By Jeff Salisbury jeffsalisbury@charter.net
Proposal I fails, resoundingly, but too many voters respond with no votes across the board
I completely understa
nd the statewide backlash by voters and turning back Proposal 1 (I voted NO as well), but I am troubled by so many no votes of other local issues.
In the aftermath of so many local millage failures, will municipalities, libraries, schools have no choice but to:
• Grind up paved roads, returning them to gravel?
• Close public libraries?
• Close police and fire department buildings and sell off all vehicles and equipment?
• Cancel school district athletics, recreation and fine arts programming?
• Close school buildings?
• Sell off school buses?
• Close public parks and campgrounds?
• Layoff school district, city, township and county employees?
• Or give out another round of business tax cuts and incentives to “job creators”?
Teacher evaluations at the schools that Obama, Duncan picked for their kids — from The Washington Post
”We don’t tie teacher pay to test scores because we don’t believe them to be a reliable indicator of teacher effectiveness.” — Sidwell Friends School (where Obama’s children attend school)”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/teacher-evaluations-at-the-schools-that-obama-duncan-picked-for-their-kids/2011/04/15/AF1S1cwD_story.html
Read this … then print this up for yourself… or slip a copy to your boss – your supervisor – your pastor – your principal – the head of your club, group, organization or board of directors… e-mail the link to a friend or just share it to your Fb wall.
Developing as a Leader? Sometimes Less Is More — 3 Questions to Ask Yourself – from LeaderChat.org
Developing a new behavior takes time, energy, and practice—and it’s often a trial and error process. If your scope is too big and you try to tackle too many changes at once, it can become overwhelming. When this happens, frustration can set in—which can lead to throwing up your hands in defeat.
Setting a reasonable goal is more likely to lead to success. But reasonable doesn’t mean something already in your comfort zone. The change you seek should stretch and challenge you—maybe even scare you a little.
Three questions that can help. When defining the right level of challenge, ask yourself:
• With my limited time and energy, what are the one or two most impactful areas I should focus on?
• What would achieving this goal look like? What would be different? What is the target I’m striving to hit?
Who can I enlist (a coach, friend or mentor) to help me along the way?
Stephen Colbert shocks South Carolina schools by funding every single teacher-requested grant
Comedian Stephen Colbert announced Thursday that he would fund every existing grant request South Carolina public school teachers have made on the education crowdfunding website DonorsChoose.org. Colbert made the announcement on a live video feed Thursday at a surprise event at Alexander Elementary School in Greenville. Colbert partnered with Share Fair Nation and ScanSource to fund nearly 1,000 projects for more than 800 teachers at more than 375 schools, totaling $800,000.
And finally… my constant reminder about School board “decision-making” …
1. Question Every Aspect of the District’s Essential and Non-Essential Educational Programming and Personnel Expenditures (Needs versus Wants.
2. Set General Fund & Casino Revenue Spending Guideline.
3. Track and Trim All Expenditures & Make Targeted Programs & Personnel Cuts As Needed
REMIND THE BOARD TO:
- “Build ONE Budget” – combine general fund revenue (local, state and federal dollars) and Gun Lake Casino “in lieu of taxes” revenue.
- “Pay Yourselves First” – restore the fund equity – which dipped from 15% to 7% in four years – by committing to saving 1% to 1.5% per year for AT LEAST the next 5 years.
- “No More Loans” – resist the temptation to borrow more money on top of the $291,000 annual loan payments to United Bank for the science wing from 2015 to 2025… no loans for iPads, no loans for school buses – no more loans PERIOD.
Wayland Union Schools – Board of Education Meetings & Workshops
May 18, 2015 Wayland Union Middle School, 701 Wildcat Drive, Wayland – 7:00 p.m
June 8, 2015 Wayland Union Middle School, 701 Wildcat Drive, Wayland – 7:00 p.m
June 22, 2015 Administration Building, 850 E. Superior, Wayland – 7:00 p.m
July 13, 2015 Administration Building, 850 E. Superior, Wayland – 7:00 p.m.
BOARD MEMBERS CONTACT INFORMATION:
• Nancy Thelen, President, Email: nancyboe@waylandunion.net Phone: 616-877-3098
• Tom Salingue, Vice President, Email: tomboe@waylandunion.net Phone: 269-792-2061
• Toni Ordway, Treasurer, Email: ordwayt@waylandunion.net Phone: 269-910-3297
• Theresa Dobry, Secretary, Email: theresaboe@waylandunion.net Phone: 616-681-2119
• Pete Zondervan, Trustee, Email: zondervanp@waylandunion.net Phone: 616-450-1468
• Janel Hott, Trustee, Email: hottj@waylandunion.net Phone: (h) 269-792-0297 (c) 269-250-0286
• Gary Wood, Trustee, Email: glw_boe@yahoo.com Phone: 616-681-2120.
