Seems like a conflict of interset to me that Mr Myers is involved in.
My opinion is I have no trust in the TF or some of their members.

***“What I’m doing in Platte County has nothing to do with my volunteering here. It’s dirty politics,” he said.
***

It is true,(he didn't deny it) and nobody would have known about it.. I know I didn't. Soooo..how is that dirty?? Dirty would be saying something that wasn't true. So informing voters who is part of a group promoting a levy is dirty?

IF this is true, we have the local attorney spokesperson for the campaign to ask voters to voluntarily increase taxes(yes, it is an increase because we won't pay it this year) while at the same time, he is involved in a suit that will take money AWAY from the SJSD and our kids.

Does anyone else feel like the TF has asked us to bend over?

AND, here is another question - WHY didn't the NP or anyone find this before now???

Isn't Roe the little weasel who always pops out of his hole to get Sam Graves reelected? Sounds like he is grasping at straws.

Grasping at straws? Really? You don't think this is news? I am a bit confused. For someone who thinks the schools need more money, are you a little bit upset that the Spokesperson for the TF is involved in a case that seeks to steer money away from the district? If you are not concerned, I would like to hear your rationale.

...and the people who fall for this junk are the same ones who make the carnies salivate as they spot them walking down the midway.

Again this group is funded by the "Sam Adams Alliance" who's goal is to destroy public education. Axium works for this group, they attack our school board, our citizens anyone who beleives in the community. They lie. they will not disclose who they are. If Reeder is not the treasurer then who is?

You really want to beleive these peopole? Are you so desperate to push your agenda you would take the side of an organization that sends our a flier of our elected school board and call them clowns?

Do I believe a local lawyer from the community or a polotical marketing firm who showed homophobic images on a commerical to win a campain.

St. Joe if you don't stand up for your own, who will -

Sense, put down the kool-aid.

The Sam Adams Alliance has nothing to do with "destroying public education" and everything to do with shrinking government.

You know, there was a time when the government didn't run our schools. Lazy, incompetent people allowed the government to take them over. Now look where they're at.

Down with big government. Hurumph, hurumph.

It is a conflict of interest like yougottabekiddingme has said.
Mr Myers is involved with a lw suit that will take money away from the SJSD and provide more of it to other school district whle he is working with a group that is asking the community of St Joseph to approve a levy for the schools.
Plus he will benefit from it he wins the case.

Interesting poll on stjoechannel.com last night asking how you would vote on the levy Nov 3rd.
If it is any signs of the out come the levy will not pass.The poll showed 17%yes and 70%No and only 2.5 percent siad they were not goingto vote and the remaining said they did not live here and could not vote.NO in November

sense, I have been reading your multiple posts concerning Sam Adams Alliance. Where did you get your info to condemn this group?
My brief research on this group doesn't support your stance. Please enlighten me with facts.

mm1967 you are an advocate for your position on issues. A lawyer is an advocate too. Could Mr. Myers be advocating that Iatan pay their fair share of property taxes? He is advocating for children of that county. Platte County property taxes don't pay for St. Joe schools. An advocate for children would want to see all pay their share in educating children.

This money if I am not mistaken will go to more then just one district if I read correctly so why should one get more then the other?
Confilct of interest anyway you look at it.Mr Myers shoul;d resign from the TF(OCOFOD)GROUP.

I question the motives of anyone who is asking for more money for the same school he is trying to take money from. Any other person who wasn't blindly following would as well.

It doesn't matter where this information came from as long as it is true.

Can someone PLEASE explain to me how a bunch of people who are supposed to be "for the children" is advocating for something that doesn't do anything! Doesn't address short term financial problems (because there are none) and it doesn't address long term goals???

Come on, one logical answer besides for "we need a bandaid".

NO WE DON'T. NOT YET. Now is not the time to ask for a bandaid, now is the time to fight for our children.

Don't be fooled into voting yes St. Joe! This group isn't "for the children". If they were, they wouldn't want to KEEP our schools among the lowest funded in the state.

