It's like deja-vu, all over again.
Yogi Berra
The Mehlville School District lost another tax levy election. And they lost it by almost a 2-1 margin. That stinks. For many people today, it’s a time to second-guess or to blame others for the loss. Some will celebrate, having stood by their low tax principles or just showing off their power to control events.
For me, I’ll just try to get over my sense of deja-vu for it was five years ago that the district went before the voters with a tax levy. It was soundly defeated. I remember shortly after the loss, Tom Diehl speaking during the open comment portion of the school board meeting. He admonished the board for even attempting the levy request in a poor economy. He told us the almost 2 to 1 vote against it was a rebuke of the board for our arrogance and poor decisions. Tom was wrong then and he should apologize.
The reason the district loses an election like this are many, but you can’t just blame our school board. You can’t just blame the Call Newspapers. You have to take a long look at those who criticize the district for their own benefit. It’s a shame, but this has been going on for a very long time and until we recognize this fact and deal with these people who hurt our schools and our children, it will continue.
25 comments:
Mike--
While I am a strong supporter of schools, I am not surprised that Mehlville voters did not approve Prop C. There are multiple factors, like you said, including the Board of Education, the current district administration, and community members who criticized the district--which I assume is pointed at people like Milligan and Hilmer. However, these community members also have either businesses or supervise fire districts that serve the Lindbergh School District, who passed their tax increase. Perhaps we should focus on the school district a little more.
Mehlville enrollment has declined by almost 1000 students since 2005, yet expenditures since 2006 have either increased or remained the same. Mehlville has a tax rate of $2.94, which had to be rolled back since 2005 due to the Hancock Amendment, since the district gained over $500 million in assessed valuation since 2005. In that same time, Lindbergh has actually gained 200 students, and maintained a pretty even tax rate of $2.91, with increased valuation at $300 million. For 3 years, Lindbergh expenditures remained roughly the same, but in 2008 and 2009 expenditures went up, most likely due to construction.
In that same time, Lindbergh has consistently outperformed Mehlville in all academic areas. Lindbergh has higher overall MAP test scores each year, a much higher ACT score with more students taking the test, higher attendance and graduation rates, lower drop out rates, lower major discipline rates, and more students attending college. Lindbergh has a higher bond rating that Mehlville (which means any borrowing is cheaper), a better fund balance, and does not have to borrow money every fall to make payroll. Granted, Lindbergh has a higher per pupil expenditure, but the difference is only $2000.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that Lindbergh has proven that it can be successful with the funds that it has, so the community can trust the district to use an increase in funds wisely and continue to get excellent results. Mehlville has shown that they do not perform up to the levels of their next door neighbor in any area, so why would more money fix a systemic problem?
Sorry this is so long, but the comparisons are useful.
7:20 Comparisons are useful if tou keep them in perspective. Apples and oranges are fruit but their costs can't be compared. Even if both districts had comparable funds to work with, Mehlville has a much greater population of students that fall below the poverty line. Also, Lindbergh has the tuition paying gifted program which kicks up their scores.
Let's look at it this way. I give son A $25,000 and son B $10,000 and I tell them to invest that money. Should I be surprised when son A has more money at the end of the year? When I was on the board the differnce in per pupil expenditures between the districts was $1,000. You say $2,000. At 11,000 students. That's a difference of between 11 million and 22 million a year. Do you think Mehlville might be able to recruit and retain better teachers, build better fund balances, have smaller class sizes, increase our counseling staffs, hire more literacy instructors if they had that kind of money?
In keeping with that line of thinking, there are school districts with much higher percentages of free and reduced lunch, fewer students, higher numbers of non-english speakers who still outperform Mehlville. Socioeconomic status of the students isn't a reason for lack of achievement. Nor is more spending the answer--
Where Mehlville can start is:
-get rid of their current literacy instruction that focuses too much on whole language, and not enough on phonics
-get rid of the math program (it is Chicago Math, look it up and see where scholars rate it) and go a different route
-Quit promoting from within teachers to administrators, especially since the within staff hasn't shown the ability to improve
-Re-evaluate their central office staff and their effectiveness
-Put a better technology plan in place--the last time computers were purchased in mass was when Prop P passed. Most school districts have a plan to replace every 5 years
-Do a thorough review of the staff that has left. My guess is, not as many teachers have left Mehlville as people think.
