PRE-K IS FOR BUREAUCRATS AND BAD FOR OUR BABIES

 Phyllis Schlafly has been an advocate for honest reform in education for many years.   I have been involved in this fight since the mid 1970’s.  We have both worked diligently to inform as many people as possible.    Always remember that government schools are focused on changing the attitudes, values and beliefs of our children.   The fact is that the government wants the very youngest children.  They can indoctrinate the babies and wean them from their parent's moral values.    The goal of the government is to transition our nation into a socialist state in the One World Order.  Please do not allow your school district to implement Early Childhood Development Centers.   THESE PRISONS ARE BAD FOR CHILDREN!

By: Phyllis Schlafly

12/17/2013 06:00 AM

In an attempt to shift public discussion from the Obamacare train wreck, as well as toady to the feminists, Barack Obama is again promoting universal tax-paid daycare for preschoolers. But spending $75 billion on free preschool for all won’t work any better than the numerous times it’s been tried before.

Progressives don’t call it spending but instead use the code word “investments” to disguise tax increases. Obama wants to line up big-business support with a fairy tale that daycare “investments” will pay off by turning out kids who will be better trained for school-to-work.

Lobbyists for early childhood education (pre-K) always cite the Perry Preschool Project conducted years ago in Ypsilanti, Michigan, as their model. But it was based on separate classes of six preschool-age children, each class taught by a well-trained teacher with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education plus extra training in a special curriculum.

Each teacher conducted a two-and-a-half-hour-daily class with the children, and then had a 90-minute visit at each child’s home in the afternoon. The mothers in the Perry Project were required to be stay-at-home moms, married, and supported by the husband’s income.

Obama’s top economist, Austan Goolsbee, bases the argument that expenditures for universal pre-K education will produce social goodies by citing the Perry Preschool Project. But the Perry results have never been replicated despite many subsequent attempts, so that study is not scientifically credible.

Two embarrassing facts shoot more holes in any pretense of using the Perry Project as a model for pre-K spending. The Perry Project was 50 years ago (1962-67) when there were dozens of differences in our family and child-care culture, and all the 123 kids chosen for the project had stay-at-home moms.

That lifestyle for children was very different from today; we had the nuclear family as the norm, and a very different culture of child care. The Perry Project did not involve a takeover of little kids by government nanny care, but a mere 2.5 hours a day of training with a well-educated teacher plus home visits to give specialized, personal counseling to the stay-at-home mothers.

Economist Goolsbee cited the work of another economist, James J. Heckman, who asserted that “each dollar invested [in government daycare] returns in present value terms 7 to 10 dollars back to society.” Heckman’s rash conclusion was endlessly echoed by so-called daycare experts, who claim that the Perry Project gave society a return of six to seven times its cost. Goolsbee then solemnly pontificated that this exceeded “the historical returns of the stock market.”

With its virtually one-on-one, hands-on care of children, the Perry Project was prohibitively costly — about $19,000 a year per student in today’s dollars. The other project touted by the advocates of Big Government raising our children from an early age, the famous Head Start program that began in Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty, has been running for nearly 50 years and still does not provide evidence that government would ever do a better job than mothers.

Our generous U.S. taxpayers have poured billions of dollars into Head Start, which claims to apply the logic of the Perry Preschool Project. The government’s own evaluation of Head Start by the Department of Health and Human Services showed that, while there were some initial positive impacts from Head Start, “by the end of third grade there were very few impacts found in any of the four domains of cognitive, social-emotional, health and parenting practices.”

Of course, we want to raise the low rankings of U.S. kids on international tests. The trouble is we’ve spent large chunks of money with minimal results. Well-established pre-K programs in Georgia and Oklahoma also show that a majority of 4-year-olds failed to justify the money spent.

Just last month, the liberal Brookings Institution admitted that the supposed benefits of pre-K programs often “don’t last even until the end of kindergarten.” Brookings’ lead research analyst commented, “I see these findings as devastating for advocates of the expansion of state pre-K programs.”

We should get the facts, learn from past failures, and abandon pie-in-the-sky projects before we “invest” any more taxpayers’ money. How about a study to find out if kids do better in school if they have the good fortune to live with their own mother and father like the kids in the famous Perry Project?

