As a former and retired teacher of Margaretta Schools, I want to share some thoughts about the levy request on August 3. During my 30 years at MHS, I witnessed tremendous growth and advancement in academics. Margaretta was a leader in educational reform and never took a backseat to any of the neighboring schools. As graduates, students were able to compete successfully for jobs or admissions to colleges. I am proud to say that I taught at Margaretta.
The district is now facing a tremendous challenge. As voters, do you give your school the funding it needs to continue providing a quality education, or do you deny it the necessary funds and watch the continued deterioration of a once very good educational program? What can your students look forward to in this new, competitive world?
In the last 39 years, voters have given the school board additional funding on only 3 or 4 occasions. That is an average of 10 years between rate increases! Cuts can only go so far. Your school board has been a good steward of your public funds. The average need for new taxes for Ohio schools is 5 years. Margaretta’s 10-12 year average between tax increases is commendable, if not unbelievable.
Education is the great equalizer. Without it, an individual can easily be controlled or manipulated by others or forced to live a life without much opportunity. A free society has the responsibility and obligation to fund their public schools.
I ask that you give serious consideration to support your public school by voting for the levy. If you have any questions, contact the appropriate people to get accurate information. There can be no room for distortions when your student’s education and future is at stake. You can’t afford to say no. Instead, vote YES!
James A. Edwards
Margaretta Video
WE ARE MARGARETTA! The Margaretta Citizens Committee is asking community members, parents, students, alumni and supporters of Margaretta Schools, please watch this video. If you have Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc., please consider reposting!
Sandusky Register Between the Lines
If no player appears, please update your Adobe Flash Player or view in a Mozilla Firefox browser. The interview with Ed Kurt and Jude Hammond appears approximately 20 minutes into this video.
Watch live streaming video from registermedia at livestream.com
Ohio Department of Education speaks to community
District facing financial crisis
By SUSAN MCMILLAN
mcmillan@sanduskyregister.com
MARGARETTA TWP.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Margaretta Schools administrators will need to develop concrete plans in the next several weeks to solve their budget crisis.
On July 1, the district will enter a new fiscal year with a 3.74-percent deficit, which is within range for a declaration of fiscal caution and possibly fiscal watch.
Superintendent Ed Kurt and treasurer Jude Hammond must submit a financial recovery plan to Roger Hardin, the Ohio Department of Education’s assistant director for the office of finance program services.
Hardin said he will set a deadline of 30 days or 60 days for the school district to submit a plan that goes beyond, “We’ll pass a levy.”
“It has to be very precise,” Hardin said at Monday’s school board meeting. “They’ll have to come up with approximately $417,000 of cuts.” A 60-day timeline would allow officials to submit a proposal after the August levy.
Hardin and Ohio Department of Education fiscal consultant Neil Allen attended the board meeting to lay out what state officials have learned about Margaretta’s financial status and what could happen next.
If Margaretta Schools entersfiscalcaution, the Ohio Department of Education would monitor the district to ensure implementation of the recovery plan.
If a district does not implement its proposals — or the situation worsens — fiscal caution could proceed to fiscal watch or fiscal emergency. Fiscal emergency allows a district to receive a two-year advance on its state funding.
“It’s not free money,” Hardin said. “Don’t anyone leave here thinking that the state’s going to come in and give you free money because that doesn’t happen. It’s an advance.”
Margaretta already needs to ask for an advance on property tax payments from the Erie County Auditor’s office, Allen said.
The district will have about $120,000 left at the end of this month, not nearly enough to cover the three payrolls in July.
Allen spent three days in May reviewing Margaretta’s books. He noted a trend in the past five years in which the district spent more than it brought in.
He also drew attention to the percentage of revenues spent on salaries and benefits, which has ranged from nearly 83 percent this year to 89 percent last year.
“Those percentages are red flags to me. That indicates that you’re going to have problems down the road,” Allen said. “Actually, it should be around about 80 percent. When you take 88 and 89 percent of your operational revenue, that doesn’t leave much left.”
These financial problems do not necessarily spring from irresponsible spending, Hardin said after an audience member noted voters have not approved a new levy since 1998.
“The system is set up that you need to approve levies at least every five or six years. And if you don’t, it’s not necessarily a spending problem,” he said. “That’s when the revenue problem starts to come in.”