Bottom line is this--when you make poor decisions---the Cambridge program (millions spent), an across the board 6% raise (with no way to pay for the future), trying to give a superintendent a $44,000 raise (regardless of if he earned it), and having a board president look like a total fool with Elliot Davis--then the community isn't going to give more money to poor decision makers.
3:54
1. Which school districts are you talking about(there are school districts with much higher percentages of free and reduced lunch, fewer students, higher numbers of non-english speakers who still outperform Mehlville. Socioeconomic status of the students isn't a reason for lack of achievement.
2. I'm not saying there's not much room for improvement. You have some valid points but I'm not going to sit here and second guess the board. You may but as a former member I choose not to unless I'm going to study something in depth. I have to agree with you about Diehl. He needs to STFU and let Mr. Noble or their PR person handle the true media. He may like the lights but they don't favor him.
Brentwood, Valley Park, Affton, and Webster Groves are 4 from the St. Louis area with fewer students, with either comparable free and reduced lunch or much higher, with lower percentages of "white" students and higher of other areas.
All have higher ACT scores (or equal), higher MAP scores.
The Board of Education should hold itself responsible for not removing Tom Diehl immediately as board president the first time he made a fool of himself in front of cameras. Terry Noble should have suggested this to board members. Tom Diehl should have volunteered to step down. But instead he sat in front of a camera again and declared that he really doesn't care what taxpayers think. You are right to call him out on this, since he accused your board of the very same thing.
Where is the outcry from Karl Frank? Why have the other board members let this occur?
Did any other St. Louis area districts fail to pass measures? I feel that the only way Mehlville will ever be better is not to spend more money but to investigate what they are doing now, how well it is working, what can be improved. Obviously there are districts that have improved and continue to show strong academics--why isn't Mehlville knocking on their doors?
9;15 First, nobody gives a hoot about MAP scores except those who make a living off our kids. Second, I'm sure I could pick apart the differences in these districts to show why they may appear to do better, but lets just look at the resources available.
Just look at per pupil expenditures. This is all the money a district gets to spend per kid per year.
2009 Mehlville $7,576
Valley Park $ 10,603
Webster Groves $11,076
Brentwood shows $7,038 but that must be an error since its been 12,000 to 15,542 from 2005 2008
Mehlville has been operating on a lean budget for a long time.Now $1,0000 difference means 11 million bucks. We can agree that Diehl is a goof. We can agree that Frank is a goof and an ass but for significant change in this district, we'll need more money to compete
Again, more spending doesn't always improve a district. A better paid bad teacher is still bad. I know that the argument would be that Mehlville could attract better candidates if they paid more, but pay is only one factor in the decision to apply somewhere. Working conditions, leadership, location all play a factor. If I live near Clayton, but both Clayton and Mehlville pay the same, I'm more likely to apply at Clayton.
And to be frank, with the current economy and the lack of open positions, don't you think that Mehlville has been able to be more selective recently?
And Mehlville administrators are some of the best paid in the area. How many districts have 4 middle school principals making over $100,000? I know, the argument again is that we have to pay them this much to get quality candidates. Well, if the leaders are so good (since they are so well paid) why aren't they producing better academics? If part of their job is to move out teachers who aren't cutting it, why aren't they? Did Mehlville really need to pay them that amount, and if so, where is the return on that investment?
And regarding MAP scores, last time I checked the Department of Education cared about them. Last time I checked two local districts have been taken over because of poor test scores, with others in danger of the same. Last time I checked districts who lost accredidation (which could happen due to MAP scores) could have to pay for their students to attend other districts (the case is in court now). Last time I checked districts not meeting MAP standards had to devote larger portions of their budget to specific things, like professional development and training. So I think there are more than just a few people who should be concerned with MAP scores.
