As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, 100 readers had taken the Times lastest online survey. And the results are clear cut.
Exactly 91% of respondents said they wanted to keep the basketball teams in Dorchester; the remaining 9% were split between combining basketball teams with Milford (4 votes) or combining basketball teams with another school (5 votes).
In December, the Dorchester Public School Board, somewhat unexpectedly and in expedited fashion, voted to ask Milford Public Schools allow a two-year co-op arrangement for girls and boys basketball.
A couple of weeks ago, this blog offered our opinion, writing that merging both basketball teams with Milford (or any other school) is unnecessary and unwise. And we cited several reasons the school board should reconsider its decision. (See our editorial by clicking here.)
While this poll is unscientific, we did ask that only readers residing in the Dorchester school district (District No. 44) and/or who pay property taxes in the school district participate in the survey. The survey closed at 5 p.m.
Here is a summary of the results:
Concerning property taxes, I would like to know what the implications are if we leave things as they are, or if we implement a two year merger, or if we make the merger permanent possibly even leading to consolidation at some point. Will property taxes go up or down under the various options? Can anybody answer what happens long term?
ReplyDeleteTo the "anonymous" above, it doesn't take an economist to know that consolidation leads to more efficient schools = less property taxes. That said dorchester district voters spoke clearly in 2008 (with more than 60% majority) saying they wanted a new school and did not want to discuss consolidation. So the question now is do we turn our backs on a $4.5 million investment?
ReplyDeleteTo the second poster: The first poster asked a reasonable question. Why must you begin your response with " it doesn't take an economist to know..." This makes you sound rude and immature.
Delete83% real dorchester fans
ReplyDeleteI hope those 83% show up to the school board meeting Monday night! Let's do something positive, together as a community, and show our support for our children who want to continue the tradition. Rock on Longhorns!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is not out of line for the school board to have a plan in place in the event the participation is too low. A student should not be denied sports just because no one else wants to. It is best for the team to stay local and Dorchester has a wonderful facility, but low numbers does not make a team.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of your opinion except the last 8 words. The girls only had 7 out for basketball last year and they still considered themselves a TEAM. Good statement though, board member.
DeleteWait until march, I think our board members will have a cow, when they find out how many kids will be opting out, really did you members think about the that one, we are going to lose kids, to other schools. Once it gone is not coming back, just like our kids, who going to have the last laugh, I think our board, needed to think alittle harder before they let it go threw. If its a done deal, why was it done secretly, it because, they didnt want the dorchester residents, to have a say. Well if you read the times, and talk to the people in Dorchester you might of found that out. I think our board should be ashamed, of the way things were handle. I know I am ashamed of them, no matter if they thought it was right 5or 6 pepole dont have the right to mess up the legacy of the dorchester longhorn tradition, without the right of the residents imput. Just saying.
ReplyDeleteDorchester leaders, parents and students, as an alumni from the late 70s who does not live in the area anymore, I say this. Be very careful what you're doing. Ben Franklin once said as he emerged from the constitutional convention, when asked what the founders had given them, he said "A republic, if you can keep it." The same goes for the school. It only takes one generation to mess up decades and centuries of work. Talk to one another, be understanding, then do what the majority feels is best. Like it or not, you're all here at the same time in the same place. You're all in this together, make it work!
ReplyDeleteRemember, what doesn't kill you makes you STRONGER!
DeleteBravo! Give me one good reason we'd forfeit our teams if we do not have to??
ReplyDeleteHello! I am from Friend and I have several friends in Dorchester. I must tell you all that I am confused about the controversy over your basketball teams. I know there are a few school board members here in Friend who would love to see Dorchester just consolidate fully with our school, mostly to address our school debt problems, but I'm not one of those people. I can't understand why your board would want to consolidate your kids' basketball teams though, especially when you have enough kids to play. There are several of us in Friend, and I'm sure other surrounding communities, who are quite envious of your facilities and new school. I love our new gym but I'd trade you school buildings in a heartbeat. LoL! Just a little friendly advice from Friend, you've got one heck of a school building. Keep your kids in your close-knit town.
ReplyDeleteClearly your not really from Friend, I do not believe that Friend school has any debt problems and I only know of one board member that was pushing consolidation. I feel that each district should hold on to what they have as long as they can and it makes no sense that our board would cave in to go with Milford this fast when we have enough kids. However if we keep pushing our kids to go with Milford, we won't have a school left and Milford won't keep our nice facility as an attendance center.
DeleteClearly I am from Friend because I know our school district is over $1.5 million in the red. That means deficit if you're as good with math as you are with spelling.
DeleteAnnually, in Nebraska, a public school district's budget must be approved by the local board of education, after a public hearing. The budget is then submitted to the respective county treasurer, the Nebraska Department of Education, as well as the Nebraska State Auditor's office for careful vetting.
DeleteBy state statute, a public school district must submit a balanced budget. And while a public school district may well experience a cash-flow problem (for example, if tax receipts are late--property taxes are due twice a year, but they do not have to be paid on the due date) they can NOT operate in the red or present a deficit budget--simply can't be done. School districts that experience a cash-flow problem have a number of options available to them. One of those options is to borrow against anticipated tax receipts (taxes that eventually MUST be paid and distributed to the school district) until the taxes are ultimately collected and distributed to the school district.
School budgets are public documents--get yourself a copy, look it over, ask questions (the school superintendent will answer your questions--that's his job), and if all else fails--go to a budget hearing. Everyone benefits from being well informed--nobody benefits from blatant misinformation.
My only question: Who are the 9% and are they even concerned about our community of Dorchester and the surrounding area?
ReplyDelete