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Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Six candidates are seeking three positions as members of the New Bloomfield R-3 Board of Education in the April 5 election.
Of the three openings on the board this year, two current members have filed for re-election and one has decided not to file for another term. Board President Leroy Wade, who has served on the board for 16 years, has decided not to seek re-election. Two current board members have filed for another three-year term on the board. They are Gracia Backer and Suzie Mattern. Both were first elected to the board three years ago.
Four other candidates have filed for the board of education. They include Craig Abbott, an environmental specialist seeking his first term; Patsy Suttles, a retired teacher and board member for 11 years; Debbie Cuno, another retired teacher seeking a first term; and Michele Heuman, a cattle auction and county road maintenance employee seeking a first term.
Three of the six candidates with the most votes will be elected to three-year terms on the board.
Gracia Backer
Backer has been a member of the New Bloomfield School Board since April of 2008. She grew up and has lived all her life within two miles of New Bloomfield. “I was born and raised here. It’s the town I love and it is a great honor for me to serve on the school board. Membership on the school board requires a lot of work and it is an extremely important board in our community,” Backer said.
“We have to depend upon others to provide us with accurate information. Sometimes that’s difficut. It’s been an interesting three years. I have enjoyed it greatly,” Backer said.
A 1968 graduate of New Bloomfield High School, Backer attended Southwest Missouri State University for three years and is a 1993 Bachelor of Arts graduate of William Woods University.
Backer served 18 years as a member of the Missouri House of Representatives from Callaway County from 1982 to 2000. She was the first woman to be named as majority floor leader of the Missouri House. She is now employed full time as director of the Missouri Division of Employment Security.
The superintendent, high school principal and special education director all resigned recently. Backer said she wishes them all well and the board will be working hard to bring in new leadership. “We want to work closely with the committee established to hire a new superintendent and other new administrators,” Backer said.
Backer said in order to retain good teachers she would like to see a mentoring program for first-year teachers established by veteran teachers at the school.
“Small school districts often have a high turnover of teaching staff because teachers see other great places to go. A mentoring program would show them we care about them. I believe a mentoring program will help us retain more good teachers. We want them to be supported. I don’t think that’s been happening as much as it should. We have some great teachers and we need to keep them,” Backer said.
Backer said she also wants to foster better communication between the school and local residents. She would like to see a communications committee established at the school that would include members of the administration, teachers and non-teaching staff. The committee could meet every two weeks or so. She said they need to communicate better with the local people about what is going on in the school. “They could express their concerns and problems and perhaps offer solutions. We desperately need to improve communication,” Backer said.
Suzie Mattern
Mattern has been a member of the board since 2008.
A 1983 graduate of Fayette High School, Mattern also is a graduate of William Woods University with a degree in computer information management. She is employed full time by the Missouri Department of Economic Development as a computer information technology specialist.
Mattern is married with three children and has lived in the New Bloomfield area for the last 20 years. “I have a son who is a senior this year and I have an eighth grader in New Bloomfield Junior High School. My oldest daughter graduated from New Bloomfield High School in 2004,” Mattern said.
Mattern said she filed for re-election because “the last three years have been a lot of work and a bit
of a challenge at times. But I think we are making great progress. The school is going in the right direction. I want to see that continue. I also want to have a chance to face both our opportunities and challenges head-on.”
“Our interim superintendent, Mr. Tom Baugh, has been wonderful. He possesses all of the skills needed for a successful superintendent in this district. It’s too bad he has retired. I would like to talk him out of retirement. He would be perfect for this district. He’s been a healer and a team builder who has a lot of common sense. He has given us a great example of what to look for in our next superintendent,” Mattern said.
“We have made a lot of progress in the district. The board directed the administration to implement a Positive Behavior Support system. We were one of the first school boards to direct the administration to start the Positive Behavior Support system. We are also working hard to become a fully integrated Professional Learning Community for our teachers. That gives them the tools they need implement what is needed throughout the school. One grade will be prepared for the next grade,” Mattern said.
“We also need to improve communications throughout the district. That has been a recurring theme for the last three years,” Mattern said.
