Letters to the Editor

Smola has fought to remain within BoE budget

Tue, 09/23/2008 - 3:32pm
By: Letters to the ...

Nicole File’s main campaign points identify frustrations regarding the Fayette County Board of Education and school board activities. That’s hardly an innovative platform to launch a campaign.

And to announce you are qualified to run because you’ve attended school board meetings leaves me a bit skeptical, especially when trying to unseat a school board member as valuable as Janet Smola.

As a resident and parent living in District 1, I have contacted Janet Smola on various occasions regarding concerns about rezoning, the FCBOE’s poor communication practices with the public and clarification of issues raised during school board meetings. Janet Smola has always returned my phone calls, responded to my emails and been forthcoming about issues I’ve raised.

Throughout my contact with Janet Smola, she has impressed me as being a strong champion for the betterment of Fayette county schools. Janet Smola dedicates many hours beyond standard school board duties. She serves on committees, responds quickly to constituents and has the experience to effectively navigate through FCBOE politics.

File states, “Our money has not been spent wisely.” Of course financial accountability is a major election concern. However, to be fair, I don’t think sloppy financial management is the problem here.

It must be true that bus fuel costs have risen, home foreclosures throughout Fayette County must have affected the ability to collect property taxes and we’ve heard state funding has been cut. There are a number of reasonable factors that have affected the budget that were out of the control of the school board.

I believe Janet Smola has fought hard to work within the budget to preserve high classroom standards.

File also raises suspicion of how the SPLOST initiative has found its way on the Nov. 2 ballot. I don’t believe there were any underhanded dealings regarding the millage rate increase or the proposed SPLOST initiative. I think it is unfair to taint Janet Smola’s board standing with such a suggestion.

While I don’t know yet if I’ll support SPLOST, I will be supporting Janet Smola. I hope on Nov. 2 county residents recognize Janet Smola’s dedication, hard work, the good job she has done on our behalf and recast a vote for her. Janet Smola is a valuable member of the school board and deserves to retain her seat.

Drew Elizabeth Groome

Peachtree City, Ga.

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VOTE FOR ....F.I.L.E.....YES !
suggarfoot's picture
Submitted by suggarfoot on Wed, 09/24/2008 - 7:20pm.

SHE IS HONEST, BRIGHT, AND HAS OURS KIDS INTEREST AT HEART...

HER KIDS ARE STILL IN SCHOOL HERE, SO SHE WILL BE CAREFULL WHAT IS DONE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY....WHY..

WHY SCHOOLS IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE?

WHERE ARE THE ..PAST...RECEIPTS OF PAYMENT FROM THE GEORGIA AIR SHOW TO THE BOE?

IS THE CHECK IN THE MAIL?

OH MY! DID YOU REALLY SEND ...CASH...N THE MAIL?

YEP, THAT IS WHY WE CAN'T FIND IT.

I KNEW THERE WAS A REASONABLE EXCUSE.


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How is she connected...?
The Wedge's picture
Submitted by The Wedge on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 12:03pm.

I am not a big fan of write in candidacy. Mainly because if you felt strong enough about it, then you would have filed the paperwork and been in the primary. So now we are here.... I have one question about her before I can support.... What connection does she have with the cabal led or affliated with the former PTC mayor? I am not saying that is a good or bad thing. I just want to know the factions.


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Wait until tomorrow, Wedge
sniffles5's picture
Submitted by sniffles5 on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 12:13pm.

If I am not mistaken, financial disclosure reports for candidates are due at the GA secretary of state's office tomorrow. We'll see once and for all if Steve Brown is supporting Nicole File financially.

I'd bet a month's salary he's not.

It's becoming more and more apparant the strategery of Janet Smola: Nicole File is against her, Steve Brown is against her, ergo, those two must... MUST... be in cahoots. Smola (and probably Smith) have their winged monkeys making post after post here that attempts to conflate any anti-Smola rhetoric with Steve Brown.

Sure, it's intellectually dishonest, but so was Smola's hiding the SPLOST from the voters until after the Republican primary.


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Addendum
The Wedge's picture
Submitted by The Wedge on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 1:12pm.

Sniffles5- where is your picture from? It is certainly interesting

How will the public be able to access those records? Is it posted online somehwere or will we rely on the Citizen to get it?


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We're ALL qualified to run...
Main Stream's picture
Submitted by Main Stream on Wed, 09/24/2008 - 3:16pm.