So the way I read this then is there is a pool of money that all the surrounding school districts will draw from, and Mr. Myers is representing the West Platte School District who feels like they should get more than they are being told they will get. It stands to reason that if you have a pie and cut it up into pieces if someone wants a bigger one then everyone else will get a smaller one.

i'm not comfortable with condemning an attorney for doing his job. IF this is true it should have no bearing on the issue or mr myer's participation on ocfd. he is representing a client, and if the distribution of funding is not equitable then myers would be remiss in not working to right that wrong. as for his being paid????? that is just silly.

i truly abhor axiom's technique but also believe that those who donate to Any political issue have a right to their voice, anonymous or otherwise. this is the democratic process in all her glory and imperfections.

the most egregious thing any voter could do on Nov 3 would be to not vote. inform yourselves, make a decision based on the Facts, and get to the polls. by now surely everyone has made their minds up?

Isn't Roe the little weasel who always pops out of his hole to get Sam Graves reelected? Sounds like he is grasping at straws.

Again this group is funded by the "Sam Adams Alliance" who's goal is to destroy public education

********************************************************

Typical response from a group of people that probably voted for Obama. Oppose anything he does and your a wingnut, racist, and a liar that needs to be censored. The tax was voted down the first time..and now those people are wanting to destroy education, dumb , weasels, and they should all be ashamed they voted no.

I don't know who that group is, but bringing that to the attention of voters is in no way..dirty or underhanded.

And I also had a problem wondering why KCPL would donate money to get this thing passed. Now I see. I would assume if the levy passes, their taxes wouldn't go up.

Here we go again, St. Joe! At some point, one of our "political leaders" will realize the only way to defeat these kinds of last minute antics is for the community to be engaged and united on the vision. They come here because we are an easy target! They will only stop coming here when we start listening to ALL parts of our community.

A wise old expression says if you want someone's opinion ask for money, but if you someone's money ask for their opinion. We need to ask the voters about their wishes for the SJSD before we ask for money. Plain and simple.

The levy proposal is just a band aid - for better or worse. Regardless of the outcome on Tues, after the votes are counted we need to heal the wounds, engage all areas of our community and develop a community engineered long range plan for St. Joe's Kids.

When Mr. Myers elected to become a member of the committee he should also have publicly acknowledged his professional involvement with the West Platte lawsuit. In addition, if the committee was aware of this fact it needed to be disclosed. This would have mitigated any perception of conflict now existing. It is reasonable to understand why the association is now being questioned even if the motivation was of purest intention.

Johnahickman your call for healing resonates with me. Your vision to engage all areas of the community is a starting point. But, I am concerned about those who life's hurts have left them bitter. How do we engage and offer healing? What about the ideologues that believe that there is only one answer. How do we engage those folks in seeking the common good?

usedtobe,
If they do not get out and try to engage the community they will never know what it id going to ake to heal the wounds the district has left with people they will only fester more.
It is not going to be easy but when they finally get it and do start to engage and the more they do that and be honest with people in the community they will lose some of their bitterness and work with them for what is right for our schools.

But not he current direction and I think Tuesday evening they are going to get a loud and clear message sent to them.

To the point of this artical, one must keep in mind Axuim will do whatever it takes to win. Keep in mind they once claimed a person worked for Playhowse magazine though she worked for a publishing company that did own Penthouse she never worked for the magazine. That would be like saying a person who works at a GE lightbulb plant construct nuclar missils.

This is another down dirty political smear and at this point we don't know what is true or not, no does Axuim care, they got what they wanted days before the election.

St. Joe stand up for your own, if you don't, who will

apm, you are absolutely correct. perhaps mr myers just never thought that this would be an issue? it is such a stretch i confess if i were in his place i would never have even considered this a conflict.

as far as i can see the NP has printed what amounts to a smear against mr myers started by roe. this is just as bad as the NP's issues with one of the original founders of the true grass roots .......it is wrong. this is why citizens don't want to get involved.

it has NO bearing on the issue.

Time to get this election over with!!!!

Sense- Your argument is pointless. Of course Axiom(yes with an O) does whatever it takes to win. Isn't that what they're supposed to do? I mean, is that not why they're in the business. If I was running for office I would do anything to win. The facts in this article is not a dirty smear but are facts. I think they should have been pointed out earlier even.

Even though I agree with heritage, that is has no bearing on the issue. I think it's nice to know.

http://www.plattecountycitizen.com/PDF/4-15-09_News_Articles.pdf

This is all the info I have found so far and I can't figure out what this has to do with us yet.

**St. Joe if you don't stand up for your own, who will -***

Yeah...we did that already with a NO VOTE. But apparently that makes no differance. You try to stand up and vote so your voice is heard, and you get pushed aside if you don't vote the way the right people want you to.Why even put it to a vote? Was it just to make it look like people had a choice? Or maybe if it passed, you can point out that people voted for it when the money gets abused and is gone? It will pass , and you will pay.

