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Is Robbie Fletcher a fat cat?
A recent flyer mailed out in support of constitutional Amendment 2 indicates that the fat cats are the ones opposing Amendment 2. Robbie Fletcher is one of the ones opposing Amendment 2. Many of us saw Robbie grow up in Martin County and advance through his career as a teacher, principal, school superintendent and now…
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Martin County BOE renews opposition to Amendment 2
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Board of Education renewed its opposition to Amendment 2 during Monday night’s meeting, with board members and district leadership warning that the measure would siphon funding from public schools. “This is Amendment 2 that will be on the ballot as you vote in Kentucky,” board…
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School vouchers bring theft of tax dollars and other crimes
BY JOHN SCHAAF If Amendment 2 passes and Kentucky adopts a dangerous school voucher plan like other states, there will be unaccountable private school operators who will misuse or steal millions of taxpayer dollars and be involved in other criminal activity. That’s exactly what’s happened in states that bought into the radical policy of throwing…
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Kentucky Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher opposes Amendment 2
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN FRANKFORT — Kentucky’s Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher, during an Oct. 10 webcast with superintendents, commented on the Kentucky Board of Education’s (KBE) unified stance against the use of public funds to support nonpublic schools. The board’s recently passed resolution states that public education is the best way to ensure…
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VOTE NO on Amendment 2, urges Kentucky’s school leaders
BY DR. RHONDA CALDWELL CEO, KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS Between now and Election Day Nov. 5, our airwaves are filled with political messages. Whether you are a highly engaged voter or one who votes only when it matters to you, this election is dangerous for our society when considering Constitutional Amendment 2. The amendment reads, “The General…
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Think carefully about the unintended consequences
Let us break it down. Kentucky’s public schools are what they have always done—educating every kid, no matter the challenges. Disabilities, language barriers, race, creed—all are welcome, no questions asked. Enter Amendment 2, which is being sold as a way to give families more choices in education. Sounds good, right? But wait—it is not the…
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Private school vouchers on the ballot in Kentucky: Voters should know the track record in other states—it is a very expensive decision and bad for rural areas
BY NICHOLAS BRAKE This fall the national push for education vouchers comes to Kentucky. Voters face a choice on the ballot in November about Amendment 2, which would allow the General Assembly to spend public money on private schools. Do not be fooled; there is a lot of misinformation and deception in the ads supporting…
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Martin County school board warns of potential harm from Amendment 2, urges community to vote ‘no’
“School choice really is the school’s choice, not the parent’s choice.” –Dena James, Special Education Director BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Board of Education convened Sept. 9 with Amendment 2 on the agenda. Chairman Mickey McCoy opened the floor, stating that voters would face a decision regarding the amendment in…
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Martin County BOE: Vote ‘NO’ on Amendment 2
‘This is about taking money from public schools and giving it to private schools’ BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN A question on the ballot in November will ask voters whether to amend Kentucky’s constitution to allow the Legislature to redirect public tax dollars from public schools to private schools. The Martin County Board of Education…