2nd candidate for mayor of Maplewood

1. The Obama girls attend private schools, and no one seems to hold that against the President.
   It seems as though some folks need to review the structure of local government and the school district, since they apparently are under the misconception that the mayor and/or city council have anything to do with the schools.
   My children also attended private schools. Besides the religious aspect, the less said about MRH MAP scores from 20 years ago, the better.
   The district has improved since then, but there are still valid reasons for parents to choose schools with different approaches.
   I hear a lot of anecdotal testimonies about how wonderful MRH is. Objectively, looking at information the state gathers, 47.7% of MRH students are not proficient or advanced in math–which might be important for 21st century jobs–and 57.9% of MRH graduates who go on to attend colleges in Missouri need to take remedial courses to learn what they should have learned in high school.
   Don’t shoot me folks, I am only the messenger! An “argument” is the use of facts and logic to advance a proposition; we can argue over this point . . . but facts are stubborn things, and while everyone is entitled to their own opinions, no one is entitled to their own facts.
   Name-calling, contradiction, etc. are not, properly speaking, arguments.
   Rather than snipe at Mr. Jugo, concerned MRH parents ought to ask why such high spending is not producing better results. Reggio Emilia and other constructivist educational approaches do not produce the best results in math.

   • Two more points:
     1. Parents choosing private schools pay the same taxes as those using the public schools.
     2. At least when my children were in schools. the district seemed to discriminate against students going from private schools to public schools. Students who came to Little Flower from MRH, even in the early grades, struggled and seemed to be at least a year behind.
     At the other end, students going from Little Flower to MRH High School found that, no matter what placement would be appropriate for a student with their student’s grades and test scores, the advanced classes were full up already. As I said in 1. above, these parents had paid the same taxes as everyone else . . . I would not expect the district to kick someone out if an honors class in the middle of the year, but in that transition from middle school to high school, the top students should be in the top classes. Or another desk could be put in the advanced classes. The antipathy displayed in posts here seemed to be shared by school administrators who, rather than welcoming new students, put them in classes where they wasted time going over material they knew already.

2. It is always better to have a choice of candidates for an elective office. It is wrong to criticize any voter’s method of choosing what they feel is the best candidate for the office. Not voting for a candidate because his children attend parochial schools makes just as much sense as voting for a woman solely because she is a woman.

3. Great news! It’s good to have a choice of candidates instead of the same old thing. Just like having a choice in where to send children to school. The public school culture is not for everyone.

4. I would love to see you interview Mr. Jugo on his views, and ideas and plans for Maplewood. It is good to have competition for the position of Mayor. I’d prefer not to base my vote on whether or not a candidate sends/sent his children to a Catholic school.

5. It’s awfully presumptuous to draw a direct correlation between candidate’s lack of support of public schools based on his personal choice of where he sends his children. I am certain that somebody can fully support their local school district AND still choose a Catholic education for their children for personal reasons. I have voted favorably for every tax increase and bond issue where the school district is concerned and my children do not attend public schools.
   I don’t know who is best to serve as Mayor; up until today we didn’t know there would be a choice. However, making a determination based on either candidates school choice is lazy and irresponsible.

   • I would add that not sending kids to the local public school isn’t an indication of “lack of support.” If he owns property in Maplewood, he is supporting the school district by paying property tax. As his kids don’t attend that school, they are not causing any expenditure by the school district. Therefore, he’s actually providing MORE support for the district than someone with kids in the district because he’s not reaping any direct benefits.

     @Katie Meyers, if having children in the school district is your criteria for approving a candidate, would you vote for someone who doesn’t have any children at all or whose children are long ago grown?

     • I can’t speak for Katie Meyers, but I also think we need a candidate who believes in the importance of our local schools. If he didn’t have children or his children were grown, then where he sends his children to school would clearly not be an issue. But he does have children and he does send his children to private schools. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with sending your children to private schools, but if he is running for mayor in a town where the schools are integral to the town’s success then voters can look to his sending his kids to private schools is an indication of where his loyalties are. It is a fact that in the past both the mayor and some members of the council have spoken out and voted against the best interests of the schools and the children that attend the schools. So it is important for many of us that the mayor of Maplewood believes in our public schools. If you do not think that is important, than you don’t need to vote that way. But for many people, the schools are a valid concern. And he is required to pay those taxes regardless of how he feels about the school district, he is not supporting the school more than anyone else paying taxes. I would be interested to know how he voted regarding taxes for the district.

