No Bond For USD 380 Vermillion

USD 380 Vermillion, which includes two public schools in Northeast Kansas, Frankfort and Centralia, attempted to get voters to vote for a 8.5 million dollar bond for them, this past Monday, August 1. Overwhelmingly, the people voted no; 698 to 263. That included about three fourths of registered voters in both towns. The school board is disappointed and the superintendent thinks that folks do not care about the schools, according to the Marysville Advocate. This is a little unfair; if the school board actually listened to constituents and analyzed data, perhaps such gross comments would not make their way into the newspaper.

The reasons given by the school board for desiring 8.5 million dollars were updates to the buildings, and a new gym at the Centralia locaction. USD 380 straddles three counties, Marshall, Nemaha, and Pottawatomie. Centralia is in Nemaha County. Should those who live in the other two counties see their mill levies and their property taxes increase for a gymnasium that their children will never get to use? Why is a school district with declining enrollment straddling three different counties in the first place?

The other reason given for such a large amount involved security measures. Frankfort and Centralia want keypad locks on their doors, rather than the traditional locks and keys. Not only is this an expensive initial option for a tiny school, it requires upkeep that the school district would not be able to fund, even with the bond. Every time a building with such a lock changes its schedule and itinerary, a technician must visit the building to change the pass-code information. This is at least two hundred dollars per visit, and both schools host sporting events and parent teacher conferences, which would necessitate many visits from a technician. In the case of USD 380, old fashioned locks and keys will still work as desired, if the building is actually locked when not occupied. Another item desired is a metal detector. The problem had by USD 380 concerning guns is mostly in Frankfort, and that involves a failure on the part of school administration to sanction those who bully and bring weapons into the building. If the proper reports are made to the FBI each time a child takes a weapon, drugs, or alcohol to school, even if it is the child or grandchild of someone who donates a lot of money via the booster club; and the child in question is sanctioned according to federal law, these problems will abate. Frankfort has not attempted to follow the law, and expects a metal detector to cover up that problem. Finally, both schools want cameras at all entrances, which is reasonable. Cameras for two tiny schools will not cost 8.5 million dollars. A word of caution, however; Frankfort has consistently rejected the use of a sign-in sheet in the office for adult visitors to the school. The staff does not wish to monitor those who enter and exit the building. A camera will do no more good than an unused sign-in sheet if the principal is truly unconcerned about what goes on inside the school. Also, as long as teachers are not held accountable when they "lose" students off of school property during the school day, key pads, metal detectors, and cameras will not accomplish anything. Tom Schroeder and Dean Dalinghaus, I'm looking at you, here!

The populations of Frankfort and USD 380 have been on the decline since 1910. At present, the population of Centralia is about 500 people and the population of Frankfort is about 690. That is fewer people, altogether, than attended your faithful blogger's alma mater at the time of her graduation. Why should taxpayers fund an 8.5 million dollar bond for schools that will probably shut down and consolidate with other, more viable schools, within the next ten years? The bond would take twenty-five years to pay off.

Donald Trump And Adolf Hitler

Donald Trump is now barking some insane nonsense about forcing all Muslims in America to wear identification which distinguishes them, at a glance, from other Americans. He was interviewed by Yahoo and by NBC because of some vague comments he made on the subject, and he attempted to justify it by calling such violations of the first, fourth, and fifth amendments "good management" for America. He also stated that America has "no management", with which yours truly does not agree.

Either Trump erroneously blames America's problems on one religion; thinks he can win the presidency by inciting more hatred toward Muslims; or he is simply a bigot who feels he can run rough shod over any population within America he chooses. In the mean time, it appears that Donald Trump has no problem with the five white supremacists who were arrested recently in a foiled plot to kill people, while they worship in synagogues and black churches.

Where have we heard this idea about the outward identification and isolation of members of a certain religion? Does it sound, at all, familiar?

