Saturday, November 11, 2023

Crunching the Numbers

 

At the Oct. 19, 2023 Ozark School Board meeting, a demographic report was presented to the board.  You can access the slides of the report here. The News-Leader wrote about the "destination district" here

However, a new video just dropped from Missouri Freedom Initiative. Looks like there are two sides to the data.

Incidentally, the OSD is holding a long-range planning meeting and citizens are invited.

May be an image of ‎text that says '‎Ozark School District 2023 Long Range Planning Committee صنهك مههك YOU'RE INVITED to join us as we plan for the current and future growth of our schools. RSVP here! Nov. 14| 6:30- p.m. Ozark Innovation Center Dec. 12 6:30 p.m. Ozark West Elementary Jan. 16 6:30-8 p.m. Ozark Middle School *Dinner provided at each meeting‎'‎



11 comments:

  1. This group claims to pursue or fight against legislation "solely based on the United States and Missouri Constitutions and the Bill of Rights". As such, it's good to know that they will support placing a woman's right to her own body being put on the ballot for THE PEOPLE to decide!

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  2. The Constitution guarantees the Right to Life...

    We won't let you hijack this post. Keep on topic, which is population data for Ozark. Incidentally, one of the biggest problems for Ozark School District is that the birth rate has dropped in the 0-4 age range. Abortion, among other factors, has consequences.

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  3. Hijack it from what? All the other people commenting? The credibility of the group which you are pulling "data" from is absolutely on topic! The Constitution also guarantees the right of the people to put issues on the ballot. Interesting you mention the birth rate. Guess what's happened to it since the Dobbs decision? Another alarming trend is the rising infant mortality rate since the same time. So, you admit that all you care about are the "consequences", ie. lost tax revenue? Perhaps women are terrified to become pregnant in a forced birth state. Or, perhaps they don't want to bring a child into the world under such government-restrictive conditions. Have you thought about that? Interestingly, you claim to want less government intervention, but you are ok with legislators (mostly men) making medical decisions that should only be between a woman and her doctor.

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  4. The issue is how data is being presented by the demographic report. You have made it about abortion. I simply answered you. Your rhetoric is quite over the top. We do not live in a "forced birth state." That is hysteria. Birth control is widely available everywhere.

    Your kind of rhetoric is irresponsible. You are free to express your opinion, however, you need to keep it on topic--demographics in our local public schools.

    What is your opinion regarding the demographics? Should public schools be receiving more tax dollars when student population is declining? Should administrative staff continue to grow when classrooms are shrinking? Should administrative staff continue to siphon from teacher pay? Is the local public school fiscally and academically healthy when administrative staff continues to grow, regardless of student scores...and student population? How did it come about that there is a professional development scheme that encourages teachers to move from teaching to administrating? Does a public school need principals for K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and high school in one school district?

    Do school districts take into account that evermore taxes eventually harms the students and their families? High taxes suppress home values, and drive students to leave their community for less-taxed localities.

    How is it that public schools in our area take a whopping 75% of property taxes? What is the return on taxpayer investment? Student academic proficiency is declining along with student numbers.

    Demographics will out. It is important that they are truthfully presented.

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  5. Not a forced birth state? So, what will happen to my 14 year old daughter if she is raped and becomes pregnant?

    Again, you can't trust the "data" from the freedom initiative, so I can't really respond. But I'm general, I'm a FIERCE advocate for teachers. Yes, each school building needs a principal, duh! Yes, I do think admin salaries are out of control. What is the "return on taxpayer investment"? Well, if you've been paying attention, you'd notice the multiple national awards our district has won. If you were plugged in with students, as I am, you'd see for yourself.

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  6. The Missouri Freedom Initiative IS USING the data from state sources, as well as the demographic data presented in the report.

    Glad you at least admit administrative staffing salaries are out of control. So are the administrative staffing numbers.

    Multiple "national awards" are meaningless when student scores remain low. The national and state school system, inclusive of all kinds of NGOs, is big on awards that mean very little when students are not safe in their schools, when scores remain low, and when programs like SEL/DEI/CRT are implemented.

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  7. Student scores in nixa continue to rise.
    I notice you have no answer to my other question. That's telling...

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  8. Regarding your other question, tragedies happen. It would make it worse if an innocent child was murdered and the young mother traumatized further by an abortion.

    But again, we are talking about demographics. You keep trying to derail the conversation with gotcha questions. Why?

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  9. I wasn't. Thanks for answering, though. That's about what I thought you'd say. You claimed that student performance continues to go down, however that's just not true. At least not in nixa, which is where I teach.

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    1. Christian County has several school districts. As I said, we will look at Nixa. And if scores are climbing, that's awesome! Any good news about our local schools is excellent.

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  10. Since the group has vowed to fight against un constitutional legislation, it's good to know that they will also be against "school choice" and sb 190.

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