Whether or not I am in favor or oppose the referendum is irrelevant. I'm not a current Board member. I didn't sit in on the executive sessions with paid referendum consultant Steven Klink. I wasn't polled by Steven Klink in the "Tipton Polling Data". Steven Klink didn't advise me on how to get this referendum to pass. Maybe some interested community members should ask current Board members how much our corporation has paid Steven Klink? Your tax money at work!!
That said, this is a question on the fall ballot. It isn't my job to sell you either way. That's the role of the current administration and the current Board of Education. I am prepared to adapt both directions, if elected. IF ELECTED AND THIS REFERENDUM PASSES, I WILL BE PUSHING FOR BUDGET CUTS that affect classrooms the LEAST. We ARE overstaffed with administration for a school system our size.
I think the referendum is multifaceted. I think it is admirable that some people want to jump in to "fix" the problem.
I STILL CONTEND --- that THIS problem was knowingly caused by the Indiana Republican Supermajority, who IS STILL SITTING on BILLIONS in tax surplus collected by you and by me. THEY COULD FIX THE PROBLEM THAT THEY CAUSED -- but instead, they want to kick this problem down to local communities. The local (and 37 other public schools) solution isn't to DEMAND that our representatives in Indianapolis fix the problem. Why is that?? -- Their solution is to collect more in the way of taxes from....you and me.
To me, this sounds more like a Democrat solution rather than a Republican solution. I thought the GOP was the party of smaller government and less taxes. Maybe that ideology has changed!?
I have no doubt that there are some people who can afford whatever "new tax" is imposed.
I have no doubt that others can not.
If you rent, I STRONGLY SUSPECT your rent will go up! If people are having trouble making ends meet...if people are having difficulty paying their children's meal balance at school, how can they afford ANY new or increased tax? Businesses will likely pass on their portion of the referendum tax to consumers, who are.... you and me!
YOU need to be as educated as you possibly can be regarding the referendum, and you need to vote accordingly. I will say that Board members will determine what is kept and what is sacrificed if this passes, or if it doesn't. Regardless of what administration is saying, if this fails to pass they WILL NOT CUT EVERYTHING except math and language arts!