include not only attending the monthly board meetings, but also listening to the audio recordings of those meetings. If the Watchdog sniffs out anything that she believes the public should be alerted to, it will be reported on this page.
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September 10, 2010
BBH Teachers Remain Third Highest Paid in Ohio (go)
BBH Schools Fail to Maintain "Excellent with Distinction" (go) Board Continued(s) to Pay "Laid-Off" Employees (go)
July 27, 2010
BBH School Board's Education Forecast: Gloomy update 9/10/10 (due to the Board's clouded thinking, scattered misrepresentations, and murky presentation of financial conditions) (GO)
President of Teachers' Union Thanks Superintendent (go)
VOTERS and TAXPAYERS! Board Ignores Public Opposition to New Tax Levy On July 8, the Board voted 4-1 to put a levy on the Nov.2, 2010 ballot. If the levy passes, our taxes will be raised more than $29 million over five years. Dave Tryon is the only Board member to vote against putting the levy on the ballot.
___________________________________________________________ Teachers Threatened to Strike During Last Contract Negotiations!(go)
Board Relieves Pain on District Employees--But Still Intends to Inflict Pain on Community, Parents, and Children (go)
5.8 Mil Levy to be on November 2, 2010 Ballot The Board announced its intent to put a new 5.8 mil levy on the Nov. 2, 2010 ballot. Dave Tryon is the only Board member who voiced opposition to putting the levy on the ballot. We'll find out how much money that levy would generate at next month's Board meeting.
Board Hires Scot T. Prebles, from Granville Exempted Village Schools, as new Superintendent
May 24, 2010
BBH School Board Shows True Colors--They're Not Red, White, and Blue (go)
Hostile Teachers Display Lack of Decorum at School Board Meeting (go)
Residents Speak Out Watchdog Speaks Despite Muzzling Effort (go) Teachers' Union President Promises Fight to Pass Levy (go) Teacher's Husband Wants Salary Increases for Teachers Parent (and past President of Chippewa PSO) Personally Attacks Watchdog Residents Urge Board to Restore Busing and much more (go)
Board Reinstates K-8 Busing (cost: $50,000): Older Children Neglected (go)
BUSING UPDATE: There was standing room only at the April 26, 2010 Board meeting. Many concerned citizens were there to express their opposition to or concerns about the Board's decision to cut busing. go
posted: March 19, 2010 What's Been Happening Since the Levy Failure in Novembergo (also, see below)
Resident's Letter to the Editor: "Board's Decisions are Key to Finances"go
February 22, 2010
Find out what the Board had to say when the Watchdog questioned its Executive Sessionsgo
5 Residents Address the Board During the public comments time during the meeting, 2 residents questioned the Board about its decision to cut busing, (go) 1 resident questioned the Board about revenues coming in from the Ohio Lottery, 1 resident brought her concerns about Central School to the Board's attention, and the Watchdog questioned the Board's Executive Sessions. (go)
BUSING UPDATE Lone Board member (David Tryon) tried to persuade the Board to reinstate busing for 2010-2011 school year(go)
Reductions for 2010/2011 Board intends to finalize Planned Reductions at April 22, 2010 meeting
Community Survey District plans to conduct another Community Survey (stay tuned)
January 27, 2010
Board's approval of Employee's Leave of Absence Raises Questionsgo
December 16, 2009
Board Still Intends to Cut Busing The Board still plans to eliminate busing next year (a savings of $275,000) even though the Board expects to have a cash balance of nearly $5 million at the end of next year. go
November 16, 2009
Board's Plan to Cut Busing The Watchdog asks the Board if, now that the levy failed, the Board still plans to eliminate busing next year. And, if so, to please explain the rationale behind that decisions. go
September 28, 2009
There was standing room only at the September 28, 2009 Board meeting. The people in attendance were there to voice their opposition to the District's decision to not air (live) President Obama's speech on September 8, 2009.
June-August 2009
Reports for these months concern staff reductions and the levy. Information can be found on Doggie Dollars and Scents page.
May 18, 2009
NEW TAX LEVY At the May 18 Board meeting, Superintendent Diringer informed the Board that this summer he will be recommending putting a new tax levy on the November 2009 ballot. Stay tuned.