Phyllis Schlafly is a lawyer, conservative political analyst and author of 20 books.

Top of Form

CHRISTMAS IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS

This quote is from Ben Stein and I believe it does address the evil that is being perpetrated in our schools.   Recently the Lebanon City School District leaders caved to the ACLU request regarding comments made by an archery instructor. One parent complained because something in the Bible was mentioned and the district "leaders" reprimanded the teacher and warned him not to discuss such topics in the future.   It is strange that teachers are able to discuss every kind of fornication in the classroom and that is A-OK.   Let the Bible be mentioned and all hell breaks loose.   

Why does one person determine the rights of the rest of us? Why would the district take an "Open Meetings" case brought by a parent all the way to the Ohio Supreme Court, but not uphold the rights of the rest of us?   They will cave to the ACLU because that case would raise national attention.  On the hand, they would fight (and pay lawyers with our money) all the way to the Ohio Supreme Court to justify their refusal to allow a parent in one of their unannounced "secret" meetings.    

I would advise the taxpayers to attend the school board meetings from now on.   This board has close to $100,000,000 to spend.   Who will be watching the bidding process and the spending process.   Who are the paid consultants, architects and contractors?   Who will be supplying the furniture and other supplies?   Will the same heating and A/C consultant be hired w/o bids?   Has anyone seen the plans?   These questions and more have never been given to the people who are picking up the tab.


This is a quote from Ben Stein.   He addresses Christmas and the absence of God in our schools.

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejewelled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a nativity scene, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina). Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives.And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorist attacks, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.
Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. 

Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. 

Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit.

If not, then just discard it.... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what a bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein

DEAD OR ALIVE - UNKNOWN PEOPLE WIN ELECTIONS

"In the Seattle suburb of Des Moines, John Rosentangle won 71 percent of the vote over write-in candidates in the King County Water District 54. Rosentangle died last August of an illness. He was 63. 

In a city council race on the Washington coast in Aberdeen, John Erak, also dead, is leading Alan Richrod, very much alive, with 53 percent of the vote. The 81-year-old Erak was a former state representative and died in June shortly after announcing he was running to retain his seat. As of yesterday his lead was only 12 votes, and the results weren't final.

Both men died after the filing period closed and their names could not be removed from ballots. 

Should both candidates win, they will still be dead." 

In the small town of Lebanon, Ohio two candidates ran for school board.   Two slots were open.   (Ryan Patterson is currently on the school board.)   His running mate is a guy by the name of Brian DeGennaro.   Neither bothered to send out information, attend open meetings or campaign for their position.   They were not interviewed by the paper and did not complete the survey in the paper for "candidate information."  I can't find one person that knows anything about Brian DeGennaro.   Yet, he was elected.

I did find a "DeGennaro" on the Lakota staff.   Maybe his wife is a teacher.   That would stand to reason as many school board members are teachers in other districtS or the spouse of a teacher.

If anyone knows DeGennaro please leave a comment.

In addition to the school board election the voters passed a huge levy that will change the entire face of our community's schools. Almost no real information was provided to the taxpayers regarding what the "plans" were/are.   The additional taxes are for bonds that will last 37 years.  (Longer if a board decides to stretch the time.)

This "pig in a poke" was passed with about 30% of the voters bothering to vote.   One of the tricks used over and over again by the school system is to go to a local retirement village and "vote" the population by "absentee" ballots.  I have been told by attendants that the "helpers" actually mark the ballots for some of the residents.  It is known that former school teachers go in with the ballots.  (They then carry the marked ballots to the Board of Elections.)  This is in spite of the fact that the facility has its own voting precinct. In August the residents passed the levy 152 for the levy and a mere "4" against.   I am told that the "village" is run by a church and so they do not pay taxes.  Is this fair to the homeowners whose taxes get raised over and over again?

In the August levy approximately 14% of the registered voters bothered to vote.     The union, students and their families are the core voters for the schools.   That's all they need to pass any issue including the Lebanon City Council which has at least two teachers sitting on that ruling board.  The "UNION" RULES Lebanon.

