Edgewood Underfunding

**MannyIsGod** · 12-11-2004

Parents pepper Edgewood officials

Web Posted: 12/10/2004 12:00 AM CST

Mc Nelly Torres
San Antonio Express-News

Expressing discontent with a proposed plan to close four elementary schools, parents bombarded Edgewood School District officials with an array of questions Thursday.
Watch the video
Video: Four schools in the Edgewood School District could be shut down

About 300 parents packed the auditorium at Garcia Middle School, where the rezoning committee unveiled its plan to close Burleson, Frey, Williams and Hoelscher elementary schools. School officials expect the measure to save millions in operating expenses.

"I don't want my children to be bused," Betty Garcia, a mother of two children, said during the three minutes she was allowed to speak. "We have parents who purchased homes just to be close to the schools."

Many of the parents, whose children are the third and fourth generations to attend schools in the West Side district, said they don't have the means of transportation to travel long distances to pick up a child in case of an emergency.

Others told officials the changes will disrupt their communities.

"Money is not a privilege to me," said Dora Flores, a mother of three. "I have an arrangement with other parents whose kids go to Brentwood."

School officials tried to answer the questions and said the board has yet to approve the proposed plan. After experiencing a shortfall of about $3 million last year, the officials said they'll need to cut costs to avoid a deficit again this year.

Superintendent Richard Bocanegra said there's no easy way to tell parents their elementary schools are about to be closed.

"All we can do is to be honest," Bocanegra said moments before the hearing began. "It is in the best interest of the district — we are talking about the future."

Parents questioned why the school district spent money to remodel schools that later would be targeted for closure, and Rudy Lara expressed skepticism about the new plan.

"We are supposed to get a concrete answer from you, but we are getting the runaround," Lara said, drawing loud applause from the crowd.

I am all for more money going to these schools, but I'm also for NON IDIOTS running them. What the ?

This would just lead to overcrowding of OTHER schools as well.

**Nbadan** · 12-12-2004

We are closing down schools in America and opening them in Iraq and Afghanistan. What else needs to be said Manny? Yes there are incompetent school boards but no one likes closing schools. The fact is that declining population rates in these area around these schools has led to a decreasing enrollment, so in order to utilize their resources more efficiently Edgewood has decided to consolidate its elementary schools. Doesn't mean that classes will be more crowded at the fewer schools, class sizes are regulated by the State, just that there may be a need for one or two more teachers at each grade level to accommodate the increase in the number of students.

**Hook Dem** · 12-12-2004

Originally Posted by MannyIsGod

I am all for more money going to these schools, but I'm also for NON IDIOTS running them. What the ?

This would just lead to overcrowding of OTHER schools as well.

You could run for the school board yourself since you have the solution and then we could criticize you. Thats not meant to be sarcastic. ing is easy. Fixing the problem is not.

**Hook Dem** · 12-12-2004

I'll give you an even better view of self indulgence. I am a senior citizen. I have paid my fair share of school taxes. I don't produce children anymore. I don't think I should have to pay any school taxes. Maybe if people were taxed on the number of children that had to go through the school systems, they would zip up a little more often. Why should I have to pay for your bedroom pleasure? It may be a selfish view but it's how I feel.

**Clandestino** · 12-12-2004

well, you can't judge it on that because everyone benefits from having an educated society...

**Guru of Nothing** · 12-12-2004

Originally Posted by Hook Dem

I'll give you an even better view of self indulgence. I am a senior citizen. I have paid my fair share of school taxes. I don't produce children anymore. I don't think I should have to pay any school taxes. Maybe if people were taxed on the number of children that had to go through the school systems, they would zip up a little more often. Why should I have to pay for your bedroom pleasure? It may be a selfish view but it's how I feel.

I'd rather spend my tax dollars feeding and educating children, if the alternative is funding prescription medication (and other routine health-care matters) for old folks.

**Marcus Bryant** · 12-12-2004

Another way to think about it is that if the children locally don't receive a decent education then the local economic base will perhaps stagnate or regress because potential employers won't want to locate where there are too many dumb mother ers. So you'd have a double whammy of a declining tax base as well as more people in need of social services providing the pressure for property tax rates to increase.

**MannyIsGod** · 12-12-2004

Originally Posted by Hook Dem

I'll give you an even better view of self indulgence. I am a senior citizen. I have paid my fair share of school taxes. I don't produce children anymore. I don't think I should have to pay any school taxes. Maybe if people were taxed on the number of children that had to go through the school systems, they would zip up a little more often. Why should I have to pay for your bedroom pleasure? It may be a selfish view but it's how I feel.

Short sighted.

And if you really feel this way, and how the can you sit there and promote the nation building that you never go against in Iraq?

**MannyIsGod** · 12-12-2004

Originally Posted by Hook Dem

You could run for the school board yourself since you have the solution and then we could criticize you. Thats not meant to be sarcastic. ing is easy. Fixing the problem is not.

You are CONSTANTLY saying this.

Trust me, if it was as easy as showing up and being able to take control then I would.

I do volunteer work and try to raise awareness of problems. That is my current contribution to solving them. One day I may be a member of a school board, who knows.

Don't call me out like this anymore, I'm done responding. I dont' have a need to validate my efforts to you, and I'm to the point of just ignoring these responses.

