantly this past year was that
>even
>before entering the Junior high, I went straight to the 7th grade counselor
>and asked to get the process started for whatever classification it would
>take to get him the help he needs. But at the Junior High school, they
>only
>have a full time counselor for one grade out of three. By the luck of the
>draw, my son's class only has a half time counselor. (the specific
>counselor stays with each grade). This slowed the process significantly.
>Every time I called, the counselor was not there because it was not his day
>to work or had so many fires to put out, children needing his immediate
>attention, that he couldn't talk to me. My son plugged away in classes
>with
>no accommodations (even through he was on a 504 which should have allowed
>them), sometimes struggling for 4 hours at night to try to do the homework
>and still was getting failing grades. In January, he became seriously ill
>and has missed over a month of school. I believe, firmly in my heart, that
>the un-necessary stress that he suffered at school played a large part in
>his illness.
>
>In my son's science class, they don't have enough science text books for
>every child to have a text book. I found that out when I brought home his
>books from school when he got ill. He reported to me that the students
>were
>told by their science teacher that the science books were too expensive to
>buy a text book for every student. Instead the books stay in the class
>room, the kids can only look at them during class time and I had to check
>one out so that he could study at home. The science text books are
>excellent
>and as a scientists myself, I enjoyed leafing through them. But since the
>students never have them except in class or when they check them out over
>night, they are only experiencing a small portion of what the books have to
>teach them.
>
>My son is also gifted and has an amazing three dimensional reasoning skill.
>He builds structures and things with his hands. He taught himself to tan
>leather from a book when he was 11 years old. He taught himself to
>flint-knap and makes arrowheads. He could end up an engineer or architect
>and it would be nice if he were learning more about building things and
>getting to express this gift. But, although there is an industrial arts
>room and equipment at the Junior High, they haven't had a program for a
>number of years--they lost the teacher to budget cuts and didn't replace
>this program.
>
>Of the four things that my children need, special ed and gifted and
>talented
>training, only one in four, the special education for my daughter has been
>started and is progressing as it should. I have been asking, no begging,
>for years for my children to get what they need to even get a basic
>education, math, reading and writing.
>
>So now you come and tell me that we need to spend over 20 million dollars
>of
>our *education* budget to build a new high school, on what will be a highly
>expensive piece of ground to develop, so that the high school students will
>have the room to throw a fly line???!!! That this is IMPORTANT??!!!! I
>hope you will appreciate that it has been hard for me to write this because
>my hands have been shaking so hard as I did. Is this what our education
>dollars should be going to when, as a parent, I can't even get my
>children's
>basic educational needs met??? When children in this district don't even
>have counselors, teachers or even the TEXTBOOKS they need????
>
>Yes, recreation is an important part of people's lives. My children have
>been involved in soccer, gymnastics, figure skating, dance, swimming and
>horseback riding. (Is the new school going to have a stable for them, too?
>And an indoor swimming pool, for the kids who do this?) We do these things
>*after* school. You say they need room to learn to pitch a tent? Both my
>kids do this in scouting and on summer backpacking and camping trips with
>the family. My son (remember, the kid who is failing all his 7th grade
>classes?), actually loves fly fishing, has taken community college classes
>for adults in this, fly casting lessons with the fly fishing shop and is
>now
>teaching himself, from books, to tie flies. Its nice that the kids can take
>these classes at the high school but they sure don't need a new school for
>that.
>
>But I don't see this the job of the schools. The job of the schools is to
>teach children basic education *first*--and from my personal experience,
>Moscow School District isn't even doing that. How the heck is my son
>going
>to get anywhere in life if he can tie flies and throw a fly line, but can't
>write? It is my understanding that PE is only required one year in high
>school. That is not many hours in the total number of hours that the high
>school students spend in other classes like English, Math, that teach
>skills
>that will be essential for their survival in the work place. We only have
>limited money in our collective pockets to spend on education. We need to
>spend our limited funds on the essentials first.
>
>So perhaps you think we need to spend 20 million dollars so that high
>school
>students have the room to learn to throw a fly line, and for you that is an
>essential education. Personally, I would just be happy if my daughter
>could
>read and my son could write. This bond is not responsible education
>spending.
