I usually try to stay away from anything controversial on Facebook. But, in this instance, I believe in my heart I must offer my thoughts. Like many of you in Starkville, I have viewed the signed petition regarding the local school bonds. And before I start, I want to say I hold no angst or ill will toward any person who signed. I do, however, have concerns over the information presented to many of these people. How you win the petition game is to use “scare tactics”. You get a bunch of people together that you know haven’t been following the news and you manipulate some of that group based on distorted, volatile information. And what’s scary, it’s sometimes made by people you think you should trust. People who run for public office and by people who are already there. Most times, that’s how petitions as well as elections are won. So I say that to say this. I know clear information wasn’t presented to many people. So here are the facts of what bond bill will cost you and where the money will go: Senate Bill 2818, the legislation which created the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District and outlined the plan for its required establishment beginning July 1, 2015, gave the OCSD the authority to issue bonds in the amount of $13.2 million in an effort to help pay for the expense of consolidation which includes $10 million for a new 6-7 grade school, referred to as the Partnership School, on the campus of Mississippi State University. This funding source was recommended by the seven member Commission on School Structure that included representatives from MSU, SSD, OCSD and MDE and approved by the legislature. The remaining $3.2 million will be used to purchase new buses and technology for the students and teachers in the former Oktibbeha County School District which are currently provided to the students and teachers in Starkville School District. This includes a laptop for every teacher, smartboards in every classroom, and modernized bus transportation. The bonds would require a 13 mil levy for 30 years and would cost property owners in the OCSD about $14 per month on a home valued at $100,000.” The politician in me has always used the term “there are two sides to every pancake.” Are there two sides to this? Absolutely, there is. I was also told on issues, you can’t sway in the wind and pick two sides. You have to pick a side or something you believe in and be passionate about your beliefs. Here’s why I’m passionate about this issue. Healthy public schools are extremely vital to the overall success of a community in so many ways. From trying to lure industry and workforce to the retention of industry and workforce, how local public schools perform are integral for a community looking to increase population, work force and infrastructure. I’ve heard many people use the argument that they’re fed up with the government taking more of their money. I’m almost always in this point of view. I want my money to be spent wisely and I get sick to my stomach every time I pick up a pen to write a tax check knowing it’s going to be wasted in so many ways. But this isn’t one of those cases. No matter your disdain for the federal or state government, it shouldn’t have a bearing on a local issue like this. All tax monies will go to support local initiatives. And we’re not talking about excess administrative costs. Consolidation itself takes care of many of those issues. We’re talking about monies that will affect the direct education and welfare of our kids. This is a very different situation than what’s occurring in many of the small towns across our state. We have a chance to set a standard in public education, because we have one of the greatest research institutions in America partnering with it. This isn’t a situation where you’re just throwing money at the situation and hope it helps. No, this partnership is something that can be monumental for this county because it would be including an institute of higher learning. I won’t get into the urbanization of this country just so I won’t put you to sleep. But simply, people who have ties to this university are looking for a reason to pick up and move to Starkville. It’s just like recruiting in sports, you have to eliminate reasons for them not to come. Once again, better schools = more development/jobs = better infrastructure = increase value of living in Starkville. I’ve been very fortunate to travel around and see college town across the country. And I always get the feeling that we’re right on the cusp of catching lightning in a bottle in this town. I’ll also tackle the elephant in the room. This private school vs public school debate/division must be worked out. This shouldn’t be a private/public school issue and many people are making it out to be…on both sides. I have many friends who choose to go the private school route and I have no ill will toward them whatsoever. They’re exercising a choice on what they think is what’s best for their family, as am I. But the excuse of this doesnt affect my family so I dont want to pay more taxes is a terrible excuse. It does affect you. What’s wrong with it going to a vote? It will take a 60% super majority to overturn a petition. Studies as well as history show school bond bills rarely pass when they need 60%. So this is the only real chance to make this happen. To wrap this up, I know many people have questions. Please contact the school district or better yet, sign the reverse petition I’ve attached at the bottom to take your name off the petition. I can also say this is a time where your local schools are at a crossroads. You take a look at some counties within a 60 mile radius. Their crossroads occurred 10, 15, 20 years ago and they failed to act on it. Now they’ll have a very difficult time getting back no matter how much money is thrown their way. I just hope we’re not here 15 years from now harping on a mistake we made in 2015. Once again, sorry for the length and I promise I have no ill will to anyone who signed the petition. I just simply and humbly ask you to consider signing the reverse petition to remove your name. ppsstarkville.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Counter-Petition.pdf
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 21:47:10 +0000
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