About 150 people attended the meeting in Margaretta Elementary’s gym.
By SUSAN MCMILLAN
mcmillan@sanduskyregister.com
MARGARETTA TWP.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Margaretta Schools administrators will need to develop concrete plans in the next several weeks to solve their budget crisis.
On July 1, the district will enter a new fiscal year with a 3.74-percent deficit, which is within range for a declaration of fiscal caution and possibly fiscal watch.
Superintendent Ed Kurt and treasurer Jude Hammond must submit a financial recovery plan to Roger Hardin, the Ohio Department of Education’s assistant director for the office of finance program services.
Hardin said he will set a deadline of 30 days or 60 days for the school district to submit a plan that goes beyond, “We’ll pass a levy.”
“It has to be very precise,” Hardin said at Monday’s school board meeting. “They’ll have to come up with approximately $417,000 of cuts.” A 60-day timeline would allow officials to submit a proposal after the August levy.
Hardin and Ohio Department of Education fiscal consultant Neil Allen attended the board meeting to lay out what state officials have learned about Margaretta’s financial status and what could happen next.
If Margaretta Schools entersfiscalcaution, the Ohio Department of Education would monitor the district to ensure implementation of the recovery plan.
If a district does not implement its proposals — or the situation worsens — fiscal caution could proceed to fiscal watch or fiscal emergency. Fiscal emergency allows a district to receive a two-year advance on its state funding.
“It’s not free money,” Hardin said. “Don’t anyone leave here thinking that the state’s going to come in and give you free money because that doesn’t happen. It’s an advance.”
Margaretta already needs to ask for an advance on property tax payments from the Erie County Auditor’s office, Allen said.
The district will have about $120,000 left at the end of this month, not nearly enough to cover the three payrolls in July.
Allen spent three days in May reviewing Margaretta’s books. He noted a trend in the past five years in which the district spent more than it brought in.
He also drew attention to the percentage of revenues spent on salaries and benefits, which has ranged from nearly 83 percent this year to 89 percent last year.
“Those percentages are red flags to me. That indicates that you’re going to have problems down the road,” Allen said. “Actually, it should be around about 80 percent. When you take 88 and 89 percent of your operational revenue, that doesn’t leave much left.”
These financial problems do not necessarily spring from irresponsible spending, Hardin said after an audience member noted voters have not approved a new levy since 1998.
“The system is set up that you need to approve levies at least every five or six years. And if you don’t, it’s not necessarily a spending problem,” he said. “That’s when the revenue problem starts to come in.”
About 150 people attended the meeting in Margaretta Elementary’s gym.
Letter from Margaret Rudolph
Almost 20 years ago, I stood in my high school gymnasium and gave a very short presentation citing the Alfred Camus quote, “Do not walk behind me, I may not lead. Do not walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.”
Those were the words I spoke not only to my fellow classmates, but to the parents of a classmate who had unexpectedly passed away between our freshman and sophomore years. As I presented the weeping parents with their son’s senior class gift, a mug engraved with his name, I remember thinking how emotionally horrible this had to be for them.
As a cruel and ironic twist of fate, I am now preparing for an emotionally horrible day, when the Margaretta Class of 2010 graduates without my son, who unexpectedly passed away between his sophomore and junior years. When I reflect on the range of emotions that have encapsulated my family from the day Brad passed away, I am pleasantly surprised I also have wonderful experiences to think about — experiences that I never could have predicted that are both overwhelming and enjoyable to relive over and over again in my mind.
This Margaretta Class of 2010, along with the faculty and administration, has not walked in front of my family, nor have they walked behind. From the day we said good-bye to Brad, they have walked beside us and been our friends. Their actions and plans have been thoughtful and meaningful. Sometimes small — just a card in the mail signed by a few classmates and teachers. And sometimes massive — a basketball fundraiser, planned by students, faculty and administration together, that exceeds everyone’s expectations in many ways.
How is that? Why is that? How is it that a small, rural school district wraps their arms around one of their own and does not forget? Why is it that this same small, rural school district cannot wrap their arms around each other and support those who are still here?
We are never always happy with each other. Do you honestly find yourself in total agreement with your president? With your boss? Are you always happy with your neighbors? Do you ever tell your children that you are unhappy with them for something they have done? Of course you do, but even as we are mad or upset with our children, don’t we always forgive them providing them the unconditional support and love they need and deserve?
