School Board Elections By The Numbers
First let’s look at the total number of voters per district. Please keep in mind that some elections featured multiple races, so don’t add the numbers together. For instance, a total of 2,163 people voted in Red Clay.
Brandywine: 1,030
Red Clay: District C – 2,163 and District E – 2,163
Appoquinimink: 579
Christina: District D – 532 and District E – 541
Colonial: 613
Cape Henlopen: At Large – 2710 and District C – 2667
Delmar: 5yr. term – 575 and 3yr. term – 579
Indian River: 1012
Laurel: 287
Seaford: 373
Woodbridge: 210
Smyrna: 390
Capital: 168
Caesar Rodney: 280
Total number of people who voted in the May 12th school board election in the state of Delaware – 10,935
Number that voted last November – 413,562
Beginning to see the problem? These numbers are pathetic. The question is why? And please spare me the it’s good only informed people vote excuse, ’cause I’m not buying it. The other excuse you can flush is the idea that School Board Elections are the last bastion of political and ideological purity. Both those excuses belong in fairy tale books.
Back to the problem at hand – voter turn-out. The way I see it we have two choices: Either we can do something to increase May participation or we move the School Board Elections to November. I’m leaning towards the second choice. (And, yes, I realize – given District lines – there’s some bugs to work out with changing the date.)
School Board Elections are a numbers game. Just take a look at the numbers above and tell me how low voter turn-out doesn’t benefit the candidates. It’s quite simple to play. Simply target the neighborhoods who support your candidacy while ignoring the neighborhoods who don’t – or who might not. (BTW, the same game is played when it comes to referendums.)
I live in Red Clay. We had two seats open on May 12th and four candidates. Two of the candidates never interacted with our neighborhood, never sent a mailer, made a phone call or attended the neighborhood association meeting to which they were invited. So… how on earth is this behavior helping to create an informed public? When did not campaigning in certain areas not only become a winning strategy but a way to justify disenfranchising voters of the candidates choosing?
Also, why does voting in school board elections start at 10:00 a.m.? It can’t be because many people wouldn’t vote before work. Many people do just that. My husband is one of them, and given the craziness of his work schedule he can never guarantee to be home on time to vote in the evening. How many other people face the same situation? How many others, who have every intention of voting, have a monkey wrench thrown into their schedule? And I’m not even getting into how many people have no idea an election was even being held.
10,935 votes is not an election. It’s a vote for club president… in a very exclusive club.
Tags: Delaware, School Board Elections
Gotta agree with you, Pandora. Out of 31,000 registered voters in the Cape school district, 2710 voted (and the total eligible to vote is higher since you don’t need to be registered to vote in a school election).
My only problem with moving these elections to November is mixing a non-partisan race with the partisan races. In the Cape election, all 5 candidates are registered Democrats (although, personally, two of them are DINO’s). Also, the board races are every year, so there probably wouldn’t be a huge surge in turnout in the odd number years.
Interesting note about the Delmar election, that number is usually double the normal voter turnout.
According to an anon commenter on Delmar Dustpan, the two winning candidates did a large absentee ballot get out the vote campaign, getting 75% of their votes from absentee ballots.
Two incumbents are out because of it…
This supports the argument that the election time needs to be realigned.
Ah… we’re going to have to agree to disagree on school boards being non-partisan, MJ. They love to trot out this we’re above it all meme – saves them from answering “political” questions (like vouchers, etc) by simply saying things like it’s for the kids.
This turn-out was pathetic, and something needs to change.
That said… yes, there are some school board members who are above politics.
This is an excellent blog post, Pandora!
Every election is a numbers game, and School Board elections outside of the regular election cycle lets people pick and choose the numbers they want. Much more restricted voting hours and the lack of absentee ballots further reduce the pool that a candidate needs to speak to. It also sets up a fairly disfunctional communications loop — school board candidates GOTV of a small group of people, and spend their careers only speaking to the limited number of folks who are involved with the system. There is no percentage in any grassroots effort to reach out to (much less ask for the vote of) anyone outside of the loop — even though the work of educating kids is always going to be bigger than this group of people. For instance, for the very first time since I’ve lived in this house there were no flyers, not outreach to speak to voters. None.
