Meeting After School Board Meeting
After the School Board meeting last night, 13 March 08, there was an impromptu meeting in Mr. Jackson office. There were several commissioners, a school board member, Mr. Jackson and myself. This meeting resulted from the question I had asked during the School Board Meeting about the recent salary increase and promotion to office manager of Mrs. Beth Sigmon the present internal auditor for the school system.
Mrs. Sigmon, along with two other book keepers from the school system, is scheduled to move into the Financial Management Office beginning on 1 July. I had asked the question about the appropriateness of her having been given a $13,500.00 pay increase on the first of March when she would be moved in July, what line item the money came from and if it had come about as a result of moving money out of teacher salaries in the last budget amendment? Mr. Jackson sought to explain the situation. The explanation was that the raise was temporary and on
posted by Allen Barrett | 3:36 PM
69 Comments:
UNBELIEVABLE!!! Is the lady exempt or non exempt? Just doesn't seem to be anything the school board and Jackson will not screw up!!! INCREDIBLE!!!
If nonexempt, her salary would change with any overtime required - but that would be up to the Fin Dir - not Jackson.
If she is exempt - NOTHING should be paid - hours & pay are whatever is required to do the job!
This has got to be one of the most outrageous stunts Jackson has pulled.
It seems clear to me that the money taken from teachers in the budget went to this woman. Seems I remember last year a similar deal where the Vocational secretary got fourteen thousand dollar raise but that was for the whole year.
This is as crooked as a snake but that's what we're dealing wiith.
Why is it always taken from the teachers? Does no one else in the school system count? Poor teacher make at least $34000.00. Aides make $14,000.00, cafeteria makes less than that. Poor teachers only got 3% state raise. The others got the shaft.
Off the subject but Wed. March 19 the bill HB0661 will be brought up at the state level. Call Mathew Hill that is sponsoring the bill at 615-741-2251 and let him know how you feel about getting back our right to vote for superintendent. He needs to hear from us.
Let's talk about teacher salaries shall we? A teacher has a MINIMUM of a bachelor's degree. That's at least 4 years at university. Do you question other career salaries with a minimum of a bachelor's degree? Of course not! The problem is and will remain is this: until you VALUE education and RESPECT those that are put in the position of educating YOUR children, you will continue to COMPLAIN about the salaries. As to teachers assistants, it probably isn't any of your business, but this is the facts: They do need (due to NCLB) 120 hours of college credit. It could be in basket weaving and pottery, as long as they have it. OR, they can take and pass a test. Next, the Giles County Education Association has tried for YEARS to get the board of education to allow GCEA to bargin for the teacher assistants. They REFUSE to allow this!!! Until the teacher assistants band together (there is strength in numbers) and FORCE the board of education to ALLOW GCEA to bargin for them, their pay will remain pitifully low. Maybe that's not what you want to hear, but that's the cold, hard facts. Either band together as a group, or find another job. The board will not be raising your pay unless they are forced to.
It was my understanding that the TEA does not allow GCEA to bargain for non-certified positions. The truth is that until the Director learns to respect ALL employees nothing will change. The only respect he has is for coaches, especially those at GCHS. How many people are working over there that are not covered by the BEP? Maybe GCEA needs to get those numbers. We have several retired teachers working there part time that don't do anything. That is how Jackson got rid of them without a fuss so that he could bring in new coaches in their place, their salaries are coming completely out of local money. I believe there are three or four of them.
TEA has nothing to do with that. The rule is the school board has to recognize and allow the local association to bargain for "support personnel". As far as part time teachers at the high school, the school board needs to get involved with that. But, I don't think the school board will do that. Some of those folks on the school board ran for an office that they thought was a cushy job. They are voluntarily unaware of a lot of things going on. Until several people call them on it, they will remain blissfully unaware and uncaring about much. As for coaches getting the support and $$$, I totally agree. Why do you think Sam Davis park is such a hot-button issue? I know, I know. If it weren't for sports a lot of those kids would not be in school at all. Why? is the question of the day on that!
