Dear Montpelier Ohio,
United States of America
The Greatest Country On Earth
I, also, have a voice that I believe warrants merit in the conversation at hand. I am the father of three Montpelier students; with a fourth young, also beautiful individual with promise and hope as her essence like her siblings and their classmates, soon to enter. I am writing this response spontaneously, unplanned with utmost respect to all persons and their right and privilege to communicate whatever opinion(s) they might have on this forum.
I would like to first start by expressing my deepest gratitude to all the staff, including also the community at large, tax paying community,students, volunteers, support staff, teachers, and administrators alike.
I have been taught, and have accepted as FACT, that we are as we do and that our character is best defined when our ethics, integrity, our bonds, and our commitments to one another as individuals, families, communities (especially those that pride themselves on time tested values) are tested most vigorously. I understand, firsthand, the apprehension and discomfort of the challenges....that we are all facing. I was also taught that before anyone or any group takes action, they or the collective should ask themselves a few very pointed questions. The first question we should ask ourselves as a communityis, “What are our priorities?” For today. for tomorrow and next week...for next season or next year, 5 years?...10, 20.
What sacrifices have been laid down before me, you, us to provide opportunities that I, you, we have both benefited from and perhaps have taken for granted alike? Did people in our communities that did not have children actively in the school system or even at all for that matter pay taxes and pass levys that supported your or my education; the answer is yes. Shall I, you, we define ourselves, our community, OUR CHILDREN’S, GRAND CHILDREN’S....FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVERS’, CARE GIVERS’, TAX PAYERS’ futures and potentials with petty under informed distractions to the real points at hand? The world is what we make it....Montpelier will become what you, MR. and Mrs./Ms. Voter, Mr. and or Mrs./Ms. Volunteer and Teacher, Administrator, and Parent we decide what kind of chance Montpelier will have for a future. The youth will reflect your values in action and attitude not in rhetoric and posturing for posturing sake. Should we be asking what’s fair or right about this levy for each and every sub group with in our culture? Yes, however anyone who would legitimately be able to claim that this levy would be their financial “breaking point” or that it would dramatically reduce their quality of living is almost certainly tax exempt and would REMAIN unaffected; and I would challenge anyone to give a specific example that stands in contradiction. Are educating our children as effectively as possible, in a world that is growing ever more competitive and challenging, and asking what needs to be done to prepare ourselves, our children and grand kids for these turbulent times the right type of question Montpelier? Of all the sacrifices a community can make...should its trajectory and the quality of its future not be last among them? Or will we accelerate this breakdown of our communities hope engine(school)?
I implore every parent of a school aged child within the community to ask themselves, should I feel committed, as a parent, to a community that repeatedly chooses a SELF ENTITLED PATH of NOT PASSING THE LEVY( after using the system themselves and for their children in many cases) over their children's education/future? QUALITY EDUCATION = Future. If we CHOOSE to derogate the resources of the school further while demeaning the very persons who have sacrificed and continue to fight the good fight to give my children and yours the best education they can I will be ashamed of being part of this community all together.
The repeated calls, made from a handful of folks, for the administration and staff to do more and take less is equally myopic. We have a very dedicated, positive, and talented team of educators which some seem to be taking for granted. Good things are not cheap and cheap things are not good. And despite this, having made and been asked to make additional sacrifices our talented and dedicated team has maintained a positive educational environment. I fear that if this levy does not pass that we will risk loosing some irreplaceable dedication and expertise beyond the consequences of reducing the schools targeted resource power on a whole. My children with the help of my wife, myself and the Montpelier “Education Team” represent the very front edge of the learning potential for students in Ohio schools. If this Levy fails to pass the resources to feed their potential will fall below acceptable levels. I am a service connected disabled American Veteran, I work Full time, I volunteer coaching as much as my schedule permits, and I try desperately to be a living example for my children and have my grandfather look upon me with genuine pride for the character within. Are we a community that attends parades together and abandons desperate need behind closed curtains and in ballot boxes, in a Pyrrhic self service.?
There is a hole in earth that needs filled. We can discuss how it got there indefinitely. We can talk about why each of us should not have to get our shoes dirty, a sore back, or callused hands. We talk about holes past and holes future.
We can point fingers and become indignant and justified in self protectionism. We can then spend our time counting how many time each set of hands touches the shovel. While someone else tries to count the broken legs of children hobbling past the far side of the hole. OR we can just start working feverishly to fill the hole and minimize the injury...then look for ADDITIONAL WAYS to feed our youth advantage in the form of knowledge and skills.
How many men and women in our community with a little time to spare are knowledgeable and passionate about wood working, metal craft, culinary arts, sewing and crafting, a foreign language, and so many other valuable skills that we have already had washed from school budgets. We need to be working on ways to increase our resources for education like our very future depends upon it. IT DOES.
I would like to close by repeating my fervent belief that everyone, agreeable and disagreeable, should be included in this dialog. I also would like to say that I do try to see the point from all vantages and with full open minded objectiveness....try being the operative word there. I apologize to anyone who may take offense to my passionate nature and deeply felt beliefs and values. I truly feel as if this funding will prove a game changer. When this LEVY PASSES our community and children will realize that we are what we claim to be...this will provide precious social capitol to strengthen our communities bonds; i implore our local leadership from all avenues to coordinate pulling all sects together in new and lasting ways that continue to make Montpelier Ohio a place one can proudly call their community. Thank you for your time, attention, and dedication to a bright beautiful and promising future for all of us in Montpelier, NW Ohio, Ohio, The USA.
PS
Montpelier’s ALL Star Educational Team we love, appreciate you deeply and salute your efforts and positivity.
Respectfully Passionate and Opinionated,
Thad
I am the EMIS Coordinator for the district. EMIS (Education Management Information System) is the statewide data collection system. Staff, student, district, building, and financial data are collected through this system. EMIS data is submitted to the Ohio Department of Education during several reporting periods. After each submission, various verification and error reports are generated. I use these reports to make adjustments to data on an ongoing basis. Aside from my EMIS duties, I do all enrolling and withdrawing for the district which includes open enrollments. I also update the school website, calendar, electronic sign out front of the school, facebook page, the channel 100 news, and the Locos on Track blog.