1;34 Oh please, you have to ask how many districts have 4 middle school principals making $100,000. We are the 12th or 13th largest school district in the state of Missouri. That's out of 534 if I remember correctly.Yeah, we are effing big and we live in the highest cost area in the state. And I agree paying someone more doesn't make them better. The problem in Mehlville is we often hire great young staff members only to watch the best walk away at 3-7years. Besides pay, our staff doesn't have near the support and resources of many neighboring districts.
You sure have a lot of complaints about our district, exactly why do you consider yourself a "strong supporter?"
I believe I said I was a strong supporter of schools. I didn't mention Mehlville as the only school I would support. I believe in the power of quality education, believe in the ability of education to change someone's life.
You are right, Mehlville is big. But who is leaving? 7 building principals were promoted from within the district, at least 7 assistant principals, and at least 4 central office administrators promoted.
Close to 75% of the district teaching staff has 6 or more years of experience, with 30% greater than 15 years. And even more, only about 6% of teachers are first year teachers. Which means, if 25% of the staff leaves in their first 5 years, almost all of the new hires already have experience--which means either Mehlville is paying them more than their previous job OR their previous job encouraged them to leave and Mehlville made the choice to hire them.
You did make a comment I am interested in learning more about..."Besides pay, our staff doesn't have near the support and resources of many neighboring districts..." Examples?
Oh, and not that it matters yet, but I believe this will be Terry Noble's last year for Mehlville, since he won't be able to get the raise back that was given and then taken back. Who will lead this district in the future? And how much will they have to be paid?
Yeah, Diehl's a goof and Frank's a goof. But who put them in place? The real goofs, the voters. Until the residents of this district get serious, stop selecting political ladder climbers, kooks, cranks and "characters", this district ain't agoin' nowhere.
Hey Mike, here's some more info to help you constructively converse with the so called "supporter." 3:54 said to quit promoting from within...currently, 9 of the principals in Mehlville's 16 traditional schools were hired from the outside and not promoted from within. 3:54 talks like he/she knows a lot but every point made can be easily disputed. That's the problem with the local armchair warriors who have all the answers but never do anything to actually get engaged and be part of the solution...unless you consider voting NO a solution.
8:22 You have a point but I wouldn't call voters goofs.People get their information about our schools from very few sources and they have agendas that don't put our district's kids first. And I don't take issue with ladder- climbers as long as they intend to spend their board time in the district's best interest. Walt Bivins is a good example. Venki Palamand is another.
Dear 6:09--how do you know I do nothing to get engaged? How do you know if I attended all the COMPASS and COMPASS II sessions? How do you know if I attend board meetings, read district literature, or any other way to get informed? You don't. And my whole point of saying that 7 of the principals came from within was not to show that a majority were from outside--actually, one of the "outsiders" used to work for Mehlville before leaving and coming back. And I didn't say to quit promoting from within--what I said was to be successful Mehlville needs to evaluate what they currently do in terms of curriculum, and see what they can improve. If the current administrators are engrained in a system that is OK with mediocre, then yes, you shouldn't promote them. What I was saying about administrators coming from within is that we pay top dollar for administrators, but we are finding these top notch people from a batch of teachers who are supposedly so low paid that the best leave.....so if the best are leaving to teach else where, who is Mehlville promoting?
I am not a ladder imber. I do not get my information from a few sources--almost all district information is public and displayed on the department of education website. I just wish that Mehlville would stop using the excuse that not enough money is spent per student and instead accept the funding they have and review what they do to improve. No more excuses.
7:55 6:09
Examples of resources needed by Mehlville teachers are literacy coaches, reading teachers, aids, nurses, counselors, secretaries, books and computers. All of things cost money.
While many outstanding staff members leave for higher paying districts, nobody said the "best" leave. You read website and draw a lot of false conclusions looking for negatives. You pick at the district when we all agree, things could be better but the fact is we are a good district that will not change much for the better without new revenue.
