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Post by dawgmom1 on Aug 12, 2009 11:48:38 GMT -5
I would like to speak on behalf of the Franklin Heights Alumni and Westland alumni who now live in Grove City and other areas. First of all never under estimate the power of a community coming together for 1 common goal. I have 3 kids who are all student athletes in Grove City schools. My husband and I both went to Franklin Heights and benefited from our experiences there when we were kids as did many of our friends and neighbors. I know that if a pay to participate was implemented that there are people who would sponsor kids, make donations and do whatever they could to make sure these kids are not left behind. My kids participate in club sports as well and we find a way to help out the kids whose parents might be struggling. We come together and do what we have to do to make sure that kid isn't left out. I think it is unfair for the board to assume that this is not a viable option. Anyone who has been fortunate enough to be a part of a team or group such as band, student council, show choir or science club benefited from that experience in some way and it helped make us the people we are today. This can no longer be about Grove City v's Central Crossing and Westland and Franklin Heights-this HAS to be about us coming together as the SWCS community and supporting our youth. If that means that my family from Grove City helps a kid play tennis at Franklin Heights or Westland then that is AWESOME. If a family from Westland helps a kid run Cross Country at Central Crossing then we as a community have done our jobs. It is and should be about the kids. I know from my own experiences that without these extra things to look forward to and be a part of that I would not be the person I am today and would not have enjoyed school very much. It is our job as parents to do what is right for our entire community and I don't think that the board should doubt that we as parents will come together. They are supposed to be the voice of the community and the fact that they are not listening to the voters and representing our views and opinions is unacceptable. Until they can take down their blinders and be willing to compromise they will never pass this levy.
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Post by bkpkmom on Aug 12, 2009 13:19:53 GMT -5
I agree 100% cougar82 and dawgmom1. Pay to play IS POSSIBLE. Now, how do we get the school board to listen??
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Post by austin on Aug 12, 2009 13:51:49 GMT -5
You know, I posted in numerous places that a teacher friend of mine was looking for some help with a former student of his who attends Franklin Heights. This is the beginning of his sophomore year and last year, as a freshman, he couldn't pay his band fees in the amount of $300 (and people think we already don't have P2P?), and was not going to be allowed to play in the band this year. His mom is a single mom, permanently disabled, receives no child support. NO ONE ever sent even one reply to assist this kid.
This teacher already buys shoes for this boy, buys Christmas gifts for this boy, and that is along with his own couple of kids. The teacher could not come up with an additional $300, at least the whole amount. He contacted the band directors but they could not come up with the needed money, either, and the fee had already been reduced as much as they could.
I am not trying to be a naysayer here, but I have serious doubts that this Franklin Heights population is going to get the support that the other high schools will. I am all for "coming together" and supporting kids, but it has to be ALL kids.
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Post by bkpkmom on Aug 12, 2009 14:20:43 GMT -5
Didn't even know about it austin. As many probably didn't. If we did P2P, we could have committees (groups of parents) who would deal with these types of issues...we could have fundraisers and sponsers. If we think this through and do it right, it is Possible. The school board won't even give it a chance to work. "It's not an option" is all I've heard. It's very sad and not representing the wishes of many residents in SWSC. The school board should put it to a vote and see what the results are...instead of going back to the ballot with a levy in November. It would show all the "no" voters that they are trying all alternatives and it could stop many of our families from leaving the district.
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Post by austin on Aug 12, 2009 14:48:16 GMT -5
No, I'm not suggesting that anyone here or anywhere, for that matter, is somehow responsible. I was trying to demonstrate that even without P2P (supposedly equal participation), people do not exactly trip over themselves to help a kid, especially one that is not in their attendance area.
By the way, this teacher I know is one of MANY in that attendance area that I personally know support these kids in all kinds of ways, financial and otherwise. They spend a lot of out-of-pocket money on them and never say a word about it, for the most part. This is another reason I do not support further cuts for teachers. They already sacrifice plenty, in ways the community does not consider or does not know about.
Hopefully, if we do move to some sort of P2P, the community would be serious about providing a safety net. I am not on the BOE, do not work for the district, and I am still concerned about the impact of P2P on the most vulnerable in our community. That's all.
