Don't think that will get you the millions they want, including the SPLOST!!!!

Now let me tell you what they will cur:

Things like Driver's Education when the feds quit paying for it (Reagan)
Good School lunches (Reagan) (Catsup became a vegetable)

More people have been killed and injured due to poor student drivers than was ever saved by NO INSTRUCTION.

Several hundred dollars a year per student is now paid by the parents or welfare. Due to budget constraints for students---not Administration.

No as to buses-----they quit going into neighborhoods picking up kids not many years ago----this was where every house could see a bus stop for their kids.
Now all that bunch of people have to wander down to the main road with their kids---even if they have to give up their jobs!
How many of you have a small kid and would let them walk out of sight every day to catch a bus? And then come home in the middle of the afternoon, maybe!

These are the kind of things the County will cut.
Not Jobs. Not Assistants.
Not new computers.
Not Sports.
Yes---Band.
Not pension and health costs.
Not 20-30% salary cuts for everyone.
But they will not start the Air conditioner until mid-September even if school starts a month earlier! Then it will be set at 80 degrees until it freezes.

Get the money where the big bucks are!

Horse hockey, which is Sherman Potter's way of saying BS on TV in the '70's is exactly what the BOE is playing. The point of horse hockey is to imagine ungainly creatures like horses trying to play a game which requires skills they do not have.

Need any more visuals people? The BOE is clueless because they are trapped within the tax and spend mentality - plus the teacher union influence (a subject for another time).

Vote no on the SPLOST and force them to run the thing like a business.

There is no teachers union in Fayette County.(Thank G_D!) The only districts that I am aware of with collective bargaining are Atlanta and Augusta. I could be mistaken, but there is no union in our county.

Then what is all them rules afore one kin be fared?

Tyrone Terror-glad your daughter made a turnaround with the help of the paraprofessionals. For those who don't know, Paraprofessionals make around 16K per year. In my eyes, they are saints! They work for the love of students because it definitely isn't love of money. They are the biggest bargain around! We need to be looking to cut positions like "instructional support teachers" and other paper pusher positions that don't directly work with students on a daily basis.

You need to be talking to your Legislators. They're the ones who cut parapros and mandated instructional support teachers. These are the unfunded mandates you hear so much about. The State doesn't pay for most parapros, the county does. I'm afraid that those are the positions that will end up on the chopping block because the State doesn't feel they're necessary.

Bluesky,
Maybe that is why the rest of Georgia is doing so well academically-NOT!

Go figure why the State would think that Instructional Support Teachers are necessary but parapros are not! You'd think Fayette would serve as an example of what works and what doesn't in academic performance. Unfortunately, we're stuck paying for ISTs with State money that cannot be used for parapros....and local money to fund the positions Fayette believes to be important (like parapros, art teachers, music teachers etc.)....even if the State does not. I guess that's our real dilemma as a community. Do we want to keep paying for these extras, or not. As a parent with kids still in school I say yes.....but for folks with no kids in school....maybe not.

That's not what the BOE was saying when they floated the bond a few years ago...the SPLOST is too unreliable...and the counties that were depending on the SPLOST were hurting. Now the BOE wants a SPLOST (in this economy) on top of the bond? Personally, I would rather have them up the milleage rate a little bit since that least is a write off on taxes.
Oh, and whoever was talking about cutting jobs maybe at the Administrative level, did you know that there is someone who's primary job is to make copies? What a great use of $$.
By the way, WHAT are the plans for East Fayette this year?

You're right, there is someone who's job is to make copies at FCHS, and I think at the LEC, too.

I'm not happy with the way this Educational SPLOST was thrown in our faces, nor with the threat of 261 job eliminations if FC voters don't approve it.

The best solution I've read is from the poster who said to first cut jobs at the Admin level before any position that has direct contact with students each day.

>> I'm not happy with the way this Educational SPLOST was thrown in
>> our faces, nor with the threat of 261 job eliminations if FC
>> voters don't approve it.

If you didn't like that, try asking for a copy of the budget and/or last years fiscal records. They will quickly tell you the *only* way to see them is to drive down there and peruse them on site.

It's particularly ironic given that the FIRST entry in their "2007-2012 5 Year Strategic Plan" is:

Strategic Goals
Strategic Direction: Enhance communication between Fayette County School System and its stakeholders.
Goal: Be a trusted, valued and dependable facilitator of two-way communication between the school system and its stakeholders.

Seems to me the FCBoE is starting to think itself to be a bit above the constituency they represent. Perhaps we should do a little house cleaning before this bunch starts behaving anymore like the CCBoE

Also, "Out of State travel" was only cut 25%. Seems to me that in such a financial crisis, that would be cut to Zero very quickly. Of course, when I asked for those numbers that's when I was told that the *only* way to see them is to drive down there and peruse them on site.

