This is a revised, and edited edition to my previous post. I was a little upset and in a hurry when I wrote the first draft.


I must say I was appalled, shocked, stupefied, somewhat horrified and bewildered on the "PTA votes yes for the Levy, Except for 3"

First, I must apologize for the person who wrote that, and that apology is first extended to those 3 who voted no at that meeting. We the older generation, long time residents do not treat others like that in this community and should treat them in a public forum that way either. The person that wrote that article is not representative of the majority of the people, and the majority of the voters in this community.

It was my understanding that the PTA is a parent/teacher association and wasn't a socialist political group. However, it appears I was wrong.

You joined their membership to help educate the children in our community and help work with the very teachers who teach our children (Heaven forbid this person is a teacher). Your main desire was to provide support for the group and attend their meetings. You participated. I shutter to think a person like this is involved with our children. Just because you didn't or don't want to take their position for your personal reasons, (which they most likely didn't let you express), you have become an outcast from the group because you didn't share the same opinion the rest of the group did (that is the impression I felt in that article). What is next? If you don't have the same faith you cannot be a member? If you don't belong to the same Church, you have to leave? If your child, grandchild or relative doesn't maintain a B average your out? Did this person speak for the PTA and does the whole organization and membership feel as this person does?

I'm a fool. I spent more money on my signs than it would have cost me in property taxes. I'm sorry, and I guess I'm a fool since it wasn't about me or my property taxes. It is about the Children in our schools not receiving the tools or materials to excel above all other schools in the State of Ohio including those Chartered and Private Schools. It was never about me. It is also about those Seniors' who now live on a fixed income because the Retirement funds they contributed were stolen from them, embezzled from them, lost, sold out from beneath them without ever seeing it coming. I guess all of us are not as clairvoyant or psychic as you. Please forgive us, and please forgive the seniors' of our community. Even though Medical Services, cost of Medicine have shot out of control, the cost of fuel has gone up, the price of bread (I know someone who should remember that one), and insurance, cost of vehicles, these people should have all foreseen that and took proper action. I can't wait for this person to retire on their savings and interest they are building. Then they retire only to find out that the fortune they have amassed is only one fourth of what they need to survive in the future.

These people have lived in this community for years. People from the late 50's still live in this community. In fact, People from every decade since then live in this community. They moved into their dream home and want to expire there. They have that right. They worked hard for it. But now, the additional taxes burden them and they find it hard to afford and may make them lose their home and have no where to go. Are they such a nuisance and annoyance to you for you to put them down so horribly? Most of these Seniors' fought for you and your freedom to say, speak, write, think, protest, and all the other rights afforded us by the Constitution of the United States and it's amendments. How dare you chastise anyone for their freedom of the right to opinion and thinking? You didn't form this PTA to be a political action committee did you? If so, then I am glad I never joined.

You say those three vote No's are not "Smart". Who made you the purveyor of intelligence and decided who is and is not intelligent? Is there a certificate for that? What, you don't want them in the group anymore because they don't think exactly the way you do? Who died and made you boss?

The Facts about this whole levy are one sided. The truth lies in what they cannot deliver. Their blue flyer doesn't really tell us in material, costs or anything of the kind as to what we are getting for our money. Do you realize in total revenue the school brings in every year, 15 cents of every dollar goes for computers, books, lawn care equipment, parts, office supplies, medical supplies, buses, tires, trucks, building maintenance, building repairs, desks, tables, chairs, cleaning supplies, cleaning equipment, mobile classrooms, attorney fees, legal fees, bonds to pay off lawsuits, bonds to pay for property we can't build on. Eighty five cents for every dollar of revenue goes to Salaries and Benefits.

What money is going to the children? It is part of the 15 cents. I suspect maybe around one to two cents.

Will this money make our students excellent? The same signs from the previous levy in 2004-2005, are being used to promote this levy. Those signs stated Say "Yes for Excellence". Here it is two or three years later, same signs, and same slogan but yet our school has failed to reach excellent across the district. A rating provided to the school system by the state that means you had a large percentage of students meet the STATE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT for graduation or testing of students for that particular grade.

In my opinion, the Excellent rating means we passed with a D.

Effective means you are getting close to meeting the state minimum but have failed.

Anything below this means it most probably is a day care center. Now all I have to wait is for people to bash me for saying that. Well, it is what I believe. Think about it folks!

