I get email from people most every day discussing political issues in the City. After certain events, like the recent FAR proposal I get boatloads every day. (Note Suzy Ageton is very popular with a lot of people - all of whom don't want anyone to know they support her.)
Based on a number of recent emails, a group of people are banding together to recall the BVSD board members - because they want to preserve the buildings at Louisville, Mapleton, Washington, & Casey.
Ok, we have awful drop out rates, over 10% for Latinos (and 2% for Whites) in 12th grade alone (rates so bad that BVSD does not list any other grades on their website). We have horrible passing rates on the CSAP where in many cases over 50% test below proficient. Look at Fairview - 32% (essentially 1/3) of the students are not proficient in math.
Now all of the above is ok? But you're going to recall board members over maximizing money to help students rather than to preserve every box the district ever built? How fucked up are your priorities? Seriously how far is your head up your ass? Recalling board members over this shows a self-centered elitist mindset focused on your own aesthetic gratification.
We just had a school board election and virtually no one gave a rip that once again we were electing the usual suspects, blessed by the BVEA, who could not bring improvement to BVSD if you held a gun to their head. Not one. And that was fine because all it did was fuck over the students, mostly the poor ones. And who cares about them.
But a building, oh my no. We can't change a building. People, try to care about others. Try to show more concern for children who will be stuck in minimum wage jobs for the rest of their life than for a building.
As to the buildings, well Casey is butt ugly so good riddance. Washington is being preserved unless the neighbors there continue to road block it enough that it gets bulldozed and Wonderland just builds 4 mansions there. Mapleton is a nice building, but it's not unique and it's not efficient. You want to save it - buy it.
In the case of Louisville I think there is a legit argument there. It is one of the major buildings that are Louisville. And so the city should look at paying BVSD the difference to save the facade. But that is the city's responsibility. BVSD's is to make the best use of the money they have to educate the students.
Finally, what about in the next BVSD election, people actually pay attention and cast votes for people that would effect significant change? Because the real tragedy here is the children we are failing year over year. How we presently run BVSD is selfish, shortsighted, and morally wrong.
And if you want to recall the present board for being incompetent and incapable of improving our schools - sign me up.
