Guest post from Norm Drogmiller on his run for Toledo Public School Board
This was sent in via e-mail as a guest post from Toledo Public Schools Board candidate Norm Drogmiller to share with readers of GCJ:
My name is Norm Drogmiller, and I am a candidate in the upcoming election for the Toledo School Board.
A little background about myself: I am a lifelong resident of Toledo, and graduated from Rogers High School. I have lived in the South End for the last 29 years, and have been involved with Arlington Elementary and Bowsher High School for the past 16 years. Both my daughters went to Arlington Elementary, Byrnedale Junior High, and graduated from Bowsher High School.
In 1993-94 I was appointed commissioner of the girls’ basketball program in South Toledo, and helped rejuvenate a basketball program for the South Toledo area grade schools, which included Beverly, Burroughs, Harvard, Crossgates, Arlington, and Ottawa Hills Elementary Schools. I coached Girls and Boys basketball for Arlington Elementary from 1993-1996. Presently I am coaching my grandson in basketball at Arlington.
I am past president of the Bowsher Boosters, currently serving as vice president, I am the “Voice of the Rebels” sports announcer for Bowsher, and have been doing that for the past 14 years. While serving as president of the Boosters, I was instrumental in the renovation of the Bowsher Football Stadium. My wife Mary serves as the “Concession Lady” for Bowsher Athletics.
Why do I want to be on the School Board? The students of Toledo need to experience all the education that we can possibly provide. We offer a wide range of programs geared towards college education, but I believe that we need to expand our vocational training, so that students who do not want to pursue a college degree, but would like to get into the area of Electrician, Plumbing, Auto body repair, or any of the other trades, can do so. I believe that the School Board should look into this area and do what needs to be done to provide these courses.
Another area that needs to be addressed is more parental involvement. I believe that if more parents would get involved and know what their children are involved in, and by seeing what other programs that they can help with, they will see and learn what needs fixing or what many good things that the Schools are doing for their children.
One of my supporters told me that since I am the “Voice of the Rebels” why not become the “Voice of the Toledo Public Schools”.
Please get out and vote on November 3, 2009. I am asking that if you believe in what I stand for, VOTE NORM DROGMILLER FOR TOLEDO SCHOOL BOARD.
I agree that TPS and most school districts push too much for college and discourage those that want to get into something vocational. I know in my case I graduated from college and I consider it the worst mistake I ever made. Being a college graduate prevented me from getting many jobs.
October 26th, 2009 at 7:45 pmI’ve wondered why TPS doesn’t have a deal with Penta County like most of the other schools in this area do.
October 27th, 2009 at 1:04 pmYou can bet Norm Drogmiller will be getting our vote! It’s time we had someone from South Toledo to speak up for South Toledo. GO NORM!!
October 28th, 2009 at 9:27 amI agree with Norm that we should have more emphasis upon the vocational education option. The push for “everyone has to go to college” is NOT emanating from the TPS Board of Education. It is coming from the federal and state governments. If Mr. Drogmiller can use a position on a local Board of Education to leverage change at the state and national level, he’s aiming way too low. I say, “Drogmiller for U.S. Senate — 2010″!
October 28th, 2009 at 11:48 pmCan you’all remember Macomber and Whitney high schools. They turned out some fine Toledoans, all children dont” want to go to traditional college they want to learn a trade,such as electrician,beautician,carpenter etc. All children aren’t meant to be doctors and lawyers. I know that of my 3 grandsons,one is training to be a chef, one is into Nascar and wants to be a mechanic/race car driver and one wants to be a skilled tradesman.I thought that TPS had some programs to address this.
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October 29th, 2009 at 12:28 pmThe closing of Macomber/Whitney was a terrible event for TPS. Those in the skilled trades in this area are still resentful over this decision that was made so many years ago.
The truth is that the Macomber/Whitney buildings were closed for three main reasons. #1, and this is almost always #1 in every school or school district, athletics!! Coaches in the other TPS high schools were extremely upset that Macomber/Whitney was the only public school complex which could recruit athletes from anywhere around TPS.
Secondly, if Macomber/Whitney had not been closed, another neighborhood high school would have been, probably Libbey. Many very active and vocal Libbey alums joined with the coaches from the other high schools to pressure TPS leaders to close Macomber/Whitney. They, together, simply had more clout at that time.
And, finally, Macomber/Whitney programs were too successful in getting students to attend two and four year colleges and universities upon graduation. Many of the comprehensive high schools were upset by this.
October 30th, 2009 at 12:04 am