Providing a taxpayer subsidy for an election process that works at keeping the voter pool to some small “informed” group of people is a travesty. Move the elections to the usual election day ( or even primary day, frankly) which will provide these school board candidates greater incentive to reach out to more voters, give other candidates the chance to break into the club and maybe give the traditional media some incentive to provide coverage.
Pandora, don’t get me wrong. I think those “political” questions need to be asked (for the record, I’m against vouchers and charter schools). But we also need to look at when newly elected board members would take office. Currently, they take their seats on July 1, the first day of the fiscal year. If elections were moved to November, we’d have people taking their seats after the fiscal year begins and they might not be up to speed on any adjustments that may need to be made to the annual budget.
And if we’re going to have election reform, then we need to look at who can vote for a school board member. In Cape, everyone votes for all seats up, although you must live in a certain area for filling a seat (this year, the Area C seat was up, and both candidates had to live within Area C, but we all voted for both this and the at-large seat).
A lot of bugs need to be worked out before we move forward.
Not pathetic. Engaged and interested. You are electing policy makers for your district. Not legislators for the state and fed. This is the vote for the direction of your school district vis a vis discipline code, attendance policy, building utilization and on and on. Non-voting just may be tacit approval. Referendums, bring voters out–as a real action item in the business of school boards. Gee, think a general is going to “allow” a referendum to be voted upon the same day? And Pandora, would you have found the time or had the inclination to do the DL interviews you had in May if in November? Kinda gets lost in the roar huh? 20 thousand voters for ONE unpaid (maybe 2 in some areas), position in the elected world, and you gripe? And how can you compare climates?
Reduced #of hours polls open
Reduced # polling places (not that I want more)
Schools, businesses, open (not that they need to close)
No political alignment defined
I think it’s kinda neat, that 20K people paused and made the effort on behalf of education to get to a poll, instead of education being hijacked to a poll—in November.
“The way I see it we have two choices: Either we can do something to increase May participation or we move the School Board Elections to November.”
You missed the boat HB#117 has been introduced and it goes beyond just moving the date.
Sorry, Joanne, I know you have a horse in this race, but… 20k is approx. double the turn-out. You’re far too generous.
And the idea that school boards only impact “discipline code, attendance policy, building utilization, etc” is not true. School boards can – and have – ruined neighborhoods and property values. They do not function in a “classroom.”
And, yes, I’m sure I could have handled sending out questions last November. No biggie.
House Bill #117 would move the election to November’s general election, require all voter be registered, changes board term limits to 4 years from the current 5 year and changes the date the local school board vote on board president and vice president.. Currently those board office elections are done in July which is the beginning of the new school year.
Lavelle introduced HA 2 that leaves all provisions in except keeps the election in May.
Booth introduce HA 3 and pretty much tell Lavelle fine, we’ll make it a district options and if he district wants May they can foot the bill for the election. This would require the local taxpayers to pay for state mandated board election.
The intend of HB #117 was to save the state 120,000.00 a year.
This subject isn’t new has been back and forth on Fix Red Clay, Down with Absolutes and Kilroy’s. Hb #117 might be coming to a vote today. The sponsoring legislators want to wait until after last Tuesday’s board elections to say , we told you low interest in board election.
HOWEVER, there is an underlining motive to move towards legislation (Hudson) to require all those voting in local school referendums be register voters and property owners.
Also, sets the stage for consolidating school district to three statewide. Peterson already did a press release to this effect.
No.freaking.way.ever.
MJ is spot-freaking-ON when he points out starting July 1 vs Nov or Dec. That’s one issue.
I do NOT EVER want to know or hear what political affiliation a school board candidate identifies with. If nothing else, I would less inclined to vote for a person if they felt a need to tell me their registration as a school board candidate, R/D/G/I/coo-coo bird/otherwise. I want to know what you want to do, how you can work with, and how you plan to get it done on the school board. If you can’t be independent on a school board, then excuse me, but get the EFF OUT! This isn’t your damned political springboard, it’s the students, the teachers, the parents, etc. If you want a political springboard, run for a damned row office and flout your affiliation there. this isn’t to say that if you are on a school board, you shouldn’t run for higher office, I am saying don’t do it, if all you intend to do is pad your resume. That was two.
You must be a registered voter for governmental elections, but not for school boards. How are you going to blend that? Three.
