Once upon a time...

Not so long ago
Tommy used to work on the docks
Unions been on strike
He's down on his luck...it's tough, so tough
Gina works the diner all day
Working for her man, she brings home her pay
For love - for love

She says we've got to hold on to what we've got
Cause it doesn't make a difference if we make it or not
We've got each other and that's a lot
For love - we'll give it a shot

Whooah....

I do loves me some Bon Jovi's. Okay some lots of Bon Jovi's. So, I must admit I had to watch them perform on the Grammy's. Oooooh baby. Isn't he so cute (Jon that is)? But, I have to admit (that's 2 confessions in one post) I gots meself a little sumthin sumthin for the Richie too. I prefer the new and surgically improved Richie Sambora, but nonetheless these boys are not only cutie patooties, but super amazing musicians. I have never heard a performance that I didn't love by them, but I've got a complaint tonight... who the heck was the chick they let sing with these musical perfections? If I wanted to watch a chick thinking she was a big deal, superstar sing I would have just watched Lady Gaga perform.

I like my Bon Jovi pure and original, no overexuberant chicks get to sing with these jersey boys unless its me.

So, enjoy the pics of the boys. Your welcome :)

Oh, and just in case you are singing it in your head (or out loud) here's the rest of the lyrics:

We're half way there
Livin on a prayer

Take my hand, we'll make it - I swear

Livin on a prayer

I'm on a mission...

...and I'm wishing someone would cure my lonely condition. Okay, okay, just a little flashback from 7th grade.
The School Board Meeting went great! But if you weren't there (and I know you weren't that's why I have a lonely condition) you still have a chance to do your civic duty next month on February 9th-same time same place.
Thanks to those people who showed up and had the guts to speak up. My wet pants can tell you it was intense and a little intimidating, but hopefully we are making a difference.
There were several people who made "patron comments" at the meeting and the board heard from many of them the same things that people from our group expressed. Those comments were basically be responsible with our money, raise taxes to ease the burden on the cuts that are necessary, cut things that don't impact the classroom directly, cut across the board to minimize the impact on one group or area, and keep Jordan a place where good teachers and leaders and students want to be.
I hope to see you at the next board meeting February 9th. If you need help preparing comments to the board I've got your back. We would like to see 2 or 3 people at least comment next month to support our cause. So that's you!! Just comment or email me if you are a willing participant and I will get you on the agenda.
ah hem (clearing my voice to finish my rap) lookin for love in all the wrong places, no find love just ugly faces. That should do for now.
Be Strong and of a Good Courage!!

What I will say to the school board: (read all three recent posts)

#1 I expect the District to use my tax dollars at the district level more efficiently. I expect a fine tooth comb to be raked over district level spending, and cutting the things that don't better my child's education. Does the size of district leadership and administration match the new smaller size of the district? Are we a top heavy district like some outside the district claim? Let's figure that out and cut where needed.
#2 I expect every citizen of the district boundaries to pay for quality education for our students. This will require a tax increase, and I encourage you to make the difficult and politically incorrect decision to raise taxes the maximum that has been proposed. Which will cost the average home owner of a $200,000 home an added $10 per month on your tax bill. Doing this first will minimize the amount that will be necessary to cut from subsequent areas.
#3 I expect every citizen within the boundaries of the new Jordan School District to get involved and get the State Representatives and Senators out of office that caused our district to be in such a bad position in the first place. They caused the problem that we are now facing, why do we keep voting them in?
#4 I expect you to keep class sizes minimally impacted. We cannot expect 1 teacher to teach 5 or 6 more kids and be effective. Class sizes in our district are already to large. Don't make the mistake of increasing them just because you don't want to make the difficult decision to raise taxes. Class size increase should be last on your list of changes to help the budget.
#5 I expect that funding for paraprofessionals that work one-on-one with kids in the classroom will remain intact. We need aides and technicians in the classroom helping kids who fall behind or have special needs. Teachers already do more with less. If classroom helpers are cut, teachers will be able to do even less with less. If you get more from the taxpayers, you will be able to cut less in this area.
#6 I expect the teachers and leaders in our district to be well trained and to have continuous improvement in their fields. This requires staff development and training. How do we expect our teachers and principals to implement the latest and greatest in educational models without staff development funds. I expect our teachers and leaders to be the BEST! Let's make this possible by giving them the tools to become the best. This requires staff development days, and not furloughs for these days. If furloughs are a decision that you make, please make them across the board, not just for teachers. Janitors, custodians, special ed departments, district leaders, everyone should be furloughed if anyone is. This would require fewer days.
#7 I expect Jordan School District to be a place where great teachers, wonderful principals and administrators, and positive people want to work. If you impose on these great teachers and leaders an environment where they are unable to shine, where they have no resources, where they are just keeping their heads above water, we will lose them. Don't let Jordan develop a reputation where people leave. People and businesses will stay away from an area that does not have a good school system. Raising taxes will hurt now, but must be done for the sake of our students and our future. The tax increase will minimize the impact to our students and help to maintain a positive environment for teachers and students.