“We, like most districts in the state, obviously will face financial challenges during the coming year and beyond,” Mattern said. “The board recently began working with a school finance expert in areas of budget development and budget review and we’ve already realized some improvements in the current year’s budget from this. The board also recently refinanced some of our bonds, resulting in interest savings of nearly $80,000 for the district. We must look at every way possible to make the most of our budget while ensuring we are meeting the needs of our students,”
Craig Abbott
Abbott said he filed for the school board for the first time in order to give back to his community at a time when the district needs help.
Abbott said his parents are graduates of New Bloomfield High School. He is a 1992 New Bloomfield graduate and his wife Kim is a 1993 graduate. He also is a 1997 graduate of Lincoln University.
“I have a vested interest in New Bloomfield. My wife and I have two children in elementary school in New Bloomfield,” Abbott said.
Abbott is in charge of environmental compliance at Allied Waste and Republic Services. He supervises environmental issues involving millions of dollars in Allied Waste property throughout Missouri and Kansas.
“My highest priority as a member of the board would be to increase student achievement at the school. I also would like to get more members of the community directly involved. People are a little dissatisfied with the way things have been going and the resignations of the superintendent and other administrators,” Abbott said.
“The district is in some trying times. If elected, I would make it a point to open the lines of communication within our district. I will work to boost morale within our school and promote school pride. Our school is the largest and most important employer in the district and everyone should be proud of what we have. I have strong financial management skills and common sense,” Abbott said.
Abbott said as a new member of the board he would participate in hiring of a new superintendent. “I would want someone who is a leader of improvement and not satisfied with the status quo,” Abbott said.
Debbie Cuno
Cuno, a retired New Bloomfield School District teacher, said she is a lifetime resident of New Bloomfield.
“I believe financial issues are the biggest problems facing the New Bloomfield School District,” Cuno said.
A 1974 graduate of New Bloomfield High School, Cuno received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education in 1978 from William Woods University in Fulton and a master’s degree in library and informational science from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Cuno said she is a candidate for the school board because as a student, parent and an employee of the district, she cares deeply about the students of the district and the community as a whole. “I feel my background can bring a different perspective to the board,” Cuno said.
Cuno retired recently from the New Bloomfield School District after teaching 31 years in the district. She taught high school speech and junior high English. After receiving a Master’s Degree in Library Science from the University of Missouri, she became the district’s librarian. “More recently I was the librarian just in the high school after the school hired an elementary school librarian,” Cuno said.
In seeking a new superintendent, Cuno said “I think we need to find someone who is honest, trustworthy and has a lot of common sense. But that isn’t something that will pop out on a resumé. So if you are looking at a resumé, I think I would be looking for someone who is a strong financial leader. With funding the way it is in our district and all of the other districts around the state, I think that’s going to be vitally important to us in the future.”
“The major issues facing the school board are going to be financial matters. Because of what is going on at state and federal levels, money is going to become a major issue. Important decisions are going to have to be made for the education of our children,” Cuno said.
Student achievement, she said, should be a top priority of any school district. “That’s an important issue but I think the financial issues will outweigh some other things right now. But nevertheless student achievement is the top priority. That’s why we are there,” Cuno said.
“I would love to find a way to increase salaries for teachers. But financially, we will have to do the best we can. Hopefully, a new superintendent will be able to come in and figure out ways to get our teachers an increase,” Cuno said.
Michele Heuman
Heuman is a graduate of Glasgow High School and said she has held two full-time jobs for several years.
Since 1998 she has worked at Callaway Livestock Center where she checks in and loads livestock. She also is employed by the Cole County Road and Bridge Department where she works on road maintenance, including laying asphalt, road repairs, plowing snow, and spraying for mosquitoes.
This is her first time filing for the New Bloomfield Board of Education. “I am unmarried and I have no children but the board has a lot of issues that need to be taken care of. They had a superintendent on administrative leave for a long time and that is not acceptable. It’s also unacceptable to have security that locks parents out of the school and they have to be escorted into the school to pick up their children. The score levels that the kids have in school also are not acceptable. Basketball should not be a priority over education and that’s the way it is at New Bloomfield,” Heuman said.