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton reminded us of the African proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child.” While you may side with the critic who cites that an African village is very different from our American communities and the proverb is not applicable to how our children are raised and educated, I’d ask you to consider a little more.
What if the proverb is saying we, as a community, have a responsibility to form a strong and stable system of support for our next generation? And with that consideration, is it fair to attach provisos and quid pro quos to that support system? Is it fair to those children whom we all share the responsibility to raise to say, yes, we’ll support you but only when we agree with everything our elected and appointed leaders do?
If that is the case, then we are letting our children learn to let someone else walk in front of them, thus providing us an easy escape. If we let someone else walk in front of us then we don’t have to follow when we don’t like the consequences of our own negativity and our own inaction. It is much easier to point and criticize from behind.
A community of support, to which we can all participate, teaches our children how to walk beside each other, through good times and bad, in order to grow forward, heal painful experiences, and build a strong future. I am humbled to have the Margaretta community walk beside my family and proud to stand beside them with full, unconditional support.
Those were the words I spoke not only to my fellow classmates, but to the parents of a classmate who had unexpectedly passed away between our freshman and sophomore years. As I presented the weeping parents with their son’s senior class gift, a mug engraved with his name, I remember thinking how emotionally horrible this had to be for them.
As a cruel and ironic twist of fate, I am now preparing for an emotionally horrible day, when the Margaretta Class of 2010 graduates without my son, who unexpectedly passed away between his sophomore and junior years. When I reflect on the range of emotions that have encapsulated my family from the day Brad passed away, I am pleasantly surprised I also have wonderful experiences to think about — experiences that I never could have predicted that are both overwhelming and enjoyable to relive over and over again in my mind.
This Margaretta Class of 2010, along with the faculty and administration, has not walked in front of my family, nor have they walked behind. From the day we said good-bye to Brad, they have walked beside us and been our friends. Their actions and plans have been thoughtful and meaningful. Sometimes small — just a card in the mail signed by a few classmates and teachers. And sometimes massive — a basketball fundraiser, planned by students, faculty and administration together, that exceeds everyone’s expectations in many ways.
How is that? Why is that? How is it that a small, rural school district wraps their arms around one of their own and does not forget? Why is it that this same small, rural school district cannot wrap their arms around each other and support those who are still here?
We are never always happy with each other. Do you honestly find yourself in total agreement with your president? With your boss? Are you always happy with your neighbors? Do you ever tell your children that you are unhappy with them for something they have done? Of course you do, but even as we are mad or upset with our children, don’t we always forgive them providing them the unconditional support and love they need and deserve?
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton reminded us of the African proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child.” While you may side with the critic who cites that an African village is very different from our American communities and the proverb is not applicable to how our children are raised and educated, I’d ask you to consider a little more.
What if the proverb is saying we, as a community, have a responsibility to form a strong and stable system of support for our next generation? And with that consideration, is it fair to attach provisos and quid pro quos to that support system? Is it fair to those children whom we all share the responsibility to raise to say, yes, we’ll support you but only when we agree with everything our elected and appointed leaders do?
If that is the case, then we are letting our children learn to let someone else walk in front of them, thus providing us an easy escape. If we let someone else walk in front of us then we don’t have to follow when we don’t like the consequences of our own negativity and our own inaction. It is much easier to point and criticize from behind.
A community of support, to which we can all participate, teaches our children how to walk beside each other, through good times and bad, in order to grow forward, heal painful experiences, and build a strong future. I am humbled to have the Margaretta community walk beside my family and proud to stand beside them with full, unconditional support.
Message from Mr. Gravenhorst
As I close in on my 22nd year at Margaretta High School (the last 9 as the district’s Government teacher) I have had the privilege of working with the community of Margaretta Schools. As I reflect on those 22 years I cannot help but notice the myriad of changes and tough decisions that have challenged our community. With a second generation of students that I am beginning to see in the high school, I believe it is important to take a moment of your time to encourage you to be an active participant in the registration and voting process. This is an integral process for decision-making in the community.