They don't care how the rest of the community is hurt by the higher and higher taxes.  They do get their big paychecks and benefits and hire their friends and relatives to receive the same.   That is their plan and it is working out great for them.

I am told that many students worked at the polls as "judges."  These students were called "Youth in the Booth."   Having students at the polls is a neat trick to put a "guilt trip" on the voters to vote for the levy.   After all, "it is for the children."   It was interesting that most of the students were listed as "Democrats."   They were sent to work by their "government teacher."   This is a Republican area, but the kids are Democrats.   Is this part of the "indoctrination?"

THE DISTRICT IS CONTROLLED BY THE NEA, OEA AND LEA.   MOST, IF NOT ALL DISTRICTS ARE CONTROLLED BY THE UNION.  The teamsters were in town when SB 5 was on the ballot.   They demonstrated with the teachers, fire and policemen.   See how it works?   

Holbrook Administration Building

This school is scheduled for demolition at a cost of $290,642.88.

The rebuilding plans say to contact Mrs. Becky S. Hill.  Mrs. Hill is no longer employed by the district.  Check out how this facility has been ignored by the maintenance department.   The photo was taken on a school day.   Notice that few are working.

There is a schedule to rebuild "something" at this site at a cost of

$6,228,016.36.   This may or may not be in the plans.  This may be the cost to rebuild a facility at that site.  We do not know because the community has NOT been involved in the planning stages.

Dunlavy is scheduled for demolition at a cost of $152,745.92. There are offices for the maintenance department in this location.

Lebanon Junior High School is scheduled for demolition.  There are offices in this building.  The cost of demolition is scheduled at $731,140.59.  The total cost of rebuilding is projected at $26,700,970.60.  This is to house grades 7-8 with a total enrollment of 883.  This is only 442 per grade and does not allow for the growth that they are saying we have. (We do not have growth.  In fact we are at a -83 from 2010-2013 per the Ohio Department of Education.)

They are not saying where all of the administration will be housed.    They are demolishing all of the current administrative office buildings.  Lakota built a huge new administrative building and did not tell the taxpayers.   They bought the land from a long time secretary of the superintendent and her husband.   All kinds of hell was raised when people found out, but nothing will stop these people.   They are all molded in the same places with the same entitlement philosophy.   

If you know what they are planning do leave a comment.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR RAISING TAXES

The group of elitists that run Lebanon and the Lebanon School District are the very people that Dr. Carson is talking about.  These people believe that they are entitled to all of our money.   They can dream up projects costing $100's of millions of dollars and you are supposed to feel good about giving them your money to spend as they please.   After a levy is passed there is no one enforcing where that money is spent.    

In the case of the school district, you can be sure that any contracts given will be kept under wraps.   Just as the planning stages for this mega project were kept secret.  These plans are exceptionally grandiose. 

The lies, half-truths and utter absence of information is just the way these people operate.   Later, they can say, "we never promised this or that."    Does the Obama Care lies come to mind?   

Millions of dollars have been spent on the very schools that they plan to demolish.   The JHS had more than $200,000.00 put in the auditorium alone.   No one mentioned  nor was it ever discussed that they planned to hit that school with the wrecking ball.

I have been to board meetings where it was discussed that the school was half empty.   It was the former high school and all four high school grades were in that building.  Jennifer Moormeier had offices there for curriculum and computer planning.  The school is in excellent condition.   Many of you have been to plays and other activities in the JHS.

Lebanon is not gaining students.   In fact the ODE reports that LCSD has a decline of 84 students from 2010 to 2013.   Why the hurry to build new buildings with this decline in enrollment.

Facts to consider:

THE OSFC MONEY IS OUR MONEY. 

IT WILL NOT BE LOST.   

THE OSFC OWES LCSD THIS CREDIT.  

LET'S WAIT UNTIL THE PEOPLE APPROVE OF THE PLANS. 

LET'S WAIT UNTIL THE PEOPLE HAVE A VOICE IN THE PLANS.

This project was thrust on us as an emergency.  It is NOT an emergency.   There is no reason to jump in the fire with these elitists.   Mark North will be long gone, just as Bill Sears is long gone and we will have the long term debt.