>> The bureaucracy has managed to fill the old high school
>> with an assortment of cubicles

According to the 08-09 budget, there is $1.16 million budgeted for administration and $13.32 million for "school" administration. That excludes "business services", maintenance, "pupil services", and "instruction".

So it's a safe bet to say that the admin personnel in the old high school are costing better than $1.2MM/yr in salaries PLUS the operation of the facility itself. That would hire a lot of para pro's.

But not surprisingly, there is no mention of administrative cuts in their cost reduction plan, only teachers...

And don't get me started about the 1200 computers that are being replaced because they are out of their 3yr warranty period...

Cut the positions not funded by the State. The FCBOE cannot eliminate the positions the State does fund. Besides, what's all the fuss about with the SPLOST question. We voters decide whether it passes or not so why all the panic here. If you don't want it, vote against it. If you do, well for heavens sake vote for it. Not putting the option out there for all citizens to consider doesn't seem quite right. It's like THEY (the school board) make the decision for us if they don't give us this opportunity. I for one want the chance to tell them how I feel by voting. How one votes is really their own business.

They are looking for 10 million in cuts, I think: 251 X $42,000

You mention 35 or 40 office personnel, I think.

Assuming we could do without half of them, or 20, at a higher rate, of course, say, $70,000, that would equal $1,400,000 only!

Still need another 8.6 million!

It boils down to more students in a room with fewer helpers there.
Better management would be needed for that, which we probably don't have!

I agree with the three of you all the way!

Sarge, you are right, the cuts need to start with all this middle layer that does nothing in the classroom. You have drawn attention to an over inflated group that needs to verify their reasons for being long before cuts are taken with anything to do with the kids.

Particularly, the people responsible for sitting on this information about possible cuts....UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION! WHY was this done?

I am outraged! If this was brought forward earlier in the year, they would have had time to work out the details. My feeling is that it was purposely not mentioned. Someone needs to be held accountable for this last minute toss out of this information. I can only assume it was for the betterment of a few and not our children or the taxpayers. I distrust this kind of tactic and I feel it was very foolish of them to try to deal with the taxpayers in such a manner.

I'm new here but it didn't take me long to see you're pretty much always outraged. (I think that's why you write in all caps so much) I don't even take you seriously anymore you're so tormented by virtually everyone and everything. You're one of those "there's a conspiracy" types. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Go to the meeting, stand up, identify yourself and level your accusations. You might get some satisfaction out of it!

You are trying to draw attention from the fact they put this out now, instead of before the election. This isn't something they woke up and found out today. The people responsible should be held accountable.

It doesn't really matter to some folks but it clearly matters to you. I think you should go to the meeting and have your say. Stand up and let them have it if it makes you feel better. The school system still has a funding problem regardless of when the SPLOST question arose. And as voters we still have the last word don't we!

"It doesn't really matter to some folks but it clearly matters to you."

Where did you get that idea? That is what these blogs have been about for the past couple of days! This coming out of no where. Either- or! duh!

You are all right in what you say, but the bottom line is that not enough citizens got off of their butts and interrupted their busy lifes to get out and VOTE! We are stuck we these Fools running our kids education for us and there is really nothing that we can do. We can piss and moan all we want but until everyone talks their neighbors into getting out and voting this is as good as it gets.
Please get out and VOTE, its the only true right that we have!

You are right, I too was disapointed about the vote. We are stuck and there is no way around it. It made me sick.

You've hit the nail on the head....our School Board has lost its focus, instead of kids being the #1 priority, they have instead adopted a bunker mentality to protect the county's largest jobs program.

They've artfully framed the debate: "computers for kids vs. band/chorus/special ed". Machiavelli would be proud of this passive-aggressive posturing.

One additional note: school systems with 100K kids typically have a public relations function, owing to the size of the system. Fayette county, with a little more than 1/5 of that size (21,000 kids) has a fully staffed public relations function. Is a public relations function "mission critical" to this county?

Well, every department function in the county has a PIO officer!

Cops, police, sheriff, etc.

Schools felt left out!

Maybe one of the three ass't supers could bone up and do it?

Nah: please see my note to Sarge.

You are so right on in your comments Sarge! It makes me furious to hear about cutting kindergarten and first grade parapros when it is vital for the children to get a solid foundation early on to prevent future problems. I am also furious to hear about art, music, and technology instruction being on the chopping block. We most definitely need to look at cuts from the top level. We MUST not cut positions that directly benefit the students on a daily basis! I don't think these tactics are the way to get the SPLOST passed. We need a more comprehensive review of all the positions and expenditures and make a better plan of action!

Please see my note to sarge on this!

The "board" and the Super also know that next year and the following ones will be even tighter!!!
If they give in easily now, how will they defend such a huge budget then?

We have got to quit allowing the lawyers, doctors, insurance companies, medical companies, school directors, hospitals, civil officials of all kinds, fire departments, police departments, SPLOSTS, fees, fines, tags, licenses, and so forth rule our lives!!

