Drew Central Schools Begin Discussions to Possibly Close Sections of Bus Routes
January 18th, 2011 by Mandy MossDiscussions were started on the possibility of altering 7 bus routes. The possible route sections to cut include:
Cominto Route, Wilmar Town Route, Rock Springs Route, Selma Route, Winchester Route, Coleman Route, and Green Hill Route. These seven were chosen largely because they are dead-end roads. The time it takes for a bus to make it down and turn itself around is very costly for the district.
The dead-end sections being considered for closure are listed in the article below.
Superintendent Wayne Fawcett estimated a savings of around $10,000 a year by cutting these routes. $6,000 – $8,000 a year on diesel, and savings on paying bus drivers’ salaries. Drivers are paid based on the length of their route. Time will also be saved, due to the fact that it takes approximately 5 minutes a mile to navigate the mentioned routes.
Superintendent Fawcett said, “A lot of people think the school legally has to transport students to school.. they do not… it is the parents responsibility.” “We cannot continue to offer the same level of service that we have with the same revenue string.”
The plan for how these students would make it to school is not quite decided, but one idea was to have the children somehow make it to a main road to be picked up there, so the busses avoid these seven mentioned routes.
Rene’ Knowles questioned the safety of having children load busses on these main, busy roads. It was said that the cut routes would effect 40-50 students.
“It’s not an easy things.. but if we don’t look at ways to cut our transportation, then we’re going to have to make cuts other places.” – Fawcett
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Newer article: City Council Removes All Funding from Chamber of Commerce – Updated
Older article: Sectioins of DC Bus Routes Being Considered for Closing
I live in Green Hill. I was considering enrolling my daughter at DC in a few yrs because of the bus coming by our house. If they end that route it wont matter which school she goes to bc ill have to provide or arrange transportation for her for both schools. What an inconvience to our students!
Seems to me the best way to save money is to consolidate the two school districts into a new unified county wide district. 1 administration staff and 1 athletic program could really save some money. (bet this will stir some comments)
Why don’t you cut SPORTS… Really, cut something other than transportation.
I find it interesting that this issue has risen only after the rebirth of the DC football program. Suddenly there is just not enough money out there. Now many were told that with the addition of the football program many students who would have normally gone to Monticello Schools would attend Drew Central therefore more students more state money etc. But instead millage increases cutting services, if it weren’t for the state teachers would not get a raise. Wonder what the problem could be. Sounds like no child left behind. Lets do it we will figure out how to pay for it later. Later is here.
Why not consolidate districts anyways? It isn’t like monticello is some massive city that needs two schools within a mile away???
Because “SPORTS” generate a vast percentage of the districts revenue.
At the end of the day which is more important Football or learning?
I pay taxes to send my child to school to learn. Is watching football going to pay their bills when they are grown?NO Is football going to help them get a job NO! We need to get our priorities straight.
I think what should be considered is cutting programs such as sports and then school consolidation. The school obviously doesn’t care about the safety of students if they are willing to let them walk down roads alone (lets face it most parents are at work when the kids get on and off the bus..and this could be very scary for kids since it is often dark in the morning too). Another thing that could be done is a re-evaluation of positions and salaries. By the way, didn’t the teachers just get a bonus?
How did this conversation get off on bashing sports? There was a vote a few months ago at DC to increase or not the millage for transportation purposes. Anyone remember this? The voters of that district chose not to. If we are not comfortable with paying the school to transport our children, why not be willing to transport them ourselves? As for sports, there are valuable life lessons learned from playing these games, i.e. teamwork, how to deal with disappointment, leadership, and comradery. When did these “skills” become not an important part of education?
Looks like “Sports” is first. Education and getting the kids to school and back home isn’t. What about the parents that don’t have a lot of family around and work, can’t just go and take kids to school and pick them up all the time.
I see 2 schools in the town a joke, why? It’s a deal from way back I guess, country kids and the city kids.
I was thinking about sending our kids (when we have them) to DC due to the bus coming out our way. If no bus, no way, i’m not doing that.
Cut the coach’s pay, cut back on stuff you Dont need for an education.
So many smaller schools make to big of a deal out of sports, and that is where all the money goes. I played sports, and they are good and teach team work and other life skills. But they don’t need to cut out the bus routes.
If the Drew Central School District would pay somebody to maintain the buses instead of sending them to Monticello Diesel to have brakes, alternators, belts, etc. when the mechanics at the Monticello School District can do all of the above, then there would be enough money available to keep the bus routes open.
Sounds like the administration is mounting a campain to put the tax on the ballot again. Could this plan be a method to encourage another 10 voters to vote for the milage?