Our Children need better than that and they need to excel far above that. It is not going to happen by employing more executives and middle management when you don't have the tools and materials to produce a high grade product.

Oh, by the way. Sure let's give them an open checkbook and not make them accountable for the money we give them. It is none of our business what they spend it on. How could we be so foolish?

Give your kid a $100.00 bucks for the Friday night football game. Why not? You're loaded. He doesn't have to tell you what he/she spent it on.

In fact, since you are in such a hurry to give them money, don't wait for the levy to pass. Go ahead pay the tax to the school your home would generate. Don't wait for the rest of us. Get yours in now while you have the chance. Remember the levy will generate $160.00 a year on a Home valued at $100,000.00 market value. Call the County Auditor. She'll tell you what I just said is true.

In fact, I believe that all those at the PTA meeting who voted YES, should go ahead and donate their estimated tax to the school now too. I attend board meetings every month and will attest to the fact on what people donated their taxes dollars before the levy. They list their names and amounts. I would expect the person who wrote that article probably owns one of those $300,000.00 homes and that person should go and donate the $480.00 the mils will generate for them before the next board meeting in November. I hope I see that donation from that private property owner on the agenda. How many people are in the PTA.? I should see that donation for that many people. Whether they are the teachers, parents, property owners or renters of homes in this community, they should pay that money. Who ever is in that group and voted Yes, should donate their money.

There are 1000 computers in our school and 800 of them needed replaced 2 years ago. The money the Administration ($100,000.00) is going to take from Permanent Improvement will only replace out about 100 computes. WE NEED 800 replaced!

What now, are you going to say boo hoo to the students who don't have the tools and materials?

I know if I was a member of the PTA after reading that, I would pull out and never go to one of their meetings again.

The elder people of our community are the leaders of our community. One wants to run for school board. How does the PTA feel about him I wonder? What about the candidates running for Mayor, Council and other positions about and around the county. Are they too old for you too?

The PTA should be ashamed of what this person has done to the respectability the PTA.

There are a few reasons to not vote for this levy and they are plain and clear to see. This person who wrote the "PTA votes yes for the levy, except for 3" made that perfectly clear.

I still will give my No vote. They haven't convinced me of anything. They haven't proved anything and the cuts the Administration and Board proves those people need to step aside when they put the lives of the children of our community at risk.

We all have to watch out and help each other in this community. We have to open our eyes to what is going on around us.

PLEASE VOTE NO!

The site is:
http://www.whizzards.net/levy

That web site for info about the levy is:

I must say I was appalled, shocked, stupified, somewhat horrified and bewildered on the "PTA votes yes for the Levy, Except for 3"

First, I must apologize for the person who wrote that, and that apology is first extended to those 3 who voted no at that meeting. We the older generation, long time residents to not treat others like that in this community and should treat them in a public forum that way either. This person that wrote that article is not representative of the majority of the people, and the majority of the voters in this community.

It was my understanding that PTA is a parent/teacher association and wasn't a socialist political group. However, it appears I was wrong.

You joined their membership to help educate the children in our community and help work with the very teachers who teach our children(Heaven forbid this person is a teacher). You main desire was to provide support for the group and attend their meetings. You participated. I shutter to think a person like this is involved with our children. Just because you didn't, don't or want to take their position for your personal reasons, (which they most likely didn't let you express yourself about), you have become an outcast from the group because you didn't share the same opinion the rest of the group did. What is next, if you don't have the same faith your out? Or is if you don't belong the same Church, you have to leave. Or is it if your child, grandchild or relative doesn't maintain a B average your out? Did this person speak for the PTA and do they all feel as this person does.

So I'm a fool huh? I spent more money on my signs than it would have cost me in property taxes. I'm sorry, and I guess I'm a fool since it wasn't about me or my property taxes. It is about the Children in our schools not receiving the tools or materials to excel above all other schools in the State of Ohio including those Chartered and Private Schools. It was never about me. It is also about those Seniors who now live on a fixed income because the Retirement funds they payed were stolen from them, embezzeled from them, lost, sold out from beneath them without them ever seeing it coming. I guess all of us are not as clairvoyant or psychic as you. Please forgive us, and please forgive the Seniors of our community. Even though Medical Services, Costs and Medicine have shot out of control, the cost of fuel has gone up, the price of bread (I know someone who should remember that one), and insurance, vehicles, these people should have all forseen that and took proper action. I can't wait for this person to retire on the massive of amount of savings and interest incoming she or him will amass until they retire only to find out that the fortune they have amassed is only one fourth of what they need to survive.

