Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Anyone who has a ballot today that includes Metro West Fire Protection District will see an unfamiliar sign at their polling place. It's surprising some voters.
Voters going to the polls on Tuesday whose ballots encompass Metro West Fire Protection District are seeing an unusual paper sign taped at each voting machine. It reads: Steve H. Ward has been Removed from the Ballot by Court Order for the office of Director of Metro West Fire Protection District. Any votes cast for this candidate wil NOT be counted or reported. As Patch reported on Feb. 12, St. Louis County Circuit Court officials announced they had disqualified Stephen H. Ward as a candidate for the position of board member and director for the Metro West Fire Protection District. At the time, Metro West issued a notification that court officials determined Ward “failed to timely comply with the filing fee requirements. Therefore, being…
Monday, April 1, 2013
PART 2: Making changes was a common thread throughout the specific questions and answers at this forum for Rockwood School District Board of Education candidates.
A candidates' forum for Rockwood School District Board of Education contenders was hosted March 23 at the Eureka City Hall by Rockwood Stakeholders for Real Solutions (RS for RS), a self-appointed watchdog group of the district. Two of the four board candidates attended: Jeff Morrell and Steve Banton. The other two candidates are Loralee Mondl and Janet Strate. A small crowd of eight attended Saturday's forum, besides moderator Eileen Tyrrell, co-founder and RS for RS spokesperson. Read the first part of coverage from this forum published last Monday, including videos of the participating candidates opening remarks: Rockwood BOE Candidates' Forum Hosted by Citizens' Group Attendee Paul Bozdech asked about district issues for which he …
Sunday, March 31, 2013
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: "As Rockwood School District parents and residents, we recognize the vast needs of our schools," says a Rockwood parent, who heads a group that is supporting the $38.4M no-tax increase bond issue on the April 2 ballot.
Rockwood School District Voters: For more than 10 years, my family has been part of the Rockwood School District, and I have been involved in many of the district's efforts. Most recently, I was asked to head up the 2013 Prop S Bond Issue Committee, and of course, I said yes, to further show my support of the district and this initiative. I know how important this bond issue is to district families. Our community needs to pass a bond issue to make improvements to the schools. While funding remains a concern for many school districts, this bond issue will assist in providing safety, technology and facility improvements, which will continue to assist Rockwood School District in being a premiere school district. We, as members of the Prop S …
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: "If you take time to speak with others in our community, you will find the real story within Rockwood relates to its amazing achievements while working with limited resources."
It has been disconcerting to follow St. Louis Post-Dispatch coverage of the "drama" in our Rockwood School District (RSD) over the past two years. Primarily, because the "drama" the Post cites has been generated, magnified and propagated by a tiny group of individuals (Rockwood Stakeholders for Real Solutions - RS for RS) who seem to have captured the attention of some within our local media. There are many in the RSD community who strongly object to their, and the Post's characterization of the management and performance of our school district board and personnel. In the St. Louis Post-Dispatch recent coverage of our RSD, I did not see any quotes from, or interviews with, those in our community who are outside the echo chamber of this …
Saturday, March 30, 2013
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Monarch Fire Protection District director Steve Swyers speaks about new direction on the board, a new forward-thinking fire chief and new policies that have been implemented for the district.
Dear Neighbor: As a Monarch Fire Protection District director, I have conducted my duties and responsibilities in an ethical, reasonable and responsible manner. Every decision of the majority of the board since I was elected two years ago has been made with the best interests of how they will affect the taxpayers, residents, business owners, and the men and women who serve this fire district. I would like to set the record straight regarding some of the things you may have read or heard. First, Jane Cunningham falsely claims that she “led the effort that convinced the board to rescind the recent record setting $1 million tax increase on homeowners.” It is unfortunate she is trying to make headlines and take credit for the board’s work. …
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: One parent explains his discovery of why the timing of Proposition S is what it is for the Rockwood School District. "What I learned (Wednesday) was sobering."
