Time to set aside politics
Kelly Everitt

Whether we like it or not local plant facility levy needs public's support

Posted Wednesday, August 5, 2015, at 10:51 AM
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  • Having engaged some of the folks on the blogs on the question of taxes of any form, many would prefer, it seems, that every employee of the school district work for poverty wages, and the students just deal with the sub-standard schools. I think that they think if they make things bad enough, no one will want to move to Mountain Home, and those that have, will move away. All they seem to want is for the city to become a retirement community.

    -- Posted by royincaldwell on Wed, Aug 5, 2015, at 11:17 AM
  • Brian,

    Have you read their financial statements? Have you looked at how money has been spent in the past? I disagree with the fact that people just want to avoid paying taxes that is not always the case. If taxes are spent in the way they were intended then people would be more apt to vote yes.

    As far as how the levy is written you may want to read it again. There's a clear vagueness to it. Why are we fixing the roof of hacker and replacing the roof of the admin building? Of course we want the schools fixed, but we also want answers. We want to see where the numbers came from, we want to see an adequate fix not just a slight repair to use as a temporary fix. We want bids that say this is how much it will cost and we want the money spent correctly. Why is it an emergency now and yet very little are writing grants, holding fundraisers and coming up with a true plan. That is the issue!

    It doesn't take much to look at the financials and then compare them to what' the state has on file to know something isn't right.

    Yes, you are right the problem isn't JUST from our particular school district but also from federal funding, but you have to start from the lowest level possible first and that's not being done. Yes, we have a new board and should give them a chance, but who gives $5M chances without proper documentation?

    Your approach is very confrontational and it's sad to see when you're supposed to be "neutral." It shows you haven't really done your homework on why people don't want to vote yes! I'm all for the kids, but someone needs to be responsible and throwing money at the problem NEVER works!

    -- Posted by ForOurKids on Wed, Aug 5, 2015, at 12:41 PM
  • Winter is approaching, how much longer do you want to wait to repair this roof? How does waiting help the students? Why are the feds supposed to help when the republican leaders at the state level don't give a diddly about education?

    -- Posted by royincaldwell on Wed, Aug 5, 2015, at 5:17 PM
  • How does the charter school handle repairs? Is it budgeted for or do they ask for handouts when something breaks?

    Does the charter school provide busing for their students at a cost over a million dollars? No cost busing should be just for handicap or extracurricular activities.

    Lets trim the fat and get bids from more than just there buddies, who see who can overinflate the bids the least.

    -- Posted by gmoney on Wed, Aug 5, 2015, at 5:31 PM
  • Roy,

    When it affects YOUR income, feel free to raise your little outtatowner voice to its highest little shrill. Until then, why can't you just MYOB? I'm sure there are enough issues in your neck of the woods to completely fill your need to pound your chest all you want to.

    Why do you feel the need to continually voice your opinion on matters that don't concern you?

    Do me a favor and look up the definition of bloviate.

    -- Posted by MrMister on Wed, Aug 5, 2015, at 6:14 PM
  • *

    Thanks, Brian. I appreciate your thoughts on this levy. I am a teacher who is directly affected by the leaking roof issue. I have had to close off part of my classroom due to leaks and my fear that the roof will fall on a student. I have walked through the back of my room and been hit by water leaks breaking through the ceiling. I have had multiple buckets and trash cans under drips falling from the ceiling that my students have to dodge when entering or leaving the room. But I do what I have to do - do my job and keep my students safe. I do want to say this - I do not fault the maintenance team at my school. They have done the best they can with few resources available to them.

    I am not a parent. I don't have students in the schools. That said, I still believe it is the responsibility of the community to help the schools when needed. Taxpayers paid for me when I was in school. It is my responsibility to pay for this generation.

    I already hear the naysayers - "You work for the school district, so your view is biased." That might be true, but I ask you this - When you go to work, would you put up with having buckets and trash cans filled with dirty water littering the floor? How about having to unplug and move computers because of water dripping from the ceiling? Or worrying if the ceiling will fall in? This is what I deal with when there is rainy weather. Anyone venture a guess as to how many others would do this?

    This is not an issue with overspending by the district. It is an issue of under-funding by the state. The Plant Facility levy that failed in 2011 had been in place for many years and it was in place specifically for maintenance of the buildings. When it failed, there was no longer funding for large scale repairs - minor repairs were all that could be done. This is one of the reasons the buildings are in their current condition. If you would like more information about Plant Facility Levies, go here: http://legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title33/T33CH8SECT33-804APrinterFriendly.htm

    There is a solution to the current problems with the buildings, but it is up to the voters of Mountain Home to accept this levy.

    -- Posted by questionposer on Wed, Aug 5, 2015, at 10:24 PM
  • *

    I agree that this levy needs to be passed but also agree that the wording is vague and leaves a lot to be desired. Why just REPAIR the roof at Hacker when that roof is obviously failing? Why not REPLACE it so that it has a longer life expectancy? Why REPLACE the roof at the admin facility? Is it in that bad of shape? I have been in the building and never once seen buckets catching rain water or signs of a roof failure. If this levy was truly about the children and providing them the best facility possible, leave the admin facility out of the levy.

    Also wasn't the roof at Hacker an issue last year and now it is an emergency with only about a month to digest the data and make a decision. Why is that?

    I have not decided how to vote yet but vote I will. I implore others to at least make your voice heard and VOTE !!!!

    -- Posted by B Mullen on Thu, Aug 6, 2015, at 6:28 AM
  • Mr.Mister, rather than criticize me, why don't you try adding to the conversation?

    Children are the future of our society and that makes it everyone's concern, not just the locals. The education the children of Mountain Home receive will shape their future and the future of others.

