Page Two: Who's Responsible?

I don't usually do a follow-up on earlier posts but did anyone see the clip on Channel 11 last night on the 11 o'clock news about the grant rejected by the Swanton school board?

This is what caught my attention: at the very end of the clip, Neil Toeppe (Executive Director of the SACC) was shown stating, "“there was a lot going to kids, the administration was a small component that (the board) is using as a smoke screen to cover their unwillingness to address the issue publicly.”

Is he serious? Is he actually stating that an annual amount of $4,705 out of a total $511,000 constitutes "a lot going to kids" while $506,295 for salaries, computers & equipment, and travel is "a small component" for administration?? (I did the math using that summary page - you can read it by clicking here)

This clip also had a guy named Mullan who is affiliated with something called the Community Coalition, who said it was "disturbing that 5 people would unanimously turn down free money " (um, Earth to Mullan: there is no such thing as 'free money')

Reading that summary page, it is clear that the SACC and the Community Coalition were the ones who stood to gain the lion's share of that half million dollars. They are both listed by name, as administrators and evaluator of the grant. Funny - none of the video they shot mentioned any of that . . .

There was a short mention by Toeppe of his concern for his 2 grandsons who are coming up through the Swanton school system, with regard to the grant being rejected. . . So Mr. Toeppe, pay attention here, cuz I'm talking to You and all of those who share your opinion that somehow a school system is responsible for the alcohol/tobacco/drug use of their students: PARENTS are responsible for teaching their kids to stay away from drugs and alcohol. PARENTS are responsible to make sure their kids aren't into mischief or trouble outside of school. PARENTS have the greatest impact on their kids' behavior, whether good or evil.

Maybe you've never considered this before, but it is not the responsibility of ANY government entity to parent our kids! It is not the responsibility of the Swanton school district to parent your grandsons, Mr. Toeppe - it is the responsibility of their mom and dad, one of whom is your offspring.

Now maybe if we eliminated the Department of Education completely, and did away with all of these grants where so much money was thrown at a problem, our families would be able to keep more of the money they earn. By being able to pay less in taxes that are delivered by the bushel to entities like the SACC, maybe hundreds and thousands of 2 income households would be able to pare back to 1 income and still be able to eat and pay their personally incurred bills.

And maybe, just maybe, sanity would be restored to the United States and its democratic republic snatched from the brink before it slides forever into the socialistic mire it toys with today. For make no mistake, Mr. Toeppe - the principle you espouse is indeed socialism, where Government is in charge from cradle to grave. I deeply resent those of your ilk who whine ever louder for Government to assume their personal, individual responsibilities, as the money to do so is taken from my pocket and the pockets of my neighbors in ever-increasing taxes while our freedoms are slowly eroded to dust.

PARENTS need to do whatever it takes to keep their kids straight. If that means the parents must limit or cease their own intake of these substances in question, so be it. If that means the parents need to plan supervised parties at home for their kids and their friends, they should do it. If that means the parents must insist on doling out chores or side jobs to their little darlings in order to keep them from imbibing after school (now there's a quaint idea), then, by God they should do so!

I sincerely hope that the citizens of Swanton are intelligent enough to see through your b.s., Mr. Toeppe, and that they are the kind of parents who actually raise their own kids without the benefit of your poker games and pizza parties at taxpayer expense.

Just Say "NO"

An interesting situation has come to the forefront of our consciousness via TV tabloid coverage on all 3 local channels, plus an article in the Toledo Bland, er, Blade.

Seems there is a $511,000 grant that has been awarded by the U.S. Dept. of Education to the Swanton School district through the Swanton Area Community Coalition (SACC) that the Board of Education is thinking of declining.

Whoa!

The proposed function of this grant is for reduction of alcohol use in students. Hmmm . . . sounds like a cause most would support. How could you refuse money for this worthy endeavor?

Neil Toeppe, Executive Director of the SACC, issued a press release, and apparently contacted everybody and their uncle with ties to the local media to put the full court press on the school Board in order to not-so-subtly insist that they accept the grant. He apparently also provided the summary page of the grant to the media as well, and a few have it available online. If you want to read a copy, click on this link to Channel 24

Now, I don't claim to be the sharpest tool in the shed, but even a cursory reading of this summary page shows an interesting fact: the lion's share of the money is earmarked for the SACC, and not the school district. Can you say "boondoggle" ??

It appears that barely 10% of the funds awarded in this grant would actually go to the school for student benefit. All of the rest goes towards administrative salaries, equipment, travel, etc. either through or directly for the SACC and its members. Looks like a sweet deal for them - no wonder Toeppe is salivating over half a million greenbacks over a 3 year period!

Frankly, I am wondering how the heck this thing was ever approved by the US Dept of Ed in the first place. Does no one read these grant proposals before rubber stamping them? How could this much money of taxpayer dollars be awarded to a very small non-profit organization for salaries and travel expenses? It boggles the mind.

Grants are not "free money" - they are all taxpayer funded. That's you and me, and our neighbors. I am mighty annoyed that this type of pork is allowed to occur. Is it any wonder our federal government is bankrupt, with the way they throw our money around??

Kudos to the Swanton Board of Education for investigating the finer details of the grant, and being willing to Just Say "No". If more Boards across this nation would have the intestinal fortitude to do the same, just maybe we could turn this country around.