I wanna know what the problem is with people about saying no to the levy I can understand some people….but do you people relize what happens to the kids the will have no sports to attened when they want to they will not be able to go to collage for a sport or if so,,they have to go to a whole other different school and everything so please next time vote for the kids’ dreams
I have a child that graduated from Middletown and is in college and 1 that still attends and will be a senior next year. I must admit that I voted “no” for the Levy and my reason is simple. Middletown has not managed their finances correctly and does not appear that they ever will be able to. Unfortunately, it is starting to affect the children of this community. Middletown, learn how to manage money or find someone who knows how because you are just making it harder and harder on the kids.
I am almost positive that if any of you were in Dr. Price’s position you would not be willing to cut your salary, which is honestly beside the point. We are talking about millions of dollars. All of you money conscious people should see the difference in millions and a small chunk of Dr. Price’s pay. That is just pure stupidity.
It is really sad to me to hear everyone blaming Dr. Price about the levy. Does anyone know how schools in Ohio are funded? Obviously not. Public school funding in Ohio has been ruled unconstitutional. Meaning Dr. Price is not the source of the problem. It is not just us. Remember back a couple of years, Edgewood, Fairfield, The Lakota’s, Franklin, just to name a few. We are not alone. People need to be fighting the right battle (Governor or State) not the wrong one (Dr. Price)
I’m glad the levy failed, i can’t afford no more taxes, mt taxes would have been raised 260.00 a half i already pay to much taxes. Thanks for the no votes
To the voters who think “We got Dr. Price now! We socked it to him! Whats he going to do now?” I dont think you realize that it is not how it seems.What youre showing is you cant back up the future of your community when they needed you the most; when us, the students, cant voice our opinions and vote. I want you to realize that voting no on this levy doesnt come as Dr. Prices loss and cost, its ours. So thank you for trying to get back at him through our cost. It means a lot
To the voters who think “We got Dr. Price now! We socked it to him! Whats he going to do now?” I dont think you realize that it is not how it seems.What youre showing is you cant back up the future of your community when they needed you the most; when us, the students, cant voice our opinions and vote. I want you to realize that voting no on this levy doesnt come as Dr. Prices loss and cost, its ours. So thank you for trying to get back at him through our cost. It means a lot
And Kathy, I totally agree with you on your last comment. If people want extracurricular activities, PAY FOR IT. People should starting walking to and from school in they live close enough to it. I live close it, I don’t walk, but next year I most likely will be. I need the exercise, we all do.
Im a student at MHS,a freshman infact, and I think that those who voted “no” are smart. A lot of people in Middletown can’t afford to increased tax that the levy would bring. I know, I would want my school to be better, but you got to live with disappointments. I’m really not pleased with some teachers who are trying to scare the students about the levy. Its not the end of the world if it doesn’t pass. If a student wants to graduate, persevere through the lose and get good grades. My goodness.
When are people going to wake up and realize the property owners have had enough?A lot of parents aren’t property owners!Find another way to make this more fair for everyone.The city has the same problem. Learn to manage your money, like we all do, and stop wasting it of useless things.Fix streets instead of painting murals, help us keep up our neighborhoods instead of constantly being on our backs, just for starters.I, for one have had enough. We need new leadership and better money management.
When are people going to wake up and realize the property owners have had enough? A lot of parents aren’t property owners! Find another way to make this more fair for everyone. The city has the same problem. Learn to manage your money, like we all do, and stop wasting it of useless things. Fix streets instead of painting murals, help us keep up our neighborhoods instead of constantly being on our backs, just for starters. I, for one have had enough. We need new leadership and better money manage
Middletown schools have steadily declined parallel to the decline of the steel industry base. At the same time ignorance appears to be growing as well as the city’s poverty. School excellance contributes to maintaining property values. This is something other regions have recognized for years.
Middletown used to be a fine city. It now lacks excellence in all areas. It is blighted urban city with a population that is punishing the youth. I predict the city will never recover
Next year is my senior year and I wanted it to be the greatest year ever. Now I’m pretty much not going to have that unless the levy passes in August. This would be a great deal if it would pass. The students that walked out today are amazing. They were fighting for what they believed in, and they weren’t going to let anyone stop them. Kudos!! The levy failure is a great disappointment, to all the staff, students, and parents of Middletown City Schools.
200 or more kids and maybe 5 amdinistrators…I’d like to see someone try to stop 40 kids. What can they do threten to suspend them. That wont phase many of them.
Thanks to all who see my point on the “EDUCATION” of it all. Thats what matters….NOT SPORTS…And not every student at Middletown High left the school..some of us were there because we were trying to get our EDUCATION…Adults are supposed to be our role models and you all are on here fighting like 5 year olds…EDUCATION NOT SPORTS
Here’s a thought - get the students hooked up with the ACLU and have them sue the State of Ohio for their lack of funding so that they can get a fair and competitive public education.
Do it in every school district and maybe people in the statehouse will start paying attention.
It’s plain & simple….If you voted ‘YES’ you are uninformed and easily led. Think for yourself and do some research to determine exactly where all your tax dollars go. THEN you can decide logically that waste is abundant and do something about it.
as a student at success acadamey i believe that all the students who walked out of school today to protest should receive disiplinary action.. Why should today be any different then any other day.. and on my way to school I seen about 15 kids just walking down breiel at 11:00 so that goes to show that not all the kids were protesting they were leaving and skipping school and they are gonna get away with it..
I apologize, I cannot believe I actually put ‘tudor’ instead of ‘tutor’ in my last paragraph. Especially after seeing that one blogger’s misuse of the word. I have to be honest with you all, sometimes I am synonomically challenged. Oh well, the point made is that we will make mistakes, but we should own up to them and take responsibility. Am I right?
EVERYONE:
Here are a few simple suggestions to help resolve these issues:
1. VOLUNTEER! Be a mentor, a tudor, a BIG Bro/Sis, coach a youth team, etc. TIME is the most precious gift you have! GIVE IT AWAY!!
2. ADOPT A CLASS! Maybe one family could help one class with providing one item, whatever that item may be. EXPAND ON THIS IDEA!!
3. POOLING, NOT JUST FOR CARS! If you ‘car-pool’ why not ‘baby-sit-pool’? Think of the money and time saved in pulling together to pool resources!! IMAGINE!!
Where I grew up, we had booster clubs to help finance extra curricular activities. The main two were the music boosters (choir, band, showchoir, musicals, etc) and the athletic boosters. Adults on the committe would fund raise and find sponsors to help finance the activities, so the school board never had to get involved in finances for the groups. Couldn’t Middletown do something like that?
CITY OF MIDDLETOWN ‘LEADERS’:
Leadership - direction, guidance, control, management, supervision; rule, government, reign. As LEADERS, You are supposed to be directing the future of this community by guiding us through the present, setting good examples of how to control essential expenses and properly managing current resources, effectively supervising each other. You are supposed to be educated, well-rounded, intelligent, growth-provoking leaders… you are not. I dare you to prove me wrong!
Let your kid ride a bike or walk to middletown schools like I had to. WAY WAY WAY too many kids are given bus transportation, costing the district a LOT of money.
Good for the kids protesting! To all you that think the kids should just sit and take what is dealt them, go pound sand.
I’m proud of them! Believe me, they don’t care how the school gets it done, with more taxes or without, they just want a chance at a good education. Let’s teach them a valuable lesson and get this resolved. I’m for a renewal on the 4 mil and then running the schools more effeciantly to make up the rest. It wasn’t very bright combining the 4 mil renewal with a 3 mil increase.
