Comments on: Meridian Schools Seeks Continued Tax Hike

By: slim jim

slim jim — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 15:49:25 +0000

I laugh at Paul’s comment that “schools are the sacred cow of Idaho”. Right, Paul. Ok, you may be right if one starves the people who tend that sacred cow ie the teachers and pay them less than the sacred cows tenders in other states. On the other hand, you may not have kids who attend the public schools here in Idaho – does your wife home school them or do they go to private schools? Do you have children who teach in Idaho schools – 5th grade class rooms have 30 students in them which is not the best learning environment for the students who need more attention.
Oh, I could go on. But I think that the sacred cow of the educational system are those at the top… the administrator – the fat cats sucking up the money.

By: Mary Callister

Mary Callister — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 15:48:44 +0000

What do you suggest we do proactive as “the public”? We can’t just complain, we must be heard that we want our rights to vote… Any suggestions, without gripping?

By: TJ

TJ — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:53:51 +0000

At one of the recent elections here in Eagle people went to their usual polling places to vote. However, there was a separate election for a new fire station that was being held at a fire station. No one knew about it except for friends and relatives of firemen. There was nothing in the paper, as far as I know, and no information was presented at the regular polling places. A few thousand people voted at the regular polling places, a few hundred for the fire station. Naturally there were more than 2/3 of the people who voted in favor and the fire station bond passed. I believe one of the city councilors wanted a fire station in his neighborhood – possibly to lessen his insurance costs. It is not good for democracy when bond elections are fixed to get the outcome desired by just a handful of people.

By: Gordon

Gordon — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 03:11:28 +0000

Dog:

Amen!

By: Meridian Parent

Meridian Parent — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 20:59:40 +0000

While I agree that the tactics aren’t necessarily appropriate, I’m having a hard time voting this down. My kids’ school has no budget for extras, like copies of homework, or special projects.

I agree with gman12 that there is too much administration and not enough for education.

EDITOR NOTE–For the record, we don’t have a position on the levy. Our only concern is to inform the voters and let them know taxes will remain the same if they pass it (since the current levy will expire in June) and if the measure fails, taxes should go down by the amount of the old (current) levy.

By: dog

dog — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:16:51 +0000

Everyone, let’s give it up for the Guardian!

I nominate the Guardian for the “Let Freedom Ring” Citizen of the year.

By: Old Voter

Old Voter — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:48:02 +0000

Wow Guardman! I live near the Meridian School HQ and spend a lot of time watching news.

Since you putit on your site TV 12, 7, and now another one is (2 or 6) have followed. I checked the school website and they also put a vote note up after you called them on being sneeky. Thank you for bringing out the truth.

By: Gordon

Gordon — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:04:03 +0000

Anybody who believes there is such a thing as a “temporary” tax is either an idiot or has been asleep for the 40 or 50 (or more) years.
School districts do this over and over — get a new tax approved by promising that it will expire after so many years, and, when that time comes, immediately seeking approval for a new debt that will cost the same or more. And when that one expires … yep, you guessed it.

Also interesting that the schools constantly complaint that charter schools private schools, drop-outs etc. are cutting into their school population, and yet keep asking for more money to build and/or enlarge schools. Seems there’s something wrong with their math, too.

By: neoroman

neoroman — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:12:18 +0000

It isn’t really neccesary to take a side in this debate. The atrocity here is the District, headed by Linda Clark, effort to sneak this through. Wasn’t there rheteric in the last bond campaign about how it was no big deal since this levey was about to drop off? Why isn’t this on the district website? They pay a media guy to run public relations, why isn’t his job being done? What effort has been made to publicize this chance for the voters to excercise thier rights? Sound the alarm, wake the neighbors, there is something stinky happening in eridian School District.

By: Jim of Boise

Jim of Boise — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:08:36 +0000

My home, if in Meridian would provide less than $60 per year. Not much to pay for our grandchildens education and schooling. My golly, you believe all this happens free, or maybe you believe in lets be a freeloader as many Idahoans are and let someone else educate Idaho children.

EDITOR NOTE–Jim, we take no position on the Meridian supplemental levy. We ARE concerned with the one-sided stealth election. They don’t post it on their own web or provide the facts in a clear manner, opting instead to claim “no new taxes.” Of course it is a new tax replacing one that is about to expire. We just ask them to play fair. We would be thrilled to death of they had a 15% turnout.
My guess is the turnout will be pathetic, but it will pass overwhelmingly.