By now most of our neighbors and friends have received the school system's broadside on the May 4 levy. I feel it is long on platitudes, big on promises, full of excuses and short on meaningful numbers.
I see comparisons of academic performance -- U.S. vs. Hudson -- but what about Northeast Ohio school systems in Cuyahoga and Summit counties? Last year, if i counted right, we had a small number of merit scholars and ranked 10th among schools and institutions of like systems, and maybe first in Summit County, but not when Solon, Beachwood, Orange and Chagrin Falls are included.
If projections are correct, I saw that we run a near $2 million deficit in the 2011-12 academic year. If 83 percent of the $60 million budget are salary and wages, freeze them and save a couple million dollars by the time that situation arrives. Postpone the levy. When in the third year with a balanced budget and the economic situation improved, institute a levy request then. Our Board of Education has a fiduciary responsibility. Taxing to increase revenues without correspondingly reducing expenses begs high criticism; $1 million in reductions proposed by superintendent doesn't wash with me.
The latest slogan -- "It's up to us for the rest of us" -- sounds like the African adage parroted by Hillary Clinton in her book, "It takes a village to raise a child."
As a now 22-year resident, I moved to Hudson with no children. I didn't ask you to raise my children. I don't see it as my job to raise yours. If parents desire to offer whatever their child wants, they can pay for it. I don't want to.
Don Flower
Hudson