In less than 90 days, voters of the Dorchester School District will go to the ballot box to decide whether to renovate or replace the 80-year-old main school building.
Other developments from the meeting include a 6-0 vote to approve a Speech Para contract for Shavon Williams for the 2007-2008 school year. Discussions were held on the still-open positions of girls assistant basketball coach and bus drivers. As reported earlier, the board approved Don Pieper as Interim Superintendent for the 2007-2008 school year with a 5-1 vote. Kahle, Pracheil, Bors, Hansen and Havlat voted "yes" and Boller voted "no".
During the meeting, the board was informed that a "plumbing issue" has been discovered during the the remodeling of the school's restrooms. More details will be discussed when more information is obtained. The next school board meeting will be July 16 at 8 p.m.
According to the Dorchester School Board minutes from the June 11 meeting, members voted 6-0 to approve a resolution calling for a Special Bond election on Tuesday, September 11, 2007. The motion by was made by Ron Kahle and seconded by Matt Hansen.
Earlier this month, a Dorchester Times survey of 90 readers found more than 60 percent of readers wanted to see the 1927 school building replaced, an option that would cost an estimated $3.9 million. Another 22 percent wanted to see the main building renovated, which would cost an estimated $1.8 to $2.9 million. About 12 percent of readers wanted to consider consolidation and two percent wanted to do nothing at this time.
Other developments from the meeting include a 6-0 vote to approve a Speech Para contract for Shavon Williams for the 2007-2008 school year. Discussions were held on the still-open positions of girls assistant basketball coach and bus drivers. As reported earlier, the board approved Don Pieper as Interim Superintendent for the 2007-2008 school year with a 5-1 vote. Kahle, Pracheil, Bors, Hansen and Havlat voted "yes" and Boller voted "no".
During the meeting, the board was informed that a "plumbing issue" has been discovered during the the remodeling of the school's restrooms. More details will be discussed when more information is obtained. The next school board meeting will be July 16 at 8 p.m.
did anyone get their tax evaluations in the mail last week?
ReplyDeletelets add a school on top of that and see what happens
it seems to me, that there is always something going wrong with the school. i think more things will happen to sway everyones vote. i know if the bond issue goes threw, that we will sell our house and move somewhere else, thats why we moved here, and it will be to expensive for us to stay, our house taxes will be more than our house payments. fix what we have.
ReplyDeleteHey Rick: If you're paying taxes in dist. 44, your levy limit is already about as high as it can go. Dollars are going to be pumped in the school regardless. You may as well get your best bang for the buck. And where you going to move to? Crete? Friend? Wilber? Those schools all have bigger issues and expenses facing them.
ReplyDeleteI know this will make some people cringe, but why not seriously consider going with Friend? They have space concerns too - and they aren't bringing in kids from other districts like Dorchester has been doing. If you combine both districts, you'll have more taxpayers to help pay the bond --meaning we'd have a lower tax if a new school is built. The total cost would be higher if a combined school would be built, but it could be spread out among a lot more taxpayers and would likely cost less. It's time get over the "I hate Friend" mentality that has existed for so many years. It's time to step out of your comfort zone and have your kids experience more than just Dorchester.
ReplyDeleteThere's too many people blowing smoke in order to cloud the real truth. Sure, Friend has debt - but they have been offering a lot more for the kids than Dorchester has been able to for a long time. And if you think the town will die -- give me a break -- look at what's happened when Exeter Milligan combined. Both towns still exist, there are schools in both towns, the combined school went to state for volleyball and basketball several times, and the kids lived through it....in fact the kids liked it. There could be more options for the kids. It's the parents and grandparents with the problem.
If the issue is whether "my kid will get to play sports if they combine", maybe this would help the problem when people complain that "why can't our kids win." Maybe you need a bigger pool of kids that pushes everyone to become better. It's time to wake up and realize there's more out there waiting for the kids.
I think that as a community we should want to progress. After all take a good look at Dorchester. The town is in questionable condition in places. To lose some at the lower end who may have other priorities in order to benefit the whole population may be better.