If the people of the community would support the school system properly this would not even be an issue. If the millage increase would have went through then the millage for Monticello and Drew central would have been equal. As of now Drew Central is operating on less than Monticello therefore leading to budget cuts. It is your and my responsibilty to take care of our own children YOU had them now YOU take care of them. Instead of spouting off at the mouth you may need to do a little research and get to the bottom of the problem. Neither School has the facilities for combiningthe districts together. I can’t even imagine what the cost of combining that many students would be. Two school systems in a county the size of Drew is not uncommon at all. Desha county has Dumas and McGehee as public schools and Cornerstone private school. The loack of support is the problem. If the Millage was equal for the entire county, most of this issue would be solved.
SUPPORT YOUR CHILDREN BY SUPPORTING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THEY ATTEND. Those of us that are involved don’t complain about the school system, because we see what they are doing for our children on the daily basis.
I agree that the money should be taken from somewhere else rather than cut bus routes. The safety of the children is what needs to be taken into consideration. It is dark in the mornings, and not always nice weather… many parents do HAVE to work, and don’t have any other way to transport their children to and from school other than the bus.
There is no reason other than poor routing on the transportation departments part for it to take 5 minutes per mile to navigate these roads…. instead of cutting these routes, how about taking a closer look and restructuring all the bus routes so that ALL the children can continue riding the bus to and from school.
I’m not pointing fingers at anyone, just saying that it should be looked at, and try doing something different.
Well if you look at when the problems arose…it was when Drew Central took on a new sport. So what is the problem? Is it sports or is it administration?
How many students are in the football program? How many students will be affected by the changes in these bus routes? If there are more in the former, how can this even be a comparison?
Ok, I’ve seen a few things about consolidating schools, and I just want to say that that will not happen if our scores don’t go way, way, WAY up, and even then, I don’t think it would happen. But i do agree with one statment that was made: The money was a problem before the football team, and the football team has only made it worse. We’ve always been a school that focused on basketball, so why can’t we stay that way? I’m not saying that football is the only problem, but I mean it can’t help it…
And again: DC AND MONTICELLO WILL NOT CONSOLIDATE!
One more reason why Monticello only needs one school. I’ve been thinking for the last few years about my child attending Monticello vs drew central. Brain storming like this is one of the reasons why.
Children having a way to and from school, so they are able to learn, should be a top priority. My spouse and I both work full time and without the bus our child would have no way to get home. The suggestion that these children could get on a bus at a main road is ludicrous to say the least. Not only is the school putting their safety at risk with this suggestion, but how do they propose these children get to and from a main road while the parents are at work?
If they continue with this idea and close these bus routes they will see their revenue cut much deeper as parents switch to the other school district. My husband and I would not hesitate in switching our child to Monticello School. If Drew Central has no respect for the safety of my child, nor his ability to get to and from school, then my child does not need to be there.
I believe everyone is getting the wrong information about cutting bus routes. I believe they are talking about turnarounds or dead end pick-ups. I would like to believe this is what they are talking about. If the administration would like to save money, I think some of the monitors could be cut out. Yes, I know I am stepping on some toes. If the bus driver can’t handle the students who are unruly, then they should not be driving. Students only do what you allow them to do. I hope I am correct when I say they are only talking about turnarounds that do take extra time and not cutting the whole route out.
Drew Central is NOT cutting out these bus routes. The board was asked to CONSIDER restructuring these routes. Each of these routes has roads where the bus goes down a road and then has to find a place to turn around. The children would be asked to meet at a certain point on the main road. Therefore, every child would still be able to ride the bus. By restructuring the bus routes the children will not have to get on the bus as early, diesel will be saved, and salaries will be saved.
These proposed changes are due to the millage increase this fall not being passed. The school district must make cuts to be able to continue. Look for more cuts to come.
As far as the Christmas bonus goes, that money was given by the Federal Government with the restriction of using it for teacher retention, teacher bonuses, or hiring teachers who had been laid off. These were the ONLY things the money could be used for. I’m sure you heard in the news where most school districts in the state gave Christmas Bonuses to their teachers this year because of this money.
I hope that after reading the FACTS you now understand the situation and will not make comments based on non-factual information.
You cannot blame sports, having the football team has helped many students educationally. With it more students are held to have better grades, learn sportsmanship, manners and life lessons. If you supported these young people all around you would know this. I have had children at both schools and both benefited in the different learning structure. I have and will continue to support Children from both Schools, but combining them is not the answer. The state gives each one of us up to $350.00 in a tax credit many of the people will not even be affected or barely with the Millage increase. Registered voters of the Drew Central School district need to go to the poles and vote yes for the increase in my opinion.
