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Another Ho-Hum Year at MCSD |
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Pacman 
Prominent MUSA Citizen 
Joined: Jun 02 2007 Status: Offline Points: 2612 |
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 Topic: Another Ho-Hum Year at MCSDPosted: Aug 25 2009 at 2:12pm |
Sorry but I don't call this improving everyday.Middletown keeps report card ratingBy Meagan Engle, Staff Writer
Updated 1:46 PM Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Middletown City Schools maintained its state rating of “continuous improvement” for the fifth straight year, according to state report card data released today, Aug. 25. School officials say the district made progress, which is evident in the “value added” score, showing students at every building in the district made at least a year’s academic growth during the 2008-09 school year. “Our schools are improving every single day and we have a lot to be proud of in Middletown City Schools,” said Senior Director of Learning Betsy Carter. “We know we have work to do.” Middletown met the same number of indicators, 5 out of 30, on the 2008-09 state report card. The district had a performance index score of 81.7 out of 120, up from 80 the previous year. That score is a point system based on student achievement in all tested subjects. The number of indicators and performance index score fall below the goal set by the Board of Education of achieving eight indicators and attaining a performance index score of 83. |
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VietVet
MUSA Council 
Joined: May 15 2008 Status: Offline Points: 7008 |
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Posted: Aug 25 2009 at 2:57pm |
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Betsy Carter- SENIOR DIRECTOR OF LEARNING- A couple of ways to look at your statement "our schools are improving every single day and we have alot to be proud of in Middletown City Schools" Yes, you could say that you are improving with ANY positive numbers. But, you also have to include the time it took you to get to those numbers and consider the pace at which you are achieving success. To date, the pace is one of a snail. It will be 20 years before this system sees the next level in achievement at this pace. Secondly, IF you compare this school system to the quality of yesterday's Middletown schools- ie- achievement, image, reputation, results, effective discipline, structure, etc., you would be shocked at how Middletown's schools have reverted backward in quality. It's all relative- you see improvement- Having been here for 60 years and having gone through this school system when it functioned correctly and produced positive results- I see you folks still in the abyss- not even reaching the bottom rung on the achievement ladder of a once proud district. Your schools have been stagnant for too long, stuck at continuous improvement for years. Time to change it up a bit, wouldn't you say???
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Vivian Moon
MUSA Council
Joined: May 16 2008 Location: Middletown, Ohi Status: Offline Points: 4187 |
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Posted: Aug 25 2009 at 5:22pm |
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Yep, this score should bring all those high class people with money just flooding into
 We need a new school board |
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Hermes
Prominent MUSA Citizen
Joined: May 19 2009 Location: Middletown Status: Offline Points: 1637 |
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Posted: Aug 25 2009 at 6:40pm |
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The numbers only went up 1.7% from the previous year !? Looks like they are stuck in a rut with numbers like that every year.
And yes Vivian I agree,the school board has to go !!!
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No more democrats no more republicans,vote Constitution Party !!
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Smartman
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Joined: Jun 14 2008 Status: Offline Points: 299 |
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Posted: Aug 25 2009 at 7:25pm |
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Vet you are right in what you say! I know, I am agreeing with your for once. But don't you agree, things are very different than 40 years ago. We had parental involvement, my mother went to every conference because it was importanat that I succeeded in school. We did not have section 8 amd if we did it was minimal. We had a thriving community with industry that we don't have now. Parents wanted their kids to be better than we were, have a better life. Drive around town and just look, its not like it was when we were kids.
Sure the board needs to go, most of them anyway. We need real leadership in ths community for it to succeed and more importantly parents that care and a borad the will be positive to get parents involved again!
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VietVet
MUSA Council
Joined: May 15 2008 Status: Offline Points: 7008 |
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Posted: Aug 26 2009 at 7:40am |
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Smartman- you have some interesting comments. Let's review:
1. Parental involvement- Agree- years ago there was a parental responsibility, concern, expectation and consequence between parent and child. Now, some parents of poor performing students don't care and are too busy taking care of their own problems without worrying about their kids. HOWEVER, I don't see the school board or administration meeting with the police and the court systems to design an "involve yourself or else" program to force the irresponsible parents to participate. Sometimes, you just have to bring the hammer down on some people. 2. Section 8- we can blame this problem directly on city council for allowing the excess to happen. This throws a burden on the schools and lowers the performance factor in the statistics and in day to day operation. Not the schools fault. Was forced on them by the city. This can be corrected as to number if the city had competent people running it. 3. Thriving community with industry- Again, the city's fault for not reacting to the job losses when Armco/paper mills started going down the tubes in the 70's. It was obvious to all of us except the Council and Econ Development people that we needed jobs to replace the trend of job loss 35 years ago. They are still asleep at the wheel after all this time and don't have a clue as to what types of jobs to go after nor how to attract them. They are incoherent as to this town's job needs. 4. Drive around- I have and it saddens me to remember how prosperous we were in the 50's/ 60's and to see how this and past city leaders since then, have taken the town to desolation. They should be ashamed but one would need morals and a conscience for that. We have no leaders like that. |
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Pacman
Prominent MUSA Citizen
Joined: Jun 02 2007 Status: Offline Points: 2612 |
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Posted: Aug 26 2009 at 9:15am |
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Pacman
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Posted: Aug 26 2009 at 9:19am |
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The graduation rate above is pitiful if you ask me. More than 1/5 of the students don't graduate.