ReplyDeleteRealistic Grad, you should feel free to send your kids to Friend. There's already option enrollment. As for us Dorchester parents: we don't want to further subsidize Friend, which already receives about 60% more in state aid than Dorchester.
ReplyDeletePlease don't compare us to Exeter and Milligan, both of which are about 60 miles away from Lincoln. Dorchester, the city and the school, have a bright future if its residents don't wave a white flag. I have a feeling we are going to prevail in the special election.
Realistic Grad,
ReplyDeleteDo you think that consolidation would save that much? Not only would we build a lot bigger High School, but we would be building a K-12 also. Kids from other districts go to school in Dorchester wanting a better education. Kids in the Friend school district are not any smarter than ones opted in from the Crete school district. By the way nobody "hates" Friend. We all know that both communities support eachother. Our school population continues to grow. I don't think sports play as big of a part of selecting a school as you think. By the way, our kids can win look at the football team. Sometimes it really does take TEAMWORK. Just like it does in helping a small town survive. If you think the Friend school is in good shape ask for a tour of it. I guess when I opted out of the Friend school district for the Dorchester school district I believed I would recieve a better education and to this day think I did. I hope that cleared some things up for you.
jr.
ReplyDeleteYou might want to do a little research on how state aid works. Also -- how many acres do you pay taxes on?
Ha ha ha ha....most of the state's politicians couldn't tell you how the state aid formula works, Jr. and RG. .......You tell us RG. How does that formula work..... I pay taxes on more than 700 acres. I don't like it it but I'd rather have my dollars go to Dorchester than Friend. You consolidate and you'll have more than 75% of the board members from Friend. Thats a nonstarter in my book regardless of the other problems with consolidation. Ain't gonna happen.......not in my lifetime or yours RG! Focus on the REALISTIC options......
ReplyDeletedbryyxDOrchester do you really think that you are ready for a brand new building? For crying out loud the streets are dirt!!! Its time we take pride in what we have in our little town, and that is the history we have. Why not remodel the old building, its beautiful. I for one love that fact that so many generations in my family have been to school there and in those halls. Can any one name a classy little town that torn down their main pride and joy, meaning their school house where everyone sent their children. There has to a better soulution than doing away with our historic building. Out with the old and in with the new isnt always the right thing.
ReplyDeleteCHICKE...I mean anonymous, what year of a vehicle do you drive? How many Barns are still effectively serving farmers? How many Model T's are on the road? Sometimes antiques cannot be configured to do modern jobs. And I am not sure we can afford to hold school in a mueseum. Sentiment can be too expensive. A new building will pay for itself in maintenance and utlity costs over the long haul, and it will help provide a better education for the students. The same students who will hold their new building just as dear as you do the old.
ReplyDeleteIf I could only convince the world to go back to 8-Tracks...
I also like the old school and I admit I'm sentimentally attached to it. My old man was attached to his '34 Ford. At one point you must cut the cord. Drive by the building today, with ACs hanging out the windows, and you gotta admit its time for a new structure. I haven't been in the school for about 18 months, but its quickly becoming an antique.
ReplyDeleteAbout Dorchester's best attributes. Buildings and streets are great, but there are some fine kids in this town. Kids that have something to offer the world, and Dorchester if they decide to stay. But, they need a modern education...Better eat your vegetables and do your homework kids, the children in India and China are starving, and they are doing their homework!!
ReplyDeletei find boy scouts comments interesting.
ReplyDeletewhat do you consider a modern education??
what you see might surprise you
good old cynical richard.
ReplyDeletenever at a loss for words or a place to stick his nose in.
700 acres?? Thats a lot of land. Must be nice to have someone give you that much land. a great inheritance.
i bet it takes a big mailbox to get all those govt checks each month.
YOu bad mouth Friend, but your new supt lives here, must be better than good old Dorchester
hang in there buddy, we all love you
my friend was telling me about the blog site for dorchester and i had to see if for my self. an interesting project.
ReplyDeletei will have to disagree with cynical richard about the consolidaton issue. Many of the board members from dorchester were interested in consolidated a few years ago.
just like anything else, it may have been a good idea if it was approved then.