WE WILL BE STUCK WITH THIS NEW DEBT FOR 37 YEARS.  Many of will be dead when the debt keeps growing on and on.

Your grandchildren, my great grandchildren will be paying this debt.    Thirty-seven years is too long to pay loans that we did not incur.

Please don't let them do it to us again.   They tricked us in August.    Don't let them do it again tomorrow. Many of us just can't afford to give them any more of our money.   We love children.   We have children and grandchildren, but the line has to be drawn sometime.  
NOW IS THAT TIME TO JUST SAY ENOUGH!

SEE JUST HOW YOUR TAX MONEY WAS WASTED!

The top picture is the Turtlecreek Township Hall and truck bays.    This facility was built from scratch for about $3.5 million. *(That is what we were told and we were also told that it was paid for.)

2. This is the Lebanon City School District bus garage and offices.    This facility was renovated ? for approximately the same cost as the Turtlecreek Township facility and is not paid for.

3. This is a picture of the lovely landscaping along the side of the bus facility.   Note the junk stored in the landscaping.

4.  This is a picture of buses purchased (again) and the gas tank on the parking lot.  It is important to note that buses are leased and purchased with a bond (Loan).   Laidlaw/First Student (outsourced bus company) is no longer planning the bus routes. They were paid millions.

5. This is a picture of more junk stored in the beautiful landscaping.   I wonder if this is part of the landscaping that was supposed to be part of another $3 million that was borrowed.

6.  These are the mechanics bays.  Note the difference of this building from the truck bays at the Turtlecreek facility.    Also note the Lebanon sticker on the bus.  This is because another name used to be on the bus.  It is either a Laidlaw bus or a used bus from another district.

This is photographic proof that you cannot trust the people in charge of the LCSD.   They do not do what they say they are doing or going to do.   You just cannot trust them to completely rebuild the Lebanon City School District at their whims.   They are not competent and we are paying them far too much for what they do.   They hire consultants for every job. We are paying them and they, in turn, use our money for consultants to perform the actual job.  

We can obtain the state funds at a date in time that competent people are in charge.   The money will not be lost.   The OSFC has a credit available in the the LCSD's name.   The reason the money will be available is that Donna Norris and the rest of the board did not file the proper documents when Bowman and the high school were built.   There is no hurry to claim the money.   It is there waiting for us.

We can pass a levy in the future and plan this district's buildings with competent people in charge and the community involved in the planning stages.   

We don't want this project shoved down our throats with absolutely zero input in the plans.

Lakota Fact Sheet - Reasons to Vote No On All Levies

Every district plays the same game.   They promote levies as "for the children," but it is ALWAYS for the union. Remember more money and new buildings do not guarantee a decent education.  Vote NO!   NO!  NO!  "It's not about the students at all....Get The Facts Before You Vote Here's why we encourage you to Vote "NO" Let's look at some data you won't get from the other side. First, we all want to live in a district with quality schools, but we do not believe that quality is always measured in dollars. In just four years, Springboro schools have gone from projecting a massive deficit of $28.7 million to a planned surplus of nearly $7.2 million by 2017. Learn how this change was possible, while other school districts are cutting programs, laying off teachers, raising taxes and making students pay-to-play. Next, let's go through some facts about Lakota School District: Enrollment Lakota's enrollment has dropped from 18,473 in 2010 to 17,083 for the 2013/2014 school year - a drop of 1,390 students. It is projected to drop to 16,560 by 2017. This generates a cost savings of $9,375 per student, or $17,934,375. New Sources of Funding Revenue from the casinos has been flooding in. Most recently, two checks were received for $774,272. This is ongoing revenue, paid semi-annually, that goes directly to schools. This should reduce not increase Lakota property taxes! The State of Ohio has committed to a substantial (11.6%) raise in funding for Lakota schools in 2014, as well as one in 2015. The 2014 raise alone is $4.1 Million. The new Liberty Town Center will generate $3 million in annual, additional tax revenue. Also, Lakota has received a check from the auditor's office for $422,534 - an unexpected windfall that goes directly to school funding. Lakota receives 62.5% of all real estate taxes paid in the district. What Happens If This Levy Passes It will immediately cost the average Lakota district home owner $360 additional if this levy passes. (Average home value is $190,000.) One person, whose home has a value of $419,000, calculated what his tax increase would be if this levy passes, using the tool available from the Butler County Auditor's website. Their current property tax is: $7,932.24 ... and if this levy passes, his additional tax will be: $804.48 Homeowners will see this increase in just a few weeks, when tax bills are sent in January. This levy will be devastating to seniors. When this levy is combined with the expiration of the tax "roll-back," many seniors say they will no longer be able to live in the Lakota School District. This is grossly unfair. More Facts to Consider Lakota School District is playing the "trump card" of "increased school security," but in fact, "security" is a small fraction of the $13 million in new tax funding they are demanding. In fact, Lakota is only proposing to add 7 officers to the schools, at a total cost of $350,000 - which is only 2% of their $13 million levy!! What they are not telling you is 72% of this levy -$9,360,000.00 would go to increased salaries and benefits!! Lakota formed a Finance Committee of 20 area business leaders, including the Butler County Auditor. They studied Lakota's budget and finances, and concluded a new levy was unnecessary. Lakota refused to listen, and is now demanding an extremely expensive new tax levy from us. We agree with the Lakota School Board formed Finance Committee, NO NEW LEVY IS NECESSARY ! We ask you to vote NO on the Lakota School Levy on November 5th."