Point four, which will also combine points two and three:
School boards are officialy non-partisan elections, so how do you blend the ballot with general elections in the same booth? It’s not as simple as saying you can add extra machines or create a segregated voting system where school board elections are that side and general elections are this side. It’s painful enough as it is to staff enough people for general elections, but now adding more seems feasible? Seriously, if you think claiming fraud is fashionable now, just wait until these poll workers get more work without more workers. I’m not saying fraud will increase, but the opportunity for people to cackle “fraud” sure will.
Oh, not that you struck a nerve or anything. 😉
“And please spare me the it’s good only informed people vote excuse, ’cause I’m not buying it.”
You would be if all of your candidates had won.
Another problem is that we have too many school boards….I still don’t see why we don’t do some kind of district consolidation…you want to save money, cut some unnecessary expenses at the district offices….there are three of them within 10 miles of my house.
What a knucklehead you are, Tom. Did you read my endorsement post? Both my candidates won.
And Smitty, maybe I’ve lived in Red Clay too long, but when the board gets stacked with people more interested in establishing charter schools than the public schools they were elected to serve then there’s a big problem.
Another problem in RC is the boards willingness to over-crowd (through Choice) certain “desirable” schools while letting other schools flounder. Example: A.I. duPont HS vs. Dickinson and McKean.
This problem demonstrates the general unwillingness of the public to put education of their children to a high priority.
As a teacher, I observed that it was mainly parents of the better performing students who showed up for school visits, and who were willing to be involved in the PTA and student activities. So what does that tell us?
Teachers who were more proactive in initiating parent contact were more successful in obtaining parental involvement with the school. Contacting every parent by phone early in the school year was very effective.
Nowadays we have many households that have both parents working, so that certainly is a factor.
I don’t favor changing the school board election date, but do suggest that a given allotment of public funds be made available to each candidate to help fund their campaigns and enable more outreach. The May date puts some new board members in place to use the summer to plan for the upcoming school year.
Pandora–forgive me–the 20K was typo–still stand by 10K plus voters making the effort….
MJ-the budget has been a HUGE concern to fall on deaf ears to most. We FINALIZE school budgets usually in January to the vote. Quite possibly w/ this new “way”-an entire quorum, never having laid eyes on a number, let alone anything else could quite possibly be voting on a budget the first meeting in office.
And from there we go to administrators contracts–decided at December meetings for ongoing approval/dismissal. Two items at play here–does a November vote become a pay to stay? Or a pay to play? Or a stay and play? Would you EVEN want your schools under that kind of timeline to SUSPICIOUSLY SUGGEST those scenarios, and detract from the business of education? Readers, I know it sounds easy and economical to move to November–but it is so like the peeling of the Onion–and you guys like the Onion don’t you? May keeps these scenarios, and a zillion other ones I can bang the drum about at arm’s length distance. And FTR, Smitty, did you know I was an R before late 2007?
Kilroy – I can see making people be registered to vote in a board election, but why would they have to be a property owner? That would disenfranchise a lot of people who rent.
Joanne – I have yet to meet anyone down here (even the folks who regularly trash the Cape board) who understands what is in the budget. And that includes a few board members.
The turnout is a disgrace. And so is Tom S.
Smitty – I am sorry, using logistics arguments doesn’t work. I am not saying that this is a money saving issue either. Probably it is a wash. But I contend that I would rather have a huge voter turnout than crappy turnout.
How about this… What if we require a 10% turnout of eligible voters for the results of the election to be valid? Put the onus on the candidates to get out the vote far and wide.
I don’t pretend that 117 is the answer, but the status quo is broken.
And sorry–renters pay “pass thru” of the taxes in their rent–so no need to go back 200 years in history of voting requirements.
No, Joanne, I didn’t. I only knew OF you because of the school board.
FTR (my turn to use that), I would still vote for you for school board, even though I know your registration now. That doesn’t contradict my point, either. Rather, it helps form my point in that, when you run for the board, you don’t make it a known item. It just so happens that events that happened in that time period made your affiliation obvious, but those events had nothing to do with the school board. You have done a great job as a school board member and I’d be happy to vote for you again. Of course, Ed had my support, too, so you may want to run away screaming. On that note, I hope you all get Norm up to speed. He’s replacing one hell of a person and has VERY LARGE shoes to fill, IMO.
