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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Matt, I haven't read my email since I wrote you
that late night ramble below a couple of nights ago, and I don't want to force
you into that again, so let me give you just one instance of a program very dear
to my heart which is now gone and won't be restored unless the levy
passes. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial> It's in the junior high and was instituted just
about the time you graduated from high school. We were thinking of ways to
make the transition from elementary school to the junior high less stressful for
young students and one thing we came up with was teaming. Each 7th grader
was assigned to a team and each team had core teachers who had a
second common preparation period to work together on individual student
needs. It may not appear to be a costly item, but that's about 8 teachers
who could have been working with 25 more students in a class, so it isn't
cheap. But it paid big dividends when it came to identifying students who
were beginning to have problems and for whom teachers could develop a plan
involving all of them and implement it to give those students a bit more
help early on. Also, they now had a chance to work together on integrating
curriculum--one example a geology dig where they integrated math and
history. You may remember it from the big feature story highlighted in the
Daily News. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I was in charge of the Acceleration program, which had
very low enrollment each hour (7 or 8 students who had been identified as
at-risk but not eligible for special education services) and I also met with
those team teachers frequently and a substitute teacher would be hired
for my class period when I did. That, too, wasn't cheap. This
process worked so well for 7th grade students that the district allocated money
to institute 8th grade teaming, too. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>One program that was cut as a result of the suit was the
8th grade teaming. The reason: Cutting it meant those teachers would
again be assigned to a full class schedule and with 8 retirements from the
junior high they could be moved in to some of those positions and a full
contingent of replacement teachers would not have to be
hired. Cutting the program probably meant the district could hire one
fewer teacher for the junior high, and further cutting of the program for gifted
students saved part of another position. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I was talking with one of the special education teachers a
couple of weeks ago and she was lamenting that there was no meeting time for her
to go to the teachers of an individual 8th grader and work on planning
for her/his lessons on a daily basis. It comes down to
catch as catch can... If the levy passes, that program will be
reinstated. If it doesn't, I would imagine 7th grade teaming will be cut
next year. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>And I've rambled on again and didn't even touch on the
issue of teacher retention and why there aren't jobs for new
teachers in Moscow. Lots of people would like to teach
here. It has the reputation of being a district where teachers can be
creative and work with others who are of like mind. Those big pay
raises in Washington were only instituted beginning this year. I have
no doubt they will have a future impact on our teacher retention.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>If your friends were applying last year, all new
hiring was frozen because of the lawsuit. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I do appreciate your diligence in wanting to have
good reasons to vote yes. I hope I have given you a good
reason. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Sue H. </FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=mattd2107@hotmail.com href="mailto:mattd2107@hotmail.com">Matt
Decker</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=suehovey@moscow.com
href="mailto:suehovey@moscow.com">Sue Hovey</A> ; <A
title=bevbafus@verizon.net href="mailto:bevbafus@verizon.net">Bev Bafus</A> ;
<A title=kjajmix1@msn.com href="mailto:kjajmix1@msn.com">keely emerinemix</A>
; <A title=godshatter@yahoo.com href="mailto:godshatter@yahoo.com">Paul
Rumelhart</A> ; <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">Vision2020</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, November 10, 2007 4:00
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: [Vision2020] Why I'm going
to vote Yes on the Levy</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Sue,<BR><BR>Thanks for the reply. I understand I am a little
late in the debate, but better late then never. I was wondering, do you happen
to know exactly what programs this increase will save? Where the money is
being spent on exactly. This issue hangs heavily in my vote. I surely
understand how we need to pay our teachers, but don't understand if so many
teachers are leaving why hasn't that been the front running ideal behind the
levy. Why also, do I have four friends with teaching degrees but had to find
employment elsewhere(being UI grads) because there were no spots open. One of
those being a special ed major. I am not doubting you but don't understand why
an issue as important as teacher retention has not been brought up to the
manner it should.<BR><BR>I have no problem giving my vote for the levy. I have
two children that are attending/will St. Maries school. This will not sway my
vote. I believe all children need a fair shot at life, through a properly
educated criteria. If you have the time, help me understand how and where the
