New Rules For School Fees
Under a new state rule, school systems no longer can require student fees for any course offered for a credit or grade. This change took effect 28 August 2009.
Prior to the new rule, schools had to waive fees for students on free and reduced lunch, but now that measure extends to all students regardless of their parents' income. School boards are also mandated to approve a list of school fees.
Allen Barrett
Prior to the new rule, schools had to waive fees for students on free and reduced lunch, but now that measure extends to all students regardless of their parents' income. School boards are also mandated to approve a list of school fees.
Allen Barrett
posted by Allen Barrett | 9:13 AM
63 Comments:
It's about time. I approve of the free and reduced students getting theirs free, but not fair to the parents paying tax and not getting their childrens fees free.
Good! Prior policy was disgusting.
7:04--Do you know what the policy was? Explain it to all of us.
10:52pm, Snide at best and totally uncalled for. I'm glad the fees are gone, but it does cause me to pose these questions, "Where will the funds come from that will replace the fees we paid? Will our taxes go up? Will the School Board try to appropriate more tax dollars from us or will the state give us the needed money? If the state does give us the money, where are they going to get it?" I am willing to pay an extra $50 - $100 a year to prevent higher taxes.
I'm sure that the state is not going to pay anything. I know there a lot of fees in school but the money for activities has to come from somewhere. I think the way it was was the fairest. My child always had to pay. The fee waiver for those on free and reduced was okay with me. You know that the tax payers will have to pay for this. As usual the state mandates but doesn't think it through.
One problem with excluding those on free or reduced lunches not paying any fees is that their income is not verified. A the last school board meeting Mr. Barrett brought up this very issue of verification it was admitted that some on free or reduced lunches were not qualified but the school system could not question them even when they drove to school in new cars everyday.
Who is going to be elected to fill Judge Lee's possition ?
Names I was told is Louise Faulkner and Rickey Russell the one married to Ann who works at court house election office and Danny Ray Cobb. Saw Dan Speer with Danny Ray Cobb at Chamber Coffee yesterday.
Cobb will get it because he is a former school teacher. With all the commissioner's ties to the school system he's a shoe in!
What a terrible selection of candidates
11:49 why not throw your hat in the ring if you are any better. It is folks like you who keep good people from wanting to serve. Don't think Cobb will get it. Most know who talked him into running. He'll get their two votes on the commission.
Russell is a joke !!!!!!!!! Can't keep his mouth shut.
Let me guess at the two votes. Bill and Tommy. Holt and Cambell. One and two. Pete and Repeat.
Louise Faulkner is a no-nonsense woman. She would make a good commissioner.
If Faulkner is a commissioner then we have mother and son. Not a good idea either.
So what is wrong with a Mother & son being on the commission at the same time? A least Dan "the spear" will not be able to tell Louise what to do. She doesn't like him anymore than we do.
This may not be the right thread for this comment, but I see on the WKSR news that Dan is up to his old tricks, Randy Jons is getting a new Hanger at the airport. Dan is kissing #$$ so Randy will not write anymore letters to the editor..
Louise Faulkner and Alan Faulkner live in different districts. Louise Faulkner has the right to run for commission seat in her district. Knowing them both, I doubt that either one would tell the other what to do or how to vote. I hope she gets the position.
Back to the school fees - EXCELLENT CHANGE!
Looking for money??? Go back to the many prior comments on this blog. It's past time that good programs & necessity boot the bureaucracy & spenders out of their bed!
Schools have spent almost three times more than the inflation rate over the past five years! Wasn't the excess spending around $5 million for this year?
The dumbest of us can survive good & bad times such as now, but the school system can't operate unless they have both hands in our pocket. moral of story - wrong people are running the teaching business & getting fat; the right people are laid off & going hungry; & children learn nothing of real life value! ie. that you must get off your rear end, figure out a better way, and CUT COST & WASTE!
Dan probably wrote the letter for Randy Jones because he don't have sense enough to write it himself. That was just a cover up for both of them. You can't pass by the mayor's office without Randy's truck sitting outside. They both are low down as you can get. He uses the airport for his office for his unprofessional home building business. All he knows how to do is rip someone off and build half a.. homes. He needs to be run out of town with Speer.