4:29 is correct, it is not TEA stopping GCEA from bargaining for assistants, it it the school board, but my guess is that not one would admit it and would blame the state dept, except perhaps Mrs. Murray. It is easily checked out, if anyone is interested; The contract between the board and GCEA is called "The Memorandum of Understanding" and all employees have or have had one; ask a school employee to borrow their copy. State law says that the local associations cannot bargain for non-certified employees without the consent of the LOCAL school BOARD; the school board frequently leaves off the last part of that sentence. The previous poster is right, all non-certifieds should band together and really push for bargaining rights, but I can see where many are reluctant to do so. From what I hear about the bargaining, the board does not engage in "good faith" talks. It is all just a show, enough meetings to look like negotiations are going on, but the reality is decisions have already been made. I hate that Mrs Braden is in the position she is in; Jackson's scapegoat in my opinion. I know she is blamed for all the issues that GCEA is turned down for, but in my OPINION, she is told what to say or faces unemployment. The irony of it is that Mrs B is a member of GCEA. Why doesn't the board negotiate? They are the only ones that have the authority to make concessions. It's all for show, anyway, so very discouraging! Teachers really do want to teach, but they are all too busy going to meetings before school, during school, after school, filling out stacks and stacks of useless reports for so-called school improvement plans or sacs plans and all of it is redundant designed by someone who wants to sound important. Let the teachers TEACH, get rid of SACS, it's outlived its usefullness by a decade or so, put reading and math on a priority level with football, force principals to monitor teachers who neglect their duties, (yes, there are a few, I do see both sides) and if parents won't allow discipline to their innocent baby when he/she disrupts an entire class, let a judge sentence the parent to stay with the child during the school day. With just a tad bit of old fashioned common sense, we might be able to teach our kids in a manner that they all deserve!
Whew, guess I got a little riled up there, folks. Sorry, I'll be leaving my soapbox now...
anon teacher-mom
Im not sure how to post a topic. I dont want to take away from this topic but I was wondering if the citizens of Pulaski think there is a gang problem with the young people in our city.
anon teacher-mom
You got it right!!! - why not run for school board. Forget about fear & fear will automatically visit those who sent it to you. If we had a majority like Mrs. M we could have an outstanding school system instead of a shamefull circus of bureaucracy.
Braden is not Mr. Jackson's scapegoat. She is, frankly, a big disappointment. She has no regard for the teachers and no regard for non certificated people. She is part of the back room politics. Part of the decision to give excessive pay raises to some "chosen" ones. She does not seem to be able to figure out how some people can get their job done in eight hours and others not. When the one she says gets their job done in eight hours is a telephone operator. Duh? Seems Mrs. Braden could figure out that person gets her job done because she quits answering the phone at 4:00 and leaves the building. No paperwork to stack up. No overflow of work. Duh. Duh. Duh. And she gets paid what to have this kind of attitude??
Did the Commissioners agree to amend the budget for this raise? Someone who knows please report.
Election time is coming up for some of the School Board Members. Why don't we, the citizens, take time to really evaluate the real reason people run for this office. Could it be it is to their advanatage if they get elected. We need to really think about who we're voting for and make sure it isn't for someone who wants their wife, daughter, son-in-law and so-forth hired into the school system. Also make sure the person isn't wanting his grandkids to be the star of the basketball and soccer programs at the school. Or maybe its because their child get selected to go on all the school trips where a select few get to go. Once I've though about it, don't seem that anybody runs for the right reasons anymore, including commissioners. Self gain seems to be what it's all about!
People should be out there actively finding individuals to run for the board. I can assure you that Jackson is out recruting.
Number one recruit Jackson has been working with is Pete Britton. He was the go between for Jackson and the anti financial management group during their campaign to kill finance reform.
Pete kept the doors swinging at the Giles County Board Building. He was very much against the financial management. He could go down if the right things are discovered. So could alot more.
Pete has claimed to want to run to get even with Chad Hall. He puts down Jackson as well. DON'T TRUST PETE BRITTON. Vote for anyone else but Pete.
Leaps Teacher making $87,000. More than Braden. God honest truth. She is the community service person.
Where does her salary come from? Do the teachers not get paid from the same pay scale? I don't see how her salary can be that high!
All things are possible in the land of Ozz. There is no restraint, accountability, or consequence. It's government run amuck.
One of the legislator's in the not so long ago sting in Nashville, was burned on an inappropriate $200 palm massage on a gambling trip, if memory is correct. She is doing time! TJ makes her look like kid's hand in a bag of jelly beans.
Is it $13,500 for a job well done? Will Betty Crocker be the fall person if anyone in these corrupt times get a little conscience & puts an end to the numbers game? What if that team of honest law enforcement stopped by Pulaski?
