Whitko School Disappointment

January 29, 2018 at 6:58 p.m.

By -

Editor, Times-Union:

I do not care where the high school is located, nor do I care if we have five or twenty-five mobile classrooms, whether Little Suzie is happy walking to school or who has to drive on the dreaded Ind. 5.

As a taxpayer, my only concern is whether I am getting a proper return on my investment.  I feel paying my taxes and investing in this school corporation is no different than  buying stock in Ford, Westinghouse or any other corporation.

Each corporation has an elected board of directors and it is their obligation to insure that their company is properly managed and is producing a quality product or service that sales.

Although this school corporation does not make cars or washers and dryers, they still have a quality product to produce.  Our product is to prepare young men and women to thrive in the real world after school.

We do this by providing a quality education and vocational skills to insure that they lead productive lives.  A future where they have gainful employment and a desire to remain in our community to start a home and raise a family.

We are failing in our obligation as we are losing our students to other school corporations. I know,  if you look at the numbers of approximately 1,100 enrollment and approximately 70 leaving this system the number 70 looks very small. In reality it is a 6 percent loss and by all indications this number will climb.

Imagine if we had a hardware store and we watched 6 percent of our customers walk across the street and buy from our competition.  It would be prudent to ask why are they leaving, what is my competitor doing to attract my customers and what steps can I take to lure them back. If we do not properly address this situation, our store will face failure.

To insure our success, we must recruit and retain quality educators and administrators along with cutting edge technology and vocational programs.

For too many times we have lost skilled and talented educators to other school systems and our response is well, we are a small corporation and we do not have the means to keep them.

We all must take a share of the blame for this situation.

To make a school system work, everyone must realize they have a job to do.  The job of our communities, in our corporation, is they  must strive to attract industry that provides good jobs.  The communities must provide quality services and recreational opportunities to attract citizens who want to work, invest and raise a family.  Each community should have the means and resources in place to achieve their goals.

As outlined earlier, our school corporation has the obligation to educate our children. This corporation was not created, nor was this school board elected to protect or rescue communities who have failed in their responsibilities to their citizens.

This board's recent action has created turmoil in our system, which has diverted money and resources away from their primary mission of education. Your failure in your obligation of our children's education has violated their future and the prosperity and growth  of our communities.

It is in the best interest for all parties involved to realize the success of their respective obligations will lead to a better future for all concerned.

I would urge all concerned patrons of Whitko Community School Corporation to contact their school board member and express your concern over the future of our children.

Bill Hartman

Pierceton, via email

Editor, Times-Union:

I do not care where the high school is located, nor do I care if we have five or twenty-five mobile classrooms, whether Little Suzie is happy walking to school or who has to drive on the dreaded Ind. 5.

As a taxpayer, my only concern is whether I am getting a proper return on my investment.  I feel paying my taxes and investing in this school corporation is no different than  buying stock in Ford, Westinghouse or any other corporation.

Each corporation has an elected board of directors and it is their obligation to insure that their company is properly managed and is producing a quality product or service that sales.

Although this school corporation does not make cars or washers and dryers, they still have a quality product to produce.  Our product is to prepare young men and women to thrive in the real world after school.

We do this by providing a quality education and vocational skills to insure that they lead productive lives.  A future where they have gainful employment and a desire to remain in our community to start a home and raise a family.

We are failing in our obligation as we are losing our students to other school corporations. I know,  if you look at the numbers of approximately 1,100 enrollment and approximately 70 leaving this system the number 70 looks very small. In reality it is a 6 percent loss and by all indications this number will climb.

Imagine if we had a hardware store and we watched 6 percent of our customers walk across the street and buy from our competition.  It would be prudent to ask why are they leaving, what is my competitor doing to attract my customers and what steps can I take to lure them back. If we do not properly address this situation, our store will face failure.

To insure our success, we must recruit and retain quality educators and administrators along with cutting edge technology and vocational programs.

For too many times we have lost skilled and talented educators to other school systems and our response is well, we are a small corporation and we do not have the means to keep them.

We all must take a share of the blame for this situation.

To make a school system work, everyone must realize they have a job to do.  The job of our communities, in our corporation, is they  must strive to attract industry that provides good jobs.  The communities must provide quality services and recreational opportunities to attract citizens who want to work, invest and raise a family.  Each community should have the means and resources in place to achieve their goals.

As outlined earlier, our school corporation has the obligation to educate our children. This corporation was not created, nor was this school board elected to protect or rescue communities who have failed in their responsibilities to their citizens.

This board's recent action has created turmoil in our system, which has diverted money and resources away from their primary mission of education. Your failure in your obligation of our children's education has violated their future and the prosperity and growth  of our communities.

It is in the best interest for all parties involved to realize the success of their respective obligations will lead to a better future for all concerned.

I would urge all concerned patrons of Whitko Community School Corporation to contact their school board member and express your concern over the future of our children.

Bill Hartman

Pierceton, via email
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

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