I doubt very seriously that "the spear" wrote the letter. I don't know when you go by "the spears" office but Randy does not hang out with him. Have you forgotten he has a new Explorer & gas furnished for him to ride around in & he doesn't stay at his office. Anyway this is no time to be buildiing a new hanger at the airport or sidewalks with the so many people out of work & the government broke.
Since the School Board met this evening does anyone know if Bill Holt's behavior problems came up for discussion and reprimand as activity unbecoming a school principal? I heard it was supposed to come up before the Board.
It ought to come up at the county commission meeting as well. After all bill Holt is a commmissioner and ought to set a better example when he out in public in front of all the kids.
No memtion of Mr. Holt's behavior or his lack of judgement.
Sorry to have to report this.
I understand that Cobb was at the school-board meeting tonight courting the school board, I suppose.
Melanie
to :Thursday, September 10, 2009 8:22:00 PM - you, sir or madam are an ass and do not have a clue about what you stated as fact.
All we need on the commission is another school conflict of interest and we will all be taxed off our homes & property!
Thanks 10:02 for reporting. No surprise that the subject of Holt didnt come up before the school board. Guess the same thing will happen with the commission meeting. They will just hope it will go away and be forgotten. Voters need to remember all these incidents come next election time. Bill Holt needs to get out of the public eye and try doing a better job in his last years at the school.
7:12
Yes, My facts I stated about Jones is true because if you must know I live in one of his houses and yes, I can be a real pain in the a..! What people say is true, You Learn From Your Mistakes. I learned not to do business with people like him.
Have all Giles Co. forgotten what happened 8 years ago today? Every other networking sight or blog is discussing what this day represents in history and the great sacrifice of those Americans and their families that lost loved ones. Why are Giles Countians not discussing it? We should never forget! For no one to have mentioned it is a sad fact of how detached we have become as a society. Our troops serving overseas and the great sacrifice they and their families make is unparalleled and we should all have them and those who were touched personally on this day in our thoughts and prayers. God Bless this Country and I pray we do not relive this tragedy again.
TO: Friday, September 11, 2009 1:55:00 PM - so you used the subject of this blog: New Rules for School Fees, to worm in your dissatisfaction with a purchase??? My sincerest apologies for the posterior comment I made - you are simply an idiot.
Schools must pay for more and more these days that are not paid for by other entities. MOney has to come from somewhere or the children do without. Give us some suggestions rather than criticize. The children need good suggestions - not complaints.
9:11 9:22
I agree with you about Bill Holt not being a commissioner any longer. He happens to be in the district we live in but he wont be getting our vote this time.
Money does come from somewhere - taxpayers, period. We are led to believe that there is a shortage of money, that taxpayers are not supporting education, etc.
Our school general fund increased spending by 36.4% from 2003-4 to the year 2008-9. Inflation for that period was 12.4% as of April 2009! Add up the numbers and you find that spending for 2008-9 was $5.4 million above and beyond what it would have been if spending had been held to inflation rate increases! The accumulated excess is $15.1 million for that five year period!
Over that five year period our director and board of education passed tax increase demands of $4.8 million more - on top of everything else; but the county council very narrowly denied those requests! Can anyone justify those tax increase demands?
How can any school employee be denied a 12.4% wage adjustment over that period? How can any child be denied books, materials, and teacher that isn't upset by being cheated out of a fair wage? How can there not be a fleet of safe busses? How can snow be blowing in a maintenance garage wall or rain falling in a classroom? It's planned crisis!
The answer is as simple as the simple word "deception". If you falsify and manipulate financial numbers to gain advantage and money plus hold a child hostage to force payment of that money, I call it fraud and extortion. I call the situation extremely negative, especially for those without a job or with bank accounts that no longer pay interest to retirees! In a time of zero accountability, we call it business as usual! If not accepting this is negative, then cheating and worse are good!
Mr. Pollard may not have the educational certificates possessed by the school lobby in the county council, but he has more sense and dignity than any who demand more money instead of knowledge and ability to deal with the real world and the challenges of everyday life for all of society including those who may not even own a suit. His tax roll back was more than justified!
don m
Why don't we give the three that are running for Bobby Lee's seat a chance. It will be some mighty big shoes to fill whoever is elected. People like to talk about people but no one wants to do anything about it. Come on folks and support whoever gets elected.
