RH Jones: We must elect candidates friendly to STRS

From RH Jones, October 31, 2008
Subject: Re: Charter schools take their toll on the Akron Public Schools...do you hear that giant "sucking sound?"

Dear Kathie, John and all:

The Beacon in this morning's editorial mentioned that the GOP lied about a vote of Brian Williams, Rep. 41st District., Brian is a public school friendly representative from Summit County. This happened after the Beacon had endorsed his GOP opponent. Particularly, we MUST support public school friendly candidates such as Brian Williams!

Also, in today's Beacon, an article is buried on Page B6 mentioning candidates for $30.02 per hour seats on the State Board of Education. The Candidates we should support are: Heather Licata of Distict 7, Richard Javorek of District 5. Statewide, the OSBA has listed State Bd. of Educ. candidates' answers pertinant questions concerning public schools. You may wish to look up that site. No matter what, stay informed. Our pension must be protected by us electing candidates friendly to our STRS and all its members, both active and retired.

My opinion,

RHJones, a proud retired public school teacher

From John Curry, October 30, 2008
Subject: Charter schools take their toll on the Akron Public Schools...do you hear that giant "sucking sound?"

APS addressing projected $37 million deficit

10/30/2008 - West Side Leader
By Maria Lindsay

AKRON — The Akron Public Schools (APS) District will begin to look at making cuts across the board in anticipation of a $37.4 million deficit projected for 2011.

APS Treasurer Jack Pierson presented the five-year forecast to the APS Board of Education Oct. 27, telling members a $37.4 million deficit first projected in 2006 is still on the books for 2011, the first year of a negative balance for APS. Pierson added health care costs, which are rising about 10 percent each year, and decreasing enrollment — the loss of students to charter schools — are key factors in the looming deficit.

The forecast shows APS will end the 2008-09 year with $34.2 million in the bank and 2009-10 with $5 million in the bank. By 2012, the deficit is expected to increase to $89.6 million, according to Pierson.

District officials discussed a number of measures to tackle the red ink.

APS Superintendent David James suggested district officials should consider closing additional buildings, cutting services and returning to core education to address the deficit.

“This is a very serious issue,” he said. “There is no hope in Columbus. We have to solve this ourselves.”

James also told board members he believes the district is “slow” in adopting new technologies, such as electronic classrooms, and should look into alternative methods of instruction for students who do not wish to remain in school.

“We have offered students the same menu since the 1880s,” he said. “We need to consider other cost-effective methods that engage students.”

Board member the Rev. Curtis Walker Sr. stated district officials need to focus on how charter schools are “siphoning away our students.”

“We have to try to stem the tide,” he said. “We have to encourage our parents to get their neighbors and friends to send their children to Akron Public Schools.”

Walker added district officials should become more creative to retain students.

Board President Linda Omobien stated ballot Issue No. 8 would support Akron Public Schools, and encouraged the public to vote for the initiative that would bring scholarship money to APS graduates.

Board Vice President James Hardy, who is chairman of the Finance and Budgeting Committee, reported that group is beginning to look into making necessary cuts starting next year.

“We are spending money wisely,” he said. “It is the lack of revenue that is killing us. We are looking at everything and will tighten our belts to become more efficient.”

In other business, the board, after meeting in executive session, voted to give Buchtel High School science teacher Benjamin Terril a 10-day notice of termination for falsification of records. He allegedly lied about his military service and previous work history, according to board members.

In addition, Terril was arrested on Labor Day after Akron police received a call about him and a neighbor allegedly waving a gun at each other’s heads, and police reportedly found weapons and drugs inside his home. The case is in the Summit County Common Pleas Court.

Also at the meeting, James announced the district is applying for another grant of $1.5 million from the state for the National Inventors Hall of Fame School — Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Learning (STEM), which is planned to open next fall for students in grades five through eight.

He also asked the board to approve an amendment to the uniform dress code for students in kindergarten through grade eight to add black slacks to the permitted choices, which the board approved.

The next APS Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Nov. 13, a Thursday, at 5:30 p.m. at the Sylvester Small Administration Building, 70 N. Broadway St. in Downtown Akron.