Geek, I have no problem of a quorum, we’d keep Joanne on board for LIFE! WOOO! 😆
Seriously, that’s fine. Some incumbents may not find it necessary to do the retail politic thing, but challengers sure will and I am fine with that. It is by all means still a position to be EARNED, not entitled to. You actually would solve two issues there, in my mind, Geek: make some candidates break a freaking sweat (which we all know Joanne does), which would probably weed out some of the not-so-good-intentioned candidates and stand a chance to increase turnout!
MJ long ago it was decided that for some reason voters in school board election are not required to be registered voters. Perhaps education is a high priority where the intent was to separate board election from “politics” and perhaps that is why the elections are tied to the general elections. Also, perhaps that is why school board members are the only elected officials that are not compensated. I believe those who set up this system had foresight.
I believe Hudson intro pushed legislation that would only permit property owners to vote in referendums because who knows, maybe those who don’t won property has no right to raise other’s taxes. However, every person that pays rent or lease in the case of businesses pay school taxes within their rent.
Big question of the day? Why it is the voter only gets to vote on school taxes and no other form of taxations? Yes the Delaware State Constitution Article X makes stipulation however, VoTechs aka public school tax rates are set buy state legislators!
Elected state representatives and senators proclaim themselves public servants serving the people of Delaware but even despite my head banging with Red Clay school board members, they are true public volunteer servants to the community.
The legislators are sowing seeds to further encroach of local control of public schools. We the locals only want laws that provide oversight and transparency so that we can make better decision on those board members who represent our schools.
HB 117 is not about the original intent it was introduce, saving money!
I’m fine with LG’s suggestion, as well. I also agree that Tuesday’s “election” was a disgrace.
It used to be you had to have so many names turned in to “support” your run on the school board ballot. Maybe a revisit to that might help. I know 5-6 here in Appoquinimink can create a “spoiler” effect.
Ed Czerwinski served not only Appoquinimink School District, but the entire lower NCC population with his tireless service from schools to workforce housing–he was “on it” as soon as we knew about it. We will be barefoot for a time.
Wonder how to find out how much the 2008 vote counting cost? Given Pandora’s figures and assuming that
LGsKilroy’s 120K number is right, that is 10.91 per vote. That is alot of money in a time when there is none.I think that the non-partisan business is something of a fig-leaf. Largely to let folks think that they are above the usual political business. As Pandora describes the Red Clay issues, they are as political as it gets — not exactly on a R or D line, but certainly in the have and have not line. Lots of people belong to political parties, and the concentration of those people goes up when you get to the pool of people who will step up to run for something.
The logistics aren’t an impossible bar — if you get a new gig you almost always have to hit the ground running, so I don’t know why we’d expect Board Members to get a pass on that.
and assuming that LGs 120K number is right
I think you have confused me with someone who knows what they are talking about… I never said 120K for anything.
Joanne – does Ed Czerwinski live on the Bill Power(less)s side or Bill (“Sell With”) Bell’s side of our part of the county? I think it’s a hell of a worthwhile question to ponder, given his excellent school board background and knowledge of land use impacts…not to mention those two jokes of a sell-out that warm the council seats at this time.
Good idea, Smitty.
Here’s the voting breakdown by school for Appoquinimink. What’s up at Townsend Elementary. That group gave the win.
This train has been out of the station for some time now and heading for a house vote perhaps today.
http://kilroysdelaware.blogspot.com/2009/04/hb-87-88-117-doa.html
http://kilroysdelaware.blogspot.com/2009/04/delaware-school-boards-shoots.html
http://www.fixredclay.com/2009/05/hb-117-update-two-amendments-introduced.html
http://www.fixredclay.com/2009/05/hb-117-is-just-plain-wrong.html
http://www.fixredclay.com/2009/04/house-panel-oks-bill-on-school-board.html
http://www.fixredclay.com/2009/04/legislation-introduced-which-would.html
http://downwithabsolutesblog.wordpress.com/2009/05/13/hb-117-up-for-a-vote-tomorrow/
http://downwithabsolutesblog.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/shout-out-to-rep-greg-lavelle/
http://downwithabsolutesblog.wordpress.com/2009/05/05/disappointment/
http://downwithabsolutesblog.wordpress.com/2009/05/05/longhurst-not-consulting-key-stakeholders/
http://downwithabsolutesblog.wordpress.com/2009/05/04/hb117-up-for-vote-tomorrow/
http://downwithabsolutesblog.wordpress.com/2009/05/04/uh-oh-2/
missed a few
http://kilroysdelaware.blogspot.com/2009/05/lavelle-steps-up-on-hb-117-booth-snakes.html
http://kilroysdelaware.blogspot.com/2009/05/let-it-go-just-let-it-go.html
http://kilroysdelaware.blogspot.com/2009/04/kilroys-brain-fart-question.html
http://kilroysdelaware.blogspot.com/2009/04/legislators-to-muzzle-parents.html
http://kilroysdelaware.blogspot.com/2009/04/hb-117-voted-out-of-committee.html
Holy crap, P! That is a HUGE deviation from every other polling place. That is odd. Who knows, though. I don’t know much of anything about Norm. Maybe that’s his stomping ground.