JHickman, nice post. This election is counter productive. We have time to do what is right for this community. There are no "dark clouds".

We can heal as a community and build a consensus. I know it is possible. You simply have to engage the ENTIRE community, do what is best for the community as a whole. Come up with a long range plan that works, is equitable and addresses every building and every part of the community. I have faith that this can be done. The TF is selling us out. Our children and our community deserve more.

Actually, West Platte School district got a raw deal from Charlie Shields new funding formula. They were a few students north of extra funding for small school districts. Like, I'm thinking less that 50. So I am not surprised they are doing all they can to find extra money. Did not know about the lawsuit though. Reporters should read some nearby papers and let the public know.

The scariest news lately, though, was the Nixon budget cuts. If the state has to cut education funding, that will put additional stress on the local district.

St. Joseph School District with its hefty reserve fund, however, could stand a state budget cut of 10% or <$4 million for several years before cutting teachers or programs.

Of course, with the current board of education and superintendent, keeping a high reserve is more important than maintaining staff and educational services.

I am conflicted about the levy, but I do believe that 85% of the school board and main office admin must go by the end of the year.

School board election petitions should be available shortly after the election (they often don't announce it until December after the annointed ones get their names on the ballot first). I'll have more to say about that process later.

Also, salary schedules will probably go to the board in November or December and the superintendent will get her new contract and salary increase during the winter months--will try to keep everyone ahead of the game.

Five days until the election--help get the vote out!

First off, I want to apologize up front for drifting off into the "grammar" police at times. The debates on this forum are very entertaining. Most have compelling points to make and do so just fine.

I do seem to get easily perturbed at times at the articles written in the newspaper. This one falls into that category.

"If" I were to contact a reporter and state that a certain SJSD administrator was having an affair with a student (THIS is COMPLETELY fictional), would the News Press write a story based upon my accusations?

Is it responsible? Is it unethical? Is it newsworthy? I suppose they would if I was willing to give my name to it. Does that make it right to print? Bad analogy, but that appears to be the case with this article.

The reporter apparently didn't do any research to verify the claim...just wrote it because it was "newsworthy". From my research, KCP&L--Iatan, is trying to pay as low taxes as possible on their construction and they've gotten the county assessor to side with them. The school district (West Platte), wants them to re-consider and value the project to what they consider more fairly. If the school district wins, more money will go to all school districts, not just West Platte.

Please, reporter, correct me if my interpretation is incorrect....that your research verifies the "claims" of the Axiom fella or just what "responsible" news writing entails?

FYI: Missouri Casenet shows KCP&L's lawyer to be Todd Graves and that several "motions" have gone against them. Hmmn....killing two birds it seems.

I heard a joke when the internet was just getting going. Someone said once, the people who fight the most for freedom are the ones that most likely want to charge you for it.

It reminds me of the cries of the opposition, "engage the entire community" or "push the agenda from my side of the community"

To answer someones post, win at any cost, no, this is about our community and schools, it's not politcal. No one gains office, or power or much of anything. This is about funding schools to educate our kids, period. If you wish to debate how to use that money, fine, do it the school board meetings, volunteer in school programs, do it in the upcoming elections. There is no point holding needed money as ransom to push personal agendas. No other districts across the state seem to think like this. Why jsut us?

sence,
I do not think anyboody is wanting to hold money from the district to hold them hostage they just want them to do it right not half right.I think everybody here wants the best for our schools and children.
But they cannot overcome the issues they have caused and the parents they have upset by not engaging them and this is exactly what they have done ran and hide and not engaged these people so it is coming back to bit them along with several other reasons.

Why don't we wait until the election is over before we give reasons for why people voted. I would actully like to hear it from them than have you provide it for them. So allow me to ask, you say this is half right, tell me what is your plan for all the way right, when do you go back to get funding, and how much - lets hear a plan.

We've been down this road before I will not get into it again,This levy is wrong anf need to be for the long term finacial needs of the schools and the board and admin must engage the entire community to get this passed.

So you have no plan on restoring funding? No timetable? What exactly does engage the community mean? What do they need to do for the community to feel engaged? I feel you will not get into it, becasue you simply lack the thought process to do so.