I’ve seen several comments on here and in The Advance about the teachers at Drew Central getting a bonus. It was well deserved! Walk an inch (not even a mile) in a teacher’s shoes and then you can complain about teachers getting a bonus! According to http://www.census.gov/statab/ranks/rank20.html, Arkansas ranks 31st in salaries in the U.S. so if the teachers get a bonus, big deal! Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, I know what some of you are going to say, “They chose that profession, or my job does not give bonuses.” Like I said, go substitute for one day and see if you still feel the same.
Priorities are not in order here…
People need to get some things straight before they Bash the school. First, School Districts DO NOT have to provided transportation to and from school. Yes this is a common practice, but they are not required too. Second, people commenting are lobbying for a consolidation with Monticello Schools. Guess what people. Their buses arent going to come to your house. It has already been stated that they will take the routes already in existance. If before consolidation DC cuts down routes Monticello will take the cut down routes. Also if there is a consolidation the millage MUST be increased because of the amount of extra cost. The people that are bashing sport either Never played or they and/or their kids arent good enough to play. As a former athlete the lessons taught to me in sports are very important with my succussfulness. Consolidation takes kids that play frequent minutes at Drew Central may not get playing time at Monticello. Parents need to realize that before they spout off about this or that, they need to realize that school is not their to cater to their every whim.
So, by way of reasoning, if sports are the cause of the financial problems at Drew Central, why not just cut ALL extracurricular activities. What about the choir, band, FFA, FBLA, FHA, Quiz Bowl, SODA Club, Spanish Club, Library Club, etc? Surely we can save money by eliminating all these frivolous activities.
I will have to agree with XXXXXX on the millage. As a county, we were asked to approve the millage increase. We as a county, let down the students of Drew Central by not passing it. Football is not the issue in this case. The issue is providing the essentials for our students. Sports and other extracurricular activities are all a part of growing up. They bring many positive aspects to a child’s life.
I am disappointed that bus routes could be cut, but we need to look at the whole picture and see that the millage not passing is the problem.
I think my comment may have been misunderstood. I am all for teacher bonuses. I just believe that it is sad that they would not have gotten one if it weren’t for the state. If there were no football they could have gotten an even bigger one perhaps. Hope this clears that up.
As far as other extracurricular activities. Do you need Spanish club to have Spanish class. FBLA to have business courses? FFA to have agriculture studies? Library club to have a library? There are many schools around the country that have chosen education over many of these clubs. They have done away with football, basketball etc. If you choose to keep these activities it is time to pay for them in ways that do not affect the education of the students. No you are not required to provide transport. But, you are required to provide curriculum that EDUCATES. You are not required to provide any of the clubs mentioned nor are you required to provide football, basketball, track, baseball. But yet transportation is the one thing that you are not required to provide that anyone has mentioned cutting. And, please be careful blaming this on the voters, if it weren’t for the football program that money could go for new roof, heating and air, transportation, teacher raises. Just rattling off a few things I can think of. Drew Central never had a problem paying for these things before? According to the articles number of students is increasing, far past where it was when I was there. The one thing you have now that we didn’t then? Can you guess?
Everyone please read what “THE FACTS” said. I cannot understand why all this is blamed on football. Football is a positive thing at Drew Central. Someone talked about doing away with the coaches to save money. Coaches aren’t only coaches; they teach classes also. The coaches at Drew Central are good mentors for the students. They are the only positive role model that some of the kids know. As far as the bonuses, as explained, the money could only be used for this purpose. Drew Central hasn’t had a bonus in a while. It was deserved!!! I agree with the writer who told the complainers to sub for a few days at you local school. You will have a whole new outlook on the job of teachers and coaches.
Have most of you never heard of bus stops? You know…those places students gather to catch the bus? I pass by one on East Jackson (Monticello School District, I dare say…) whenever I come into town! For those indicating that they would move their children to Monticello School District, how are they going to get to school then? I don’t think they’ll start running buses to Cominto and Coleman anytime soon! And, of course, switching schools would in no way cause a disruption to a child’s social development. No, that’s just absurd! You know, it really is not uncommon at all for children to walk to a bus stop or in cities, walk to school.
On the subject of combing the schoools, the logistics and cost of consolidation seem to make it impractical at this point. Cutting activities that actually get students involved in their school and that can give them a sense of pride doesn’t seem like such a great idea either, does it? The small millage increase and the minor affect it would have on individual citizens was the most feasible, logical solution. If you take preconceived opinions and knee jerk reactions out of the equation and focus on the facts, it becomes pretty clear.
Consolidation may not be the answer to the bus route issue but it makes still makes sense to me. Monticello wouldn’t take in DC and DC wouldn’t take in Monticello. It would have to be a new County wide system with a new name and a new mascot. Monticello is not the only place in Drew County. Between the two districts there are plenty of facilities to accommodate the combined district. I don’t understand how the combined district would not save money. Less admin staff, less athletic expenses equal more money for education. And for the record, I live in Monticello City Limits and drive my kids to DC 5 days a week because the elementary scores are higher at DC. I pay the higher Monticello millage and still do not have a free bus ride for my children..
