Four Ludington School Millage Myths: DEBUNKED!

[XLFD]

Our late arriving spring still has a lot of things flying around Ludington that aren't insects, it's outright lies propagated by the Ludington Area School District (LASD) and their allies, many who should know a lot better.  Many do, but they reiterate tired homilies, have sympathetic and friendly print and social media print them over and over again so that it will be rote for the majority of the population when May 7th comes. 

Incredibly, many of the 'self-evident' claims they broadcast to the area just so happen to not make a lot of sense under analysis.  

MYTH 1:  The Lower Elementary Buildings are Functionally Obsolete and Need Replacing

"The State of Michigan defines the useful life of a school building at 40 years old."  - Vic Burwell and March LASD flyer

"These buildings are well used and bursting at the seams, and do not always provide the ideal learning environment necessary for success in the 21st century." - Shelby Soberalski

DEBUNKED:  The state legislature has never passed a bill up to the governor for signing into law declaring that the useful life of schools are 40 years-- in fact, one can only seem to find that declaration in pro-millage literature throughout the state.  It may even seem reasonable in these days from a culture that promotes disposability and recycling among many everyday things.

Yet, what makes a learning institution prestigious, that is, what makes a school inspire respect and admiration from prospective students and their parents?  Is it brand new buildings following the latest trend in education.  No, it's quite the opposite:  every single college and school at the top of 'most prestigious' lists not only possess buildings over a hundred years old, they feature them prominently in their marketing literature.  The top 3 universities by reputation in 2018 in the world and their oldest building(s) still standing that add tremendously to that aura are:

1) Harvard University: Massachusetts Hall (1720)

2) MIT: MacLauren Building, Killian Court, etc. (1916-17)

3) Stanford University: Main Quadrangle (1887-1906)

Cambridge and Oxford Universities, the next two on the list sitting in England, have buildings over 500 years old.  The same holds true for the three most prestigious non-secondary schools of the world:

1)  Phillips Exeter Academy: Academy Building (1912)

2)  Lawrenceville School (NJ): campus buildings built in 1894-5, it's a national landmark

3)  Phillips Academy Andover (MD): Bulfinch Hall 1819 and Graves Hall 1882, Pearson Hall 1817 

New buildings constructed to last for about as long as their roof does (30-40 years) do not inspire too many people and this is already part of the DNA of the proposed new school on Bryant Road.  Such transience started being the norms for new schools built since the middle of the twentieth century, when the thinking changed to where new school buildings every forty years seemed a better idea.

This thinking describes every Ludington school but one, built back when schools were meant to last more than a couple of generations and architects stood proudly behind their design:  Foster Elementary.   Built primarily in 1925, Foster Elementary currently serves about 450 3rd-5th Grade students in the heart of Ludington's residential districts, using only 12 of 16 classrooms within the walls.  It has been renovated a couple of other times over the last twenty years to modernize and expand, in recognition of the proud heritage it has had for nearly one hundred years.  It shall never be a centennial school if this millage passes.

MYTH 2:  You Can't Teach Superior 21st Century Learning in Inferior 20th Century Schools

"We have had problems recruiting people to live in Ludington due to our out dated educational facilities... We need to have schools that reflect our commitment to our future" - Eric Erwin

"Providing a new up-to-date facility will enhance the foundational opportunities of development... The LASD secondary complex will also be updated to 21st century learning" - Mary & Don Klemm

DEBUNKED:   How many different ways of teaching were tried in the 20th Century?  Too many to count, and a diverse range of 20th Century teaching methods are taught successfully still in 20th Century and older facilities.  When our educators can't even explain the tenets of 21st Century learning and why it demands we alter our facilities so dramatically, you may just find yourself glomming onto the latest fad that may wreck our educational system in Ludington.

After the Visigoths sacked Rome early in the 5th century which ushered in the Dark Ages, would not the 5th Century Learning that followed be a bit inferior to the Fourth Century Learning of the Romans?  The same could be analyzed here in comparing what are called 21st century skills with what Ludington is accomplishing without fully investing in the trend.  

Many schools have had recent upgrades, some have embraced 21st Century protocols to prepare for a digital age, but guess what:  Our quiz bowl team is the current state Class B champions, and our archaic 20th Century skills have fostered an O-bot team that has qualified for the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) worldwide tournament for the second year in a row.

