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Daytona school one step away from shut-down

By JACKIE LEATHERMAN
Today's News-Herald
Published Monday, January 11, 2010 11:04 PM MST

The local school governing board took its next-to-last step Monday night in its process of deciding whether or not to close Daytona Middle School next fall.

The Lake Havasu Unified School District governing board listened to student, teacher, and parent comments during a public meeting regarding the possibility.

“Your presence here shows you care about public education and that’s what our students need,” said LHUSD Superintendent Gail Malay as she opened the meeting to a packed boardroom. “Education has become a very complex business.”

Now the only step left in the closing process is the governing board casting its official vote on whether or not to close its one of two middle schools. The earliest that vote could come at the Feb. 16 regular board meeting.

“I understand the Daytona closure, 100 percent,” said local parent Sherri Mitchell during the meeting. “We have to pay (for our children’s education). It’s just the way that it goes.” Mitchell was one of about 12 speakers Monday night.

The board announced in early December that it would have to cut about $1.7 million from next year’s budget. An estimated $1.2 million of that is from the failure of voters in November 2009 to extend property taxes passed several years ago; the remaining is due to an expected decrease in state funding due to a projected decline in student enrollment, school officials said.

The school district is holding another meeting at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the district office at 2200 Havasupai Blvd. to discuss its current financial conditions.

Malay said a conversation about if — or when — the district might try for another property tax extension would “come up.”

A presentation made during the beginning of Monday night’s meeting stated that closing Daytona Middle School — which has fewer students than Thunderbolt Middle School — would save the district more money than if they were to consider closing an elementary school.

The majority of the expected $785,691 savings is from administrative and support staff payroll. Daytona teachers are expected to keep positions at other schools next year.

In addition to the possible school closure, the board has cut eight teaching positions district-wide next year. Malay outlined in her presentation that an additional 17 teaching positions would have to be cut to reach the same savings as the school closure.

If the board does decide to close Daytona Middle School, this year’s fifth-graders will remain at their elementary schools next year for sixth grade and Daytona’s seventh and eighth-graders will head to Thunderbolt. School transportation will be provided to all students living at least one mile away from Thunderbolt.

You may contact the reporter at jleatherman@havasunews.com.

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Comments (38 comment(s))

riverruner wrote on Jan 25, 2010 8:24 AM:

" This weekend I saw those Tax Takers at work again john-jay. They responded to an accident right up the street from me. When the actual scope of the problem was decided they sent most of the emergency equipment back while a core group managed the situation. Yep those nefarious Tax-Takes at work wasting our money… And how about those city maintenance workers wasting tax dollars cleaning the streets after the storms? What on earth do we need street cleanup for; we could all just take our shovels and do it ourselves! Then of course there are those tax-takes at Jamaica Elementary wasting tax and bond money becoming one of the best elementary schools in the state and the nation. Clearly the comprehensive education the override allowed had no impact there either. And while I’m on the subject what about those US Air Force tax-takers we see in the sky over Havasu all the time wasting tax dollars training? The next time my child is deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq maybe she can just do without any of that Tax-Taker body armor.
Of course not all tax money is spent correctly, but to characterize all public institutions and the people who staff them as Tax-Takers thereby implying they are some sort of parasite is just as intellectually incorrect as to claim that public institutions never make mistakes. "

riverruner wrote on Jan 22, 2010 2:10 PM:

" Third Eye
You’re absolutely right about the bad timing! However I will offer that the district is perfectly aware of what $100 can mean to a family in these times. The district is made up people most of whom pay property tax and all of whom have been impacted by the recession. So $100 is a figure they understand and can sympathize with, but so is the impact of over a 3.6 million loss to the district budget on top of sever state budget cuts.
I believe it was last year the there was a study, again I believe by our realtors which determined that for every 20 teachers laid off there was over an 8 million dollar loss to the local economy.
Reforming education funding would be a great idea; I just don’t see our legislature doing anything like that. And not just education-any of the vital public services-police, fire, rescue, highways, health…all those some of our neighbors referee to with such distain as the tax takers. All those providers have a responsibility to be effective and very careful with taxpayer money, but I would offer that all us taxpayers have a responsibility to acknowledge and properly fund the services we demand and expect when we need them.
And I could not agree more about responsibility. "

