Garry Kanter
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On the article School Board Seeks More Public Input Into Lay Facilities Plan
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On the article School Board Seeks More Public Input Into Lay Facilities Plan
Garry Kanter
6:36 pm on Thursday, May 23, 2013
Erika,
Since I *think* you are a real CH resident, it is my pleasure to bring information to you in a way you can use it.
Rather than give my opinions as answers to your very valid questions and concerns, I will give a factual answer to just one: "So, my question is, why wait 7-10 years to close them? or even 1 year?"
And even then, I'm really answering this question, which is different than the one you asked: "Why won't Phase II - The Elementary Schools - be addressed until 7 - 10 years down the road?"
I answered that question pro-actively on April 13th in this blog:
http://clevelandheights.patch.com/blog_posts/a-ch-uh-schools-bond-levy-in-2014-instead-of-in-2013-wont-lose-us-a-dimeBecause the LFC and the BOE have *never* once clearly spelled this out. Here's a portion of my explanation from that blog:
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The school district needs a state approved Comprehensive Plan for two reasons:
• To get a 14% match from the state for Phase I.
• And to be eligible, with *additional* state approval, to borrow the rest of the $ that the Comprehensive Plan requires.That *additional* approval, and the ability to pass a bond levy for Phase II, if it comes at all, is estimated by the LFC to be 7 - 10 years away. Because we're 522nd on the state's waiting list of school districts!
continued...
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On the article School Board Seeks More Public Input Into Lay Facilities Plan
Garry Kanter
3:29 pm on Thursday, May 23, 2013
YOU ROCK!!!
The LFC was volunteers appointed by the BOE .
But it was the usual suspects. By invitation only. No applicants were on the committee, only people who were "nominated".
100%.
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On the article School Board Seeks More Public Input Into Lay Facilities Plan
Garry Kanter
11:24 am on Thursday, May 23, 2013
ReplyMr. Wilkinson,
I don't understand what detail you are referring to.
Also, only three buildings are being renovated if this bond levy passes.
I exclude the SWG from my criticisms of the LFC.
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On the article School Board Seeks More Public Input Into Lay Facilities Plan
Garry Kanter
7:02 am on Thursday, May 23, 2013
continued...
Last night, my hope was to get the ball rolling in terms of citizen involvement, with the intention of broadening the circle going forward. Again, I apologize for aggravating you in the process and hope this won't prevent your participation from here on out.
Patrick
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Patrick Mullen
Executive Director
Reaching Heights
Our Passion: Excellent Public Education
1991 Lee Rd., #106, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118--------------------------------
Patrick,Thank you for the prompt and thoughtful reply.
Yes, please add me to the list. I want to be part of the solution. And I, too, believe that the more people engaged in the discussion, the better the solution will be.
Sincerely,
Garry Kanter
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On the article School Board Seeks More Public Input Into Lay Facilities Plan
Garry Kanter
6:59 am on Thursday, May 23, 2013
Aw, what the heck. Here's the beginning of my e-mail exchange with Patrick, edited only by removing phone #s.
This is part of why I was stunned to *not* be selected for the LFC.
Due to Patch limitations, Patrick's response will be broken into two posts, with my response following on the 2nd one.
------------ On Thu, 8/2/12, Patrick Mullen <patrick@reachingheights.org> wrote:
From: Patrick Mullen <patrick@reachingheights.org>
Subject: Got your message
To: garrykanter@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, August 2, 2012, 12:02 PMGarry,
Last night was an initial planning meeting. As a starting point, I invited anyone who indicated at the last few public facilities meeting that they wanted to help move the process forward. I will be happy to send you the notes from last night as soon as I get them and to add your name to those who want to be part of the conversation. One challenge we have is to come up with a more successful public engagement process than we had last year. I apologize for failing in that regard with you. The next important meeting is next Tuesday when the Board of Education meets (BoE building on Miramar, 7pm) to discuss what action they want to take on facilities. As things stand now, they delayed putting a bond issue on the ballot, but are still on record as supporting Plan C (grades 9-12 at Heights High, 4-8 at Monticello, Roxboro, Wiley, PreK-3 at a new Boulevard and renovated Canterbury, Oxford and Roxboro).continued...
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On the article School Board Seeks More Public Input Into Lay Facilities Plan
Garry Kanter
6:59 am on Thursday, May 23, 2013
Aw, what the heck. Here's the beginning of my e-mail exchange with Patrick, edited only by removing phone #s.
This is part of why I was stunned to *not* be selected for the LFC.
Due to Patch limitations, Patrick's response will be broken into two posts, with my response following on the 2nd one.