12:00 that's the same idea expressed by those who supported obama without regard for what he had done previously and look how that has turned out, record spending, record deficits, record debts, record unemployment. What people have done in the past is a reasonably good indication of what they will do in the future.
Danny Ray Cobb would be a great choice for the Commission. He is retired from education as well as his wife. He does not like Jackson one little bit because of several things between Cobb and Jackson and he knows Jackson jumped for joy when his Danny's wife retired.
Would Momma Faulkner ever council son Falner's vote and vice-versa?
Murrey was not reelected to board chair. Kathy Norman worked and manipulated Mike Young getting the votes. Once again Greene stabbed a relative in the back. Once Young was voted in Norman took over and carried the meeting 'til the end. Young also gave Jackson back the power to talk on subjects and do most of the talking.
So good luck to the next year of the board.
Has any high school student come home and said anything about GCHS vice principal saying if you don't have the money to buy lunch then don't get in line. The fees are to help take care of the students who don't have the money.
Conflict of interest must be eliminated!!!!!!! If anything can be done by charter, it must eliminate the opportunity for conflict of interest plus provide heavy penalty for anyone who violates it!
We know that spending is out of control in the school system. We know that corruption is eating us alive because we entertain argumentation that "nothing is wrong", because the structure in control says "nothing is wrong"!
Once again, we read about the education system spending three times the inflation rate that citizens are forced to live with. We also read and can believe this same system doesn't spend its money on the things needed to educate the children! We don't have to look very far back to find endless examples of the director lying and conniving, because the school board does nothing but support him! - examples are, no revenue increases in years, no money for raises, no money for facility maintenance, unsafe busses, having to deplete reserves, unsafe administration buildings, etc. - all the while ... spending endless money on posh nests for bureaucracy and everything imaginable except that which is needed to teach children the elements of basic education while properly paying the people necessary to do it!
The day of absolute unquestioned rule is over! The public is broke and tied of being run over by mindless political bureaucrats!
In a nut shell, the problem really is "money" - an endless supply of it taken from people who have none, to supply incompetence that needs its ego pumped up with more and more dollars - dollars that makes irrelevance seem relevant. We have accepted dung for roses for so long that we believe flies are honey bees! We wouldn't know what to do if it stopped!
The only thing anyone ever learned by getting something for nothing, is the fact that the philosophy works if you can train the victims to expect it! That's what the education system has become. It has also "morphed" into a relentless beast that parasitizes off the very core people that actually try to teach and provide children pertinent facts and an education!
God gave us a brain and the capability to use it. Historically, progress is always made by attacking adversity, independently making things better, and by stopping regimentation & corruption! Go to a board meeting sometime & listen to the "progress reports". It's all about "got & get" - spending & finding new ways to find more to spend. Has anyone heard about adopting very old processes that no one is aware of, that really work to eliminate manpower, effort, and the need for more money? Education should be about "innovate & save" (conserve, not "con-servation"), but that is the antithesis of regimentation & the tolerance game.
why not fix it? can't make waves? can't call a liar a liar? can't fire someone who needs it? can't ain't gonna "git-R-done"!
If Danny Ray Cobb is seen with Speer he will not get elected although he is the one who got him to run. As far as him liking Jackson or not that has nothing to do with him being elected.
Fees don't pay for children who can't pay for lunch. You don't know what you are talking about at all.
I know that it seems like every year the fees for students seem to get higher and higher. I know I paid around $40.50 for all the fees my child had to have. One thing that cost the most was a calculator that was a must have. The other thing was a planner that will not last all year. Why not use a notebook for a planner and a scrap sheet of paper instead of the calculator? That would cut cost a lot and make the child use their brain also. Some of the fees are unnessecary.
they should be learning how to add & subtract, not how to punch a calculator! our education system has forgotten what their job is!
Kids are not learning anything at school these days from some teachers. The teachers don't have the experience or the knowledge that teachers did 25 years ago. It seems the teachers are there for the small salaries and summer breaks. Please teachers you are failing our kids and wake up and start teaching instead being lazy and letting kids do as they please. Get the scratch pads out, reading materials and get rid of this high tech equipment and make the kids use their minds. This is not to all teachers just the ones who are taking the easy rode out. Teachers you know who you are all you have to do is think a minute. Parents your help is needed too.