Well since so many are weighing in…I think I will too.
I teach at Drew Central. And I do so by choice. I am always amazed at how negative people are toward our district. When I tell people I am a teacher, they just assume I teach at Monticello, or that my kids go there even though I teach at DC. I teach there and my kids go there because I believe in the district. Why is it so horrible that we got bonuses this year?!?! Monticello teachers get bonuses or raises practically every year!!! Are we not also worthy? We work hard too! Our elementary school has scored just as well or better than Monticello in recent years, but you wouldn’t know that to hear people in this town talk or to read our paper. Both high schools have scored poorly. Both high schools are in year 5 or 6 of school improvement. The milliage that was up for vote and didn’t pass would have put our (DC’s) milliage rate the same as Monticello’s. Does our distict not deserve the same funding as Monticello’s to operate? As for the bus routes, I have read a lot of comments about safety and parents having to get to work. I certainly hope that all of these children aren’t at home alone waiting for buses on the current routes because all these parents have to get to work….I would say that isn’t very safe either!! If there’s going to continue to be two school districts in this town, I think it is high time people start treating them as equal!!!! Our kids deserve to play football just like kids at Monticello. Truth be known there are some opportunities that students at Monticello get that ours don’t because there isn’t funding or support for. It sure would be nice if we had as many people supporting our district as we do bashing it. Just saying! Maybe you all should think about that!
Lets see: Some want the millage to be increased…Lets think about it…Many of the students are on free/reduced lunches…which means that they are ‘poor’…which also means parents/others can’t afford a millage hike.
It upsets me dearly to hear people so upset by this. Mr. Fawcett is doing a great job trying to figure where we can cut funds. Let’s face it that is a very difficult job. I understand that this affects 40 to 50 kids and that causes inconveniences. Most school districts have bus stops. Check out the other districts in the state. Look at the article that shows that we will around 270 miles a week. ThAt is a lot of fuel and wear and tear on the buses. As I have saId before I truly support and trust Mr. Fawcett in every decision he makes. He has Drew Central at his best interest.
I have read the article and all the comments concerning the possible restructuring of some DC bus routes. I think it is very “odd” that this article which spells inconvenience to many DC families comes at the same time as the article about another vote on the proposed millage increase. A millage increase at this time is not a “minor” thing as one responder wrote. In case you have not noticed, prices of fuel, food and other necessities are rising steadily. Yes, schools must pay for all this, too; but they receive money from your tax dollars already. Are you having a hard time paying for all the increased prices? When money gets tight in your home, what do you do? You cut back where you can so that you can pay for what you and your family must have. I am not saying that DC should cut anything, but they are asking you to pay more which will give you and your family even less to live on. I think the superintendent and school board are playing mind games with the DC voters. Yes, we want the children to get the best possible education, and I believe they are doing so. Yes, we want them safely transported to and from school, and I believe that DC will continue to provide that service. This is just another “scare tactic” by Mr. Fawcett to get everyone worried about their kids so they will run out and vote in a tax increase for themselves that will never go away. I, for one, will never vote to increase my taxes. The school has other avenues they can follow to pay their bills. The teacher bonus was a good thing. I am a retired teacher, and I know they earn it and then some. But to ask you to raise your taxes by scaring you into thinking about some kids walking to a bus stop is a tacky way of getting you to lessen your family’s funds. Property taxes are only paid by property owners. You already pay many, many other taxes, but a property tax penalizes you for working hard and owning your own land, home, farm, etc. Think about it. Don’t be a sheep and start running just because the others do! Vote against the millage increase when it comes up for another vote. I’ll bet those buses just keep right on running!
OK, so DC has a shortage of cash. Why? Could it be management of available resources? Could it be priorities? Leeman Ngar reportedly left a three million dollar surplus. Now that is gone and we are talking about trimming bus routes. How did Mr. Ngar accumulate a surplus while the current management says parents must drive their children to school (or did I hear them say) tax increase? Has that been explained to you? But, beyond that, I believe Wayne Fawcett is playing mind games with the DC people. Have you ever noticed that when public officials want a tax increase they tell us they are forced to cut services like police or firefighters. That scares everyone and most of the time it works, they eventually get their tax. This time DC is looking at trimming bus routes. What next? Will it work this time?
After the DC millage defeat in 2010, Mr. Fawcett took his case to his students and reported that after his fair and balanced (real life teaching moment) presentation his students were very upset with the voters. His next step was to arranged for voter registration of his eighteen year old students. My question at the time was: is this another teaching moment or is Mr. Fawcett doing this to enhance his chances in future elections? Did he also remind his 18 year old students that although they owned no property now and a tax increase would be paid by those that do own property, their votes for a tax increase could reduce their chances of ever owning property? I’ll bet he forgot to tell them that.