Out of Time...Rally the Troops!

I just found out from an "insider" that the board has pretty much made up their mind on certain important budget decisions. We need community support tomorrow night at the school board meeting. Last month there were 1200 citizens at the meeting to tell the board to do/cut anything but DON'T raise our taxes.
We need to tell them tomorrow to make other cuts, but please do raise taxes before increasing class size, before cutting certain school professionals and programs.
What do you think is important in your child's education? Do you think they need 5 or 6 more kids in their class? Do you think they should have unsupervised playgrounds? Do you think highschool kids don't need school counselors even though that is who helps with college prep and admissions? Do you think when teachers in Jordan School District have bigger classes, less support staff, less supervising staff, fewer resources, lower morale, and just plain poor crappy working conditions they will keep teaching in Jordan School District?
Well, I want the good teachers to stay. I want good people to continue to move to the westside. I want business growth on the westside. None of this will happen if our school district becomes what it might without tax increases. Do you want to live in a district and send your kids to school in a place that within a few years will earn the reputation for having the worst teachers, biggest classes, no extracurricular activities, and just plain POOR educational opportunities for kids.
I DON'T!
So, let's make a difference tomorrow night at the school board meeting. Just tell them what you think. They change what they do based on citizen input. Let's not let the 1200 uninformed become the people who made the difference. I think we can all give up a little something for the kiddos.
We pay more for a night out than we do for a year of educating our own kids.
Call everyone you know and let's see how many people we can get to speak up tomorrow night at the Jordan School District Board of Education Meeting.
Held at:
Auxiliary Services Building (Board Room)
7905 South Redwood Road
7:00 pm
this is the old DI building near the corner of 78th and Redwood across from Gold's Gym.
Call me if you have any questions (801) 792-1478

MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

HELP ME, HELP ME!!! (do I sound desperate, well then read on)
If you live in, or know someone who lives in Jordan School District please follow my blog for the latest correct information on what is happening in our district. I will be giving daily updates on what we as citizen can do to help take control of our children's educational futures.
Background information:
Two years ago the Utah State Legislature approved the eastside cities of Jordan District to withdraw from the district. This created the new Canyons District and the new Jordan District. The legislature imposed on the westside students an enormous burden of lost revenue. This coming year we will see the biggest impact to date to the new Jordan District.

WE ARE BROKE!!! Thanks a lot Senator Waddoups (my personal fav) oh, and for you proud South Jordaners a big fat super T-H-A-N-K-S to Senator Buttars (what a gem for our state). I might have to go off now that I mentioned him. Where oh where to begin.... I better save it for another day, I want to keep this post G-rated.

So, all you passionate (or not) citizens of Jordan District join with me won't you? (pound your fist and chant)
RAISE MY TAXES!
RAISE MY TAXES!
RAISE MY TAXES!
Wait I didn't hear you with me. Maybe you need more info before you join in my chant.
We need approximately 40 million dollars to keep the schools running at less than they are right now.
There are many proposed ideas on what to do. Cut teacher salaries by 3%, cut school psychologist, counselors, nurses, music programs, on and on and on. Oh and did I mention increase class size by up to 5 students per class.
These are just a few of the millions of dollars in programs and professionals proposed to cut.
What then, you ask, is a gal (or guy) to do?
Well, one option that will minimally impact everyone is.....(drum roll please)
RAISE MY TAXES!
RAISE MY TAXES!
RAISE MY TAXES!
The largest tax increase proposed by the Board of Education (they're the one's who will decide what to do about our poverty-stricken district) will cost approximately $60 per $100,000 of house value. So if your house is worth $200,000 (according to another love of mine the county tax valuation committee) you would pay an extra $120 per YEAR.
SAY WHAT?!?!? you ask. That's it. That's all.
YEP, 10 bucks a month more to edu-ma-freakin-cate your kiddos. What a DaRn bargain.
So, join with me...
Dear Jordan Board of Education,
Because we love you so, please do our kiddos a favor (and my coronary arteries) and let me skip one trip to McDonalds per month and therefore maintain a quality education for my oh so intelligent, genius, talented, children.
There you go! Part 1 of the save our district post.
Please send a link to this blog to anyone you know who lives in Jordan School District and lets see if moms and bloggers around here can make a difference.
Check back tomorrow for more. (oh and maybe even some more about our Senate gems Waddoups & Buttars----was that a punk band in the late 80's?)
PS the board meets tomorrow,they may have already decided on the budget.