Sorry LG, that was Kilroy with the 120K number.
Thank you for following my bread crumbs boys…
And LG, you’re non-attributed 120K number is good–roll with it!
Um, Kilroy… I do read you and FRC faithfully. Are you feeling slighted? 😉
We move forward.
I read Kilroy when I want to feel good about my spelling. 🙂
C’mon, Joanne…take a bite at the bait!!!
What if I located a Tab?
Powers.
cassandra_m
“As Pandora describes the Red Clay issues, they are as political as it gets — not exactly on a R or D line, but certainly in the have and have not line.”
O shit yea 100% ! But it’s the Republicans who had the strings for a long time ! Years!
liberalgeek // May 14, 2009 at 2:30 pm
“I read Kilroy when I want to feel good about my spelling”
Glad to be a public servant! If it weren’t for us stupid people smart people wouldn’t know they were smart!
pandora // May 14, 2009 at 2:27 pm
“Um, Kilroy… I do read you and FRC faithfully. Are you feeling slighted?”
“The way I see it we have two choices: Either we can do something to increase May participation or we move the School Board Elections to November. ”
Gee, I wonder who turned on the light! Now be nice or we’ll put K-8 on the hill, LOL
P.S. I have no feelings
Pandora has brain fart!
http://kilroysdelaware.blogspot.com/2009/05/pandora-has-brain-fart-lol.html.
LOL
So…Ed Czerwinski lives in Powers’ district…and…Power(less)s is up for election in 2010. HMMMMMMMMmmmmmmm…….
Word in….HB 117 is not coming out today. Lots of questions to this.
Pandora,
How about a move to the primary WITH a third machine for those that have ID and live in district but are not registered voters. All School BOard candidates are run in each primary’s booth so dems and repubs can vote and all not party affiliate can show ID and vote for just school board.
1) Cost savings met by synergizing with an existing election.
AND
2) Voter turnout increased to include primary voters (who are likely MORE engaged and informed) to a number greater than a May cycle butless that the rabidly partisan genral election crowd which will eleiminate the “partisan” issue being played out here
John M. Young
Christina School Board Member-Elect
I like it, John!
(How did it feel typing Christina School Board Member-Elect? Pretty good, huh?)
it feels good, but I sure need to slow down and spell better…..
John M. Young
John, welcome to the CSB~! You’ll be doing us some good, that’s obvious.
Your primary compromise looks solid.
And if there’s not primaries in some areas?
And the legislative crossover of school district vs. legislative district?
Poll workers go from stroke to mini-strokes!!!
Joanne, details can be worked out. Don’t turn into the party of “no.” 👿
Pandora, I said mini-strokes!!!!
This would be funny–BOE moved school board elections off of Saturday…and now…aren’t primaries (if you have one) on a Saturday?
Clean copy.
How about a move to the primary WITH a third machine for those that have ID and live in district but are not registered voters. All School Board candidates are run in each primary’s booth so dems and repubs can vote and all non-party affiliated 18 year old citizens of the district can show ID and vote for just school board.
1) Cost savings met by synergizing with an existing election.
AND
2) Voter turnout increased to include primary voters (who are likely MORE engaged and informed) to a number greater than a May cycle but less than the rabidly partisan general election crowd which will eliminate the “partisan” issue being played out here
John M. Young
Christina School Board Member-Elect
The party’s will hate this because they hate primaries…
But it will save money, the timing is good, the problem with starting early for work-going individuals is solved…so many positives.