Mike, why didn't Karl Frank apologize to you in his resignation letter? Any thoughts?
I wonder if Deihl will admonish this board for their arrogance and bad timing?
9:09 I certainly hope not. The board wasn't arrogant. Perhaps they weren't as perceptive as they should have been. That's really my point here. The community has spoken. The board needs to reflect on that and then move forward with what's best for the district.
8:42 I wouldn't expect one from Frank. The sad thing is that his apology to those board members his misdirected. He should apologize to the parents and the kids that make up our schools. That's the ones who've been hurt. Those board members who were insulted and littered with innuendo have moved on. All our children have graduated. But the district's reputation was hurt. The board's reputation was hurt. It'll take the district a long time to recover. It's all ver sad.
Happy Veterans Day Mike.
How do you propose to "deal with these people who hurt our schools and our children"?
First the MCTA and Aaron Hilmer really had no effect on Prop C It was a commonsense vote People couldnt afford it. They will call it a victory for themselves But thats a lie. As with most political groups they claim victory on anything they can. The only way to show the community the effect of the NO on Prop C Is to give the voters what they want Let the chips fall were they may show them what happens when the community doesnt support the school district. and next time ask for less.
Can anyone explain why there was no group formed in Lindbergh to fight against their tax increase measure? Their increase was not small--65 cents--but passed and I don't recall anyone forming groups to speak out against it. And even the Call endorsed it. What makes Lindbergh different from Mehlville in this respect?
I disagree with 5:59. Hilmer and his group did have a negative affect on opinion and the final vote. He has publicly critcized the Mehlville and Lindbergh teachers as well as the firefighters he is supposed to represent. His activites have hurt the school system and the education our children receive. Everyone who cares about community services need to remember that fact and vote him out of office in April.
Hilmer most assuredly does not REPRESENT firefighters. He despises them.
He claims to represent the voters and I suppose he does since they stupidly put him in office. Whether he adequately represents the opinions of residents who didn't bother to vote is questionable, but since they didn't care to cast a ballot, they forfeited the right to an opinion.
He also despises teachers and any other "public servants" with an emphasis on the SERVANT part which he thinks means do the job for a pittance and keep your mouth shut as you back out of the room bowing before him.
He has decimated the fire district in terms of personnel. Nice shiny new buildings inhabited by goofs and tyros and led by the biggest goof of all, Timmy the Circus Clown.
He has taken aim at the school district because he has little education himself, no reverence for education, no children to educate, and no interest in our progress as a nation which, of course, hinges on our children.
Everyone who CLAIMS to care about community services needs to show up at the damn polls which they haven't bothered doing in the last decade.
Good luck with that! If ever there was an example of a community getting the government it deserves, south county is it!
I refuse to ackowledge Aaron Hilmer or The MCTA as the reason Prop C failed. They played a part but so did the Call and so did BOE, Mehlville has not been able to pass a tax increase since 1984 mostly due to the fact that that only 1 out of 4 pepole living in Mehlville Have kids that attend the Mehlville School district. By giving credit to Hilmer is giving this man merit. and I refuse to do that. He has raised our taxes, Spent thousands of our tax dollars on promoting himself with the Hotline and advertising through the CALL. What has he truly done nothing props 1&2 Phony props thats it. They dont exist the only thing they did was get Bonnie elected. Since 2005 he has went through more law suits and personal then any fire district in the state. As far as Chef White that is a complete Joke and failure. Come April I will vote again against Aaron & Co I have never voted for anything this so called dream team has tried to push on this fine community. I wonder what the district reserves look like. You are right on 1:59 The voters are getting what they asked for the only problem is they voted for stupidity. and the rest of us have to deal with it. He will end up doing the Same thing to the voters that he did to his marriage. All hale Aaron because Mehlville now has a VILLAGE IDIOT.
7:16 Mehlville has passed two issues that increased taxed since 1984,Propositions K and P.
Post a Comment