I would like to know from some parents how much did they pay for fees and school supplies for their children to start back to school. I know I paid for things that should have been provided by the school. Why do you have to buy tennis balls every year for school? I know they go on the chairs, but buying them every year.
Now you don't really think you could get balls from the central office, do you?
I think we should take the fees from Tee's salary.
Better idea - take the salary from tee!
Children learn to read and write multiply and divide in elementary school. AFter that they need to learn to use the high tech gadgets. Do you think the factories or offices expect you to get out a pad and paper and do figures that way. To keep up with the world as it is the kids have to learn to use calculators and computers. You cannot get along in this world either in a vocational world or business. Do you think the mechanics figure out what is wrong with your car without using a computer? They learn the basics in elementary then start using the "high tech gadgets" in the upper grades. They better know how to run them or they are going to be in real trouble when they get out in the real world.
I have no problem with using computers and calculators in the higher grades if the basics are firmly established.
The problem is the kids are not learning the basics in elementary school. They are using computers and calculators in the lower grades and have no idea how to subtract, divide or multiply much less how to deal with fractions.
They are taught perverted history and science, little or no civics and
more sex education than self respect and how to behave in public.
It is the parents job to teach a child how to behave in public, the problem is they don't. Computer are used in elementary school but I don't know any students who use calculators until middle school. You can learn math using a computer. There are some great programs out there for reading and math that I have used with my own grandchildren. They have been using a computer since they were about two or three. Great motor skills using a mouse. Try it with your children and grandchildren. Of course if you want young ones to use the computer you do have to spend time with them. What and idea!
Why does a 5th grader have to have a calculator? The kids us the calculators at school to get the answer, but when your at home and you will not let them use a calculator they do not know how to work out the problem. The teacher is taking the easy rode out. She needs to be teaching the kids how to solve the problems without using a calculator. I know when your in the work place you will need a calculator, but not in 5th grade. Teach the kids how to solve problems on the board and stop being lazy.
I am amazed at the posts I have read on this site which I seldom go to, but I was just browsing today. How do you folks know what everyone in the communtiy is thinking or doing? Amazing! Dan Speer DID NOT GET ME TO RUN FOR COMMISSIONER. A friend of mine just asked me to do it and I reluctantly agreed. I did not care if I got the seat or not. I consider myself as having lots of good Giles County friends and I want to be a friend to people too. By the way, I go to School Board Meetings primarily just to get out of the house and see "what is going on". More of you should be going too if you want to seriously gripe about everything. I just enjoy seeing government at work. I attend the House of Representatives Meetings in Nashville often because I have a son there on the floor working for everyone-Maury County and Giles County. He works closely with Eddie Bass (former student of mine) to do things for both counties. I wanted to help Giles County by being on the Commission, but the closed minded commissioners did not want my help. Apparently, they have their own closed agenda. Now that I was not elected, I am very relieved. It was not the thing for me and now I know it, but I could not turn down a friend who was seriously wanting me in the seat. Thank you. I have always done everything I could for Giles County and its people and will continue to do what I can. My main interest now lies with my son State Representative Ty Cobb of Columbia. I am so proud of him and what he is accomplishing. I am especially happy for his success because a teacher of his at Richland High School looked him in the eye one day in class and said, "Ty Cobb, you will never amount to anything because you don't know anything about poetry." The first thing he said to me on election night in Columbia was, "Daddy, I wonder what she thinks about me now." He could easily have bad feelings for education because of one dumb teacher. In just his first session of the General Assembly, he got more than 6 million dollars for special projects in Maury County that other elected officials had been trying to get for the past 6 years. He got $5 million for a new vocational technical training school in Spring Hill to help out-of-work citizens. I was hoping to use him to get things for Giles County but....... I am an independent thinker and I do not like people saying what they think that I think. They do not know me that well. I will continue working and voting as I always have and enjoy my time of retirement from the educational system here in Giles County, my home. If you want to know what I think, be nice enough to ask me instead of saying what you want to say without truth to it. Thank you. I welcome your intelligent comments with an open and Christian heart. DRC
Mr. Cobb if you read this blog again, I would like to know what you think about our school system now. I know you were a teacher for several years and you have more experience than most teachers, board members and Jackson combined. Just wondering if you have any suggestions in making the schools better and wondering if you would ever run for school board in your district.