Let me say this as well though, I do not agree that kids should be out protesting during school hours. Although this is a heavy heart ache for many, this should be another learning opportunity about how hard life is out in the world. This exp. will make us stronger. I hurt for those who’s edg. will suffer. I do agree that those who can afford to, pay to play. Just don’t take away from moneys to teach and buss kids, that is wrong.
I think this is sad for the kids, no other way to put it. I don’t live in middletown, but my child went to Franklin a couple years ago and the levy there did fail and she suffered greatly because of it. Not that the levy passed later helped cause Franklin Schools suck anyways.
But, I do feel sad for the kids every where who are being punished this way. Sports are important, kids who are involved in those extra activitys do better in school and do stay away from drugs and other problems.
99 percent of success at school starts in the home, by parental supervision and involvement. My wife is a high school teacher and she can barely get a parent to return her phone calls, and this is in a good school district.
Throwing money at schools never has and never will solve the problem. If so, why did kids learn better when they only had chalkboards?
STUDENTS OF MIDDLETOWN CITY SCHOOLS:
Voting ‘NO’ on this levy does not necessarily mean we don’t care for your education or your future. Voting ‘YES’ does not necessarily mean that we do. There is potential in every one of you to achieve everything you want out of life. This levy failure has not changed that potential, but only in how you realize it. Success comes through perseverance, determination, confidence in yourself (despite the odds) and faith in God. Personal success is defined by you.
Threaten the kids, the parents and the community. Cut to the bone. Then put the levy on another ballet. If it fails again, cut some more and make more threats. Eventually it will pass and our taxes will go up. Several graduating classes will remember High School as the worst time of thier lives and they will learn too much about politics and fraud. My daughter is a Freshman this year, so she will be one of the classes to suffer. All because of politics and lack of budgeting. Thanks Mr. Price
It is admirable that you want everyone, not just homeowners to bear the cost of Middletown schools. However, that is just a dream. You can’t get money out of welfare queens.
My question is this - where is all the money for the middletown income tax going? What new services are you getting for it?
PARENTS OF MIDDLETOWN CITY STUDENTS:
Do not be afraid to show disappointment and frustration to your children. Children will see it no matter what. But you can control how and how much of it they see. More importantly, teach them how best to deal with life’s disappointments and to channel frustration into construction. Embrace the unfair challenges that are individual and turn them into your personal triumphs. It may be the most difficult thing to do in your life, but it can be done!
I am a parent with 2 children in the school system. I also voted NO on the levy. I realize the consequences with the failure but it is time the citizens stand up and put a stop to the threats and blackmail tactics the board uses to get what it wants. If they want levies passed I think it is only fair that ALL citizens be responsible for paying. Not just us homeowners. I am giving the schools enough of my money as it is. Come up with a way to make everyone who lives in the district pay.
CITIZENS OF MIDDLETOWN:
It is our right and duty as U.S. citizens to make ourselves be heard, one voice at a time, through voting. It is still not a crime in this country to have different opinions on issues. That’s what makes this system an ever-changing work of art. And yes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So please don’t knock each other down for voting differently. Instead, congratulate each other for voting at all. 90% (give or take) of us didn’t.
You are right, Middletown and the schools will survive and the those students who want to learn will. Look at the city of Youngstown, they lost all their steel mills and they still have taxes for their many schools. Stop making this out to be “the end of the world”
Thank you to all the rest of the great, the good and yes, even the not-so-wonderful teachers I had throughout my four years at MHS. Everyone of you were special in your own way to me. Each of you helped me to learn, to grow, to think, to deal with consequences when I made mistakes, to acknowledge my potential and even my limitations. I have grown exponentially as an adult thanks to all of you. THANK YOU FOR BEING NOT JUST ‘A’ TEACHER, BUT MY TEACHER!!
Nothing wrong with prostesting but they shoould have done it AFTER school was dismissed.The school system will do NOTHING about it and that shows the authority the school really has, yes the kids DO run the schools.These kids will and have in the past survived, in fact some of them are helping run this city and country and some are putting their lives on the line in time of war.Middletown has and will survive no matter how it looks now.
I am so so proud to see Middletown taking steps forward to make this a better growing city. It was well overdue to start forcing people like Mr. Price to be accountable. The city needs to recall Mr. Price from office. It is great to see so may smart people in Middletown that knows it would have been a complete waste of our tax dollars if the levy passed while Mr. Price was still in office
I just hope the great people of Middletown don’t have short memories and not thing Mr. Price will use his old trick to distort the facts and, while still in office, use his authors to punish Middletown for not giving him more of our tax dollars to spend in the pursuit of MR. PRICE’s happiness, and not our kid’s education.
For the ones not smart enough to vote no… wake up !!!
Thank you, Mrs. ‘Libby’ Armentrout, for being the third most inspiring part of my life. You come only after God and my grandfather on the inspiration list. You truly have a heart of gold for teaching not just one group of students, but E-V-E-R-Y student. Because of you, your teaching, your kindness, you utter compassion for a not-so-popular kid, I have gone further, seen, done and experienced more than the average person will in a lifetime. Some good, some bad, but all of it memorable!
I never supported the kids decision to leave school…I was supporting the kids decision to protest - in response to a comment made by one stating “I Laugh at HS Kids making demoands”. My child is in school and told her that she had better stay there.
Did anyone take the time to notice what the kids were wearing when they left school for the march? When the schools and parents USED to have control of the students they were made to dress proper. No flip flop shoes, no baggey shorts, there use to be a time we could not leave the house until we dressed properly. And facial hair? Forgey that! Yes get back to the basics and also approve school uniforms. Also Garfield Alternative should have been closed years ago, it is segregating students.
Danke schon, Frau Rovai! You had it pretty rough with most of the students, but that didn’t keep you from trying to teach us German every day. I’m sorry I was not kinder to you in school. But I promise you: The only way I cheated on your tests was by not studying for them to my full potential. I did NOT slip you the ‘study sheet’ from the day before on test day. I wish you and your family all the best.
“Concerned Parent” is actually an idiot. To encourage kids to leave school during the day to ‘protest’ the results of a fair democratic election is just ridiculous.
What if one of these protesting kids gets hit by a car and dies? I guarantee that ‘Concerned Parent’ would go nuts, and then file a lawsuit against the school if it was their child that died.
I am very disappointed the levy failed. I want my child to get a good education, and the only way that is going to ever happen is to vote in school levies. The school system is not going to ever improve if levies continue to fail. And don’t make the suggestion to move…who wants to move to Middletown? You couldn’t give your house away in this City! Way to go voters!!
Rooster - I just saw the continuation of the your post - I understand the concept now. It’s the economical impact of the lockout that you were referring to. That is an understandable view
Thank you, Mr. Gardner, for trying as hard as you could to make me smarter ‘chemically!’ :) Your sense of humor is one of the best of all the teachers I’ve ever had. I still love telling about my acceptance of your ‘Chemy Award for Most Tardies/Absences.’ Trust me, chemical engineering is not my forte’, and I’m doing O.K. with out it!