money is going, and how the increase will make our schools better. Thank
you.<BR><BR>Matt<BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<HR>
From: suehovey@moscow.com<BR>To: bevbafus@verizon.net;
mattd2107@hotmail.com; kjajmix1@msn.com; godshatter@yahoo.com;
vision2020@moscow.com<BR>Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 02:37:08 -0800<BR>Subject:
Re: [Vision2020] Why I'm going to vote Yes on the Levy<BR><BR>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>And I'll add just a bit. When you were there in
some of your classes you had 25 students--rarely did you have more than
that. However, remember those students in special education--they were
often in classes of 3 or 4 because they were required by law to be in the
least restrictive environment and for some of them, that meant really,
really small classes. That is still the case except that a larger
percentage of our school population is in special education than
when you were in school. And that's because parents move to Moscow so
their children can have those programs. You say you are all for
smaller classes as long as the GPA rises. The GPA scores of
Moscow school students are among the highest in the state and compare
favorably with Pullman already. I don't know what more you can
expect. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>You compare Moscow and Pullman. Let me give you
another figure. Since I retired from the high school I have been
working with teachers in both Moscow and Pullman on a National Certification
Program that is pretty costly for the teachers, but is a very fine
professional development piece. The teachers in both places are really
exceptional. I continue to be so impressed with them. When the
teachers in Idaho complete the program the State pays them $2000 a year for
5 years. When the teachers in Pullman complete the program (and it
costs the same for both groups) they make $5,000 each year for ten to twenty
years, and if they are teaching in a school where more than half the
students are entitled to free and reduced lunch they make $10,000 each year
for that same amount of time. Now the sad thing is that we are losing
teachers to Pullman and Clarkston and who can blame them. We really
need to keep them here, and spending money for enhanced salaries helps a
bit. Even so, teachers who stay in Moscow aren't even close to
earning what those in Pullman do. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Those who are comparing Moscow to Pullman test
scores aren't even making a legitimate comparison. There is no
way to compare the Moscow Test Scores with Pullman test scores because they
are two separate tests, given at different times during the year.
Please don't be taken in by that. Both groups of students do very
well. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>One of the letter writers was discussing the
whole issue of vouchers. While that isn't a central issue in this
case, just be aware issuing vouchers simply increases the cost of education
because it works to the benefit of people who send their children to
private and parochial schools. And while they have the
liberty to make that choice, they continue to have an obligation to fund
public education--just as do I and Norman even though our own children
have graduated. Someone else paid for their education, now it's our
opportunity to help fund the coming
generations. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>The state has put additional money into schools, but
it is an offset, and it isn't a lot. It doesn't mean we will be getting
more money--it will be coming from another pocket, but the law was not
written to increase school funding--just to keep in on the same level it has
been. And the scarey thing about that is there is no way to determine
the state will continue to fund at the same level--and if it changes, it is
likely to diminish. That's just the way of our legislature.
</FONT><FONT face=Arial> While it makes good sense to have the state
completely fund schools because it makes educational opportunity more equal
for kids wherever they live, that will never happen. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>One other item of which you may not be aware:
When you were in school, part of your schooling needs were paid for by the
same permanent levy that now serves this generation of children.
Occasionally it has had to be increased as inflation grew--the cost of gas
for bussing, is only one example. Those who are writing against the
levy have conveniently omitted that important detail. I think if you
look carefully at the budget you will conclude that Moscow does spend its
money wisely. And the budget process is open to all the
citizens--budget hearings will begin soon for next year. The meeting
times are published and the agenda posted. You, as a voter, are
welcome to attend, but try to do it before the fact, then you will have the
information you need before you vote. It's a bit late for all the
scoffers to say they want assurance the money will be used wisely--they had
that information early on. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>And it's off to bed. Come join us in the morning
at Friendship Square as we rally for this School District. Isn't it
only fair that the kids who go here today are entitled to a quality
education, just as you were? Vote yes, please, on November
13.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>If you do not believe money has an important impact on
education, ask yourself why the wealthy send their children to expensive
private schools. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Sue Hovey</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(0,0,0) 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal">-----
Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: rgb(228,228,228) 0% 50%; FONT: 10pt arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial"><B>From:</B>
<A title=bevbafus@verizon.net href="mailto:bevbafus@verizon.net">Bev
Bafus</A> </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><B>To:</B>
<A title=mattd2107@hotmail.com href="mailto:mattd2107@hotmail.com">Matt
Decker</A> ; <A title=kjajmix1@msn.com
href="mailto:kjajmix1@msn.com">keely emerinemix</A> ; <A
title=godshatter@yahoo.com href="mailto:godshatter@yahoo.com">Paul
Rumelhart</A> ; <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">Vision2020</A> </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><B>Sent:</B>
Friday, November 09, 2007 11:52 PM</DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><B>Subject:</B>
Re: [Vision2020] Why I'm going to vote Yes on the Levy</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=EC_921194807-10112007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff>Thanks for your reasoned questions,
Matt.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=EC_921194807-10112007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=EC_921194807-10112007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>I'm
not an expert on school financing, but I do know a
bit.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=EC_921194807-10112007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=EC_921194807-10112007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>In
your math, the first thing you are forgetting is that Ms. Donicht said
"salaries and BENEFITS".</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=EC_921194807-10112007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=EC_921194807-10112007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff>Taking your formula where you came up with $40,000 as the
median salary - Using your math, this would be the median expense
per staff member. Usually 35% of that would be benefits, leaving the
actual salary far lower. Many of these benefits are required by law,
as they are with most businesses.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=EC_921194807-10112007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=EC_921194807-10112007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>The
second item I noticed is the comparison, yet again, of Moscow with
Pullman. Until the State of Washington and the State of Idaho fund
their schools with the same formula, you cannot compare these two
towns.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=EC_921194807-10112007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=EC_921194807-10112007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>Just
my thoughts...</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=EC_921194807-10112007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=EC_921194807-10112007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff>Bev</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV class=EC_OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT
face=Tahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
vision2020-bounces@moscow.com
[mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Matt
Decker<BR><B>Sent:</B> Friday, November 09, 2007 11:26 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
keely emerinemix; Paul Rumelhart; Vision2020<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re:
[Vision2020] Why I'm going to vote Yes on the
Levy<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>Keely/all,<BR><BR>First and foremost thanks for
your drive and determination towards our children's education. You've
taken many steps to insure success. I have to admit though, that I am
unsure about giving my vote to the levy. Let me explain. I have many
questions and have heard from both sides on this topic. So please let me
give my thoughts, but also give me hope that our schools will spend the
money wisely.<BR><BR>Candis Donicht wrote an opinion piece tonight in
which she states that MSD has a budget of $20,360,923. She also mentions
that 81% of that goes to "salaries and benefits". She further states
that, "175 teachers" are employed by MSD. Now bare with me, since I am a
MSD graduate. Twenty mil divided by 175=$114,285. We all know that can't
be true. So I will assume that this budget includes cooks,
assistants, lawn care, etc. Let's again assume that 500 people are
employed by the MSD, under this percentage. Twenty mil divided by
500=$40,000. A great median wage. Now we are going to increase this rate
by 1.9 mil. A increase of 10.33%. Seems pretty high to me. Where is this
money going?<BR><BR>Now I know I may not have all the numbers correct,
but I also doubt that they are too far off. To me Candice stating that
81% of the money goes to pay scares me. Why should raising the rate of
teachers pay three times more then that of inflation, raise our level of
education? Money does not = education. <BR><BR>Furthermore, Dale( I will
be labeled as a kirker for mentioning his name) Courtney brought up a
valid point in his opinion piece. He mentioned that the state tax has
been raised by 1%, all of which is for schools. Hopefully meaning that
more is coming this way. Why not wait another year?<BR><BR>I also can't
get over the fact that our neighboring cities pay less, but have higher
test scores. Pullman has less teachers, but yet again beat us in most
accounts. Again money does not = education<BR><BR>Also cant understand
how Moscow has lost student numbers, but yet we insist on smaller
numbers. Why? When I was there we had 25-30 students per class(1984-95).
Now we want smaller? Hey I'm all for it, but only if the GPA rises.