>
>JW
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Timothy Rigsby" <timo5277 at uidaho.edu>
>To: "Donovan Arnold" <donovanarnold at hotmail.com>
>Cc: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
>Sent: Sunday, April 03, 2005 12:39 PM
>Subject: Re: RE: [Vision2020] 1912 Levy Issues
>
>
> > Donovan:
> >
> > Let me clarify a little more about the unit that involves camping, fly
>fishing,
> > and orienteering.
> >
> > As of right now, the students get bussed to UI and work on their
>camping,
>fly
> > fishing, and orienteering skills in front of the PEB. The reason they
>get
>bussed
> > to UI for these events is because there is not adequate outdoor green
>space at MHS
> > for these activities to take place. With the new school, I assume that
>there will
> > be more green space for the students to throw out a line. Even if the
>new
>campus
> > is covered in asphalt, the close proximity of the Junior High, McDonald,
>and the
> > Eagan Youth Center field will provide enough room for every student to
>throw out
> > a line.
> >
> > Just because the students do not pitch a tent on an official campsite,
>does not
> > mean that they cannot learn how to properly select a campsite, set up a
>tent,
> > and learn about other aspects of camping. This information can easily
>be
>presented
> > in any space that has vegetation or even in the classroom.
> >
> > No there is not a stream running through the new gym, nor will there
>ever
>be,
> > we hope. However, as a treat to the students in Outdoor Ed at MHS, they
>finish
> > the Camping, Fly Fishing, and Orienteering unit with an all day field
>trip
>to
> > Spring Valley. Spring Valley provides students with an opportunity to
>throw out
> > that fly and attempt to catch a bass, provides students with real trails
>with predetermined course markings, and provides adequate campsites so
>students can set
> > up tents and such. Again, this all day field trip is supervised by MHS
>and also by
> > PE students from UI. This event allows for a continued bridge of the
>gap
>that
> > could be present between UI and the students of Moscow.
> >
> > Things have changed drastically at MHS since you last attended Donovan.
> > Education needs to evolve on a continuing basis as to adapt and change
>to
>fit
> > the needs of the students and of society. Karla Harman has done a lot
>of
>work to
> > make the Outdoor Ed program at MHS an excellent learning experience for
> > every student. She has worked tirelessly to apply for numerous grants
>to
> > allow students the opportunity to learn how to fly fish when most would
>otherwise
> > not get that opportunity. Last spring for example, MHS was awarded a
>grant from
> > a national fishing organization that allowed MHS to purchase enough fly
> > fishing equipment for about 30 students. Without this grant, students
>would not
> > get the instruction that they have received this year.
> >
> > It is obvious that teachers are doing their part to facilitate the
>learning of
> > every student, yet some people in this town claim otherwise. Supporting
>this levy
> > will only increase the opportunities that students have to learn in a
>safe
> > and positive environment that is up to date and loaded with all the
>amenities
> > that students deserve in 2005 and beyond.
> >
> > This new building may not benefit every aspect of Physical Education and
> > some activities will still have to take place off campus, but the new
>building
> > will sure make the jobs easier and increase the instruction time for
>both
>students
> > and teachers in Physical Education. Physical Education is just one
>example of
> > why this levy needs to be passed.
> >
> > Tim
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Donovan Arnold <donovanarnold at hotmail.com>
> > Date: Sunday, April 3, 2005 11:40 am
> > Subject: RE: [Vision2020] 1912 Levy Issues
> >
> > > Timothy,
> > >
> > > You write, "The Physical Education Department, for whom I have
> > > worked
> > > extensively with this
> > > >school year, is lacking proper and safe facilities as well. Ms.
> > > Karla
> > > >Harman
> > > >busses her students to the University of Idaho Tuesday-Friday to
> > > >participate
> > > >in Outdoor Education classes. Ms. Harman’s students receive
> > > instruction on
> > > >Wall Climbing, Fly Fishing, Inline Hockey, Biking, Camping, and
> > > Racquet
> > > >Sports to
> > > >name a few activities. "
> > >
> > > How exactly does building a brand new high school improve
> > > instruction for
> > > students on camping and fly fishing? Are we thinking that there is
> > > going to
> > > be a camp ground and fishing stream going through the new high
> > > school gym? I
> > > am lost, somebody help me out here.