Elevated Grading Scale:Even though last year 150 parents called and e-mailed Dr. Calevich indicating they wanted the district to use the standard grading scale because research shows an elevated grade scale puts their chldren at a disadvantage for college admissions and merit scholarships, at it's May 18 meeting, the Board approved an elevated grade scale anyway. (go)
Waiver Days:At its April 27 meeting, the board unanimously approved two Waiver Days that has the effect of taking nearly a quarter million dollars that was supposed to be used for the purpose of educating our children and using that money instead for the purpose of educating our teachers. (go)
May 9, 2009
Staff Reductions:At its April 27 meeting, the Board approved Superintendent Diringer's Reduction in Force (RIF) Recommendations. (go)
January 28, 2009Promoting Acceptance of Homosexuality: Even though the Watchdog notified the board (go) that schoolchildren, as young as nine-years old, are being taught in the classroom that effeminate behavior in boys is perfectly acceptable, the board reaffirmed its full support of a school policy that promotes acceptance of homosexuality. On January 23, 2009, the Crisis Intervention guidelines (#8410) which include sexual orientation language were re-published on the district's website. (The Board members have never publicly expressed any rationale for thier support such a policy.)
The hostile reaction to my letters to the editor in which I express a view that schools should not promote acceptance of homosexuality shows that I was correct to say that including sexual orientation language in school policy implies that it is wrong to oppose homosexuality. go...
At the June 23 meeting, a student who had just completed sixth grade, questioned a decision that was made to eliminate French from the middle school and high school curriculum. go The student was planning to enroll in French classes, so when she learned that French would no longer be offered as an elective, she decided to take action.Within two weeks, she obtained 103 signatures on ?a petition to reinstate French.?This young girl did not simply accept a decision made by school officials sitting down.Confidently and respectfully, she stood before the School Board and questioned the wisdom of the decision. She is an example of leadership, not only to her fellow classmates, but to our entire community.And her parents should be commended.
We need more people to become involved and speak out. posted: June 26, 2008
May 19, 2008
TAXPAYERS: Re: Teachers' Salaries: The Watchdog intends to release board member, Mr. Dave Dosen from the Doghouse for comments he made regarding the teachers' contract that was approved (4-1) at the May 19 meeting. To view that part of Mr. Dosen's file, go here.
Decision-Making Process--At the May 19 meeting, several taxpaying and voting members of our community made a plea to the board to reverse a recent decision that was made on behalf of the school district. The fact that the decision was never discussed during a public board meeting once again gives the impression that the board is trying to avoid accountability to the public by keeping controversial or difficult decisions out of the public eye. go
April 21, 2008
March 17 , 2008
Posted April 3, 2008 Mathematics--Board member, Mr. Alan Siebert raised an interesting point about mathematics instruction. Read his brief comments and an interesting response from our Director of Curriculum and Instruction. go...
February 25 , 2008Posted March 24, 2008 Eligibility for Extra-Curricular Activities--Board policy requires students who want to participate in extra-curricular activities to achieve a grade point average of just 1.25. Board member, Mr. Alan Siebert believes that is too low for a District that "boasts of its academic excellence." But, Superintendent Diringer, and the other four board members don’t agree. Find out why the board remains, as Mr. Siebert said, “stubborn and unwilling to change the minimum standard” from a 1.25 GPA to even a 1.5 GPA. go...Board's Decision-Making Process continued...go..
January 28, 2008
Board's Decision-Making Process Find out what the Board has done that provides evidence that this school board still needs a watchdog. go...
I'd like to thank everyone who stood up for what is right for our children and spoke out against the proposed anti-bullying policy. The Brecksville-Broadview Heights Board of Education heard you loud and clear. At its December 17, 2007 meeting, the Board adopted a modified version of the anti-bullying policy that does not include any list of enumerated distinguishing characteristics. (update: Dec. 28, 2007go... )
Bullying Policy--The Brecksville-Broadview Heights School Board dropped a bombshell at its Nov.19 meeting. It is about to adopt a radical policy that disproportionately prohibits bullying of students who would engage in homosexual, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender behavior, but does not give that same protection to students who object to homosexuality, or students who are not a member of any recognized identifiable minority group. (go...)
November 19, 2007
Senior Citizens--Does the Board reach out to our Senior Citizens? (go...)
October 22, 2007
Advertising Policy--During the July 23rd meeting, Superintendent Diringer said that any advertising that involves an exchange of money would require Board approval. As it turns out, that's not quite accurate. go...
September 24, 2007
The Watchdog explains to the Board why the individual members should not be personally offended when she criticizes the School Board. go...
August 20, 2007
Advertising Policy--Since there are no public records of any Board discussions regarding the set of policies that address advertising that the Board unanimously agreed to adopt during last month's Board meeting, the Watchdog asked the Board to explain how it reached its decision to adopt those policies. Read the Watchdog's comments and the Board's response. go...
