New TPS levy passes - "The renewal will last five years." At which time, TPS will ask for it to be renewed again. "The district first asked voters to approve the levy's renewal in August, but it was defeated 55 percent to 45 percent with just 17 percent voter turnout." Then came TPS's last minute token October changes to do something useful.
1.
"Peter Silverman, president of the Toledo Board of Education, said he believes recent programs that increase the district's public accountability, including an independent budget review committee, helped with last night's results."
2.
"A recent agreement from Toledo Federation of Teachers' leadership to accept co-payments for office visits, urgent care, and emergency room visits and save the district more than $1 million annually was believed to have swayed some voters toward levy approval."
This "agreement" is supposed to be voted on by the teachers in December.
So these two desperate attempts by TPS to appear legitimate are what swayed voters? That's all it took? No wonder so many people are ripped off by scam artists.
What's fact is TPS's report card from August. TPS is still on Academic Emergency, scoring a 6 out of 22.
The co-pay, if approved, is only going to save $1 million per year. I guess every bit helps, but this is only being done, possibly done, I mean, by the teachers union. There are four other TPS unions that are not doing the co-pay plan. All of the unions need to have this co-pay agreement so TPS can realize the biggest savings.
"But even with the levy funds, the district has projected an $18 million deficit for the 2004-05 academic year."
And what's TPS's plan to offset the deficit? I must have missed it.
"District officials also credited yesterday's higher voter turnout - buoyed by a beautiful day with a record 80-degree high - with the levy's passage."
This is idiotic. Blaming or crediting weather for what passes and doesn't pass and for the size of the voter turnout is rediculous.
The article just said that the levy failed in August with only a 17 percent voter turnout. Checking the weather for August 5, it did rain on that day, but the high temp was also about 80.
The weather on election day is overrated. On some years, there are bad weather days the day after Thanksgiving, but that doesn't stop zillions of rabid shoppers from ravaging the stores. The weather around here in December is not balmy, but people still manage to go shopping and go to holiday parties. There are bad weather days on bingo nights, but that doesn't stop people from going.
Enough with the weather and election day. If TPS is counting on 80 degree days in November, then their problems are extreme.
posted by jr to education at 6:54 P.M. EST
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