I think I remember someone criticizing me for being too hard on Wayne Fawcett. No apology. He deserves every charge I have made. He is trying to increase the property owners’ taxes, and I am against it. Trimming bus routes is prepping you the voter for the next election. So get ready, more prepping is on its way. And my comments directed at Mr. Fawcett about his conduct are accurate. Wayne Fawcett wrongly dragged his students into the millage fray and he deserves being criticized for it.
Wayne Fawcett needs to explain to DC why we should support increasing his budget when everyone else must cut theirs? And he needs to do that in a professional way with a very specific explanation of how the funds are currently being spent and how they will be spent in the future.
Every time we go to town, we see the price of groceries and fuel going up and up. And we may just be seeing the tip of the iceberg. What is the unemployment rate in Drew County? Is it still over 12 percent? Nationwide it is nearly 10 percent. How many people do you see on the news predicting that we will all be fat and happy for the foreseeable future? None! We have a very severe economic crisis on our hands. The feds, states, counties, cities and schools are all going to want more tax money but a line has to be drawn. All public officials must face the fact that their budgets will be restricted..
Tax payer mom. DC is asking for a millage increase but do some research before you go on a witch hunt for “scare tactic” Fawcett. DC has not had a millage increase in 15 years. Now you talk about how money gets tight. Imagine living in today’s society and getting the money paid 15 years ago. It wouldn’t be good. People need to walk 10 feet in Mr.Fawcetts shoes before they attack him because no one else specially commentors (myself included) we could do 1/5 of what he has, is, and will do for DC
The thing that amazes me is that after all these comments people still do not get the bigger picture. Its always got to be about them and until they understand this then there will be problems. Lets take a moment to break down the three main points brought up in these comments. 1) Monticello and Drew Central need to consolidate. Thats fine, but that ties into the other two main points brought up. For the people that think the shorter bus routes are dangerous, lets look at this. Monticello uses bus stops where children congergate and wait the bus, thats for in town. Now for the people that live out in Collins, Selma, Rock Springs, etc. Do you really think that if Monticello school buses, all of which run within 5 miles of the city limits, are going to pull right up to your home. The answer is NO. They will implement their own bus stops for certain points in these communities. On the sports side of it, other than maybe one person, people are calling for the cancellation of Football. It seems funny that it is the newest and does not have a sucessful record, yet if it was published that DC was canceling all sports there would be an out pour of hate because basketball which DC is known for shouldnt be shut down. If you call for cancellation, call for it across the board, not just singularly on one sport.
Finally lets look at the millage. DC ask for a small increase in millage. It was defeated, but what people dont realize is that DC has not had a millage increase in 15 years. Money given from the state has increased (hence the extra money for teachers) I want people who are so against the millage need to try and live off the money they were paid 15 years ago. Its almost impossible. Vote it yes or get over some cuts that WILL be made.
Lastly I want to touch on the abuse some are showing towards Mr. Fawcett and the School Board. Mr. Fawcett took over a school district who was finacially in shables.Yes, alot has to do with the upstart of football, but Mr. Fawcett has done everything in his power to keep this school afloat. These are not ( as some misinformed Taxpayer mom stated) Scare Tactics. This is simple FACTS… Either they cut out certain things or the school goes under. Dont worry people, you vote this millage down again and football will go along with all other extra activities. You continue voting no and there will be no school buses ( This is not required)
Go ahead and call for consolidation. But know state legislation makes it law that if schools consolidate, the millage must increase to accommpany the influx of cost. So either way you are going to pay for your stupidity in the end. Last thing. If you want to talk bad about Mr. Fawcett, then take a walk in is shoes and try to do his job one day. I promise you there are very few in the entire state that can do it, and balance a family. Think about his family who probably doesnt see him much because he is vying for more money and trying the best ways to cut to get extra dollars. He was not the cause of this situation but he is trying to fix it. Give him your support or transfer Dont bad mouth a man for trying for you reap what you sow and it will come back to get you
Levi Davis,
Why don’t you sit down and discuss this with Mr. Fawcett in person? Dont degrade someone when you know probably 10% of the real situation. I’m his son and live with him, and I know less than 10%. I think before you bash someone, that you should talk to them first.
How would you feel if you were degraded for EVERY decision you made? You wouldn’t like it, so dont condemn someone till you know the entire situation.
Proud DC supporter, you got it right!!
This is undoubtedly the most stupid suggestion I have ever heard of! Probably the reason the millage failed is because only the people who own real estate have to pay the millage. I would have voted for the millage if everyone had to pay it not just a select few. Instead about 80% of the parents who have kids in school don’t pay anything. A big majority of the landowners are elderly and have worked their whole life to pay for their land and now we want them to pay more taxes and further strain their resources when they don’t even have kids in school!
