Letters to Editor
Overlooked
In my recent letter thanking everyone who participated in our annual Free Speech Forum, I forgot to thank Michael Nolan, our moderator, for doing such an outstanding job that evening.
Thank you, Mike. Im sorry to have overlooked you in the first letter.
Rosemary Balazs, President
Leauga of Women Voters of Geauga County
Trouble in Chester
I was unable to attend the Chester Township trustees meeting of May 30; however, I feel compelled to address some of the issues discussed at that meeting after I listened to the recording.
While the Chesterland News has a reporter at our meetings and then reports on what is happening, I could not believe Trustee Ken Radtke publicly initiated a discussion with Trustee Mike Joyce about a situation concerning the townships administrative assistant.
This banter of Kens was totally inappropriate to be discussed publicly. That is why the Ohio Revised Code allows trustees to enter into executive session to discuss such issues.
At the May 16 meeting, Ken went on to banter about a motion that was placed on the final agenda, but was not on the draft. He accused both Trustee Joyce and myself of instructing the administrative assistant to place it on the final agenda, even though he had all the information weeks prior to the meeting. He stated he was not prepared.
I take issue with Trustee Radtke on several points. First, and most important, is publicly discussing any issues concerning any township employee and the way he speaks to them.
Second, Trustee Radtke at each meeting attacks either Trustee Joyce or myself, instead of doing the job of making decisions about the townships business.
Each meeting for the past months he requests something to be tabled instead of moving forward and making on a decision to either vote yes or no on the motion.
He tries to portray himself as a victim to not having information when, in reality, he has received it either via email or documents by township mail.
As far as Im concerned, I have helped Trustee Radtke come up to speed as a new trustee, but at what point does he stand on his own? And why should I continue if he refuses to be a team player?
Whether he likes it or not, all three trustees are equal and that is why the residents have three trustees in office. We may not agree on issues, or even like each other, but that should not come in the way of doing the job or making a decision in the best interest of all the residents in the township.
That is what is called professionalism not to attack a fellow trustee in a meeting.
Trustee Radtke reminds me of being in grade school on a playground when you see the small group of kids on the side telling him to start a fight and they will back him up. I believe today you would call this bullying. I never liked it back then and still dont today, but that is what the township meetings are like. Pretty sad isnt it? I refuse to play into that and I will continue to do the best job I can for all the residents of Chester Township.
This township has a lot to be proud of and has so many positive things happening like the Park Board working diligently on numerous projects to improve the Parkside Park.
If you have not seen it lately you need to. This was not completed by the few negative residents, but by residents that truly care about the community and all of the organizations, business owners and others that have stepped up to the plate to make a difference here where we live.
I want to sincerely thank everyone that has helped Chester Township shine once more as a great township to live in and a township to be proud of.
I am sure that over the next six months or so you will read more negativity about Trustee Mike Joyce and me because this is an election year for both he and I, and this bullying and half truths are the only way the few negative cronies have.
Once again, thank you for allowing me to be your township trustee
Judith Caputo
Chester Township Trustee
Private Interests Own Our Education System
In 2009, most states were hurting financially due to the recession. In the American Recovery Act, better known as the 2009 Stimulus Bill, $4.35 billion was allotted to the federal Department of Education to create the Race to the Top Competition.
The State of Ohio accepted $400 million in Race to the Top (RttT) grant money, agreeing to give up state and local control of our education system, accept Common Core Standards and National Assessment tests.
By taking these grants, states were promised No Child Left Behind waivers.
States were threatened that if they did not adopt Common Core, they may not receive federal Title I funding.
The application for the RttT grant was due January of 2010. The draft of Common Core was not available until three months after the applications were due. The final standards for Common Core were available six months after RttT grant application were due.
The National Assessment tests for Common Core still are not written. Ohio gave up our 10th Amendment Rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution by taking RttT grant money.
Common Core Standards are owned and copyrighted by private organ-izations. The Common Core Standards were not created by any state or the federal government. The curriculum cannot be deleted, substituted or changed.
Common Core includes a disclaimer removing the owners from legal liability for damages Common Core Standards may cause. States will be able to add 15 percent of their own curriculum, but schools will be required to provide their own assessment.
Our education system is now owned by private interest and they are not accountable to the taxpayer.
Dr. Sandra Stotsky of the University of Arkansas and mathematics Professor R. James Milgram of Stanford University were both on the Common Core Validation Committee. Both feel that Common Core Standards are lacking in preparing graduating high schools students for four-year colleges, does not prepare students to compete against nations that are excelling in education and refuse to sign off on the Common Core Standards.
They both have been testifying before state legislators throughout the U.S., letting state elected officials know the weaknesses of these new standards.
If you would like more information on Common Core, I will give you a few places to start looking. The Pioneer Institute has a report you can google called, Controlling Education From the Top. It is a pdf file that you can download and print.
I would also suggest looking up Dr. Stotsky and Professor Milgram. Their testimonies can be found online.
The website stopcommoncore.com has some overview videos and also videos of the new Common Core English and math texts now being used in the State of Utah.
The Ohio Department of Education’s website has the two-year progress report for schools that adopted RttT. And just the other day, I heard there is a new report called “National Sexuality Education Standards,” might be incorporated into Common Core Standards.
I encourage everyone who cares about children and teachers to investigate Common Core. This can be stopped by our state legislators.
Jeannine M. Soltis
Claridon Township
Fortunate to Have C.A.S.A.
This is the 16th Anniversary of the C.A.S.A. (Court Appointed Special Advocates) program in Geauga County. As the current Geauga County juvenile judge, I am grateful that Judge Chip Henry had the initiative and foresight to bring C.A.S.A. to the Geauga County Juvenile Court.
C.A.S.A. volunteers are specially trained individuals who the court appoints to protect the best interest of the children in cases involving troubled families. C.A.S.A. volunteers receive no monetary compensation for their extremely important service to these children, the juvenile court and our community.
C.A.S.A. volunteers are truly special (1) to Geauga County, saving taxpayers over $300,000 per year; (2) to the children involved, providing support and stability during an often traumatic process; and (3) to the juvenile court, submitting excellent detailed reports that are extremely helpful in the courts efforts to protect children and reunify families.
The Geauga County community is extremely fortunate to have the C.A.S.A. program, which continues to thrive under the excellent and dedicated leadership of its director, Chris Steigerwald, and her staff.
Thank you to Chris, her staff, and all the C.A.S.A. volunteers for their valuable service to our county.
Judge Timothy J. Grendell
Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court
