Fine For The School System???
There has been a very disturbing report that the school system recently received a $10,000.00 fine from the state for continually failing to get their payroll numbers into the state on time. If this is true, will the fine be paid from school funds? Will there be any disciplinary action taken against anyone? Will anyone be held personally responsible?
posted by Allen Barrett | 2:58 PM
63 Comments:
Just saw this piece of information on wksr's website-The fine should come out of Tee Jackson's pocket regardless of who is responsible. He is the director of schools and they are "his" employees. He has more than enough money to spare since he got a raise and our teachers (who by the way, deserve it and are the ones doing the real work)didnt. Get out your billfold Tee. Its time to pay the piper.
Whine on!
Someone seems to forget that the state gave the teachers a 3% raise. That is the biggest raise in over ten years from the state. The other school employees got zip, nada, zilch (that means nothing)!
Note - funding for the schools is state and local, with some federal and other sources. What counts is the increase in gross pay plus the increase in fringe benefits of retirement, medical, & any other non employment related taxes (FicA, UC, comp,). It appears that teachers got over 3% with increases in retirement & insurance, but who really knows in an organization that is spending at a rate of almost 3 times the BLS average over the last 3 years ending 2006-7!
If someone didn't get a healthy raise, you might ask where it went? Don't expect a straight answer. Might look at the new list of helpers, step & fetchers, & shiny new things just out of your reach.
Remember Jerry Reid's old song philosophy, 'he who ain't spectin' nothin' ain't gonna' be disappointed'. Trouble is, some folks expect something for their effort & others get it.
Just another example of exaggeration. Continually failing? Get real. It happened only once before, and the school system was exonerated of any wrongdoing. This time the post mark was ONE DAY late. Yes, it was late, and that should definitely be addressed, but to say the problem continually happens is ridicuous. Another example of someone trying their best to make the school system and those in it out to be much worse than they really are.
4:35 - is it true that no one other than reachers got a raise - no raise for any source???
The audit is finally on-line.
The audit discloses material weaknesses varying from several under $1,000 to a $697,729 reserve fund that doesn't exist (??)
What grade should we give the school? - the state audit function?
Will you get mad when taxes double?
please explain why some students at GCHS was allowed to have all their unexcused absent days dismissed & allowed to go on with their classes as if they were passing? Was it because they were already 18? Because they are a warm body count? why are others not allowed to go into the GED program even if it's in their best interest to do so? one student missed over 50 days but was allowed back in school at same level they were at & then they laid out of school for the next week. How is this possible?
Oh yeah they are 18 & not subject to school board policies?
Grant money must play a big part in all this i'd bet dollars to doughnuts.
First of all the school system was not late only "one time by one day". It's hard enough to get the state to take action as it is, certainly not for one violation. Last night at the School Board Meeting I expressed that I had spoken with a source in Nashville and was assured the fine was a result of MANY VIOLATIONS. No one at the School Board Meeting disputed that fact.
Also please read the latest posting of the state audit on this blog. If anything makes the school office look bad, without exaggeration, it is this audit. Allen Barrett
There is NEVER any excuse for reports/payments to be late. EVER. Anyone involved in accounting at any time in their lives knows this. Its pitiful we are paying big buck salaries to these incompetent people.
To 5;04 PM sat
There are ALWAYS excuses in Giles County . It's all part of the 'Hire the lethargic , or relatives and friends ' program . You can NEVER be too slow or incompetent for a job in this county .Deliver your product or service whenever you feel like it You just need friends at Courthouse .
Then you can drive home to a different county with our Chief exec ....around 2 PM after shopping at Walmart (not around the square where they all tell you they shop !) .
State auditors comin ? Dont sweat it , they couldnt find hay in a barn .
Hopefully the new certified accountant running the Financial Management office intends to clean things up or she'll be breaking her 'oath of office' .
This in itself is a good reason to KEEP the Financial Management Act in place in Giles County . It WILL break up the 'Vested Interests gang ' who have squandered the funds for years .Maybe we'll send reports before they're due and write Purchase Orders BEFORE stuff is delivered ?? Wont THAT be a change in policy !!
