This referendum began with good intentions. Yet, without any explanation, it quickly evolved into something entirely different.
A new pool became the top priority and now includes a new fitness center and tennis courts, both of which the school already has. The jazz band featured on the first page of the presentation is indeed one of the finest programs in the district. Theater and choir are also some of the best you'll find anywhere. But all of these programs have been left out of the referendum. Although it made for a great bullet point of the first page of the referendum presentation, not a penny will go to fine arts at the high school.
The "most urgent" needs for roofing at Aldrich and Beloit Memorial High School, have been downgraded and are suddenly less important than the fitness center, the $400,000 elementary school kitchens, new office furniture for the administrators, etc. How can something as basic and essential as roofing needs not be addressed in this 70 million dollar referendum?
Have a look at this initial presentation -- the one the superintendent claims he presented 40 times to the public -- and ask yourself how it could have changed so drastically over just a couple of weeks without school board discussion and approval. It is bewildering at best. To repeat over and over, that listening sessions were provided 40 times and then propose a completely different plan is dishonest, and we believe, a violation of public trust. Beloit deserves better!
The school district's presentation to the public
Thanks for the post.. I laughed like heck on page 5?
ReplyDeleteCommitment to Stewardship
I thought smoking was not allowed in School, let alone Administration?
[ps...Edit out if needed]
The school district's page says:
ReplyDeleteWith interest rates at an all time low, the cost to taxpayers would be $5.63 per month on a $75,000 house - average value of a house in Beloit. ($7.50 per month for a $100,000 house).
I believe this information is false because this only represents the INCREASE in cost, not the actual cost. The difference between the two is that if you vote yes, you get the increase mentioned PLUS you also lose your tax relief for the high school referendum coming to an end. If you vote no, there is no increase AND you get a decrease from the high school referendum ending.
That is true. THere is no lie being told here though. The $5.63 increase per month is based on a $75,000 home (average cost of a home in Beloit). This figure is an additional $5.63 per month ($67.50 per year) on top of what we are paying now and that has been made clear! The problem is...if we want our taxes to go down - which they will if this referendum does not pass - then NONE of the problems that our district is facing will be taken care. All the citizens of Beloit can go out for dinner at a nice restaurant for one evening and nothing for our kids will change or you can invest in our kids and community and vote YES for this referendum!!!!!
DeleteThe district has been quoting only the increase in taxes, not quoting the entire cost of the referendum. This has been misleading to the public. Also misleading is basing the figure on "an average home value of $75,000.00. That is the average of all homes in beloit, but the average of owner-occupied homes in Beloit is more like $95,000.00. People need to know how much this will cost them, the homeowner, if this referendum passes.
DeleteOn the other hand, we believe the rush and lack of planning and the decisions that have been made with no input from the parents and residents are much more "costly" than a tax increase.
You are correct. The district's website has misinformation saying that the "cost" of the referendum is the amount of the increase we will see in taxes if it passes. Actually, we would get some tax relief if the referendum does not pass and so the net increase is
ReplyDeletemuch more than what is on the district website. Thanks for bringing that to light. It may not be a lot of money, but we would like to see more transparency from the school district.
A November 9, 2012 BDN article discussed the true costs of this referendum. Without a referendum, taxes would go down when the high school debt is retired. Next year's cost reduction in property taxes for a $100,000 value home should a referendum not pass would be $178.
DeleteWithout the proposed referendum, a $100,000 home would see a tax decrease of $178 per year. So, this referendum will actually cost the owner of a $100,000 home that $178 per year plus the additional $90 they are projecting -- a net increase of $268 a year.
The elementary school configuration was changed this school year to K-3, 4-5. This also was done without thought and planning. We were told two schools would close as well as Kolak Center. Instead, all schools are still open , Kolak is still being used AND the school board rented additional space at the closed Brother Dutton School. Busing has increased many times over, classrooms have been divided in half ("crowded") to accommodate students at some schools -- I haven't heard one good comment about what has happened. The school board should be holding meetings with teachers and parents to get their thoughts, suggestions, criticisms and doing indepth questioning, planning and explaining as they go along. Maintenance at all of our schools is more important than building additions at many schools and a new school. This referendum is being presented without the superintendent and school board doing their homework.
ReplyDeleteWe sincerely believe that each board member and administrator has good intentions but they have gone about this the wrong way, as you have noticed. Public input, input from teachers and parents, is critical to the process.
ReplyDeleteAside for a few "listening sessions", there has not been any public input. And to make matters worse, the plans presented at the listening sessions changed so much that the referendum voted on by the board looks nothing like what was presented to the public. By the district not making the final wording available to the public, we were unaware that we were about to be shut out of the process. Once the vote has taken place, nothing else can be added or changed on the referendum wording.
With all of the good intentions and interested parents, this could have been an excellent referendum -- one the entire city could back. But as it is now, we are divided. Some are willing to write a blank check for 70 million dollars and others want much more planning, discussion, and sense that these huge, unprecedented changes will be best for Beloit and our kids.
To their credit, in January, three board members, Nora Gard, Tia Johnson, and Shannon Scharmer tried to rescind the vote in order to make changes to the plan, yet still have the referendum on April's ballot. They were voted down by the others who wanted nothing to do with reconsidering the wording.
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