------------ On Thu, 8/2/12, Patrick Mullen <patrick@reachingheights.org> wrote:
From: Patrick Mullen <patrick@reachingheights.org>
Subject: Got your message
To: garrykanter@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, August 2, 2012, 12:02 PMGarry,
Last night was an initial planning meeting. As a starting point, I invited anyone who indicated at the last few public facilities meeting that they wanted to help move the process forward. I will be happy to send you the notes from last night as soon as I get them and to add your name to those who want to be part of the conversation. One challenge we have is to come up with a more successful public engagement process than we had last year. I apologize for failing in that regard with you. The next important meeting is next Tuesday when the Board of Education meets (BoE building on Miramar, 7pm) to discuss what action they want to take on facilities. As things stand now, they delayed putting a bond issue on the ballot, but are still on record as supporting Plan C (grades 9-12 at Heights High, 4-8 at Monticello, Roxboro, Wiley, PreK-3 at a new Boulevard and renovated Canterbury, Oxford and Roxboro). -
On the article School Board Seeks More Public Input Into Lay Facilities Plan
Garry Kanter
6:59 am on Thursday, May 23, 2013
ReplyAw, what the heck. Here's the beginning of my e-mail exchange with Patrick, edited only by removing phone #s.
This is part of why I was stunned to *not* be selected for the LFC.
(Due to Patch limitations, Patrick's response will be broken into two posts, with my response following on the 2nd one.)
--- On Thu, 8/2/12, Patrick Mullen <patrick@reachingheights.org> wrote:
From: Patrick Mullen <patrick@reachingheights.org>
Subject: Got your message
To: garrykanter@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, August 2, 2012, 12:02 PMGarry,
Last night was an initial planning meeting. As a starting point, I invited anyone who indicated at the last few public facilities meeting that they wanted to help move the process forward. I will be happy to send you the notes from last night as soon as I get them and to add your name to those who want to be part of the conversation. One challenge we have is to come up with a more successful public engagement process than we had last year. I apologize for failing in that regard with you. The next important meeting is next Tuesday when the Board of Education meets (BoE building on Miramar, 7pm) to discuss what action they want to take on facilities. As things stand now, they delayed putting a bond issue on the ballot, but are still on record as supporting Plan C (grades 9-12 at Heights High, 4-8 at Monticello, Roxboro, Wiley, PreK-3 at a new Boulevard and renovated Canterbury, Oxford and Roxboro). -
On the article School Board Seeks More Public Input Into Lay Facilities Plan
Garry Kanter
6:49 am on Thursday, May 23, 2013
Great post, Richard!
That first meeting was where the whole charade began. It was announced on the Patch about two hours before it took place.
I raised Hell about it via Michelle Simakis, and Patrick Mullen (who I did not know, or know of, at the time) sent me an e-mail explaining why it was such an emergency, and that he really, really, hoped I would get involved.
Well, there *is* no emergency to do this in 2013, and he and the rest made sure I couldn't be involved. Besides, you *make* time to do it right.
Here's a couple of my blogs about this...
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On the article School Board Seeks More Public Input Into Lay Facilities Plan
Garry Kanter
11:50 am on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
ReplyI asked the following questions to the BOE and Administration via 2 e-mails:
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According to this CH Patch article, the June BOE meeting may have "an extended public comment":"School Board Vice President Nancy Peppler suggested holding an extended public comment during the next board meeting to collect more feedback on the plan."
I do not know what this means.
Does it mean I can speak for longer than 5 minutes?
Does it mean I can present an electronic audio-visual report, using district equipment?
Does it mean I can put a group presentation together?Please advise.
Sincerely,
Garry Kanter
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Within this "extended public comment", will there be any opportunity for an interactive Questions and Answers session with the BOE? With the LFC?If not, why not? We're talking about $255 MILLION, after all.
Also, would at least one person on this distribution please acknowledge receipt of this and my previous e-mail? Thanks.
Please advise.
Garry Kanter
Garry Kanter
6:37 pm on Thursday, May 23, 2013
continued...
The Phase I bond levy is constrained by the district's borrowing limits. That $ figure *will* go down by $50 MILLION or so after 2013. Our district's depressed property values, plus the state's formulas, finally catch up with us.
The Phase II bond levy is constrained not by our borrowing limits, but by the $ value of the Comprehensive Plan that the state approves, provided we get the *additional* approval in 7 - 10 years.
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I hope this is helpful to you.
I'll be happy to share whatever I know with you. It is my belief that data and information become *more* valuable, the more they are shared.
I'm not hard to contact. My e-mail is my full name at yahoo. And I'm on fb.