TO: Board Members
Administrative Staff
FROM: Dr. James J. Schoenlein
RE: Levy
Congratulations to Mr. Rugh
RTTT News.
In the Category of Ironic, Good Iror
DATE: May 7, 2010
The following message went out to alll district employees last Wednesday morning.
‘Teachers & Staff
‘Well, we did not get the results we hoped for lastnight.
First, I want to thank all of you for your contributions to the effort - your positive attitudes, your donatior
your hard work ~ all greatly appreciated.
and
We are disappointed, but not discouraged. ‘There is reason for optimism. We made a good showing asking for a
preity significant amount in the midst of the worst recession in decades. In all the folks I talked to, Toan’t
remember anyone saying that he/she didn’t like Kettering Schools. ‘Those opposed to our levy all sited
economic and financial reasons.
It looks like the same people voted “no” who always vote “no.” I was at an athletic contest last night. After,
some parents behind me were discussing that they hadn’t voted yet and now had to hustle off to the Academie
Awards Program. So, these were parents of our scholar-athletes who didn’t vote, There ere hundreds,
thousands actually, of these folks out there, Our challenge now is to turn out more of our supporters.
The best reason for us to be optimistic, however, is us. We are resilient, undaunted, relentless in the pursuit of
what is best for our kids. Let's smile and help cach other have a good day today. Our kids won’t notice the
difference; they wil all have another great day in the Kettering Schools.
| remember, after the last levy, Bob Mengerink saying, ‘Now I can get back to the real
business of education.” Not for me this time, or for all of you. We will assess our situation,
re-group, and almost certainly come back in the fall. We only have a few weeks until we
must begin Board of Education resolutions to get back on in November.
A few of the things we need to ponder: We need to work harder turing out our own people.
We should not schedule activities on election night. There was mass confusion in some
places about where to vote. The Tea Party/Liberty Group people hurt us to some degree —
how can we effectively counter them. How are we going to raise more campaign money?Again, thanks to all of you for your hard work on the levy. And thanks for continuing to do
great work on both your jobs, passing levies and providing outstanding schooling for all of our
kids. Isn't this a great education state! ! | !
Congratulations to Mr. Rugh
The OELMA Scholarship and Awards Committee has chosen Matt Rugh to be the recipient of
the 2010 OELMA Administrator of the Year Award because his support of school library
media specialists and school library media programs has been exceptional. There will be the
Administrator of the Year Award recognition at the OELMA Annual Conference in Columbus
this fall
RTTT News
Alletter was sent out today to district superintendents, school board presidents, and union
leaders signed by Governor Strickland, State Schoo! Superintendent Deborah Delisle, Ohio
Education Association President Patricia Frost-Brooks, Ohio Federation of Teachers
President Sue Taylor, Buckeye Association of School Administrators Executive Director Jerry
Kienke, and Ohio School Boards Association Executive Director Richard Lewis, in an attempt
to increase participation of locals in Ohio's Race to the Top application.
Our RTT application has been signed by all required parties and was sent to Columbus
earlier this week.
In the category of ironic, good ironic
Lynn Hulsey, one of our parents, had @ daughter in the FHS “Eleventh Hour” singing group a
couple of years ago. We have the music of Eleventh Hour as our “hold” music on our phone
system. Mrs. Hulsey called the Board of Education office on some business, was put on
hold, and heard her daughter doing a solo with the Eleventh Hour. When | answered, she
could barely talk.