THE LOCAL FISH-WRAP IS WRONG ON ALL COUNTS

It appears that our newest local tabloid is an arm of the school district.    So, from now on it will be called the local rag.   Perfect for collecting bird dung and for wrapping smelly fish.   It could also be called the local fish-wrap.   I will decide on the reference name at a later date.

Today's edition was a tribute to the traitor superintendent that left and then returned.   He has applied elsewhere, but no other district seems impressed with his credentials.   

Ray Miller seems to think that the best source of information pertaining to a school levy is the local superintendent.   Mr. Miller, don't you really think that particular source might be a tad bit biased?   Since you have a child/children in school I think you are biased too.  You want the very best for your kids.    

You say your son attends Donovan.   Maybe you should take a walk over to Louisa Wright.   The district has rented out part of that building to the local YMCA for the Head Start program.   If we have to use trailers for our students, just maybe the "Y" should keep the Head Start children at the "Y."    (Really it is unknown if the "Y' pays rent, but the district does pay for the district's administrators family memberships at the "Y.") 

Did Mr. North tell you that Louisa Wright will be demolished?  Did he give you detailed plans for his aim to start up an "Early Childhood Development Center?"  Did he give you the drawings for the new ADMINISTRATION BUILDING?   Just wondering.

Did you know that early childhood centers are being implemented in most districts?  Oh yes, that is the part where the government takes over the children from cradle to grave. As you know, the government knows best.   The schools are just following the Obama plan.

 Mr. Miller, you might want to take some time to read up on "Common Core." That's the system where your children are dumbed down to be "good little robots."   They won't have to think for themselves.   Just perform the tasks the government deems them "fit" or trained for assignment.   You might want to read Ayn Rand's "Anthem."   That will give you an idea of the future one world agenda.    All of the government's plans do start locally.  

Check out the clinics that are in the Mason and Springboro School district and many other districts that went into building programs.    The clinics will inoculate the students, pass out the condoms, give sexual advice and maybe even abortions.   So much to do and so little time is the mantra of the elitists in charge.   Why do you think the teachers and superintendents are paid so well?   Is it because of their incomparable talent or their willingness to proceed with the agenda?    

You say your son had to attend school in a trailer.   What a crock!   Many, many people live in trailers full time.   Many others live in unheated homes without insulation.   How many fires happen in the winter or carbon monoxide poisoning from people trying to heat their living quarters.   I'm sure the "trailer" where your son attends class is not inferior.   You think of yourself.   What about the rest of our community that is suffering from lost wages?   How many people have lost their homes?.    How many food kitchens and free stores have opened to feed the poor.   Think about the battered women's shelters in town.    Where have you been Mr. Miller?

