Vote yes on school levy

We should all look at what we are being asked to fund. Mountain Home High School is ranked number 132 of 163 Idaho high schools surveyed by Schooldigger.com (2012-2013). These ratings come from scores on the 10th grade ISAT. We should all understand that Idaho ranks very poorly for education overall, making this ranking very poor, nationwide. This ranking fell 21 positions from the previous year.

Money is not the issue. Is the school board focusing on quality education? The numbers don't seem to reflect that they are, it seems to me that they are focused on keeping their paychecks from declining at the same rate as the education our children are receiving. Why are we expected to continue to pay for a substandard product?

I understand it is easy for those who do not directly pay property taxes to vote yes for this levy because it is "for the kids". The numbers say the kids are not benefitting from the additional money. Count me for a No vote.

I have to echo the comments in the other two posts. MHSD has failed to show any progress with the current levy and when asked what the plan was if the levy fails, they responded with there will be a 13% cut in the budget but they have no plan on where these cuts would be made. They also said they do not have a current budget. So how can you say the budget will need to be reduced 13% when you have no idea what the budget is. Yes the children could be affected but what has MHSD done to reduce costs? Pass an emergency levy to fund more employees, no reduction there, open a new alternative High School with a day care,,, no reduction there. I am not seeing where they are doing anything but asking for money. Give us taxpayers a break, both the state and federal government have found ways to reduce spending, be it small amounts and yet MHSD cannot seem to do anything. Several taxpayers have pointed out some small reductions but MHSD has done nothing. Enrollment has declined but has MHSD reduced manning to match? Why a Superintendant and an alternate? Start there and work your way down. All we have seen from MHSD and many supportors is to parade the children in front of the taxpayers and use them as politcal pawns. Shame on them for that. If you could not tell, I am voting NO. My budget has been reduced and thus I have reduce what I spend. Simple accounting.

Oh and I was talking to someone who has attended several of the last distirct meetings. Seems MHSD claimed they tore down the two vacant schools on base when in fact the base handled it all to include obtaining the funds. There was an article here on Mt Home News about that many months ago. Seems the base is more concerned about the local area than MHSD is.

I will probably vote yes on the levy because it will help Teachers and Students. But I would like to see some new, more Independent faces on the School Board. Perhaps then the Doubters will have more confidence that things are being looked at with a open mind and not the good ole boys network.

IdahoDuck,

I am curious. Why do you feel this will help teachers and students?

"It will not raise your taxes," said Supt. Tim McMurtrey, "since everyone is already paying this amount." ...

What a joke. It WILL KEEP OUR TAXES RAISED. The 2 year temporary levy (KEY WORD BEING TEMPORARY) has been going on for 4 years and they want another 2...then I'm sure another two. For educators they have no idea what the word TEMPORARY means.

Our country spends more money per kid than any other country but we still do poor.

Everyone I know has had to cut back on everything but the school keeps wasting and wasting, be it watering, lights on all night, or just incompetence. We need to cut these junkies off and quit giving them the supply they need to get high....VOTE NO ON THIS LEVY.

Just wanted to point out that last time a levy was proposed, most of the comments on here and other sites were against the levy but when the votes were counted, the levy passed. I wondered then as I still do as to how that happened when not one person out of a 100 I spoke to were in support of the levy. Just look at the comments here and wait for 11 March. Love the small town politics. Talk is cheap but vote your mind on the 11th.

I HAVE A PROBLEM in 4 years the district has not figured out how to make up for the shortfall and I don't think they will as long as we keep approving levy's.I don't mind paying for our children I do mind when the money doesn't go to the children,,,,,,,,such as the hiring of that asst principal as soon as the first levy was approved. They have had 4 years it is time for them to get it right.

I thought I would point out how well the MHSD plans for things. Recently they approved a in-school daycare at Bennett Mt High School. They planned for it so well that people are asking for donations of items to allow for the children of children to play and have a safe environment. So how well does MHSD plan and take care of children. Please go vote in favor of or against the levy on 11 March but do vote

Kelly, your article is dishonest and misleading. If the levy passes---taxes WILL go up because the MHSD took an "emergency levy" in 2013 for over 400,000. We already know that you think most of us are "idiots" (as you stated in a previous blog of yours) and I guess that the "idiots" also fall into this group:

"The worst thing would be to get complacent and not vote, since there is a solid core of 700-800 people who will vote no on just about anything out there."

Only IDIOTS will vote YES on this when the MHSD has no plan. Who asks for money and admits they have no budget, no idea what they will need, what they need it for, etc.?

That is like handing someone a blank check or a check made out in pencil.

You really do this community a grave disservice with your "reporting." The MHSD has pimped you out and you have in turn sold the people of this community out. Be proud.

Yours truly,

One of the "Idiots"

Don't be too hard on yourself OpinionMissy. You are not an idiot and I don't think that Kelly thinks that you are.

There are others that respectfully have a different opinion on the funding for the MHSD. A lot of school districts are also needing funding because they were short-changed by the legislature on their budgets and need to get the money elsewhere. I will vote for the funding.

The previous post from CoolBreeze is a classic example of why Mountain Home needs to improve it's education system.

"Wise men talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something." - Plato

Doth Protest Too Much.

Levy information is shown in an easy to understand way in the link below.

http://mountainhome.id.schoolwebpages.com/education/page/download.php?fileinfo=U...

Werborg, I think that you may be right that it is a time for change on the school board. Sometimes you just need a change of perspective and maybe the school board should have term limits.

I responded to a couple of your other points on the Banter box.

Werborg,

Try this site, I've used it occasionally.

http://accountableidaho.com/

I don't know how accurate it is but it's the only info I've been able to find.

I like that site. The data on salaries, campaign contributions, and so on looks pretty accurate to me.

It is a site formed by a conservative group with conservative opinions on what is a good bill and what is a good voting record, so the ratings may be slanted on those things to that position.

But, like I said, the other numbers appear to be very straight-forward with no agenda being pushed.

To my far far right wing, libertarian, tea party, nut job "OpinionMissy"...speak for yourself...your negative views and distrusting manner is the reason our country and gov't can't agree on anything!!! You my twisted are the IDIOT!!!