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Community Input

Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Schools
Forum Name: School Board
Forum Description: Discuss the board individually and as a group.
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5906
Printed Date: Mar 29 2024 at 5:19am


Topic: Community Input
Posted By: 409
Subject: Community Input
Date Posted: Dec 01 2014 at 11:28am
MJ:
District seeks community input on schools
By Rick McCrabb

Staff Writer
MIDDLETOWN —
The Middletown City School District has scheduled five interactive community sessions to discuss the design of the new middle school and renovation of the high school that will be funded by a bond issue passed earlier this year.

Sessions are set from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on the fourth floor of the City Building. A box lunch will be provided to the first 40 people who sign up each day. George Long, business manager for the district, and architects will lead the discussions, and attendees will be shown and asked to vote on potential designs of the buildings.

The sessions are scheduled for:

Dec. 15: City employees who live in the district

Dec. 16: Business partners and Kiwanis Club

Dec. 17: Chamber of Commerce serving Middletown, Monroe and Trenton and Middletown Community Foundation board members

Dec. 18: Rotary Club, non-profits and Middletown Ministerial Alliance

Dec. 19: American Association University Women and overflow from rest of the week

To R.S.V.P., call Tammy Hager at 513-217-2863.

GEE !
This does NOT sound 'all inclusive'.
When are the 'BAGHOLDERS' (as Mr. P would say) invited ??

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Every morning is the dawn of a new error...



Replies:
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Dec 01 2014 at 11:57am
Let's see. Notice the times for each of the five days. 1 hour allowed for each day. Is that enough to allow all to discuss their suggestions? Also notice the times during the workweek. Most, will be at work and unable to participate. Wonder why no evening sessions to allow for input from people who work?

This targets specific groups each day and excludes the general poplulace. Seems to suggest they now that they have your money (albeit by 22 votes), they now want to exclude the very ones who are providing the funds.

And what is this all about?......

"and attendees will be shown and asked to vote on potential designs of the buildings"

So, in other words, the attendees don't have a chance to offer their ideas. The ideas have already been determined and they only want you to approve of their ideas. Sounds more like "the only game in town" rather than allowing the people to have input.

Typical Middletown leadership with that "exclude the masses" theme. This is not a open public meeting. It is a controlled meeting with the outcome already pre-determined.

What a crock and not worth the time given the situation they have set up here.

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I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.


Posted By: Perplexed
Date Posted: Dec 01 2014 at 3:04pm
If you think that this is bad, consider the absolute lack of meaningful citizens participation offered by the Dougmeister and Kyle Fooks relative to community development expenditures and activities.


Posted By: Marcia Andrew
Date Posted: Dec 02 2014 at 12:49pm
There was already a session open to the community at large on the evening of NOvember 13.  That said, community members who are not part of the listed groups are welcome to attend one of these sessions, just rsvp to George Long.


Posted By: 409
Date Posted: Dec 02 2014 at 1:16pm
Thank you Mrs. Andrew.

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Every morning is the dawn of a new error...


Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Dec 03 2014 at 6:50am
Originally posted by Marcia Andrew Marcia Andrew wrote:



There was already a session open to the community at large on the evening of NOvember 13.  That said, community members who are not part of the listed groups are welcome to attend one of these sessions, just rsvp to George Long.


The story indicates that there will be some presentations by the people leading the meeting and those in attendance will vote on the offered plans. This indicates that there will be no opportunities for "Joe Public" to offer any other ideas if they differ from those already planned. IF THAT IS THE CASE, I stand by my statement that this meeting is controlled with a pre-determined outcome that excludes outside influence as to a different prospective and guarantees that a select group gets what they want. Why go if the decision has already been made simply by not considering alternative ideas?

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I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.


Posted By: Marcia Andrew
Date Posted: Dec 03 2014 at 2:28pm
Vet, most people have no architectural training.  It is easier, and more productive, for people to discuss what they like and don't like in the design of a building by showing them drawings of different possible alternatives, than to ask them to describe what they like or don't like with only words.
From the article "interactive community sessions to discuss," "George Long and architects will lead the discussions"
 
The best way to ensure that your ideas are not considered is to not go to any of the sessions specifically set up to gather community input.



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