Looking deeper at 21st Century skills, we find that they emphasize the four 'C's:  Collaboration, Communication, Critical thinking, and Creativity.  They also embrace the implementation of the two 'C's in education:  Common Core.  Common core is a top-down approach from a set of educators in Washington DC that likely have no notion of the skills you need to thrive in your region.  It also seems to go completely counter to the four 'C's (read this recent essay by a noted educator).  

If 21st Century learning can only be accomplished through radical changes of the school and its curriculum, this should thoroughly be analyzed by the public as to see why it is not as adaptable (and successful, as our academic teams illustrate) as 20th Century learning. 

MYTH 3:  The Public was Actively Involved and Closely Listened to in the Process

"During the planning process: 11 community forums/Transformation/Think Tanks were held."  - March LASD Flyer

"The LASD strategic planning process has been in the public eye, and discussed in open LASD board meeting discussions since 2015... Clearly LASD believes that an accurately informed public is critical for our community." - Rick Plummer

DEBUNKED:  According to the LASD's own facilities assessment page, the community were only involved in five 'meetings', beginning about a year ago:

April 25, 2018:  Think Tank

May 31: Facilities Development update to community 

June 27:  Community presentation Scenarios F,G,H

Sept. 25:  Community forum

October 10:  Community Forum

The board had presentations to them on the project May 21st, October 29, and November 19th where the public was able to attend.  At the last meeting they chose between two scenarios that were never brought before the public prior to that meeting (scenario J and K), yet the local media left out that they would be choosing any scenario that night, nor was it on the agenda.

Frankly, they tried to keep the public out of the loop for the longest time, because there isn't one solution that the public would be happy with, the survey suggests that.  LASD didn't start providing the public information on its site until I suggested they do that as part of a FOIA request last June.  

I attended the very last community forum as an observer, where Scenarios A-H were bandied about along with a couple of other ideas and saw enough to reason that the public would be listened to but not heard any of the general consensus of those gathered become either scenario J and K.  These were two artificial options that favored the contractors, not the taxpayers.

MYTH 4:  Going Over $100 Million in Debt is a Great Investment in Our Kids

"An investment into the long-term success of our daughters, school system and community."  - Seth Earl

"The proposal represents a great deal of money" - Mike Nagle

DEBUNKED:  Going deep in debt is an investment in long-term success of our community?   All of the children going to LASD schools right now will be paying for these 'improvements' for many years should they decide to stay in the area, providing those jobs magically appear from companies moving into the area who are not taken aback by the increased tax burden placed on them by a 'yes' vote on May 7, 2019.  

But even before that, you and every business in the district will be collectively paying out millions and millions of dollars each year to pay for the luxury of moving our kids into the 21st century and outside of the city limits in a quiet little forest.  Some individuals are assuredly at their break-even point, but what of our businesses?

Harsco recently took their 300 union jobs south and over $15,000,000 out of the local economy, other businesses are just eking by or preparing to reevaluate their position and whether they can succeed.  Those that leave, leave behind more debt for the rest of us; those that consider moving here, see a millage rate ready to go up significantly and reconsider. 

This is a great deal of money, which piles up with all of the other infrastructure improvements needed in the area that has sent the City of Ludington tens of millions in debt for mandated water and sewer projects, with tens of millions more to come.   This falls not only on city residents but on all those other townships and Scottville who effectively need to fee the service ever upward.  

School improvements cannot be looked at in a vacuum, there is a bigger picture here that is not being looked at by the average pro-millage person.  Would you put your own household in deep debt on a speculative venture like this is, where the 'improvement' might actually hurt your family more in the long run?

CONCLUSION:  This millage is not only being pushed on us by an almost exclusive cadre of wealthy investors affiliated with West Shore Bank, who are the likely benefactors of the interest on our debt payments, but also by Christman Construction and GMB Architects who seem to have been given the informal nod by LASD long before there was competitive bidding performed this last November (not to mention the other three contractors who didn't have to submit bids for their services).  The competitive bidding process was deeply flawed, as will be duly pointed out.

You will find that many of the above links lead to the Mason County Press, as they have featured nine letters to the editor over the last 18 days (that's one every two days) all in favor of the millage in one way or the other using one or more of the four myths.  Is it just coincidental that the editor of that website has a wife that sits on the Scottville (MCC) School Board who is probably just waiting in the wings to introduce more debt to her school district if Ludington's bond measure passes?  I know one area 'news' source that will market that.