Our board has many quaifed candidates and do a good job in running our school.
stay in your own little world and you will be swallowed up by crete in no time
"Friend Fanatic" and "Neighbors to the West" managed to spark our collective ire -- something that only "Cynical Richard" and a certain anonymous reader have done in the past.
ReplyDeleteFirst, we find it interesting that "Fanatic" and "Neighbors" left comments within nine minutes of one another. We will assume we are directing our comments to the same person, especially considering the writing style.
Second, this publication and its editors oppose consolidation -- with Friend and any other area school. Now you know where we stand.
We realize there are things that Friend has done better than Dorchester. Investment in community infrastructure comes to mind. But Dorchester should learn from our "neighbors to the west" -- not necessarily join them.
Now, regarding subsidies to farmers, since you raised the issue, our readers should know that ag producers in the Friend zip code have received millions more in government payments than any other area community in just the past 10 years.
According to USDA data, from 1995-2005, Friend-area farmersreceived nearly $12 million more in government subsidies than Dorchester farmers; $11.6 million more than Crete farmers; $12.2 million more than Wilber farmers; and $11.7 million more than Milford farmers.
For the record, we do not have a problem with reasonable commodity price supports. We like the free market better; however, ag price supports are sometimes necessary. But to our friend in Friend, you may want to be more careful when launching stones from that big glass house of yours.
A modern education is one that has real value in the global economy, and is not at the mercy of corporations that decide to relocate. Why shouldn't students from Nebraska be recruited by corporations and schools worldwide? It requires that we as parents, school, and community give our best efforts towards the preparation and support of our students. It also requires that the conditions and materials needed for learning are not sub-standard.
ReplyDeleteImagine what we could do if the combined efforts made on behalf of athletics could be channeled toward academics, civil service, and personal reliance and responsibility. We cheer and encourage the marginal athletes to succeed. Let's encourage the marginal student to succeed. After all our IQ's can improve, just like our mile times.
The Indians and Chinese are not smarter, but most are hungrier. As evident in the history of this blog, Dorchesterites (?) come from a proud heritage of "hungry" people, who mobilzed their families many times. It certainly can be done again, if the collective will is directed toward the possibilities.
Scout's Honor
Good job dweller
ReplyDeleteLonghorns forever!!!!!
to the dweller
ReplyDeletemy house has tons of glass,sits on the golf course and its paid for.
thanks for your concern
Hey dweller, he may have a nice house on the golf course but he still can't get his family tree to fork. Thats a common problem in that town.
ReplyDeleteHa! Westsider gets the ribbon for funny of the day. Tell Friend Fanatic "thanks for the concern" but to quit worrying about Dorchester! Doesnt his town have their own community website.....or does he just like prying his nose into our business and selling the idea of consolidating schools to releive his school's debt????
ReplyDeletegood old richard,
ReplyDeleteyou are the man.
Yea, we would love to consolidate, we need a place to store some of our hazardous waste materials.
you started it
September 11 and the vote on the school can't come too soon. Even I am tired of the talk. It is going to get even louder in the coming weeks. Watch out for scare tactics by the opponents, just like those paving debates of '79 that they posted on here a while back.
ReplyDeleteGrain prices won't be this high forever - but valuation will continue to rise each year. Have you all thought about that? Landowners - think about that when the vote comes around -- on 9/11 (seems like an omen)
ReplyDeleteRemember it is the owners of farm land that will be strapped with paying for the majority of the school.
If some of you don't want to have your tax dollars go to Friend, how about all the Crete kids that are coming here. Those Crete parents aren't paying for this new school - but their kids are here. We get a little more state aid with those kids coming here, but that money doesn't go toward paying for the new building.
Sharing the debt for a school with Friend makes more sense.
to cynical richard,
ReplyDeletei love responding to your comments
we would love to consolidate with dorchester, it shows that we are looking towards the future
when they build the new school, are the going to have a room and a vet hired for the drug dog that is frequently in the school?
and to the westsider:
come on over and play a round of golf, we can use my cart, so dont worry about having to drive your pickup around the course.
HOW TRUE REALISTIC GRAD, WISH MORE PEOPLE WOULD FEEL THAT WAY, ISNT THAT WHAT WE ALL WANT A BETTER AND HIGHER EDUCATION FOR ALL KIDS, EVERYWHERE.
