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The Good Egg Gazette is my online forum for the folks of Stuart, Iowa. Here you can respond to comments about the issues Stuart is facing (i.e. the West Central Valley new school debate, the Stuart City Council, new developments in town and near I-80, Hawkeyes vs. Cyclones, etc.) or anything else that's on your mind. Please be respectful, but say what's on your mind! And don't forget...it's still ok to post anonymously.
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January 2009

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Mar

25

Finally

March 25, 2008 |

West Central Valley has a new high school. Results below.

Overall results
Results by precinct

Comments

145 Comments so far

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GOOD
Question A: 1,319 Yes = 73.03%; 487 No = 26.97%

Question B: 1,275 Yes = 71.39%; 511 No = 28.61%

Question C: 753 Yes = 42.07%; 1,037 No = 57.93%

Election Results from Dallas County Auditor @ 8:37pm.
Well good thing I’m moving the hell out of this county.

Nice to see it took 7 times to pass it.

Now we’ll have a new undersized school, that will fall apart like the last one.

Nice to see Stuart’s unsafe building will be used for an elementary. Nice to see a district wide elementary will eventually be built in Stuart.

I do get some satisfaction in the fact that the school is along ways off and will encounter plenty of problems.

Glad old Toddy Broman gets his new school for the “children”.
Get over it shirley
Stuart, the hungry town, soon to have all the schools, soon to lay off all former Dexfield teachers. MMMMM can they taste the power.
Quit your bitching you big babies. Since it easily passed, people from Dexter and Redfield voted for the high school and against the district-wide too. So quit your crying.
Someone needs a tissue… hahahahaha
congratulations to all involved. especially the students. thank you to the board past and present as well. time to make some new shirts! WE DID IT!!!!!
Andy, YOU ARE THE MAN!!!!!
When does the construction begin? I know I was reading somewhere when everything will be ready for the KID”S
schhweeeetttttttttttttt
7:50 we dont want whiners like you around here anyway. the school district has spoken! Hooray for our teachers and students
7:50 p.m.
Are you upset your phone calls to the district last night failed. People saw through it.

It seems to me Redfield’s building had it’s issues with safety and broken pipes and we spent alot of money fixing them.

It is time for the high school to have its improvements.
The west side will have what it always has had and the East side has what it always has had.

What is the big deal.
Redfield has a Jr. High with lots of updates and Dexter has an East side elementary with updates.
Stuart will have a high school and Yes, the Menlo kids will be at Stuart rather than Menlo. But, that is better than sending them another 5 miles east.
We will be better off with 7:50 PM gone !! Why can’t this school district be proud of it’s facilities for once, and give the students some first-class classroom technolgy.
I saw Andy vote 3 times! Is that legal? lol congrats! Very happy!

deleted

To anonymous 7:50 Is there another county that feels sorry enough to take your ass in? Get the hell out of here loser! Were getting a new school:)
7:54
Stuart will never have the Jr. High or East side elementary and that is fine with them. They have never asked for them.
We’ll see if the school gets done or not, economy isn’t looking good, you guys may just end up with a piece of land with a little concrete on it.
9:17
You are so wrong. We will see how much better we are when we aren’t spending so much on rapairs, high maintenance and utility bills, bussing, and we will have less open enrollment plus more people moving into the district.
end result
We rock!
7:50,
Nice to think that we don’t have to worry about what you and the other negative people in the district think. Nice to see that the majority of people in the district care about the children in the community, and how their education will be affected by a better environment. By the way, the Stuart school will be renovated and fixed before elementary children are placed in it. Did you have a better and safer plan in mind? Just curious.
7:50:
What exactly happened over a decade ago, when Stuart-Menlo consolidated with Dexfield? Wasn’t Stuart helping them out?? Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that Dexfield was in need of a consolidation and that S-M would have been fine without them. Once again, correct me if I am wrong-if anyone Proves me wrong, I will apologize. It just is that you seem so pissed off at Stuart & Menlo when in reality, I don’t know what Dexter or Redfield has to offer that would be any better. If the high school or a district-wide elementary were built in Dexter or Redfield, more kids would be bussed around than if it were in Stuart and/or Stuart & Dexter.
Congratulations, WCV! What a great step forward for the future generation of Wildcats! The Dexter remodel and the Redfield addition were just the beginning of quality facilities that will now be provided for ALL grade levels. Thanks to the board members, Dr. Arnold, the administrative team (the best I’ve ever worked with!), the staff, students, and community members who worked so hard to get this passed. I’m so happy for all of you!

With wildcat pride,
P.J.
Correction, 7:50—-I won’t be the only HS teacher to have a new building “for the children”. The Menlo teachers will also have better facilities when they move to Stuart.

Just think, future classes will be able to enjoy the availability of better facilities AT ALL LEVELS.

Wow!
Yep Todd, better sports facilities for the win!
All the Nay-sayers..this vote just saved a community, from Menlo to Redfield.Those who bitch about what the schools will cost, cant imagine what it will improve the entire area. The entire area has a great chance to improve now, from the schools,businesses to people it draws in, the entire growth so out ways the cost it is not even funny. I used to live in Stuart over 20 years ago, u look at what advancing communities are paying and if u would have passed this the 1st or 2nd time(which I admit didnt follow as close) it would have placed this community far ahead. I pay nearly 8k in property taxes a year, any way u look at it, there is is no easy way out. The best way was to improve your community, which involves all towns involved. All the folks who said they cant afford the increase have no idea what it would have done if it did not improve in the area.

confused

It took awhile but LEO and his gang got it done. Congrats. Not to him but the kids.

