Dear Editor:
As the election draws closer, I’m surprised there haven’t been more comments about the Noblesville Schools referendum. Maybe folks have decided how they’ll vote, or busy lives have caused them not to pay attention. But this is important!
After reading and re-reading the four issues of this paper required to explain all the moving parts of this complex plan we should all be concerned.
First is the cost. In my lifetime having lived in three Midwest states, this is the largest single proposed tax increase at a local or state level I’ve ever experienced.
Secondly, the argument for this increase might have more merit if it was the first since the state froze property tax increases a few years ago. But Noblesville Schools has requested tax increases that have been approved by voters nearly every election cycle. The last increase was, we were told, to address teacher salaries. Now we are told some teaching positions have a $10,000 difference compared with positions in other school districts. How is this possible? Where is the money being spent?
The critical issue here is school safety. I believe it is common sense to stop weapons of any kind from getting into the schools. But the schools are rejecting metal detectors, opting instead for “random wanding” of students, and the use of gun sniffing dogs.
We’re told this is because they don’t want a “negative” or “reformatory” environment with metal detectors. But dogs and random wanding? They can’t be serious! Our family member graduated from one of Chicago’s largest city high schools. They had metal detectors then. They were unobtrusive, not like the airport detectors. They have had no incidents of weapons.
Another of our family members is a teacher in one of Chicago’s At Risk Schools. In other words, tough as they get! They also have metal detectors and two security officers. Again, no weapon problems. Kids know if they bring a weapon, they will be arrested and do jail time.
As a society, we are amazed that inner-city schools don’t have these shooting problems. Instead of creating a multi-million dollar solution set, why don’t suburban school districts like ours learn and replicate successful actions of inner-city schools? That could be done far less expensively than gun sniffing dogs and specialized handlers.
That brings me to the media claim that suburban white boys have unique or special issues. I’m skeptical, but perhaps that’s true for a few. However, do we really need the Noblesville Schools’ proposed mental health infrastructure replete with more mental health counselors and assessors, social workers and additional deans?
Where in the charter for Indiana state community schools does it empower schools to also be mental a health organization? As soon as a kid is singled out, and his parents are incensed by accusations, what do they do with the information? I believe this is a huge law suit waiting to happen!
Why not engage the Hamilton County Mental Health Department or the state to become involved with the counselors you already have on staff?
Having been in business for over 40 years, and having managed a large organization, I’ve found the best plans of action, and the easiest for people to successfully implement, are simple plans. This referendum plan is very complex with lots of moving parts.
While I completely support competitive pay for our teachers, I give this plan an ‘F’ and will vote no on this referendum. I suggest we taxpayers should send them back to the ‘blackboard’ to significantly rework this plan. For the interim, install metal detectors!
George Hodgson
Noblesville