Leaps director's salary is not 87,000, but it is 20k-30k higher than teacher with same degree/experience. Considering she should not be getting paid for more than 3 years experience on that job, and actually this is the first yr it has been full time, she is making an astronomical amount of money. Her salary comes from the state dept of ed,(unclaimed lottery funds) funneled through the local board of ed. This is a fact, folks...7 teachers helped write the after school grant and work the first yr. The director has deliberately and methodically either demoted or fired all but a couple of the original workers because they were doing their job and hers while she ran the roads...face it folks, that's not rumor, everybody in school system knows it. As one teacher after another began taking over her responsibilities because she could not be located, she and her "friends in high places" got a little nervous that she indeed did not deserve full credit and outrageous salary, benefits, and perks, (i.e. allowed and frankly encouraged to neglect students in classroom), the extremely qualified, capable and ethical teachers were replaced, some resigned, some accepted a demotion, some were asked to leave. Don't know how or why this is allowed with my tax dollars, but glad I got my child out of that school before he reached the grade that the director was supposed to be teaching....
I wish I didn't have to post secretively, but if anyone has been keeping up, they know that this is not one of the posts that are simply attacking a public employee with no basis of fact...it's all true. Don't know where previous writer got the 87k, but again that info should be available to anyone who can read a budget...I'm not one of those folks.
And btw for anyone interested...there is a salary schedule for all employees of gcboe in employee directory that they are given each year. If you know a teacher, principle, or any employe, ask to see it. (Don't remember if it includes expense accounts, bonuses, ect...
anonymous dad
The $87,000 was on the proposed budget for 08-09. I would say that it is then true. Ask any board member or commissioner on the committee.
That makes sense,,,as the director was still employed as classroom teacher part of this school year. That is an outrageous abuse of public monies and way more than a slap in the face to those other teachers. I wonder that Leaps director can sleep at night knowing how she slandered them, ignored their contribution and basically took money out of their pockets. I'm surprised that they all took it so quietly, were they threatened with the loss of their reg. jobs? Why on earth didn't the principal speak up for them, as I understand she was also in group that help write grant. Doesn't she care about the other teachers at that school??? I had heard many good things about her, but allowing one teacher to push all the other teachers, (her co-workers, classmates, friends,employees) away from this program when obviously they all wanted to work in it and most likely needed to supplement their income as well. I hope this is all exaggerated, the amt the director is making, because that is by far the most cruel thing about the school system that I've heard. For one person to profit that much from a group effort, claim all the "glory", credit, money, slam the ones that were also involved, and her supervisors allow it. YES SIR, teachers, GCBOE respects you guys, yeah, right! I don't think I would have much respect for any of those supervisors who saw this happening and did nothing. Apathy=condoning in this case....
87k, that's almost 3 beginning teacher's salaries....there's a "financial management" issue if ever there was one
Teacher-mom..
I totally agree with you. And while we are getting rid of the ridiculous and useless SACS and SIP, let's also get rid of NCLB. It is a ridiculous program that's not even funded. So why have it?
Sorry, teacher-mom but you are wrong. You should know that Title I is NCLB.
What happened to the bill at the state level that would give us back the right to elect our school director?
To 9:12 post, I am teacher-mom, and I am not sure what you are referring to that I am wrong about, nor do I understand your statement that Title 1 is NCLB. It is my understanding that Title 1 is a federally sponsored program for remedial academics, nothing to do with NCLB. I agree with poster who said to get rid of NCLB, but it's not a program, it's a law so it would have to be repealed. School Improvement Plans (SIP) are mandated by the St. Dept of ED, so they are here to stay as well, but SACS is a total waste of every resource in the school system. Once upon a time schools needed the accreditation that SACS bestowed upon deserving institutions that met certain standards, now days, it has lost its prestige and it's all a money game, your school system pays for the privelege of being "accredited."
Please reply quickly whoever said I was wrong, I am curious about what, not that I am disputing that I may have made a mistake, I am breathing, therefore I make plenty of them, but I just wondered what issue you were referring to. I am also curious what you meant about TITLE 1 being NCLB; it doesn't make sense to me, one is federal program in school, one is federal law...Sorry if I am being dense, but I believe I am right about TITLE being a remedial program, not to be confused with special ed.
Title I is a remedial program, but it is now NCLB and that is where those funds are. The NCLB funds are part of the "Highly Qualified" program. If you search NCLB on the internet you will see the Title programs involved in it. Teachers may not be aware of it unless you are involved in them. My sister works with Title programs in another system.
