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To the editor: A bear owned by notorious Ohio animal exhibitor Sam Mazzola has mauled a 24-year-old man to death. The bear has been killed.
Mazzola has been responsible for injuries and has had run-ins with the law right from the start. Going back to the early 1980s, Smokey, a declawed 7-foot bear used in Mazzola’s wrestling act, escaped from Mazzola’s barn and attacked a neighbor. Mazzola was cited for failing to have required permits and was arrested and charged with obstructing official business after arguing with the state game officer.
In 1987, it was reported that a man was injured in a bear “wrestling” act and needed stitches for a bite wound. He filed a $300,000 suit against Mazzola.
Before his license was finally revoked in 2008, Mazzola was cited numerous times for making false statements and providing false records to federal authorities, for violating safety regulations by allowing customers into enclosures with adult tigers and bears—one weighing over 700 pounds—and for failing to safely contain adult tigers, bears, and juvenile wolves.
No one—including Sam Mazzola—should be allowed to keep wild and dangerous animals in backyard pens and ramshackle cages. Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is preparing to sign an executive order that would ban the sale, purchase, breeding and possession of many species of exotic animals in Ohio. Please contact the governor today to thank him for proposing the executive order and urge him to quickly sign it into law. To learn more visit www.PETA.org.
Lisa Wathne
Captive Exotic Animal Specialist
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Consolidation feasible?
To the editor: A review of Lake and Northwood school districts’ financial forecasts for fiscal years 2010-2014 shows deficit spending in each of the five years. School revenue projections are going down, while projected expenses are going up. The deficits are being financed with cash reserves on hand. Lake will deplete its reserves in 2010 and Northwood will be out of money in 2013.
One mill in the Lake district generates revenue of $238,344 and in Northwood, one mill generates $128,364. Converting the deficits into mills is shown as follows:
Lake’s deficit/year:
2010 – $862,332 (3.6 mills)
2011 – $1,183,270 (5.0 mills)
2012 – $3,030,887 (12.7 mills)
2013 – $3,973,152 (16.7 mills)
2014 – $5,560,781 (23.3 mills)
Northwood’s deficit/year
2010 – $302,255 (2.4 mills)
2011 – $512,971 (4.0 mills)
2012 – $1,398,322 (10.9 mills)
2013 – $1,948,591 (15.2 mills)
2014 – $2,111,028 (16.4 mills)
Lake shows an enrollment of 1,593 students and Northwood 901, for a total student enrollment of 2,494. The cost per student is shown based on the five-year forecast. Economy of scale results in Northwood, a smaller district, having a higher cost per student than Lake, while both schools are rated “excellent.” An expense budget is calculated using Lake’s cost per student times 2.494 students. This number is compared with the combined expenses of Lake and Northwood outlined in the five-year forecast.
A minimum savings per year from consolidating the two districts is shown as follows:
Lake cost per student: 2010 – $9,042; 2011 – $9,073; 2012 – $9,420; 2013 – $9,533; 2014 – $9,976.
Northwood cost per student: 2010 – $11,388; 2011 – $11,674; 2012 – $12,121; 2013 – $12,535; 2014 – $12,613.
The calculated expense for 2,494 students is: 2010 – $22,550,074; 2011 – $22,628,062; 2012: $23,493,480; 2013: $23,750,362; 2014: $24,880,144.
Forecast combined expenses are: 2010 – $24,664,257; 2011 – $24,612,111; 2012 – $25,928,151; 2013 – $26,479,496; 2014 – $27,255,161.
Minimum savings per year is: 2010 – $2,113,509; 2011 – $2,344,049; 2012 – $2,434,661; 2013 – $2,729,134; 2014 – $2,275,017.
Taxpayers need to know how both school boards plan on covering deficient spending projected for the next five years. A school consolidation plan should be an option to consider. Economy of scale should result in a lower cost per student than shown above after a detailed consolidation study is completed.
Larry Knudson
Millbury
Editor’s note: Mr. Knudson is a former member of the Lake school board who favors a study of the feasibility of consolidating the two districts.
Jeff Carpenter, Lake treasurer, said the district had 1,647 students at the end of the last fiscal year on June 30, which translates into a cost per student of $8,414. Carpenter said the state funding mechanism for a “combined” district could change and result in lower state aid.
Northwood Superintendent Greg Clark said his district hasn’t started deficit spending yet due to reductions made in expenditures.
Worthwhile sacrifices
To the editor: I am writing in support of the Oregon City Schools and the importance of keeping a financially stable school system intact. The passage of the school levy in November is critical for the future of our children as well as the economic growth within the City of Oregon. Many people, including my family, chose to reside in Oregon due to the excellent ratings of its school system. Community and educational opportunities attract residents and stimulate additional capital growth in the form of goods and services. This is good for all of us, not just those who currently have school-aged children.
As a parent, my experience with the Oregon School System has been very positive. The teachers have proven to care about their students and provide a challenging learning environment for their students. The dedication of the school system staff is further demonstrated by their agreement of zero salary increases. This dedication and desire to educate will create a strong foundation for our future leaders.
During these tough economic times, many of us are making personal sacrifices. Oregon City Schools has also sacrificed staff and is looking at other ways, like energy reduction, to cut expenses. However, this is not enough to overcome the expenses needed to maintain quality education.
Voters need to consider all the positive aspects a strong school system provides to the community of Oregon. In the words of former President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, “The school is the last expenditure upon which America should be willing to economize.”
I am willing to give up a weekend at a local water park and perhaps a couple of trips to the theater in order to help ensure the children of this community continue to receive a quality education.
Amy Joyce
Oregon
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