Trump also stated that he favors keeping a national data base of names
of anyone who happens to be Muslim. How is it that America is actually
taking Trump seriously? Especially while America prides itself on religious
freedom? Isn't it also interesting that while Trump wants to wall off our
country to keep foreigners out, he fancies women from Slovenia and
Czechoslovakia?

Of course, each of those women became American citizens AFTER
marrying "The Donald".



Here's more about those interviews. America needs to wake up.

Terri Horman's New Camera

Now that more folks in Oregon have made known their hopes to see young Kyron Horman reunited with his family, Terri Horman, his former stepmother, is taking a brand new interest in photography. It seems that Terri's parents, with whom she resides, are adverse to any vigils or awareness campaigns in their town of Roseburg. If Kyron has not been located by June 4, it will mark the fourth anniversary of his disappearance from school during a science fair. Terri Horman reportedly dropped him off at school that morning and was the last person to see him.

Below is a picture of a security camera installed by Carol and Larry Moulton, Terri's parents. Most home security cameras are installed a bit closer to the house itself, if not on the house, itself. Also, such cameras tend to be focused on entrances and exits, or windows. But if the reader will notice, Terri Horman's new camera is focused on the street, not the house. It would almost appear that Terri Horman isn't really interested in home security! She's really interested in watching vigils without actually attending any vigils!

So Police Smash Security Cameras On Houses Now?

So many questions, yet answers within a few days, after a little investigative journalism. Police in Ankeny, Iowa got a complaint about stuff bought on a stolen credit card. For reasons that have not been fully explained, they felt very strongly that the culprits could be found in Des Moines. So off to Des Moines they went, in full swat team attire. When they landed on their targeted doorstep, a member of the horde ripped out a camera. Then, they proceeded to break down the door without knocking. Inside, they discovered two guests, whom they forthwith arrested, but no stolen credit card or stolen property. When the homeowner returned, wanting to know why they rampaged her home, they lied and told her they knocked politely first. Unfortunately for the law enforcement horde, one camera was left functioning.





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A press conference was held a day or two later, during which Ankeny police defended the actions of the badged vandals. It was stated that violent people with criminal pasts lived in the home, but that, too, was a lie. A middle aged woman lives there with her son, who was recently honorably discharged from the Army. One of the two guests had once been charged with theft, but as the charge was dismissed, that does not count as a criminal past. So violence was used against innocent people and their property was destroyed by law enforcement. The press conference did not address the broken camera, or why the police minded appearing on film, and the reason why Ankeny police executed a warrant in Des Moines was also not revealed. But that's okay; once again, the press to the rescue. It seems that a former Ankeny officer by the name of Curtis Pote had experienced the theft of his wallet, and decided, possibly for reasons of a personal nature, that it MUST have been the young man who was a guest in the home that was raided. So instead of going through the proper channels to recover or replace his stolen property, as the rest of us would be obliged to do, he called on his former horde-mates at arms in Ankeny and asked them for a personal favor! But he doesn't feel, at all, that his complaint received any special treatment. (eye-rolley here)

In the future, cameras at the home of yours truly will be placed more strategically. The owners of the home that got raided for nothing will probably take similar action.

ACLU Writes Cease And Desist Letter To My Old School

Yesterday, I noticed this article on Yahoo News, about a high school student in Maryland who was sanctioned for refusing to recite the Pledge of Allegience at school. Because I went to high school in Maryland, I read the article. In order to find out more, I clicked on this link. When I noticed the words, "Montgomery County", I became a bit more interested, because I lived in Montgomery County as a child. Then, I noticed that the school was the very school from which I graduated. My jaw dropped in shock, because back in my day, anyone who said the Pledge of Allegience would have been suspected of indulging in hallucinagens. Not that anyone was disloyal, or ungrateful for where we lived, but no one at my high school forced anyone to recite anything that even remotely resembled a religious prayer or chant. Apparently, my old school has changed, and not for the better.

