IS IT TRUE? December 7, 2010
IS IT TRUE that it has now been 1,305 days since the announcement was made on May 14, 2007 that the McCurdy Hotel was to be refurbished into luxury apartments?…that it has now been 1,160 days since the Evansville Redevelopment Commission at the request of Mayor Weinzapfel approved the spending of $603,000 to purchase the parking lot of the McCurdy with 55 parking spaces to sweeten the deal?….that it has now been 760 days since an $800,000 incentive to purchase the McCurdy Hotel was approved for the Indianapolis based developer that was selected for the project?….that the estimated cost to refurbish the McCurdy has grown from $7.2 Million to the latest guess of $11.9 Million?….that over three years have passed and over $1.4 Million of public money has been spent and the sounds of construction are still not drowning out the cooing of the pigeons in the stately old hotel?….that the City County Observer is seriously concerned that the City of Evansville may just have another River House on First Street.
IS IT TRUE that there are now 705 days remaining in the two years that the EPA had given the City of Evansville to present an acceptable solution to the Combined Sewer Overflow problem?…..that this plan is an expensive and complex endeavor that needs immediate attention to avoid the embarrassment and expense of another round of fines?
IS IT TRUE that people routinely plan trips to Henderson because gas is always about 10 cents per gallon cheaper than it is in Evansville?….that doing that for an average fill up saves about $1.50?…that if everyone had electric cars and the cost to charge the batteries was $100 in Indiana that the difference in the electrical rates between Evansville and Henderson would make that charge cost $37 in Henderson?….that Vectren’s excessive rates will make the introduction of BEV’s (Battery Electric Vehicles) and other Green Initiatives in Vectren’s service area in Indiana absolutely cost prohibitive?…that Green jobs are seen as the most desirable jobs to attract going forward?…that Evansville and SW Indiana are playing this “Green Jobs” game with their hands tied behind their backs and an albatross around their necks?…that Vectren’s rate structure when compared to Henderson is quite likely to keep Evansville and SW Indiana from participating in any Green Initiative led recovery?
IS IT TRUE that if Vectren converted their 5 private planes to electric power that they may not even be able to afford to charge their own batteries at the rates that they charge residents of Southwest Indiana for electricity?…that maybe they would have to fly across that money saving river to charge their own batteries?
IS IT TRUE that the EVSC had a welcomed announcement yesterday that every public high school in Evansville has made great strides in improving the percentage of students who graduate?…that Bosse High School moved from the middle sixties to the middle eighties in making the largest improvement?….that Reitz as always led the high schools in graduation rate with a nationally impressive 96% rate?….that the efforts made by EVSC to address the low graduation rates and to credential these students before they are faced with the realities of the real world is worthy of applause and admiration?
IS IT TRUE that the Vanderburgh County School Board is now on record as seeking to extend the contract of Dr. Vince Bertram before it expires in mid 2012?….that to the extent that Dr. Bertram’s efforts led to the increase in high school graduation rates that he is deserving of that vote of confidence?…that the overall performance of the EVSC across all grades was recently ranked as a 4 on a scale of 10 (see reference link)?….that in no category and no age group did the children of the EVSC exceed the average score for the State of Indiana?….that there is much work that needs to be put into additional improvements in the home and the classroom to get the children entrusted to the EVSC to perform at the average level for Indiana?…that Indiana is not exactly performing at the top of the pack nationally?….that focus on education is what is needed from Dr. Bertram and every person that draws a paycheck from the EVSC?
IS IT TRUE that Dr. Bertram is quoted as referring to Mayor Weinzapfel as “the best Mayor in Americaâ€?….that Dr. Bertram has vocally supported and even considered financial support for the Roberts Stadium Ball Fields project?…that Dr. Bertram has authorized the spending of $7.5 Million for a football stadium at Harrison High School?…that Dr. Bertram wisely called for a referendum to gain the approval of the voters before breaking ground on the new North High School?…that bricks and mortar may look good but have never been documented to teach a single person a single thing?….that the community desperately needs a quality workforce to be attractive as a location for businesses?….that a solid public high school education is the foundation of a competitive workforce?…that the progress that has been made in graduation rates needs to be reproduced in early elementary school?….that our educational improvement efforts may be better served if Dr. Bertram works his magic in the schools and stays away from the fickleness of politics?
Reference Link for EVSC overall grade
http://www.greatschools.org/cgi-bin/in/district-profile/103
I have supported Mr Bertram, but he needs to decide which hat he wants to wear.
EVSC GRADUATION RATE INCREASE
A one year 6% district-wide increase in graduations does indeed deserve further explanation, something we did not get in the article announcing the increase, which stated only that the teachers and administrators can now access a database on student academic history, something you would have thought was already in place by this point in time.
The previous rate of 1 in 5 students dropping out before graduation was unacceptable and would not look good on the resume of anyone asking for a new contract and more money.
I will await further details of how this 6% increase was achieved before jumping on this bandwagon.
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“…that the overall performance of the EVSC across all grades was recently ranked as a 4 on a scale of 10 (see reference link)?….that in no category and no age group did the children of the EVSC exceed the average score for the State of Indiana?” (The Mole #??)
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This is a little misleading in the way it is stated. Saying that the students did not EXCEED the STATE AVERAGE in any of the subjects tested and in any of the grades tested.
In point of fact, the students tested SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER the STATE AVERAGE for all subjects tested and for all grades tested, and nowhere did they even MEET the STATE AVERAGE.
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Speaking with a state official in Indy, I was informed that Evansville has a state-wide reputation for reactionary, thoughtless programs in response to crises, instead of planning carefully and spending wisely. Everything that’s happened since the Arena’s inception has only reinforced that picture. Where is responsibility in local government? Remember Pogo’s observation, “We have met the enemy and they is us!”? Welcome to Evansville, Pogo.
******Post Removed for Name Calling and Rudeness******
***Post Removed for Rudeness Toward the Elderly and the use of Disparaging Language*****
IS IT TRUE that a history of not just a consistently high dividend… but a consistently INCREASING dividend, for 51 consecutive years! (http://www.snl.com/irweblinkx/file.aspx?IID=4057065&FID=10329398) Through both good times and very bad, must beg a couple questions. Fundamentally, with the approval of regulatory bureaucrats, just how much blood can be squeezed from the turnip? As well, couldn’t this high customer charge with a high investor yield be labeled – “redistribution”?
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