Nearly every day we readers of the St Joe News Press are bombarded with articles, letters, "It's Your Call" comments, and polls about the school district's recent bond and levy proposals. It's becoming wearisome.
I truly understand that there are voters on all sides of the measures who are passionate about their beliefs. This is what makes America such a wonderful country - the ability to vote in a private booth any way our heart leads us, and live with the outcome of the majority's feelings. I think rarely do voters actually vote on facts, best interests, long-term planning, or truly for what is in the best interest of the people as a whole. All too often do voters vote with their hearts and their passions in the moment. Which is, again, what makes our country great.
But on the flip side, I am so sick of reading these article comments, blogs, letters to the editor trying to sway voters to one side or the other. It actually aggravates me beyond belief that someone is honestly trying to get me to vote their way. To be frank, I don't give a damn what someone else thinks. I don't care that Daniel Nowalk, executive director, human resources and public relations, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. thinks that new schools are going to produce better students than old schools.
I've got my mind made up and the more propaganda I see, the more I hate that we can be bombarded with false truths and be expected to vote on issues that are clearly undefined. I am frustrated that ballot issues can be placed in front of voters without agencies being required to produce all factual information available. I wish those asking for money could be prosecuted for failing to disclose financial information, withholding information and straight up lying about anything.
Twisted, tainted propaganda won't win the District my vote this go-around. I'm sure if they don't get both the bond and the levy this year, they'll keep throwing it out there every year until they do get it. And they'll always say the losses are affecting our children. Always the poor children, who are already getting the short end of the stick. The administrators will never suffer.
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Reasons to vote 'no':
a) Infrastructure surrounding the proposed school sites are sorely lacking. Narrow roads+ increased car traffic+ increased pedestrian traffic+ no sidewalks = a bad combination. There has been no communication between the City and the District to confirm that one will build if the other does. Assuming is a bad thing.
b) District's failure to provide a long-term plan (10 yrs, please). Neely got a new library 7 years ago, and now is slated for closure. New windows and media centers/libraries that were recently installed in potential closing schools is a WASTE of taxpayer $$. Foresight would have prevented this.
c) Dr. Melody Smith's comment that the District is flying by the seat of their pants in concentrating in the northeast just because of a population shift/bump is s c a r y. What happens when Downtown is revitalized and more students are located down there? Time for a new school again?
d) District's failure to provide a backup plan should one or both measures fail, and unwillingness to provide said plan after repeated attempts from taxpayers (obviously not accountable to the voters).
e) District's failure to invest in student growth. Shiny new schools do not equal better achievers. Additional teacher training, school programs, and extra curricular activities do.
f) District has said repeatedly that the proposed closures are in buildings that are structurally sound. Administrators have said that with renovations, these schools would be fine. Last time I checked, renovations would be cheaper that building anew. Continued maintenance would prevent the "failing" of our schools. Invest some money in our existing buildings!
g) The City has some major overhauling to do of their sewer system. This will assuredly bring increased fees from taxpayers, whether in the form of bills, bonds, or taxes. These school measures are raising my annual property tax bill, and I worry that the sewer bill will raise my bill also, leaving me with little to no money at the end of the year. Long-term planning folks. How much more can these public entities suck from me?
h) I, as a taxpayer, am expected to live within a budget - - why isn't the District?
i) This is the personal one for me, which likely won't mean anything to other voters. The District's failed assumption that voters will give them anything they want. Several months ago, before the bond issue was even an issue, Dr. Smith was quoted in the paper as trying to purchase potential land sites to build a new school. Wait... there was no approval from voters? No feedback even from voters? She said that "WHEN THE BOND IS PASSED...". When the bond is passed?! What the heck! Who said I would give you anything? I hate giving to an open hand that continues to beg for money but fails to work for it. People announce they want accountability. I want my voice to be heard! I want this woman to know that she works for me. And I want my children to be all the better for it.
j) $32,000,000,000. $32MM dollars, folks, sitting in reserves. I don't have $32MM in the bank, but if I did, I wouldn't be asking for more.
