Based on their answers in the News Herald, the candidates for school board feel it is more important to improve the sports programs in the schools than the academic level.

After the sports programs are improved, they next want to repave the parking lots of the elementary schools.

The two incumbents feel the school system is based on academics. They want to improve the level of education and continue to improve the MEAP scores.

What do you think is more important for our crumbling school system? Academics or Sports and parking lots?

I have no problem with improving the extracurricular activities for the students, but first we need to ensure their education. Without a proper education, nothing else matters.

Robert O'Brien knows what is best for the schools. I am not convinced about Ms Johnson, but she is heads and shoulders above the candidates.

The MIddle School has a terrible reputation. Deserved or not, perception is what most people will go by.

I noticed by candidates have children involved with the sports programs. I think it is safe to say what their agenda is.

I thank you.

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Councilman Mario DiSanto will put the Building Department back together

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Regarding MEAP scores, all I have to wonder is ... what have the incumbents done over the last six years of their tenure to better the MEAP scores? They've had the opportunity while the challengers want the opportunity. Have the two incumbents did enough to warrant another go-around?

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Not all the students that attend the schools are there to participate in the sports or music programs The primary function of the schools is to educate. Kids that are better educated will become better athletes and musicians. The Marsallis brothers are intelligent successful Musicians. Dave Bing, was a great basketball player ,and an intelligent business owner.

There is no doubt in my mind the education comes first. Dumb athletes wind up broke . Al Kaline was so well educated he had his name in the dictionary and became an announcer after he retired from baseball.

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If pro is the opposite of con? would CONgress be the oppositeof PROgress?

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In the classrooms, they are studying for the MEAP tests. Everything is geared towards improving the scores. This is what they care about in the school, the MEAP scores. Do any of the kids suffer because of this? Possibly.

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Better to be studying than to watching a paving crew pave the parking lot.

Like it or not, the MEAP is the ruler on which the school system is measured.

We need sports, but first we must educate.

BTW: Al Kaline was not highly educated. He went directly from high school to the big leagues. He was the youngest player to every win the batting title I highly admire Al Kaline, but he went to the school of hard knocks. His education was through life experience.

And before anyone jumps on that statement. A 10 year old doesn't have much life experience.

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I'm going to have to agree with Magoo for a change. Our sports teams at the highschool aren't getting much of anything, but honestly... it gets under my skin that I am in a senior-level honors english course that is supposed to be college level, and we had to make our own books because the school doesn't give us any money to prepare for classes.

But on the other hand, we have a really ugly fence to protect our really ugly courtyard. ???????????


No books for you, higher level senior!!!

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we live on front porches and swing life away. we
get by just fine here on minimum wage. if love is
a labor i'll slave to the end. <3 reneetronsaurus!

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Why are schools expected to supply the books. When I was in school, we were expected to buy our books from 9th grade on. Students of lower income families would take advantage of payment plans or would work for the books.

Has this changed? If so, why?

College does not supply books, why would high school?

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we do pay a deposit.............but yea most of the books are provided. I'm not sure why it has changed...........but some classes, like science, art, or other 'tech' classes, do require a small fee to be apart of the class. But its only like $5.

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"Because I knew you, I have been changed for the better"


'Wicked' is the BEST musical Ever!!!!



"It well may be, that we will never meet again; in this lifetime, so let me say before we part. So much of me, is made of what I learned from you. You'll be with me like a handprint on my heart."

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We also paid a "lab fee" if a class required special meterials.

We worked during the summer and part of our income went for school books.

I understand text books are expensive, but students must buy their books in college, why are they not expected to buy them in High School?

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Students must pay tuition in college, so why are they not expected to pay tuition in High School?

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So you would prefer students to have NO textbooks in high school because there is not enough money to purchase them.

No wonder our school system is in such bad shape.

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No, I would not prefer students to have no textbooks.

However, I would like to know what part of



gave you that impression?

When I was in high school, back around 1970, I don't recall having to purchase my own textbooks. Likewise, when my sons were in high school back in the '90s, they didn't have to purchase their own textbooks. They did have to put down a deposit, and if the book was trashed, they'd essentially end up buying it.

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I was quite upset with my alma-mater a few years ago. They spent millions of dollars on the new football field. One estimate was about 10 million. They installed the new field turf that the Lions and Wolverines both use. The thing that upset me was that my former HS plays 4 home games a year, so millions of dollars was spent for four nights. Granted they play JV and Freshman games there too, and I think soccer, but how many students does this actually serve? Wouldn't that money be better spent so that a larger percentage of the student population could use it? Wouln't that money been of a better use towards books, library, computers, etc?

As a side bar, is it really fair that one school district can spend ten million on a football field (and by the way, they built a new building for a brand new swimming pool too), while a district down the road doesn't even have enough books for their students? I am not a socialist, but when it comes to kids and education, I feel that there should be no class system.

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It sounds as if Mr Kovacs and Mr Knapp would be in favor of tearing down the elementary schools and building a brand new football field and parking lot.

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