To 5:04 Not everyone makes big bucks. And I really don't think that this has happened on numerous occations, but then I am not in constant contact with the state trying to find every little mistake someone makes. You would think these people worked for the National Enquirer. The people that work for the county in whatever office must feel like real celebraties!! Will there be photographers in the restrooms watching what employes are doing next.
It only takes one phone call to Tennessee Consolidated Retirement to find out whether the reports have been late only once or numerous times. Keep in mind this is 5% of all teacher salaries we're talking about and that each day they are late they are not drawing interest on those accounts thus teacher retirements are losing value. Allen Barrett
623 your point is right on. There are only a few bad eggs, but they are always on the top or just below the top. The minute someone hollers bad egg, they are stirring up the pile, spying on everything, running the good eggs off, and we wind up with a bigger mess.
The only way to get rid of bad eggs is to fill the bucket with water & toss out the ones that float. You see, the bad egg thinks he'll drown if the water gets high, while the good egg keeps on working & trys to make room at the top for somone better.
The problem rests with people too dumb to know bad eggs like to float. The bad eggs have taken over the education thing & convinced everyone that which raises to the top is best. If you grew up back in the outhouse days, you would know what realy raises to the top & that's nuff said
I know that recently Loretta Garner was adamant that a purchase order HAS to be received before purchase of any service and or merchandise. I know this for a fact. Hopefully she won't be intimidated by others and will do her job right.
150 that is good news - thanks
In today's newspaper there is an advert from County looking to buy an SUV for Sheriffs dept .
THAT is a HUGE advance in process -read previous State audits for years past . Giles Co has been written up MANY times for having a purchase already delivered before the Purchase Order was written . The sheriff's Dept did it a few years back when 'buying ' a 4-door car -they even specified the mileage on the used car they wanted!! Things ARE changing for the better -thanks to Financial Management there will be competitive bids !! WHAT a concept !!
Prune Juice ..making things happen
Great observation. This has come about as a result of the constant exposure and publicity generated in great part by this blog.
Or is it due to constant whining and the creation of public disturbances? Think.
Creation of public disturbances?
Before popping off, you should attend a few meetings. The last two disturbances were elected and/or appointed people, i.e. Water Districts and Ambulance Comm.
I don't really think that the money is losing interest. The retirement is based on years of service and their salary not on interest. That makes no difference. I do have one question since you know so much about it. I know that Mr. Jackson does not send in the payments so who failed to send in the payment.
To the poster @ 1:31 p.m.: The monies that are withheld from an employee's check and voluntarily invested in annuities are late every single month and a great deal of money is being lost. The degree of tardiness ranges from 14 to 28 days and it occurs every single month, but if the employee stops the deduction, they will be hit with early withdrawal penalties as well as huge tax penalties. The person who is responsible for the fiasco has permission to work a "flex" schedule, but takes extreme liberties with that privelege and does not mail the payments in a timely manner. Which of course brings up another obvious question, why are these payments not sent electronically which would make any tardiness and loss of funds a thing of the past? Because the GCBOE prefers to "cut off it's nose to spite it's face". The software to implement online banking of any type, was offered to the BOE, free from local banks and was refused at first. At least now, they are supposedly researching auto deposit, and related matters....Welcome to the 21st century. But of course it won't do any good unless Mr. T requires the one responsible to be on duty during business hours, which apparently he isn't going to do. She has been told repeatedly, but as with other situations within the school system, certain employees are not required to follow company procedures.....Must be nice!
(these statements are not opinions, they are facts and can be easily proven, if one is so inclined.)
First of all in order to make electronic payments one must have a bank account. The trustees office is in charge of the money. The county issues warrants not checks. There is no checking account. The trustees office gets the warrants from the bank pays for them. No checking account involved. Direct deposit is coming. Electronic payments may be another story. As far as the late payments I think you are blaming the wrong person.
If you know how late the retireement payments are, can you get a statement for the period of time you say they are late and present it to the board this week at the meeting.
Surely you are not questioning if the School Board knows about the $10,000.00 fine. There is no need to present anything about it to the board as the state has already presented all there is to present. The fine was appealed and denied and it has already been paid. I will say that if Thursday night they want to dig the denial hole deeper I will present a sequential list of two years worth of reports.