LosTacos wrote on Jan 21, 2010 4:10 PM:

" Actually Real check I Have a few stats classes above the 300-400 level and qualified with a Science degree and a Biologist/chemistry degree (which I didn't get in AZ because AZ rates at #46.) and it was an inside joke that if you had these classes and were in say a Chemistry, math or any other NERD Fraternity ie AXE you would have gotten the joke...I believe the Stick man plunging off Copper Canyon would have given that one away. Get it joke. And also using the Pearson correlation coefficient and getting a result of -1.0 (a neg slope sloping from a left high grade to a low right grade) In AZ Pearson cc's aren't taught until 10 grade and are only eluded to in 8th and 9th...GGGoooossshhh lighten up. And those big words really aren't that big. "

Third Eye wrote on Jan 21, 2010 1:05 PM:

" This is just bad timing. It seems unthinkable that in this economy someone is asking for an extension on a tax that is already in effect. $100 dollars a year may not seem like much to the school district but to a family it could mean gas in a vehicle, food, electricity or a doctor's visit. Any extra income at this point is welcome and probably needed. That being said, the economic mess is temporary and we must always look to the future. Maybe taxation is not the answer. Maybe there is a way for donations to school districts to count as larger exemptions on your tax returns. We have to get away from the old system and find new creative ways to fund our student's education. We are all responsible. "

riverruner wrote on Jan 21, 2010 8:28 AM:

" bobo the next time you need tax taker help, say if you need a policeman, or a firefighter, or perhaps the national guard in a natural disaster, or maybe the military in a response to a terrorist threat (oh NO not the LHPD and that frivolous bomb squad equipment), or perhaps when you have a child or grandchild in school…you know all those things tax takers do, you can share with them your distain for them and their desire to make a living while providing services to us all. Oh and I forgot those tax takers who maintain our streets and highways… "

Reality Check wrote on Jan 21, 2010 6:39 AM:

" Los Tacos, when you try to make a point by using big words and things you obviously are not really qualified to discuss, you should at least make sure that your comments are factual and make sense.

Your Comment:
"By the way my result was -1.0 (translates to a neg slope with y defined as -9 Billion. If this were plotted as a pie or linear chart in Excel(everyone know how to do this?...well maybe not everyone because we are #46)it would look like a stick man jumping off an 80 ft cliff in Copper Canyon and landing on his belly."

A pie chart is circular and only shows the relationship of items to other items in the chart as they all relate to a percentage of the whole "pie". Absolutely no slope is ever visible or implied. Perhaps you should have spent a little more time studying because pie charts are taught in grade school math. "

jasmine wrote on Jan 20, 2010 10:41 PM:

" There are those who just go on ranting without the facts. Police and Fire are operated from City budget and grants. The School's are operated from their own, completely separate budget, which has nothing to do with the City. It's like criticizing K-Mart for Wal-Mart's spending habits? Makes NO sense... Learn the facts before typing and making thy name look foolish. "

LosTacos wrote on Jan 20, 2010 7:40 AM:

" Again AZ #46...Maybe they shouldn't build a four year school here? "

bobo wrote on Jan 19, 2010 4:07 PM:

" Tax-takers versus tax-payers "

riverruner wrote on Jan 19, 2010 8:47 AM:

" Come on John-Jay…the funds from any grant police and fire could win would not-coulod not have gone to feed anyone! "

LosTacos wrote on Jan 19, 2010 5:54 AM:

" Wow! This is from AZCentral; Report: "Education system in Arizona rates C-" AZ schools are #46 outa 50 states. Hmmmmmm? Well their ya go that's almost dead last.

Apparently AZ missed the bus on education. But It didn't take long to figure that out when the governor cuts $$ from education and parks, and the public votes nay for local education. (Next article will read something like this, "45 states over educated! Low on burger flippers, toilet scrubbers and public servants? just call AZ."

