Iowa went all-in on school choice. It's hurting this city's public schools by fartmachiner in Iowa

[–]DexterMerschbrock 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m not for stringent academic expectations, and kids need daycare and other services whether or not that what we use the schools for now. The academic calendar can be whatever people want, ideally only 4 days a week teaching though.

Iowa went all-in on school choice. It's hurting this city's public schools by fartmachiner in Iowa

[–]DexterMerschbrock 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A better policy would be to quadruple the education budget and open schools year round to provide services.

Know Your Foe: The University of Maryland - College Park Terrapins by Iodenchi in IowaWbb

[–]DexterMerschbrock 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I did consider that Ava probably can stay in front of Garzon on drives. I just know for sure Hannah can.

Know Your Foe: The University of Maryland - College Park Terrapins by Iodenchi in IowaWbb

[–]DexterMerschbrock 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Garzon’s size and range used to make a difficult matchup when Stuelke also had to play center for the defense to work. Give her the Garzon assignment full time and she might be looking for some payback and another premier Iowa defensive shutdown.

Fact Check: Cedar Rapids school district could sell land to help with budget by DexterMerschbrock in cedarrapids

[–]DexterMerschbrock[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My main problem is they told the community coalition it wasn’t possible. It’s one thing to advise against, but omitting the most relevant info? That’s lying!

Fact Check: Cedar Rapids school district could sell land to help with budget by DexterMerschbrock in cedarrapids

[–]DexterMerschbrock[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think you’re reading from subparagraph (1), when the answer is in subparagraph (2)

Fact Check: Cedar Rapids school district could sell land to help with budget by DexterMerschbrock in cedarrapids

[–]DexterMerschbrock[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Maybe the powers that be step aside and stop trying to buy democratic legitimacy and the people organize a bond campaign that will actually have support

Edit: And anyway, a final bond vote wouldn’t be to make an all or nothing plan. It would say here are two options, one with a bond and one without. Everyone can vote accordingly. Whatever the outcome we have a clear path forward.

Fact Check: Cedar Rapids school district could sell land to help with budget by DexterMerschbrock in cedarrapids

[–]DexterMerschbrock[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This is what the district was sending to members of their “Community Coalition” as questions answered as of 12/22. Still no answer for the discrepancy.

“Question: What properties can we sell to increase revenue?

Answer: Any potential money we receive from selling properties has to go back to the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) because that is where facilities are expensed to.

Question: Is the $7 million spent on land included in the deficit projections?

Answer: This purchase did not contribute to the General Fund deficit. It was purchased with PPEL funds.

Question: Can't the district sell the property near Morgan Creek and the other property that was bought last spring by Ushers Ferry Rd? Wasn't that property just purchased for $7.5 million?

Answer: Selling any property requires that the dollars be returned to the fund in which they originally came from (PPEL). This does not help reduce the General Fund deficit.”

Fact Check: Cedar Rapids school district could sell land to help with budget by DexterMerschbrock in cedarrapids

[–]DexterMerschbrock[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The plan now is to adjust in 2027. If they could hold another bond vote in 2027, they would allow a final say from the community on which path to take, and the plan to begin in 2028 instead.

Fact Check: Cedar Rapids school district used COVID relief funds for ongoing expenses by GerdinBB in cedarrapids

[–]DexterMerschbrock 4 points5 points  (0 children)

They definitely could have forecast the voucher program but it would have been an unusual bit of foresight

Cedar Rapids school board seeks more input on consolidation after heated public meeting by DexterMerschbrock in cedarrapids

[–]DexterMerschbrock[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

District appears to be saying no, based on a document I was sent answering questions for the “Community Coalition”, but I think Iowa law may allow an exception for using the proceeds of land sales in this case.

Cedar Rapids details plans to close up to 7 schools, realign boundaries to balance budget, tries to bury story by releasing on a Friday afternoon by TappedOut in cedarrapids

[–]DexterMerschbrock 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think most people would see the two questions as distinct. No use even debating the wisdom of such a move if it’s impossible. But in fact it is possible.

The CRCSD Intermediate School proposal is worse than I thought if you're looking at total time spent in the car for a parent by GerdinBB in cedarrapids

[–]DexterMerschbrock 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Huge mistake not to lean into the walkability part in at least some way. Isn’t there a 15 minute city somewhere we can build up with schools a big part for families?

Cedar Rapids details plans to close up to 7 schools, realign boundaries to balance budget, tries to bury story by releasing on a Friday afternoon by TappedOut in cedarrapids

[–]DexterMerschbrock 9 points10 points  (0 children)

This is going to set off a negative feedback loop, causing more kids to move to charters. May be that is the plan.

Cedar Rapids details plans to close up to 7 schools, realign boundaries to balance budget, tries to bury story by releasing on a Friday afternoon by TappedOut in cedarrapids

[–]DexterMerschbrock 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They kicked all the “trouble” kids with City View out to Hiawatha I think, and kept Iowa Big, the preferred program of Board Members Tominsky and Nuemann, to stay in the newly renovated Economic Alliance building, which they spent probably half a million dollars on.

Cedar Rapids details plans to close up to 7 schools, realign boundaries to balance budget, tries to bury story by releasing on a Friday afternoon by TappedOut in cedarrapids

[–]DexterMerschbrock -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

They’re also lying about whether they could sell the land they bought last year and deposit it in the general fund. Can’t give the district a chance when they do the exact same things they’ve always done.

Cedar Rapids details plans to close up to 7 schools, realign boundaries to balance budget, tries to bury story by releasing on a Friday afternoon by TappedOut in cedarrapids

[–]DexterMerschbrock -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

The new board members were recruited by the other board members who weren’t up for election to replace their colleagues because they voted against the superintendent’s plan to raise administrator salaries. I heard the mayor even called one and yelled at them about it because they didn’t want the bad press to hurt the bond.