Comments about ‘Jordan School Board tax hearing draws angry public comments’

Wendy Brown said it best in an editorial in late June. How is it possible that the top level cabinet, after losing approximately half of its responsibilities does not accordingly shed cabinet members to recuperate the loss? Not only that, but they added one member. Why the extra assistant? Another aging, under-performing school-level administrator that they didn't want to send packing? Get real, JSD.

Please come to the meeting next Tuesday to stop this horrible tax increase from happening.
Tonight, we learned the Jordan Superintendant Barry Newbold earns over $235,000/year. County Mayor Peter Coroon only earns $133,000! First line of business should be to fire Newbold! Second line of business should be to vote your state representatives out. The nearly all supported this split--even those supposedly representing the West side!

The patrons of the Jordan District Board have spoken. Will the Board and District Administrators actually listen? They didn't when east side residents wanted to be heard about the use of funds. The result was a secession from the "All Knowing" Jordan Administration, Board and District. Trying to get more from a community than the community can afford to give promoting the same old pattern and attitude of "We know better than you the 'uneducated' public" will result in more secession. They will lose their patron's support in a lot of ways. It will kill the spirit of volunteerism. It will damage business partnerships within the district's boundaries. It will financially cripple many on fixed incomes, many who took a pay decrease to keep their jobs, many whose jobs folded. More homes may be vacated due to high taxation. If THEY do not listen this time, they WILL be voted off the board as well, and those who do not change within the administration will once again BITE and SEVER THE REMAINING HAND THAT FEEDS THEM. If they are truly educated, they will learn how to make lemonade from lemons.

Based on Mr. Newbold's comments those of us on the east side of the old Jordan District can see just how much we were subsidizing the west side. From my view, the west side is just starting to pay for what they have gotten at a discount these last many years. Reality bites.

How about cutting all sports programs? Especially the ones that most students don't have a chance at at these large schools (football, basketball, baseball).
Much better than increasing class size or reducing teacher quality by reducing teacher salary.

It appalls me that a supposed freedom-loving people would surrender their liberties to pay for the bloated, inefficient public school system.

The private sector could educate ALL of our children at a fraction of the cost.

I was there last night. Sure, the auditorium was packed. But there should have been 20 times more people there.

The spectacle last night was humiliating to me. Watching dozens of people grovel up to the microphone to plead with the 7 gods of the school board not to increase their taxes by 40% was pathetic because the gods already had their minds made up. How so few can wield so much power over the lives of so many is truly frightening.

The slap in the face was the fact none of the school board gods gave any indication of sympathy or expressions of willingness to sacrifice. Superintendent Newbold, who sucks $237,000 at the public teats, took the show by saying in effect "well, the board of education gave me this outrageous amount of money so I guess I'll have to take it."

Fellow citizens, it is high time to wake up!

It's even beginning in your own back yard. If you think your problems are just beginning at a State level, wait and see what Obama has in-store for you!

Dear Utah Friends,

Leave Utah. It's better outside the state. Trust me.

Thanks to the legislature we that live in Granite district have to pay our hard earned dollars to Jordan and Grantie voters didn't get to vote on that either just like the patrons on the west side didn't get to vote for the spilt. Democracy in action was really evident in the whole procedure. The legislature wrote the bill authorizing the split so that all couldn't participate. Wow! The legislature absolutely got it wrong when they voted to allow a bill to split districts. What it amounted to is that a bunch of people didn't want to be good samaritans and help their neighbors. That attitude will be payed for someday. Those in power, and those that didn't want to help their neighbor have created chaos and no amount of explantion from them will change the chaos that has been created. I hope you can all sleep at night.

I thought everyone Republicans didn't believe in redistibution of wealth. That has been what was happening on the west side until we voted for the split. We should not have to carry the west side while our kids suffer. Pay for what you use.

Any bets that next week they vote for the tax raise? How about eliminating tax exemptions on all buildings that aren't open to the general public? That would add a few dollars to the pot. Have a set design for school buildings. They are a place of learning, not resorts. Eliminate the Mickey Mouse classes, thus making room for teaching the basics. You voted for the legislature that are responsible for this mess, so don't make the same mistake again.

I bet Chuck's Nike T-Shirt and trendy shades cost as much as the proposed annual tax rate increase. I suppose this says enough in and of itself.

The Legislature could not wait to split large districts. They passed the legislation and encouraged this split from the beginning. The East side with the money was allowed to control the process from the very beginning. The west side with the kids was given no voice.

Yes, be mad, vote the bums out, just make sure you have a good aim. The leaders of Jordan district inherited this mess and are as upset as those who commented. Granite and Salt Lake District patrons are also paying the bill for this fiasco. Focus on those who caused this problem at the capital, not the school board.

Why doesn't this article make mention, and maybe state the facts, about who sets the salary for administrators and how much that salary is? When asked if he would take a cut in pay to help things out, Mr. Newbold's answer was "No, my salary is set by the board of education." His salary is a mere $237,000 according to a paper handed out at the meeting. Is it accurate? And several other administrators listed were all 6 digit incomes. I guess it's no wonder that our GREAT teachers want to move into administration. It was mentioned several times that the board ought to be able to balance things with the allocated budget, just like so many of us have had to do as of late. about 2/3 of those in attendance stood when asked if they are making less this year than last. I hope the board seriously considers some new measures before next week's vote.

You can't have everything. I read about you wanting a better education for your children, but you don't want to pay for it. I pay close to 3000.00 a year school taxes in Texas. Time to make up your minds.

If people in Jordan District are smart they will continue to send their opinions to the board. Google Jordan School District and click on board members for names, addresses, email numbers and phone numbers. Voting out the board members who approve the tax is a given.

Maybe the janitorial staff can be laid-off and replaced with a rotating group of parents/kids to clean the schools.

But, I like the taxing of families with more than 2 kids.

While most of the ideas citizens offered as alternatives border on silly, the fact that the district is even in this situation is silly. Newbold makes it sound like splitting the district came as a surprise. It has been years in the making, and Jordan had time to make adjustments. Yes, there was going to be a hole because of the split, but with a little forsight, the hole wouldn't have been so big. The district needs to start by dumping Newbold; don't reward inept leadership.

It is rather interesting that this article does not mention the fact that everyone in S.L.County will be assessed a Jordan District tax on their property. No matter what school district you live in, you will be paying for this huge mistake of the Jordan District split. Why should I have to pay taxes for this blunder, I don't live in the district or use the schools. Time to revolt!Taxation without representation.

I have never witnessed such an angry mob. It was frightening; a true mob mentality ruled the audience. Does the reporter know how many police were present? I would say they could have used more. The west-side communities should not be proud of the conduct of last night's speakers.