The interesting thing now is to see what the Board will do about it and if there will be any corrective, disciplinary action taken to prevent future violations and fines. Allen Barrett
I am not questioning the fine, I am saying present the evidence that it has been a continuing problem by getting statements from retirement showing how late and how often.
442
Can't figure out if you're Bill
or Hormonica??
Everything is fine if you pay the fine! If you find a fine & a finor is fine if finee finds funds & forwards funds to finor, all fine and final -- fini! (???)
I'm the 7:44 comment; You are right about the checking account situation, I had almost forgotten about that since I find it so incredulous; as for the request that records of late payments to retirement accounts be brought to the meeting, that would pretty much amount to employment suicide if one is employed by GCEA, but as much as it pains me to admit it, Mrs. Braden is very well aware of the situation and has done nothing to help rectify the situation, which is so out of character for her. The payments in the not too distant past were actually hand carried to a local investment firm, but that option no longer exists and they must be mailed to Nashville; again, I find that, in this day and age, a colossal waste of time and manpower.
As for blaming the wrong person, I do pray that nobody blames the few (actually I can only think of one) actually competent, UNDERPAID bookkeeper on the hill; The one I believe,(only an opinion as an outsider looking in) that handles such matters, or at least her title suggests that is her dept., is certainly not what I would call underpaid. According to my copy of the budget, her salary is in the low to mid 40's.
Why would retirement payments be carried to a local firm? Did I misunderstand?
ANNUITY PAYMENTS; VOLUNTARY INVESTMENTS; DEDUCTIONS THAT TEACHERS MAKE TO ADD TO THE STATE RETIREMENT.
I assume from that you don't mean Tennessee Retirement but indiviudal retirement plans.
Does the person working with the retirement need help? I've heard it took two or three people to do what Allen Parker was doing after he retired.
It's hard to fill someone else's shoes. You did a good job Mr. Parker for them to have to hire extra people to do what you did.
Maybe the extra help is where some of the money is going.
But $10,000.00 was thrown away.
If I'm late paying my phonme or electric bill, I know I have to pay a penalty.
The latest news is that the penalty has been erased. Now everyone can quit whining.
Hi Melanie. How are you?
5:53
Do you mean the fine was given back to the county after being paid? Why haven't we heard about that?
As for whining I see both sides whining. Anyway we put it we are whining, so you can quit whining also.
It's funny how the people that whine about WAB can't see they are whining also.
I still want to know if it happen again.
I'm sure WAB is in touch with retirement, have you heard anything?
Just to let you know... It is not Melanie fault because of the late payment.
Who is Melanie?
Melanie is the bookkeeper.
Jackson does not sign off on anything that he might be held accountable for. He doesn't look at the mail or tell Melony what to pay or not. He is not holding anyone accountable. Melony and Beth are the bookkeepers and Adrianne is the one who needed to send the TR in. Tee is Mel's boss, Mel is Beth and Adreanne's boss. So who is responsible?
Tee is responsible, because he is suppose to see all under him does their job.
We all know mistakes can be made.
If Tee had just answered, "Steps have been taken to see it doesn't happen again." He would not of had to say what steps were taken. This never of gone this far. It's his way of acting like he can do as he pleases and it's nobody's business.
The December meeting was the meeting that is being referred to. Mrs. Murrey brought up the question before Mr. WAB even got to speak. Mr. Jackson told her the payment was ready and had been thrown on the counter to be posted, but never got done. She asked when it was done and he said the 11 of Oct. Mrs. Murrey had a copy of the letter Mr. Jackson had sent the state and the states answer was it WAS the second time to be late in a 24 month period. The state did give leaneancy once again to the school system, but I understand the money is being held hostage in case it happens again. Since Mr. Jackson has been in office many bills have had late fees or several places were over paid and they did not refund due to it taking getting the money to start with. Hopefully a board member will ask how much has been spent in over payments and penalties.
Another thing is how the test scores have really come up since Tee has come to town. The schools have celebrations but the real truth is: The federal gov. has come down on all states about the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND. So that the states won't be penalized and controlled by the Federal Gov. the test standards have been lowered. It is alot easier and made sure that all children pass. Even sadder is some of the teachers are teaching straight to the test and not having any creativity. Minor Hill and South Side are two perfect examples. Mrs. Stogner makes sure the teachers post every day what skill to the test they are working on.