    -- Posted by royincaldwell on Thu, Aug 6, 2015, at 7:27 AM
  • I for one would love to see the schools in prime shape once again. A new roof should be put on Hacker and if they have enough money the administrations buildings roof should be repaired not replaced.

    If the levy doesn't pass this time the ballot needs to be reworded.

    The schools are old, older then the admin building. To bad we can't build a new school.......

    Maybe there's a possibility of doing some fundraisers?

    -- Posted by MsMarylin on Thu, Aug 6, 2015, at 11:13 AM
  • With the maintenance levy in place until 2012 why are these schools in such bad shape?

    Because the funds were spent on "other" issues and no qualified person inspected the repairs that were made.

    -- Posted by gmoney on Fri, Aug 7, 2015, at 4:03 PM
  • I am sick and tired of people in this community who do NOT have children in the school system anyone who DO NOT have a vested interest in the quality of education of children always complaining about ANYTHING that has to do with bettering the educational quality of the schools here.

    Have you seen the condition of the schools in Mtn Home...they are horrible. I can't believe that children are actually trying to get a quality education in those run-down facilities. It is completely a disgrace and a reflection of this community as a whole.

    The school district and State has turned a corner with a new Superintendent, three new school board members and a new Superintendent of Instruction...NOW is the time for not only a levy but federal grants for the planning and building of a NEW High School. It is way over due!

    I hear comments like "too bad we can't build new schools"...wake up!! We can, with COMMUNITY involvement and taking a vested interest in the future of the quality of education for the children of this community. It's called investing in the future of our community, State and Country.

    I for one am supporting our schools, anything that contributes to quality education of our children...I am taking ACTION!!

    -- Posted by DUMBFOUNDED IN IDAHO on Thu, Aug 20, 2015, at 8:44 AM
  • Recently, the Air Force took a survey of the local school system here in Mtn Home and what they found out was very disturbing but not surprising.

    The vast majority of those responding indicated that they feel that the Mountain Home School District does NOT meet the educational needs of their children and further more would drive the extra 50 plus miles to place their child in a quality school.

    Ninety percent indicated that the facilities (infrastructure) here in Mountain Home was detrimental to a quality learning environment, with many responding that they have actually pulled their child out of the schools here and place them either in Boise public schools or in private schools.

    It was actually rumored that Air Force leadership has asked assistance from the DOD to look into the feasibility of having a DoDEA (Dept. of Defense Education Activity)type schools here for Air Force school children because the schools in Mtn Home are way below national standards.

    This community has turned its head and looked the other way for years concerning the quality of education for the children of Mountain Home. When a large percentage of Air Force kids are NOT attending schools here and transiting to other schools in (Boise, Meridian) that is alarming and sends a clear message to local and state officials that something is very wrong and must change...NOW!

    Currently a NEW charter elementary school is being build in Mtn Home, when was the last time a NEW public elementary school was build in Mtn Home...1964! That is 51 years ago...how is that possible and why??

    NOW is the time for action and sending a clear message to our community leaders that new schools are not just a luxury but a necessity.

    The Air Force survey is a wake up call to our local and State officials that the quality of education for children is TOP PRIORITY!!

    I just hope that those same officials are listening and if they aren't then as members of this community should take action for change and speaking for our children who are the ultimate beneficiaries of clean, functional and updated schools to learn and grow.

    Let your voices be heard NOW!

    -- Posted by DUMBFOUNDED IN IDAHO on Thu, Aug 20, 2015, at 9:14 AM
  • Let's not forget this attitude.

    School District 193 is begging for money again, which is nothing new. They are now mowing the West Elementary grass, and they just mowed it on Monday.I guess it needs lots of mowing, as they water it twice a day, all summer long.But what the heck, it's just OUR TAX MONEY.

    -- Posted by Mr.427539 on Thu, Aug 20, 2015, at 11:37 AM

    -- Posted by royincaldwell on Sat, Aug 22, 2015, at 12:26 PM
  • If the levy was for building a new school they would have my vote. No vote when their only repairing Hackers roof but down the line somewhere if they levy passes and they have enough money they will replace the Admin's Building, not repair...the wording on the ballot is REPLACE and fix the parking lot. I don't think the wording was a mistake.........

    -- Posted by MsMarylin on Mon, Aug 24, 2015, at 12:14 PM
  • My child currently goes to school at Hacker, and if that roof collapses because penny pincers like yourself can't bear the thought that children in this community have a safe, clean place to learn without the threat of having a roof collapse, or water pipes burst or a worn electrical wire catch on fire, then shame on you and those who can't see through their ignorance to spend a single penny on the investment of our country's future..The EDUCATION of our children.

    It truly makes me ill to read the responses of these so called citizens of this community...it doesn't matter what the school district does or says or proposes...the voters of this community will not or EVER support anything that is beneficial to this community if it means they have to spend a single red cent.

    SHAME on you all who can't see past what is in front of your face...you are doing a disservice to this community, the state and our great country...and you call yourself Americans...

    I am calling on ALL of you who support this levy, support education and who deeply care about the children of this community...to please stand up and let your voices be heard...

    Enough is enough...its time to make a stand!!

    -- Posted by DUMBFOUNDED IN IDAHO on Mon, Aug 24, 2015, at 2:02 PM
  • A overwhelming and clear message was sent to our community leaders and elected officials that public education is a PRIORITY and that the vast majority of our community will do what it takes to better the quality of education for the children of Mountain Home.

    Thank you to all of those who voted YES, the child of this community thank you from the bottom of their hearts.

    There is nothing more rewarding then to see children in a clean, updated and healthy learning environment...

    Thank you Mountain Home...you made the right choice!

    -- Posted by DUMBFOUNDED IN IDAHO on Wed, Aug 26, 2015, at 2:51 PM
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