Sunday, June 15, 2008
Christmas in June?
Here's a nifty link to some video that was shot back in December. Fox29 came out to do a story on Santa's Workshop located right here in the Morrisville High School woodshop.
Can We Learn From Example?
In my trips through the blogosphere, all sorts of school issues come to the fore, but here's one that should be of particular interest to Hellmann's Heroes.
The Greenland School District, located near Fayetteville, Arkansas, was first placed on the state's fiscal distress list in 2003. In 2004, the state annexed the Winslow School District into Greenland because of financial problems and declining enrollment.
The Greenland-Winslow merger has been described as a "not very happy marriage." The Winslow residents complain consistently that the Greenland residents do not listen to them or take their ideas into consideration. "Winslow residents were 'treated like aliens from outer space' the last time they attempted to address the school board on an issue."
Fast forwarding through the painful details, Greenland made the hard choices necessary to get off of the financial distress list, and this happened in 2006.
But finances being finances, the progress made has slipped. Not all of the financial woes were self inflicted. Arkansas state law mandates millage rollbacks under certain conditions, and Greenland fell into that category. Now Greenland needs more money. So they went to the taxpayers.
District's Future in Voter's Hands
Monday, Jun 9, 2008 @08:33pm CST
The Greenland School District is asking voters for a mill increase. Administrators say it would help keep the district off the state's fiscal distress list. The district's asking voters to approve a 2.6 mill increase. To put it into perspective, that would mean the owner of a $100,000 home would pay an extra $52 a year-- or a dollar a week. The school district is suffering from millage rollbacks made by the state. It's state law to roll back millage rates if the value of homes in the district increases by more than ten percent. In Greenland, the state's rolled back exactly 2.6 mills. "The people in this district have at one time or another approved those 2.6 mills but they've been taken away on roll backs and all we're doing is asking them to put it back where it was by vote," says Greenland Superintendent Ron Brawner. The district's already cut costs by almost $500,000 from last year, but it's not enough. If the millage hike fails, Greenland may end up consolidating with a neighboring school district. "What folks have to realize, is if this doesn't pass and we get under even more scrutiny from the state, they may end up paying Fayetteville taxes, which are quite a bit higher," says Bill Groom, President of the Greenland Board of Education. The mill increase would put Greenland at a total of 39.5 mills. That's still lower than most districts, but it might be enough to save Greenland from consolidation. "We're not afraid to ask for it if we need it, and believe me, if we didn't absolutely have to have it we wouldn't be asking for it right now," Groom says. "It's just important for people that want to keep our school here and want to support our school to get out and vote on this thing," Brawner says. Plans to restructure some bonds are also wrapped up in this millage vote. The bonds would generate around $1 million for building improvements. If approved, the mill increase would take effect in 2010.
Even the superintendent got involved:
May 12, 2008
Greenland Schools have been placed in the Fiscal Distress category. This does not affect curriculum at this time. It does mean that all unnecessary expenses be eliminated. We are in the process of attaining this goal. Some of the cuts are not what we would like, but must be done. At this time, Greenland Schools need your support. Regardless of your convictions, we need you to vote on June 10, 2008. Remember your vote affects the present student population of Greenland Schools. The millage we are asking be passed is not a new millage. We are simply asking that you renew the millage of seven years ago that has been rolled back by Amendmant 59. We have lost revenue due to these roll backs. With the increases in costs (fuel for buses being primary), Greenland Schools needs this revenue.
Should the requested millage fail, there are unfavorable repercussions. One of these could be consolidation with another district. If this occurs, your taxes would increase by a similar amount or greater amount depending on the district Greenland would have to be consolidated. Some of our students have already experienced one consolidation. Do you really want to subject them to a second consolidation. Another consequence could be that all local control would cease. This would take the form of School Board suspension and a person being assigned by ADE as Superintendent with total control. These are what your vote decides. Go Vote, June 10, 2008.
It was up to the annexed Winslow voters:
Winslow residents were encouraged Thursday to think beyond hurt feelings when voting in the June 10 millage election.
Greenland School District officials hope their patrons to the south won't be swayed by the former Winslow School District's annexation into the Greenland district and its subsequent school closings.
"There are a lot of bad feelings about this thing. We have to move forward. We have to focus on the kids, " said Bill Groom, Greenland Board of Education president.
The millage increase passed. Barely.
GREENLAND June 10, 2008 10:30 PM CDT - Taxpayers in the Greenland School District will be paying higher taxes after approving a millage increase that won by a margin of only eight votes.
The unofficial returns show the millage increased was approved by a vote of 394 for the issue (51 percent) to 386 votes against (49 percent).