We decide these things---not them except for their one vote.

You're about to envoke a word that opens up a major can of worms in this county...redistricting!

Anyone who has the ability to videotape tonight's meeting please do so and post either on this site or on utube so everyone who doubts the failure of the people who been placed in office for four more years. I am unable to go because of my prior commitment to help serve food to my children’s football team at their camp but my heart and prayers will be with all of you who attend and those of you who speak and I hope you are able to convince more people who are in attendance that the SPLOST is absurd and the board should not receive any more money either from any of our taxes until they prove that they can manage what they already have. I just hate that we are stuck for another four years and I thought surely that the residents were so fed up with the current board’s inadequacy that they would have no chance of being re-elected. Boy was I surprised but I did what I could by making sure my family and I voted against them as well as all my friends that live in the county.

Good luck tonight and again please post the meeting if any of you can get your camcorder in the meeting.

Thank you,

I didn't stay for the entire meeting, but from the speakers that I heard it was a love fest for the SPLOST. The scare tactics worked...it will be on the ballot (not a bad thing) and will probably pass (whether that's a good or bad thing is another story)

for Smith or Smola, yet they got elected. Do you think we had some hanging chads? LOL

Whatever happened, it is apparent a lot don't trust them. But we are forgetting we have Marion Key and Dr Todd. They are both logical and reason well. Neither cry wolf to get their way. What we have to hope for is that enough people attend these meetings and back these two.

I wish Ms Smola would grown some southern manners and quit hogging the floor. If we attend and call her down when she trys to root the others out, then things will go better.

I'll hang up and listen.

Clayton county education has nothing in common with Fayette. Comparisons are nevertheless made. For example, if you look at the video of the BOE meeting two weeks ago, you'll see Board chairman Terri Smith whining enviously about Clayton county's lush 14 million dollar school swimming pool megaplex. Her lust for something similar in Fayette county is almost palpable.

Clayton county, paradoxically enough, is in much stronger shape financially that Fayette county (even though their students will never measure up to ours). Clayton has a SPLOST and a strong industrial base: they have Airtran, Delta, the huge Walmart distribution complex and the Souther Regional Medical Center to pump megadollars into their education budget. Think about it: every time a plane refuels in Atlanta, Clayton gets a cut from the sales tax. Clayton may be one of the sole entities actually profiting from higher gas prices. The AJC said recently that Clayton is sitting on...believe it or not...a FORTY MILLION DOLLAR cash reserve. Small wonder the school board there regularly attracts 2 dozen candidates for office!

Contrast that to Fayette county, which has virtually no industrial base (we're a "bedroom community"). Our largest employer is ... surprise! surprise! the Board of Education. The board had relied upon continual development to fund its financial mistakes, now that development is in a downswing, the board is panicking and is in the unpleasant position of having to make tough choices, something this board has not had to do in their collective public careers.

Then why does CC need a SPLOST?
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Clayton's ESPLOST dedicates 95% of their funds to renovating school buildings on a planned basis, which makes sense considering their schools are much older on average than ours. The other 5% goes for technology infrastructure improvement.

Surprisingly, they seem to have built their swimming pool megaplex from their regular property tax base.

Well I hope their property tax base doesn't drop because of the accreditation issue.
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you go on and on about the great tax base in Clayton, and I agree, it's totally different than Fayette's (thank goodness for small miracles). Other than to state the obvious, why does that matter? Fact is, the FCBOE need monies to continue doing their good job, and how can they best get them? I think that needs to be the debate, instead of saying we are not yet like Clayton.

I can only assume the pool comments brought on the comparison.

Sorry, Spyglass, I was intending to reply to Mudcat, not you. I was pointing out to her that Clayton has nothing in common with Fayette.

I agree with you is what needs to be done to make our students continue to succeed. Sadly there are those that want to bring up irrelevant issues such as Clayton county, who is a better Republican, who is a closet Democrat....fiddling while Fayette burns.

Our students are succeeding in spite of our dysfunctional school board, not because of it.

Now I've got it figured out.

That's outstanding!!! I'm a little curious about the special beings thingy.
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

Ain't we all curious . . . I suppose the first thing to do is to define "special". Just think of the many many ways that word is used. It's all in the delivery and intonation. When I think of the ways I hear "special" used around the office it is rather comical as to how it is being used, seems it can sometimes mean the very best, or the very worst. Example - 'she's special', if said with sincerity it can mean she is the best. If said with a raised eyebrow and with a certain tone it can mean she needs help; kind of like bless her little heart.

Of course the easiest thing would be for the person who wrote that to tell us all what "special beings" are.

So we have tens of thousands of dollars to throw away on redistricting studies that are ignored, but we need to fire a bunch of good workers???

Oh, Cyclist, don't get too inquisitive about the special beings, they're kept in Area 51 for a reason.