[Freedom Seeker]

The LASD is making an all out asserted campaign to get this millage passed.  I hope there are two for every one that can see through this and look at the bigger long term city debt.  We have hardly started getting our sewer repairs started.  We are somewhere near $50 million debt on water/sewer infrastructure.  It'd be nice if the city would lay out our budget needs before this vote is taken.

[XLFD]

I would remind everybody currently on both sides of this issue, or stuck on the fence, to realize that this bond issue isn't an emergency situation.  Your kids, grandkids, etc. will still receive quality education in adequate facilities for the rest of this school year and the next, regardless of whether this millage passes or fails.  

With that in mind, honestly consider whether this is the way you want to go with your schools.  If you honestly agree with everything planned then you should vote 'yes'.  You should even consider voting 'yes' if you honestly agree with it for the most part (without strong objections) and honestly believe our community can handle the costs without undue hardship.

However, if you believe the cost is too much, if you don't think it's sound policy for the abandonment of community schools without solid plans for their rehabilitation in order to bus kids to a new remote school that will need to be replaced in 40 years, and/or expect more debate and involvement in a process that asks you to donate so much each year for many years, then you should definitely vote 'no' and start a process over that will take these issues, and much more, into deeper consideration.  

[Willy]

Excellent article X. College student debt now exceeds all other debts in the U.S. Passing this huge tax increase is not a message that should be promoted to children who plan to attend college by prepaying with a student loan. With leftists running the education system we can look forward to a decrease in learning and increase in debt for many years to come. Putting a 40 year life cycle on schools is not logical. By using that thinking most of the houses in Ludington should be torn down and rebuilt. There are universities in Michigan including State and U of M who have many buildings well over a hundred years old. I truly hope people see thru this scam. Those of you who rent may be thinking it won't affect you but you need to understand that your landlord  does not provide the taxes for the building you live in, you do, so, help keep your rent down by voting no.  I have older relatives that attended one room schools and they received an excellent education without the internet or a laptop and digital data streams. Many kids today cannot function without an electronic device. Also common core is a disaster.

[AQUAMAN]

Great research and analysis X, along with many truths and thinking that makes so much more sense for our kids futures. The facts of this bond at this particular timing is also very noteworthy. For some reason, the LASD and it's puppets think we can easily afford this kind of bond, and without competitive bidding by local contractors that might also make alot more sense. Praying for this bond to fail, and in great numbers, else, we locals are financially doomed, and the kids are not going to be better off for education nor facilities to learn at.

[Smile a Little]

I truly respect everyone's opinion about these matters, but I do need to say that some of the "myths" in this article are simply not accurate or misrepresented.  I would like to point out just a couple:  

Myth 1:

-The schools are over capacity.  I go into the schools to volunteer and know this for a FACT.  All the classrooms are used and there is not enough rooms for essential specialities to the schools such as: speech, technology, counseling, special ed, ect. THIS IS FACT.  Anyone that says different has NOT been in the schools.

-Rooms do make a difference.  I teach and have taught several things for children.  A room does make a difference.  Please do not say otherwise unless you actually have experience.

-The "old" schools mentioned have ALL been updated extensively and at a much higher cost than anything proposed for Ludington. I actually went to an "old" College like the ones mentioned above, and while my college still had old buildings it also had very very nice new ones. Also, many of the "older" buildings had been updated at an actual greater cost than just building a new facility.

Additionally, the schools mentioned are all private facilities that are able to limit the number of students that attend and classroom sizes further making the comparison to Ludington schools like comparing an apple to a lima bean.

Myth #3

ALL the school board meetings are open to the public (except disciplinary ones).  Nothing was done behind closed doors and I went to a few of these school board meetings and forums.  There was always a time for public comments. When I looked at the paper, these meetings were covered by the press.  I got numerous notifications in numerous ways about the public forums and about participating in the surveys. It is a false statement, that I and public record can verify, that every effort was not made to involve the public.  The public was as involved as it wanted to be.