You go on and on about air conditioning and so on.   Most of us never had air conditioning in our schools.   We weren't allowed to wear shorts and skimpy tops either.   Did you know that the district spent a fortune on Berry installing new windows and a heating system and many other energy saving devices.   They even paid thousands to a local heating "guy" to consult on those plans.   I don't know if he is a personal friend of Mr. Norths, but another heating guy told me that the future "consultant"  spent a lot of time in Mr. North's office before the consulting contract came out at a board meeting.     I guess that was a few million dollars down the drain.   The word out of Columbus is that wrecking ball will be hitting Berry if this levy passes.

You know Mr. Miller, it really is getting old and stale hearing about what the realtors think of our school district.    Maybe they need to think about helping people save their homes from the sheriff sales.    The realtors really don't run our towns, but they always are on the side of more taxes.  Did you know, Mr. Miller, that Lebanon is one of the highest taxed districts in the county.  Yes, that's right.   We will be second highest if the levy passes.   

Mr. North says he received a call from the OSCC about it being Lebanon's turn.   Guess what, it was Lebanon's turn in 2000 to build the high school and Bowman.   The incompetent superintendent and board failed to file the papers that would have given the district the money to pay part of those costs.   That is the reason LCSD has a credit available.   The taxpayers have suffered carrying the full load for those two buildings because of dereliction of duty by the board.   THEY NEVER FOLLOWED THROUGH!!!!
Did you know that Mr. Miller?   I bet you didn't.   Did you every attend any of the board meetings?   I know you weren't there when Mrs. Young was asked to leave.   Yes, that was the night that Mr. North decided a member of the public didn't need to hear his plans.    She won her case at the 12th District Court of Appeals and again at the Ohio Supreme Court.  You didn't cover that little detail did you, Mr. Miller.

I hear that you also don't want to hear from anyone giving you information regarding why the levy is not a good idea.  Did you threaten to file a suit against a taxpayer?   I think you did!

Were you at the board meeting when Mr. North told the tale about the guy coming up to him at the football field and offering to give him a "deal" to redo the track?    Were you there to hear that embellished tale?   The track was still under warranty.   Mr. North convinced the board to take "the guy's offer" of $90,000.00 to fix up the track.   No other bids were needed.   Too coincidental  but what do we know.   

The OSFC isn't paying 62% because it is Lebanon's turn.   They are offering a credit because of the past incompentency of the board to file those very important papers.   The money is really for the high school and Bowman.  The money is going to be there when we need it and have the money to pay our share.   Right now we/the property owners still owe over $60 million dollars for past loans taken out by the board.  Most of these loans are unknown by the public.  

I have been told that the money is there.   By the way, it isn't money that grows on trees.   It is taxpayer money.  So, it is our money.   Get that, Mr. Miller.   It is our tax dollars that can be given for construction in our district.   We can pass another levy at the appropriate time and with competent and honest leaders.   This isn't Washington, D.C.   We can elect better people.  

I say wait!   The money will be available.   The community has not been consulted or apprised of the plans drummed up by "very few" insiders.    The last construction project was a mess.   Land was purchased at an exorbitant price, there were no city facilities to the land that was chosen, the road is inadequate for the school traffic, the field is a mud pit and many "deals" were brokered including the naming of Bowman Elementary.    Additionally Bowman should have been one elementary building.    The current structure is inefficient and more costly to operate. 

You are wrong Mr. Miller.   The district has not grown.  The enrollment has varied around fifty students for several years.
So I would say your are 100% wrong on all counts.   But, I guess you do need school news for your "fish-wrap."  After all you are just trying to start up another rag in the area.   It pays to kiss the a$$ of the local superintendent in a case like that.

    

SEE THE DEBT OF THE DISTRICT

Say goodbye to a Lebanon Icon!

Please think long and hard about the people who are in charge of the Lebanon City School District.  Do you trust these people to manage millions and millions more of your money?   Do you even trust them to have the best interests of the children as their main priority?   

The district lists outstanding debt of $62,550,630.   This debt is being paid off through 2031.   They also borrowed $3,740,000 in 2006 that is being paid through the General Fund.  This is debt that is to be paid off in 2031.