One thing though—-I didn’t see any money in the bond for a statue for him??? I’m really confused about that!!

But he got his way. He’s still a prick, along with Tiernan, but most of you are great.

The kids are the winners, I just hope the old high school doesn’t turn out to be much more than thought.

I’m really afraid it should be torn down and something new built.

Anyway, congrats, to 99% of you!! Too bad the 1% had to cause so much heartache and delay to get their own way.

Many of us will be watching how the money is spent. (You’ve been advised board and supt.) Please learn from this that forcing things down peoples’ throats that they want, and should have, a say deciding, doesn’t work. They(we) are watching closer than you might ever think.

Most people won’t vote on something blind without knowing details. This was sort of ambiguous, but, I feel the last chance, to have kept a West Central Valley school district, alive.

Congrats again, kids, and hope construction goes smoothly.
This school district is very lucky to have people involved that understand what is needed and donate their time and energy to see the kids get what is needed as well as the whold district.
Thank you Pieper and Tiernan and all the other people involved in this bond issue as well as past ones.

know better

7:28—you have no clue. So leave that as enough said. It’s over as far as the voting, now the real manuevering can begin.
Being from Stuart and going to old, old meetings seeing Pieper in action, and of some of Tiernans’ motives, I know of what confused is talking about. So a thank you from you to those two leaves me and many others, thinking very little of you or your opinion.
Again, believe me, you have NO CLUE!! when it comes to those two.
Confused did everything but kiss your behind, but you picked up on one truth that you know to be true or don’t want to believe and tried to take away from their compliment and best wishes.
Typically, REsistible is what you are.
The ONLY reason this passed was because Dexter helped pass it. If it were not for Dexter residents voting Yes Yes Yes, A & B would not have passed. The board but dexter in a corner, saying that they can have a district wide in dexter IF they vote yes for a new school in Stuart, but the got trick fu#ked and stuart voted down option C. I bet $100 that the sales tax will be spent building a new sports complex and bus barn and our taxes WILL be raised! Lies we now have to live with!

anonymous

Hurray! FINALLY!
I DO have to agree, though, with “confused” and “know better”. Without all the backdoor tricks, statements and dirty deeds Pieper, Moore, etal. pulled, I truly believe this day could have happened long ago. I personally was in the presence of some of them and if someone from the East side had done those things to us, we would have been screaming so loud it would have shaken the town. Now we have to convince the NO voters to support us.
Menlo and Redfield still never voted 60% and Dexter was around 64%. Who cares, you say? I believe we all had better. Remember, this board canNOT tie the hands of future boards—or the state Dept. of Ed. Also, open enrollment is very much alive and well. So let them go?? Please don’t say that. I believe we need every student we have and more. The jobs are not here, we are taking on multiple property tax expenses that will not be attractive to new people or new businesses. The school, church, walking path and probably the swimming pool aren’t a free ride. The price of gas will curtail movement from job centers. Plus the general economy will probably lower the projected amount of sales tax we receive. So let’s covet and console the NO voters and convert them if we can and keep them and their children here and to support our efforts. Please don’t go celebrating or rubbing it in their faces. Would you like that done to you? New school or not, we still have the job of unifying the district as a whole. I truly believe, it’s not a need to, it’s a has to do thing. Actions now will be remembered forever in some cases. Remember the split results and it taking 7 tries to succeed, before getting too exuberant about rubbing someone the wrong way, please.
Sorry for the lecture, I’m done. I thought it needed said.
heather get back to work and stop calling people names
Nobody can take comfort in the fact that the bond passed and was approved by the whole district not just Dexter. Give it a rest!!

Going to pay taxes on stuff no matter where you go so whats the difference. Lets enjoy our new facilities when we get them.

never enough

9:48 I add a $100 to your bet. You hit the nail on the head. Between Rambo, Arnold and the board, we got it good. I’m not going to forget this. Count on it. But I’d also bet in a few yrs and with no upkeep, all of a sudden the Dexter building won’t be good enough and will get used for offices or torn down. Then Stuart’s elem. won’t be good enough or big enough and they will get a new district wide elementary. You can bet it’s already in the talking stages. Just another Panorama. I want to see them pay for what they just passed, first. I’m not sure they can. Word of wisdom to Arnold and Light. Go to your big shot friends for donations. Don’t come over here looking for help. We’re sick of taxation without representation. So bend over and take it like we all did.
it only hurts for a little while
Some just live to stir shit. Don’t feed them. The past should show that there is always a grudge. Now they will say there is another to add to their grief. What sad individuals. Be glad for the kids and, yes for the bitchers, because this vote will improve all their lives whether they want it to or not. Those kind of negative people are just not happy with themselves and who in their miserable lives first pissed in their cheerios?
7:50 I have access to several trucks and some manpower to help you move at no expense to you. Just be tough enough to post your phone number so I can contact you.
11:04

You are funny.

Redfield didn’t pass it.

Dexter only passed it with the hope of getting a district wide, that is the only reason it passed.

This won’t be the last that is heard on this topic, that is for sure.
the only thing you can do is bitch and moan when you have a few drinks at the Leigon. Bitch and moan. A few posts back someone stated the the “world is changing”,that’s right the world is changing. Changing for the better. I think I will stay here now.
10:53 You’re a pot calling the kettle black!
The intersting thing that I look at is that In Redfield - we only needed 8 more people to vote yes to “A” to pass it by 60%. When you figure that 285 ballots were cast, a few people can make a big difference.

