Posted By: Jason Johnson
The letter I published recently in the LSJ is below.
LSJ's education reporter Susan Vela has heavily promoted the "free" Montessori education being offered by Okemos Public Schools, including a proposed Montessori middle school program ("Motivated by Montessori," March 24, 2007). She offers comments primarily from school of choice families, who do not pay the considerable property taxes already levied in Okemos. Nor will these families be asked to pay for the expensive technology sought by Okemos' May bond issue. Perhaps Ms. Vela can consult residents who are actually paying for this so-called "free" programming. She may actually find out that Okemos' Montessori programs, intended to attract school of choice students, do not generate the revenue touted by the board and administration, and consume inordinate amounts of scarce dollars and resources. She also omits the fact that school of choice students only bring their home districts' state foundation allowance to Okemos, which spends considerably more than other local districts to offer programs such as Montessori. Hopefully her future reporting will get to the real facts, instead of providing free advertising for programs and bond issues our district cannot afford.Jason Johnson
OkemosIn addition, LSJ readers may have noticed that shortly after the publication of this letter, the LSJ published a pro-Okemos bond letter from a resident of Lansing. If that person would like to make a contribution toward Okemos residents' tax bill if the bond passes, I'm sure she will find many takers. Maybe a donation jar can be placed at Edgewood.