We have to say that the past three months have been disappointing to say the least. It's quite clear from the HCSD board's recent actions that it didn't get the message that the voters sent in May, and that they are quite intent, again, on business as usual.
We're not surprised, of course. We'd hoped that they would finally begin to listen to the community, but instead they continue to ignore us.
Worse, they're now ignoring their own employees. Two months ago, immediately after ratifying the union contract extensions where district employees gave up almost $10m in concessions through 2013, the board partially reinstated the gifted services program, and delayed elimination of Middle School sports.
To say that the district employees were mad about that, would be an understatement. There was incredulity all around at that particular board meeting, and rousing rounds of applause after each speaker in the public participation section.
You'd think they'd listen.
But no.
So, here we go again, this time with a 5.9 mil rate. The board made a big deal about the reduction from 6.9 mils to 5.9 mils, but the truth is that most of that reduction is a result of the Franklin County Auditor's office notifying the district that its assessment of property values in the HCSD wasn't as bad as they'd initially indicated earlier in the year.
In fact, the taxes collected will be almost identical to what the 6.9 mils were projected to collect.
So, has anything changed?
No.
And until it does, and until the district, the administration and the school board get their acts in gear, we will continue to oppose any more tax increases on the people who live in this school district.