These are just a couple of things that I know to be true.  I can see the point you are trying to make on some things, but I had to clarify some facts. :)

[Willy]

I appreciate the information Smile. As far as over capacity is concerned, this is an arbitrary decision made by the school systems. It's like asking  workers in other fields how to make their job easier, Of course they would say less work, more pay, more help and of course less hours. I can remember a time when 40 kids were in a class and they all learned very well. Teachers didn't have teachers aids and they looked after the children during lunch and recess. All of that is now done with teachers well paid helpers.  Discipline has deteriorated since the "each child is exceptional" thinking was introduced and many boys are now drugged to make them more easy to handle. I'm not saying there can't be improvements but most everything that has been "improved" upon has been for teachers and staff. The colleges mentioned,at least by me, are state funded schools which in themselves are huge money pits. Less instructors and more on line classes and snowflake courses has not made higher education better. I don't know where you are from but anytime I have been involved with the school system the parents are politely told by the teachers and administration that they are the experts so their decisions and opinions are what  counts. They may listen but they will do whatever they want. If you can say without breaking into laughter that 100 + million dollars for a small school district like Ludington would improve education and not line the pockets of contractors and Administration then I have slightly used beach at the end of Ludington Ave for sale. Ludington may or may not be better than the average school system but spending tax dollars like a drunken lottery winner is not the answer.

VOTE NO

[Freedom Seeker]

True, Willy!  It's about the $100 million for a small town that just lost over 400 jobs.  

And ONLY $16 a month for some people is huge, maybe the difference between paying taxes or some necessity like food or Medicine.

The YES committee should be more specific where all this $100 million would be going.   It's like the city budget.  Enough is not enough.  And we are $50. Million in debt and need more to finish sewer infrastructure.  VOTE NO.

[XLFD]

Hi Sir Smile-a-little, I've been preoccupied by some other stuff, here's a brief answer to your counter-refutations, in order, if Willy's wasn't sufficient. 

None of the facility assessments state that any of  the schools are over-capacity, Ludington enrollments have went down significantly over the last five, ten and fifteen year periods, so any perceived crowding is just poor utilization of the buildings.  I was substitute teaching from the late 1990s to 2010, spent time in all of these buildings, when there were hundreds of more students.  Not crowded then, not now.

Rooms make no difference to an adequately skilled teacher.  I subbed often at Freesoil which had a variety of different sized rooms.  No difference, and since I have experience, you must actually assign weight to that assessment.

If you actually took the time to look at the facility assessments, it would not require a lot of cash outlay to remodel Foster so that it would be ADA, fire, and modern-tech compliant.  It generally is already so, having extensive rework done 10 and 20 years ago.  It's just a waste of resources abandoning a facility like Foster.  Franklin, PM, and Lakeview are all more debatable in that regard, so I see nothing wrong with consolidating them, as it would likely save money not only in the long run, but immediately.

I just don't get the point where you say comparing private school buildings to public school buildings is different because different rules apply to class size.  It just escapes my lima bean sized brain.

While I will grant you that the public was mostly AWOL from the get go, I have been keeping track since it got on my radar in the middle of last year, and made three FOIA requests to supplement my knowledge, the first prompted the school to start an information page on their website, which was greatly appreciated.  The others showed the school was acting outside of their bylaws, not following their own competitive bid process for contractors and not following the law by paying for marketing of the bond proposal.  With the recent full page ad in the newspaper showing hundreds of people voting 'yes'-- including some who were actually going to be voting 'no'-- the school has done this poorly, and let the contractors do their own planning.

[stump]

  Everybody say's it's about the kids. Has anyone noticed how many Grandpas and Grandmas are back to working in their retirement years. Social security and small pensions don't pay enough to keep their homes now in Ludington . I don't feel sorry about the kids as they will just move on to higher wages elsewhere . It's the older generation that will hold the tax burden till they die or just cut their losses and move to a more sane community. Who are these people who vote yes on stupid spending?

[shinblind]

They hold the dream that they can tax themselves into prosperity.

The demographics state:  

...there is a higher percentage of females than the state or national average.

...there are more who live below the poverty line than the state or national average.

...they are less educated than the state or national average.

...they earn less than the state or national average.

...they are much older than the state or national average.

When they get their property tax bills or rent increases, then the realization of what they have done will hit them, otherwise it is all short term feel good'ism, "look at me how smart I am" while getting ass raped.

[Freedom Seeker]

Interesting analysis and statistics, shinblind--especially thinking we can tax ourselves into prosperity. I'm afraid when the economy takes its next tank, there may be a running for the hills from the taxes in Ludington. What does that then do to our local economic prosperity? What happens when this invincible 30-something mentality realizes they are not so invincible? Absolutely positive thinking only goes so far. Without jobs to sustain the increasing taxes, I'm afraid we ain't going to succeed no matter how educated these new $100 million dollar walls make the young generation. We won't need as much new signage if we don't have no where to go.

[Du Wright]

At least the Fourth and Sixth wards had enough sense to vote against this crazy bond.  Cash is king and debt is dumb.