I wonder? Could a Pearson correlation coefficient, be used to draw a linear equation in terms of showing direct line correlation and the direct relationship of why AZ is a C- in terms of it's education system vs people in legislature and Governor (I added Brewer for a a little twist as the F Coefficient)vs states that CAN balance a budget with out running the state into the ground?..But hey what do I know I went to a B+ and two A's?

By the way my result was -1.0 (translates to a neg slope with y defined as -9 Billion. If this were plotted as a pie or linear chart in Excel(everyone know how to do this?...well maybe not everyone because we are #46)it would look like a stick man jumping off an 80 ft cliff in Copper Canyon and landing on his belly. "

bwebster wrote on Jan 17, 2010 1:42 PM:

" Lake havasu mom: you still don't get it....the money from state retirement does not come from STATE MONEY - it comes from each employee and their employer while they are employed. The money is held by ASRS until the employee retires.

If a person is rehired by 3rd party contract, they do not receive new "retirement" benefits - it is like temp work, no benies.

It is NOT double dipping.

Plus you all seem to think that not voting for the overrides is the thing to do. It's the trickle down theory, unless people go to the board meetings and become active participants to find out where the money is coming from and going to, the impact is going to be on less teachers without even an increase in living raise and more students in each class. Less nurses, so students who require medical care during the day will be without, a secretary will be the person responsible for a child getting their medications and be sued if the unthinkable happens. Pretty soon the specials, ART, PE, and MUSIC will be cut, then SPORTS - but before sports are cut I imagine this town will vote an override in.... "

johnjay wrote on Jan 17, 2010 9:02 AM:

" Ok, if your police department and fire department feel they need to take the food out the mouths of babes to maintain and run their toys, so be it, go purchase 5 more bomb squad trucks and close all the schools. I just hope the teachers and parents realize where their status is on the totem pole in this town. I'm going to say it again, it's a retirement town and they don't want to support your children. "

northbound wrote on Jan 16, 2010 4:48 PM:

" riverrunner thank you for explaining that. Hey johnjay did ya hear that?

(At Monday’s work session it was made clear that the district already depends on grants to the tune of over 3million dollars. The district is always applying for competitive grants, state and federal, however the competition there is fierce as so many districts around the country are in such bad financial condition…and those grants also have many strings attached.)

It's like this all over YOU can't control which grants are approved or what they are approved for. So if the police department or fire department got a piece of equipment you don't think they need thats life. They need to close this school just as many schools around the country are closing. "

VoiceOfReason wrote on Jan 15, 2010 10:55 AM:

" riverruner, you are right-on regarding grants having strings attached. The other fly in the ointment with grants is that they are "soft" money...they can go away and then a program that is being funded just disappears. With the economy in the condition it is, grants are disappearing faster than cockroaches when you turn on a light. "

riverruner wrote on Jan 14, 2010 11:52 AM:

" Oh and John_Jay I understand if not feel your pain. Being shown the road out of Havasu for disagreeing probably makes you feel a lot like the people who lead and staff our public institutions when someone always assumes they are inept, crooked, self-serving, or stupid. My observations based on a life working in both the private and public worlds are that both are full of caring competent people who do the best they can with the circumstances they have, usually make the best choice they can, sometimes make mistakes, and are honorable. "

third eye wrote on Jan 14, 2010 11:25 AM:

" How about an Early Out? Again any teacher becomes vested after 10 years of employment. They could choose whether to accept the out or not and if so be hired back. Would it be alot of money? No. But they would keep their jobs and still receive 80% of their top three...lets do the math. BA + 12 is equal to 38K per year (What a joke). 80% is $30,400 for the rehire, plus retirement, which would be $656.20 (Per ASRS Calculator) per month. Or an additional $7874.40 per year additional. Or $38,274.40 per year. They would actually make more money and save the District alot of payroll. If 10 years is not realistic lets look at 12 or 15 years? We can get pretty creative here. ASRS should be here to support school districts and students not to line the pockets of state employees. In these tough times it may be necessary to save themselves. "

riverruner wrote on Jan 14, 2010 11:16 AM:

" Northbound, the district constantly applies for additional grant funding. At Monday’s work session it was made clear that the district already depends on grants to the tune of over 3million dollars. The trouble is THAT money like all grants has so many strings attached. The district is always applying for competitive grants, state and federal, however the competition there is fierce as so many districts around the country are in such bad financial condition…and those grants also have many strings attached. Why simply assume the district is not looking for grant funds? They are asking and have been. "

northbound wrote on Jan 14, 2010 9:06 AM:

" No johnjay not the 1st time they disagree....lol. It's like this all over the country. I'm sure there are other schools closing too and our police department isn't the only department getting grants for equipment it's happening all over. You can't put the blame on the police department for applying for grants, and the same for the dog park. Alot of people don't have a yard they live in apartments an it's nice to have some place to run their animals. I agree the amount of money it cost to make that dog park is way out there, it didn't have to be that expensive. Then again why isn't the school dist applying for grant money to get them out of the bind? Run for office in the school dist next election and show us all how it should be done. Stop blaming those who are not at fault. The school dist should be asking uncle sam for grant money. "

riverruner wrote on Jan 14, 2010 7:34 AM:

" Third eye I asked someone I know at ASRS and they have looked at this before but it would decimate their holdings to lose so many contributors. I saw a study a couple of years ago which placed ASRS as second or third best state retirement system in the country because of its high contributor base…as usual you have an intelligent suggestion/observation.
John_Jay simplistic arguments and uninformed conclusions don’t seem to go very far do they? Perhaps informed observations and realistic suggestions may get you fewer invitations to leave town. The tone of the responses tend to match the tone of the original statements. "

VoiceOfReason wrote on Jan 14, 2010 5:40 AM:

" Third Eye, what you propose is the principle behind exactly what some long time employees have done - what some scream is "double dipping." So in concept you are right-on. However, after 10 years the retirement amount would be barely anything. Why do you think so many retirees, after 25-30 years of putting into the system, need a second income?

Lake_havasu_mom...please have someone explain the retirement-come back to work- process with regard to where the money comes from, because you clearly don't get it. "

johnjay wrote on Jan 13, 2010 8:09 PM:

" northbound, someone disagrees with you and your first response is to kick them out of town. Look bottom line is your tax base is decimated and you have a huge PR problem, not much else to say. "

Third Eye wrote on Jan 13, 2010 1:31 PM:

" Here's a potential solution. Early Retirement for teachers with 10 or more years. Hire them back at 80% pay of their top three years. The district won't have to pay for medical, retirement or sick days. How much would that save? Would teachers be interested? Would ASRS get on board? Has anyone asked? "

lake_havasu_mom wrote on Jan 13, 2010 1:21 PM:

" To clarify my earlier post... 1. The school override committee advertised everywhere except for where the majority of the parents would see or hear the message. Since the schools can no longer send the message home in the kids backpacks the message was missed by the 25 to 45 demographic. I have attended the meetings, I know where the advertising went and I know who made the decisions regarding the advertising.
As for the #2 the double-dipping. As many of you have pointed out these folks are on Third-Party Contracts and the the District is Audited. You're right they are. The same people have also pointed out that the retirement comes from the STATE... well... where does the District get it's funding? My point exactly. So while the District is only paying on Third-Party Contracts the State is paying Retirement AND the District for those same contracts. Want the state to pay more into the District then the State needs to pay less elsewhere. How about they start with no longer paying hundreds of thousands of dollars a year on information pamphlets written in Spanish?! Wouldn't the schools put those dollars to better use teaching English if the State didn't pay to have everything duplicated in Spanish... It's the government folks... Common Sense doesn't apply here. "

northbound wrote on Jan 13, 2010 9:56 AM:

" Johnjay the road that moved you into Havasu leads out of Havasu as well. The grant money used to pay for the new vehicles and dog parks were inquired for only those items. AGAIN where are the grant writters for the SCHOOL DRIST? If your so dang worried about it do it your self. Of course the maint of the vehicle comes from the city budget which is much cheaper then the price of the vehicle. Again they are closing the school get over it. "

riverruner wrote on Jan 13, 2010 9:55 AM:

" John-jay
Wow not only do you seem to be the ONLY person in Havasu who GETS IT you know all the opulent homes all those privileged government workers live in! Intellectual authority is such a conveniently wonderful thing; it allows such clear second guessing and moral superiority. "

Havasures wrote on Jan 13, 2010 9:18 AM:

" Hold the phone here people! The put the facts out there once again to see if we can clear up the picture... participants on the thrid party contracts do make more money now then they did prior to joining the program, TRUE. The money they receive however comes from two different sources, 1. their State funded retirement program in which they earned and contributed to and 2. a lowered pay rate from the district. Like it or not this did actually save the district money. Next, the district grant writers do an AMAZING job. Their's has got to be the most stressful of all jobs in the district. Not only do they have government deadlines, audits, a endless reports and applications to do, they must also protect the grant funds and ensure those moneies are spent according to the grant guidelines. You CANNOT spend grant money for any random thing that you want. It will never be able to be used for teacher salaries or utilities which are the highest bills the district has. As for the override not passing that has nothing to do with Republicans or Democrats, it has to do with the citizens of this community and their understanding of what was being asked of them. Could the override committee have done a better job...yes. Would it have changed the outcome...not necessarily. The fact is that a lot of money needs to be cut from the district's budget due to state cuts and loss of override moneies. One way to do that was to close Daytona. The students will be able to be relocated and many staff will be able to retain their jobs. No not everyone, but a lot. The district's ultimate goal is to educate the students and lessen the impact on some of it's employees. How would you feel right now if you were one of those employees who knows that they won't have a job after this school year? It is an incrediably difficult time. So, instead of complaining about what a terrible job the district does on this blog why don't you become a part of the decision making team. Run for the school board and let your voice be heard. Attend board meetings, volunteer your time, donate...do something! Do anything except just complain! "

johnjay wrote on Jan 13, 2010 8:06 AM:

" havasurights,

The school district didn't create the mess, they're just part of it. We have so many "pots" of money in government that need to be funded, the taxpayer doesn't have enough dollars to fund them all. Businesses are going BK because of the stifling taxes and regulations, yet you want more. Why is it the solution to the government workers problem always, you work a little harder and give me the money?

Do you want to know how to tell the imminent collapse of a community? Look at the government buildings and the homes that the government workers are living in. When the nicest buildings in a town are government owned and the nicest homes are government employees, you can guarantee your community will collapse, always happens.

As far as the grant money thing. I'm sure you received grant money to cover the maintenance, fuel and salaries that go along with these new toys...right? Government workers just don't get it until they destroy their own system. "

bwebster wrote on Jan 12, 2010 10:06 PM:

" Retiring and continuing to work at a job is not "double-dipping". The money is not coming from the same place. I don't know why people can't understand this. Most people can't live just on retirement so they often get other jobs, I know my father did. The retirement money is not coming from the school system, that is money the school staff HAS to have removed from their pay along with social security and all the other taxes.

Get the correct information - it is not DOUBLE dipping.

People keep saying that is why the school system is out of money and that isn't true. Arizona is one of the cheapest states when funding schools. We rank 49th out of 50 give or take. Arizona can't budget their money so they are taking it out of education because they feel education isn't important.

Get the facts please. Stop making up things just because you don't like some of the administrators or you need to take a time out! "

comments wrote on Jan 12, 2010 8:19 PM:

" do us all a favor
close the the whole school district what joke "

Roco wrote on Jan 12, 2010 5:44 PM:

" To havasurights: Are you saying the Democrats voted not to keep the overrides in place? "

Roco wrote on Jan 12, 2010 5:40 PM:

" havasurights wrote: "Let this be a lesson to you and the rest of the voters in this town, you get what you vote for....thanks Dems for Obama....now what will we do!!! "

So, since this is a Republican stronghold, who do we have to thank for this school problem? McCain "

riverruner wrote on Jan 12, 2010 5:35 PM:

" lake_havasu_mom
You have a right to think what you like about those on third party contracts (the ones you refer to as “double dipping” but the reality is that does save the district money as the actual district portion of their school salary drops under that arrangement. You may disagree with the appearance of that arrangement as those people do make more money than they did before when you add their retirement to the reduced pay they receive from the district, but the district does not pay the entire amount. As the district has said time after time…those people receive their regular retirement (from the state NOT the district) and a reduced pay from the district over what they made before. If you cared to attend board meetings and get the facts you would find this saved the district some $60,000 this year if I recall the correct number. Also remember the district is audited at least once a year so those are accurate numbers not made up by the district you obviously do not have much respect for. Clearly most people do not understand third party contracts so I can only assume the just don’t like the appearance when some people have an opportunity to make more money.
The override committee advertized the impact of the override consistently and constantly…sure they could have done better, but you would have had to be on another planet NOT to have know about the override and its importance. Before you criticize someone else’ education I suggest you learn that communication requires you to actually listen. "

northbound wrote on Jan 12, 2010 3:51 PM:

" Johnjay the police motorcycles that officers ride on were paid for by grant money that had nothing to do with funding Schools. The dog park which I don't even use since I have a big yard was also paid for with grant money. If you would like to get on the internet and look into becomming a grant writter feel free. Maybe you can do a better job then those at the School Dist did that should be finding grants for our schools. If your going to bash something that is that you feel should not be at least know what your bashing about. That school is so old I went to Jr High there in 1972 it needs to be all torn down and a new building built. There is plenty of room for the 7th ann 8th graders at Thunderbolt. Times are tuff get over it. "

riverruner wrote on Jan 12, 2010 3:47 PM:

" Sorry johnjay but it is you who do not appear to get it. The schools are mandated morally and legally to provide the best education to our kid’s possible so even if the legislature makes poor decisions, or those who voted them into office. The district will still and rightly so I would offer, continue to ask for appropriate funding. Yours is a position that may be correct, but I do not believe it is right. Underfunding something as vital as education just because others institutions may or may not have made decisions with which you disagree seems wrong...and the kids pay the freight. Should the district simply throw up its collective hands and stop asking for what they believe is right? You may find this silly but I believe the district has a moral obligation to keep asking for appropriate funding from the state, the feds, and if need be the Havasu voter. "

havasurights wrote on Jan 12, 2010 1:49 PM:

" jonjay, you make it sound like all this mess is the school boards fault. If the stingy gut citizens of this town would have voted in the proper direction we would not be discussing this issue. And you are right, the cities budget and grants purchase the state of the art bomb squad vehicle. It did not take any dollars out of the school budget for those items. Don't be so cynical regarding Gail, she is just doing the best with what she and the board have.

Let this be a lesson to you and the rest of the voters in this town, you get what you vote for....thanks Dems for Obama....now what will we do!!! "

lake_havasu_mom wrote on Jan 12, 2010 1:43 PM:

" Maybe if the school district wasn't paying adminstrators and teachers that were double dipping in the system and Maybe if the school over-ride committee had gotten the message out to the voters that they needed to instead of the seniors than maybe... just maybe... the school district wouldn't be in this pickle. But then that would mean thinking logically and that is something that they don't teach in school, or in college either. "

johnjay wrote on Jan 12, 2010 9:34 AM:

" Gail,

Why don't you take your kids down to the sewer plant or the new dog park and show them their school dollars at work. Or maybe have them ride around in those fancy police motorcycles and give tickets to the local citizens all day (since you no longer have tourists to hand them out to). Show them their state of the art bomb squad and say "See kids at least your safe from terrorists in Lake Havasu". Or better yet take them over to Kaffy's house and show them their pen and paper budget, oops almost forgot he already left town with his windfall of Lake Havasu treasure. I know, I know "But we get our budget from the state not the city"....you just don't get it, it doesn't matter if the dollar from the taxpayer goes to the federal, state or local level it's the same dollar out of the taxpayers hard work. Sorry kids, but adults sometimes make bad decisions, maybe you'll grow and make better ones. "

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