Patsy Suttles
Suttles is another former New Bloomfield school teacher who has filed for the school board. She had served as a member of the board for 11 years until she was defeated in the April, 2010, school board election.
Suttles taught for 30 years in the New Bloomfield School District, teaching students at all levels in grade through high school.
A 1962 graduate of Poplar Bluff High School, Suttles is a graduate of the College of the Ozarks and also Southwest Missouri State University in 1966.
“I started teaching at New Bloomfield for 30 years. In addition after that I worked as a substitute teacher in the Jefferson City and North Callaway school districts,” Suttles said.
“One of my major concerns is achievement of students. I believe we need to work especially hard on student achievement,” Suttles said.
In seeking a new superintendent, Suttles said she believes the district needs a good leader. “We need someone who will get the district going in the right direction,” she said.
“It seems as though all schools in Callaway County have had problems this year,” Suttles said.
“We need to get our schools back on track,” Suttles said.
“I believe I have the background as a former member of the school board and my education qualifies me to be an effective member of the school board,” Suttles said.
Comments
MOnativeinFL 2 years, 1 month ago
Mrs. Suttles,
If I were still a resident of New Bloomfield, MO, you would definitely have my vote! You were an excellent teacher and an inspiration to all of your students!
Best of luck to you!
S.P.
Class of 1998
MichelleHohlt 2 years, 1 month ago
Not one of you mentioned trying to get a football team going for this school. How smart do you have to be to realize that if these kids had a reason to "up" their grades for something besides baseball and basketball, it might just happen with football maybe the money, the grades and the moral would go up. Take a look around at other schools, we are way behind them. This school has no idea how many kids would love to play football, yet they keep on denying it, and saying they can't afford it. Give me a break! If you can afford money for that track and that baseball field, then let us vote on a football field, it's our school not yours, you work for us remember!!!
whocares 2 years, 1 month ago
You really need to quite whinning about not having football. If you feel your son needs to play then move or pay to have him go somewhere else. The school is struggling as it is and all you care about is football. You knew they didn't have football when you moved here.
whocares2 2 years, 1 month ago
OMG.......THANK YOU for saying that whocares. NB school isn't big enough to have a football team at this time. When they built the track, they did have football in mind. Which is a start. Michelle if you want a football team SO BAD and yes everybody the reads the Fulton Sun knows that you do. Then by all means go out and solicit homeowners and/or renters to leave their community and move into New Bloomfield. If you are unable to do that, then you move. If you are a home owner, put a for sale sign in your yard and move. If you are a renter......why in the world haven't you left already. We have enough negativity from outside our community, we sure do not need it from inside our community. One for the great things about living in the United States of America(Thank You Soldiers), is we are able to have the freedom to live where we want.
raisedrual104 2 years, 1 month ago
It is very unfortunate that MichelleHohlt and Ms. Heuman are bringing in such negativity. I would like to ask them, have they supported our wonderful AG program with their events, come to watch our Drama Club's performances, supported our Academic Bowl participants, come to see our Science Fair projects or plan to follow those on to their next step of competition, been involved in the great things that the elementary Student Council have done to raise money for a cause – no, I’m sorry it wasn’t football-, have they attended our annual Veteran’s Day assembly – IT IS AMAZING- you would be moved to see the respect of the students preschool through 12th grade, attended baseball and softball games, high school, jr. high, or elementary boys' and girls' basketball games, track events, wrestling matches, cheer competitions, checked in on our golf teams, supported our Special Olympic participants????? Have they been to a board meeting to actually hear what is being done by the administrators, teachers, AND kids? Have they stepped out of their boxes to really see what this school and community are about? Yes, New Bloomfield has a lot of sports involvment and I have to say that I am VERY proud of that, but you have to be look at our numbers. We are the smallest district in this area -we don't have the numbers to sustain a football team-are you going to pay for the multiple coaching positions?! I LOVE all sports-including football, but you have to be realistic to our size. MichelleHohlt you are so quick to want to destroy one sport and other kids' dreams for you own personal agenda -SHAME ON YOU! I personally have children involved in NB athletics- one doesn't plan to play sports past high school and one does, but they are not driven only by sports to keep their grades and grade point averages 'up' or to try their hardest to score well on the standardized tests to support the sports teams they are involved with. They do it because they take pride in themselves and their school. It is a parent's responsibility to build that self confidence and RESPECT for those around them and their school. We have had families leave our district for personal/academic reasons and that was their choice, but we also have had families move into our district to remove their children for those same reasons from the larger districts in our area. Do what is best for your son MichelleHohlt and Ms. Heuman to run for School Board you may want to do a little more research and be a participant within the walls of the school or throughout the community to see what the teachers and kids are doing to move in the right direction!