These people have lived in this community for years. People from the late 50's still live in this community. In fact, People from every decade since then live in this community. They moved into their dream home and want to expire there. They have that right. They worked hard for it. But know, the additional taxes that they do find hard to afford may make them lose their home and have no where to go. Are they such a nuisance and annoyance to you for you to put them down so horribly? Most of these Seniors fought for you and your freedom to say, speak, write, think, protest, and all the other rights afforded us by the Constitution of the United States and it's amendments. How dare you chastise anyone for their freedom of the right to opinion and thinking. You didn't form this PTA to be a politacal action committee did you? If so, then I am glad I never joined.

You say those three vote No's are not "Smart". Who made you the purveyor of intelligence and deciced who is and is not intelligent. What, you don't want them in the group anymore because they don't think exactly the way you do. Who died and made you boss?

The Facts about this whole levy are one sided. The truth lies in what they cannot deliver. Their blue flyer doesn't really tell us in material, costs or anything of the kind as to what we are getting for our money.

In fact, the same signs from the previous levy in 2004-2005, are being used to promote this levy. Those signs stated Say "Yes for Excellence". Here it is two or three years later, same signs, same slogan but yet our school has failed to reach excellent across the district. A rating provided to the school system by the state that means you had a large percentage of students meet the state minimum requirements for graduation or testing of students for that particular grade.

In my opinion, the Excellent rating means we passed with a B.

Effective means you are getting close to meeting the state minimum.

Anything below this means it most probably is a day care center. Now all I have to wait is for people to bash me for saying that. Well, it is what I believe.

Our Children need better than that. It is not going to happen by highering more excecutives and middle management when you don't have the tools and materials to produce a high grade product.

Oh, by the way. Sure let's give them an open checkbook and not make them accountable for the money we give them. It is none of our business what they spend it on. Foolish us.

Give your kid a $100.00 bucks for the Friday night footbal game. Why not? Your loaded.

In fact, since you are in such a hurry to give them money, don't wait for the levy to pass. Go ahead pay the tax to the school your home would generate. Don't wait for the rest of us. Get yours in now while you have the chance. Remember the levy will generate $160.00 a year on a Home valued at $100,000.00 market value. Call the County Auditor. She'll tell you what I just said is true.

In fact, I believe that all those at the PTA meeting should go ahead and donate their estimated tax to the school now too. I attend board meetings every month and will attest to the fact on what people donated their taxes dollars before the levy. They list their names and amounts. I would expect the person who wrote that article probably owns one of those $300,000.00 homes and that person should go and donate the $480.00 the generate for them before the next board meeting in November$480.00. I hope I see that donation from that private property owner on the agenda. How many people are in the PTA. I should see that donation for that many people. Whether they are the teachers, parents, propterty owners or renters. Who ever is in that group, and didn't vote No, should donate their money.

Their are 1000 computers in our school and 800 of them needed replaced 2 years ago. The money the Administration ($100,000.00) is going to take from Permanent Improvement will only replace out about 100 computes. WE NEED 800 replaced!

What now, are you going to say boo-hoo to the students who don't have the tools and materials.

I know if I was a member of the PTA after reading that, I would pull out and never go to one of their meetings again.

The elder people of our community are the leaders of our community. One wants to run for school board. How does the PTA feel about him I wonder? What about the candites running for Mayor, Council and other positions about and around the county. Are they too old for you too?

The PTA should be ashames of what this person has done to the respectabilty the PTA once had.

There are a few reasons to not vote for this levy and they are plain and clear to see. This person who wrote the "PTA votes yes for the levy, except for 3" made that perfectly clear.

I still will give my No vote. They haven't convinced me of anything. They haven't proved anything and the cuts the Administration and Board proves those people need to step aside when they put the lives of the children of our community at risk.

We all have to watch out and help each other in this community. We have to open our eyes to what is going on around us.

If you want further information on why to vote No go to my web site ad http://www.whizzards...t/levy

You need to know all angles before you can make a informed vote.

Pleas Vote NO for the Levy.

I am not afraid to give you my name.

Martin J. Fleming
Streetsboro, OH