- OPINION
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Saturday, March 30
Rockwood School District’s (RSD) Proposition S will be decided on April 2. I attended an information session Wednesday at Lafayette High School in Wildwood, where RSD presented their case. Testimony was presented from school representatives, and highlights were that Prop S includes fixing the sinking floor of an entire wing of Ellisville Elementary (built in 1938), resulting in structure issues, among other problems. We also learned a classroom’s handicapped children must exit to outdoors to re-enter the cafeteria, because it is not compliant with the American Disabilities Act. I heard, but have also seen myself, that Chesterfield Elementary has a tiny library that needs upgrading, and that they are continually, and I mean continually, …
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Prepare for the April 2 election by reading Patch's rundowns on each of the candidates.
One spot on the three-member Eureka Fire Protection District (EFPD) board of directors will be decided during the April 2 election. Incumbent Butch Oberkramer has served on the board since 1983; he currently chairs it. Eureka resident Wally Wuelling is the other candidate. Editor's Note: The candidates received an identical questionnaire via email and were each given the same amount of time to reply. Occupation: Project Manager at Kelpe Contracting Education: Graduate of the Eureka High School, Veteran U.S. Army Age, Family (spouse): 64 years old, wife Marilyn Years lived in Eureka: Entire life. Please provide a summary of your background, highlighting community involvement: Reasons for running for Eureka Fire Protection District Board…
The following is an introduction to a six-part blog series for which this Rockwood School District parent hopes other readers will join in with reactions, questions and comments. "My instinct tells me; yes, RSD is under attack."
- OPINION
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Thursday, March 28
“I proclaim publicly that I favor ending government involvement in education.” - Marshall Fritz, former president of the Alliance for the “Separation of School and State “It would be nice to dismiss this absurd reasoning as the misguided rage of extremists, but the people involved are powerful, well-funded, and have the ear of key political and corporate leaders. They are doggedly committed to controlling the national dialogue on education to discredit K-12 schools.” - Tom Seibold, A Brief Framework for Understanding the Anti-Public School Movement There have been media reports of “attacks” against public education across the country for almost three decades now. These attacks, or public school opposition movements, are manifested in a …
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Prepare yourself for the April 2 election by reading Patch's run-downs on each of the candidates.
With the April 2 election day drawing near, Patch wants to make sure voters are able to make informed choices about the two candidates vying for the open seat on the Monarch Fire Protection District’s board of directors by providing their answers to a questionnaire sent out earlier this month. The spot on the three-member board left vacant by Kim Evans decision not to seek a second term is being sought by former State Senator Jane Cunningham and former State Representative Cole McNary. Cunningham was redistricted out of the state legislature after she opted not to run in a relocated district, while McNary ran unsuccessfully for State Treasurer. Click the links below to see their responses along with some basic information on their …
Monday, March 25, 2013
VIDEOS OF OPENING REMARKS: A Rockwood School District Board of Education candidates' forum was held Saturday at Eureka City Hall. Part 1; return to Patch for a summary of candidates' responses to questions from attendees.
A candidates' forum for Rockwood School District Board of Education contenders was hosted Saturday at the Eureka City Hall by Rockwood Stakeholders for Real Solutions (RS for RS), a self-appointed watchdog group of the district. Two of the four board candidates attended: Jeff Morrell and Steve Banton. The other two candidates are Loralee Mondl and Janet Strate. A small crowd of eight attended Saturday's forum, besides moderator Eileen Tyrrell, co-founder and RS for RS spokesperson. Tyrrell said RS for RS was formulated during July 2011 to give "a voice to parents who are not PTO parents, teachers who are not in the union, and the district's taxpayers, in general." "Rockwood prides itself in getting community input, but we saw missing …
JoanLauterbach
7:43 am on Wednesday, April 3, 2013
...and the president of the USA gets by with Embezzling the American People via an 'Executive Order' signing!!! more ›