Where does all that money go?

February 2, 2010  
Filed under Opinion

Is it just me, or does everyone else only hear about money and the economy anymore? Obviously it is one of the most important issues in the world right now, and many people struggle with money on a day to day basis. My question is, however, when will all of this talk turn into something more? In the words of Toby Keith, we need a little less talk, a lot more action.

Of course, it is much easier said than done. With jobs, activities and other expenses considered on the chopping block, it is no wonder it has taken so long to make a final decision. Personally, I would not want to be the one to make that choice. Then again, some cut backs do not seem as beneficial as others.

Let’s take all the talk about traditional or seven period scheduling for next year, for example. While there has been speculation that this is merely a rumor, others have said it is in the works. With seven periods a day, we would cut back teachers. But why?  Yes, the school would save some money by writing less pay checks. However, I, along with many other students and staff, feel like there is a lot more that we can do before taking people’s jobs away from them. It is understood that the decisions made will not make everyone happy, which is the case with many situations around this school. But, instead of thinking of the worst, maybe we should stay optimistic and hope for new and helpful ideas to be brought to the table.

Students, staff, parents and the community of Ottawa: This is your chance to give OHS feedback on how we could help save money. This year, we cut back on Kleenexes-  $13,000 worth of Kleenexes were cut from the district. Did you know that $11,000 of that came from the high school? Why did it take so long to cut back on them? By cutting back on expensive things that are not necessities, we could save so much money. By being positive and speaking up, we could help our school to save money.

If you have an idea on how to help our school, contact a Student Council member or a hand a Board of Education meeting. But speak up now before it is to late.

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Angela Geist

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