During testing teachers have thumbed through to other subjects and noticed words and questions they have been asked when students have study hall.
Our students aren't getting dummer and our good teahers are still out their but a REPUBLICAN is the reason the teachers can't teach freely.
You were hitting on all cylinders until you got to the last paragraph.
"No Child Left Behind" was a bipartisan bill sponsored by no less that Sen. Ted Kennedy (D). It was signed into law after passing both the democrat controlled House and Senate on 2 January 2002. It was the first big step President Bush made in an effort to get along with Kennedy and his fellow liberals. After it was signed into law the liberals withdrew support of funding in an effort to sabotage the bill for political points.
Kennedy also voted to renew the act in 2007. The NEA has tried everything possible to sabotage it by forcing abandonment of the voucher program and the requirement for a more responsive, professional and accountable teaching staff.
I really feel sorry for and have admiration for the classroom teacher and have said so publicly on a number of occasions. The classroom teachers are the heroes of the education system but they have been hosed by over supervision, under supported, and scapegoat at every turn. They are not paid properly because money intended for raises has been taken for pay increases and diverted to other pet projects and salaries for supervisors. Support staffs that are the backbone of the education system also get hosed by bureaucrats who see them as unimportant? I have not once seen Mr. Jackson really fight for teachers or support staff during any commission or committee meeting where budget proposals were being discussed.
Understand that it is not just a problem in Giles County but other places as well, but it is affecting the people here more directly. Teachers should not have to live in fear for their jobs or of being transferred to a distant school if they speak up and demand what is right.
Several teachers when asked why they signed the petition to repeal the Financial Management Act of 1981 have said, “My principal asked me to, what else could I do?”
There are many other problems that teachers allow to buzz by for fear of being labeled a trouble maker then getting transferred for Richland to Elkton or vice verse.
You can not strike but you can get together and take back control of the schools you work in. It’s your choice status quo or take control and begin enjoying the profession you chose. You are where you are because you will not change the situation. Allen Barrett
WOW, Mr. Barrett, you are exactly correct, and I do NOT mean that negatively. I have said in many various postings, that although we have never met, I agree with you on many issues. I also disagree on many, but I do so respect the fact that you always sign your name. I notice the ones who start with "dumbo" or "da secretary" have yet to admit who they are. I do not sign my name hiding behind the fact that I am a teacher and it would jeopardize my job, but I suppose everyone has their own reason, or excuse for remaining anon. I do applaud your courage for not remaining "hidden". I am the same person who stated in another topic that I feel indebted to you for publicly exposing corruption, but I felt that your credibility was shot because to many refuse to hear FACTS just because they are exposed by you. (the duck analogy) I am sorry for that, that most citizens possess the "kill the messenger" mentality, but I guess we all are guilty of that on occassion. I am also the "single mom" in several posts and anon 1 in the asinine argument regarding the wheel tax. I know that you and I do not agree on that issue, but we don't have to in order to respect a different opinion. I wrote yesterday in one of the topics about teachers having other options to take up for themselves besides striking, just as you spoke of in this topic. I so wish that teachers would present a united front and work together to create a better working environment and better educational opportunities for our kids, but I am discouraged that this will happen. I am currently looking for the post that invited a school system employee to begin introducing topics anon. It is something I am considering. Again, I hate the secrecy and I am not ashamed of my beliefs nor do I believe in lying or slander to prove my point...but I also truly love my job, so there's the proverbial "rock and hard place." If I do make the decision to become a "mole" or "whistleblower", rest assured that if I cannot point someone directly at the concrete proof of an issue without fear of exposing my identity, I will not bring the topic up. And I would request that only grownups respond. Disagree all you want, but not having the same opinion as someone else does not make either party a "dumbo". Yes, I may stir up a hornet's nest and therein lies my hesitancy. I am doing some soul searching to make sure my motives are not so much to create controversy, but to expose corruption. I am truly praying for guidance.
Teachers' Alliance..
That was a most ridiculous statement that Republicans are to blame for teachers supposedly not being able to teach freely. Surely, you can educate yourself away from that idea. I think you have a duty to do so.
