That "Taj Mahal" school central office building...
...should we build it? Will it really only cost $1,400,000? And do we need "centrally managed" schools, in the first place? Why don't we just give the school system to the teachers, and let them run it themselves? We could do this by incorporating each school as a private business, and then giving the stock shares, pro-rated based on salary, to the teachers, principal, and staff of each school. Then the parents could send their kids to whatever school they liked the best, subsidized, if need be, by funds from the county.
Homeschooling moms, all by their lonesome, and without degrees in education, generally do a fine job of picking a curriculum, and teaching it effectively. Could we expect any less from Giles County's pool of highly qualified teachers, if cut free from Tee Jackson and crew, and allowed to simply do their job as they see best?
And look at how much more money the teachers could be pocketing! With an average class size of thirty kids, and a (hypothetical) tuition of $5,000 per year, the gross pulled in by each classroom would be $150,000! Granted, some of that would go to pay for the principal, teaching aides, and utilities, but this would still leave most of the money, certainly at least a hundred grand, for the individual teacher. And, as the teacher of a private school, they'd be able to enforce actual discipline, unfettered by stupid court rulings that apply only to government run schools. I predict that, under my proposed reform, the teachers, kids, and parents would all be better off, and that test scores would soar.
On the other hand, without all that money going to bureaucratic overhead, Tee Jackson and his merry band of administrators would have to find something useful to do with their time. So, there is that one downside...
Homeschooling moms, all by their lonesome, and without degrees in education, generally do a fine job of picking a curriculum, and teaching it effectively. Could we expect any less from Giles County's pool of highly qualified teachers, if cut free from Tee Jackson and crew, and allowed to simply do their job as they see best?
And look at how much more money the teachers could be pocketing! With an average class size of thirty kids, and a (hypothetical) tuition of $5,000 per year, the gross pulled in by each classroom would be $150,000! Granted, some of that would go to pay for the principal, teaching aides, and utilities, but this would still leave most of the money, certainly at least a hundred grand, for the individual teacher. And, as the teacher of a private school, they'd be able to enforce actual discipline, unfettered by stupid court rulings that apply only to government run schools. I predict that, under my proposed reform, the teachers, kids, and parents would all be better off, and that test scores would soar.
On the other hand, without all that money going to bureaucratic overhead, Tee Jackson and his merry band of administrators would have to find something useful to do with their time. So, there is that one downside...
posted by J. Kendrick McPeters | 10:48 PM
44 Comments:
One needs to look at the simplicity of the Amish - little local school, no bus, no cops on campus, no bureaucrats, no nonsense & they can read, write, bilingual, make change at a very early age, & they are not afraid to work & are not on welefare!!!
There is no reason for K-8 schools to be consolidated. If one person's statement that it's an 11 hour day between bus pick up & return to home, then half the school day is riding the bus, waiting for it, & thinking about the ride back & forth! Little minds can only absorb so much in a given day. If I were in their shoes, I'd be spending the day totally ozoned out so I could do something worthwhile when I did get back home. don m
Don,
You are right about the Amish. They do an outstanding job, using minimal resources, much like the classic "one room schoolhouses" of a hundred years ago. Of course, the Amish schools are intended to educate, unlike modern American government schools, which are factories producing conformity, and exist in order to encourage unquestioned obedience to Authority. (Anyone who doesn't believe this, needs to read the works of John Taylor Gatto.)
As to the "need" for consolidation, that one's simple. Giles County "needed" two mega schools (rather than a half dozen small schools) in order that two top notch sports teams could be fielded, and the opportunity to bet on them would flourish. It had nothing to do with "improving education" or "complying with a state mandate," believe me.
Allen,
You are of course correct on the matter of cost. The $1,400,000 is simply the "buy-in" price. The final cost will be a multiple of the buy in price. For an example of how this works, compare the new jail's cost estimates with the actual final cost.
Bureaucrats and politicians use this deception because they think we're too stupid to catch on to the sleight of hand. Well informed and conscientious people like you make mince meat of that game, thank you very much for your efforts. And as for your very thick folder of proof, I pray that you keep it in a fire-proof vault, or at least have a back up copy in someone else's hands. (Not saying that anyone will try burning you out, but then, you have stepped on a few toes and made a few enemies, so, better safe than sorry.)