Try to bring a viewpoint that consists of something more than "do it yourself if you think you can do it better"

**Duff McCartney** · 12-12-2004

Originally Posted by Hook Dem

I'll give you an even better view of self indulgence. I am a senior citizen. I have paid my fair share of school taxes. I don't produce children anymore. I don't think I should have to pay any school taxes. Maybe if people were taxed on the number of children that had to go through the school systems, they would zip up a little more often. Why should I have to pay for your bedroom pleasure? It may be a selfish view but it's how I feel.

Hey man...I'm not old..so why should I pay into social security for old goats like you?

**Marcus Bryant** · 12-12-2004

Lest we forget Medicare. But Bush hasn't done anything but add more benefits for the old folks.

**Hook Dem** · 12-12-2004

Everything is viewed in perspective! Let's see if you young ers maintain that at ude when you get older. and yes.............you will get older. well.....some of you will. Others will never live to see 40 at the rate you're going. Shortsighted on your part Duff. I paid social security taxes for 50 years so some "old farts" could receive benefits. My dad tried to tell me and I'm trying to tell you. You are no different than me. I wouldn't listen either. So your solution when you're young is to just kick old people to the curb? And you call me shortsighted? What a laugh! I have watched this forum and have observed the young ones only being concerned about things that benefit themselves. It doesn't work that way. This is not "Logans Run".

**MannyIsGod** · 12-12-2004

Originally Posted by Hook Dem

Everything is viewed in perspective! Let's see if you young ers maintain that at ude when you get older. and yes.............you will get older. well.....some of you will. Others will never live to see 40 at the rate you're going. Shortsighted on your part Duff. I paid social security taxes for 50 years so some "old farts" could receive benefits. My dad tried to tell me and I'm trying to tell you. You are no different than me. I wouldn't listen either. So your solution when you're young is to just kick old people to the curb? And you call me shortsighted? What a laugh! I have watched this forum and have observed the young ones only being concerned about things that benefit themselves. It doesn't work that way. This is not "Logans Run".

off, most of the things I argue about have no direct impact on me. You made a post and people reacted to your very shortsighted ness.

Me and other people in here, in fact most, constantly advocate that we are part of a community and helping all parts not just yourself is benificial to all.

**Hook Dem** · 12-12-2004

Ok Manny...I'll off but it is very evident that you just live to about things and throw rocks at those in charge. You love to give testimony about how your ancestors suffered as if we weren't aware of it and view yourself a notch above everyone else. If you don't want people responding to you, don't post. I'll call you out whenever I think it is necessary. I am not running for president of your fan club. Your present at ude will continue to make you a loser. You off!

**MannyIsGod** · 12-12-2004

Originally Posted by Hook Dem

Ok Manny...I'll off but it is very evident that you just live to about things and throw rocks at those in charge. You love to give testimony about how your ancestors suffered as if we weren't aware of it and view yourself a notch above everyone else. If you don't want people responding to you, don't post. I'll call you out whenever I think it is necessary. I am not running for president of your fan club. Your present at ude will continue to make you a loser. You off!

Actually, I live to change things I don't agree with.

Furthermore, in hindsight I don't think you should change a thing you do. I think most people here see you for what you are.

**Duff McCartney** · 12-12-2004

Originally Posted by Hook Dem

Others will never live to see 40 at the rate you're going.

That's the plan!!

**Shelly** · 12-12-2004

40 to old for you, Duff? Why wouldn't you want to live longer than that?

Manny, I hope you are able to change things one day and I applaud your effort to do so, but I think you have to realize that you can benefit for an older person's wisdom even though you may not agree with them right now. Believe me, how you think and feel about things in your 20s will totally be different in your 30s and so on. A lot of us (generic us) thought we knew everything when we were young and will one day realize we knew jack .

I'm not ragging on you, btw.

**MannyIsGod** · 12-12-2004

Originally Posted by S y

Manny, I hope you are able to change things one day and I applaud your effort to do so, but I think you have to realize that you can benefit for an older person's wisdom even though you may not agree with them right now. Believe me, how you think and feel about things in your 20s will totally be different in your 30s and so on. A lot of us (generic us) thought we knew everything when we were young and will one day realize we knew jack .

I'm not ragging on you, btw.

I completely agree that experience is very valuable as is the wisdom you gain from people WITH said experience.

I don't think Hook offers up much wisdom based on experience when his only remarks to the problems I post about are in regards to me going and doing the job.

**Marcus Bryant** · 12-12-2004

Originally Posted by Hook Dem

Everything is viewed in perspective! Let's see if you young ers maintain that at ude when you get older. and yes.............you will get older. well.....some of you will. Others will never live to see 40 at the rate you're going. Shortsighted on your part Duff. I paid social security taxes for 50 years so some "old farts" could receive benefits. My dad tried to tell me and I'm trying to tell you. You are no different than me. I wouldn't listen either. So your solution when you're young is to just kick old people to the curb? And you call me shortsighted? What a laugh! I have watched this forum and have observed the young ones only being concerned about things that benefit themselves. It doesn't work that way. This is not "Logans Run".

So you can complain about paying for things that don't benefit you but us 'young ers' can't do the same?