In response to my post, I’m Debating: Should I File a Complaint With Election Commission Against Kettering’s School Superintendent?, Eric and Rick made comments. Eric wrote, “It’s not too late to decide that bigger problems demand your attention and simply drop the whole issue. I personally would recommend not burning bridges with the school district …” Eric seems to be saying: “This doesn’t amount to much.” But I can’t see it that way.
The issue goes to the heart of our American educational system, described as one of “local control.” The five members of Kettering’s Board of Education at their April 23 meeting made no correction or clarification to Superintendent Robert Mengerink’s comments, showing unified solidarity with his comments about the 6.9 mill renewal levy.
At the board meeting, Mengerink said: “The backdrop (of this report) is a renewal we have on the ballot for May 5. A renewal means no additional taxes. It’s the same amount of money that our taxpayers paid for the last five years, they will continue to pay as long as they approve this renewal. Without it, we would lose close to 8 million from our current budget. And as you can see we have already reduced our cost rather dramatically, to try to keep our cost down for our taxpayers. It is just critical that we pass this levy. And it is a renewal — no additional dollars.”
I thought it funny that although the superintendent knew that the exact amount the levy will raise is $8.2 million — he said “close to $8 million.” Everyone who didn’t know otherwise would think that when Dr. Mengerink says “close to $8 million,” he means, something less that $8 million. Why minimize the impact that this levy might have on the district? I think Dr. Mengerink’s whole approach was to make the renewal seem as palatable as possible to taxpayers and his “close to $8 million” tax bill sounds better than $8.2 million tax bill. It is interesting that his “close to $8 million” comment corresponds in spirit with careful worded statement Dr. Mengerink made during the board meeting about the renewal levy — misleading, but technically correct.
No board member attempted to clarify the superintendent’s words. Three members are up for reelection this November to a new four year term. Frank Maus spoke passionately, urging a “Yes” vote. Julie Ann Gilmore gave a special report telling all the wonderful things happening in the district. George H. Bayless expressed enthusiastic support about the high school production of “Guys and Dolls.” But no board member made a peep to explain the superintendent’s remarks.
Board members, of course, had all agreed to promote the general campaign strategy and the slogan shown on the yard signs, “ZERO Increase In Taxes.” But, any board member serious about fulfilling his or her responsibility to the public to be guardians of “local control,” would never have agreed to such an antidemocratic strategy. By their participation in this levy campaign of misinformation and vote suppression, Maus, Gilmore, and Bayless lost my vote. Maus, Bayless and Gilmore didn’t want to rock the boat, and certainly they didn’t want to “burn any bridges.” Maus and Gilmore are former Kettering teachers and Jim Trent, the board president, is a retired Kettering superintendent. The “Trent Arena” is named for him. Kettering Board members have melded into the school bureaucracy in an honored role. They’ve forgotten their responsibility to represent and inform the public. They evidently see the role of board members to be that of school supporters, cheerleaders, team players. They obviously don’t see their role as guardians of “local control.”
Any board member who would have exercised his or her responsibility to represent and educate the public would have spoken up, something like: “When Dr. Mengerink says, ‘A renewal means no additional taxes,’ he means that this levy will generate the same amount of revenue, $8.2 million, each year, for the next five years. Right now that $8.2 million is generated through an effective rate of 6.16 mills. Agreeing to a renewal levy means that this effective rate, over the next five years, may increase from the current rate of 6.16 mills to 6.9 mills, where it started five years ago. At maximum, this would be a 12% increase. Unfortunately, the total tax base in Kettering is shrinking. In response to this shrinking tax base, the effective tax rate needed to raise this $8.2 million must increase. Last year, the effective rate for this levy was 6.13 mills, this year it is 6.16 mills. This amounts to an increase of 3 cents for every $1000 of taxed property. Next year there will be another small increase.” But, no school board member spoke up.
Eric continues his comment above, “It is far more important to American democracy that the work of Kettering Foundation be advanced in public schools.” “Local Control” of schools is a fundamental principle of American democracy. David Matthews of The Kettering Foundation says “democracy is essential to education.” One reason our schools are deficient is because our democracy is deficient. In order to have the kind of schools in which the Kettering Foundation can be successful, you need to have vital democracy first. I’m all for conducting school programs, but the democracy we need is grassroots participation by informed taxpayers and voters.
In the “Blue Ribbon Report,” the school publication sent to Kettering households, Dr. Mengerink is quoted as saying, “There will be absolutely no increase in taxes as a result of this Renewal Issue.” Absolutely — “having no exception.” He is quoted, “This is a renewal issue with no tax increase for property owners.” But the effective tax rate has already increased from last year to this year by 3 cents per $1000 and the superintendent knows that this effective rate will increase next year as well. I see no wiggle room. Dr. Mengerink made false statements designed to promote the adoption of the renewal levy. Dr. Mengerink, the board members, and many other people in on the game knew these statements to be false. The Ohio code prohibits the promulgation of false statements for the purpose of influencing a ballot’s outcome. Dr. Mengerink, as I see it, clearly went over the line and for the sake of the principle of “local control,” he and the school board deserve rebuke. This whole issue needs to be discussed as part of the coming board election.
Rick wrote, “As a said in another post, I believe most Americans are corrupt, and that includes those who seek levies to support government schools.” Rick’s idea that individuals are generally corrupt or generally corruptible is a view shared by authors of constitutions for democratic societies. Because every human is prone to corruption, constitutional democracy has built into its DNA a system of checks and balances. It has a bill of rights to protect the individual from mob rule. It has a system of elections where representatives of the people must stand and defend their actions. It has a process to make sure elections are fair. But none of this means much, if the system is not used, if, instead of a system checks and balances you have a system of cliques, secrecy, vote suppression, and misinformation.
If there is any place on the planet where democracy should be working, it is in Kettering, Ohio. This is an opportunity to sow the seeds of democracy. You can’t get much more grassroots than at the level of the local school board. It is my intention to file a complaint.
