Other than this website, there was really no discussion whatsoever. We live in a rather odd situation where we have no newspaper, no television station, and probably a modicum of interested people who venture onto this website. There were probably twenty participants on this subject on Sowal. The vote certainly reflected that.
The candidates who ran including those who were defeated wouldn't even discuss the issue or why they were for or against it. The only thing I saw in the paper was the editorial from Art Miller who I felt articulated himself well as to why he was against it.
All I've heard people say about him here (likening those of us opposed to it for whatever reason as "Art Miller wannabes") is that we are somehow never-do-wells who think things are just peachy and the school board shouldn't be held accountable or that the NO's are somehow responsible for all that's currently wrong with the school system.
The South end of the county and its residents are just as guilty of complacency and the ills the school district is currently facing as the north ever dreamed of being. Hell, I remember a conversation on Brawlers where people actually said they didn't know they pay a lions share of taxes to the school district. How could they not know? Look at your damn tax statements for cripes sake.
The South also didn't ask for meetings to once again be held in the South end of the County
UNTIL all the problems including pay raises for teachers reared its ugly head and you folks were damn sure not attending meetings in the north end which have been very poorly attended for almost 20
YEARS. Then overnight you raise up a referendum with little or no questions asked with the WCTA's help and anyone who dared question your actions or ask legitimate questions who might have been the slightest bit inclined toward voting yes were shot down without reasonable answers. Yes, myself included. Bulldozing your way to a successful referendum wasn't your strong suit. Trying to get it done in less than a few months from the time you went before the BCC until the actual vote didn't help TEACH people what you were trying to do either.
The air of superiority wasn't pleasant nor is the attitude that "we pay the majority of taxes, stop taking our money if we can't be involved". The North end of the county may be piss poor but we helped build your schools, bridges and all the lovely accoutrements that so many of you call "Our Beloved South Walton" and our kids, grand kids and even adults make the trip to work on the beaches and other menial jobs because there are no jobs to speak of here in the North, unless of course you work for the County.
So while we are busy up here in the North end savoring our little victory perhaps you folks in the South end might want to think about how you could have gone about this differently and enlightened people rather than trying to ram this one down our throats.
It was a very small victory I'll grant you that and it's far from over given what we elected this go round. But, you're right jdarg, there is much more to come and if you think it was ugly before just wait...