***The reporter apparently didn't do any research to verify the claim...just wrote it because it was "newsworthy**

Again...is the man involved in a lawsuit and will get paid if he wins?? YES. He acknowleged that. All the article reported was the accusation and what one man's claim is. And what the rebuttal was from the other side. I didn't read anything about the writer saying it was all true and fact.This shouldn't have been printed?? But the 3 articles a day put out by the newspress promoting people to vote yes and why they think they should is all ok?? And from the newspress's track record, encouraging anyone to vote for anything is laughable.

Come out from hiding your post are all to familiar its all to easy to see.

@sense
What good does restoring funding do when they have no idea what they are going to do with the funds.

http://www.stjoenews.net/news/2009/oct/28/school-district-may-review-past-cuts/

There is a direct tie between axiom and the News Press. Why else would they print accusations as fact? Why else were they giving Reeder all the attention running up to the vote in April??? When Reeder would hold his news conferences in the run up to the election in April it would be Reeder, NP, and Channel 3, thats it!!!!

I tried posting this info in April and was blocked from the site. I could still log in but none could see my posts!!!! I know there is a connection between the two. I know one person who in 2006 were working for the NP and was sent down to axiom to work on campaign material.

I will be banned after this post.

Bradley is playing us for fools!!!! He makes money off playing both sides of the fence. Take the school issues away readership declines automatically.

Someone dig to the bottom of this please!!!!!!

After this post, I will be banned from this site, guaranteed.

sense-apple-sense-apple, hard to say, they both sound the same, oh well, there is two votes for. and mine also.

Myers has absolutely no conflict of interest. On a new power plant there are two phases of taxation. During construction the local authorities get the taxes and afterward then it becomes state assessed (like railroads). The problem is with how the local assessor has chosen to assess the property which then pays taxes only to the tax authorities including the local school district. None of this will have any effect whatsoever on the SJSD.

I see mm you have no answers, your only desire is to defeat and offer no solutions.

If were apple I would have picked a better name like

jax
sause
pie
ofmyeye
aday
dumbling

Solutions can only come with the work of the board of education the admin and the community as a whole and we have been down this road before as well on this topic.

so how do you achieve that, tell me your plan

Nothing can move forward without the SJSD/SJSB willing to listen and commit to working with the community and being more open and honest with the community before they will gain the entire community's trust back.
One board member knows this and has expressed this openly and he is willing the other remain more aless in hiding and not willing.But remember 2 new members will be elected in April and the community will be very selective on who they vote for and these new member must be willingto engage the community.
They need to take the first step not turning their problems over to the TF again they must solve their opwn issues they have made for themselves.

Sence more then I believe you are apple posting under a new name there are to many simularities in your post that point to this.But if you are apple it will continue to show and how you fire back at me all of the time is a good indication.

so you don't have a plan -

I laid it our for you sence apple it has to start with the SJSD/SJSB so please dont ask again you do not understand simple logic.

mm1967 lives for platitudes and throw off lines. He has, despite requests from many on these posts, refused to post a single item where someone could judge his plan. The latest example is that he maintains the current ballot request is insufficient, but he refuses to tell us what is sufficient. Is it 80 cents, 90 cent, a dollar, two dollars, five dollars? Please let us poor misinformed heathen know the answer from on high.

He is a little man who is truly a pox.

drbjr,
Go back and be the informant you are for the TF and you may want to tell them to take a look at the poll on kqtv website and also look further down to the April voting poll on their web site as well you will find that the poll in april fell right along the lines of the election results and this one will as well.I think their poll shows 75% voting NO and if this hold true in the election that number is going to be hard to overcome.You group is failing and it cannot stand the though that this will fall on the shoulders of the TF and the SJSB/SJSD.You all have failed to see the real issues and are blind to the fact as well yourself.

when you cannot supply answers you just attack - you have no logic you only want it to fail so you can feel like a big guy, you have so much in common with Axium and Reeder.

I can't believe how many people can read this article and without doing any research what-so-ever(google) jump on the bandwagon! Please people of St. Joe, do some investigating before deciding who's right here! Can't you see beyond the smoke and mirrors? You all are probably the same ones who forward emails on rumors of gangs raping women at Wal-Mart, or syringes infected with HIV under gas pump handles, or the missing girl who was never really missing, without FIRST DOING SOME FACT CHECKING.

mm1967, you were one of the first on that wagon, how's the ride?

I do hope sense is apple. I learn alot from his/her posts. Not just banter, but facts. I've wondered where she/he's been. Thank you.

