Vote for Lakewood's Children » Front http://lakewoodschildren.org Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:54:37 +0000 en hourly 1 GeTogether http://lakewoodschildren.org/getogether/ http://lakewoodschildren.org/getogether/#comments Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:25:12 +0000 admin http://lakewoodschildren.org/?p=210 LakewoodAlive Forum:
Count Your Assets

March 31, 2010 @ 7 p.m.

Horace Mann Elementary School
1251 W. Clifton Blvd.

]]> http://lakewoodschildren.org/getogether/feed/ 0 How do the State’s budget woes impact our schools? http://lakewoodschildren.org/how-do-the-state%e2%80%99s-budget-woes-impact-our-schools/ http://lakewoodschildren.org/how-do-the-state%e2%80%99s-budget-woes-impact-our-schools/#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:14:27 +0000 admin http://spookypooch.org/?p=37 It’s no secret that the State of Ohio continues to face serious budget problems.  Massive cuts to education have made a bad school funding situation worse.  We’ve lost more than $1 million from the state in just the past year.   It may take years for the State to fix school funding and in the meantime, we have to operate within the current framework.  If we don’t act now, Lakewood’s children will suffer because we won’t be able to offer them the materials and programs necessary for today’s education.

]]> http://lakewoodschildren.org/how-do-the-state%e2%80%99s-budget-woes-impact-our-schools/feed/ 0 Why should I vote for the school levy after the Board voted to close my school? http://lakewoodschildren.org/why-should-i-vote-for-the-school-levy-after-the-board-voted-to-close-my-school/ http://lakewoodschildren.org/why-should-i-vote-for-the-school-levy-after-the-board-voted-to-close-my-school/#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:14:06 +0000 admin http://spookypooch.org/?p=35 The levy is extremely important to the health of our community – so you should not waste a vote by making a stand against one board decision.  We don’t have the luxury of voting down this levy to make a point.  The failure of this levy will hurt the children of this district, and the quality of the community as a whole.  If this issue loses, it will be at least ten years before we will be in the same academic and fiscally stable position we are today.

]]> http://lakewoodschildren.org/why-should-i-vote-for-the-school-levy-after-the-board-voted-to-close-my-school/feed/ 0 I can’t afford more taxes, why should I support this issue? http://lakewoodschildren.org/i-can%e2%80%99t-afford-more-taxes-why-should-i-support-this-issue/ http://lakewoodschildren.org/i-can%e2%80%99t-afford-more-taxes-why-should-i-support-this-issue/#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:13:27 +0000 admin http://spookypooch.org/?p=33 Making an investment in our schools is making an investment in our future – not just as a school district, but also as a community.  Without strong and successful schools, we won’t have a strong community, strong property values, or a strong future.

]]> http://lakewoodschildren.org/i-can%e2%80%99t-afford-more-taxes-why-should-i-support-this-issue/feed/ 0 What do we get if we approve the Lakewood Schools issue? http://lakewoodschildren.org/what-do-we-get-if-we-approve-the-lakewood-schools-issue/ http://lakewoodschildren.org/what-do-we-get-if-we-approve-the-lakewood-schools-issue/#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:12:59 +0000 admin http://spookypooch.org/?p=31 We can:

  • Continue recent, major improvements on key state report card measures
  • Maintain crucial programs that our community values
  • Devote ALL funds from this issue directly to the classroom; no funds will go toward school buildings.
]]> http://lakewoodschildren.org/what-do-we-get-if-we-approve-the-lakewood-schools-issue/feed/ 0 Will the district have to make more cuts even if this issue passes? http://lakewoodschildren.org/will-the-district-have-to-make-more-cuts-even-if-this-issue-passes/ http://lakewoodschildren.org/will-the-district-have-to-make-more-cuts-even-if-this-issue-passes/#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:12:29 +0000 admin http://spookypooch.org/?p=29 Yes.  Given the current economic climate, and continued reductions in State funding for our district, the only responsible course of action is to continue to find ways to trim our budget and keep our finances sound.  The fact is the Lakewood Schools issue is not enough to fully cover losses from the state and from lost local revenue.  However, we know our community can’t afford that full amount, so we will ask for 6.9 mills, and keep cutting costs.  The cuts if we win will be far smaller, and less devastating, than if this issue loses.

]]> http://lakewoodschildren.org/will-the-district-have-to-make-more-cuts-even-if-this-issue-passes/feed/ 0 What happens if the issue doesn’t pass? http://lakewoodschildren.org/what-happens-if-the-issue-doesn%e2%80%99t-pass/ http://lakewoodschildren.org/what-happens-if-the-issue-doesn%e2%80%99t-pass/#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:11:52 +0000 admin http://spookypooch.org/?p=27 The district will be forced to make millions of dollars worth of significant cuts that will impact educational quality.  Class sizes will have to increase as we further cut staff, and we will not be able to keep critical programs that help our students succeed.  Specialized programs for those who need additional help, and also for those students who excel and need advanced programming will be impacted.  Since personnel costs are our highest expense, teachers and support staff, who have worked so hard to improve our school district, will be impacted.

]]> http://lakewoodschildren.org/what-happens-if-the-issue-doesn%e2%80%99t-pass/feed/ 0 Why can’t we wait to pass this until the economy recovers? http://lakewoodschildren.org/why-can%e2%80%99t-we-wait-to-pass-this-until-the-economy-recovers/ http://lakewoodschildren.org/why-can%e2%80%99t-we-wait-to-pass-this-until-the-economy-recovers/#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:11:25 +0000 admin http://spookypooch.org/?p=25 We know many of our residents are hurting.  However, we’ve managed as long as possible without asking voters for more funds.  By now, the only way the Lakewood Schools can protect and continue our academic quality is to seek a responsible, scaled-back operating levy in May of 2010.  That’s why this 6.9 mill levy is the smallest we can ask for while maintaining high-quality education. Even if this issue passes, we will still have to make cuts.  But without this levy, we will be giving up much of our ability to be an excellent school district.

]]> http://lakewoodschildren.org/why-can%e2%80%99t-we-wait-to-pass-this-until-the-economy-recovers/feed/ 0 How do I know the district uses its current funds wisely? http://lakewoodschildren.org/how-do-i-know-the-district-uses-its-current-funds-wisely/ http://lakewoodschildren.org/how-do-i-know-the-district-uses-its-current-funds-wisely/#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:10:53 +0000 admin http://spookypooch.org/?p=23 Our district leaders have earned the trust of this community.  They’ve consistently improved academics, and Phases I and II of our facilities improvement plan have been on-time and on-budget, giving us new, better school buildings.  More importantly, they’ve kept their promises.  In 2002 they pledged to make the last operating levy last three years; instead they’ve managed to make it last eight.

]]> http://lakewoodschildren.org/how-do-i-know-the-district-uses-its-current-funds-wisely/feed/ 0 How is this different than a bond issue? http://lakewoodschildren.org/how-is-this-different-than-a-bond-issue/ http://lakewoodschildren.org/how-is-this-different-than-a-bond-issue/#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:10:23 +0000 admin http://spookypooch.org/?p=21 Our new and renovated schools were made possible by the passage of two bond issues, in 2004 and 2007.  A bond issue can only fund capital improvements to buildings (e.g. demolition, construction, interior furnishings and energy costs).  Operating issues provide funds to the district that cover the costs of operating the district (e.g. teachers, textbooks, technology, athletics and extracurricular costs, etc.).

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