I understand why we look at percentages, but in the whole picture, you also need to look at actual counts.

I don’t presume to have all the answers but I feel like this was the right time to get this passed.

Instead of complaining that a rosebush has thorns - be glad that a thornbush has a rose.
It passed because Stuart voters nearly outnumbered (or DID outnumber) Dexter, Redfield, AND Menlo voters COMBINED. Plus most of Menlo passed it. So don’t go saying the only reason it passed was because people in Dexter. Yes that helped, but they weren’t all that you think.
The whiners wont let it rest Rent a uhaul Plenty of other counties in Iowa, they may want to listen to you.
Tell me: exactly who are the whiners??? And is it ok for one town to whine, but not another?

Jack Shephard

Last week most of us were strangers. But we’re all here now. And God knows how long we’re going to be here. But if we can’t live together–We’re gonna die alone.
wow, “prick”, “backdoor trickster”, “dirty deed doer”, i guess in the last nearly 10 years since i’ve been gone my dad truly has become the most hated man on the eastern side of the district.

that being said, i think confused had a pretty good idea, why not build a statue of him at the new school? hell, my alma mater hasn’t been able to squeeze a dime out of me (despite constant attempts) but i’d donate some money to that cause! a nice painting would work too, but we’d have to use an image from 7 years ago when he first started pushing for the school, back when his hair had some color to it. and for that matter, key note speaker for one of the graduating classes in the future?

all joking aside, i’m glad the school district finally got this resolution passed and finally got to the business of building a new school.

i tell you what, if, at his age, i have merely a quarter of the patience and determination my old man showed during the duration of this whole school issue, i’ll be doing very well.
If you cant tell who the whiners are you havent paid much attn to these blogs….
9:17 I hope that future administrators keep things maintained! If not we will end up with buildings falling apart again!
9:54 March 25 Dexfield was talking with Earlham then Stuart Menlo stuck their nose into the discussions. Earlham was smart and walked away knowing what they would have to put up with if Stuart became involved. S/M had the higher student numbers Dexfield had better facilities and Northern Natural for part of its tax base. In my opinion S/M did not do Dexfield any favors. They did not come to the rescue for Dexfield. S/M teachers also liked the salary schedule for Dexfield which was much higher at that time. Unfortunately the board won’t give much to the teachers when it comes to salary negotiations, but you can bet the administrators will get a big raise. And you think the new buildings will attract new teachers. One look at the salary schedule and they will reconsider.
I agree with 10:07 March 26. It took seven tries to pass the bond issue. People can say to just get over it, but remember it does take time for wounds to heal. People need to hope the economy improves and hope that the moneys go toward the actual new facilities and remodels. Any diversion of funds for sports facilities will be frowned upon!
Hah 5:48, I know they will be putting as much to sports as they can. Afterall, it is for the children.

Yes Dexfield teachers were paid much better than SM. They have gone through years of getting smaller raises than SM just so SM could get caught up. Talk about fair.

You should ask old Tod about that.
6:30:
So you say how Pieper and Tiernan are pricks, yet you seem to be happy for the kids. Who do you think these men have been fighting for all this time? I can tell you for a fact that it has been for the kids. It is just a shame that it took this long.
By the way, what exactly do you mean by “Too bad the 1% had to cause so much heartache & delay to get their way?” I believe that the 1% you are referring to have been trying to get this passed for years. What are you talking about with delay? I could be wrong, but I am guessing that you are one of the people that caused the heartache to go on for so long, by voting no all these years. Because of people like you, the high-schoolers even had a rally trying to get the adults who are able to vote to see how important the bond issue was when their school was falling apart.
Pieper & Tiernan doing this for the kids BULL!!!!

They are only looking out for their own interests. Doesn’t Tiernan own land close to the site for the new high school? If that is true don’t you suppose he is hoping to develop or sell some of his land and make a profit for HIMSELF. Again for the kids that is a bunch of crap!
Well Stuart should really be thanking Ray and Vickie Clayton. They worked hard to sell this crap to Dexter with the carrot dangling in the hope they would get the district wide elementary. They told people vote yes yes yes and we will get the elementary. Bull Ray you sold this town down the tubes. It’s always been your way or no way. Well now look at the way we have now. Thanks for nothing!!!
I can’t wait until people figure out that the elementary in Stuart will be lacking greatly what the other buildings have. Did you know that air conditioning is not in the plan? New windows are not in the plan either. I went to the meetings and they said they had so much money to work with and they would have to wait and see what problems they discovered before they could tell what will and will not be in this elementary. Dont come bitching when it gets hot and all the other kids are in cool facilities. You voted this upon yourselves so DEAL WITH IT!!!
Earlham did not want Redfield at all. If they got Dexter, all the buildings would be in Earlham. They were not going to bus Earlham kids out of the town.

