Dear Editor,

Channel 9 said that Pamela Ewell, our superintendent here in Benton Community, (they should note that she prefers the title Dr. to be added before her name) said that she will still "fight" to see these changes made in the district. That's alright, you can keep fighting, but we will still keep voting, NO!

She said in that interview, "We've got CPI Index at some of the highest it's been in years, you have property valuation increases..." This woman has a degree. That doesn't make her smart. Dr. Google says that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a "measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services." In other words Doc, things are more expensive now than they ever have been. This is the very reason for the failure of this vote. We. Can't. Afford. It.

Before becoming the Superintendent at Benton Community School District she was the Superintendent of Van Buren Community School District, and Superintendent of Schools at Mount Vernon Community School District. Principal at the Middle School at Grinnell Community High School, the Principal at the Middle School at Saydel Community School District, and even a Professor at Central College.

All of this book knowledge, and not a lick of common sense.

She also cites that land valuation has risen. She does understand that because your land is worth more, it doesn't translate to money in the bank account. She seems to think so. Now I don't know if she owns her own property, but if she does, I would guess that she won't be here long enough to pay for a 48M school bond. See her resume above.

She is quick to find a reason for this bond's failure to pass, it's the old people. All of us that no longer have children in school. Forgetting that we have grandchildren who now attend. Most of us also have an extended family with nephews and nieces attending the school. She forgets that we'd do anything for our families, but to do that, we need to have some of our own money left in our checking account at the end of the day. Paying millions of dollars for a plan that doesn't seem to make sense for most of us, doesn't make sense to us.

The cost of goods are up. The value of our land is up, this results in our taxes going up taking more of our money. It doesn't matter our age or if we are in that group of people "who no longer have children in school" we care about our schools. But understand, many of us are now on a fixed income. That income hasn't gone up nearly as much as the added taxes and CPI nor the taxes on our raised valuation of our property.

The very idea that you will continue to fight for this, tells me that you aren't listening to your community. You aren't using your education to your advantage. Learn. Discover why we had to vote against this idea. REALLY listen for a change.

Don't you dare tell me that my vote in opposition is because I no longer have children inside those walls. That had absolutely nothing to do with my vote. It had a LOT to do with that number. $48,500,000.00.

Sincerely.

Pat Corman





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RB March 10, 2023, 12:55 pm I've known her for a long time and she is an excellent superintendent that has the best interest of kids in her heart.
BT March 10, 2023, 2:29 pm Dr Ewell, for even a second you might the “old people” voted this down, then I guess you know who are NOT your fan base! The parents of all the school age children. THEY ALL STAYED HOME.
DL March 10, 2023, 2:47 pm Wanting something, and trying obtain it, doesn't have anything to do with a person's knowledge or common sense. Conducting a vote, democratically, and not accepting what the people voted for, is pushing the envelope past the mailbox.

Has the Superintendent claimed that the vote was fraudulent? Does it appear that she has an anti-democratic militia that she intends to call in to attack the schools? Does it appear that she intends to contact the people responsible for counting the votes, and have them find 11,789 more 'Yes' votes?

Does her intention to keep pushing for this depend solely on getting the population to vote for the higher taxes? If so, she indeed isn't using much 'common sense' on this matter. Does she believe there is another way to get the financing? Is there another option? Maybe that's what she means, when she says she's going to keep pushing.

Just a thought.
JG March 13, 2023, 12:34 pm Doctor derived from the Latin word docēre, English translation "to teach".