I'll just cut to the chase and say that, were it not for Republicans, teachers would now be teaching homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle, evolution as truth, and on and on. These are facts that cannot be denied if you have the courage to look at and accept the truth.
single mom..
I must respectfully say to you that you are just as anonymous as anyone else. Would you agree?
To Anonymous of the 22 Jan 12:46PM post.
I appreciate your words of encouragement. I have never expected everyone to agree with me on all things and if they did I probably wouldn't be able to trust them for very long. Honest debate and discussion is the only way progress can be made and intelligence can be developed. As for the matter of posting anonymously I fully understand why some people must post as anonymous and I have said on several occassions they are very wise to do so. It’s not a matter of bravery as much as common sense. Some in Giles County can be very vindictive. The very reason this blog is so successful is that it offers an outlet for open discussion without so much fear of retribution. Unfortunately some have taken this very opportunity to post anonymously in their efforts to destroy the blog. Allen Barrett
wab..
I think most Giles Countians are honest and hard-working people who would never say anything negative about anybody in a public forum. Sadly, I must agree with you that there is a very small faction of people here who trust nobody but themselves and who are highly vindictive toward those they dislike or resent. Would you agree with that statement?
Mr. Barrett, in one part you say you understand people posting anonymously, then you condemn people for posting anonymously. Apparently if they are posting on your side of the issue it is okay. When someone opposed you view they are "taken this very opportunity to post anonymously in their efforts to destroy the blog." Which way is it. Okay or not okay. I can't and won't put my name on the blog. I have seen too many personal attacks made against them and their families and the job they do. Anonymous is anonymous and either okay all the time or none.
The main difference between people from the south and people from the north is in the fact that people from the north have a tendancy to say what they think and to heck with who they hurt. People from the south are more considerate. At least we follow anything we say with "bless their heart" or "God love em".
wab..
I am anxiously awaiting your response to my question. Do you agree with the statement about the small faction of vindictive people here in Giles County?
To Anonymous of the 23 Jan 1:04 post.
I’m sorry for not responding to your post sooner but I didn’t realize you wanted a response from me. I fully agree that most people in the county are very honest and hard-working. I’ve said many times that most of the problems in Giles County are the results of the populace not being more involved and the reason they’re not more involved is simply because they’re too busy trying to make a living and keep their families fed. Keeping up with government activities is a very time consuming situation. People usually withhold many of their thoughts from public expression for a great variety of reasons. There is an old adage that says “for evil to exist it only takes the silence of a good man”.
I agree there is a small group of very vindictive people toward those they dislike, whether they trust others I can’t say. It’s not hard to identify these folks, they are well known by the community, they are the elites whose children are treated differently in schools, on sports teams and by the authorities. They are the ones who demand wages be kept low and control the jobs. When these folks feel threatened by the winds of change they react. We see that right now with the implementation of the Financial Act of 1981. More accountability is perceived as less control by some of these folks and they feel it necessary to fight against it.. Allen Barrett
To Anonymous of the 23 Jan 6:41 post.
You state, “Mr. Barrett, in one part you say you understand people posting anonymously, then you condemn people for posting anonymously. Apparently if they are posting on your side of the issue it is okay.”
I think I have been very consistent in my position on posting anonymously. I understand and support posting anonymously by both supporters and non-supports when the post is dealing with issues, sensitive information, generalizations and such things as that. I have never criticized a poster for doing so as anonymous simply because they disagree with me. What I oppose and refer to as cowardly is when a poster gets personal and writes derogatory and untrue things then gives the person they posted about no opportunity to address the matter with them. The only person I have criticized for posting anonymously is the anonymous who constantly is lying, spreading rumors and simply making things up about me that has not an iota of truth to them. Now, have I referred to people in a personal way, yes I have but not without giving clear cut reasons and posting my name, which is in the phone book, so that any defense that might be offered can be taken straight to me. If I am wrong I have been willing to admit it, no one is perfect. To make a personal attack with lies and rumors then hide behind anonymous is what is wrong and cowardly. I hope this clarifies the question for you.