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Mike_Presta
MUSA Council
Joined: Apr 20 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3483 |
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Posted: Aug 26 2009 at 10:46am |
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According to information available from the Ohio Department of Education's website, the Middletown City School District actually DID improve during the 2008-2009 school year!!!
With a score of 81.7, they finished 592nd out of the 610 school districts in the state of Ohio!!!
(Last year, if memory serves, they finished 598th out of 610.)
They handily bettered Youngstown, Dayton, and Cleveland Municipal City School Discticts but barely edged outToledo, Cincinnati, Lima, and Columbus City School Districts.
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“Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012
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John Beagle
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Joined: Apr 23 2007 Location: Middletown Status: Offline Points: 1855 |
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Posted: Aug 26 2009 at 10:56am |
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Well there is some real progress, we moved up from basement floor to first step off the basement floor.
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Vivian Moon
MUSA Council
Joined: May 16 2008 Location: Middletown, Ohi Status: Offline Points: 4187 |
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Posted: Aug 26 2009 at 11:56am |
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I believe we need to close down the schools and buy every student a new computer and they can just go to school on-line. I think we would get the same results or maybe even better. Heck, think of all the money we would save. |
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VietVet
MUSA Council
Joined: May 15 2008 Status: Offline Points: 7008 |
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Posted: Aug 26 2009 at 12:08pm |
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But Vivian- pray tell, what would we do with all those new elementary schools we just had built if the kids learned at home on-line? You know, the same schools they told us would bolster the learning by creating a new, more technologically advanced environment for the kids? The same schools that are continuing to give us the same results we had with the old schools? The same schools that cost us $45 million in bond money to find out that it didn't make a real difference at all? We could rehab them inside to create a jim-dandy housing unit for more Section 8! Gilleland and the supporters of Section 8 would be pleased!
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Pacman
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Joined: Jun 02 2007 Status: Offline Points: 2612 |
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Posted: Aug 26 2009 at 12:10pm |
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Hell Vivian you get the loaner computer and Internet service for free with these programs.
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Vivian Moon
MUSA Council
Joined: May 16 2008 Location: Middletown, Ohi Status: Offline Points: 4187 |
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Posted: Aug 26 2009 at 12:35pm |
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Vet & Pacman
Gosh....I believe we have solved two problems at once. We're on a roll. See how smart we are. Do ya think they will be sending us a check in the mail for $100,000 since we have solved these pesky little problems.  |
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Mike_Presta
MUSA Council
Joined: Apr 20 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3483 |
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Posted: Aug 26 2009 at 7:47pm |
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“Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012
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VietVet
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Joined: May 15 2008 Status: Offline Points: 7008 |
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Posted: Aug 27 2009 at 6:39am |
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Speaking of those new elementary schools being built...... I heard a nasty vicious rumor that the school folks were actually working on some scheme to go to step two.... new middle schools and a new high school. Is that true or just talk at this point? Gee, in assessing the promises made after building the new elementary schools( ie- better performance-kids learn better in a newer setting) and the grades/performance results, do you think asking for new middle/high schools has a prayer's chance in he-- of passing? We have not seen any positive results from Uncle Stevie's sales pitch about newer schools boosting academic achievement as yet, have we? Lord, some of the voters are gullible!!!!
As to historic districts.... I live about a block and a half east of WPFB's radio tower on former WPFB land. The local radio station has been here for years and is historic. Could the homes in my area be declared "historic" even though they were built in the 70's, 80's and 90's because they sit on former land of the radio station? What say you Vivian and Mike?  or should I ask Leslie Eugene Landen that question?
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Vivian Moon
MUSA Council
Joined: May 16 2008 Location: Middletown, Ohi Status: Offline Points: 4187 |
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Posted: Aug 27 2009 at 9:08am |
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Vet
I will not give another dime to the schools until the scores go up...PERIOD.