NO CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO A NEW CENTRAL OFFICE BUILDING UNTIL ALL SCHOOL BUILDINGS ARE PROPERLY MAINTAINED, MONIES BUDGETED FOR TEACHERS, CLASSROOM NEEDS, AND BUSSES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED FOR AS IT WAS INTENDED WHEN APPROVED. IT APPEARS MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN NEGLECTED TO BUILD A LARGE FUND BALANCE, TO BE USED FOR PERSONAL AGENDAS OF THE CENTRAL OFFICE AND SCHOOL BOARD.
Just to be clear.
Walter is not Walter Wood.
If and when I post, I will use my complete name.
No disagreement with the other Walter, just want it understood.
And THANKS to Mr. McPeters for providing a continuation of Penny Thoughts' good work and idea.
Walter Wood
Mr. Barrett,
Where can I obtain a copy of the school board's rules? (The one's you made reference to by stating, "even though their own rules say every effort will be made to allow the public to speak.") Do they follow Robert's Rules of Order? I know I was at one meeting where you tried to talk using someone else's time, but they didn't allow you to do that, and under Robert's Rules, they were correct. (Just thought that may be helpful information in the future.) Thanks for the help.
Dear wab,
I am disappointed with your above posting asking people to contact Mr. Gonzales and suggest put-downs for him to use. As a possible future commissioner, shouldn’t you try to be above this petty form of school yard antics? Every time a commissioner votes against what you believe are you going to ask the people of Giles County to go egg their house? We need to grow up! How is this community to become progressive when all of this silly bickering is going on? I know you and Mr. Gonzales have a nasty history, but how about you be the bigger man and move forward? Have you been supporting and helping Beverly Murrey in her quest for election in Mr. Gonzales’ place? If you haven’t, then it seems like you don’t feel very strongly about getting him replaced.
I think you also are extremely misleading in your post. I’ve personally heard you call Mr. Gonzales a “squirt” while you were yelling at him across a room after one of the school board meetings several months back, and he had done nothing at that meeting to provoke you. So don’t act like he is the only one doing the name calling and being immature. From what I’ve seen from your behavior, the two of you are on the same maturity level. If we want to improve our school system, then why don’t we put as much effort in suggesting improvements and working with the school board as we do putting down everyone involved with the schools? And how about the school board listen to the people and their suggestions because the more ideas that are generated, the better the possibility of coming up with some great solutions? And how about we all quit the “snake” and “squirt” name calling?
“Just my opinion and ought to be yours.” Mac Truck
Again at the Tues. May 30 meeting of the School Committee I heard some school administrators and school board member (Jackson, Shirey, Norman) state that the condition of the Central Office Bldg. wasn't conducive to interviewing prospective employees. How deflating to morale it would be to interview a prospective teacher in a shiny new Central Office and then tell them that they couldn't get paid very much and they'd have to work in a delapidated school building. Where would your priorities be if funds were limited?
A County Commissioner told me...Mr. Jackson and Mr. Holt came to his place of business trying to sell him on the new central building...just thought the voters in Mr. Holt's district should know!
I am begging…the people in each district…to find out how your commissioner stands on this issue. There are a few commissioners really backing Mr. Jackson’s request for this building. Voters please go to the polls on August 3rd and prevent these few from being re-elected!!!!!!!!!
Has anyone seen the plans for the central building? I have been told it has 26 offices and 16 bathrooms, does anyone know for sure?
Building a Building...
Imagine building new facilities on borrowed money to impress someone that you are financially prudent. Imagine Gonzales, Jackson, Holt, and a few other key people of a supposedly declining tax base area fighting to raise school property taxes by 85 % in three years plus build a $1.4 million monument to bureaucracy in the name of getting smarter! If you expand their nest, you are guaranteed a nest full of eggs that will hatch and multiply faster than you will ever be able to write checks to support them! If you get off your rear end and vote them out of office, a "smarter age" will begin. There is an abundance of good, qualified, competent, and honest people who would love to turn this county around, just to show they can! Coherent financial reporting should be expected, not exterminated! don m
Tee Jackson tried to pull a fast one on the commissioners again. he told them that he was going to give each employee a $1000.00 per year raise, they said that was a good idea and then later on he said that he was going to give the principals a $2,000.00 raise and the other employees upto $1,000.00. If they had passed the raise for all employees who is to say they would get it? They haven't received a raise from Giles County in four years. Look at the money that was moved from the teachers salaries column to another fund that should have went to the teachers, I beleive he will do anything he can to get that new building. Education of the kids should come first above all they are what the school system is there for.
Thanks to the person who wrote telling about Holt and Jackson visiting a commissioner's place of work attempting to push the new building. I've heard many different commissioners have been wined and dined by Jackson. Without a doubt its been on tax payers money. I live in district 5 and Holt will not get my vote.