"I hope it holds up," said Greenland School Board President Bill Groom after learning of the results Tuesday night. "It's too close to make any plans yet."
In a breakdown of the votes, totals show the issue passed in Greenland by 346 votes for (64 percent) to 193 votes against (36 percent). However, voters in the former Winslow School District, which is now part of Greenland, overwhelmingly turned down the proposal with 32 votes for the issue (15 percent) to 178 votes against (85 percent).
All is well. The tax increase was passed, and Greenland can continue along on the path to recovery. Then, just four days after that tax increase was passed...
Greenland School District faces forced annexation
Officials notified Friday of pending annexation vote
The Greenland School District may be annexed into a neighboring school district because of financial woes.
Greenland School Board President Bill Groom and Superintendent Ron Brawner were notified Friday afternoon the Arkansas Department of Education staff will recommend the annexation into a contiguous district to the State Board of Education on July 14.
The receiving district was not identified in the letter to Groom and Brawner. If the state education board approves an annexation, it was unknown Friday when it would take effect.
Greenland is contiguous with the Fayetteville, West Fork, Prairie Grove, Farmington, Elkins and Mountainburg school districts.
Groom said he received a telephone call from Tripp Walter, an attorney with the state education department, notifying him of a letter that was faxed to the Greenland administration office. The letter was signed by State Education Commissioner Ken James.
James talked with Fayetteville Superintendent Bobby New about the possibility of annexing Greenland into the Fayetteville School District during a telephone call Friday afternoon, New said.
Such an annexation would mean Greenland would be absorbed into the receiving district. The receiving district would have to bring Greenland teachers to that district's salary schedule and Greenland's debt would be taken over by the receiving district.
Salaries, which account for about 80 percent of Fayetteville's budget, could be a critical issue. Fayetteville is among the highest paying districts in Northwest Arkansas; Greenland is one of the lowest.
The condition of Greenland's buildings and buses, bus routes, the cost of fuel and other financial considerations also need to be examined, New said.
The school district that was forced into accepting another school district, will now itself be forced onto another school district.
Perhaps the one reader comment said it best: "Now the school will die along with our pirate pride and tradition."
Just to put it into perspective, the Winslow students could face a 25 mile bus ride to Fayetteville.
Buckle up, Morrisville! This is the roller coaster ride the Emperor wants you to experience.
The Greenland School District, located near Fayetteville, Arkansas, was first placed on the state's fiscal distress list in 2003. In 2004, the state annexed the Winslow School District into Greenland because of financial problems and declining enrollment.
The Greenland-Winslow merger has been described as a "not very happy marriage." The Winslow residents complain consistently that the Greenland residents do not listen to them or take their ideas into consideration. "Winslow residents were 'treated like aliens from outer space' the last time they attempted to address the school board on an issue."
Fast forwarding through the painful details, Greenland made the hard choices necessary to get off of the financial distress list, and this happened in 2006.
But finances being finances, the progress made has slipped. Not all of the financial woes were self inflicted. Arkansas state law mandates millage rollbacks under certain conditions, and Greenland fell into that category. Now Greenland needs more money. So they went to the taxpayers.
District's Future in Voter's Hands
Monday, Jun 9, 2008 @08:33pm CST
The Greenland School District is asking voters for a mill increase. Administrators say it would help keep the district off the state's fiscal distress list. The district's asking voters to approve a 2.6 mill increase. To put it into perspective, that would mean the owner of a $100,000 home would pay an extra $52 a year-- or a dollar a week. The school district is suffering from millage rollbacks made by the state. It's state law to roll back millage rates if the value of homes in the district increases by more than ten percent. In Greenland, the state's rolled back exactly 2.6 mills. "The people in this district have at one time or another approved those 2.6 mills but they've been taken away on roll backs and all we're doing is asking them to put it back where it was by vote," says Greenland Superintendent Ron Brawner. The district's already cut costs by almost $500,000 from last year, but it's not enough. If the millage hike fails, Greenland may end up consolidating with a neighboring school district. "What folks have to realize, is if this doesn't pass and we get under even more scrutiny from the state, they may end up paying Fayetteville taxes, which are quite a bit higher," says Bill Groom, President of the Greenland Board of Education. The mill increase would put Greenland at a total of 39.5 mills. That's still lower than most districts, but it might be enough to save Greenland from consolidation. "We're not afraid to ask for it if we need it, and believe me, if we didn't absolutely have to have it we wouldn't be asking for it right now," Groom says. "It's just important for people that want to keep our school here and want to support our school to get out and vote on this thing," Brawner says. Plans to restructure some bonds are also wrapped up in this millage vote. The bonds would generate around $1 million for building improvements. If approved, the mill increase would take effect in 2010.