That is why Earlham did not want to work with Dexfield.
1:46-
You have no idea how much I can relate with you. My dad was also for this issue & I know he has had good intentions all along. I am very proud of him & I don’t care what all of the negative, insulting, whiny people in the district say about him. I just know who wants to feel important and create chaos(the name callers) and who really knows what is best for all of the elementary, middle school, and high-schoolers. The results of the vote will not affect the whiners in a good way because they don’t seem to care about what happens to the students in the district: all they care about is that they have always wanted everything to be based in Dexter and Redfield, and/or how much they will have to pay in taxes when it doesn’t directly benefit them, but rather affects those who are able to make a difference in other’s lives if they have the proper education.
Everyone has their pants in a bunch over the phone call from the City of Menlo. Do you people realize that you were TELEMARKETED!! Did you not receive political calls in January and strange names and numbers appeared on your caller ID. I doubt they HACKED into anyones computers or phone lines. WE were TELEMARKETED!!!
7:42 You appear to be under the impression that their are no whiners from Stuart. You better go back to school and freshen up on your degree. They live in all 4 communities!! You could even be considered one with your negative attitude. YEP Your one of them peoples!!! To Piper and Tiernan if the shoe fits wear it….
7:20-
You have no idea what you are talking about. Even if Tiernan was trying to sell property and land for a profit, isn’t that part of the American dream? To make a living for yourself in the best way possible? I know that if you are reading this you are probably thinking that this is the case, etc. However, you are way wrong. Tiernan is not in this for a profit. He doesn’t even own the land by the highway that I am guessing you probably think he does. The big pasture by the highway, beside Wambold’s property that was purchased by the school, is owned by All Saints church. The land that Tiernan owns is used for his cattle; he doesn’t need to raise cattle for a profit, but he has always been accustomed to having a bit of farm life surrounding him. You should get your facts straight before you go around accusing Tiernan or anyone else of having an ulterior motive for the high school. He doesn’t. Plus, if the new high school is built, he will have to make a new driveway to his home; he is willing to sacrifice for the students, not the other way around. Get real!
March 25, 10:49- what’s wrong with a bigger gym? Ask Mr. Pease if he would like to have a bigger gym for P.E. What’s wrong with having the wrestling and weight room attached to the high school? Ask Mr. Pease and Mr. Kimbrough if they would like to have those rooms in the same building.

March 26, 6:32- where did you get your information? Were/are you one of those Dexfield teachers who received a small raise just so the S-M teachers could catch up? Boy, are you so far off base! Please humor me by telling me how you came to that preposterous claim.
Sorry, I forgot to add my name to the 8:20 blog.
Menlo building has no a/c and is falling apart so any improvements to a remodeled hi school will be good. Better than doing nothing at all
Get over it people….it passed. All your whinning and bitching is just that.
The voting is done, it passed, the future looks better for the kids, drop the b****ing about it. I am happy for the kids that it passed. To those saying comments about the percentage of voters…more of you should have gotten out and voted, it is your choice and your right to vote. I say it is time to quit all the complaining and fighting and work together to move ahead and make things better. It is sad that the adults,(the ones that should be setting an example)are acting this way and can’t seem to bury the rivalry that once was between the Dexfield-SM district. The kids are setting a better example then some of the adults. I say…Keep up the good work Kids and Congrats on the new school and improvements that are going to happen!!!!

anonymous

6:37 is right. Lots of things said above are true. But the fact is they don’t matter now.
But…..It will be a cold day down below before we get tricked into something like just happened again. It was a one time deal Arnold and Light. Try it again. See what happens. Ask for money to work on the old HS. From 90%+ of the talk I was around yesterday, you both are on a lot of crap lists. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice shame on me. It ain’t gonna happen. A lot of people don’t have the time to come to meetings and your mailings were bare minimum at best. So word of mouth will proceed anything in the future. C’mon and try it. You will see a lot, lot bigger turnout in other towns beside Stuart with another go round. Count your dollars and use them wisely.

anonymous

same person(6:48). Another thing. How was it that a petition got presented to the board without being on the agenda???? Don’t you have rules to follow? Excuse me, I forgot. Arnold and Light make up the rules as they go along.
If you don’t like what the voters of this district decide, then leave. Everyone had the opportunity to have their opinion by voting. It’s not Stuart’s fault that Dexter and Redfield failed to get a larger amount of voters out. Deal with it. Just because it’s not what you wanted doesn’t mean it was all a conspiracy. It’s what this district needed. It’s what the KIDS needed. And thank goodness, there were enough people to know that.
The hand is quicker than the eye…Pick up a pen with your hand and vote…Simple as that. Thats what the WCV community did. (except some I guess) So shut up already about it. Take your ball and go home if you dont want to play anymore.
yeah! take your ball and go home! I think that in reality there are very few people who are really pissed off about this. It is the same group of four from redfield who want things their way and everyone else can get screwed, or what ever four letter word you want to insert. They really are pathetic, sad people. Now shut up and go hide in a hole somewhere. I know this is really meanspirited, but like you said people have long memories. I haven’t forgotten the bond buster, the harassment, the lies. I will get over all this but it will take awhile. Taking a tour through the new high school will help tremendously.
Darn those 4 people in Redfield. They must have voted at least 100 times each!!
Get real people!!!
Maybe some of you who bitch about the new school should go change with the visitors during a girls home basketball game. A room smaller than most peoples bathrooms. How embarrassing, now maybe for once we can have a facitily that represents our school in a positive manner.
get back to work shirley
Wrong, they will never change. They stood by and laughed their sorry a**es off when they got away with a bond buster. Do you think that by that dirty trick, that people in other places never forgot it? Do you suppose that they just decided enough already? Do you think the voters who approved this thing….FROM ALL 4 COMMUNITIES….said you cry foul once, but not twice? It was fair, it was very deliberate that the people have spoken and said there would be a new school. Live with it. Whine all you want to, but it feels a little different, now doesn’t it. The only difference is that the approval was legitimate although someone thought they could spoil it again. Read the Dallas County paper and see how Dorr may have been involved again. Whoever tried to spoil this once again spent money to try again. Go live somewhere else if you can’t deal with progress and compromise. You simply can’t have it all, and the people have spoken.
The business of hacking into the phones to spoil the vote was low down and dirtier than the bond buster last time. When the authorities find out who it was, I hope the consequences are severe and no matter how many were involved, they will be exposed. There were a lot of people talking about this thing passing, and someone got nervous and tried to stop it. It was NOT a telemarketing tactic. It was Hacking into a phone line, for the purpose of spreading lies and trying to spoil another vote. I, too hope they find the culprit(s). This kind of desperation just to win and deny kids of decent and safe learning environments is really sick.
If you losers want another grudge to carry for another 40 to 50 years, there ya go! You are a sorry bunch. Feed on it and grow bitter and old, but the rest of us are moving on.