One of the items I stress in Government class is that a democratic community can only flourish if citizens become active participants in the voting process. We, as voting age community members, have a responsibility to make tough decisions that will ultimately impact the direction of our community. Voting also sets an example that our children will see and learn from. It is our responsibility to show the young people of our community the value of voting. Please do not disengage yourself from this process. Voting is a special privilege and civic duty that must be attended to in order for our community to function productively and responsibly in a changing society.
Please become a registered voter. You can register at your local Board of Elections, public library, license bureau, or at Margaretta High School. Become an active participant in all elections for our community’s prosperity and longevity!
Respectfully Yours,
Steven H. Gravenhorst
MHS Social Studies teacher
One of the items I stress in Government class is that a democratic community can only flourish if citizens become active participants in the voting process. We, as voting age community members, have a responsibility to make tough decisions that will ultimately impact the direction of our community. Voting also sets an example that our children will see and learn from. It is our responsibility to show the young people of our community the value of voting. Please do not disengage yourself from this process. Voting is a special privilege and civic duty that must be attended to in order for our community to function productively and responsibly in a changing society.
Please become a registered voter. You can register at your local Board of Elections, public library, license bureau, or at Margaretta High School. Become an active participant in all elections for our community’s prosperity and longevity!
Respectfully Yours,
Steven H. Gravenhorst
MHS Social Studies teacher
FAQs
WHAT WILL THIS COST ME IF PASSED?
$100,000 home - $211.40 increase
$150,000 home - $317.10 increase
$200,000 home - $422.80 increase
$250,000 home - $528.50 increase
WHAT DOES MARGARETTA PAY IN COMPARISON TO SURROUNDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS?
Above (click to enlarge): Margaretta has not had any additional tax initiative since 1998, whereby other surrounding school districts have had additional property tax levies approved over time.
Above (click to enlarge): Margaretta receives 50 percent of their revenue from the state, 6 percent from the federal government and 44 percent from local taxpayers. Compared to many surrounding districts, the most recent data show Margaretta had the least local revenue per pupil in the 2008 fiscal year.
WHY DO WE NEED THE ADDITIONAL MONEY?
• to maintain student achievement
• to avoid the loss of current academic & extra-curricular programs
• to avoid fiscal emergency and losing local control
Click to enlarge
TELL ME ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
• made to operate more efficiently
• operational savings of over $338,000 a year
• will pay for itself in 7 years
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE TOWNSEND BUILDING?
• leased to Northpoint Educational Service Center for 5 years
• provides educational services for special education students in Erie, Huron, Ottawa and Sandusky counties
• special education transportation cost reduced by keeping students in district
WHAT IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE DISTRICT FOR ITS SPENDING?
• accountability established by the Ohio Department of Education in both financial and academic standards
• annual audit by the Auditor of State
• annual audit by other entities including the Erie County Health Department, Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, Ohio State Highway Patrol and Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA)
WHAT COST SAVING INITIATIVES HAVE THE DISTRICT ALREADY IMPLEMENTED?
Total Reduction in Staff
• approximately 30 staff positions
Savings in Wages & Benefits
• Administrators & Supervisors have taken additional insurance concessions since May 2009 and pay freezes since the 2009-2010 school year.
• OAPSE has agreed to a pay freeze for 2008-2009
• MTA has agreed to a 2% pay cut for the 2009-2010 school year and made health care concessions in 2008-2009
Conservation of Energy/Transportation Costs
• implemented one-bus route reducing routes by 41,000 miles and saving 5,450 gallons diesel fuel
• replaced boilers and windows
Consolidation of Elementary Buildings
• downsized operations saving $338,000 annually
• found viable option for Townsend by leasing to the Erie-Huron-Ottawa Educational Service Center
HOW WILL THE REVENUE BE SPENT?
Revenue will be used to maintain excellence in education under the jurisdiction of the board of education.
WHEN WOULD WE REACH FISCAL EMERGENCY?
We could reach fiscal emergency as soon as FY11 (2010-2011 school year) or later dependent upon the approval of tax levies, state funding, budget cuts and wage/salary & benefit changes. We anticipate being in fiscal caution first as early as this fiscal year. The Auditor of State will determine this once the 5-year forecast is filed with the Ohio Department of Education.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS IF THE DISTRICT REACHES FISCAL EMERGENCY?