The biggest complaint most well educated people have with the Pledge of Allegience is the "One nation under 'God' " part. While I agree with the offense thereby taken, the reason I taught my own children not to recite it has to do with the ending of it........"with liberty, and justice for all". To me, that part of the Pledge is nothing short of a giant sham and lie, as we do not have, support, or even attempt liberty and justice for ALL in this country. Why pretend that we do? We are still a great country, but I do not see the need to encourage my children to believe that we have attained a level of greatness and benevolence that we actually have not attained......so my children do not have to recite the Pledge of Allegience at any school they attend.

The student who was punished and publicly humiliated in Maryland got the American Civil Liberties Union involved in her case, and they have written the school a "cease and desist" letter. The administrator and faculty would be wise to heed it. While we are on the subject of constitutional rights, here is another disturbing case, from Florida. The father of a fourth grader found the beginnings of an essay in the little boy's backpack. The teacher had assigned an essay on this subject:

 

And to that, Benjamin Franklin had this to say: “He who would trade liberty for some temporary security, deserves neither liberty nor security.”

 

That little boy is now home schooled. Thank the Gods his father was paying attention. Hopefully, more parents will open their eyes.

 

 

Phone Call To Northeast Kansas School's Insurance Company

At a meeting at my childrens' school yesterday, I was told by the secretary that while the superintendent had, indeed, told everyone concerned that all adults not employed by the school should, upon entrance to the building, sign in at the office, he was not serious and that it was not actually required. The principal backed her up, stating the the school's lawyer had told him that accounting for adult presences in the building in such a manner was unnecessary. So we are back to everyone from the local Avon lady pimping last year's lipstick shade in the hallway to the local sex offender registrants dropping in to use the restrooms. A "visaul" sign-in, wherein the secretary personally knows everyone who might pop in for some reason, and remembers each and every person who passes through the office will be just fine, no need to take the same precautions the rest of the nation's schools take in protecting children. And, oh.....the secretary absolutely knows everyone who might enter the school, too. And she is clairvoyant enough to know exactly which people present danger or have ulterior and unlawful motives and which people are innocent parents. Without a doubt. She will also psychically know if someone has gotton into the building, completely escaping her notice, and is hiding out in the janitor's closet, at which time she will call the principal and the football coach, who, in turn, can handle any emergency. This makes me uncomfortable, as my children are entitled to a safer school experience than that. It also is not compliant with the requirements of public schools in the rest of Kansas, or America, for that matter. It also is not only a tragedy waiting to happen, but a liability waiting to happen, so I decided to skip the normal channels I usually use when providing government employees with new anal passages and called Insurance Services of Seneca, who covers the school's insurance needs, and spoke with a young man named Matt Bachman about the liability and risk with which his company is involved. He listened, and was a bit surprised that the school board was unconcerned about students and their safety. It was also a bit of a surprise to hear that the superintendent would promise a parent one thing, and immediately negate that promise without telling the parent. What stunned him the most, though, is the statement I made about missing children, evidence, and law enforcement. If a child were ever to disappear from that particular school, law enforcement and the FBI would need a written list of every, single adult to enter the building on the day said child went missing. "Visual" sign-ins and the wiles of an inexperienced secretary DO NOT count. Without that information, a crime such as a kidnapping could take years to solve, if it was ever solved. As a taxpayor, I certainly have a right to higher standards than that for my children. Another thing about which I made him aware is this: if anything unsavory happens to any of my children at this school, and investigations reveal that it could have been prevented with simple accountability that was not implemented, I WILL take action. It will be an open and shut case, because children do have rights to appropriate protection, and after my lawyer is paid, someone WILL be making a hefty donation to the National Center For Missing And Exploited Children. If not the school district itself, the insurance company who covers the school district would probably have to pay. Insurance companies will not cover drivers who consistantly get pulled over for DWI, and they quibble about pre-existing conditions; well how is allowing the public at large access to a school for a pre-existing condition?

Thankyou so much, Matt Bachman, for listening to me, and thankyou for caring enough to try to stop a tragedy before it happens.