You are the one mistaken, and I truly don't mean that ugly. Maybe we are both saying the same thing,and it is just semantics, but Title 1 is NOT NCLB. They are not even the same category. Here are the facts, it may be what you are trying to say, but it's not coming out in a way that I understand school law. NCLB is a federal law which is hundreds of pages thick but is mostly remembered for a select few points: for example, schools must meet "adequate yearly progress" or the state can impose penalties up to and including state take-over, re-assigning staff, or providing alternative placement of children at the parent's request. NCLB also mandates that all children will read on grade level by the year ???, (I don't remember which year but I think it is 2010) which is a totally unrealistic fantasy written by a politician who obviously know zero about children, education, human intelligence, learning styles, etc. NCLB requires mountains and mountains of redundant paperwork, code named "accountability" but actually requires educators to neglect actual teaching in favor of completing idiotic reports which mean absolutely nothing except profit for paper sellers. Special ed children have to be treated with "kid gloves" and are exempt from most rules and regulations of civilized behavior, but the teachers of the students are not exempt from being accountable if they do not conform. Basically it is the teacher's fault if they fail to perform, or misbehave, but the teacher can't require them to actually do the work, or discipline. Now, no supervisor, local up to the feds will admit that is true, but the fact is, "ignoring the facts does not change the facts."
Title 1 is not NCLB. I may be assuming to much, for which I apologize in advance if I am, but this is what I think you mean...The entire TITLE project, (There are many, not just Title 1) have become the funding source for NCLB. The feds, in their infinite wisdom wrote the NCLB law, but provided no way to pay for it...so it became the accepted practice to use TITLE funds to carry out the unrealistic tasks required to be in compliance with NCLB. So although your statement that
Title 1 is NCLB is incorrect, the statement that NCLB is paid for with TITLE funding would be a factual one. To my knowledge, we have many TITLE teachers in Giles Co. but we have no NCLB teachers that I am aware of. And I guess if someone wanted to get technical, all staff members of the GCBOE are NCLB employees, that would be a true statement because all are required to be "highly qualified" by the NCLB law. But the normal definition of "highly qualified" and the feds definition are miles apart, which once again takes mounds of paperwork, testing, and countless hoops to jump through to simply explain.
I don't mean to offend or sound like a "know-it-all", I have a feeling that we are probably thinking along the same lines, but people who are not in the field would be under the wrong impression if they believed your statement that "TITLE 1 IS NCLB." I again apologize if I have offended you or anyone. It was or is not my intention!
We may be speaking of the same thing, I'm not sure. I am not affended anyway. Title I reading and math has been around for a long, long time. NCLB is new but the funds are in the title programs for it. Here is a quote from NCLB website.
The purpose of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), most recently reauthorized under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging state academic achievement standards and state academic assessments. The largest portion of Title I (Title I Section A) provides allocated formula grants through state educational agencies to local educational agencies (LEAs) and public schools with high numbers or percentages of poor children to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic content and student academic achievement standards.
LEAs target the Title I funds they receive to public schools with the highest percentages of children from low-income families. These schools must focus Title I services on children who are failing, or most at risk of failing, to meet state academic standards.
The post about the LEAP's director's salary being 87,000 is absolutely correct and this salary is JUST for being the LEAP's director. Yes this information is available to the public and the 2007-2008 budget states it very clearly - under the salary line item (which means it can ONLY be used for her salary). Give me a break - wake up Giles County!