ReplyDeleteActually, I'd like a better return on my education investment, anonymous. That means improving my OWN town and my OWN school. If we were smarter, we'd be putting more time into looking at ways to get our kids (who cost a lot to educate) to CONSIDER returning to their hometowns. Guys like you want to CONSOLIDATE? Why???? So your kids can completely write off the communities that paid for their education. Not in my lifetime! Tell you what, anonymous. Why don't you and the other pro-consolidation forces sponsor a float in the 4th of July parade. Maybe your pals in Friend will pay for it. See what kind of reception you get. Put your superior ideas into action.
ReplyDeleteto all who want school consolidation,
ReplyDeletelook at what the "Friend still stuck in the high school days and pissed at Dorchester Fanatic" says about our town. Remember people like him will be associated with the Dorchester-Friend school if we consolidated. Do you want someone who is that close minded and opnionated to have a decision about your towns' school. I'm sure if it were up to him he would close the facility in Dorchester and build everything in Friend.
Ladies, gentlemen and realistic grad, the "Friend Fanatic" must be outsmarting you because he convinced you to support his side. This way he can have the new school in Friend that everyone will pay for in the Dorchester-Friend school district and his property value will increase, not yours. Think about it.
Realistic Grad, for your information I personally know a few good size farmers in this area who may or may not pay a lot more taxes for the new school than you, and I don't ever here them complaining. As a matter of fact they support the new school idea.
Also, to the "Friend Fanatic", I'm not the "village dweller", but I believe that they created this site to empower the Dorchester community, so if you don't have anything positive to post please keep your foul remarks off of this website.
GET A LIFE BOB, I DONT GET ON THIS VERY MUCH, BUT YOU MUST HAVE ALOT OF TIME ON YOUR HANDS. RUN FOR CONGRESS OR A SENATE SEAT. MAYBE YOU WOULDN'T HAVE SOME MUCH TIME TO SIT ON THIS COMPUTER, AND COMPLAIN ABOUT WHAT EVERYONE WRITES.
ReplyDeletereply to bob,
ReplyDeletetell me everything you know about the school system in our community, i have 30 seconds.
do you have kids in school? This school system needs some help and just because we put up a new building the problems are not going to just go away.
I have two kids in the school system. One already graduated. I make over $50k a year and I'm on vacation this week. I do alright, FYI, Rick's sweetie.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, for someone "who doesn't get on this a lot" it's funny to see two similar comments posted within five minutes of each other. The thing is I don't care if you're leaving comments every five minutes of every day. You're still wrong about the school! "Get a life" doesn't make you any more credible.
Nearly everyone has mentioned that with an approved school bond, their taxes will be too high and too expensive. Have I missed something? Has the school board, the architects, or bond counsel issued an estimate of tax consequence for each remodel option?
ReplyDeleteAlso, can anyone tell me what the penalties are for not bringing the school up to state code?
According to outgoing Superintendent Ehlers, the board at this time is looking at the $3.9 million replacement project (Option #2) instead of the renovation options. At the July meeting, the board will select a 15-, 20- or 25-year bond schedule. We are told that until that time, only rough estimates are available for the cost of the contemplated school improvements.
ReplyDeleteA $4 million bond issue for Dorchester Public Schools would add the following to property tax bills:
* 15 year = 28 cents per $100 ($280 per $100,000 of evaluation).
* 20 year = 23.5 cents per $100 ($235 per $100,000 of evaluation).
* 25 year = 20.5 cents per $10 ($205 per $100,000 of evaluation).
Ehlers also told us that currently, there are no penalties levied by the state for schools that do not meet code unless an agency -- such as the State Fire Marshal -- sees a risk in the building. "It could happen in 2007 or 2057," Ehlers wrote. "It would only take one parent to bring up the ADA issue and the school could be required to meet the needs of certain students. The state's codes is only one of the building issues. I hope this information is helpful."
We have kids that have attended or are attending this school.
ReplyDeleteYou can build a new school, but it's not a new building that makes the school a good school---it's what's inside that building.