• Auditor of State determines that the District meets the statutory criteria for being in Fiscal Emergency
• Auditor of State performs a “performance audit” of the district
• The State of Ohio creates and impanels a Fiscal Emergency Oversight Committee
• The committee has five members appointed by the State
• The district will request to borrow money from the State to provide the necessary funds to have a balanced budget
• The State of Ohio will determine how much money the district will be able to borrow and will require the district to take due diligence in determining all alternatives to borrowing money
• The Oversight Committee will convene and review the Performance Audit and hear testimony from the School Administration on the financial state of the district, establish a corrective action plan, determine the best course of action to remove the district from Fiscal Emergency
• The Oversight Committee will review all contracts and liabilities of the district and will make recommendations to the Board of Education prior to the Board taking action on matters that may have a financial impact on the district
• The district’s Board of Education will continue to fulfill their statutory responsibilities
• The district will remain in Fiscal Emergency until the district can sustain itself with supplemental support of the State, including paying off any loans from the State with interest.
$100,000 home - $211.40 increase
$150,000 home - $317.10 increase
$200,000 home - $422.80 increase
$250,000 home - $528.50 increase
WHAT DOES MARGARETTA PAY IN COMPARISON TO SURROUNDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS?
Above (click to enlarge): Margaretta has not had any additional tax initiative since 1998, whereby other surrounding school districts have had additional property tax levies approved over time.
Above (click to enlarge): Margaretta receives 50 percent of their revenue from the state, 6 percent from the federal government and 44 percent from local taxpayers. Compared to many surrounding districts, the most recent data show Margaretta had the least local revenue per pupil in the 2008 fiscal year.
WHY DO WE NEED THE ADDITIONAL MONEY?
• to maintain student achievement
• to avoid the loss of current academic & extra-curricular programs
• to avoid fiscal emergency and losing local control
Click to enlarge
TELL ME ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
• made to operate more efficiently
• operational savings of over $338,000 a year
• will pay for itself in 7 years
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE TOWNSEND BUILDING?
• leased to Northpoint Educational Service Center for 5 years
• provides educational services for special education students in Erie, Huron, Ottawa and Sandusky counties
• special education transportation cost reduced by keeping students in district
WHAT IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE DISTRICT FOR ITS SPENDING?
• accountability established by the Ohio Department of Education in both financial and academic standards
• annual audit by the Auditor of State
• annual audit by other entities including the Erie County Health Department, Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, Ohio State Highway Patrol and Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA)
WHAT COST SAVING INITIATIVES HAVE THE DISTRICT ALREADY IMPLEMENTED?
Total Reduction in Staff
• approximately 30 staff positions
Savings in Wages & Benefits
• Administrators & Supervisors have taken additional insurance concessions since May 2009 and pay freezes since the 2009-2010 school year.
• OAPSE has agreed to a pay freeze for 2008-2009
• MTA has agreed to a 2% pay cut for the 2009-2010 school year and made health care concessions in 2008-2009
Conservation of Energy/Transportation Costs
• implemented one-bus route reducing routes by 41,000 miles and saving 5,450 gallons diesel fuel
• replaced boilers and windows
Consolidation of Elementary Buildings
• downsized operations saving $338,000 annually
• found viable option for Townsend by leasing to the Erie-Huron-Ottawa Educational Service Center
HOW WILL THE REVENUE BE SPENT?
Revenue will be used to maintain excellence in education under the jurisdiction of the board of education.
WHEN WOULD WE REACH FISCAL EMERGENCY?
We could reach fiscal emergency as soon as FY11 (2010-2011 school year) or later dependent upon the approval of tax levies, state funding, budget cuts and wage/salary & benefit changes. We anticipate being in fiscal caution first as early as this fiscal year. The Auditor of State will determine this once the 5-year forecast is filed with the Ohio Department of Education.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS IF THE DISTRICT REACHES FISCAL EMERGENCY?
