BeaknEye_5_11_ISSUU
2/16/2012
3:03 PM
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Beak ‘n’ Eye
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Volume 52 Issue 5
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West High School
3505 W. Locust St. Davenport, Iowa 52804
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Friday, February 3, 2012
Iowans have first vote
By Hieu Nguyen
Photo by Christopher Gannon/Gannon Visuals.com/MCT
SHAKING HANDS - Mitt Romney greets supporters following the Iowa caucus voting on Tuesday, Jan. 3 in Des Moines, Iowa. The voting was the closest in history with the lead changing hands between Romney and Challenger Rick Santorum.
poll
If you are able to vote for president, whom would you vote for in these situations?
Not many young people went to the presidential caucuses on Jan. 3, according to some teachers who attended the caucuses. “I planned on going to the caucus, but something came up and I could not go,” said Brianna Fisher, senior. A West student also went to the caucus. Dan Dankert, senior, had an enjoyable experience. “I loved it. I was able to express my opinion on a particular candidate just as numerous others did. Through all of this information that we shared; we were all more confident of the person we voted for. Democracy is at its best,” said Dankert. Some teachers, such as Justin Lamer, Clint Vanfossen, David Kintigh, and John Kealey said they went to the caucuses in their neighborhoods. Iowa was the first state to hold a caucus; some states hold a primary. In the primaries, there is no meeting, no discussion; people just go and vote for the candidates. It’s easier for the second shift people. Justin Lamer is from Michigan, which holds a primary election. He said that the Iowa caucus was an enjoyable experience because he had the opportunity to meet new people and he brought his daughter with him. There were about 60 to 80 people, Lamer said. These people were his neighbors. Everyone sat in their seats, chose a captain for their group, and listened to the discussion about politics and governments. The representatives of the candidates gave five-minute speeches; the audience discussed and voted. Then the voters voted again, this time for the delegate. After voting twice, people gave their ideas for the candidates’ representatives and voted for revolution. The caucus ended at 8:30 p.m. Vanfossen had the same experiences. He said that he’s been going to the caucuses since he turned 18. His family went to the caucus with him. “Caucuses are good because voters must show up and represent themselves. They can meet their
Budget cuts affect many SOURCE: Beak ’n’ Eye survey of 200 students
By Erin Pershall
With a $3.4 million cut from our 2013 school district’s budget, many changes will be made. But with these changes, it will affect many families and students in the area. The $3.4 million cut is necessary because Iowa was not awarded their available growth rate. In other words, each year public schools receive more money than they did the previous year. Without the extra money, our school district needs to find ways to save money without taking drastic measures. The new budget is being debated by a group of 24 community members and Davenport Community School’s employees, otherwise known as Resource Allocation Committee (RAC). Nothing is set in stone yet. RAC will make the final decision on Feb. second. RAC is also having meetings so that the community can voice their opinions and bring different ideas to the table. Some cuts include, less bussing, one associate principal being cut from each school, the head athletic director cut, larger intermediate classes, and a local elementary school closing. Some of the new changes are controversial. John Kealy, social studies teacher and Davenport Education Association (Davenport’s teacher’s union or the DEA) member, believes that it is too early to decide if any teachers will be laid off. “It is way too early to give a direct answer on this matter. In the nearly two decades that I have taught in the district, rumors have constantly spread throughout the community on this topic. However, over the years Davenport School district has hardly laid off any teachers. We hope that this practice will continue,” Kealy said.
There are around 950 teachers that belong to the DEA out of around 1,200 teachers. According to Kealy, associate principals are not protected this is why one could get removed from each school. “The DEA has no say in the matter of jobs of administrators, for they are not members of our bargaining unit nor union. Administrators answer directly to the district,” Kealy said. Emily Schlichting, a teacher at Lincoln Elementary school, is one teacher that will be affected by the budget cuts. If the budget gets approved, she may have to be transferred to a different school. “My biggest fear would be that some of our students would have to be separated from the friends that they have gone to school with for so long,” said Schlichting. Because there will be fewer teachers for all of the students, there will have to be larger class sizes per teacher. At Lincoln, there are about 15 students per one teacher. If the budget plan passes, there will be around 28 students per teacher. With around 13 more students per class room, teachers will have less time for one on one help with each student. The enrolment rate at Lincoln is 180 students. Only 55 of those students live within that area, the rest are bussed in. This is one of the reasons it may close. Students who need receive emotional and behavior disorders also attend Lincoln. Students are upset that their school could close, considering they have gone there since kindergarten. “The students at Lincoln Academy, especially the older students, are extremely upset and saddened by the possible closing of their school,” said Schlichting Budget cuts continued on Page 3
neighbors and discuss the issues before they vote. Informed voters are a good thing,” said Vanfossen. He also said that people have to be present and be at the right time and right place. It would not be easy for the second shift workers to go to caucuses because they have to work at night, Vanfossen said. Vanfossen doesn’t like getting information from the newspaper instead. He watches the speeches of the candidates on television and listens to four debates. For more accurate information, he even goes to places where the candidates make their speeches in the public. “The caucus is very important, it is the best example for the great season,” Kealey said. He also said that every high school students who could vote should go to the caucuses because it is their duty; he saw some young people at the caucus. Kealey has been going to the caucuses since he had the right to vote. Kintigh went to the Democratic caucus for the first time. He said that things were well organized and he knew where to go. Everything ran smoothly. He also saw some high school students went to the caucus. The Democrats will support incumbent president Barack Obama. “I like the caucuses more than primaries. It has more feeling of community than being a part of Illinois primary,” said Kintigh. Jason Schwartzhoff, husband of Armanda Schwartzhoff said his caucus was interesting. “It took about 24 minutes. It felt like real grassroots process. I submitted platforms (stances) to be discussed with the people who volunteered as delegates as their philosophy. Others did too...” Schwartzhoff said he voted for Michele Bachmann. He said that Ron Paul was not a true conservative Republican- he was a Libertarian. Schwartzhoff agreed and did not subscribe to everything on their platform. Caucus continued on Page 3
Photo by Erin Pershall
CATCH THE BUS - Senior Aaron Smith takes the bus home after school. Transportation may be offered only to students living two miles away instead of 1.5 miles away from school.