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Post by dawgmom1 on Aug 12, 2009 15:35:12 GMT -5
I am on the athletic boosters at Grove City and I also am involved with 4 different sports. I think that if we make the commitment to put together a group (swcs extra curricular committee) and have 1 represenative from each club, sport, band etc....from each school we could share these situations and work together to secure sponsorships in the community, send letters to alumni, put postings on facebook, do advertising and fund raising to make sure that situations like the one you are refering to can be addressed. I know it won't be easy and I am aware that there are many kids in our district with little or no means to come up with the funds but I also know that there are also people who are blessed and more than willing to help out and WANT to help. People can't help if they are not informed and they don't know exactly what is needed. This committee could work together to do just that. Look at the broad and diverse area that it is SWCS. There are several businesses who need Friday Night Football and want to support the bands and other sports. I think if we don't at least try and we don't put this as an option we are doing a gross injustice to the future of our community. "Faith and doubt both are needed-not as antagonists, but working side by side-to take us around the unknown curve."
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Post by parentof2 on Aug 12, 2009 15:58:00 GMT -5
Since when did it cost anything to be a Key Club or Nat'l Honor Society member? Where I went to school, Nat'l Honor Soc consisted of a ceremony where I rec'd a pin and wooden key and that was it. We had no mtgs or dues. Key Club was strictly a volunteer community group that met after school or Saturdays for tasks to be done.
I understand that all extra-curriculars are lumped together, but if schools are to be open 1 hour before and 1 hour after school, why can't mtgs be held then?
I like the idea of a SWCS Booster group but know it will not fly. I was a person that did the phone bank for the levy and I heard many times "I will support GC but not any other school". Those people voted NO. Yea, makes no sense to me either.
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Post by gobucks719 on Aug 12, 2009 18:34:55 GMT -5
Since when did it cost anything to be a Key Club or Nat'l Honor Society member? Where I went to school, Nat'l Honor Soc consisted of a ceremony where I rec'd a pin and wooden key and that was it. We had no mtgs or dues. Key Club was strictly a volunteer community group that met after school or Saturdays for tasks to be done. Simply put, it is a matter of the teachers not getting paid for their positions. Plus it seems the District also saves money on not having to insure these groups, though I have never seen mention of that. When I asked if the club could pay the teachers (several clubs at my school have thousands in their accounts) I was told that can't happen. It may be nice to hear that the Central Crossing and Grove City High Schools' Key Clubs will still be meeting as the Grove City Kiwanis club will charter them. Efforts are being made to secure a venue to host the meetings and several people have stepped up to help with this.
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Post by parentof2 on Aug 12, 2009 19:14:01 GMT -5
To gobucks716
Thanx for the info. I never knew there had to be insurance coverage for mtgs. Learn something new everyday. I do know that the stipen for the teachers is minimal.
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Post by gobucks719 on Aug 12, 2009 20:23:05 GMT -5
For those of you that attended the meeting tonight, you witnessed it ending with a preliminary discussion regarding participate fees. The discussion seemed geared towards a universal fee that would not cover the entire cost of the sport but help alleviate the strain on the district budget. Dublin was used as an example as they have this sort of fee and are able to generate over $200,000 from it. This discussion was initiated by Mr. McCarty. Mr. Reisling mentioned that we have a diverse district and a large percentage (30-40% ) of students on free/reduced lunch. I have heard somewhere that those who qualify for such free/reduced lunch also automatically have all other fees waived, I am not sure if that is fact or rumor.
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Post by angela on Aug 12, 2009 20:48:27 GMT -5
It is 50% that are on free and reduced. Personally, I am sick and tired of worrying about others. It is time to go.
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Post by sevans61908 on Aug 13, 2009 9:13:15 GMT -5
Mr. Reisling mentioned that we have a diverse district and a large percentage (30-40% ) of students on free/reduced lunch. I have heard somewhere that those who qualify for such free/reduced lunch also automatically have all other fees waived, I am not sure if that is fact or rumor.I believe it is 72% of students receive free/reduced lunch and yes, it is a fact that these children DO have their school fees waived and this DOES include athletic fees.
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Post by gcfootball on Aug 13, 2009 10:41:42 GMT -5
We can all have funraisers. That is what all the rec leagues do. Never underestimate what a parent can do if it involves helping out their children. Car washes, selling chances, bake sales, etc. This way the kids get to help out also. It there is a will, there is a way.
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Post by cougar82 on Aug 13, 2009 11:22:11 GMT -5
As I have stated before - in my home town - letters were sent to alumni to sponsor a kid in a particular sport - we had an option of what we could pay $25.00 up to full sponsorship of $200.00. They also have a memory/alumni brick walk - the vocational school did the work and then each person pay $50.00 for one brick with their name, sport and years played. Each additional brick is $35.00 or you can purchase a double brick costing $75.00. There are ways to fundraise other than the car washes, cookie sales, etc. I do like the idea of a SWCS committee where all the money goes into one account to pay for all the athletes in SWCS. My neighbor, who has one child and he is 26 called the day after the election and wanted to donate their $254.00 a year for the kids to participate. I am sure there are others willing to make donations.
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