I'm not a happy camper this morning because I made the mistake of checking the Coshocton Tribune forum postings while eating breakfast. I shouldn't even log onto that site because a lot of the people who post get me worked up and into a bad mood quickly. I'm a progressive guy and I'm all about progress. I've known for a while that a private group of parents were going to attempt to raise funds to install artificial turf at Coshocton's football stadium. I'm all for this project because it improves a community and a school district facility in an area where most people are currently against spending money on anything. You have to make people want to move somewhere and right now I see no reasons to move into the city of Coshocton. There just isn't anything special about it.
Now back to the turf issue... I received a few complaints from my posting on the Tribune forums about how I was planning to support this project so I've decided to address them here...
Outside money will look bad - Well folks since there are no jobs in Coshocton most of Coshocton High School's alumni now live somewhere else. I plan to support this project when it proceeds and since I lived in Coshocton for 22 years and graduated from the school district It makes sense that I'd want to support a project related to improving the district. A lot of public school districts have alumni networks just like colleges that they use to solicit funds for projects such as this turf install.
It will look bad to the parents at Washington because the school is closing - If you want your schools to stay opened you vote FOR levies. When the community votes no the parents who are willing to put their own money behind their kids (the parents who voted for the levy) should be able to raise money for a privately funded project to improve the facilities their kid uses. When schools are closing and budget cuts are being made one thing is for certain...there will be no facility improvements funded by the district anytime soon so the only way this stuff is going to get done is if private groups take it on. In all honesty, I don't care how this project will look to parents at Washington. They've gotta understand that these are two completely unrelated things. People aren't going to donate money to support operations for the entire community's school system after an election indicated the majority of citizens don't value education but they will spend money to directly impact the facilities their kid uses because they want what is best for their kid even though the community doesn't.
I'm tired of all the whining and crying about how things will look and what if this/what if that that goes on in Coshocton. You don't lead by worrying about who gets upset and how things look..you lead by making things happen and by improving the community. If I were in Coshocton right now I would be an independent candidate for Mayor. There is just no leadership at all in that city right now. The County is way ahead of the city at this point in time. You can't worry about upsetting a minority of people and then axe a project that is a "no-brainer" improvement of the community's amenities.
Tom
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4 comments:
You bring up an interesting point. I agree with the fact that private citizens can do with their dollars what they wish...and it's noble...not insulting.
And the idea that the Superintendent closed Washington is simply incorrect. The community voted to do so. I applaud the group who refuse to allow this to slow progress.
"Never doubt that small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed that is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead.
Thanks for your input Kirby. That is an excellent quote at the end of your post!
I agree that the stadium and locker rooms desperately need updating. The question becomes, is that the most crucial need for the district. (I vote for school levies by the way) From a parent perspective, and a property owner near Washington School, if the community has monies available, I would like to see programs that benefit all students first.
The school district doesn't have any money to put towards this project. It's all going to be privately funded through donations and fundraisers. It will probably take a year or more just to raise the money for the field surface replacement.
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