What part of we have no money does the educational industrial complex not understand?

Thank goodness for NO “simple majority” fraud on bonds!

With all due respect...what part of THE STATE DOESN’T FUND EDUCATION LET ALONE EDUCATIONAL BUILDING IMPROVEMENT can’t you understand?

Manerva, what part of “all money comes from the taxpayer and the taxpayers of America are broke right now do you not understand?” Education must do without, period.

Actually Skagitonian, education does not need to “do without”, but rather do more with what they already receive.
Our schools are overcrowded, yet they sit empty at a minimum of 50 days every summer. The schools are utilized at 75% of their capacity, yet all we hear from the school board is how desperately we need more buildings.
The school district needs to change the way they do business and switch to a year round school calander. Students still go to school 180 days, everyone still gets Christmas break at the same time, the only difference is the long summer break is broken up over shorter breaks throughout the year.
This would result in an automatic reduction in school population between 25-33%, depending upon the calander adopted.
If the school district shows a willingness to do something new, rather than just keeping asking and asking for money only to be rejected every time...they would be more likely to get a favorable response from voters when they do need funds n the future.

In the best of times BESD asked for too much money for grand expansion plans. I can’t fault voters for turning down that plan. Finally, in the worst of times, district officials come to their senses and offer a reasonable plan that focuses on the schools we do have and the work that needs to be done there. This is just bad management. Sad thing is, I think we could have afforded a couple of hundred bucks a year, $15-$20 a month. That’s lunch money. As unpalletable as new taxes are, we arn’t hurting that bad in Skagit County. And this would have been local taxes spent right here in our own town.

Actually Skagitonian, education does not need to “do without”, but rather do more with what they already receive.

Well Snappy, why don’t you trot right on down to your PTA meeting and local School Board meetings and get that done. Last count, the average number of citizens that actually attend school board meetings and present any new ideas was just North of zero.

The bottom line is that when they first came to us asking for $74 Milion, there was another $20 Million they admitted they needed at the time. Let’s assume there is a $94 Million need in their future plans. Can I afford another few bucks a month..absolutely. Can I afford another hundred or so every month to cover thir $94 Million need..sure.
But should I have to? If they want a partnership with the community it is time for them to show some leadership and come up with a new plan like I mentioned before.

It reminds me of a child asking for cookies before dinner. “Can I have 3 cookies”?  No. “Can I have two cookies?” No. “Can I have one cookie”?  No.
It realy does not matter how many cookies they are asking for, until something else in the equation changes, the answer will still be no.

Well Snappy, why don’t you trot right on down to your PTA meeting and local School Board meetings and get that done. Last count, the average number of citizens that actually attend school board meetings and present any new ideas was just North of zero.

Actually I presented this exact idea last fall at the meeting the school board had at Westview Elementary last fall when they were asking for community input on the bond issue. I was told they had looked at this idea in the past, and it was not “well received”. There was a feeling that they would rather not pursue this idea, choosing to ask for more money instead. We now see how “well received” that idea is.

The bottom line is that when they first came to us asking for $74 Milion, there was another $20 Million they admitted they needed at the time. Let’s assume there is a $94 Million need in their future plans. Can I afford another few bucks a month..absolutely. Can I afford another hundred or so every month to cover thir $94 Million need..sure.
But should I have to? If they want a partnership with the community it is time for them to show some leadership and come up with a new plan like I mentioned before.

It reminds me of a child asking for cookies before dinner. “Can I have 3 cookies”?  No. “Can I have two cookies?” No. “Can I have one cookie”?  No.
It realy does not matter how many cookies they are asking for, until something else in the equation changes, the answer will still be no.

I think you’re missing the point.  If there is no money for cookies, there is no money.  Perhaps it’s time the administrators all took pay cuts, time bus routes were consolidated and time serious efficiencies (such as looking at energy consumption and this idea of all-year building use) were looked into.  There is no money for tax increases.

Skagit..I hear what you are saying...do you have children?