Editorial: School Board, don’t ask for more
by Matt Marquardt, read to Mason City School Board on July 16, 2012 -
I have some prepared remarks regarding agenda items 2, 3 and 11. Item 2 is the 3.94% proposed pay raise for teachers; item 3 is an undisclosed pay raise for the Superintendent, Administrative employees, and others; and item 11 is regarding the board’s discussion to ask for new taxes in the community.
In general, I feel these three items feed off of each other.
As you grant these pay raises, and at the same time, little or no scrutiny is given to your overall budget, this board seems blind to the fact that the community can no longer support this spending spree.
As I look upon this board, most of you are from above-average income households, households with doctors, lawyers and other professionals in them. You seem to ignore the fact that property values have dropped in Mason City; in many cases, you cannot sell your home for what you could in 2001, even as the cost of living soars.
As one NorthIowaToday.com reader pointed out this morning, FEMA and the city have bulldozed many homes, and “city owned property don’t pay taxes.”
Jobs are scarce in Mason City unless you are willing to wait tables, push carts, or stand behind a counter. There are countless citizens on fixed incomes, inching by. The community has been punished for years by a murderer’s row of increases from Alliant Energy, City Hall water rates, the grocery store and… the Mason City School District.
Just today on NorthIowaToday.com, a woman calling herself “Erica” wrote “I work over 40 hours a week & it isn’t enough to support one child, myself & our pets. I receive food stamps & WIC even though I work over time. Minimum wage Mason City jobs just don’t cut it.”
In my interaction with the community, and I’m not talking about the country club types or the cultural crescent dwellers, I’m talking about real people that don’t have much, they know hardly anything about this school board, what you spend, where your money comes from. They may not care; their concerns lie in making their rent and sometimes their next meal. What I do hear consistently is that the Mason City School District will ask, ask, ask for more from the community, spend it all, and then ask for more. Is this the reputation you want in the community?
As I canvas the city at all hours, I see what you are ignoring; I see people shuffling down the street, pushing can carts, many homes in disrepair, weeds; shuttered businesses. The community is deteriorating from the bottom-up, and yet you ask for more. You have student enrollments dropping year after year; you serve fewer children, this is undeniable and there is no reverse to this trend in sight. You have near-record numbers of children on free and reduced price lunches.
Why do you think this is?
Could it be because parents make less money?
And yet you ask for more. Do you not realize that your budgets and tax burdens reach all corners of the city, it affects all citizens?
The rental industry in this city is booming at this time. The landlords will absorb your tax increases and pass it on to their tenants. The downward cycle continues.
I would implore this school board to think of the community first and not simply how to grab cash for the district and your colleagues that work for it; do not ask for more. Why can’t you set an example for the kids and work with what you have, go back to the basics. Instead of $50,000 for assessments to show teachers what their students are not learning, try a pop-quiz; that’s how we did it back in the day.
Mrs. Micich, and other administrators making over six figures, I would ask you, how much is enough, how much more can you squeeze out of this town? This is not West Des Moines, this is not Iowa City, people just plain make less here, and so should you.
To the school board, your volunteer service is appreciated. That being said, I would ask you to go back to the drawing board and tighten the belt, perhaps even shrink the budget if that is possible. Forget your established long-time friendships, allegiances and routines; you do not serve them. You serve the citizens of Mason City. The community would be grateful.
Thank you.
Watch video:
15 Responses to Editorial: School Board, don’t ask for more
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Concerned Citizen
July 18, 2012 at 10:19 am
Matt is a community leader and I applaud him. We should give him a standing ovation. Sometimes when it is the darkest and we are most in need someone bravely steps up and risks their reputation and their livelihood to do what’s right. I don’t even know this guy but he has courage, something I wish more people had and maybe we would not be in this mess. Do the decent thing and vote these board members out. You as citizens do have power but only if you go and vote. Does anyone know when next school board election is and who is up for re-election. It’s the only way to get change folks. Band together and get some fiscally responsible people in there that get what is going on–it’s called reality.
Summers Off
July 17, 2012 at 8:29 am
Again, shut up and pay more taxes. You may be making less than you did 10 years ago, but thats not our problem. We want more, and you cant stop us. Pay up!!
Anonymous
July 17, 2012 at 8:47 am
******We want more, and you cant stop us. Pay up!!******
If that were not TRUE is would be funny.
I am scared!!!
LVS
July 17, 2012 at 8:14 am
Matt-Very well said and it was the absolute truth. The problem is I think it fell on deaf ears as far as those elite people are concerned. They are so hung up on their own importance they could really care less about the common taxpayers in this town. Our kids are less and less prepared and educated even though we spend more and more money on so called education. Again, great job by you and I am sure it made them uncomfortable for a minute but by the end they were badmouthing you for daring to make something public that we all know but they don’t care about. Maybe it is time for a revolution to bring these people back to reality. Thank you for your help.
Joe
July 17, 2012 at 8:01 am
TOO LATE!!! Our School Board = Blank Check
Anonymous
July 17, 2012 at 5:00 am
Amen Brother – well said – so true!
LCSR
July 17, 2012 at 2:02 am
I’ve heard a few families from Mason City send their kids to Central Springs under open enrollment.The numbers would be interesting I would bet? I would also think we had more students in school here in the 70′s and 80′s. Now they ask for much more for less students.
Matt Rezab
July 17, 2012 at 12:23 am
Was there a response to your statement? If so, why wasn’t it included in the video?
Matt Marquardt
July 17, 2012 at 12:25 am
They will no longer respond to any statements from the public. That was made clear after the last time I spoke to them.
Observer
July 17, 2012 at 2:59 am
Matt, I must commend you on the comments made before the Board. It was an honest assessment of what the reality of Mason City is today. I also want to thank you for including the comments of readers here as well. It is nice to know that what we say here, can somehow make a difference.
I am not sure how they will react to what you said, but I am sure it was not very well recieved. I also predict, sadly, that they will come up with some statistic showing that an increase will not be a burden to the citizens. (the price of a candy bar every day?)
Again, thanks for your efforts.
JBJ
July 16, 2012 at 10:52 pm
well put. it is tough to take a stand.
JCKMCT
July 16, 2012 at 10:44 pm
Hwy Matt thanks for telling these people something they needed to hear. TOo bad they went right back to dreaming up ways to raise taxes. What about that blue zone dude who interrupted you, that was rude as hell. The only times theres class in that room is when you show up. Thank god for NIT.
Anonymous
July 16, 2012 at 10:35 pm
Great article Matt. Now if only they would listen.
TheRealFred
July 16, 2012 at 10:31 pm
Well said, Joe.
Mason City teachers and administrators make salaries that absolutely blow away those of the teachers and administrators from surrounding communities and across town. Yet they want more.
Mo’ money, mo’ money…..Enough is enough!
Joe
July 16, 2012 at 9:57 pm
Good article! Mo’ Money, Mo’ Money!!! Freeze wages & taxes!