movin on

I don’t like everything that happened but the kids have a new school–I hope–so like the person said. “I’m movin’on” with my life. No good comes from hashing and rehashing, it’s done and should have been done a long time ago. People have a right to their opinion so the others of us just can’t let it bother us.
I have the DC paper and I don’t see where it says Dorr was involved in this bond. Sounds like a lot of speculating on Arnolds part. Dorr must make him nervous for some reason. I did read where the add that was placed in the papers and paid by WCV concerned citizens was made up of residents of Stuart and Menlo whom several are emploees of the Menlo Elementary. The elementary secretary Becky Ellis paid for one of the adds spewing negative about the Dexter district wide proposal. Her excuse is they work in the Menlo building and they know how that effects things. I completely understand that but why print an add with leading and somewhat incorrect information. How is this that much different than the phone calls. They were both negative and they should all be ashamed. Dr Davey knew they were doing this add and he approved it and probably the board also. Great, we get a new school but we will still be a district divided with our staff pullling this crap. New school, divided district we will always be.
Heather
get off this blog and take care of your 3 children.
11:37
Meanspirited is not the word I would use to describe you. Pathetic, needy, spineless, user, crabby. You need to take the advice on this blog and move on, please don’t wait till the school is done you don’t have that much time you will die from your pent up hatred if you do. Try looking to God for the answers.
I agree with 12:34, It is so embarrassing when we had water dripping through the gym, the locker rooms were terrible.But even with all that, we still was so proud of our girls and boys teams. What makes me happy is now our daughter and family will be moveing back here! Some day she is going to take her kids and say,”See how lucky you are to be playing in this beautiful gym, singing in this beautiful auditorium,and learning in these cool class rooms. So thank you Dr. Arnold, board members, and yes voters. I will get to be with my grandkids everyday!
6:44 Menlo secretaries and staff taking time from their work that our tax dollars are going towards. If you dig deep enough you will find the head cheerleader to be the principal in Menlo. She has always been against a district wide elementary in Dexter. I understand she even gave her staff an information sheet saying why they should not vote for a district wide elementary. During the previous bond issue people wanted to know who donated money to the Whole Vision Committee and they had to publish who actually donated money. Do you suppose the individuals from the west side will step up and do the same thing? I doubt it.
go to bed jessica
Todd I have never lived or taught in the district but believe me I do know the facts behind the different district salary schedules. It is public information. Unlike you I do have a lot of friends and friends talk. Having you in charge of negotiations; how pathetic!
It won’t change anything but it would be interesting to see the names of the 25 members of the KIDS committee. Do you suppose the school paper supplies and copiers were used to make their flyers? More tax dollars wasted! According to the DC News several WCV employees helped pay for newspaper ads. Sure would be interesting to see those names published. Hope they are getting nervous!
Its in the bag. Move on or move out!
9:46

Agree 100%. I have seen the figures as well. Don’t worry I’m sure when old Todd does negotiations I’m sure it’s for all “the children”, err, I mean the teachers.

What say you Todd, we have seen the salary differences, it isn’t something you can shove under the rug.

10:10, there were a lot of underhanded things done in this deal. However if I had to speculate I would say that Miller, Arnold, Tiernen, and some others who use their real names on here probably all had a handle in it. Maybe in time we’ll see.

Hmm I wonder if someone with the right evidence and money could get this overturned. Hmm very interesting.
you are a dumbass. no go to work heather
oh, NOW go back to work heather
March 27th 6:44. We live in a Democracy and every citizen has the right to promote either side which both sides did. The super majority prevailed and it is over. We are all fortunate to have that voice. Many of our parents faught for that right. Let’s move on and create a great School District. I am sure our nieboring districts are nervous about their loss in revenue since the open enrollment will start to decrease with each new Kindergarten class. At least the winning side didn’t go and rub it in your faces like it was done to us the last 6 times.
GO WCV Wildcats!
Let’s see, the difference between paying for an ad and hacking into phone lines seems to be the fact the second is literally a crime. Who ever did that had better be worried. As for the ad, who cares who paid for it? Just because some might be teachers doesn’t mean they aren’t parents too. Also, they may have been trying to protect their jobs because a consolidated district would have meant job losses.
Who cares who paid for the ad. It was accurate and opened alot of eyes. I was glad to see it printed.
Any parent has every right to participate in ads or mailings. What is the bid deal?
Would you rather they do illegal activity by hacking in phone lines and spreading false information?
I don’t think so.
Why would you think the letters were printed at the school? there are printing companies out there.
The vote passed. People on both sides should move on and get excited about the future. We will have a new facility and should be proud of this. People looking into allegations of who tapped into phone lines or sent letters to former graduates should just let it go. The WCV school distict should be excited about the future of holding events in the school as far as speech, music events and sporting events. I would like to see everyone get behind what has taken place and move on.
i want to rub their noses in it.
[img]http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/nutrition/story4/Smile.jpg[/img]
Open enrollment will stop with new buildings? I doubt it! Todd helping negotiate all the teacher salaries.
Todd is only looking out for teachers with masters degrees and coaches! What a joke he is!
The district will always be divided as long as we have the same head administrator in Menlo. She will do whatever it takes to make her elementary kids APPEAR to do better than the Dexter students. Looks like her secretary did whatever it took to help defeat Option C. Do you suppose Becky Ellis will be reprimanded? Do you suppose she will be asked to resign? Who do you suppose instructed her to do what she did? Shameful!