Rooster - What does the Lock Out have to do with anything. Do they not have a Union…pay union dues so that SOMEONE ELSE CAN DO THEIR FIGHTING FOR THEM. They had the right to protest the lockout…but the kids should just sit back and accept wha they can’t control? Right or wrong I believe that thses kids expected the voters to speak for them…right or wrong I think that this turned into a displeasure with the current administration…they still have their jobs…and the kids lost out…
Middletown needs alot of things right now……the schools are just one entity in a long line. Having the proper leaders in the proper positions would be a nice start for showing our community that everything possible is being done. Until this happens, we’ll have more of the same.
It takes motivation. Evaluate what you’re good at doing then roll up the old sleeves & start doing it.
I challenge you to make a difference and pass it on.
(continued). I do know the value of the extra classes and tutors, etc. I also know that the educational quality MAY suffer. The challenge is to find a way to deliver as much as the school can in the most efficient way. This is a school board task. I don’t see any new money getting voted in any time soon. Sorry kids, a lot of people in town are suffering because of the lockout. Some are on the verge of catastrophe. It is more dire than show choir being cut.
I wish it weren’t so….
Thank you, Ms. Sayer for teaching “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” You are right, everything has a cost and the misuse of credit cards is a very, very, VERY bad thing. I wish I could have learned that tough lesson the easy way… by listening to you. I am, however, learning to make my own clothes.
In learning that the MHS students left early to march in “protest”, I would hope that the HS staff issues discipline accordingly. This is a huge part of the problem. Students in HS are becoming increasingly disrespectful and demanding. I laugh at HS students making demands. They don’t pay property taxes. To this extent, this is an adult discussion. I don’t see how this so-called march will do anything to convince a NO voter to change their mind. Did everyone forget that AK lockout?
The root cause of this problem is mishandling of our fading community. Our City Leaders have really done nothing to attract new industries to the area or keep the existing ones. Subsequently our community is equally unappealing to young families and residents, which could absorb a substantial portion of the cost. I do think that Mr. Price and his team should be equally held accountable for not only mismanagement the School System’s budget, but the futures of our community’s children. It is very sad to think that our elected educators are not capable to administer a budget.
We need to act aggressively to amend this mayhem. Vote to replace all incumbents and bring new ideas and vigor to a proud community. By the way, the principal victim, our children, ironically is the long-term solution to issues and challenges our community faces today
Back in 1979 I think it was, levy failed and kids talked of rioting.They actually did, but I didn’t go. Thank god because my Mom said she would have killed me if she got a phone call from the school.If I remember correctly, the kids caught, got time off from school. And you know what, we learned to live with what we had. Kids paid to play. And the amazing thing was, back then, Parent’s actually found a way to do it. Why can’t they now?
Thank you, Mr. Pearson (? I apologize if this is not the correct name) for teaching U.S. Government my senior year at MHS. It is a great thing to see so many people - children and adults - practicing their freedom of speech that has been fought for long and hard for centuries. I wish more people had gone to vote, but at least 10% of the community did.
Who says they are rioting? Last I heard, they were protesting peacefully. Look on www.wcpo.com and see the pictures they have posted. Nobody throwing things, puching people, or any violent behavior. Isn’t THAT what we would call a riot? If somebody is rioting, I haven’t heard anything about it.
This is the time to TEACH our kids that life is not always fair and rioting is not the answer. Finding solutions and learning to live with life results is what we need to teach them now. Will they riot when life doesn’t go how they want or they don’t get what they want?Teach them to adapate and live with what they have and make good out of that.They will still have an education, classes will still be taught.Tell them to learn everything they can and use it for the best in college and in life.
Here is an example of where your tax money goes. Received a bill from the city a few years back for $5000 for repairs from a traffic accident. Went back to the scene and found that they paid $5000 to a contractor to paint 2 cross walk signs half way up. That was it. Took pics & headed downtown with pictures in hand. Didn’t have to pay anything. But they did $5000. I even tried to get the journal to report this waste. NOOOOO Way. How many more contractors take them rides?
Does it really matter if she is or not? She is a little kid. She doesn’t need to be insulted! Plus, she wasn’t being a brat on here. She was showing her concern for her future.
Middletown just passed an income tax. Its time to stop bleeding the taxpayers. They have given enough.
When I went to Middletown I had to walk to Vail Middle School Now, there is a bus that takes kid from my exact old house to Vail. Its ridiculous.
Throwing money at schools has NEVER actually improved student performance. It begins at home with the parents. Unfortunately most Middletown parents are low-class, on welfare, or both. They don’t care about education, so save your money.
OK, lets look at what we have done on this message board. We are insulting students?? Are we or are we not grown ups? I realize some people on here are upset, but to call a junior high child expressing her beliefs a “snot nose brat”?!?! We need to take a good look at ourselves. If you want a place to bahave like that, go to a bar or a chat room. Not the local paper. Act like responsable adults and then maybe your oppinions will be valued.
Journalistuc fraud by the paper in running the sham poll should be not be gleeful today, as the supposed swing voter sent a message loud and clear, accountability,” ethics, and performance are the measures of a “balanced scorecard” all voters intend to utilize and cease to be “Nifonged” by the city leaders, the school leaders, and the Middletown Urinal. Shocked Mr. Ventruella and Dr. Price; perhaps it would be worth the effort to broaden your assumed constituency. Prediction on spot!
Tina! God help you… No one is jealous of Dr. Price. The people feel that he and the rest of the School Board shouldn’t get a 3 1/2 percent wage increase, when money is tight.. We spend more money per pupil than West Chester! If you didn’t know that, maybe God Shoud be helping you…
Cut and freeze the wages and raises to Adminisation and actually give it to the schools,teachers and kids programs, and I’ll vote yes for it. It’s Adminstation, that’s taking it from the kids.
Crystal Woodward. Are you aware that the Household median income in this town is $36,215? You sound like a Teacher so let me talk in you kinda tone… $36,215= 55,000 households/2! That means 27,000 people combine for that in each household or less!!! Everone who works in the town breaks their back, for nothing!!!!!!!
The people have spoken. To turn this around, the administration needs to come to grips with the fact that people can’t continually afford to fund bigger and better. They can’t even afford to feed themselves and make house payments, so why on earth would they think that an increase would go through? This town had a one year lockout to suffer through, lots of people went bankrupt. Get back to the basics and let private funding take up the slack. Sports are not important!
If you really have no extra money for the levy then I can’t blame you. But the idiotic opinions drive me crazy: “Why don’t you use the money from the new construction?” Answer: You can’t. It’s been in this paper a thousand times that that bond was, by law, for the buildings only. Here’s my favorite — “That overpaid staff and Dr. Price should take a pay cut!” Answer: #1 Obviously you are jealous. #2 A paycut would be a drop in the bucket. #3 You get what you pay for. God help this town…
I am a parent that voted yes for the levy and also a parent of two children in this sorry district. One of my children was involved in the riot today and I say “GO KIDS,GO!” This is their golden years and don’t deserve minimal education and no extra activities! It also keeps them off the streets and out of drugs! Guess they will have more time on their hands to get into drugs and not into their sports! And no parent can stop that no matter how damn good of a parent you think you are!thanks cheap
Is anyone really surprised this levy failed? Not even the daily propganda of the Middletown Journal could pass this one. Had the school system not been GREEDY and just ask for a renewal now and the increase later, AFTER SHOWING FURTHER RESULTS, you might have gotten an increase later. Instead you lose the renewal AND the increase. To the kids who are so disappointed….sorry but welcome to reality. Your mommy and daddy have never said NO to you but the taxpayers can, just like future employers..