Brennen,
What smoke and mirrorsare you talking about.Did the district mnot cause a lot of undue problems since aprils levy failure? Did the not run and hide and not engage the community?Have they failed to address the issues of overcrowding of the schools?Have they not been willing to work with the community on any issue about the schools and for the betterment of our schools.Now they have adnitted that this levy is going to still put them in financial ruins within a couple of years and we will be having this same fight again idf it fails. So would it not be in their best interest tot swollow their pride and work with the community to gets what's right for our schools?If you call this a band wagon so be it and there does not have to be any research done on these issues it is plain as day.

polly want a cracker?

The Bandwagon I was referring to is the information on the article that we are commenting about.

Yes, the SJSD did address over-crowding at our school. I don't have any "undue problems". They did engage the community on several occasions. I believe I went to at least 3 of them, and I asked questions. I felt engaged and I am part of the community. What exactly do you mean by the "betterment of our schools"? If you can answer with details, I could answer you. Yes, they have admitted that this levy is not going to be enough, but they are doing what the public asked for-THE STUPID SUNSET CLAUSE.

Ok I was a YES/YES voter the last time so I must have thought the district was doing it the right way without the sunst.Now they have acted like a bunch of children when they do not get their way toward some of the community and this levy does not address the issues I said above as you did so I will now be a NO vote.

Also read some of the peoples post about undue problen and hardships they have caused for family's some people post them on here everonce and a while I read one the other day from a person clled wedge47 and I would call what happened to their family a undue hardship.I am also glad they have addressed you schools overcrowding issues they must just want to take care of a select few because we still have overcrowding issues.Just goes to prove that some of the things I have heard thet they do not treat all of the schools the same.Jump on for that last comment but I believe that to be true and that my opinion and I have head it before several time from out in our community.

This school district does lack in communication skills. They lack in them because they don't want to get out into the community to try to help it. There are neighborhood groups and neighborhood betterment groups to belong to. There are civic clubs to belong to. This would get them exposed to some of the very people in the community who they will want support from for a revenue issue. If school people are not visible to a community, the community just looks at them as someone in that building down the street. That is the beginning of communication. As far as some of you pushing MM to give you a number for the correct levy, I believe it was Beau Musser who was even reported in the newspaper to say that the 63 cent levy was already not enough. Just a hint to you administrator types: Talk with (not at) your own people in your own buildings about supporting it. It might help.

Well, considering that my son's class has been overcrowded for the last 5 years doesn't necessarily mean they were taking care of us any better than the other schools. I do have issues with the SJSD as you do. I also have a child in middle school now. I think their academics are very very weak, no homework, never studies, gets A's. But, by withholding money is NOT going to solve any of these problems. It will only get worse.

I will just be glad when Tuesday evening is here and gone and this is put behind us.But that right it will start all over again and our community will be divided even more either way the turn out is.Sence I also take offence to you last comment.

Brenne,
I as well have a child getting ready to go to middle school and is a straight A student and want the best for them I also have other children in school and want the best for them.I just do not think this levy provides this for them.I want better for my children and it is not about money I have no problem with paying my share.Do I have issues wit hthe SJSD yes and I as well think alot of people do.All I am saying they should have address the issues to calm people and worked wit hthe community to get their trust and support for they could get the right levy for the long term of our school no matter what that amount may have been.Now we are still at the drawing board and it look like we still will be there next week.Somehow all sides need to meet in the middle ground and work together for what is good for all of our schools and all of our community's children.This is what the SJSD/SJSB should have done in the last 6 months.Someone or something need to unite this community for the good of the schools.Is that to much to ask for?

I see sense is up to her old tricks again. Didn't take long.

I'm going to comment on mm1967 remark. Yes it is to much to ask for the trust of the SJSD has been broken. With the close of schools that could of waited. That was straight up revenge. And did you see the mother on the news that had the child in a special ed program Coleman and was told her child could not attend there anymore. And the new boundaries set by the SJSD.And the fact that they were going to close down schools in midtown to build anew school on the east side and build on to another east side school. What about the kids they were going to dis place in midtown. So to sit there and say is it asking to much? Well you tell me is it? We all want best for the kids here i think everyone can agree on that but at what price. Right now St. Joesph is going through hard times. People losing jobs house's being closed on. St. Joseph is at almost 10% unemployed. And we have a a School District that hasn't been honest. Has not kept the community informed of anything so you tell me how is everyone suppose to be or get on the right page. Ty these are my thoughts BTW I am also voting NO on it just to tell you where i stand. Ty for your time in reading this