Mr. Cobb Refreshing comments are always great to hear. Don't let the commission vote concern you. If people know one better than the other, the vote can go that way with no reflection on anyone else.
There are some losers everywhere - ignore them & fight for some good old Christian values & morality in all that we do.
It seemed to me that everyone was very surprised to see Mr. Cobb at the recent schoolboard meeting. I know I had not seen him there in years.
To Sept 20, 12:46 p.m.- Nobody answered your question. Allow me to attempt to do so. Students are allowed to use calculators in the 5th grade in order to learn HOW to use them, because they are now allowed to be used on THE test, you know, the one and only instrument that is used to measure a teacher's performance. For many years Giles County did not use calculators, but when it was discovered that systems throughout the state and nation were using them on THE test, the BOE decided that their students must "keep up." This does not make the teacher lazy or negligent. Have you been in a classroom where math is being taught and witnessed this shirking of duties? You appear to be assuming that if your child doesn't understand, the teacher failed. There are so many variables that effect the outcome of student learning, that to blame it all on the teacher's behavior seems judgmental, arrogant, and uniformed. I would agree that some teachers are uncaring as well as incompetant but considering the working conditions for educators in this county,(i.e. The constant continual, and complete lack of respect that the BOE has for teachers as evidenced by their actions at board mtgs, work sessions, and dishonest conversation that they engage in should a teacher or citizen be foolish enough to contact them) the vast majority of teachers go above and beyond the call of duty. And you probably should stop assuming that teachers have authority and choices in matters where they do not. Calculators are not optional, a certain amount of curriculum must be introduced to the students prior to THE test regardless of whether or not pre-requisite skills have been mastered, teachers are called out of class for numerous meetings, there is a shortage of books and other materials, and the list goes on and on. Please observe first hand several math classes of 5th grade students before assuming the teacher is lazy, IF you are truly concerned and not simply looking for a scapegoat regarding this issue.
Thankyou
11:13
I am not visiting every 5th grade class, but do visit my childs. I know first hand that they are required to use calculators and students don't know how to solve problems without them. So before you spout off accusing me that I don't know what is going on maybe you need to visit schools. I know why they are taught to use the calculators and that is for the stupid TCAP test. Another thing I did not say all teachers were lazy.
Mr. Cobb
Because a commissioner chose not to vote for you does not mean they are 'close minded". Seems about 17commissioners thought Mrs. Faulkner would be a better representative of District 6 and do a better job. If you put your name up reluctantly its better that you did not get the seat.
Why was your son going to wait until you got on the local commission board? He should be working for Giles Co now.
Guess there is not much county loyality there---wonder??
To 6:25, I am 11:13, Please reread my post. I made no accusations and did not ask you to visit every classroom. I agreed with you that there are some, only some lazy and incompetent teachers but they are in the minority in my opinion. I do not understand the hateful tone of your response or maybe it is only my perception that you were lashing out at me. I was attempting to explain why calculators are being utilized and hope that you would find out for yourself that it is not always the teacher's decision, as some would believe. Your anger at me is misguided and a bit over the top.
Wow! Like the County Commissioneers are going to put someone like you in an official office knowing your history..... Congrats to your son... Why didn't he run for office from Giles County? Your just not a good ole' boy and your son's coat tails just couldn't pull you through.
AH HA HA HA! SMOKED! I just happend on this site and saw were "DRC" is whinning about not being voted in as a commissioner. And throwing names around at that... So now you lay it off on a "friend" that wanted you to run for it? WOW! To know that your not that well liked and not popular or powerfull at all mush have just BUSTED you EGO!!!! LOL Just so you will know, thinking of all these rediculous things to get you and your name in the local paper does not translate to popularity.. You are still the guy/teacher that should have been FIRED and JAILED 30 years ago...Your "reluctantly agreed" and "am relieved" statements implying that it doesn't bother you are immature statements at best.... And then you bring a former teacher of your son's into this foray. I highly doubt that someone who just won a major election 10 years after completion of H.S. would have that as the first thing (on his mind) to say!!!! Your just mad b/c she didn't let you sit down there and shoot off at the mouth! I can see where it would be difficult for the commissioners to vote someone in whose familey (wife) sued them (the county) b/c they can't afford to keep up with the Jones' and needed money... Don't bring your son down! Stop living off of him. What you are doing doesn't make you bigger, it just brings him down...
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