please

12:24, you and your’s are one big reason open enrollment will probably continue or even speed up.
Can’t you leave it alone? It’s done! How would you like it if it had failed again? I was getting prepared for the state to step in and split WCV up if it had failed. What do you want? Students read this as well as parents who talk about it in front of their kids. That just perpetuates the split that exists between communities. I’m from Stuart and don’t like some of the things that Sharon does and says, for example. I surely don’t like some of the things the board and Supt. get by with. There are a lot of good people in every community and a few trouble makers in each as well.
Responding to you was probably what you wanted, but enough is enough. Give it a rest!
Yep sloss does some underhanded things to make menlo students look better than dexter sutdents.
Mrs. Sloss does not need to do anything to make the Menlo kids look better than the Dexter kids. The test scored speak for themselves.
Since whold grade sharing Menlo test scores have been higher than Dexter. It does not take a rocket scientist to see that the Menlo elementary is doing something better than the Dexter elementary - or is it something in the water.

Jealousy can be so cruel.

Our kids have benefited to have Mrs. Sloss and staff in Menlo.
Becky Ellis has done nothing illegal or wrong. she is a parent with her opinions just like all the other parents in the district.
Nope Menlo/Sloss conducts the tests in a way that does not adhere to the guidelines, thus they are able to show higher scores. Sorry the truth is out of the bag.
How right you are 1:58 You can’t tell me that every lower elementary Menlo student is at or above grade level when they are tested in the fall.
Are false test scores being submitted by the teachers in Menlo? Sounds like something underhanded might be going on in Menlo. So are the kids really benefitting or being hurt if false information is being passed along to parents? Smells fishy to me.
Mrs Sloss brings integrity, class and citizenship that obviously people can’t relate to. If you don’t care about education, then of course you won’t like Mrs Sloss. I am proud my children have been exposed to her leadership skills and would encourage others to focus on education versus personal attacks.

Becky Ellis did what she thought was right, nothing illegal. She voiced her opinion, along with others, where she felt kids would not benefit. I’m confused how this is wrong when compared to an automated phone message with fraudulent representation? One speaks of facts and the other is too weak to admit its own source. Becky, and all paying for the ad in the paper, should merely put their names with their thoughts. I received a letter from a bunch of concerned parents and they all put their names on it. Again, the information wasn’t negative, just stating comparisons.

I live in Stuart and did vote for all 3 as I thought Mrs Sloss could lead all kids under one roof. However, my opinion was one of 1800+ and the simple majority thought two elementaries were better.

Be proud of democracy and our kids’ futures to have safe, new learning environments. This issue is over and we need to heal for the betterment of children.
12:52 If the Menlo elementary has been doing something better than Dexter since whole grade sharing and since consolidation why hasn’t Sloss who is also our curriculum director checked into it? After all we are all suppose to be one big happy family! I would guess false information is being submitted about test scores from Menlo. I have a child who attends Dexter who struggles with reading. They only get to see the Title ? teacher for a few minutes each week. What good can she do in that amount of time? Somebody on the blog once said they have more reading assistance teachers/staff in Menlo because they have more students. If we are one big happy district the Dexter students should have just as many assistants to help bring up the level of my child and others. Sloss makes her elementary to be better by design. If Menlo is not following the test guidelines then Arnold should step in and do something about it. It is very clear why Sloss was against a district wide elementary in Dexter!
Hello bloggers! The last few bloggers must really be smart! Like Eistein smart. HELLO !!!!! WAKE UP!!!!

Jeez, you must really be bitter. Did you fail to notice that Sloss is now also the the elementary principal in Dexter as well? Do you really think she would fabricate test scores? Sharon Sloss is one of the best administrators in the state. We are fortunate to have her here. Now with all this bond issue controversy behing us just wait to see what she and our student can do! ALL OF OUR STUDENTS!!! Let me say that again, ALL OF OUR STUDENTS!!!!

And by the way, Becky is awesome. The two make a great pair. She did nothing wrong. She has only love and care for these kids. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!!!

thank you ladies for your service.
3:09 I am glad for the new buildings also and realize we need to move on. It will take time to heal after all the attempts to pass the many bond issues and the harsh words passed back & forth. It just appears the Dexter elementary is not getting enough staff to help out with students having problems with reading. 10 minutes of extra help a week is not enough. If Menlo kids are benefitting by extra help from staff great. If teachers and administrators are actually doing something underhanded it needs to stop. It would be interesting if they swapped staff to administer the tests and see how well Menlo kids actually do. When it comes to reporting test scores just remember Figures don’t lie but liars can figure!
3:15 Get your facts straight. Sloss was principal for Menlo and Dexter LAST YEAR! This year Dr. Arnold is in the Dexter building each day serving as Superintendent and Elementary Principal!
I agree they need to have independent people to come in a give tests to ALL classes, from both schools and then see how the scores compare, pretty sure they will be almost statistically the same. There is not way every kid in Menlo is at or above grade level with the first test, I don’t know how Sloss thinks she can get away with it but so far she does and no one questions her.