sandybond1770 2 years, 1 month ago
Shame on her for wanting the same thing you have for your child?Who is actually voting and choosing these sports?Why is there baseball,basketball and golf then? I would assume it's because people voted on it. Maybe if your children wanted to play football it may be considered?Just seems like the choosing is being done by bias people who will not listen to anyone that has a different view.There are some parents that have careers and cannot attend all these events.Does that mean that they should not be heard?That they have less of an opinion because they are not there? They are told if they expect to be heard they need to just move....It disturbs me that you offer up that many have left your district for these reasons and it leaves me to wonder if this is the treatment and RESPECT that you gave them as well, then no wonder is necessary! With the rude comments and this treatment who would actually feel comfortable enough to attend your meetings??? Let's be grown ups and offer a hand out in understanding everyone's feelings and concerns.Our children are watching and listening at every moment and I'm sad to see how all of this is being handled. Voting...Our country was founded on it and resumes to operate on that system because it is deemed fair...What are you scared of?? Maybe they'll vote your child's sport out? Last I knew we all lived in America and it is a democracy not a dictatorship.
raisedrual104 2 years, 1 month ago
sandybond1770, misquoting people isn't helping your cause. I made my statement based off of what I know are the facts of our district. I care DEEPLY for this school district and community. I am NOT against football and I am NOT disrespecting anyone - but those that are not informed with the facts do nothing but bully and hurt the system. I attended the board meeting where Mr. Baugh addressed the board and those citizens and employees that were present about the group that is in support of football and want to start a program. He was supportive of the idea and spoke about the suggestion he made to them. He is from a smaller district - larger than ours, but small - and when he was an administrator there a group wanting to start football approached the school board about it. They told them if they could raise the money to start the program to come back to the board-they raised double what he suggested. It takes people to support it and work hard to create it. It sounds to me like that is what is happening with the group that is planning to meet later this month. If there are parents in our community trying to start this program why is the school being bashed and called unsupportive by Michelle for not handing over a check to start a new program? Boys' and girls' basketball, baseball and softball have been at New Bloomfield for decades and have been a part of our lives. Yes, maybe that means so much to me because I grew up here and had that school and community spirit instilled in me, but we have introduced more recently track, golf, and wrestling-a few for example, because of the interest, but remember it didn't happen over night. I can only speak for myself and I believe that this community is full of great people who truly care about the school, the teachers, and the kids. Support what you believe in- if it is football come to the meeting and be a leader. Support what your kids are interested in, do what is right for your family. The RESPECT that I show people is the result of the RESPECT that I am given and I believe you will find that to be true in this district and community. You don't know my family life, what I give up to be sure my children have the resources they need to succeed, the time I give to my children and this school as I work full-time at my career. It's not as much as I would like to or as much as others are able to, but I make choices. I never said that MichelleHohlt was a bad mother, that her child didn't deserve to be in our district, that his dreams aren't important. There are others that are trying to successfully add to this community by starting a football program - the best luck to them! If they are successful then it can only help our future, but support them instead of spending all this time online and possibly in public bashing the board and others that have given their time to provide the best possible education and programs for our kids.
PlainTruth 2 years, 1 month ago
WOW...that's all i can say. People tend to only focus on what they want to focus on. If you want to find sports for your kids...MOVE. New Bloomfield really has to stretch the buck as it is to make ends meet. It is only the dedicated people who work there that keep the place afloat. Thanks also could go out to those people who actually do a good job of parenting and teach their children what is right and wrong.