You state, “The main difference between people from the south and people from the north is in the fact that people from the north have a tendency to say what they think and to heck with who they hurt”. I can’t agree with that statement. People from the north tend to be a bit more aggressive and or in a hurry and sometimes that translates into talking fast and to the point. We from the south tend to be more laid back, not slow, and put more words into our speaking to say the same things. As for caring what others might think, you’ll not find anyone from the north more unconcerned with what others think than an independent minded redneck, to me redneck is a term of honor not derogatory. Allen Barrett
Mr. Barrett, I don't think that anyone has the right to post names on this blog except for their own. You should not be saying things about someone by name at all. That is why people are not putting their name on here. Anytime someone tells who they are they are attacked. I know that I have post things on here that I KNOW for a fact are true but you call them lies. You keep making accusations but it is only your word against someone else. I think you hae had some good points but you don't have the facts straight. I have agreed with a lot of what you have said on several issue but then you keep adding more and more than is only rumor which makes it all lies. You cannot go by heresay. Just like the student/teacher thing. You cannot charge anyone with anything if there are not people who would be willing to testify to it. If the two people involved both deny it and the parents don't push it then you might as well forget it.
wab..
I liked your oft-used quote about evil and how it exists. However, I have another one by the great Dr. Martin Luther King. I'll not give it to you verbatim, but it says that a man starts to die when he remains silent on what he believes. That is precisely why I feel compelled to take you to task when I read some of the names you call people. My "bone to pick" with you has nothing to do with whether or not you have the total gospel truth about an issue. But, it has everything to do with the way talk down to those who disagree with you. And something within the very marrow of my bones will not allow that to go unchallenged. Henceforth, I become your nemesis.
927 You are a nemisis. Your task has nothing to do with the "gospel". Your ageless goal is confusion, illusion, and babble. You are only a threat when listened to.
Hey dumbo nemesis, so what you are saying is that you are willing to defend wrong and bad just because you don't like the way the messenger talks. Seems real clear to me. Don't a nemesis also mean a competitor, don't that mean you are just competing with wab. Ain't that kind of like a democrat that can't see nothing but wrong with a republican?
anonymous..
Wrong again! Are you always so naive? Are you angry most of the time? Have you had a good mental health evaluation lately? I ask these things because there are numerous old sayings that address these issues. One that comes to mind is this one. Never allow others to doubt your intelligence by acting and portraying yourself otherwise. Get it?
There you go again accusing me of a willingness to support corruption. Spoken like a true billary and hillary supporter! Again, I must correct you and say a hearty NO to your silly accusation. I have suggested to the malcontents that they should turn over their evidence of wrongdoings to the proper authorities and then butt out. I had to laugh the first time I read one of their responses to that suggestion. Someone (perhaps it was you) came back with a statement that they (the authorities) cannot be trusted either. Wow! So, who do we trust? Oh, let me guess. We should place total confidence in a small group of complainers who know it all and who need to be in charge of things here. Isn't that pretty close to the mark? I think we both know the answer to that is YES.
Your lame accusation that I "compete" with wab is absolutely astonishing. I have no desire to run for a political office. Besides, with the group of fault-finders and dirt-diggers out there, I would not be able to tolerate their attacking me and my family. So, I wouldn't run for election, even if I wanted to. That's the difference in me and your hero. He wants so badly to have power, and I don't.
I still say that opportunities for leadership in places like Ohio and Michigan are abundant. Just think of the possibilities that await a venturesome and politically ambitious soul!
Lastly, please don't compare me to a liberal. I know better.
I'll bet you mamma called you Larebil caus you mamma weren't sure if you daddy were Larry or Bill, & she were ashamed of you liberal tendencies that you mamma wrote you name down backaus words & now you thinks you somethin you ain't. Hellray be proud o you - she tell fibs too!
1015 Sounds like the hounds are nipping at your heels. Teeth chattering, big words oosing out. Is the little fish looking at the cat syndrome or is it carp caught in the backwater after the floodwaters recede (or is it reseed after the weeds drown)?
How amall-minded of you.
Has anybody figured out how much money it cost to appeal the fine. I know the lawyer don't come cheap, then all the time that was spent on it by the director, Debbie Braden and who knows who else. Mr Barrett maybe you could find out and let us know seems like you're about the onlyone
that can find out these things and tell people about it.
I'll bet wab will launch an immediate and thorough investigation.
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