LabyrinthWalker,
I agree with you post 100% and what you have said.What I did not know was the issue about the child being told they could not attend Coleman any longer.Do you know the exact reason for this child not being able to attend there?
But remember we have a election in April where we can replace 2 board member and I wish we could replace the majority of them but it will only be 2 this time.Hope fully these 2 new member will make a change for we can startto trust the district again and they will work wit hthe community.
I have been very out spoken about the school closures and think it was a hugh mistake on the SJSD/SJSB part as well as the redistricting and do not support those decisions at all I think they were wrong and agree with you they were probably for revenge toward the community for voting no in April.
Now the district must listen to parents that are upset with the situation you spoke of and still have not really addressed the issue.Thanks LabyrinthWalker for psoting this to let the community know people are still upset as I have said.

Yes the Mother was told because of the boundaries set by the SJSD that her child and others like her child that needs special ed program at Coleman can attend the school that is set in their boundaries. And the reason why she had him in Coleman was because it was the best program for him and the SJSD told her about the Coleman program. Just to have kids ripped up from there and the SJSD saying sorry but you didn't pass the levy. She was on the news KQ2 and she was upset with a few other mothers. It was revenge that's all it was revenge because they didn't get their way. So SJSD don't say this crap about caring for the kids because you don't. And what about the group that say's it will pass no matter what. Unless i read the posting wrong. So what they are saying our vote won't count i thought this was America i must of been mistaking. It's good to know the deck is stacked anyone want to play? Ty for taking the time and reading this.

I just saw a post of mine was removed. I have no idea why - and would like the mods to explain why - nothing I post should have been removed.

Nov. 3 is almost here.
Is the News-Press going to report anything factual and meaningful, or is it just going to do a play-by-play of bickerfest round 2?

The pro-levy campaign has been side-tracked by all this verbal judo with the anti-levy crowd. The second attempt by the pro-levy group to get information to voters and mobilize their supporters seems to be weaker than the first attempt.

It really doesn't matter anymore people have already made their minds up anything from any side at this point is a waste of time.
Tueaday we will see the outcome and it is not looking to good for the levy.
Your post must have been flagged by someone for removal.

I, for one, am still torn by what to do in the voting booth. So is my spouse. So are some of my friends and relatives. This IS NOT a done deal and probably will not be done until after we all vote Tuesday. I do feel for staff and children but I do not wish to give a vote of confidence to the administration or the board. I do not feel they have earned my trust or even fully understood what they are supposed to do. I also understand, with health care issues coming up and changes we don't understand and the water hike, that people, BECAUSE OF LOW PAY, leading to low retirement, are feeling a pinch, and a big one at that. On the other hand, for this community to improve, education MUST be supported. This has not always been greeted with a great deal of support, but the business community is helping the entire community reap what it (the business community) has sewn, by not paying livable wages. We all love our children, but we all have to live.

On another front, there are sure impressive cards that are being sent out by both the pros and the cons. It makes me wonder just how much money actually is going into this and can they send some my way?

Well dillygent1 consider the following -

We currently fund our schools less than most in the state of Missouri

The .63 levy only replaces what we have been paying for the past five years, no increase for those years.

the disrict puts a sunset on this so that the community knows they will work with them in the next five year to work on better communication with the community and put together a long range plan.

The school district is not perfect, the levy is not perfect, however prevents major cuts for the next couple of years keeping our third largest employer in the city from cutting more workforce which would have even more economic difficulties.

The school has had many many independant audits which h have not found any mispending, or misuse of funds.

Dillygent1, also consider the majority base of the sunset direction literally "trashed" that process back in Apr when most were for the permenant approach. Many still believe the permenant levy is what is needed and I am one of those people. The above comment states things that have already been addressed time and time again. No new information there. The sunset clause hinders future state growth and there is clear evidence of that just by going out and looking around. The district has been quiet on this until a KQ2 interview with Dr Smith emerged the other night, and even in that interiew it was very clear the district is letting the group run this and they are for the most part staying quiet. This direction is not what the district stated they needed. And back in Apr when asked what they would do if it failed, this was not presented as an option. A community group is promoting this, not the district. Lastly, myself and many others are not afraid to put our name to our positions on this forum and out in public. Most of us have taken heat for it and we have hit back. We have confidence in our positions to put our names to it and speak out for what we believe in. Many who promote the sunset direction on this forum continue to utilize the anonymous approach. Several appeared to have been banned because of their comments. At least one appears to have come back under another anonymous name. To me, if you truly beleive in the cause, you should have the confidence to stand for up for it without anonymous names. It adds to the credibility of positions. Those are my opinions and viewpoints.

