Is Bigger Always Better?

In December, Midwest City patrons voted down a $191 million bond issue that would have closed several elementary schools in the Midwest City-Del City school district.  The proposal missed being passed by a mere .32%.  Mid-Del Officials want the proposal to come to a vote again so they can have the opportunity to really let the voters know exactly how the money will be used.  The proposal would have consolidated some schools and built new bigger ones.  Officials say the bond would have saved the district money.  The Mid-Del school district is facing an almost $10 million budget shortfall this year.  School officials say close to 90 percent of the budget pays for teachers and staff.  If they can’t find a solution to the shortfall, it could mean teacher jobs.

I have mixed emotions about this.  I am all in favor of my grandchildren having nice, new schools to go attend that have all of the latest bells and whistles.  However, I am concerned that consolidating elementary schools will mean longer commutes for children, longer bus lines, extreme traffic congestion in the area surrounding the school.  I have a hard enough time now driving past the school by my house in the afternoon.  Traffic is always backed up from parents trying to turn into the parking lot.  Imagine how much traffic there would be if the school was two or three times the size!

I certainly do not want to see teacher’s lose their jobs because of funding shortfalls.  It seems cuts could be made in other areas.  I realize that in government there is always talk of different colors of money or different pots of money.  But can’t we borrow from Peter to pay Paul?   I certainly don’t claim to have an answer, but it just seems like there must be one somewhere.  By the way, how much does the Mid-Del School Superintendent make a year?  It is my understanding that person earns more than the Oklahoma State Superintendent.  Maybe the administration needs to look a little closer to home to start making some of the funding cuts.  Just a thought.

Why Glad Grad?



I thought I would take this opportunity to explain why I am a glad grad.  I graduated from UCO in 1994 with a Bachelor's in Education.  I was on the 15 year plan since I graduated from high school in 1979. 

I spent a lot of time going to class

in this building (Old North) before

it was condemned!

After graduation, I continued to raise my children and work.  When my oldest daughter graduated from UCO with her Bachelor's degree and started talking about getting her Master's degree, it got me thinking about my own goals.  I decided that I should go back to school and so in November 2008 I enrolled for the 2009 Spring semester.  I have spent two years now going to school, including two summers, and now my hard work is about to pay off!  I have had to sacrifice a lot to get this accomplished.  I have given up time with my family and friends, as well as passed on many social events and church activities.  I am very fortunate that I have an excellent support system in my family and friends.  They have all pushed me when I wanted to give up and were understanding when I couldn't do things with them.  I truly don't know what I would do without them.  So, here I am in my final semester.  By the end of March I will have completed all of my coursework and then it's time to just sit back and wait for that glorious graduation day in May.  Soon I will don a cap and gown once more, take that walk across campus to Hamilton Field House, 

and proudly walk across the stage to
take my place among the group of UCO

graduates who are all proud to call ourselves GLAD GRADS!!!   If you would like more information on how you to can begin your journey to join the ranks of the glad grads, you can go to the UCO home page at  http://www.uco.edu/index.asp .

One Proud Grandma!

Isn't being a grandparent just the best thing in the world?!?  I never could have imagined just how much fun I would have or how much I would love my grandchildren!  I have one grandson right now, but there are two more babies on the way.  I spend as much time as I can get away with loving and spoiling my grandson and I intend to do the same when the next two come along.  I'm trying to get my grandson, who is 15 months old, to learn to call me Gammy.  So far, he's managed to get as far as "MiMi".  That's certainly alright, I'll take it as long as he calls me something!  If you would like to read some cute poems about grandchilren, you can visit http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/family/grandchildren-poems.asp .