And when I mean independent I mean independent, no one connected to the whole Sloss/Arnold corporation.

And when I say independent
Well this finally proves it! You “no gooders” that want to keep making the positive vote a negative thing have no idea what you have voted “NO” for! If you did, you would never say a bad word about Sharon Sloss or Becky Ellis. You do not have the smallest clue what these women do for these kids! They are top notch, top of the line people, and this world would be a much better place if there were only a few more like them. They would never do anything underhanded or anything of the sort, but they will not sit by and let ill will walk all over them! You NO voters have fought against the betterment for the kids and teachers, in turn Menlo and staff have fought back for the betterment for the kids and staff. Have you ever stopped to think about how many hours a day, how many days a week, kids and staff spend at school? In this community, school is a safe haven for some kids, can’t be if the buidings are an unsafe place for them to go too.
Menlo doesn’t always have the higher test scores- where do you people get your facts? The scores in both buildings vary depending on the year and the make-up of the classes. Sometimes Dexter is higher, sometimes Menlo is higher. As far as someone manipulating the test scores, I don’t so. Some kids do have test accomodations or modifications to level the playing field or test what these students actually know without being penalized by their disability. These practices are legal if they are documented in a special education student’s IEP (individualized eduaction plan). It’s done on chapter tests, unit tests, and standardized tests every day across the nation in every school including Dexter and Menlo. Please don’t accuse the district, administration, teachers, or students of wrongdoing unless you know for a fact that it’s happening. The licensing board would suspend a educator’s license for using unethical practices during testing. Maybe you remember the case in Adel a few years ago. Rest assured, testing is done with integrity.

out of loop

Just curious, since I have no real info. on the elem. test scores. And sincerely just wondering, not trying to stir the pot.
Are the test scores different when the students are combined in middle school? Are the Menlo elem. students ahead of the Dexter elem. students at test time then?
That might be an indication for someone to note. If the Dexter students are below at that time(Middle School), then something seemingly needs to change in the Dexter building. I know Sharon and she is not God. She has her faults, as we all do, so please don’t sell her, or Becky, as the Holy Trinity. It is evidently Menlo versus Dexter. If it is, why? is the question, if you are concerned about children and children alone? I can tell you that many yrs. ago at the start of whole grade sharing, when our daughter was going there(Menlo), there was at least one Menlo elem. teacher telling the kids they were going to hate middle school in Redfield and it was evil. Words of our child so that is my only knowledge other than hearsay. FYI, that teacher is gone now. Seems word got out and she suddenly found a better paying job, albeit much farther away. This was also hearsay but backed up by some who should have known. Anyway, it’s past time we combine now and as mentioned move on and become one, not two, entities in competition.
I’m not sure what everyone else knows or has seen, but all I see is a bunch of accusations and finger pointing. If you people wanna keep dragging our and your school district, teachers and staff through the mud lets see some facts to back up the crap you put on the blog.
good job Andy!! You really are making sense. To be honest I used to laugh at your posts. For that I appologize. You are a voice to be heard. Good job!!
I AGREE 100% ANDY.

LETS JUST BE HAPPY FOR THE WEST CENTRAL VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ALL THE KIDS
The school bond passed so all the nay sayers now have to find something else to complain about…Grow up please. I worry more about gas prices then whose smarter than who. Quit complaining and move on.
There was a department of education site visit just last year. They didn’t note any differences in the students from the elementaries. There was no mention of one group being ahead or behind the other when they entered middle school either. This was based on trend line data from the last five years. This report is available to the public by simply requesting a copy from the district office. The district had many positives in the report- something we should all be very proud of.
yeah!!! what you said
WOW. this is my first time on this site. I cannot believe the way people are treating each other.

Just to let everyone know the Long Range Tax Management Committee had members from all four towns. I should know because I was one of the members. We went to meeting, listened to different possible plans, filled out questionairs, and in the end this was what the majority thought was best to get the votes to bring better facilities to our kids.

I personally wanted two elementaries, I have three kids one attends middle school in red- field the other two are in Menlo. I wanted my children to attend school as close to home as possible. One of my children has challenges in school and I get called to come to shool and be with my child and the closer he is the better. I would have been OK with a elementary in Dexter because I knew at least all the kids have better facilities to learn in.

On another note athletics was a big part of school for me, I was not the best student, I did not enjoy school, and hated to go everyday. But I loved to play sports, that meant keeping my grades up,attending classes and so on. I never planned to go to college or get somewere inlife by playing softball or volleyball, but it did get me a daploma. So some kids do need athletics.

When I found out this bond past I was thrilled, but part of me was sad knowing Menlo would no longer be housing our elementary students. So if anybody wants to talk about sacrifice they need to be talking to the folks of Menlo.

