School

Some of the fondest memories of life are in the time of going to school, now that it is in the past, some not so fond also; learning how to socialize, without realizing it, learning the three r’s, at times with some serious effort. The meeting of new classmates and the renewal of old classmates was an exciting time. Getting dressed appropriately for school, and not in play clothes, because you not only represented yourself, you represented your family. You leave home neat and clean, which changes quickly after fifteen minutes of recess. Now that my personal formal learning has slowed considerably, noticing what the schools and the administrators accomplish is something to take notice of. For instance, Parma Senior High School Principal Chad Coffman held the superintendent position since August 1, and made five hundred dollars a day in addition to his contract. 

Now, there is multi-tasking, and there is multi-tasking. Someone capable of doing two full-time career jobs simultaneously must exert a monumental effort. Could someone justify to me paying someone, anyone, two salaries when both positions are considered full-time positions and occupying them simultaneously while giving both positions the full attention they require, at least in theory. To this thought process, one of two scenarios exist; either the positions are woefully overpaid initially and/or there is not enough work to justify the salaries being paid by the taxpayers in the first place. Now, you may say that this occurs in business with some frequency where one individual occupies two positions. Granted, this does occur, however, the private employee is evaluated on the income he provides, what income is generated by the government employee, there lies the difference. If they can indeed demonstrate having increased the income of the school system, without increasing taxes, then double dip. Do these administrators have no shame at what amounts to the fleecing of the taxpayers’ money, in this opinion? Now, the schools want to have another tax levy for the coming election, when two years ago they had a ten mill levy passed, the highest that can ever be recalled, and said that no levy would be needed in the foreseeable future in the event a ten mill levy would pass. Two years, in most eyes, is not even close to the time of the foreseeable future to be considered. Talk about going back to the well. Not only in this city, but others as well, constituents are being told things that administrators have no intention of fulfilling in their word. They rely on the public having a short memory. On the other hand, they rely on the members of the public that do remember, but who have the attitude that there is nothing I/we can do. 

You must keep in mind that these administrators are your employees, not the other way around. If they do not satisfy you in their performance, you have every right and, in fact, duty and obligation to demand they be replaced. These positions are positions of public trust. If the trust is violated, the citizenry must take action. Don’t wait for someone else to take action, they are probably waiting for you to take action. You have one option, get involved! Get uncomfortable and stand up for your hard earned money and your family. Don’t permit those whose main concern is themselves to be the ones setting policy.

Leo Lampeter

Retired. Looking to create controversy.

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Volume 7, Issue 10, Posted 2:10 PM, 10.02.2015