"And to announce you are qualified to run because you’ve attended school board meetings leaves me a bit skeptical..."

If Sarah Palin is qualified to represent the U.S. in foreign policy matters simply because she can see Russia from her kitchen window, then Ms.File is more than qualified to run for a seat on our school board.

The more I read about declining enrollment and empty seats in Fayette County schools, and the school board insisting on building a new elementary school, the more I believe those on the school board should ALL be run out of town on a rail.

Vote Nicole File!

-------
"You can lead a Republican to the truth, but you can't make him think."


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Representation = N-I-C-O-L-E F-I-L-E, Post 1
Submitted by notjustcomplaining on Wed, 09/24/2008 - 2:50pm.

Guess what Drew Elizabeth Groome,

I know Nicole File. She is working 24/7 to put a voice to the growing interest for:

* Fiscal Responsibility at the BOE. This means
working within our budget every year and providing
contingency for tough times. This means

NO SPLOST & NO Millage Rate Increase!

* Real Transparency in what is spent, how it's spent and
plans for the future

* Open records - - no secrets

She represents me and my interests! Readers - - check out Nicole's Letter to the Editor today and see if Elizabeth's concerns look substantiated. I think not.

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N I C O L E F I L E - FCBOE POST 1
Submitted by PreciousStahr on Wed, 09/24/2008 - 3:44pm.

LOUD & CLEAR.

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maybe this will help you...more schools for ...no kids...who are
suggarfoot's picture
Submitted by suggarfoot on Tue, 09/23/2008 - 7:51pm.

they for? who are the helping? Is your hero this dumb...or maybe...she thinks you are....read the story.

Total school enrollment drops 0.5%
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 5:00pmBy: Ben Nelms
Newly released figures by the Fayette County Board of Education show a total enrollment of 22,084 students for the 2008-2009 school year.

The figures show a decrease of 106 students over the number that finished the 2007-2008 school term. The decrease is approximately one-half of 1 percent of last year’s enrollment.

Total elementary school enrollment decreased by 93 students while middle schools lost two students and high schools dropped by 11 students.

Information supplied by the school system showed that eight elementary schools gained students while nine elementary schools lost students.

The largest gains were at Kedron Elementary with 93 students, at Crabapple with 68 students and Braelinn with 55 students.

The largest elementary losses were at Peachtree City Elementary with 111 fewer students, Peeples Elementary with 93 fewer and Sara Harp Minter Elementary with 50 fewer students than last year.

The school system saw a much smaller drop in enrollment at the middle and high school levels compared to last year.

The enrollment at middle schools this year is 5,222, compared to 5,224 last year.

Booth Middle enrollment is down 23 students over last year and Whitewater Middle is down six.

Showing gains over last year are Bennett’s Mill Middle with 19 and Rising Starr Middle with 14.

High school enrollment for the new school year is 7,912, compared to 7,923 last year, a decrease of 11 students.

The largest drop occurred at Sandy Creek High with 53 fewer students and Starr’s Mill with 38 fewer.

The greatest high school enrollment gains were at Fayette County High with 72 additional students and the Open Campus high school with an increase of 46.

Enrollment at Fayette schools declined in 2007-2008 by 259 students over the previous year.

Superintendent John DeCotis previously cited the economic downturn and a number of out of county students booted out of the school system as factors for the decrease.

Meantime, growth in Fayette County is on the skids, with permits for residential construction in 2007 down to levels not seen since 1972, interim County Administrator Jack Krakeel said in April, and current estimates by the Atlanta Regional Commission showing Fayette with the second slowest population growth in metro Atlanta.


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drew elizabeth groome
suggarfoot's picture
Submitted by suggarfoot on Tue, 09/23/2008 - 7:36pm.

when Janet Smola turns in her receipts for.. paying.. for the county school busses for the great American airshow....then we can talk!

Seems like a small request doesn't it? I would think this wizard of finance? could find them.

While the wizzzzzard is at it ....I would like to see something...real...that said this woman darkened 'wall streets's????door?? give me a break....let us see the.. many licences...? of this mediocre house wife!


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Exactly!
Submitted by Brooks Parent on Tue, 09/23/2008 - 9:21pm.

Of course, Smola is telling everyone in PTC that they will get a new high school. A magnet high school I hear. What a pitch to use to get reelected.

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