<Romeo Kids First!>

<$Romeo Kids First$>

This is the blog of Jennifer White, Romeo, Michigan. I am a trustee-elect to the Romeo Board of Education. My 4 year term begins July 9, 2007. I will use this blog to post my personal thoughts on the school district happenings, this will allow the community to be kept informed of my views. I will not be serving as a board spokesperson, these will be my individual views.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Speaking of the bond - How did they do that? Dollars and sense!

How was the district going to come up with $93 Million Dollars with a .29 mill increase?
Are they refinancing existing bonds? If so, can we do that with no bond and actually reduce taxes? Or can we ask for a much smaller bond at no cost to the taxpayer?

This seems to be a very complicated process, and I am not a financial guru by any means, but I am a taxpayer and I know how to read my tax assements and bills - therefore, I called my local township clerk to get information on the bond, but even better I called the State Treasury and they really 'clued me in' on the dollars and sense of bond issues! I welcome your analysis, and correction of any information I post here, like I said, I am willing to be educated, but I have done my homework, and I believe my 'interpretation' of this information is correct.

Refinancing existing bonds is an option to local school districts and it can be done to lower property taxes or offer bonds at no cost to the taxpayer.

So why isn't Romeo Community Schools administration telling us how we can get the most 'bang' from our buck - either lower our taxes, or keep the same tax rate and improve the quality of the schools!

posted by Jennifer L. White @ 11:23 AM 2 comments

February 27, 2007 Failed Romeo School Bond Election - WHY?

Why did the Romeo Community School February 27, 2007 $93 Million Dollar bond issue fail?

This is one question that was posed to me on Monday, March 19, 2007, at the Romeo Community Schools PTOC meeting. I gave my reasons, along with the other three candidates in attendance, why I feel the bond issue was defeated.

I believe the main reason is the state of economy in the State of Michigan.

The first year tax increase may have been a small amount, but taxes are increasing for other reasons (i.e., inflationary increases) and any increase at this time when people are having a hard enough time paying their gas bills, is too much!

I also feel that the bond process (remember it took 18 months to formulate!), was seriously flawed from its inception! Building a new high school that would be filled to capacity the day it opened is ludicrous, vacating a historical building in the heart of downtown Romeo (Romeo Middle School) and relocating the population to Romeo High School temporarily is not a well thought out plan!

The Romeo Observer has published a few letters to the editor regarding the reasons some residents feel the bond issue has failed. I am interested in how you feel about why this bond was defeated? I welcome all comments, but please keep them clean, and we can have a lively debate whether you voted in favor of the bond, or against the bond issue.

posted by Jennifer L. White @ 10:32 AM 1 comments

High School Reform - Who is being reformed, our children or the education process?

High school reform - so what are the graduation requirements?

I attended a meeting on Monday night, March 19, 2007 at Romeo High School where the Assistant Principal of RETC and the Assistant Superintendent of Romeo Community Schools gave a presentation to parents and students about the current high school reform/new graduation requirements for the Class of 2011 - the current eighth grade students! At this meeting, a lot of conflicting information was presented, and I asked some follow up questions regarding the purchase of books for students (can you believe that there are not enough books for the kids in the core classes, such as math?) for these newly mandated classes for this exceptionally large class. The answer I received was "No - not at this time"...so when do they plan on buying books, the second week of school? The administration knows that these students are coming up to the high school, they know what classes they are required to take, so buy the books!!!!

Other school districts have taken a look at changing to trimesters, student support services, etc., and I question whether RCS has looked at these options. We cannot fail this first class of students, and we must be certain of their success under this new law. I welcome your opinions, comments and concerns!

posted by Jennifer L. White @ 9:41 AM 0 comments

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Name: Jennifer L. White
Home: Michigan

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