[ btw -Pandora, your work on this topic is really stupendous. Thanks. 🙂 ]
oops, John!
In blog ettiquette, I must now offer you a beverage of your choice. An Iced Tea? A Becks?
(when two people post the same idea, the first one to post it gets a ‘virtual treat’ by the second.)
Thanks, Nancy!
I corrected my spelling mistakes……oops.
We don’t hold spelling mistakes against you.
But we did just add your blog to our blogroll. Looking forward to what you have to say!
I ran and won in this Tuesday’s election. I agree voter turnout was poor. I agree that some, if not most candidates, will focus their campaign efforts in comfortable areas with familiar people- so what? Ultimately, the goal is to win. A move to Novemeber would taint our local elections with the rancor of national politics. Low voter turn out or not, school board elections should remain in May.
I’m more concerned with the taint of so what.
Sorry Willie – Ultimately the goal is to improve our schools. Winning is just a step in the process.
Right now our SB elections are tainted with the lack of turnout. I guess the question is what type of taint you think is better.
Personally, I’d rather have 5000 people voting in the SB election than 250.
No compromise needed because HB# 117 is not needed !
BTW good coverage Pandora. You made a great effort.
FYI: David Anderson is A De. Patriot
Calling Joanne Christian (and other school board members/electees) and anyone else willing to chime in!!!
David A presented a view about how the boards have no effective power. I disagree, but that is an outsider’s view. I rescued his comment and would like your insight to that – I think it would be a worthwhile exercise, in that, if it turns out David A is correct, we can maybe hash out ways to fix that! Thanks!!!
liberalgeek
“Right now our SB elections are tainted with the lack of turnout. I guess the question is what type of taint you think is better.”
Ok my grammar sucks but your thinking is distorted. Again could be tainted but agreed, “what type of taint you think is better.” The lack of turnout is a choice of the voter however it maybe they feel it is tainted and what the use is in voted. In Red Clay they say it was tainted because of union involvement however if the union wasn’t involved the status quo anointed one would have won! Yea yea broken record by HB #117 is “not” about saving money is about giving politicians more control of the mechanics of education while shielding themselves from the responsibility of proving better financial oversight. It’s strange the energy behind HB 117 to save $120,000.00 a year when in fact there is $1.2 billion dollars 1/3 the state budget going towards public education. Why did have to take Markell to make an executive order to put the checkbooks online rather then the legislators doing their jobs?
I can tell you this re: HB #117 there are two Republican that are playing the good cop bad cope game. HB# 177 is sowing seeds!
Sorry for my intrusion here.
Kilroy left the house!
The lack of turnout is a choice of the voter however it maybe they feel it is tainted and what the use is in voted.
I wonder if this is true. Last night I talked with a few of my neighbors with kids — fiercely involved parents with kids doing pretty well in Christina District schools and 3 of the 5 had no idea there was an election this week. And they were mad they didn’t know. I wouldn’t have known if I wasn’t watching this space.
This is the thing that we are arguing over, I think. Whether we allow school board elections to stay in the hands of the few who may or may not have the interests of the many in mind; or do we open it up so that the few don’t have the same options of shutting out or just plain ignoring the many. I’ll agree that the way it is now is cleaner — but only for those who are involved. It isn’t especially open or or democratic and the bar for shutting down either openness or democracy needs to be impossibly high — a bar that no one arguing for keeping this election focused on the few has been able to make.
I think about it this way — would I be persuaded by any of these arguments if they were made to keep the school checkbooks available to the few? Nope. And the situation is different but the principles aren’t.
I know I’m a little late on this blog. I, too, was quite disappointed when I showed up at the Red Clay Polls at the Warner Elementary School. I pulled my truck into the parking lot expecting a crowd, plenty of spots. I walked into the polling place, and the place was dead with the exception of the school children heading to the assembly. While I was filling out my paperwork, I asked if many people voted that morning. They told me I was the first person to vote. It was 10:30 A.M.! Talk about lack of enthusiasm!
I will agree from the above comments that there was an overall lack of announcements for the vote. I received two mailings with spare text. After I received a notice through my neighborhood e-mail tree. I checked out Red Clay website and the candidates were only listed, but no links to their platforms! No wonder the turnout was pathetic!
Can this saga just end? We need a modified 117 voted in,or an AS IS 117 voted down.
It is a solution in search of a problem. Vote it down.