Drew Central, like all other school districts, has received an increase in revenue over the past 15 years. Every time property taxes are reassessed and raised, every time houses or businesses are built in the district, every time there is an increase due to growth in the district there is an increase in the money received by the school. Unlike these increases, when the school receives an additional millage, that increases the percentage of your total income that goes to taxes. You can research this yourself. We do not need more taxes. The federal, state and local governments get more than their fair share already.
Mr. Davis you seem to have forgotten that Mr. Fawcett inherited this mess. He is trying to figure out ways to straighten this out. So for you to sit there and critize him for trying to find a way out is absurd. You seem like an intelligent man but to think that you could live off today what you earned 15 years ago is a joke. You are aware of the prices of everything today but the school should not need more funding. WOW. You have no idea what it takes to run or operate a school district for one day. I really cannot believe you have the nerve to bash Mr. Fawcett for trying to do what he can to help this district. No ones is ever in favor of paying higher taxes but the children of this district deserve the same opportunity as the children in the Monticello District.
First of all, if the bus things is adopted…it is nothing like what Monticello Schools has because I would just about bet that their students are not forced to walk miles to a bus stop.
Secondly, if this does occur the school is going to take another loss because many kids will have to be forced into home schooling.
Third, I agree that they are mishandling this situation and needs to reconsider a lot of things.
Sports do not benefit my children and I am sure many others feel the same way. This is almost entirely the only reason I do not support the millage increase (besides the fact that I cannot afford it). I feel it was DC’s downfall and I cannot support anything that does not benefit me or my child.
This argument seems past absurd at this point.
Taxpayer Mom, I was the one that said the millage would have a minor effect on overall taxes owed. My logic was based on the following: as I understand it, property taxes owed are determined by multiplying the millage rate by the assessed property value and dividing by 1000. For the following calculations I am going to assume an assessed home value of $50,000.
Current DC millage rate: 50000 x 35.6/1000 = 1780
Increased DC millage rate: 50000 x 39.9/1000 = 1995
Increase: $215 per year – $17.92 per month – approx. $0.60 cents a day.
So, for less than the cost of a can of soda from the vending machine, WAY less than a pack of cigarettes, and less than the cheapest scratch off lotto ticket everyone seems to love so much, we could do our part to increase the quality of education the children in this community are receiving. Also, with the number of schools closing throughout the country due to fiscal distress, I hardly consider this wake-up call a ‘scare tactic.’
If you never vote to increase your taxes – I certainly hope that the city/county/state/country never decides to increase any benefit you receive. That wouldn’t be fair, now would it? Goodness, they might even have to take something away!
Levi Davis and others, registering students to vote is not an uncommon practice. It is a great way to get young people prepared to take their place in their community. Should we stop teaching them about civics and economics? We wouldn’t want them affecting your taxes, after all!
I am proud to say I am a graduate of Drew Central and that I received an above average education. I would just like ensure that current student and future students receive the same. If 60 cents a day would do it, I’m all for it.
I believe dc should receive the same amount as Monticello. I would like to see an independent committee look into the school consolidation issue. How much would it actually save or cost us?
Personal property taxes are reassessed every three years. The assessors come around usually when nobody is around and look for improvement on the property and remeasure structures as if they might have grown in the past three years. If the appraisal warranted it, DC could of had five increases from property taxes in the past 15 years.
DC is a wonderful school. I attended there K-12. I went there because I enjoyed the small school atmosphere. Our school spirit and the great faculty was a big part also. I think consolidating would be a mistake. GO DC!
Yes, it’s all a big mess… Things are bad everywhere! But, I just keep thinking, if you add up ALL the taxes my family, all land owners (Grandparents and Greatgrandparents included) have paid since about 1947, it would not come close to the cost of a private education that would match what three generations of my family have gotten at Drew Central Schools. Small price for such a reward. Now, more than ever, Education is the key! Education- Information- Understanding-
How will cutting these routes that affect a small number of students force parents to home school? If the parents aren’t home to escort little Johnny down the street to the new bus stop, how are they going to be home to teach Little Johnny the “three R’s”?
How much money is spent on the maintenance of buses and gas in a year for ballplayers?
This is ridiculous! Some parent’s have to be at work way before it is time for their children to be at school. So what r they supposed to do drop their 5 year old off at the “bus stop” 2 hrs before the bus is even there? And what about the children who r not in the best positions at home? The ones who make themselves get up and go to school because their parents dont care? I guess they will have storie to tell their grandkids about how they had to walk to the bus stop 5 miles up hill both ways and in the snow. I know its not actually the schools responsibility but at the same time if we dont start showing that we actually care enough about each other to help people out then how will the kids ever learn?
