Posted 1 month, 22 days ago in 
Loading ...
I support the bond initiative being pursued by School District 51. I am a very satisfied customer of School District 51.
My children have received exemplary educations, having had the opportunity to take many Advanced Placement and other challenging courses at Fruita Monument High School and, at least for my son, so far, the opportunity to go to one of the top colleges in the country.
It has also been very clear to me that the school district offers many such opportunities for students across the board. District 51 has put in place many programs to address advancement and growth for all students, including supporting educational choice, such as the Dual Immersion Academy, Independence Academy charter schools, New Emerson and Vision School, in addition to other alternative programs.
Publicly financed education is an important element of our free society. It has historically aided the assimilation of newcomers and been the catalyst for the American melting pot. It has also been the engine of growth and advancement in our society. Some of our district’s most fiscally conservative local and state leaders are in support of Issues 3A and 3B because they understand the negative impact that overcrowded schools have on our kid’s future and our community’s future, they like that the bond will sunset, and they appreciate that a citizen-led oversight committee will be in place.
Even in these turbulent times, because of our unique location and resources, it is likely that the Grand Valley will continue to grow, and to meet that growth, we need room for our students. Please support the school Bond Election, Issues 3A and 3B.
HENRY M. DUSENBURY
Grand Junction
9 Responses to “District proves that it is worthy of bond money”
Posted October 12th, 2008 at 11:07 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
They may be worthy but we may not have it to give.
With the coming economic crash we’re all going to have to make do. Maybe the district needs to take away some of the toys and trim the very top heavy personnel section. I don’t think we need so many top people. Maybe they should publish their budget and let the public weigh in on their expenses. Trimming fat is a way of their gaining monies.
As it is now, I don’t think we get good value for our money with this school system. Before asking for more, make sure you’re using what you have to it’s best advantage.
Posted October 12th, 2008 at 11:53 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
I voted AGAINST 3A and 3B and encourage others to do the same. District 51 doesn’t deserve citizen support until they become more transparent and accountable. When queried on just about anything, they’re stock response seems to be, “No Comment,” or “It’s a personnel matter, so we can’t discuss it.” Enough is enough!!
Posted October 12th, 2008 at 12:36 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Ok GJBubba, that’s twice you presented an opinion I agreed with.
Will you stop now before things get ugly and we start playing nice with each other?
Posted October 12th, 2008 at 1:08 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Willis - The odds of you and me playing nice with each other is about the same as John McCain being the next president.
Posted October 12th, 2008 at 1:18 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
The writer makes the asusmption that the school district wants every one to make, because some do well then the district has done its job. This faulty logic has been the district mantra years. The district is to be judged based on how all the students do. After all, if the district wishes to claim the credit for the writer’s daughter and my daughter, it needs to acknowledge its abject failure to help other students. The writer’s anecdotal comments about his daughter’s success are more than off set by the district’s dismal performance overall, 25% cannot read adequately, 50% cannot write adequately, and 70% cannot do mathematics adequately. ACT scores are flat. Dropout rates are 30%. Remedial requirements for those attending colllege are abysmal.
To judge the district based on the writer’s daughter alone, it to judge the football team based on the play of the left guard. To judge the organization, look at the outcome of the entire organization.
I have argued before, this is a bond issue about money for structural needs for the district. It is NOT a referendum about the effectiveness of the district. If the issue is to be voted on without considering the above numbers, it should also be voted on without consideration of the isolated successes of the district.
The sad part is the writer has served on several district committees, because of his sense of complacency. That same sense serves to diminish any desire by others to bring real change to the district through those committees.
Posted October 12th, 2008 at 3:07 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Oneperson - You are absolutely correct in your assessment of District 51’s performance. A minute percentage of high achieving students aside, the district’s performance is mediocre - a situation which seems traditional around here.
Posted October 12th, 2008 at 10:23 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Thank goodness Congress approved that bailout. Otherwise, the economy might be tanking.
Posted October 13th, 2008 at 12:42 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
passing the bond issues would continue to show outsiders that here in gj we still value education. we have a great superintendent, now school board, let him use his training to head the district we can all be proud, just a question? i’m assuming all the kids coming in have to do with the energy industry. are these companies putting into a general fund to build and benefit our schools.
Posted October 14th, 2008 at 7:48 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
“we have a great superintendent, now school board, let him use his training to head the district ”
Just curious, but on what do you base your judgement of greatness? Also, the Sup was trained here under Sup. Straface. Asking someone trained here to lead D1 to any degree of improvement is a wish close to a fantasy.
Finally, the BOE has seldom had an original thought about education. The chance that they are somehow impeding the Super’s drive for improvement stretches the imagination too far. Far more frequently they simply rubber stamp his recommendations and reports.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.