These financial wizards (not) borrow money with no regard for the expense involved in receiving these "gifts."  See the following examples of interest payments:
                            Principal                         Interest                          Total
          2013        $2,410,972          $1,776,413        $4,187,385
          2014        $1,775,438          $2,305,492       $4,080,930
          2015        $1,840,760          $2,355,490      $4,196,250
          2016        $1,923,766          $2,370,208       $4,293,974
          2017         $3,154,000         $1,412,376        $4,566,376
2018-2022        $13,098,581        $5,509,532       $18,608,113
2023-2027        $10,704,407       $4,586,882       $15,291,289
___________________________________________
          Total          $41,791,924       $20,758,706     $62,550,630

The above numbers are from the audit.   This is the long-term debt of the district.   Part of the reason the debt is so high is that the district failed to file the proper papers with the Ohio School Facilities Commission when Bowman and the high school were built.   The taxpayers are paying the penalty for the neglect of the people in charge.  This is the debt we now owe.   There may be more in the form of long-term lease agreements.    

Can we really afford to double the debt?   How do we know the administration will file the proper documents this time around?   Some of the same people are in place.   The new ones don't seem to be better qualified.   Before we tear down most of the schools in the district lets put some qualified people on the board and in charge.   

The only people that seem to make out like bandits in these deals are the banks that carry the loans.   These loans are guaranteed by our property.   The bankers cannot lose.

Below is an example of how the district goes after property owners.   I have heard them mention homeowners in the same light.   

On March 18, 2010 the local paper had an article headlined: "School district hires firm to track property sales."    This article was written by Richard Wilson.    

"Lebanon school board members unanimously agreed to hire a firm, Monday night, March 15 (2010), that will track commercial property sales and identify those where the school district would receive more tax revenue if the assessed value was adjusted based on the most recent sale and identify those where the school district would receive more tax revenue if the assessed value was adjusted based on the most recent sale."  The firm hired was Frost Brown Todd attorneys from West Chester, Ohio.  

I have in my possession a four inch stack of invoices pertaining to attorneys that serve the LCSD.   These documents were obtained per the "Sunshine Law" that gives citizens the legal right to see where our money is being spent. The LCSD charged us almost $40.00 to provide these documents.    

Interesting is that Frost Brown Todd attorneys were paid thousands and thousands of dollars during the three years that we obtained.   Other firms used by the district are Ennis, Roberts, & Fischer and also Bicker & Eckler.   

We pay for these attorneys.   The abuse of our administrators freely calling for consultations for such routine requests as a "public documents request" is a waste of money.     

The necessity of paying thousands of dollars to a law firm to check with the county auditor regarding the increase in value of property is waste.   The LCSD treasurer has clerks in his office.   I'm sure that one of them could check on the property sales once a month and compare the sale price of property in the district.    Instead the district wastes our money paying an expensive law firm.   

They further wasted our money paying lawyers to  take a local mother to the Ohio Supreme Court.   They challenged her right to sit in on a school board meeting.    This case was just another case of the district rulers challenging the rights of citizens to see and hear their actions.   Their way of keeping people out of the loop is to declare an executive session.   It seems that the justices didn't agree with their methods. INTIMIDATION does work for most of the school districts.    Read about Greenon School district at:

 www.observethetruth.blogspot.com.   

This case was over three moms saying no to a levy.  They were sued by pro levy lawyers.   Luckily the moms won.  

Remember, It is never for the Children.

THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS

Today the taxpayers received another reminder to vote for a levy.   In my opinion the entire card is deliberately misleading.  There are little to zero real or detailed facts listed on that card.   As D. D. Norris likes to say, the card has been written at the eighth grade level.   They don't want you to know the details or what the "real" plans consist of.

They want you to believe that this is an emergency.   That the money will disappear if this project is not started immediately.   This is not true.   I have correspondence from the Ohio School Facilities Commission that states that:

"The credit from the Expedited Local Partnership program (ELPP) is for $51,893,780 and represents a reimbursement for work done to Bowman Elementary and Lebanon High School.  The ELPP project was initiated in 2000.  The district will be receiving $45,109,467 from the state for the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program (CFAP) segment of this project and the required local contribution for this segment will be for $24,914,231.  It is my understanding that the actual district levy which will be for a slightly larger amount in order to provide funding for any unexpected contingencies that might arise."