108 staff members are going to be losing their jobs. That will mean more people moving out of Middletown to find jobs elsewhere, more houses on the market driving values down even more. Great thinking people.
Why did I vote no?? I moved from Middletown school to Edgewood School in the middle of my Freshman year in 1980. I was so far behind compared to Edgewood. After graduation, I moved back to Middletown, only to see, Middletown schools are still the same. It’s not about the education, it’s about sports and busing. It seems our money always goes to Dr. Price and Adminstration, not to the kids or the teachers who try hard to teach the kids. Make cuts to Dr.Price first,then I’ll consider voting yes.
Judy, I’m glad you touched on that…At My employer, new hires to a 30 percent pay cut, we pay more on health care and I might add that my employer pays 20 percent of the taxes in this city… I’m a tax payer! I run the company of the Middletown School District.. And yesterday I told my staff to take paycuts!!!!!
I voted no for this levy because I am tired of Middletown wasteing money. They have half plans. My daughter has Dyslexia. Middletown’s answer to this problem was, No testing move on to the next grade. She learned nothing. If it was not for the teachers at D Russell Lee she would still be having a hard time with this handicap. They did wonders for her in 2 years time. Also Schools put way to much emphasis on sports. Schools should be for learning, period! It’s time to get back to the basics.
The student body already feels they run the school and I guess today shows that they really are spoiled children. They were able to freely walk out of school in a protest wow I guess they really have no control of the student body. Time to make a phone call to make sure school policy is followed when giving out disciplinary action.
I would guess at this time of the day the students who are posting on this site should actually be learning since they are in school. As for the extra activities I was there once I played sports while I was in school and enjoyed it however the “Real World” is a bit different then the one you live in now. I would recommend getting a job to fill your vacant time. Those of you who are students here on this site posting really should go back to your parents and grandparents and other family members and ask them if they voted if so how did they vote? I voted for the levy with my having two smaller children in the school system. One of the big issues is low voter turn out. There are over 6,000 students in the high school alone and a total of 7,600 voted yesterday? Where are all of the parents and family members at who say they are behind you? Or an even better question is why did they not vote?
continued from below….Education should be the top priority. If cuts should be made, in order it should be the ones making WAY more than they should, then sports, then everything else..but leave the gifted program alone. The majority of people in Middletown can’t afford anything else. Some of us are fixing our cars from driving on these crappy roads. As long as the middletown schools have their priorities in a bundle, my vote will remain NO forever.
Did anyone on here see about the kid who’s happy that the sports are getting cut. I know exactly what he’s talking about..when i was in school ten years ago, the athletic people walked about with a conceited head. Yes, it is sad that the gifted program will get cut also. Maybe that is one program the school board definitely needs to keep on board. But sports, pay to play. If the parents won’t pay for their child to play sports, then that same child if within working age needs to pay then.
OK Webb1, then why don’t we go to your employer and suggest that he cut your pay to improve the company’s bottom line. It is not really a solution to suggest that the superintendent take a pay cut. Even if you cut his salary in half, it is not going to make a dent in the district’s financial situation.
i broke my back as a nurse’s aide 12hrs.a day an took 2 days off a month to pay for what my kids needed.made $6.15 an hr.back then,you had to pay for the extras in school.i think they still should.
You shouldn’t take away all the extra activities because most kids come to school because of the extra classes. If you take away our classes then where will all the kids go after school most will get involvedin drugs due to no extra classes after school. That’s why most kids go to school.
I’m sick of The School Board using our kids as pawns, to get their agenda passed. If Dr. Price is so concerned about ‘Kids crying at home’, he should take pay cuts and wage freezes… Why is it with the city in financial turmoil , he’s never lost a dang thing!?! The people have spoken by a large margin. So our School System and the Middletown Journal better get used to it!!!
For Shame. Take a ride down to Eastern Kentucky, you will see how many people actually do NOT get a quality education, BUT those kids are in school EVERYDAY doing their best, NOT skipping school doing nothing all day. There is a real problem about the people in this city that simply don’t care if the seniors have to struggle everyday and many do not spend money for drinking, smoking or McDonalds, we spend on what is necessary for what it takes to get along without poverty.
People on here have continually made comparisons to other school districts like Mason. Did anyone notice that Mason just passed a levy last year and then passed a bond issue to add on to the high school. A school system will only become great when the community stands behind it.
Comments
By yalgitnsp pcqthsf
May 15, 2007 4:41 AM | Link to this
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By rxnh orfxkyei
May 15, 2007 4:40 AM | Link to this
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By amber
May 11, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this
I wanna know what the problem is with people about saying no to the levy I can understand some people….but do you people relize what happens to the kids the will have no sports to attened when they want to they will not be able to go to collage for a sport or if so,,they have to go to a whole other different school and everything so please next time vote for the kids’ dreams
By Randy
May 10, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this
I have a child that graduated from Middletown and is in college and 1 that still attends and will be a senior next year. I must admit that I voted “no” for the Levy and my reason is simple. Middletown has not managed their finances correctly and does not appear that they ever will be able to. Unfortunately, it is starting to affect the children of this community. Middletown, learn how to manage money or find someone who knows how because you are just making it harder and harder on the kids.
By Gary
May 10, 2007 12:31 AM | Link to this
NO NO NO FOR MAY,AUGUST & NOVEMBER DOOOO YOU GET IT NOW NO MORE TAX Gary
By Disappointed
May 10, 2007 12:19 AM | Link to this
I am almost positive that if any of you were in Dr. Price’s position you would not be willing to cut your salary, which is honestly beside the point. We are talking about millions of dollars. All of you money conscious people should see the difference in millions and a small chunk of Dr. Price’s pay. That is just pure stupidity.
By Disappointed
May 9, 2007 11:59 PM | Link to this
It is really sad to me to hear everyone blaming Dr. Price about the levy. Does anyone know how schools in Ohio are funded? Obviously not. Public school funding in Ohio has been ruled unconstitutional. Meaning Dr. Price is not the source of the problem. It is not just us. Remember back a couple of years, Edgewood, Fairfield, The Lakota’s, Franklin, just to name a few. We are not alone. People need to be fighting the right battle (Governor or State) not the wrong one (Dr. Price)
By Jeremy Deaton
May 9, 2007 11:40 PM | Link to this
I’m glad the levy failed, i can’t afford no more taxes, mt taxes would have been raised 260.00 a half i already pay to much taxes. Thanks for the no votes
By Mad student
May 9, 2007 10:39 PM | Link to this
To the voters who think “We got Dr. Price now! We socked it to him! Whats he going to do now?” I dont think you realize that it is not how it seems.What youre showing is you cant back up the future of your community when they needed you the most; when us, the students, cant voice our opinions and vote. I want you to realize that voting no on this levy doesnt come as Dr. Prices loss and cost, its ours. So thank you for trying to get back at him through our cost. It means a lot
By Mad student
May 9, 2007 10:34 PM | Link to this
To the voters who think “We got Dr. Price now! We socked it to him! Whats he going to do now?” I dont think you realize that it is not how it seems.What youre showing is you cant back up the future of your community when they needed you the most; when us, the students, cant voice our opinions and vote. I want you to realize that voting no on this levy doesnt come as Dr. Prices loss and cost, its ours. So thank you for trying to get back at him through our cost. It means a lot
By Steph
May 9, 2007 8:17 PM | Link to this
*The, not to. Oops. =D
By debbie mitchell
May 9, 2007 8:12 PM | Link to this
CANNOT AFFORD ANY MORE TAX(READ MY LIPS}
By debbie mitchell
May 9, 2007 8:06 PM | Link to this
thanks for voting NO
By Steph
May 9, 2007 8:04 PM | Link to this
And Kathy, I totally agree with you on your last comment. If people want extracurricular activities, PAY FOR IT. People should starting walking to and from school in they live close enough to it. I live close it, I don’t walk, but next year I most likely will be. I need the exercise, we all do.