> > >
> > >
> > > Take Care,
> > >
> > > Donovan J Arnold
> > >
> > > >From: Timothy Rigsby <timo5277 at uidaho.edu>
> > > >To: vision2020 at moscow.com
> > > >Subject: [Vision2020] 1912 Levy Issues
> > > >Date: Sat, 02 Apr 2005 16:06:49 -0800
> > > >
> > > >Phil:
> > > >
> > > >I don't know about the downfalls of the science lab, but I do
> > > know that if
> > > >the
> > > >science lab is not up to par, it is not the only facility at MHS
> > > that would
> > > >fall
> > > >into this category.
> > > >
> > > >The Physical Education Department, for whom I have worked
> > > extensively with
> > > >this
> > > >school year, is lacking proper and safe facilities as well. Ms.
> > > Karla
> > > >Harman
> > > >busses her students to the University of Idaho Tuesday-Friday to
> > > >participate
> > > >in Outdoor Education classes. Ms. Harman’s students receive
> > > instruction on
> > > >Wall Climbing, Fly Fishing, Inline Hockey, Biking, Camping, and
> > > Racquet
> > > >Sports to
> > > >name a few activities. I doubt very seriously that even with a
> > > remodel of
> > > >the
> > > >1912 center, that these activities could take place in the
> > > remodeled space.
> > > > Would
> > > >you be willing to let students play inline hockey at CJ’s instead
> > > of
> > > >building a
> > > >new building?
> > > >
> > > >Not only is Ms. Harman taking her students off campus, but Mr.
> > > Amos and Ms.
> > > >Barnes
> > > >are as well. Bussing students off campus takes away from the
> > > student’s>activity time. According to the governing authority of
> > > Physical Education,
> > > >NASPE, students should receive a minimum of 150 minutes per week
> > > in
> > > >vigorous
> > > >physical activity. By bussing students, we are cutting their
> > > classroom
> > > >time to
> > > >about 35 or 40 minutes per day. Once you figure instruction or
> > > >demonstration
> > > >and introduction of new skills, the students may only get about
> > > 20 to 25
> > > >minutes
> > > >of vigorous activity time. 100 minutes per week is nowhere near
> > > the NASPE
> > > >standard
> > > >of 150 minutes.
> > > >
> > > >Considering that Unleaded gas is running $2.19 today per gallon
> > > and diesel
> > > >is
> > > >sitting right around $2.70, so I hear, I think that building this
> > > new
> > > >school
> > > >would help cut down considerably on the fuel cost to bus these
> > > students to
> > > >far
> > > >off playing fields and gymnasiums.
> > > >
> > > >If this bond passes, and I hope to hell it will, the students
> > > will more
> > > >than
> > > >likely not have to be bussed daily off campus to participate in
> > > activity>classes. Granted, in order for wall climbing to take
> > > place, they will
> > > >still
> > > >get bussed to UI, but this unit is typically only three weeks
> > > with the
> > > >students
> > > >bussed a maximum of 15 times. When you were in school Phil, were
> > > you
> > > >climbing up
> > > >a premier climbing wall, learning to fly fish, or playing games
> > > such as
> > > >Omnikin
> > > >Ball or Pickleball? You probably don’t even know what Pickleball
> > > or Kin
> > > >ball are
> > > >do you? Students at MHS have one heck of a physical education
> > > program and
> > > >are extremely fortunate to have what little facilities they have
> > > as is.
> > > >Giving
> > > >these students a new school that is light years ahead of where
> > > they are now
> > > >will
> > > >not only help the morale of the students but also will help
> > > further the
> > > >educational opportunities these students are missing out on.
> > > >
> > > >Tim Rigsby
> > > >Student, University of Idaho
> > > >College of Education
> > > >Physical Education, School & Community Health Education, and
> > > Sport Science
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >_____________________________________________________
> > > > List services made available by First Step Internet,
> > > > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> > > > http://www.fsr.net
> > > > Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > > >¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > _____________________________________________________
> > List services made available by First Step Internet,
> > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> > http://www.fsr.net
> > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
> >
> >
> > --
> > No virus found in this incoming message.
> > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> > Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.0 - Release Date: 3/31/2005
> >
> >
>
>
>
>--
>No virus found in this outgoing message.
>Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
>Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.0 - Release Date: 3/31/2005
>
>_____________________________________________________
> List services made available by First Step Internet,
> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> http://www.fsr.net
> mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
More information about the Vision2020
mailing list