Even the superintendent got involved:
May 12, 2008
Greenland Schools have been placed in the Fiscal Distress category. This does not affect curriculum at this time. It does mean that all unnecessary expenses be eliminated. We are in the process of attaining this goal. Some of the cuts are not what we would like, but must be done. At this time, Greenland Schools need your support. Regardless of your convictions, we need you to vote on June 10, 2008. Remember your vote affects the present student population of Greenland Schools. The millage we are asking be passed is not a new millage. We are simply asking that you renew the millage of seven years ago that has been rolled back by Amendmant 59. We have lost revenue due to these roll backs. With the increases in costs (fuel for buses being primary), Greenland Schools needs this revenue.
Should the requested millage fail, there are unfavorable repercussions. One of these could be consolidation with another district. If this occurs, your taxes would increase by a similar amount or greater amount depending on the district Greenland would have to be consolidated. Some of our students have already experienced one consolidation. Do you really want to subject them to a second consolidation. Another consequence could be that all local control would cease. This would take the form of School Board suspension and a person being assigned by ADE as Superintendent with total control. These are what your vote decides. Go Vote, June 10, 2008.
It was up to the annexed Winslow voters:
Winslow residents were encouraged Thursday to think beyond hurt feelings when voting in the June 10 millage election.
Greenland School District officials hope their patrons to the south won't be swayed by the former Winslow School District's annexation into the Greenland district and its subsequent school closings.
"There are a lot of bad feelings about this thing. We have to move forward. We have to focus on the kids, " said Bill Groom, Greenland Board of Education president.
The millage increase passed. Barely.
GREENLAND June 10, 2008 10:30 PM CDT - Taxpayers in the Greenland School District will be paying higher taxes after approving a millage increase that won by a margin of only eight votes.
The unofficial returns show the millage increased was approved by a vote of 394 for the issue (51 percent) to 386 votes against (49 percent).
"I hope it holds up," said Greenland School Board President Bill Groom after learning of the results Tuesday night. "It's too close to make any plans yet."
In a breakdown of the votes, totals show the issue passed in Greenland by 346 votes for (64 percent) to 193 votes against (36 percent). However, voters in the former Winslow School District, which is now part of Greenland, overwhelmingly turned down the proposal with 32 votes for the issue (15 percent) to 178 votes against (85 percent).
All is well. The tax increase was passed, and Greenland can continue along on the path to recovery. Then, just four days after that tax increase was passed...
Greenland School District faces forced annexation
Officials notified Friday of pending annexation vote
The Greenland School District may be annexed into a neighboring school district because of financial woes.
Greenland School Board President Bill Groom and Superintendent Ron Brawner were notified Friday afternoon the Arkansas Department of Education staff will recommend the annexation into a contiguous district to the State Board of Education on July 14.
The receiving district was not identified in the letter to Groom and Brawner. If the state education board approves an annexation, it was unknown Friday when it would take effect.
Greenland is contiguous with the Fayetteville, West Fork, Prairie Grove, Farmington, Elkins and Mountainburg school districts.
Groom said he received a telephone call from Tripp Walter, an attorney with the state education department, notifying him of a letter that was faxed to the Greenland administration office. The letter was signed by State Education Commissioner Ken James.
James talked with Fayetteville Superintendent Bobby New about the possibility of annexing Greenland into the Fayetteville School District during a telephone call Friday afternoon, New said.
Such an annexation would mean Greenland would be absorbed into the receiving district. The receiving district would have to bring Greenland teachers to that district's salary schedule and Greenland's debt would be taken over by the receiving district.
Salaries, which account for about 80 percent of Fayetteville's budget, could be a critical issue. Fayetteville is among the highest paying districts in Northwest Arkansas; Greenland is one of the lowest.
The condition of Greenland's buildings and buses, bus routes, the cost of fuel and other financial considerations also need to be examined, New said.
The school district that was forced into accepting another school district, will now itself be forced onto another school district.
Perhaps the one reader comment said it best: "Now the school will die along with our pirate pride and tradition."
Just to put it into perspective, the Winslow students could face a 25 mile bus ride to Fayetteville.
Buckle up, Morrisville! This is the roller coaster ride the Emperor wants you to experience.
- Shotgun wedding to another district
- Being ignored by the other district in policymaking
- Paying the higher taxes anyway
- Facing mandated budget cuts, no matter the cost to the students
- Facing complete loss of local control by state takeover.
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