By Steph
May 9, 2007 8:01 PM | Link to this
Im a student at MHS,a freshman infact, and I think that those who voted “no” are smart. A lot of people in Middletown can’t afford to increased tax that the levy would bring. I know, I would want my school to be better, but you got to live with disappointments. I’m really not pleased with some teachers who are trying to scare the students about the levy. Its not the end of the world if it doesn’t pass. If a student wants to graduate, persevere through the lose and get good grades. My goodness.
By Kathy
May 9, 2007 7:21 PM | Link to this
When are people going to wake up and realize the property owners have had enough?A lot of parents aren’t property owners!Find another way to make this more fair for everyone.The city has the same problem. Learn to manage your money, like we all do, and stop wasting it of useless things.Fix streets instead of painting murals, help us keep up our neighborhoods instead of constantly being on our backs, just for starters.I, for one have had enough. We need new leadership and better money management.
By Kathy
May 9, 2007 7:20 PM | Link to this
When are people going to wake up and realize the property owners have had enough? A lot of parents aren’t property owners! Find another way to make this more fair for everyone. The city has the same problem. Learn to manage your money, like we all do, and stop wasting it of useless things. Fix streets instead of painting murals, help us keep up our neighborhoods instead of constantly being on our backs, just for starters. I, for one have had enough. We need new leadership and better money manage
By Someone Makes Sense
May 9, 2007 5:09 PM | Link to this
Thanks so much “Tears for the Gifted” finally someone has made you all realize you are acting like kids…
By out of state alum MHS
May 9, 2007 4:48 PM | Link to this
Middletown schools have steadily declined parallel to the decline of the steel industry base. At the same time ignorance appears to be growing as well as the city’s poverty. School excellance contributes to maintaining property values. This is something other regions have recognized for years. Middletown used to be a fine city. It now lacks excellence in all areas. It is blighted urban city with a population that is punishing the youth. I predict the city will never recover
By PoInTlEsS...???
May 9, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this
Fighting Who??? Steve Price and all his peeps…???
By Classof2008
May 9, 2007 3:41 PM | Link to this
Next year is my senior year and I wanted it to be the greatest year ever. Now I’m pretty much not going to have that unless the levy passes in August. This would be a great deal if it would pass. The students that walked out today are amazing. They were fighting for what they believed in, and they weren’t going to let anyone stop them. Kudos!! The levy failure is a great disappointment, to all the staff, students, and parents of Middletown City Schools.
By Could You Have Stopped Them
May 9, 2007 2:53 PM | Link to this
200 or more kids and maybe 5 amdinistrators…I’d like to see someone try to stop 40 kids. What can they do threten to suspend them. That wont phase many of them.
By gary
May 9, 2007 2:47 PM | Link to this
those kids should have not left school!!!!!! the adults that allowed these kids to leave school grounds should be fired!!!!
By Tears for the Gifted
May 9, 2007 2:15 PM | Link to this
Thanks to all who see my point on the “EDUCATION” of it all. Thats what matters….NOT SPORTS…And not every student at Middletown High left the school..some of us were there because we were trying to get our EDUCATION…Adults are supposed to be our role models and you all are on here fighting like 5 year olds…EDUCATION NOT SPORTS
By two-sense
May 9, 2007 2:11 PM | Link to this
Here’s a thought - get the students hooked up with the ACLU and have them sue the State of Ohio for their lack of funding so that they can get a fair and competitive public education.
Do it in every school district and maybe people in the statehouse will start paying attention.
By Bob
May 9, 2007 1:57 PM | Link to this
It’s plain & simple….If you voted ‘YES’ you are uninformed and easily led. Think for yourself and do some research to determine exactly where all your tax dollars go. THEN you can decide logically that waste is abundant and do something about it.
By student
May 9, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this
as a student at success acadamey i believe that all the students who walked out of school today to protest should receive disiplinary action.. Why should today be any different then any other day.. and on my way to school I seen about 15 kids just walking down breiel at 11:00 so that goes to show that not all the kids were protesting they were leaving and skipping school and they are gonna get away with it..
By SuzyQ
May 9, 2007 1:14 PM | Link to this
I apologize, I cannot believe I actually put ‘tudor’ instead of ‘tutor’ in my last paragraph. Especially after seeing that one blogger’s misuse of the word. I have to be honest with you all, sometimes I am synonomically challenged. Oh well, the point made is that we will make mistakes, but we should own up to them and take responsibility. Am I right?
By SuzyQ
May 9, 2007 1:01 PM | Link to this
EVERYONE: Here are a few simple suggestions to help resolve these issues: 1. VOLUNTEER! Be a mentor, a tudor, a BIG Bro/Sis, coach a youth team, etc. TIME is the most precious gift you have! GIVE IT AWAY!! 2. ADOPT A CLASS! Maybe one family could help one class with providing one item, whatever that item may be. EXPAND ON THIS IDEA!! 3. POOLING, NOT JUST FOR CARS! If you ‘car-pool’ why not ‘baby-sit-pool’? Think of the money and time saved in pulling together to pool resources!! IMAGINE!!
By mal
May 9, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this
Where I grew up, we had booster clubs to help finance extra curricular activities. The main two were the music boosters (choir, band, showchoir, musicals, etc) and the athletic boosters. Adults on the committe would fund raise and find sponsors to help finance the activities, so the school board never had to get involved in finances for the groups. Couldn’t Middletown do something like that?
By SuzyQ
May 9, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this
CITY OF MIDDLETOWN ‘LEADERS’: Leadership - direction, guidance, control, management, supervision; rule, government, reign. As LEADERS, You are supposed to be directing the future of this community by guiding us through the present, setting good examples of how to control essential expenses and properly managing current resources, effectively supervising each other. You are supposed to be educated, well-rounded, intelligent, growth-provoking leaders… you are not. I dare you to prove me wrong!
By Kevin
May 9, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this
Let your kid ride a bike or walk to middletown schools like I had to. WAY WAY WAY too many kids are given bus transportation, costing the district a LOT of money.
By worried_parent
May 9, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this
Good for the kids protesting! To all you that think the kids should just sit and take what is dealt them, go pound sand. I’m proud of them! Believe me, they don’t care how the school gets it done, with more taxes or without, they just want a chance at a good education. Let’s teach them a valuable lesson and get this resolved. I’m for a renewal on the 4 mil and then running the schools more effeciantly to make up the rest. It wasn’t very bright combining the 4 mil renewal with a 3 mil increase.
By sadday4kids
May 9, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this
Let me say this as well though, I do not agree that kids should be out protesting during school hours. Although this is a heavy heart ache for many, this should be another learning opportunity about how hard life is out in the world. This exp. will make us stronger. I hurt for those who’s edg. will suffer. I do agree that those who can afford to, pay to play. Just don’t take away from moneys to teach and buss kids, that is wrong.