Approximately 20 teachers received a advanced degree at the same time as Leaps director. Of those 20 or so, 5 or 6 were at the same school and they all help write the grant as part of a class theey were taking, along with Mrs Braden and the on staff writer of the GCBOE. I had a child in the program the first year and even considering that it was the first year, things were certainly unorganized and even unpredictable. Of course any new program will encounter problems, thats undrstandable, but frankly I seldom saw the director unless she was pulling up aat closing time from being whereever it was she went everyday. I did see several of the others, but I don't know their names except for a couple that my child had. Are these the teachers the other poster spoke of as getting fired or demoted? or are they still working in the program? I saw so much potential, but with plans changing everyday, rules changing everyday, certain students, teachers and other workers getting preferential treatment, even my child saw it and at their young age questioned it. That's pretty sad to me and he asked me not to make him go back. Rules were made for certain behaviors, but a few kids were exempt from those rules, As soon as a routine was established, it changed. I am saying this from what I saw thru my child's eyes and I find it disgusting. The next year started off much more smoothly except for the late start but as I recall, there was a couple of months that the program was doing a lot of good, kids knew what to expect and were happier. Then it all started going downhill again around the
3rd month of school ( I remember because of a field trip for fall that was planned and then was cancelled. I said all of that to say that I am familar with the program, at least I was, until my son asked to go to day care rather than leaps after school. So my question or comment is, if the director is making 87 thous, what are these other teachers making? With no money for raises or other stuff, why does these people make so much money for a baby sitting sevice after school. How many work in the program, and if my info is correct about some of them being demmoted, (if you want to know something in this town, just go to a beauty shop or harvey's gym once in a while, you'll hear it all don't you know how they must feel, all of them being in the same class and only one person being "good enough" to get that much money??? (My child's teacher was in that class and told me about the program that first year, and was so exciting about it. 87 thousand dollars in giles county...how can that be legal, fair, or even close to being eithical for only one persson? Something is really wrong with this situation, and I can't help but believe that it must be an exagerration, that salary. I hope so, cause if it's not, sounds like giles schools better brace themselves for discrimination lawsuits since more than one person has some ownership in that grant.
The Leaps director set her own salary it would seem. I don't know of a salary scedule that pays that much. She will be the second highest paid person in the system. Someone said she will work some Saturdays, big deal. She can set her own hours. The program only goes on for a couple of hours after school. How much planning time can there be? She won't work every Saturday. She asked for the job so she did not mind the afternoon and Saturdays. I think that something needs to be done about this. Does she have a contract with Jackson to make this much? If he okayed this he is crazy!! It is not fair to the other teachers and employees who work for the school system. I realize that this money is grant money and could not go toward the teachers raises or anthing else but surely she should not get this much. Can anything be done to stop it at this point? The teachers need to check with TEA lawyers about this.
Money is money and it runs like water to the select in the school system. I read in another subject that a book keeper is getting over 13,000 dollars
as a bonus for "possible" extra work and attending county meetings, this was with over thirthy thousand in regular salary.
They talk about grants like the preK program but most of the grants require matching money from the county. Just think over a million is spend on preK and only about 50 kids in it.
No, the Leaps teacher won't be stopped. Please understand, it's not that she can't be, it's that she won't be. She has thrown more than one teacher "under the bus", and when confronted she never admits to anything, apologizes for the other person's "misunderstanding",and tears up as if on cue...if cornered, stories are quickly manufactured to cover her mistakes, go through proper channels to seek help and the administrators will either lie to protect her, verbally attack the one complaining, blow the complainer off as if they were making it all up, or ignore the problem and pretend like it will all go away.Now I realize as a teenage worker, I don't see everything going on there, but I am not stupid or blind either. I hope that all adult workplaces aren't like this, and have been assured by caring teachers that they are not, but it sure does seem to me that the director can do whatever she wants and then put the blame on somebody else if things go wrong or make somebody do her job. Her hours are 10-6, do you really think she is at school all that time? And even though I am only a an experienced worker there, it is kinda fishy to me that she is at school until 9,10,11 at night. It isn't planning, somebody else does that. GCBOE people in charge, please fix this and make it up to the ones that you have allowed to be hurt because all ya'll saw were $ signs. Notice much participation in FTA any more at the high school??? It's way down, mostly because most of us have worked in LEAPS and we sure don't want that kind of treatment for a career.
Thank-you.
Hear ye Hear ye Ed Hartselle is at it again. He and Tee boy have gotten them another relative to run for school board. Ed Hartselle's good friend Ronnie Stogner has gotten his papers to run in the Minor Hill area. And yes his wife is a so called principal there. How interesting. Vote for Stogner is a vote for Harteselle and a yes man in Tee's pocket.
anonymous...For Christ's sakes, doesn't Mr. Stogner have a right to run for any office he chooses? And, just because he chose to do so doesn't mean that he was groomed for the position because of dishonesty or some kind of vice. Lighten up.
It seems that I recall a certain group running such hopefuls as David Ross, Allen Barrett, and others. Why didn't you find fault with that situation?
To anonymous of the 8:40 post.
Mr. Stogner has the right to do most anything he wants, and those opposed to Jackson stacking the school board have a right to criticize and work against his selections. One of the most important things that can be done is to simply identify those giving support, why they decided to run and their family ties. Does anyone really think there is a need for more school employees to have their family on the board? Haven't those on the board now already proven the stupidity of having a board made up of people so easily controlled by the director?