We do have problems in this school and maybe we're heading in the right direction now, but I want to see some changes made before I'm going to support building a new school.
A new building is not the answer to a superior education.
As far as the dollars this is going to cost me, I have my summary of my house payment sitting in front of me and the escrow for insurance and taxes EACH AND EVERY month is $268.00. Add another $350 a year to that FOR THE NEXT 15-25 years and tell me that's not going to make a difference to me and my family.
Our two income family earns an above average annual income and with two kids in college, car insurance to pay for, groceries, gas, electricity, etc., etc., etc., it's STILL hard to make the dollars go as far as they need to, let alone try to save for any kind of emergency.
And what about grandma down the street? Say grandma brings in $500 per month in social security each month. She gets a 3% cost of living increase in her social security each month ($15.00). She owns a $100,000 home and will see a $23.33 per month increase in her tax liability for the next 15 years (according to Village Dweller). Those folks don't have a choice of getting a 2nd job, or anyway to increase their income each month. What are they supposed to do to cover their tax liability?
There are single, non-homeowners posting on here about wanting to build a new school---let them get married, have kids, and try to make a house payment as well as pay the rest of their monthly bills, then I'll have some respect for their opinions. Until then, their opinions don't mean anything to me.
It's always easier to spend someone else's money.
Anonymous: I see your staying up pretty late. We get the idea that you don't want a new school, but why would single people without kids be advocating for a new school? Why would they care??? Everyone with kids coming through the system are the ones who want the new school, at least that is what I gather from the dozens of taxpayers I've talked to.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, quit whining about your insurance. We all have to pay that! Its the cost of living and breathing.
ReplyDeleteMy home is valued right around $100,000. That means if the board goes with the 25 year bond, we'll be paying an extra $17 a month on our property taxes. LET ME REPEAT, an extra $17 a month. That's a bargain. It's a "public" education, NOT a "free" education.
If you want to change the "quality" of the school from the inside, you have the change the outstide, more specifically, the building and conditions. How will you get great teachers and administrators to work in a school that will not put some long term dedication into the school. I am not saying the staff on hand is not good, but you get the idea.
ReplyDeleteJust a quick reminder about "the old folks down the street on a fixed income":
ReplyDeleteI do not know what the specific number is in Saline County but most elderly and veteran homeowners are eligible for and receive a homestead exemption.
This means that if their property is appropriately valued and certain age and/or service time requirements are met than their property is exempt from property tax. Sometimes it is not completely exempt, sometimes only a portion of the full tax amount is to be paid.
The balance of the tax is repaid to the county by the state.
Please keep this in mind when worrying about how Aunt Mildred will pay for the extra levied tax...she will rely on the State of Nebraska.
Village Dweller did his/her homework -- Thanks for your info.
ReplyDeleteThose with the loudest voices on this blog are those that have maybe a $100,000 house - so they would only pay about $300 more a year. Not bad for now.
But look at the land owners -- their valuation is a little bit more than $100,000. A small to average farmer would probably have at least a $1,000,000 valuation so do the math on that one...that's not total tax on the farm -- it's in addition to what they pay now.
Not many of the big farmers are happy about it.....they are just afraid of voicing their opinions and getting trashed on this blog.
Property valuation always goes up -- so what will happen then? Oops -- should have talked to Friend - we could have gotten an even better school for less money. Who says it would have to be in Friend?
Seems to me like there's some irritation between several points of view on this website.
ReplyDeletePeople are yapping at each other because some think a brand new school ought to be built here while others are looking at this a little differently -- maybe more openmindedness is in order? What does it hurt to have some more options explored --
Good thing the second half of our property taxes are due right before the vote.
I know my bank account is going to be a lot smaller when I pay those taxes on my farms... (yes, I got a couple checks in the mail so don't start slamming me about that too) I'm sure going to think long and hard about the cost of a new building when I vote...and I'll think about the increase if the bond goes through. It's not that I don't see the need for new building - it's that I see there may be another way to look at things.
Some poor soul said that so many kids want to come here for a good education so they option in to Dorchester. That is a nice sentiment - and no doubt they will get a good education. I hope we don't start getting more than what we ask for and pretty soon be called Crete West. (Something like Kearney West?) Just for the sake of getting more money from the state?