By sadday4kids
May 9, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this
I think this is sad for the kids, no other way to put it. I don’t live in middletown, but my child went to Franklin a couple years ago and the levy there did fail and she suffered greatly because of it. Not that the levy passed later helped cause Franklin Schools suck anyways. But, I do feel sad for the kids every where who are being punished this way. Sports are important, kids who are involved in those extra activitys do better in school and do stay away from drugs and other problems.
By Kevin
May 9, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this
99 percent of success at school starts in the home, by parental supervision and involvement. My wife is a high school teacher and she can barely get a parent to return her phone calls, and this is in a good school district.
Throwing money at schools never has and never will solve the problem. If so, why did kids learn better when they only had chalkboards?
By SuzyQ
May 9, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this
STUDENTS OF MIDDLETOWN CITY SCHOOLS: Voting ‘NO’ on this levy does not necessarily mean we don’t care for your education or your future. Voting ‘YES’ does not necessarily mean that we do. There is potential in every one of you to achieve everything you want out of life. This levy failure has not changed that potential, but only in how you realize it. Success comes through perseverance, determination, confidence in yourself (despite the odds) and faith in God. Personal success is defined by you.
By worried_parent
May 9, 2007 12:23 PM | Link to this
Threaten the kids, the parents and the community. Cut to the bone. Then put the levy on another ballet. If it fails again, cut some more and make more threats. Eventually it will pass and our taxes will go up. Several graduating classes will remember High School as the worst time of thier lives and they will learn too much about politics and fraud. My daughter is a Freshman this year, so she will be one of the classes to suffer. All because of politics and lack of budgeting. Thanks Mr. Price
By Kevin
May 9, 2007 12:22 PM | Link to this
To “one who voted no”:
It is admirable that you want everyone, not just homeowners to bear the cost of Middletown schools. However, that is just a dream. You can’t get money out of welfare queens.
My question is this - where is all the money for the middletown income tax going? What new services are you getting for it?
By SuzyQ
May 9, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this
PARENTS OF MIDDLETOWN CITY STUDENTS: Do not be afraid to show disappointment and frustration to your children. Children will see it no matter what. But you can control how and how much of it they see. More importantly, teach them how best to deal with life’s disappointments and to channel frustration into construction. Embrace the unfair challenges that are individual and turn them into your personal triumphs. It may be the most difficult thing to do in your life, but it can be done!
By one who voted no
May 9, 2007 12:11 PM | Link to this
I am a parent with 2 children in the school system. I also voted NO on the levy. I realize the consequences with the failure but it is time the citizens stand up and put a stop to the threats and blackmail tactics the board uses to get what it wants. If they want levies passed I think it is only fair that ALL citizens be responsible for paying. Not just us homeowners. I am giving the schools enough of my money as it is. Come up with a way to make everyone who lives in the district pay.
By SuzyQ
May 9, 2007 12:04 PM | Link to this
CITIZENS OF MIDDLETOWN: It is our right and duty as U.S. citizens to make ourselves be heard, one voice at a time, through voting. It is still not a crime in this country to have different opinions on issues. That’s what makes this system an ever-changing work of art. And yes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So please don’t knock each other down for voting differently. Instead, congratulate each other for voting at all. 90% (give or take) of us didn’t.
By Carl
May 9, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this
You are right, Middletown and the schools will survive and the those students who want to learn will. Look at the city of Youngstown, they lost all their steel mills and they still have taxes for their many schools. Stop making this out to be “the end of the world”
By SuzyQ
May 9, 2007 11:57 AM | Link to this
Thank you to all the rest of the great, the good and yes, even the not-so-wonderful teachers I had throughout my four years at MHS. Everyone of you were special in your own way to me. Each of you helped me to learn, to grow, to think, to deal with consequences when I made mistakes, to acknowledge my potential and even my limitations. I have grown exponentially as an adult thanks to all of you. THANK YOU FOR BEING NOT JUST ‘A’ TEACHER, BUT MY TEACHER!!
By Gene
May 9, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this
Nothing wrong with prostesting but they shoould have done it AFTER school was dismissed.The school system will do NOTHING about it and that shows the authority the school really has, yes the kids DO run the schools.These kids will and have in the past survived, in fact some of them are helping run this city and country and some are putting their lives on the line in time of war.Middletown has and will survive no matter how it looks now.
By CK
May 9, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this
I am so so proud to see Middletown taking steps forward to make this a better growing city. It was well overdue to start forcing people like Mr. Price to be accountable. The city needs to recall Mr. Price from office. It is great to see so may smart people in Middletown that knows it would have been a complete waste of our tax dollars if the levy passed while Mr. Price was still in office
I just hope the great people of Middletown don’t have short memories and not thing Mr. Price will use his old trick to distort the facts and, while still in office, use his authors to punish Middletown for not giving him more of our tax dollars to spend in the pursuit of MR. PRICE’s happiness, and not our kid’s education.
For the ones not smart enough to vote no… wake up !!!
By SuzyQ
May 9, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this
Thank you, Mrs. ‘Libby’ Armentrout, for being the third most inspiring part of my life. You come only after God and my grandfather on the inspiration list. You truly have a heart of gold for teaching not just one group of students, but E-V-E-R-Y student. Because of you, your teaching, your kindness, you utter compassion for a not-so-popular kid, I have gone further, seen, done and experienced more than the average person will in a lifetime. Some good, some bad, but all of it memorable!
By Concerned Parent
May 9, 2007 11:45 AM | Link to this
I never supported the kids decision to leave school…I was supporting the kids decision to protest - in response to a comment made by one stating “I Laugh at HS Kids making demoands”. My child is in school and told her that she had better stay there.
By Mark
May 9, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this
Did anyone take the time to notice what the kids were wearing when they left school for the march? When the schools and parents USED to have control of the students they were made to dress proper. No flip flop shoes, no baggey shorts, there use to be a time we could not leave the house until we dressed properly. And facial hair? Forgey that! Yes get back to the basics and also approve school uniforms. Also Garfield Alternative should have been closed years ago, it is segregating students.
By SuzyQ
May 9, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this
Danke schon, Frau Rovai! You had it pretty rough with most of the students, but that didn’t keep you from trying to teach us German every day. I’m sorry I was not kinder to you in school. But I promise you: The only way I cheated on your tests was by not studying for them to my full potential. I did NOT slip you the ‘study sheet’ from the day before on test day. I wish you and your family all the best.
Yes, still more to come…
By Kevin
May 9, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this
“Concerned Parent” is actually an idiot. To encourage kids to leave school during the day to ‘protest’ the results of a fair democratic election is just ridiculous.
What if one of these protesting kids gets hit by a car and dies? I guarantee that ‘Concerned Parent’ would go nuts, and then file a lawsuit against the school if it was their child that died.
By JS
May 9, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this
I am very disappointed the levy failed. I want my child to get a good education, and the only way that is going to ever happen is to vote in school levies. The school system is not going to ever improve if levies continue to fail. And don’t make the suggestion to move…who wants to move to Middletown? You couldn’t give your house away in this City! Way to go voters!!
By Concerned Parent
May 9, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this
Rooster - I just saw the continuation of the your post - I understand the concept now. It’s the economical impact of the lockout that you were referring to. That is an understandable view
By SuzyQ
May 9, 2007 11:34 AM | Link to this
Thank you, Mr. Gardner, for trying as hard as you could to make me smarter ‘chemically!’ :) Your sense of humor is one of the best of all the teachers I’ve ever had. I still love telling about my acceptance of your ‘Chemy Award for Most Tardies/Absences.’ Trust me, chemical engineering is not my forte’, and I’m doing O.K. with out it!