“First of all, if the bus thing is adopted…it is nothing like what Monticello Schools has because I would just about bet that their students are not forced to walk miles to a bus stop.”
In response to this comment. No Monticello students are not forced to walk miles because their longest bus route runs 11 miles round trip. However, Monticello implements BUS STOPS where students meet at certain locations to catch the bus. This argument proves how sad and lazy many people have become. They expect schools to drive the bus right up to their front door, provide their students with Harvard like educations, without being able to discipline the child, and deliver them back to the front door, and the parents do not want to pay an extra 60 cents per day. Really? Got news for people who are continually refuse to pay an extra 60 cents because they dont have children. If Drew Central is forced to consolidate with Monticello, the state will mandate a higher millage.
Again, I come to the defense of Mr. Fawcett. Leeman Nagar reportedly left close to 3 million dollars in the bank. When Mr. Fawcett took over it was reported less than 300,000. Now how did Mr. Fawcett deplete the surplus seeing as it was already gone when he arrived. He took over with Drew Central on the brink of Fiscal Distress, and he has been able to keep the school above Fiscal Distress. Football cost a lot of money to start, agreed. And although as someone stated “it does not effect my child” What about the children it does effect? Are you so self centered that you care less that it has taken kids that had nothing they cared for, and gave them a goal to strive for. Causing them to earn good grades and have hopes of college. That must not matter to you because its “Not Your Kid”
What ought to cause 50+ comments is that kids do not stand for the Pledge, that they do not say Yes Mam/Sir No Mam/Sir, that they have no respect for leaders. These are issues that will effect them for life, not walking an extra 100 yards to catch a bus. Understand that there are much more important factors that need to be handled, and it starts with you and your children.
Interesting fact: Norman Hill during his entire time at DC screamed to the top of his lungs that DC could never financially support a football program. Now I understand that Mr. Fawcett has adopted a problem from a short term basically interim administrator. Now why would we not listen to those words from Mr. Hill whose job it is now to go around the state and rip schools from the financial mess they have gotten themselves in to. And he does it quite well according to many districts that are rather close by. How did he and Mr. Ngar leave DC with a three million surplus. I can’t imagine. Sounds like DC is the victim of people who don’t like to say no to things. I guess saying yes to everything is just easier and every body likes you and you can go home at night with a hint of peppermint and roses in the air around you. Of course looking at what has happened to the voters since they said no to something, I can see why someone would be reluctant. It is time for administrators to say no. Should have been said then but it wasn’t. Buses have been operating these same routes at DC for years with no funding problems. So what is new folks? The spanish club, library club FBLA, FFA, science club, all around for years with no problem. So what is it. What is the one new thing that has happened in say oh the last year or two? Think hard.
Mr. Fawcett claims that by canceling these bus routes that Drew Central school district can save $10,000 a year. Let’s look at some facts- The school gets $3000 + for every child that attends that school every year. If the parents of the 40 kids that will be affected pull their children out of this district (which I think would serve Mr. Fawcett right) it wouldnt be a saving of $10,000 but a loss of $120,000. Don’t you think if having these kids attend this school brings in that kind of money the school district can afford $250 per kid a year in gas?
LET THE 40 KIDS PULL OUT…. IF PEOPLE WANT TO CONTIUNALLY BASH THE FOOTBALL AND ADMINSTRATION, THEN PULL YOUR KIDS OUT, TAKE THEM TO MONTICELLO, BECAUSE MONTICELLO ISNT GOING TO COME TO YOUR HOUSE IN COLLINS OR ROCK SPRINGS. AND SINCE PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE TO BE AT WORK AT WHAT 5 AM? THEN YOUR NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HOMESCHOOL EITHER. SO LOOKS LIKE YOU JUST GOT TO DEAL WITH IT. THAT IS IF HALF OF YOU EVEN HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT. ( I have a 8th grader) MOST LIKELY ITS PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO MATTER OTHER THAN THEIR TAXES MIGHT GO UP 60 CENTS A DAY… O WELL LOOKS LIKE YOU’D HAVE TO GIVE UP A SODA. RUINED YOUR DAY DIDNT IT. LEAVE MR. FAWCETT AND THE ATHLETES ALONE, YOU AS VOTERS MADE A DECISION NOW THEY HAVE TO, DONT LIKE IT TOUGH
Wonderfully said Karen!
People will Homeschool and their children if they have no way to get their children back and forth to school. There will be no other option for a lot of people. (and so you know, a lot of home school children will not get a good quality education..which is really sad).