I also would like to clear up your wrong impression that when I ran for office it was because someone or some group ran me, that is blatantly untrue. Allen Barrett
Its also blatantly untrue that any kind of group ran David Ross for office.
Is this Ronnie Stogner the same who "manages" the Minor Hill Water Utility?
wab..
There you go again pointing that accusing finger at another person you resent for some reason. Can you PROVE that Jackson is trying to "stack" the school board for the purpose of serving his own interests? I doubt that you can. So, why don't you give him the benefit of the doubt?
As I have told you many times before, if you don't like the ones who are elected to office, either run yourself or lobby for those you would like to see in those positions.
To anonymous of the 7:03 post.
If you would come out of your man cave ever now and again you might have a better understanding of what is going on in this county.
Mr. Jackson has very actively been recruiting for the board positions.
Just as he did in the previous election and especially in the appointments to the board. Just look at who he is picking up lunch tabs for at Legends and Hickory House and the dinner tabs in Ala.
I have nothing against either Mr Stogner or Mr Britton I just don't believe they would be good board of education member for the county.
You leave me very confused with your statement, "As I have told you many times before, if you don't like the ones who are elected to office, either run yourself or lobby for those you would like to see in those positions", for when I follow your advice you criticize me and when I don't follow your advice you criticize me. Oh, I get it it's just another example of your words not having any meaning and I'm wrong in your mind if I do or don't do. Allen Barrett
Hey anonymous that wrote...For Christ's sakes, doesn't Mr. Stogner have a right to run for any office he chooses? And, just because he chose to do so doesn't mean that he was groomed for the position because of dishonesty or some kind of vice. Lighten up.
It seems that I recall a certain group running such hopefuls as David Ross, Allen Barrett, and others. Why didn't you find fault with that situation?
Wednesday, April 02, 2008 8:40:00 AM
I seems that your recall is as full of crap as you are. They ran because they wanted to help the people of Giles County, so they wouldn't have people like you governing them. Those in power are interested in trying to fill their pockets as well as their family and friends. They don't care about the people of Giles. Try opening your eyes and see what is going on.
Hey Dumbo, cant you get it in your thick head there never has been a "group" nor was there anyone "running" Allen Barrett or David Ross and who are the "others" you are referring to? They never existed.
wab..
The statment you claim to be so confused about is a very simple one. What is it that you don't understand? As I said, if you aren't happy with those elected to office, then run yourself or support candidates you think merit your vote. It's as simple as that. Oh, I forgot; you did run and came in last in your district. Did that tell you anything? Probably not.
And you tlak about stacking the school board. What a laugh. And nobody tried to do that with the commission at the last election?
Please don't say what you do is a catch 22 as far as I'm concerned. We both know better than that. I could care less if you run or simply support candidates of your liking and persuasion.
Finally, as for the name-caller who loves to call me dumbo, let me say that anybody who knows anything about the political scene around here knows there was and still is a little group of know-it-alls who want to be in charge of things, either directly or indirectly. I'll not name any of them, because it would serve no purpose.
Hey dumbo could it be that you ain't gonna name the people in your little imaginary group because you just have dreamed up names yet? You would be pathetic if you weren't so insignificant.
Need to make a new heading about the ones running for office. It would make for great debate if those who participate stick to the subject.
Billy Kennedy got his papers at the last minute. He has three family members he has to try and keep jobs. Richland people keep in mind Has he done one thing for your school? Think long and hard before you put him in again. He never stepped up to the plate for you guys.
Mr. Stogner is good friends with Ed Hartselle who keeps in close touch with T. Jackson. When Mrs. Stogner was put in as Principal of Minor Hill it was done on Mr. Hartselle's recommendation. So 2nd district people keep in mind that another person put in with a family memeber in the system is another backer of T's. He would still have his four votes if Kennedy, Stogner, Young and Norman are put in. Three have family and one is a bossom buddy.
anonymous..
I think you must be one of them. Everyone is insignificant to you guys. Well, we who are insignificant can exercise a bit of "significance" by voting for candidates of our choice who, by the way, are probably not candidates of your choice. Oh well, isn't that the democratic process?
Have any of you notice how many fewer vehicles Murrey Chevrolet, Pontiac, GMC has sold since Beverly Murrey has been on the school board. She is really hurting their business.
Dumbo. The car sales have slipped due to the overall economy. I doubt if anybody seriously shopping locally for a car even thinks about Beverly Murray or even knows who she is.