Which, I am unsure of. <BR><BR>I have no problem giving my vote to this
levy, but I need question like these answered. Please give me
hope.<BR><BR>Thanks for your time<BR>Matt<BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<HR>
From: kjajmix1@msn.com<BR>To: godshatter@yahoo.com;
vision2020@moscow.com<BR>Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 21:30:17
-0800<BR>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Why I'm going to vote Yes on the
Levy<BR><BR>
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Thank you, Paul!<BR><BR>keely<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>> Date: Fri, 9 Nov
2007 20:59:25 -0800<BR>> From: godshatter@yahoo.com<BR>> To:
vision2020@moscow.com<BR>> Subject: [Vision2020] Why I'm going to
vote Yes on the Levy<BR>> <BR>> Just a few reasons:<BR>>
<BR>> I can't underestimate the value of education in our
community. Forget <BR>> evolution vs. intelligent design, think
basic math skills, a sense of <BR>> history, simple reading skills,
a knowledge of the language we speak, <BR>> and a basic
understanding of science. Where would we be today if we <BR>>
didn't value education? Do you like that computer you're reading this
<BR>> with? Are you happy to know that the hospital is just down
the street <BR>> if you have some kind of medical problem? Would
you rather drive to the <BR>> ocean, or walk? The more data we have
to live life, the better it will <BR>> become. The more we all
know, the better off we all are. This <BR>> prosperity results in
real-world economic development. This makes us <BR>> richer as a
community. Our poorest people are richer than much of the <BR>>
rest of the world.<BR>> <BR>> So, education is important. But
why not educate everyone individually? <BR>> Why centralize
it?<BR>> <BR>> Well, first you have economies of scale. There is
more to learning than <BR>> just sitting around the teacher on the
floor in a semi-circle, listening <BR>> to him or her reading you
stories. You need books and supplies. You <BR>> need places to
work, and you need prepared lessons. Centralizing all <BR>> this
makes sense. Why expect every family to buy a microscope? Or a
<BR>> bunsen burner? Or a wall map of the US? Why dump a
substantial amount <BR>> of money individually when we can spend
less by centralizing it?<BR>> <BR>> You also have the benefits
of specialization. We teach our teachers <BR>> about one particular
subject until they become experts on it. Why ask <BR>> everyone to
learn everything about all subjects? We also teach our <BR>>
teachers how to teach. It's not simple, and just faking your way
<BR>> through it is not recommended. Why expect all of us to learn
this? <BR>> Granted, it's probably very useful, but we have a
limited amount of time <BR>> and a limited number of neurons.
Learning all this takes time, and the <BR>> ones who have learned
it the best cost money. Yet we need them desperately.<BR>> <BR>>
Public education is the great equalizer. People who can't afford to
<BR>> teach their children, whether it's because of finances or
time <BR>> commitments or lack of knowledge in some areas, will
still be able to <BR>> give them an education. Every child, no
matter their background, has <BR>> the opportunity to excel in
their learning. Who will become the next <BR>> great physicist, or
mathematician, or musician? It's also a great <BR>> springboard.
Who will be in the right place with the right set of facts <BR>>
and the knowledge to make use of them and do the next great thing?
<BR>> That's why I want to live forever. So I can see what people
keep coming <BR>> up with as the world progresses.<BR>> <BR>>
Another reason for centralization is the changing nature of the world
we <BR>> live in. All of us spend much of our lifetime unlearning
things we <BR>> learned as children. Some of it was simply our
misunderstandings as we <BR>> developed and are simply later
correcting. Other facts, though, have <BR>> simply been shown to be
wrong. Look how much physics has changed in the <BR>> last 50
years. Subjects like history change as we realize more about <BR>>
our past. Geography changes as world events progress. Even with
<BR>> relatively slowly changing fields, such as mathematics, new
ways of <BR>> imparting knowledge to others in these areas are
found. Teaching <BR>> incorrect knowledge is probably worse than
not teaching that knowledge <BR>> at all. This corrected knowledge
needs to be assimilated, and it's <BR>> inefficient to have to
teach every homemaker just to have them teach <BR>> their kids the
next day. It's more efficient to have those specialists <BR>> I
mentioned previously get updated on their subjects. It's faster,
<BR>> because they are subject experts, and there are fewer of them
to teach. <BR>> It's also easier to require that they get updated
on their subjects. <BR>> <BR>> So why support this levy,
specifically? Because, in my humblest of <BR>> opinions, every
penny we can afford to throw at it we will see back <BR>> again a
hundred-fold in the future as a community. I'm sure there's a <BR>>
line out there past which any increases will not help. I think we are
<BR>> so far away from the breakpoint that it's silly to talk about
it. Also, <BR>> the appropriateness of this levy has been put into
question. Show our <BR>> community that we know how important
education is by voting Yes on this.<BR>> <BR>> Paul<BR>>
<BR>>
=======================================================<BR>> List
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<BR>> mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<BR>>
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