Being that the school system found $900,000 plus does this mean they are going to get the new central office now?
No, it means you've been had again. You might get a new building with no roof, a bus with no seats, bleachers, or a used car lot. One thing you can count on is a whole lot of whining, crying, head banging, & speaking in tongues about the little wolves who cried boy! Scuttle butt says the money witchers found the $900K under PO BEP's Pillow. - wonder whose teeth were placed under it? (Remember the numbers game?)
It seems like the "don't knowsers', "the don't know what to dosers'", & "the gotta' getter be4 someone else getser's" - once again proved spending is more fun than saving. dm
“Just my opinion and ought to be yours.” Mac Truck
Mr Truck, I'm glad you feel everyone should have your same opinion. Nice.
Glad you agree. ;)
Mac Truck
What's happening with the plentyaryum? Is it finger up or thumb down?
I'm not sure I know what you are talking about. Do you mean "planetarium"?
Have any of you people who think the central office building is so great actually looked at the building. The building was condemned years ago by the fire marshall. Yes there are cosmetic things that can be done to make it look better but how about things like electrical and plumbing. The basement has water in it even when it is not raining. There has been an ongoing flea problem in the basement that has been caused by that water. There is mold in the building. The offices have so many extention cords that it is not funny, and no they cannot do without the computers to run them. Why don't some of you go in and ask to have a tour of the building. There are holes in the floors, holes in the ceilings from the old radiant heat. And they are running all over each other!!
Sounds a lot like the courthouse!
I got somthing I don't understan an it's causing my thanker to hurt.
If that ole schol bulding was condemed like that person said how cum they or still working in their? I though when the firemen said you can't use a place no more that they ment you gotta stop using it? Thats one of the thngs but the biggest thing is about the basment. If their is so many fleas down their like they said why don't they just run them dogs out. Thats what we did at my house an ain't had no fleas since we set them bombs a smokin. But if you do that you gotta be carfull cause my husban lit three off and them dang ole thangs made so much smoke the nabors called the rescue people. Thay was reel nice. Now the other thang is why they got water in the basment. Maybe they ought to call that baseball player of TV that tells how to stop linking basments. I herd somebody say that if the basment was fixed then the people wouldn't thank anythang was rong up there and they cudn't get no new bilding.
We borowed sum money at the bank so we could fix our house. My husban tole the bankman that he wanted to fix our roof. My husban reely bilt us a front porch. When I tole him I thought we got the money to make a new roof he tole me he jus tole the bankman than cause he woodn't give us no money to make a porch. Lateron the bankman gived us some more money to make a new roof when we showd him how much it was leeking. We made us a gurage. The bankman told us we don't need no gurage cause we don't have no car an he woodn't give us no money thats when my husban tole him we need the mony fur the roof. My husban is a quike thanker. Next yer we gona get us a car if it rains alot.
The onlyest thang I got left is why them people is runing over each other. Has they got to many people in there. The bilding is the same size as always ain't it and the people befor these didn't run over each other maybe they was nicer.
That was really dumb!! If you folks would get off of your high horse you would see that the school system is not lying about things. Nobody is cheatin anybody. As to people running over people, Allen Parker was doing his job, the curriculum supervisor job and many more. Paul McKinney did Federal projects, adult ed, and attendance. That is the reason that these fine gentlemen retired. They were overworked because no one saw fit to replace the people who were no longer there. If you check with other counties surrounding us you will see there are more supervisors and more secretaries doing the jobs that are done in Giles County and as a much larger salary. Not too many people would have put up with the work load that Mr. Parker and Mr. McKinney did for several years. There are not more people there than there was ten years ago. They just had fewer people doing them!!
There are not more people there than there was ten years ago. They just had fewer people doing them!!
Monday, August 21, 2006 5:49:33 AM
Can you explain the statment above you wrote.
I think you ought to ask Mr McKinney an Mr Parker if they retired because of their work load or if they just couldn't take all the underhanded things that was going on up there. As far as that goes you could ask Mr Smith why he ain't the football coach at the high school no more or ask Mr Holt why he ain't the assistant director or some other administrater on the hill.
There are fewer people in the Central Office doing the same amount of work than there was ten years ago. Sorry, I just got carried away. It might be that Mr. McKinney and Mr. Parker didn't like was going on, I don't know I have not asked. Jackie Smith is not coach because Mr. Jackson and the school board want a winning football team and Jackie Smith does not seem to be able to come up with one, plus people have been complaining about the way he talks and treats the players or should I say mistreats. Mr. Holt is not the assistant director because Mr. Jackson and the school board did not want him, that part is easy.