More to come…
By Concerned Parent
May 9, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this
Rooster - What does the Lock Out have to do with anything. Do they not have a Union…pay union dues so that SOMEONE ELSE CAN DO THEIR FIGHTING FOR THEM. They had the right to protest the lockout…but the kids should just sit back and accept wha they can’t control? Right or wrong I believe that thses kids expected the voters to speak for them…right or wrong I think that this turned into a displeasure with the current administration…they still have their jobs…and the kids lost out…
By Tracey
May 9, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this
Middletown needs alot of things right now……the schools are just one entity in a long line. Having the proper leaders in the proper positions would be a nice start for showing our community that everything possible is being done. Until this happens, we’ll have more of the same.
It takes motivation. Evaluate what you’re good at doing then roll up the old sleeves & start doing it.
I challenge you to make a difference and pass it on.
By Kevin
May 9, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this
Middletown has become a joke. Once good neighborhoods are overrun by crack houses and people breaking into your cars.
If you’re smart, you’ll leave middletown. It has become a welfare-ridden lost cause.
By Rooster
May 9, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this
(continued). I do know the value of the extra classes and tutors, etc. I also know that the educational quality MAY suffer. The challenge is to find a way to deliver as much as the school can in the most efficient way. This is a school board task. I don’t see any new money getting voted in any time soon. Sorry kids, a lot of people in town are suffering because of the lockout. Some are on the verge of catastrophe. It is more dire than show choir being cut. I wish it weren’t so….
By SuzyQ
May 9, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this
Thank you, Ms. Sayer for teaching “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” You are right, everything has a cost and the misuse of credit cards is a very, very, VERY bad thing. I wish I could have learned that tough lesson the easy way… by listening to you. I am, however, learning to make my own clothes.
More to come…
By Rooster
May 9, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this
In learning that the MHS students left early to march in “protest”, I would hope that the HS staff issues discipline accordingly. This is a huge part of the problem. Students in HS are becoming increasingly disrespectful and demanding. I laugh at HS students making demands. They don’t pay property taxes. To this extent, this is an adult discussion. I don’t see how this so-called march will do anything to convince a NO voter to change their mind. Did everyone forget that AK lockout?
By Concerned citizen
May 9, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this
The root cause of this problem is mishandling of our fading community. Our City Leaders have really done nothing to attract new industries to the area or keep the existing ones. Subsequently our community is equally unappealing to young families and residents, which could absorb a substantial portion of the cost. I do think that Mr. Price and his team should be equally held accountable for not only mismanagement the School System’s budget, but the futures of our community’s children. It is very sad to think that our elected educators are not capable to administer a budget. We need to act aggressively to amend this mayhem. Vote to replace all incumbents and bring new ideas and vigor to a proud community. By the way, the principal victim, our children, ironically is the long-term solution to issues and challenges our community faces today
By Voted No
May 9, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this
Back in 1979 I think it was, levy failed and kids talked of rioting.They actually did, but I didn’t go. Thank god because my Mom said she would have killed me if she got a phone call from the school.If I remember correctly, the kids caught, got time off from school. And you know what, we learned to live with what we had. Kids paid to play. And the amazing thing was, back then, Parent’s actually found a way to do it. Why can’t they now?
By SuzyQ
May 9, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this
Thank you, Mr. Pearson (? I apologize if this is not the correct name) for teaching U.S. Government my senior year at MHS. It is a great thing to see so many people - children and adults - practicing their freedom of speech that has been fought for long and hard for centuries. I wish more people had gone to vote, but at least 10% of the community did.
More to come…
By Ashamed
May 9, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this
Who says they are rioting? Last I heard, they were protesting peacefully. Look on www.wcpo.com and see the pictures they have posted. Nobody throwing things, puching people, or any violent behavior. Isn’t THAT what we would call a riot? If somebody is rioting, I haven’t heard anything about it.
By darlene
May 9, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this
I don’t have any kids in school and I’m sick and tired of being taxed to death……….
By Kevin
May 9, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this
Every single kid who left should be suspended.
By Voted No
May 9, 2007 11:12 AM | Link to this
This is the time to TEACH our kids that life is not always fair and rioting is not the answer. Finding solutions and learning to live with life results is what we need to teach them now. Will they riot when life doesn’t go how they want or they don’t get what they want?Teach them to adapate and live with what they have and make good out of that.They will still have an education, classes will still be taught.Tell them to learn everything they can and use it for the best in college and in life.
By Just plain fed up
May 9, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this
Here is an example of where your tax money goes. Received a bill from the city a few years back for $5000 for repairs from a traffic accident. Went back to the scene and found that they paid $5000 to a contractor to paint 2 cross walk signs half way up. That was it. Took pics & headed downtown with pictures in hand. Didn’t have to pay anything. But they did $5000. I even tried to get the journal to report this waste. NOOOOO Way. How many more contractors take them rides?
By Ashamed
May 9, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this
Does it really matter if she is or not? She is a little kid. She doesn’t need to be insulted! Plus, she wasn’t being a brat on here. She was showing her concern for her future.
By kevin
May 9, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this
Middletown just passed an income tax. Its time to stop bleeding the taxpayers. They have given enough.
When I went to Middletown I had to walk to Vail Middle School Now, there is a bus that takes kid from my exact old house to Vail. Its ridiculous.
Throwing money at schools has NEVER actually improved student performance. It begins at home with the parents. Unfortunately most Middletown parents are low-class, on welfare, or both. They don’t care about education, so save your money.
By Webb1
May 9, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this
Snotty nosed brat. Hmmm…. No profanity was used. Is she?
By Ashamed
May 9, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this
OK, lets look at what we have done on this message board. We are insulting students?? Are we or are we not grown ups? I realize some people on here are upset, but to call a junior high child expressing her beliefs a “snot nose brat”?!?! We need to take a good look at ourselves. If you want a place to bahave like that, go to a bar or a chat room. Not the local paper. Act like responsable adults and then maybe your oppinions will be valued.
By Unwavering
May 9, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this
Journalistuc fraud by the paper in running the sham poll should be not be gleeful today, as the supposed swing voter sent a message loud and clear, accountability,” ethics, and performance are the measures of a “balanced scorecard” all voters intend to utilize and cease to be “Nifonged” by the city leaders, the school leaders, and the Middletown Urinal. Shocked Mr. Ventruella and Dr. Price; perhaps it would be worth the effort to broaden your assumed constituency. Prediction on spot!
By Webb1
May 9, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this
Tina! God help you… No one is jealous of Dr. Price. The people feel that he and the rest of the School Board shouldn’t get a 3 1/2 percent wage increase, when money is tight.. We spend more money per pupil than West Chester! If you didn’t know that, maybe God Shoud be helping you…
By Voted No
May 9, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this
Cut and freeze the wages and raises to Adminisation and actually give it to the schools,teachers and kids programs, and I’ll vote yes for it. It’s Adminstation, that’s taking it from the kids.
By Webb1
May 9, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this
Ohiogal Well said! I wish you could get these people to understand that. Maybe you should be the first female President! !
