[Vision2020] Judge rules March schoo levy null and void

Sun Nov 25 01:05:23 PST 2007

Paul,

  I guess we are just in disagreement on what taxpayer funds should be used to accomplish. I believe that the school district should teach children all that they need to be successful in life upon graduation. A student should be employable upon graduation and be able to obtain a job to pay rent, groceries, and meet all their needs. They should be forced to bunk with 5 other teens their age, or live with mom and dad, and live in fear they won't get hurt because they cannot afford health insurance. Or have to wait until they in their 40s to afford to have a child. 

  Kids use to learn a trade from their parents before the 1950s. Now they don't. Before 1900 the vast majority of people worked at home and on farms. That is not the case today. So for the education system to continue to follow a education system designed for kids to be successful in the 1900s instead for this century I believe is a mistake, and good reason why children have so many problems today. 

  I don't think our school system prepares children for the real world or gives them employable skills. It teaches them things they use to need to know, and neglects a vast amount of relevant important information they could benefit from in favor of programs to get a 20% of students into college. 

  Best,

  Donovan

Paul Rumelhart <godshatter at yahoo.com> wrote:
  Donovan,

I don't know if there is a problem with a college-track bias over a 
vocational one at MSD. I haven't gone to school there since the mid '80s.

However, if I find a problem with you that I don't like - say, you 
haven't been keeping your finances in order - should I then sue you on 
some other related item in order to get the leverage to force you to do 
your finances as I think you should do them?

On the subject of vocational vs college tracks in the school district, 
I'm of the opinion that there is more to education than simply making it 
possible to find a high paying job immediately after graduation. There 
is more to education that what major or career you choose. By the time 
you graduate, you should have learned how to think critically, the 
importance of using the scientific method or similar philosophies of 
learning, and you should have enough basic knowledge to be able to 
survive in society. I don't think there should be classes on how to lay 
carpet, for example. You should get a basic education, and then use it 
as you wish after graduation.

Maybe the school district has been looking too closely at statistics of 
how many students make it into Harvard, I don't know. But I don't think 
the role of the school district is to make you employable (as opposed to 
simply educated). What you do with what you have is up to you - not the 
school district administration.

Paul

Donovan Arnold wrote:
> Paul,
> Does it concern you that others feel a need to bully the MSD into 
> providing children with the proper education they need to get a job 
> and make a living upon graduation?
> Are you comparing getting the MSD to provide a quality relevant 
> education to being successful in the job market equivocal to demands 
> of carpeting in the classroom?
> Reflect for moment if you would on what type of job a MSH graduate can 
> get with his/her diploma? Could he/she get a job, raise a family, or 
> buy a home in Moscow? Why isn't this a major focus of MHS? What 
> options do those that don't get into college, or don't wish to attend 
> college have? Be realistic in this exercise.
> Best,
> Donovan
>
>
> */Paul Rumelhart /* wrote:
>
> Well, for one thing, the question of the amount of vocational
> education
> in the Moscow School District is a completely separate issue from the
> legality of the levy. Using one as a lever to try to change the other
> is, imho, simply bullying the school district. It's a power play that
> causes me to wonder if Dr. Weitz has considered the ramifications
> of his
> actions. I imagine that there are proper procedures for affecting
> change
> that don't involve suing the district or causing harm to the current
> staff, faculty, and students. What's next? Somebody doesn't like the
> color of the carpets or the exact carbs-to-protein ratio in the
> school
> lunches who finds some other way to force their opinions on the
> school
> district?
>
> Paul
>
> Donovan Arnold wrote:
> > What doesn't make sense to me, perhaps someone can clarify for
> me, why
> > it is that MSD is so resistant to providing students that need a
> > vocational education, with a vocational education? I believe if
> they
> > did so, that Weitz would not keep standing in the way of MSD and
> > creating them all these problems.
> > If Weitz was doing this for a tax break, I would think he was a
> jerk.
> > But speaking for those that needed vocational training and
> education
> > from MSD and didn't get it, I don't feel his actions are in the
> long
> > term, damaging to students, but rather liberating for those that
> > should be given a relevant education to make a living after
> graduation.
> > His actions are damaging to students now, but only indirectly as a
> > result of MSDs in actions to provide students with a needed
> education
> > to survive in this world.
> > Best,
> > Donovan
> >
> > */Shirley Ringo /* wrote:
> >
> > Visionaries:
> > What a morning! My phone has been ringing with questions dealing
> > with the Moscow School District Levy.
> > First, the Tribune headline by itself has been horrifying, because
> > many people think it deals with the November levy vote. For anyone
> > in doubt, the *judge has ruled the March levy vote null and void.*
> > * *
> > This is not surprising, since the judge ordered that we revote in
> > November with clarified language. However, it does create a
> > serious dilemma.
> > The March vote was certified. The County Treasurer was forced to
> > send property tax bills based upon that fact. Now, she has the
> > information that the judge officially declared the March vote null
> > and void. She is creating a special line showing revenues from
> > property taxes that specifically and separately accounts for the
> > funds provided as a result of certification of the March levy. At
> > this time, Treasurer Ferguson will await direction concerning the
> > how and whether to disperse those funds.
> > The possibilities include the following:
> > School District Attorneys and Weitz attorneys could meet with the
> > judge and seek resolution. I am told that in a civil suit, the
> > judge could possibly give no further directives unless the
> > plaintiff asks that he do so. Given the track record of Gerry
> > Weitz, I am sure he still intends to hold the district hostage on
> > the issue of vocational education. He also wants the District to
> > pay his attorney fees. It seems unlikely that there will be a
> > meeting of the minds that will help the District.
> > I am told that the judge could unilaterally give further direction
> > concerning these funds, but that is unlikely.
> > Treasurer Ferguson, who is in a very awkward situation, could ask
> > the judge for direction. Undoubtedly, she would prefer that this
> > not be necessary.
> > Apparently the District lawyer is challenging Judge Bradbury’s
> > jurisdiction in the matter. This issue may conceivably be pursued.
> > *As is stands, because of deadlines that must be met, the funds
> > from the November levy election cannot be collected until the next
> > school year. (2008-2009) Unless there is some intervening action,
> > the District will have to live with adverse actions taken to save
> > money this school year. *
> > **
> > *This is my best understanding of the current situation. Let me
> > know if you have questions.*
> > **
> > *Shirley Ringo*
> > =======================================================
> > 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
> > =======================================================
> >
> >
> >
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