       • Please connect the dots between the role of Mayor and direct impact and power he/she has in that position as far as the school district is concerned. I’m genuinely curious on the specific potential for conflict. Do you have similar expectations for school board nominees to maintain a pro-city/business/economic development agenda in order to be successful in the role?

         • The mayor will need to understand how a strong school system adds to the growth and health of a city. Our current mayor does not have that understanding and has campaigned for things in the past that were not in the best interests of the school. I would hate to vote for another mayor who does not see the importance of the school system for the health of our city. I do assume the school board members have a vested interest in the city, both its economic development and business choices. While I have only known a couple of the school board members personally, it seems very clear that they (the ones I have known) care about our city. They understand that a safe and thriving town lends support to a thriving school system. I do not think where Mr. Jugo sends his children to school is the only aspect of his qualifications, but I do think it is a valid concern that would need to be explored.

6. It shouldn’t matter where your children attend school. He is running for the Mayor of the City of Maplewood, not for a position on the school board. If where your children attend school is your decision on choosing a candidate . then find out where Barry Greenberg’s children attended school because you might not be able to vote for him either.

7. If he loves Maplewood so much why do his kids not go to our schools? Years ago he shot down a handicap ramp porch I designed for my 86 year old mother who lived with me. He gave a BS reason on why he voted no. I drove around town, measured NEW construction for the reason he gave and they did not pass either.
   He will not get my vote!

8. Does M-RH teach about GOD? Does M-RH teach the Ten Commandnents ? Does M-RH teach and help the children with First Confession, First Communion,? One school does not fit all. Yes, M-RH has a good school. How does it rank with Clayton, Brentwood , Wester Groves and others ? One thing I was taught in school and in the military was GOD, FAMILY, COUNTRY. He chooses to send his kids to Catholic schools shows he is a man of his conviction, a man that puts God in his family which is much needed today. Look in the newspaper today and you will see story after story of familyies with no idea of right or wrong. Just send them to school and then you are free until 3 pm. , when you pick them up. I will take a family that takes the extra step. He has my vote.

   • There is Public School Religion Classes. My friend’s sons went to the one at St. MM in Brentwood.

   • “Does M-RH teach about GOD? Does M-RH teach the Ten Commandnents ? ”

     You sound like one of those Sharia Republicans wanting to inject YOUR religion into EVERYONE’s life.

     Also, you certainly don’t need god to be a man of conviction….

9. If Patrick was on the Board of Adjustment just recently, I wonder if he voted for the setback variances that allowed Raising Cane’s to come to town.

   • Good question. Maybe he will appear here at some point to answer questions.

   • I believe it passed unanimously. If I recall, he didn’t seem too enthused about Raising Cane’s when I attended that meeting; but then again, I didn’t see him pushing for the store to become more MW friendly.

     • Found a link… https://40southnews.com/maplewood-officials-ok-raising-canes/

10. It will be very hard to convince me to vote for someone who doesn’t send their kids to the local schools. I believe that our fantastic schools are the cornerstone of the city.

    • I agree 100% Katie!

      • I was thinking the same!

    • Im still for Barry all the way given his solid track record. But I don’t think Mr. Jugo should be discredited because his kids go to private schools. There are no private schools in Maplewood oddly enough. So it’s not like he is avoiding MW schools. He is just choosing to have religion incorporated into the curriculum, which public schools don’t offer. Nothing wrong with having that as a priority. It shouldn’t automatically be equated to that he doesn’t support the public schools.

      Also if Barry wins, then there will need to be another election held fill the Ward 3 council member spot. Maybe he will step up for that position.

    • I had that exact thought. Our town would not have experienced its turnaround without the schools and their fantastic turnaround. We need someone who believes in the value of local schools.

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