Further stated by Rick Savors of the OSFC, ". . . . . districts do not lose their ability to participate in OSFC programs.  They are, however, required to acquire their local funding share prior to re-applying for funding from the state."

This report lists Dunlavy School with 375 students and Holbrook with 655 students (K-3).   Most of you know that Dunlavy houses the maintenance department and Holbrook house the administrative offices of the district.

The report states that the cost of demolition of Holbrook will be $290,642.88.    (Don't you just love the fact that they get this down to the $0.88 level.   As I said, Holbrook houses the administrative staff.  That would be Mark North, Eric Sotzinger and the rest of the "team."   If they are going to demolish Holbrook, one would be led to assume that Mr. North will have a new palatial "administrative" building to run the show.    We really don't know because the taxpayers be damned.   They just don't need to know the plans or any of the details.

What the plans do state is that Holbrook sits on 19 acres of land.   New construction is planned on that site after the demolition is $6,228,016,36.   Don't you just love the "transparency" of our leaders.    My daddy always said liars figure and figures lie.   Just saying.

I would say you could build a real nice palace to the tune of over $6.5 million dollars.   Of course no one bothered to let the taxpayers in on the plans.    I guess it was a big, bad secret.  We have to have a proper setting for King North and Queen Norris.   

Now, what about those 375 first through third graders that don't exist at Francis Dunlavy?   Well, well, well, the plans are to demolish Dunlavy at a cost of $152,745.92.   So00000 . . . . there goes the maintenance department.   Where will we put this department?    I assume (never assume)  that this part of "the team" will also move into the new (unrevealed) administrative building.

The construction costs to Bowman total $3,447,527.58 for an addition.   The building costs to Donovan $15,340,672.91.  You see they have it down to the very last penny.   They have big plans, but you are not part of those plans.   You just have to cut more money out of your escalating grocery budget.  Turn these funds over to Mr. North and Ms. Norris and they will find some people they might know to "consult" the job for them.

Donovan Elementary (grades 3-4) will have $15,340,672.91 in improvements.   Why didn't they tear it down and build another school?   Just a thought!  Because the report says that it would cost $15,885,373.78 to replace Donovan.

What is happening to Louisa Wright you might ask?  I've been in that building and it is a fine building and perfect for Kindergartners.   Not good enough for Mr. North and Ms. Norris though.   Louisa Wright is scheduled for demolition.

The cost is listed at $304,544.66.   WHY, you ask?  Well the Powers in charge want it that way.  Does it sound like Obama Care.   You can keep the schools you love.   NO!  You can't.

Now we tell you the details at Berry Intermediate.   Apparently, your leaders, not mine, didn't want to raise too much fuss in the community regarding Berry.   So they performed a little white-wash job on the details.   As I said, the hell to pay is in the details.   

According to the records most of Berry will be DEMOLISHED.   The total estimation of the cost of tearing down and rebuilding at Berry is $24,194,563.93.   

The Lebanon Junior High School is scheduled for demolition. The cost to destroy the building is $731,140.59.  The plans to rebuild a perfectly good building is $26,700,970.60.

Lebanon High School will receive $2,588,355.44 of changes.  Do you know what they will be?

I trust all of you are able to read these facts.   The school administration doesn't think any of us taxpayers are capable of knowing and reading the real facts and the real numbers.

Just get out your wallets and let them have at it.   Don't bother to vote.   After all, THEY know what is best for you and your children.   They know what is best for all of us.  Just like the socialist administration in Washington, D.C.   

To quote the postcard, "Money CAN ONLY Be Used to Construct Buildings!"    That isn't true.   There auditors office states that .5 mills is to be used for maintenance and incidentals for 23 years.  This is added to the 1.87 mills.   One of the worst things in the 1.87 mills lasts for 37 years.   Why not save money and put this on for 20 years.   The interest payments are great for the banks, but not for the taxpayers.