By Webb1
May 9, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this
Crystal Woodward. Are you aware that the Household median income in this town is $36,215? You sound like a Teacher so let me talk in you kinda tone… $36,215= 55,000 households/2! That means 27,000 people combine for that in each household or less!!! Everone who works in the town breaks their back, for nothing!!!!!!!
By Ohiogal
May 9, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this
The people have spoken. To turn this around, the administration needs to come to grips with the fact that people can’t continually afford to fund bigger and better. They can’t even afford to feed themselves and make house payments, so why on earth would they think that an increase would go through? This town had a one year lockout to suffer through, lots of people went bankrupt. Get back to the basics and let private funding take up the slack. Sports are not important!
By Matt
May 9, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this
If you really have no extra money for the levy then I can’t blame you. But the idiotic opinions drive me crazy: “Why don’t you use the money from the new construction?” Answer: You can’t. It’s been in this paper a thousand times that that bond was, by law, for the buildings only. Here’s my favorite — “That overpaid staff and Dr. Price should take a pay cut!” Answer: #1 Obviously you are jealous. #2 A paycut would be a drop in the bucket. #3 You get what you pay for. God help this town…
By Tina
May 9, 2007 10:52 AM | Link to this
ones for what you are making out of the middie school system and our children!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Tina
May 9, 2007 10:51 AM | Link to this
I am a parent that voted yes for the levy and also a parent of two children in this sorry district. One of my children was involved in the riot today and I say “GO KIDS,GO!” This is their golden years and don’t deserve minimal education and no extra activities! It also keeps them off the streets and out of drugs! Guess they will have more time on their hands to get into drugs and not into their sports! And no parent can stop that no matter how damn good of a parent you think you are!thanks cheap
By BL
May 9, 2007 10:49 AM | Link to this
Is anyone really surprised this levy failed? Not even the daily propganda of the Middletown Journal could pass this one. Had the school system not been GREEDY and just ask for a renewal now and the increase later, AFTER SHOWING FURTHER RESULTS, you might have gotten an increase later. Instead you lose the renewal AND the increase. To the kids who are so disappointed….sorry but welcome to reality. Your mommy and daddy have never said NO to you but the taxpayers can, just like future employers..
By RJ
May 9, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this
108 staff members are going to be losing their jobs. That will mean more people moving out of Middletown to find jobs elsewhere, more houses on the market driving values down even more. Great thinking people.
By Voted No
May 9, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this
Why did I vote no?? I moved from Middletown school to Edgewood School in the middle of my Freshman year in 1980. I was so far behind compared to Edgewood. After graduation, I moved back to Middletown, only to see, Middletown schools are still the same. It’s not about the education, it’s about sports and busing. It seems our money always goes to Dr. Price and Adminstration, not to the kids or the teachers who try hard to teach the kids. Make cuts to Dr.Price first,then I’ll consider voting yes.
By Webb1
May 9, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this
Judy, I’m glad you touched on that…At My employer, new hires to a 30 percent pay cut, we pay more on health care and I might add that my employer pays 20 percent of the taxes in this city… I’m a tax payer! I run the company of the Middletown School District.. And yesterday I told my staff to take paycuts!!!!!
By CJ
May 9, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this
I voted no for this levy because I am tired of Middletown wasteing money. They have half plans. My daughter has Dyslexia. Middletown’s answer to this problem was, No testing move on to the next grade. She learned nothing. If it was not for the teachers at D Russell Lee she would still be having a hard time with this handicap. They did wonders for her in 2 years time. Also Schools put way to much emphasis on sports. Schools should be for learning, period! It’s time to get back to the basics.
By Jean
May 9, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this
To the people that do not vote: You do not have a right to complain, EVER.
By Are you Serious
May 9, 2007 10:37 AM | Link to this
The student body already feels they run the school and I guess today shows that they really are spoiled children. They were able to freely walk out of school in a protest wow I guess they really have no control of the student body. Time to make a phone call to make sure school policy is followed when giving out disciplinary action.
By Rick
May 9, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this
I would guess at this time of the day the students who are posting on this site should actually be learning since they are in school. As for the extra activities I was there once I played sports while I was in school and enjoyed it however the “Real World” is a bit different then the one you live in now. I would recommend getting a job to fill your vacant time. Those of you who are students here on this site posting really should go back to your parents and grandparents and other family members and ask them if they voted if so how did they vote? I voted for the levy with my having two smaller children in the school system. One of the big issues is low voter turn out. There are over 6,000 students in the high school alone and a total of 7,600 voted yesterday? Where are all of the parents and family members at who say they are behind you? Or an even better question is why did they not vote?
By cristina
May 9, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this
continued from below….Education should be the top priority. If cuts should be made, in order it should be the ones making WAY more than they should, then sports, then everything else..but leave the gifted program alone. The majority of people in Middletown can’t afford anything else. Some of us are fixing our cars from driving on these crappy roads. As long as the middletown schools have their priorities in a bundle, my vote will remain NO forever.
By cristina
May 9, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this
Did anyone on here see about the kid who’s happy that the sports are getting cut. I know exactly what he’s talking about..when i was in school ten years ago, the athletic people walked about with a conceited head. Yes, it is sad that the gifted program will get cut also. Maybe that is one program the school board definitely needs to keep on board. But sports, pay to play. If the parents won’t pay for their child to play sports, then that same child if within working age needs to pay then.
By RJ
May 9, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this
OK Webb1, then why don’t we go to your employer and suggest that he cut your pay to improve the company’s bottom line. It is not really a solution to suggest that the superintendent take a pay cut. Even if you cut his salary in half, it is not going to make a dent in the district’s financial situation.
By judy
May 9, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this
i broke my back as a nurse’s aide 12hrs.a day an took 2 days off a month to pay for what my kids needed.made $6.15 an hr.back then,you had to pay for the extras in school.i think they still should.
By Crystal Woodward
May 9, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this
You shouldn’t take away all the extra activities because most kids come to school because of the extra classes. If you take away our classes then where will all the kids go after school most will get involvedin drugs due to no extra classes after school. That’s why most kids go to school.
By Webb1
May 9, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this
I’m sick of The School Board using our kids as pawns, to get their agenda passed. If Dr. Price is so concerned about ‘Kids crying at home’, he should take pay cuts and wage freezes… Why is it with the city in financial turmoil , he’s never lost a dang thing!?! The people have spoken by a large margin. So our School System and the Middletown Journal better get used to it!!!
By ANGELA HENKEL
May 9, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this
forget the i hate middletown thing i said last time, i am just really mad because i won’t get any of the classes i wanted. sorry ‘_’..
By Mary
May 9, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this
For Shame. Take a ride down to Eastern Kentucky, you will see how many people actually do NOT get a quality education, BUT those kids are in school EVERYDAY doing their best, NOT skipping school doing nothing all day. There is a real problem about the people in this city that simply don’t care if the seniors have to struggle everyday and many do not spend money for drinking, smoking or McDonalds, we spend on what is necessary for what it takes to get along without poverty.
By RJ
May 9, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this
People on here have continually made comparisons to other school districts like Mason. Did anyone notice that Mason just passed a levy last year and then passed a bond issue to add on to the high school. A school system will only become great when the community stands behind it.
By squirt
May 9, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this
I never said it was life threating. You don’t even know what Dyslexia is. Yes it is life altering. That was a dumb comment.
By Shame
May 9, 2007 10:14 AM | Link to this
Bob, we get it! You hate children, you hate bureaucracy, you hate life. Lay off the students, and stop posting for all our sakes.