Sometimes if you cant change the way something is...change the way you think about it! If you believe in your child's primary purpose in school is EDUCATION...then you are on the right path. If not, then perhaps you need to do a little soul searching.
alright 2 years, 1 month ago
I am for anyone that takes a stand for something they believe in, but I think people need to get the facts right before taking the stand. The new baseball field and track were built with bond money raised years ago by voter approved tax money, back when the economy was good. That money had to be used for the purposes outlined in the bond. The district does not have the money for football. Funds have already been taken from sports so less will be taken from academics. I guess we can lay off a handful of teachers and hire football coaches and buy gear, NOT! As for someone taking a stand to run because the elementary has security doors and won't let parents hang out in the building for dismissal, that's just crazy. Parents are not being locked out of the building. I have never had a problem getting my child for early release or even going in to have lunch or visit. I feel safer knowing that not just anyone can enter that building without being let in. If you feel that you are not being let in, than maybe you need to stand back and think why they would not let you in the building. The job of the school board is to make certain the children are receiving the best education. They do that by hiring and keeping good qualified staff. Let's take the focus of the negative and focus on finding ways to improve things, not just point out faults. Scores have been rising at the school, something that people forget to mention. The school is still below in areas, but progress is being made. People need to start raising their own children and not expect the schools to do that. The schools need to focus on educating the kids. Keeping a good school board, good teachers and with community support this district can succeed!
MichelleHohlt 2 years, 1 month ago
Don't tell me to move, I pay taxes in this district and I may say whatever I want! As for knowing what's best for my son, I think I do and the sports offered there are not what he wants. I am fighting for what he wants. You come tell him he has to leave all his friends and move. As for attending board meetings, I have, and nothing has come of it. I think the world of the teachers at New Bloomfield and I have praised them for the job they have done with my son and others. By the way if your all so proud, why do you hide behind your fake names. I am not afraid to say who I am in the paper. P.S. I did NOT know there wasn't a football program at New Bloomfield when I bought my house. If we can vote on the baseball then lets vote on football is all I'm trying to say.
MichelleHohlt 2 years, 1 month ago
Nice try Lori Bishop (aka) alright, you yourself have said you would like football and why would you be locked out of the school when your the secretary?
sac2010 2 years, 1 month ago
I'm sorry you all can gripe about what Michelle believes in, but when she moved her son into this school district he was in the 2nd grade! She had no idea that he was going to want to play football! She pays her taxes for living in this school district, she has every right to state her opinion about what she wants to better the school district! She should not have to move her son from a school that he has attended for years, because you all are so stuck in old ways to change anything about the school district! Its ridiculous for you to say the New Bloomfield is too small for a football team, because I have seen smaller schools than New Bloomfield have football team! You all are just so wrapped up in basketball and baseball and golf to realize or even consider that football may actually succeed. Or maybe your just worried that the kids will be more into football than baseball and basketball like you apparently want them to be! Maybe if kids had a sport that they actually wanted to play, they would have more motivation to do their studies, because then they would actually be working towards a privilege that they want instead of what their parents want!
MichelleHohlt 2 years, 1 month ago
As for locking the front doors, I believe that is a good idea. I have never had a problem picking up my son. I applaud the school for that decision. I would also like to say thank you a million to all the teachers, I know your jobs are tough, and my son has had some of the best ones at this school.
workingclass 2 years, 1 month ago
The only problem I see with this is, the arguments about a football program are centered around what the kids want. That's the problem here folks. Are the kids in charge? Do the kids make the rules? Do the kids know what's best for their life at this point in it, and can they determine what they need out of an academic program to achieve the best in their life? No, of course not. That's why there's something called parents.
But seriously...high expectations for a rural community in Callaway County, Missouri equal one thing, disappointment. I'm not trying to be rude or insulting, but if you really do want what's best for your kids because you're not happy with something around here, the answer is simple. Find a school district closer to a larger city where more funding is allocated to the actual academic programs rather than keeping this "Varsity Blues" attitude going on.