Looing forward to the future of WCV!!!!
3:07pm You worry about gas prices? You better start to worry about your tax bill for the next 20 years!
3:38pm Do you also have the documentation that WCV is at the bottom 10% for the second time this year? I doubt you can find that information at the district office.
Bottom 10% of what? There is a website- http://www.iowaschoolprofiles.org that has all of the test scores if you don’t believe “the district office”. These scores come from the testing data from Iowa Testing (AKA Iowa Test of Basic Skills/Iowa Tests of Educational Development). It will allow you to compare WCV to other districts in the state, county, AEA, etc. Check it out. Look it up if you don’t believe your administration. These scores are sent directly to the department of education by the testing service with no possibility of having the test score manipulation by the district office or the administration as you wish to suggest. Review them, analyze them, look at the trends. I’m sure you’ll come to the same conclusion as the department of education team. The district has some things to work on, but our kids are making adequate progress as required by No Child Left Behind and the department of education guidelines. No school has been identified as a school in need of assistance, no school has lost it’s funding for any federal program, and no teacher or administrator has been reprimanded for ethics violations. Those are the facts.
You can also see the scores from the Menlo and Dexter buildings on the Iowa School Profiles site.
No teachers reprimanded for ethics violations?
Amazing when you consider the sexual preditors that have been employed in this school system for sometime now.
the des moines register story only included public universities. not private schools. many wcv students attend private universities, simpson, central, luther, drake.

so find something else to bitch about shirley, this dog doesn’t hunt
With your small mind and nose all out of joint, I bet you’re jealous that they don’t find you attractive!

C'MON

Jeez, everyone needs to chill. The bond passed!! Let’s make it a great thing and a beginning to a not just good but great school district.
As mentioned, we all need to move on. The name calling isn’t at all positive, I just don’t see it serving any useful purpose.
I’m from the old Dexfield district. I’m happy the bond passed and the public was involved thru the committee and public meetings.
I have a suggestion, take it or leave it. That’s if you have a problem or question about or with a teacher or employee or administrator, set up a time to talk to them.
Be honest in your concerns, but professional in manner. You wouldn’t talk to someone in a tirade would you? I’m betting there is access to anyone if you go thru the right channels. From an outsiders view, there has to be a chain to go thru or people would be walking in unannounced or hitting people with questions that need documented and not giving the person time to get the facts located.
NO, I’m not a teacher or work for the school. I would just like the bickering to stop and everyone work together. No more them and us, East vs. West, whatever. Old feelings have to be put away best as can and think of the students now and in the future.
This is for them, but, I believe, also can be a source of pride for all 4 communities if we work together, accept that it passed, that things are going to be better, and realize we have the young people and staff to make it an outstanding school district.
I really hope that happens and support for the kids comes from a majority, not just the parents and families.
Young people are our future. We all know education is the key to success.
Right On C”MON
my cable and internet bill costs me more than the the new bond will so maybe i will get rid of cable first. Plus I can right off my property taxes and not my cable bill. SO there!
let’s start moving dirt!!!
Shirley there is a rock your size. Go crawl under it.
I like it!
Remember the flyer sent out before the vote from the “Concerned WCV Mothers”? The home of one of the signers was the scene of a drug bust last night. Cooking meth with a child in the house sure sounds like a “Concerned WCV Mother to me!
April 3 1:04
It is obvious you do not know what you are talking about. It was not a drug bust and no meth was being made.
People like you get some kind of a kick making up stories to tell.
we can find a rock for you too!!!
I heard it was a drug bust too! What a joke, concerned WCV mother cooking meth.
There was no meth. Get your facts straight.
1:04 & 8:16- Who in the hell do you think you are? You are pathetic- I know what happened, and there was no meth involved whatsoever. I would tell you the whole story, but that would only make you salivate with the juicy details. All that anyone cruel and hateful like you people need to know is that this situation was involving a domestic dispute and the people involved could have been killed. You probably are disappointed that nobody was killed, because that would give you more gossip to talk about at the gas station, etc.

The police, fire department, and ambulance did a wonderful job keeping the situation under control, and making sure that there were no injuries. There was no meth, nor was there a lab set up at all. Go get a life and quit hoping that your pathetic assumptions will make the community think that this “concerned mother” as you keep mentioning was into anything illegal. You don’t know shit, and if you actually had any real, credible sources, you would realize that and hopefully feel like an ass. Then again, you feel righteous because you get credit for stirring around lies and gossip, only to try and hurt others. Sorry to tell you that the woman involved is getting help and is alive. No meth story for you anymore, huh? Get a life, you pathetic bitch.
The drug bust was at the school and not at a residence.

The dog will be back and I am sure more school drug busts will be made.
Meth or not drugs are drugs. Believe me I’m in no way surprised.
you people are idiots. Time to find some more rocks
O.M.G. !! Can you believe they had 2 drug-sniffing dogs in the HIGH school…do you suppose what was confiscated has anything to do with some of the low test scores because some brain cells have been fried ? Congrats to the administration for allowing this to take place, maybe some of the kids will wake up someday. I know, just some more crap for the bond busters to harp on. Oh yeah, what am I thinking, that bond passed..The action at the high school was the real story of Wednesday, not what happened in the evening, you would not have wanted any part of that 1:04 & 8:16…
It is amazing the stories idiots like to tell and rumors people start. 104p is obviously a trailer dweller with nothing better to do. You were a rebel rouser on the bond, so you cann’t quit stirring things up. Well, just to let you know, the WCV ladies that signed that letter were brave to share facts. The facts helped me decide to vote for two elementary locations. Sleep well.

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