.60 cents a day is a lot of money, what does that come to in a year?….over $200. I wonder how many of those people already live in or near poverty, how many of those people live off food stamps, how many of those people are disabled and live off a small, fixed income? The millage increase needs to be reconsidered when the economy improves, but not until then.
Those who have nothing good to say about DC, it’s teachers or administration should find a new hobby. Ngar, Hill, and Reeves are gone….they do not want to come back…they’ve moved on…retired…at new jobs, etc. School funding is a complicated business and you think by reading the internet that you will get all the facts (whether it is a news blog, online news, or state agency sites). Funding LAWS connected to schools changes every year so what schools could and couldn’t do 20, 10, 5 or 1 year ago may or may not be relevant today. GRIPE GRIPE GRIPE…now please do what we ask our children to do….listen to all sides, research, take some school funding classes (yes they have these), and then you will have an informed opinion. The decision to “possibly cut some bus routes at dead end and turn arounds” is not up for a vote by us…it is up for a vote by the school board that was elected by those who voted in DC elections…no one else. Please, please stop the ugly comments and help bring us together not tear us apart.
So Right…, if these individuals are so impoverished, how are they managing to own the property that will result in them owing real estate taxes? Remember, my example assumed an assessed value of $50,000. Assessed values are generally much less than actual value/market prices. I am willing to offer the data from the DC Assessor on my family’s property as an example:
2009 Market Value: Land: $15,500 Bldg: $36,950 Total: $52,450
2009 Assessed Value: Land: $1,754 Bldg: $7,390 Total: $9,144
So your house would have to be fairly awesome to ASSESS for $50,000.
If we were talking sales tax, your argument would be more valid. Not that I am saying landowners can’t come across hard times, don’t get me wrong, but I just can’t be swayed by your logic.
MY CHALLENGE TO ALL: Visit the Drew County Assessor’s database, find your assessed property value, and use the calculation I provided earlier to find out just what YOUR share would be.
http://www.actdatascout.com/default.aspx?ci=9
Isn’t the old saying “all I HAVE to do is die and pay taxes”? well, this is still true! if you own property (personal or real), you WILL PAY TAXES! just because the value of your real estate property is increased (due to millage increases that TAXPAYERS VOTE on and/or MARKET VALUE of surrounding properties) doesn’t mean your taxes increased!!! Google Amendment 79 and read it! I moved to Monticello a few years ago, and I have never seen the ridiculous “barking” about paying taxes in my life!!! this probably has nothing to do w/ the topic of discussion, but I don’t care! we pay “beans” compared to some states! just sayin, just saying, just saying!!! oh btw, the so called “people” that come around and re-assess property, does do this every three years and they re-assess REAL ESTATE!! and they work the same hours as YOU; therefore, yeah, you probably aren’t home!
A few points to make:
1.It does seem lopsided to only just have started up a football program,which required enormous funding,and then turn around and cut the bus routes.I know that is a problem that Mr. Fawcett inherited but,its his to deal with now,and choosing sports over student attendance,is indeed,lopsided.
2.I dont know which commenter,commented on property taxes,but I can tell you my property is not valued at that,or anywhere near that.You assume much.
3.This sounds like a form of punishment for the millage not passing,and the commenters who continue to bring it up,sound like the perpetrators of it.
4.I dont have a problem with the kids walking a little bit to catch a bus,but,I believe before choir,before band,before FOOTBALL,before any extracurricular activity is funded,the transportation of children within the district is a priority.
I offer this alternative to the district,start charging bus riders like many larger cities do….it doesnt have to be an outrageous amount,any amount would help.But charge ALL bus riding students.LOL
We’re not that good at football, for one, so I say we drop that, maybe for only a year or two, until the school can get back on its feet. I live way outta the way, I get that, and their cutting my route would shoot me in the foot, educationaly speaking. I need to get to school so I can graduate. I need to graduate so I can go to college. My parents have to work to earn a living, so they can’t be taking me to the bus stop every morning, because that would mean me either being there an hour early, or them being an hour late.
Another option is to pass the millage tax. I may not pay taxes yet, but I as an adult would pay a tax so kids could get a good education. The final option I see is merging Monticello and Drew Central Schools into one.
As a senior at Drew Central, I have to say I will not be effected as badly! But as a student that rides the Winchester bus Route, I can say that there will be an awful lot of students that are!! Think about it this way… What if it was your route being cut and you had NO OTHER WAY to get to school!! When I am of voting age, I will be more than happy to pay what is needed to make sure that all of those futures on the front of my bus get to school… and that includes my little sister that will be riding the bus starting at the beginning of school next year!!
My question is why cut down on our bus routes?. I am a Drew Central alumni.
I am all for cutting costs, and I support althetics, but as someone else mentioned, not every child will be able to make it to a bus stop. And if it only affects 50-60 children, how can they save that much money? I have a lot of unanswered questions!