• Auditor of State determines that the District meets the statutory criteria for being in Fiscal Emergency
• Auditor of State performs a “performance audit” of the district
• The State of Ohio creates and impanels a Fiscal Emergency Oversight Committee
• The committee has five members appointed by the State
• The district will request to borrow money from the State to provide the necessary funds to have a balanced budget
• The State of Ohio will determine how much money the district will be able to borrow and will require the district to take due diligence in determining all alternatives to borrowing money
• The Oversight Committee will convene and review the Performance Audit and hear testimony from the School Administration on the financial state of the district, establish a corrective action plan, determine the best course of action to remove the district from Fiscal Emergency
• The Oversight Committee will review all contracts and liabilities of the district and will make recommendations to the Board of Education prior to the Board taking action on matters that may have a financial impact on the district
• The district’s Board of Education will continue to fulfill their statutory responsibilities
• The district will remain in Fiscal Emergency until the district can sustain itself with supplemental support of the State, including paying off any loans from the State with interest.
Support Letters
SANDUSKY REGISTER LETTER: Get Margaretta on track
Friday, April 9, 2010 1:08 AM EDT
Get Margaretta Back on Track
To The Margaretta Board of Education,
I would just like to take the time to express my gratitude to Margaretta Schools. I grew up in Castalia, started at Bogart Elementary and graduated from Margaretta in 1986. The education I received was extremely valuable to me. After graduating, I attended OSU and graduated with a BS in Human Nutrition, then went on to graduate from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine. Today, I have a successful medical practice in Massachusetts where I completed my residency.
I will never forget the years I spent at Margaretta. I made many wonderful friends, was involved in numerous activities offered through the school and received an education that allowed me to become successful today. All of this was important to me when I was in school, as I am sure, is just as important to the students of Margaretta today.
I truly hope the community sees the value of the Margaretta School System today as I valued it when I was in school. I would like to take the time to thank the community, who when I was in school, valued the students education enough to support the needs of the school. There is nothing more important than providing a well-rounded education. Hopefully students today will continue at Margaretta with the same benefits that I had, graduate with an excellent education and have the opportunity to accomplish anything they choose.
Good Luck.....and GO BEARS!!!!
Dana Smith-Nasiff
Margaretta 1986
The Ohio State University 1991
The Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine 1995
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, April 9, 2010 1:08 AM EDT
Get Margaretta Back on Track
Rod & Kendra Smith
511 Main St., Box 563
To The Margaretta Board of Education,
I would just like to take the time to express my gratitude to Margaretta Schools. I grew up in Castalia, started at Bogart Elementary and graduated from Margaretta in 1986. The education I received was extremely valuable to me. After graduating, I attended OSU and graduated with a BS in Human Nutrition, then went on to graduate from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine. Today, I have a successful medical practice in Massachusetts where I completed my residency.
I will never forget the years I spent at Margaretta. I made many wonderful friends, was involved in numerous activities offered through the school and received an education that allowed me to become successful today. All of this was important to me when I was in school, as I am sure, is just as important to the students of Margaretta today.
I truly hope the community sees the value of the Margaretta School System today as I valued it when I was in school. I would like to take the time to thank the community, who when I was in school, valued the students education enough to support the needs of the school. There is nothing more important than providing a well-rounded education. Hopefully students today will continue at Margaretta with the same benefits that I had, graduate with an excellent education and have the opportunity to accomplish anything they choose.
Good Luck.....and GO BEARS!!!!
Dana Smith-Nasiff
Margaretta 1986
The Ohio State University 1991
The Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine 1995
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Margaretta Board of Education:
First of all, good luck with your upcoming levy. I am writing to offer my support. Although there is not much I can do living half a world away, I would like everyone to know how grateful I am to the
From tail-gating and leading cheers at the games to competing in the district golf competition, my fondest memories are at Margaretta. Courses I took from Mr. Eschels and Mr. Denman helped influence my decision to pursue a career in architecture. Their courses were engaging, fun, and interesting.
When schools are forced to make cuts, extra-curriculars and electives are usually the first things to go. If this were the case when I was in school; I would be the second thing to go! I definitely value my education but there needs to be a good balance in life. Art and sports were the things that kept me going and helped me expand my skill sets and social skills. (I am still working on the social skills) Don’t voters understand that these are the activities and courses that get kids through school! I can’t imagine attending a school absent of these.
I came to Margaretta my junior year when school spirit was fantastic and student achievement was high. It was the best move I ever made. I would hate to see that school spirit and student achievement leave and take high achieving students to other school districts. You have to go through the valley to get to the top! Don’t stop pushing forward for success!
Best of luck. Go Bears!
Austin Poe
Margaretta - Class of 2004
The Ohio State University – BS Arch Class of 2008
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