As for "historic districts"....I have worked on historic homes for 30 years and I thought I understood the rules. However after talking with numerous people involved in this new historic district....I guess I know nothing...and I still don't understand this plan. There are 3 types of historic districts, local, state and federal. The Highlands is to be a "Local Historic District" (therefore with the greatest control.) Marty Kohler has used the 50 year rule for this district. In other words if the property is 50 years old it can be declared "historic". (Example: Wright homes built in Chicago) The other examples where this rule has been used is for downtown areas that have been built over numerous decades in many styles. And as Mike would say.....HOWEVER....I have NEVER seen this rule used in a residential area with this range of ages. Hamilton, One of the benefits of a historic district is that owners of homes will not have to apply individually to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places and incur the expense associated with this process. How many of these properties would qualify to be on the National Register of Historic Places? Very few of these homes would qualify to be placed on the National Regeister...imo Clearly Mr. Kohler has used the broadest interpertation of this rule for this new historic district. (Just because you have a rule does not mean it is wise to abuse it..imo) I was told that these homeowners want to protect their investments, homes and neighborhood. When I asked from what, I was told that they didn't want these large homes to be split up at a later date into apartment units like the Sorg and to insure that the properties would be well maintained. (Then why not form the Highlands District Association or just declare these large homes historic?) Restrictions on properties...(Now this is where my 3 little gray cells went tilt..tilt..tilt) When I asked about historic restriction on these properties I was told that this area would be under "SELF RULE" by members of this district. That items such as a new roof would not need to go before the City Historic Review Committee. That in fact the "Historic rules DIDN'T APPLY to them or their properties...tilt..tilt..tilt..tilt. Bottom line...everyone that I have talked with has a different interpertation of the "Highlands Historic District" rules..what they are and what they can and can not do with their properties..tilt..tilt..tilt I think Mr. Kohler needs to go before Council and explain all the rules before this goes before City Council on September 1, 2009. Sooo...if this is the historic rule that Mr Kohler is going to use then all of Middletown can apply...tilt..tilt..tilt. |
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VietVet
MUSA Council
Joined: May 15 2008 Status: Offline Points: 7008 |
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Posted: Aug 27 2009 at 10:53am |
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Wait a minute!
Kohler has "used the 50 year rule for this district"- Isn't there some type of legal rules of engagement that is recognized and defined by the county, state or federal entities when establishing a historical district? OR, can a local yokal official like Kohler just come up with an arbitrary number that defines the "historical age" of something???? There must be legal criteria that this group must follow to get this accomplished. Secondly- your "restrictions on properties" comments- let me get this straight- they want to set up a historical district, but the rules that apply to that historical district-- uhh- don't apply to them????  It would be "self rule" where anything goes. Just "do what you want". What ???? This is illogical. If they want to set up a system that has rules and then not follow the rules, why set up the system at all?? What's the purpose if it's going to end up a free for all? Goofy!
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wasteful
MUSA Citizen
Joined: Jul 27 2009 Status: Offline Points: 793 |
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Posted: Aug 27 2009 at 11:06am |
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Kohler has been doing what he wants for quite a while. We should rename the city to Kohlerville.
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Mike_Presta
MUSA Council
Joined: Apr 20 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3483 |
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Posted: Aug 27 2009 at 6:33pm |
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Plain and simple, it sounds like a
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“Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012
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TudorBrown
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Joined: Aug 24 2009 Location: Highlands D. Status: Offline Points: 265 |
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Posted: Aug 30 2009 at 4:27am |
Yep... |
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lrisner
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Joined: May 26 2009 Status: Offline Points: 330 |
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Posted: Aug 30 2009 at 9:51am |
You Bet! Historic properties are eligible for CDBGs, are they not? |
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Vivian Moon
MUSA Council
Joined: May 16 2008 Location: Middletown, Ohi Status: Offline Points: 4187 |
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Posted: Aug 31 2009 at 4:31am |
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I was having a conversation the other day with a young lady that is on Section 8 housing. She said she was looking for housing outside of |
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AKBobby
MUSA Resident 
Joined: May 18 2009 Location: Middletown, OH Status: Offline Points: 103 |
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Posted: Sep 11 2009 at 3:51pm |
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Why does Marty Kohler still have a job? Anyone? Anyone? In the private sector he would have been fired years ago.
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AK - What is going on with that?
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wasteful
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Joined: Jul 27 2009 Status: Offline Points: 793 |
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Posted: Sep 11 2009 at 4:19pm |
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According to Gilleland he is just wonderful and her righthand man. Probably more likely he knows where the skeletons are buried.
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