WE Blog

Regular,

You have pointed out something that I don’t believe the pro-bond issue folks have really taken into consideration. The increase in appraised values will result in higher taxes, without any mill levy changes; there doesn’t seem to be too much positive news concerning the local economy; and folks are, it goes without saying, paying ever increasing amounts of money for food, gasoline, etc.

As you know from some of my prior posts, I agree with much of what is proposed to be funded by the proceeds of any bond issue. I’ve my objections concerning improving athletic facilities from the perspective that such improvements really only directly benefit a relatively small number of students, and IMO, really benefit the potential spectators in many cases.

To me, the bond issue as of this date is on life support at best; any potential departure of Mr. Brooks does little to affect its passage, IMO.

MonkeyHawk, it does seem to be an ever-revolving professional position, doesn’t it? Wichita had a period of stability during the tenure of Superintendent Morris, a period during which, IMHO, the district was very slow to react to the many changes occurring in the district which I believe began a degradation of the performance of the public schools in Wichita , then a period of instability which saw Dr. McIntire, Dr. Berger, and Dr. Vaughn come through; then a recent period of relative stability with Mr.Brooks.

What I’m sure of is that I wouldn’t want the job; no matter what the Superintendent does, he or she will be perceived as wrong by a portion of the population.

In a review of property tax appraisals in my area, most homes have gone up about 18%-21% in the last 4 years, my own included. However, a few doors away a multi million dollar business is tax exempt. Perhaps revisiting these exemptions could help defray the continued increases in residential property taxes. After voting for the last bond issue, I’m saying no to this one. With the increases in food and gas as well as other cost of living increases, I simply can’t afford it. My wages certainly don’t rise at the same rate to compensate.

Slap it down hard to show you care nothing about kids, boxlock.

Boxlock…..you are just a reichwing nutcase who DOES HATE OUR CHILDREN!

Boxlock, it seems to me that the reasons for some of the improvements ought to be right up every conservative’s alley… trying to keep Wichita schools competitive with other districts in the area.
And isn’t competition what you guys think is so great… free markets (the Easter Bunny tells me that’s a good thing), and all that jazz?

I take that as a compliment coming from you little nazi-man. You reichwingers are so narrow minded.

Stuart, I would suggest the newness or oldness of school facilities in and of themselves is, at best, a minor consideration for those choosing a suburban district. I believe that it is the perceived academic performance of the schools that is most important, gathered from such things as state assessment scores. Safety of students (perceived or actual) is another factor. If these things come with nice facilities, so much the better.

I base the above on comments of friends and acquaintances who have chosen the suburban schools. The facilities are not a major consideration for them.

I would also rely upon my experience with Northeast Magnet High School here in Wichita. Facility isn’t much to look at, and there is a lack of room, the library/media center is too small, the gym isn’t much to brag about, the auditorium lacks adequate seating for an all school assembly to be held within, and there are no athletic teams representing the school. However, the school receives annually many more applications for the freshman class than there are those selected; these applications, BTW, come from within USD 259 as well as from the suburbs. For the upcoming year, there will be an incoming freshman class of 160-165; as of the Choices Fair last week, the number of applications received was approaching 300. Given the state of the facility, which might be generously described as “adequate”, there is something else at work here.

This something else includes the fact that the enrollment is under 600; the school is known for achieving the “Standard of Excellence” on state assessments; there have been precious few incidents adversely affecting student safety within the building; the school has exceeded the NCLB AYP goals since the same were implemented. All this is occurring within a school that has a student body reflective of the ethnic composition of the district itself.

These reasons listed are not only my opinion, but are also an accumulation of the reasons given by parents and students for the desire to attend at this building. Admission, BTW, is determined by a lottery conducted at the Magnet Office; there are no “qualifying tests” or other such conditions that are a factor in admission.

So, Stuart, I don’t think facilities in and of themselves are of as much importance as others think they are. It is what occurs within the facilities that is of greater importance, it seems to me, to parents of prospective students and which drives there residential choices. My two cents.