During the July meeting of the Clinton County Democratic Party, several issues were discussed relevant to everyone in the county, regardless of political affiliation.
The first is regarding Electronic Classrooms of Tomorrow (ECOT), aka Chartergate. Over a six-year period while you were paying your real estate/school district taxes, our local public school systems lost a total of $2,234,676 to this alternative school program: Wilmington City Schools lost $1,659,136; Blanchester lost $649,940; East Clinton $500,985; and Clinton-Massie $424,615.
This was done by ECOT allegedly falsifying the number of students/parents enrolled in the electronic school. When this was discovered, the program was just abandoned including all unused equipment and supplies. Mike DeWine has said he will return the money to local school systems but so far nothing has happened.
Secondly, with the 2018-2019 school year starting in a few weeks, it is a harsh fact some families will struggle to provide basic supplies for their children. In 2001, Don Spurling (founder and primary contact) helped establish the non-profit Dems for Kids program with the mission to help augment this deficiency among elementary school children.
To meet this objective, supplies are donated to the eight elementary schools in Clinton County. When it was first started, schools/teachers were skeptical of the program. Now, 17 years later, teachers are grateful and even provide lists of items most in need. The truly unique aspect, of this program, is supplying schools twice a year; fall and winter. This twice a year practice is helping children throughout the entire school year, not just initially.
Essential items requested by teachers include: Wide-ruled loose paper packets, crayons (16 or 24), pencils, scissors, spiral notebooks (wide rule), 3-ring binders (1-inch), composition books (wide ruled), two pocket folders, glue sticks, bottled glue, index cards (lined), pencil erasers, flat erasers, rulers, pencil boxes, tissues and paper towels.
Additionally, the following items are also appreciated: Colored pencils, colored markers, dry erase markers, baby wipes, hand sterilizer, Ziploc bags (all sizes) and gallon-sized Ziploc freezer bags.
Items may be donated to any Democrat or by contacting Don Spurling, Connie Hardie, Cindy Sutton or Judy Stapler. Cash contributions are also welcome.
Children are the future — helping them benefits everyone.