I guess that statement really shows who the real Dumbo is.
I go by Murrey every day but I don't know how anyone can tell that fewer cars are being sold. The lot changes almost daily. Unless you work there how would anyone know? I sure can not tell. And the other blogger is right, car sales are down, thus the layoffs across the country.
anonymous..
I'm glad you have decided to call someone besides me Dumbo. That gives me some time off from your name-calling.
I cannot get over the $87,000 salary. My children suffered because they did not have a regular teacher and now I find out that she was making two salaries.
That is NOT right.
To the 12:44 poster- You have my utmost sympathy and apology....I, because of this very situation, am ashamed of the profession of which I am a member. I cannot tell you where all of the fault lies, but I can tell you without hesitation that it was a very calculated process to get this person where she is today. The principal at the school that houses the program turned a blind eye to the neglect, the staff and faculty of the school were chastised severely if they crossed the director, regardless of the situation, Mrs. B was consulted, with no response, the entire staff of the program were constantly having to compensate for the director's absence, the teachers and administrators who help design the program were slowly and methodically eased out of the "loop", the kids in the program were often confused as to where they were supposed to be, chaos reigned supreme. The director has no ethics, has publicly stated as much in different terms, and is still continuing the behavior. Rumors that are unbelievable, are true folks, ask anyone who works in the program, who is not afraid of repercussions....come to think of it, you would be hard pressed to find anybody that would not find themselves in "employment jeopardy" if they publicly spoke the truth. Director making 87 k, I do wonder what the teachers are making in the program and the person who is actually doing all the work....The way I see it is any of the teachers who have worked in that program to get it up and running deserve a piece of that pie! It would have fallen by the wayside in a few months that first year without the backup that was available, meaning all those teachers who got their master's degree together and the grant was their "final" project. I find it incredible that the director can look any of them in the face, but then she doesn't have to....she is not there enough! It's all facts people, and I call on Mrs Murry and other "honorable" school board members to right this wrong!
Maybe the employees of the Board of Ed need to band together on this. Every empoyee write to their board member demanding that the salary of the Leaps Director be changed. She is the second highest paid person that works in the county. I don't know of any teaching job that would be worth that. How is that being justified anyway. Apparently she has pulled the wool over the eyes of the director. The budget has not been set yet. If the salary is changed and she does not like it she can always go back into regular teaching. She has been promised a job if the grant goes away. Maybe all citizens to write their board members not just the employees. This is a ridiculous amount for a teacher to be making. Where on the salary schedule does this salary fit?
Nobody is more angry than I am regarding this salary in lieu of her actions. I do object to your statement that that is a ridiculous amt for a teacher to be making...All dedicated teachers with advanced degrees are worth that, but in Giles Co. her salary is certainly out of line considering the other "real" teacher's salaries. I know many teachers that if they were paid that salary would still be making 10-12 dollars an hour if you considered all the time they put in "off the clock". But what the director is getting paid is borderline criminal, most certainly a betrayal of public trust and absolutely a betrayal of her co-workers.
Why not write a letter to editor of the local newspaper and expose this situation where it will come to the attention of enough people? Writing on this blog only amounts to blowing off steam and nothing will change unless its made more public. I know the response will be "I could lose my job over it, but surely you have a friend or two, not associated with the school system who would write for you.
What is the teachers name? When I write a letter I would like to point out exactly who I am speaking about.
I'm sorry you did not like when I said that is a ridiculous amount for a teacher to make. We are all worth more than we are being paid, but considering what the salary schedule in Giles County says a teacher makes she is being paid a ridiculous amount. It does not fit. She makes more than Mrs. Braden and almost as much as Mr. Jackson!! I can assure you that Mrs. Braden earns her money as do almost all teachers. I know that Sherry Polly has an EDS but she is not making anything on that pay scale. I know that she is supposed to be working 12 months also. She is making about $25-30,000 more than she should. I don't mind telling who she is since she is being so greedy (she set her own salary) and has acted the way she has toward her co-workers at Southside. She has stabbed everyone in the back there.
Oh, I was not disagreeing with your points on anything that you stated regarding this situation. My point was that ALL good teachers with that much education deserve that kind of money....You have no idea how much I agree with you on the other points! I know many many people that have been on the receiving end of those misdeeds!
Is there nothing that can be done to change the salary of this teacher? Is it a signed contract with her? She seems to be making double what most teachers make. I know that it is not right. That the teacher's union not do something. What is her salary being based on? Does anyone have any answers?
