10-30-2013 Dear Editor, News As we come to the close of the election season, I would like to express my support of the East Knox School levy and encourage all eligible voters to go to the polls on November 5th. As a first of four generation East Knox Graduates and an Our Kids – Our Future Levy committee member, I will vote YES as I have for many years. I vote yes because: 1. It costs money to educate children. I know everyone’s costs go up and incomes struggle. However, schools cannot budget like individuals or businesses as school income is only from taxes and a fickle state budget. Some say, they should live within their budget. That just simply doesn’t work with schools as their funding and state requirements are sometimes far apart. I’ve looked at the financials, as everyone should, as they are readily available on EKS’s website. This school is running skinny, but still succeeding educationally against all odds. Should funding by the legislature be changed? Sure, but our kids are here today and need us today. And, we all should know that an increase in Apple Valley Property values, if there is any, does not increase funding. The school only gets the millage amount. No more. 2. I can see no-one is overpaid – EKS pays less than average. Come spend a day with an administrator, teacher or aid and you’ll know they are not being paid enough. School nor society simply isn’t like it was in 1965! If we fail, we will lose even more teachers for better circumstances. 3. Borrowing from the state is not a good option – we have to pay it back. This is like not paying income tax and waiting for the penalties. We will all pay it back by increased levies. 4. Although I respect the fact that there are those that are truly poor in our district – Other Knox County districts, that pass levies, contain poorer areas than ours per the recent census. So those that keep saying ”No” to taxes are not necessarily poorer than other places. Do we really want to say for the 8th time – “We do not support schools”, or ”They don’t need the money “, when bald facts say differently. 5. And last, with full respect to every voter’s right to vote their conscious, I ask all to consider the facts before making that final vote. I ask that we all pull together, as one community, to support our students. Our school spirit is growing and positive. Go Bulldogs! With respect, Joan Jones, Howard
Posted on: Sun, 03 Nov 2013 14:45:33 +0000
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