Today everyone has been talking about the PLSD Board of Education meeting that happened last night. We all knew this meeting was coming and we knew it would be hard. When the levy didn't pass we knew that jobs would be lost, programs would take a hit and emotions would rise. Everyone has been saying this and that, conversing, discussing and interpreting. I don't know everything about the situation and I'm not going to pretend like I do. I've heard different ideas and conclusions others have drawn from information and news. I'm just going to lay out my opinion on this one, from my understanding, with completely honest feelings:
It is not plain and simple, things seem to be 'unsure', opinions and interpretation of the BOE's decision clash. We can't know for sure what will happen come spring if the levy returns to the ballot.
The blame can't be placed in one area. The BOE, voters, and government can all be blamed.
No one person can find one person or group to blame for our current economic situation, but that situation has led to selfishness and struggle, hence our levy. The levy was brought about because there were money problems that needed to be solved, and those similar money problems caused it not to pass.
Many people voted no simply because they cared about themselves, and not the future: CHILDREN. They just didn't want to pay taxes. The voters should have realized that voting yes could potentially fix money problems and the consequences were not worth saving the small $200-some in extra taxes. The voters created a terrible situation for the BOE, they had to choose cuts, they had their hands tied.
Choosing fairly is a different story. Programs such as music and PE were cut for the younger students, real people lost their jobs who had just begun their career. There is less learning time and less opportunity for success is available to future students. People who aide the school in so many unrecognized ways lost their job just because of a seemingly unimportant title. The work load is going to be too much for certain positions to handle alone. One person cannot handle the jobs of three. Now my question is where are the higher-level job salary cuts? Where are the BOE salary cuts? I think things could have been a bit more even spread.
Now I have to mention some things so I don't seem uneducated, crazy, hateful, disgruntled, ranting or biased
I admit that I don't know everything about this horrid situation, I may be wrong about some things but I have an opinion and I'd like to express it.
I've done as much research as I can so I know as much as I can about this situation.
I have nothing against BOE, I personally know 2 members and they are wonderful people who have done a lot for me.
I understand this is hard on everyone, I guess I am just discontent. As a hopeful future educator I can't stand to watch this happen to a school district, education is one of the most important things in one's life, without it we are nothing. As a community, we fail without education. I guess I'd just like to see it protected in every subject. This is going to have consequences in the lives of teachers, administrators, citizens and most of all those who don't even have much of a voice in the matter: STUDENTS.
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