Jim Kimmel: Why them and not us?

"As is typical of many Ohio politicians and many nationwide the problem is just pushed down the food chain as far as it can be pushed, hurting those who can no longer push back. Is this real democracy? I don't think so!"

From Jim Kimmel, May 11, 2006

We should point out that the legislature has recently passed a law which will allow school boards in Ohio to pass a levy once and then renew it several times WITHOUT additional voter input. If they can do that for the OSBA they should do the "5% solution" for us. While as a property owner I am not exactly happy that my property taxes can be increased without a vote each time, if schools are going to get this opportunity for more revenue we should also get something as well as we contributed to the quality of those schools in previous years. Schneider and friends should also realize that if the legislature had not wasted so much money on Charter schools more would have been available to public schools and the 5% solution would not be such a problem. Charter schools have been a total disaster and everyone knows it.

Finally, this is just another way many legislators are dodging the issue of the current school funding method which is unconstitutional under the State Constitution of Ohio. Instead of finding a real answer to that problem lawmakers are asking retirees and teachers hoping someday to retire to just "bite the bullet" once again. As is typical of many Ohio politicians and many nationwide the problem is just pushed down the food chain as far as it can be pushed, hurting those who can no longer push back. Is this real democracy? I don't think so!

One more item: How many new college grads in teaching from our Ohio colleges and universities are going to teach in a state which isn't funding schools in a legally accepted way and which pulls the rug out from under teachers who spent many years teaching in the state. If I were just starting out I would go to another state more friendly to education. Of course, many like me were told we had a "Cadillac" retirement -- so go and work your "behind" off and don't worry about retirement. We have a "Cadillac" system -- only it is a ''78 Cadillac with no muffler system, a leaking transmission, bald tires and the front passenger door just fell off. Yes, I will write to some of our illustrious legislators who oppose the 5% solution.

Jim Kimmel