Posted By: A sympathetic Okemos parent
There is so much waste and mismanagement of our tax dollars in this district. People who are aware and complain are "evil, misinformed, hate children, or nutcases out to destroy our schools and community". Ms. McGuidwin has been vilified and treated with loathsome disrespect all because she is the ONLY one on the board who DARES to question the status quo. AND the status quo is firmly in place. The OEA puts itself first and foremost. THEY won't go without their raises, just watch.
The school board's dubious spending on iffy programs such as the School-of-Choice Montessori has come back to bite us all in the posterior region. You could go and make an impassioned speech about cutting the fifth-grade strings program, but it is already a done deal and nothing you could say would make a difference. Though our own programs will be cut, the board is committed to Montessori and School of Choice. period. Other districts have closed their doors to people who refuse to move to their community but want all the benefits of the schools. Until we, as a community come together and start to open our eyes to what is happening, our children are going to go without, while out-of-district children use the resources. Simple as that.
I'm sorry fifth-grade strings will go. I have a child in a musical group and find the concerts so hopeful and positive. The joy of mastering an instrument is boundless. The look on the kids' faces, priceless. Instead of your impassioned speech, look closely at the next school board election and vote for someone who shares your values. Only until we have people in charge who really put OUR children FIRST, will any decent change occur. Also, I wouldn't be so quick to send your child's PTO any extra cash, after all, they used that money to promote the tech bond and in my mind, that's payment enough.