MichelleHohlt 2 years, 1 month ago
In reality, I will probably end up moving him, I never meant to hurt anyones feelings over this. All I know is my son stands to gain a scholarship some day that doesn't exist at this school, and it really bothers me to see him hurt over the issue. In my house my son has a choice, he is a child and I am just a parent standing up for his rights.
whocares 2 years, 1 month ago
You do realize that there are other ways to gain a scholarship? Academics is the most guaranteed way of obtaining one. Injuries are high in football. If you have a football scholarship and end up not being able to play because of an injury, there goes your scholarship. Small schools do not have a chance to compete with larger schools as far as athletic scholarships are concerned. It will take years for NB to develop a program like SC has done and actually have a potential for football scholarships.
MichelleHohlt 2 years, 1 month ago
Of course I realize that, Are you not listening to me? He doesn't want to play golf, basketball, or baseball. He has tried them, I have nothing against any of these other sports. My god, the kid is 12yrs...5'6...200 pounds, he is a lineman. I know all too well about getting into college, I am in school now, late in life but still in school. He can earn scholarships in other ways, but if he wants this dream let him have it!
sac2010 2 years, 1 month ago
I disagree about small schools not having a chance with athletic scholarships. I went to a small town school, much like NB, about the same size as well, and we had football. We had several kids that were offered football scholarships to MU. So i don't think it matters how big your school or town is, it all depends on how much you support the kids and the sport. If people would actually support it would be most definitely possible, but no one wants to try something new and change things.
PlainTruth 2 years, 1 month ago
Mrs. Hohlt...facts of the matter is they are having an informational meeting on football sometime in the near future. Problem is...the books are old, the computers are antiquated, the staff stretched to a paper thin and still manage to make progress every year. Detracters like to say that the scores arent good, the school sucks, need this, need that...blah, blah, blah. Truth is...in these economic times, we need to save the money and push it into existing programs instead of pumping it into a program that will likely cost the district massive amounts of capital. Teachers are needed with the tools to make the very best education possible...and those cost money. If there is any money to be had...I pray it is spent on those things that are in dire needs. For example: The facilities need repair, the infrastructure needs updating, new textbooks and materials are needed...
I digress. I feel sympathy for you folks who want football or other sports that the school does not have...I really do. But my children need books and good teachers. This whole article is about the candidates running for office...hard choices must be made. My vote will always go for those that can stand with integrity and resist personal feelings and keep the best interests of the students in mind. It is a Board of EDUCATION...not of sports or other personal matters.
Well...I will say there is a nice plan of the facility in the trophey case in the lobby of the high school...or there used to be. I remember looking at it a while back at a basketball game and the projected football complex is to be built on to the new track, slated somewhere in like...2016ish. That was good economic times..
You are all perfectly able to vote your own way...just remember that sports are EXTRAcurricular and come after the real curriculum.
MichelleHohlt 2 years, 1 month ago
Where are all the comments going Mr. Editor?
online_editor 2 years, 1 month ago
I only see a couple that were removed because they contained personal jabs at another participant. See also my note below about that problem in general.
MichelleHohlt 2 years, 1 month ago
This whole situation is just sad for everyone, there is not a good answer to be had. I do apologize for picking these people to go off on in this article, however I know they have the power to put it on the ballet for Callaway citizens to vote on, just as they did a baseball field, I made all those phone calls already. I hate being quitter, so for those who tell me to quit whining, just ask my husband, your just fueling my fire my friends. I don't walk away from things I believe in easily, and that includes New Bloomfield advancing. I don't put my son learning in front of sports by the way, just thought I would throw that in. My son has been on the B honor roll for two years straight, he also makes A's as well. I would say I am a good parent, and most that know my child would agree that he is pretty well behaved. We all know there is no book for this stuff, just do what we feel is right.
whocares 2 years, 1 month ago
I'm not sure where the posts are disappearing to but I just want to make it clear that an academic scholarship will take you farther than an athletic one.