John I don't know why in your position you spend more time on me than your argument but that is up to you. The district approved the task force and what they presented, they are simply being quiet on the campaining, do not mistake that from approval of what is one the ballet.

You brush aside my points saying they have been covered before, what you ment to say is that they have yet to be overcome.

Sense, I have no idea what your talking about, I spend very little time on you, if no time at all. You keep coming on here to defend the direction, great, that makes for excellent debate, and I am going to keep defending my position. You keep making insuations that because my vote is No in November that I am holding "money hostage" and that all who vote no support Axiom, I will stand up against that insuation continually. Many of us have completely separate rationales for voting no. And I have confidence to put my name to it like many others.

No problem with you defending your position. We disagree on how we should move foward, as you said it will be decided by those who go vote. This vote is only about restoring funding, it is not about new buiidings, how to plan, or anything about that, just very simply restore operating funding, so not allowing that so that a conversation can be had regarding other issues is indeed holding money hostege, sorry thats just the way I see it.

I disagree with the "restoring funding" mindset. In my view it is not what this is about. "Restore funding" does not equate to an additional levy placed on top of other financial resources already recieved. If this funding is needed, then it does not belong on an additional levy initiative, it belongs in a state or municipal argument for a tax increase under legislation initiatives without voter consent. For the record, some good debate the past couple of days.

Don't follow you - we had a .63 levy for five years and in April we voted not to continue it. If we vote yes on the .63 levy then are we not restoring that funding we use to have, that seems easy to follow. As to your point, taxpayes must approve increses in tax levy, just ask the city, they can't just make inflationary adjustments.

The argument is the levy is always needed. It is argued the money needs to go to "keep the lights on". It is not being argued for improvements and such and the HR piece to the argument in my view is a weak one. The present .63 if passed still does not allow flexibility to compete with other districts in salaries and such, because of the sunset clause, there will still be a conservative approach to any increase, that is my view which in perspective is probably sound rationale. If the money is to support a "black cloud" scenario then it goes to a basic need to support basic everyday services. That means the district cannot function day to day on existing financial resources without a voter approved levy. It is truly a need to support those services, then it should go into the state or municipal legislation world to get a permenant increase to support its basic operational functions. No different then what is happening to utility rates, the sewer situation, etc. Those arguments for increased funding do not even reach the voters, they are decided on at the legislative level. Additional voter approved levies should go to improvement projects, progression and future state. It is obvious the last sunset clause levy did not acheive that. If it did, it would show, it did not. I am not supporting that type of direction. For me to vote on an additional levy, I want to see actual committment to future state projects and progression. The argument in Apr was actually a step in that direction. This one is not.

Look sence lets spell it our for you some people do not agree with the 63 cent levy and some people do not agree with the sunset as the last time some people wanted the sunset.
You have your views and other people have their so stop trying to make these people look bad because they so care and want to do it right with community involvement something you can not seem to understand.

Lets just say the Levy does pass and there's the sunset put in to play that's fine.Ok where do we go from there. In 5 yrs from now we will be back where we are today. I need to see the bigger picture here i need to know what are they going to put in to play long term goals. Like i posted up top. This is how i feel and yes I'm voting No. Not out of revenge not because i hate kids.If I'm going to pay for something i want to see what I'm paying for. Not to be lied to. I see to many hands in the cookie jar and no real responsibility. And if everything goes south you can bet the group and the school district will be pointing at each other saying it wasn't them. And who will be caught holding the bag it will be us The Taxpayers of St. Joseph. I think everyone in the Admin Building needs to be replaced they have done nothing for the town. Dr. Smith has shown to us if she doesn't get her way how the town will pay. And the School-board is no better. So correct me if I'm wrong who is running the schools now is it the school-board and Dr. Smith or the group they hired from KC see my point. These are my thoughts ty for reading

To answer your questions, the school board oversees the schools, the admidistration is put into place to run the schools as to the direction of the board. The only outside bought in was for the campain of the levy issue nothing to do with running of the schools. As to youp posts, when did the school lie to you? Many independent auditors have gone through the district books and found no mis use of money, or unauthorized use of money.