There are plenty of people that have answers, but they have "circled the wagons". She's been reported, by many employees, parents, even students. Nobody cares, that is nobody that is in a position to do anything. Apparently this one person is worth more than all students, teachers, school morale, ethics, fiscal responsibility. People that I would have bet my last nickel that would put a stop to this blatant flaunting of everything just, have just caved in to her actions. It's discouraging, to put it mildly.
Written formal complaints need to be made both by parents and fellow employees. Mr. Jackson always can deny talk but if written letters with copies sent to GCEA president or officers cannot be denied. Band together and write the letters.
Are you freakin kidding????Like GCEA is gonna do anything???????They have their own band of "good ole boys"; Not their fault, "children learn what they live, and if you've lived in GC long enough, you've certainly learned how the system works..."Stack the deck in your favor; deal with consequences later...find out what negotiation issues are scheduled then find out how many teachers had input on those issues for THEIR new contract if you don't believe me. It's all about getting cheerleading and yearbook supplements on par with football coaches, NOT raising all people's salaries; HELLO, giles co IS part of US! go by gov't standards;don't state and feds get a % every year???but negotiation team needs to poll members first or are they like county commisioners; considered us to dumb to understand sales tax issue so we will be blackmailed into revoting and it will be sales vs property; gcea will tell teachers that "it's as good as we are gonna get; take it or leave it'. They are well trained and only interested in creating confrontation with Mrs B, who incidentally is a member of gcea, but has to do jackson's bidding... what a joke
When was the last time you attended a negotiation meeting?
Fall of 07, why? want to know who I am....not on the team, but I am parent of GC member; Saw proposal first hand, but more importantly I saw behavior of both sides, nobody was looking for anwers, only confrontation; it was embarrassing; Used to attend all meetngs reg, it's as staged as one of these reality shows.
I am the writer of 9:20. I have never been to negotiating. Is it open to the public? If so, is it annouced so that anyone can go? I was told that one of the board's members is actually a retired employee working on a contract? Is that legal? It looks like the members would need to be employees. If not can a member of the public get on the board's negotiating committee? There might be some members of the public willing to join the negotiations for the board. Does Mrs. B have any power to do anything without the authority of the director? Why does he not attend if that is true? Sorry for all the questions but I have no clue how this works.
Mrs. B has only the authority that Jackson bestows, period. Although GCEA will strongly disagree with that statement and look to blame her for everything. Tee appoints the negot. team, and most who are appointed get off at the first opportunity as they are also GCEA members which makes them negotiating AGAINST themselves, and have zero authority. Occasionaly a board member will attend a meeting and the board is the only entity that has any authority, so it's all actually just staged, to make both sides look like they are doing something. If I were in the schools, I'd make a point to get on the GCEA team and raise cain until I could negotiate with the ones that can make decisions. What else makes sense? I wish teachers had legal right to strike. There's a law that needs to be repealed!
What happened to the thread about the school bus garage? So much for Free Speech on this site!
The school board meetings are open to the public and so are the negotiation meetings. the board is in the newspaper and on the radio but not negotiations. Everyone needs to come to the board meetings and see who challenges and who keeps quiet. Two of the three women do all of the challenging and sometimes one tall young man might throw in a thought or two. The director was thoroughly challenged about the teacher at Southside making so much money. T says she isn't a teacher and then he says she is. If a teacher is in a school and makes X amt. of $ the principal is to make one $ more. Mrs. Swinford is not getting more money. Leaps and Bounds is a joke for a big part. A great majority of the kids going to Bridgeforth is way behind who had her for a teacher last year. Tee isn't going to touch her, Bill Davis, Bobbie Mc , Bobby Hastings or Lisa Stogner. They can do no wrong no matter what they do. Why i don't know.
Please keep in mind that each person on the board is one vote. It takes 4 to make a difference. If Kennedy gets put out and Stogner loses then we might be able to see a great change in the school system. Who knows maybe Norman won't be chair and someone who will stand up for the teachers and children (not necessarily in that order) will be chair and make Tee understand he is the Board Employee and they tell him what to do not visa versa. And if he ever gets gone Braden surely doesn't need to take his place.
And Billy Kennedy went to people in the Minor Hill area to get signatures for Stogner. He can't even go out and get the signatures. He supposedly has resigned from water committee because of illness, but you can't hold two political positions. Does he think he's going to win.
Teachers don't have to strike but they can be sick all at one time.
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