Mr. Holt is not the assistant because he wouldn't put up the the BS.
Mr Holt ain’t the assistant director cause Mr. Jackson wanted Mrs Braden to be his assistant I don’t know why unless its cause they both live in other counties. Anyways to make this happen Mr Jackson told them other principals that wanted the job that the pay was gonna be the same as they made as a principal.
Can you guess how many principals applied after that? Only Mrs Braden, then when she got moved into the job of Assistant Director, jus like some kind of a miracle her pay was increased a whole bunch.
Don't consider that a miracle only God can do those and Tee Jackson sure ain't Him!!!
What was Mr. Jackson's job before he was hired as our director of schools?
Mr. Jackson worked for the Athens City Schools. He was the Central Office, I think in PR. They took a principal job away from him so he could do no harm!
When he was principal he let the school get so out of hand that he was moved. In all school systems if you are a screw up they try to put you in the Central Office so you can make more money. In this county they hire you without looking into your screw-ups and make you director. Braden gets the pay she gets because one of the principals try to tell Jackson how to make the pay worth the move for the local principals applying. He took his advice changed the title and hired Braden. What is her recipe!!!!!!!!!!
Who was the principal that told Jackson how to make the pay worth the move?
What do people think of Debbie Braden?
She has turned out to be a yes person for Tee Jackson-would have never thought it. I thought the world of her when she was principal of Southside and even at the highschool but now I think she does not express HER opinion on things and just does as Tee Jackson requests.
Do you think she has a choice?
Everyone has a choice.
I agree with anonymous Wednesday, October 25, 2006 6:47:51 AM. She has truly disappointed alot of people. She will always stand behind Mr. Jackson regardless, because he is her boss. We all know that there are some questionable things going on where the school system is concerned. If she showed she has some backbone and stood up to him it would certainly be refreshing. I think she owes that to the citizens of Giles County along with the teachers and administrators she has worked with for years. Also, not to forget the many parents and students.
We all know Mr. Jackson can't deliver when it comes to taking care of our many school system employees. Seeing that they have a safe working environment and compensated for the work and dedication to their jobs. He is as phony as they come. He has turned out to be a big disappointment as director of schools. I for one look forward to the day when someone catches on to what a crook he is and sends him packing, freshly manicured nails and all back to Athens where he belongs! As they say, "All good things must come to and end", and I think his days of taking from the good people of Giles County and not giving back is upon us. Bring on those petitions I for one am ready to sign my name!!! Let's get him out of here!!
First of all remember that if you get rid of him you have to buy his contract out, which has been extended every year, now through 2010. That would cost the county several hundred thousand! But then again maybe it would be worth it. If Mrs. Braden goes against him she will see that she either loses her job or makes it so hard on her that she quits like three other supervisors that he says were not loyal to him and got rid of.
Yes, if you know anything about Mr. Jackson, you understand how much loyalty means to him. In other words, help cover up his lies and sneaky ways.
However, as far as his contract goes, if he is found out to be guilty of wrong doing or that his contract should have never been extended, then he would simply be relieved of his position. Believe me there is enough wrong doing to bring him down. Sometimes things are not easy to detect, you just have to do a little digging and have someone willing to take that information to the right people. The noose is already around his neck. Someone just needs to pull his legs out from under him.
Bill Holt told him how he could change the title. Debbie Braden does not live in Giles County and I'm pretty sure she doesn't pay taxes as well. Your four highest paid people in the school system and county live in Athens, Ala., and Bill Davis, Carol Swinford, and Debbie braden live in Lincoln. Also Vanzant. So people of Giles county we have been caught with our pants down and getting a royal screwing financially by the people who allow them to have these jobs. Over two hundred thousand a year goes out of this county wiht five employees alone. Sad
Who are the other people from Athens?
I think that anonymous 11/6 1:51 messed up. The only one from Athens is Jackson. The others just live out of Giles County. We have some Alabama teachers but that has nothing to do with Jackson. There are no more here now than ever. We have always gotten retired Alabama teachers here. They can draw retirement in Alabama and suppliment it with the low salary of Giles County.
Well everyone had better be prepared to be at the next meeting Feb 8, it is my understanding Tee Jackson is getting a big raise and an extrension until 2012.
Post a Comment
<< Home