We do fund our schools lower than most in the state so I do think we need the money to operate. If we thought we needed it before and voted for it, why not vote again for it.

You know sence since you feel the district has done no wrong that's ok but to some they have done wrong.So that wouldn't have anything to do with our schools recieving the lowest funds in the satate would it?Let me answer it for you sure it does and till they earn the trust back from the community they will remain the lowest funded school 9 times out of 10.So just maybe they need to roll their sleves uo and get a little dirty and earn this community's trust back.And 2 new mwmbers will make a difference.And when the board elections come around there will be a hugh turn out as well so none of the TF members should even consider running cause people do not trust them either as well as the citizens group should not have anybody run.

Just out of curiosity, how many of you working people out there are satisfied with your St. Joe wages? How many of you have employer-paid health care? These are all factors in these revenue issues. The longer I am going, the more I am inclined to think that the district has to take the money when they can get it. There have been people talking about the next levy, possibly adding one to two dollar increases. John, I appreciate your dedication to the future state idea, but I am sorry to say I'm not sure St. Joseph, as a whole, does. Most of the time, they're just thinking of putting food on the table. This is why I think the school district, having a political plan, is far more important than it would be for a lot of districts. They may have to work a lot harder to get less money.

dillygent1 - read the comments in todays paper on the school levy, a local St. Joe business person thinks teachers are overpaid, and he can't understand why a professional with a four year college degree should make $30,00 a year. Does that tell you the thought process of some of the business community. Some think everyone should only make minimum wage here and they want to keep it that way. On the same story the new "CAFT" says money should go to teachers and admidistrators, what - one says they get to much and the other who's group is against any tax wants to pay them more - does the opposition have a argument that stays center for one day.

Sense, that is why I have been critical of the business community. I agree with your comments about holding salaries down. That creates what is happening now. I really don't think the school district is helping itself in any way, but with the business community being content to be as it is, it magnifies any shortcomings that the school administration has in community relations. The only thing I disagree with in your post is the tendency to put the administrators with the teachers. I feel that their lives tend to be very different. In a way, it is as if the district mirrors the business community. Keep the employees down and underpaid.

Not sure if your last statement is a fair one. When the levy went into effect earnings went up for everyone. Bringing up teachers pay will not be as dramatic as admidistators for the simple fact of the amount of teacher to admidistartors. Also pay raies are all done on a scale so it is dependent with teachers of years of service, their degree, you can increase the scale but you are not in control of where they are at on that scale.

Our teahers are below state averages and our adminstrator are above state averages.This should be the other way around the teachers are the ones that deserve what they get and need to make above or at the state averages,and our admin needs to make below the state average for their performances.And before you ask where this info is from the dept of education in black and white.

admidistration is at average to districts our size -

Dillygent1, I have high respect and regard for whatever decision you make on Tuesday, I believe you will make an independent one based on what you feel is best. I thank you for the comment and yes I do passionately believe in future state investment and progression. Since living here in St Joseph, that approach appears to be a challenge and it is unfortunate if St Joseph as a whole does not fully appreciate investment to improvement of its future. Communities who invest now in future state progression are the ones who get the new employers, companies, expansion contracts, etc, which in turn creates economic growth, jobs, more tax revenue, etc. Even in this unpredictable economy, the KC region as well as many other regions are still seeing opportunities. Communitie just outside of us are heavily competing for those possible opportunities and that requires investment. In another post on the editorial from the Chamber dated 10/31/09 I threw out a question,
how many major companies have truly made investments to build plants, offices, plans to move thier headquarters, etc, in St Joseph over the years? That question had nothing to do with the present economic status. I believe our educational processes at present have a direct correlation with that and back in Apr this was a core argument from the the yes/yes campaign that the sunset clause hinders opportunities for major new employers and companies to invest because it conveyed the appearance of unstable funding to education. Now that argument has appeared to change in support of the sunset clause. In my view, we do not argue for long term investment for future state,we will loose out on many future opportunities and we still be battling low wages for workers, a high unemployment rate, etc because those opportunities will pass us by. If we get the proper argument in place and the public as a whole supports it, then those opportunities will be within reach in my opinion. As to my question, it has not been answered, it has been avoided. It has been avoided because the answer is not a pretty one and most of us know that. The answer would deflate some of the rationale for the present argument. However it goes on Tuesday, what is important is everyone getting out there and voting on this issue, and setting a record turnout.