Also it's very disturbing (and funny) to read some of the messages that are showing up here -- where did some of you people get your education??? Hope it wasn't Dorchester.
Seems to me we have a bit of a war going on here....but it is a good way to get info and opinions out
village dweller, were did you come up with this information, and why hasnt it been told at the board meetings, that the public went to.
ReplyDeleteis this fact, does anyone no what it would cost to just fix, what needs to be fix, do you have the price break down for that. also what would happen if the new school is built and down the road, we consolidate, do u know what happens then, iam just curious, the information you gave was good, but need facts about these other issues.
a reply to younger than dirt
ReplyDeleteyou think that by building a new school that the real problems will go away.
what about the underage drinking, the use of tobacco and drugs, the disrespect for property, the lack of respect for rules, attendance problems.
lets just not assume that by building a new school that the real issues will be taken care of and dorchester high will be the perfect place to go to school
just look at the park, new equipment was purchased and already has been vandalized.
lets look at the whole picture.
No doubt that farmers pay a large share of the property tax bill for education. However don't forget they pay at only 75% of valuation on farmground.
ReplyDeleteto anonymous.
ReplyDeletewho said that the cost of the taxes for the elderly will be picked up by the state.
Where do you think the state gets its money? TAxes
totally clueless
Hey anonymous, this is anonymous. Regarding taxes and homestead exemption: my point that I was trying to get across, is that there would be no negative property tax impact for folks that have a homestead exemption if a bond initiative was successful. Believe me, I understand where the State of Nebraska receives its money from, I was trying to streamline my comment in an effort to save time. However, for you, I shall go on. According to Section 77-3523 of the Nebraska State Statutes,"The county treasurer shall, on or before November 30 of each year, certify to the Tax Commissioner the total tax revenue that will be lost to all taxing agencies within his or her county from taxes levied and assessed in that year because of exemptions allowed under Chapter 77, article 35..." "Reimbursement of the funds lost shall be made to each county according to the certification and shall be distributed in six as nearly as possible equal monthly payments on the last business day of each month beginning in January. The State Treasurer shall, on the business day preceding the last business day of each month, notify the Director of Administrative Services of the amount of funds available in the General Fund for payment purposes. The Director of Administrative Services shall, on the last business day of each month, draw warrants against funds appropriated. Out of the amount so received the county treasurer shall distribute to each of the taxing agencies within his or her county the full amount so lost by such agency,..."
ReplyDeleteIn case I lost you, let me recap: the reimbursed monies paid by the State come from the General Fund. Which, true, is still derived from the payment of taxes like sales tax and income tax, it does not come from the allocation of a levied property tax, because as I am sure you are well aware of, property tax is only levied for use by local and county governments and not the State. Which was the point I was trying to make in the first place.
Next time I will try to be more specific in my posts, anonymous, thanks for the concern.
In case anyone was interested, Saline County has/will receive approx $525,000 of reimbursed homestead exemption funds this year.
to anonymous, you really know what your talking about, come to the next meeting at the school. would like to hear from you.
ReplyDeleteI would guess that most farmers want their children and gradchildren to get a good education. Sure, everyone complains about their tax bill, but look what you get for it. I think you can make a big difference in what happens inside the school depending on what you put INTO the school.
ReplyDeleteFor those who think the kids are the problem (tobacco, vandalism, etc.) I grew up thinking that parents taught their kids right and wrong. Maybe I'm really old fashioned but THAT IS NOT the school's job.
Did anybody else notice how after Friend Fanatic's last comment more than half the other comments were written and we've basically been taking potshots at each other? Ignore the lunatic fringe and don't think you need to emulate him. This should be a civil debate. Stop calling each other names or dissing someone else's opinion. Maybe they really know what they are talking about and maybe they live right next door to you.
Let me get this straight. Dorchester wants to level a good school, part of it is still new from last time, and build a new 4,000.000 dollar school in a town that still has dirt roads. This is like trashing a vintage mustang just to buy a new cadillac. WHAT A WASTE.
ReplyDelete