sandybond1770 2 years, 1 month ago
Sandy Bond I honestly don't see what the problem is with you asking for a football program. I'm sure that is how baseball,basketball and golf all came to the school and that was from parents,students and faculty all coming together and taking a vote on it. Why can there not be a vote for football?And when did Golf become more popular than football??? Maybe if they put it on the docket to discuss instead of just dismissing it without a vote then parents and children would feel heard at least and not have their hopes and ideas just looked over like they don't matter. We all know education comes first and always should, but at some point other issues come to light and everyone should have a voice and an opinion on what's good for their children without being looked upon as being difficult.Please remember we are all adults and we teach our children by example. I just believe that all parties could be justified in having a vote on it. That is the only way it seems that everyone can voice their opinion without being persecuted for caring and wanting change.This is America! My childs school encourages us to share our opinions and goals for our children in hopes that they can help those dreams come true.So glad they value my thoughts and feelings,considering I have a special needs child.We should all be thankful that these parents are involved in their children's lives and their education.Please listen to others before your quick to just say no is all I'm suggesting.We all want to be heard.
sac2010 2 years, 1 month ago
The comment about it being a Board of EDUCATION not athletics. Sorry but the board of education is the one that decides on whether or not they have sports. If they are willing to make that decision even though they are stepping up to fight this battle, even if a lot of you haven't pulled your heads out of your rears and realized that, even if you do think that an academic scholarship gets you further, baseball and basketball are a load of bull. I'm sorry but not all can kids want or can play basketball or baseball! Do you honestly see a 12 year old who is 200 lbs and 5'6 playing basketball? Yea Im positive he could, but thats not what hes into! It shouldn't be about what the parents want it should be about what the kids are into and want. I don't believe the bull about it being too small for football, I've seen smaller towns with football! I grew up in one! Its not that the town is too small, its that the people in it are too small minded and are not willing to explore the options, instead of just discussing them!
walker02 2 years, 1 month ago
I just hope that whoever is elected to the school board has the schools best interest at heart. They should be worried about fixing the problems and finding solutions. Football should NOT be a top priority as Michele Heuman is wanting. Like thats going to get this school anywhere.
She is upset because the school has security doors, really...Why? I for one am glad that not just anyone can walk into the school. I feel that my children are safer. Also, the security doors are great to keep nosy, obnoxious people out of the building who like to "hover" around the office and ease drop, just to run and go spread rumors. I think Heuman needs to get her priorities straight and you can't do that with football.
MichelleHohlt 2 years, 1 month ago
First off, walker02 you didn't read the post or pay attention to the names very well did you? My name is clearly Michelle Hohlt, I am a parent of a child at the school. I am not running for the school board. Michele Heuman MADE NO MENTION OF FOOTBALL. We are two completely different people. I don't even know her. Do your research on your comments before you comment, better yet, read the article. I am all for the front doors being locked, she isn't.
MichelleHohlt 2 years, 1 month ago
It's nice to know that the employees that are working at New Bloomfield elementary with my child are running their mouth in the newspaper. Real professional guys!
whocares 2 years, 1 month ago
It appears that someone is just here to argue and want their way but yet does not run for the school board themselves.
I feel sorry for those of you that have children at NB and have to put up with this person. The school my children attend has football and yes my son was lucky enough to attain a football scholarship but he also has an academic one. He attained these all on his own without his mother making a fool of herself in the local newspaper.
MichelleHohlt 2 years, 1 month ago
It sounds like you have a great school and I am very proud of your son for what he has achieved, I just want the same for mine, that's all.
online_editor 2 years, 1 month ago
Everyone, let's please drop any personal jabs directed at other forum participants. We want to maintain an issue-oriented discussion here, so let's please stick to opinions and observations about the issues in the article. It's okay to be passionate about your position, just don't attack others with insults and snarky remarks. In addition, if you've expressed your opinion, reacted, clarified and restated over multiple days and posts, please consider that you've successfully made your point to the vast majority of readers. At that point, it's probably best to agree to disagree about disagreements and move on, rather than get locked into an endless argument that spirals downward. Thanks. --Rick Brown, online editor
MOnativeinFL 2 years, 1 month ago
I think that the very first comment was the best. LOL! Good luck, Mrs. Suttles!
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