You jest about comparing apples and oranges and here in your post you are comparing Fayette County schools with Houston county, Newton county. The money we pay gets results. Our high schools score 3rd in the state on the ACT and SAT. All of our schools meet or exceed standards. That is why we pay what we pay to live in Fayette County and send our students to school here. I would bet that parents in Houston, Newton, and Spaulding counties and all the other non performing counties would happily pay a penny added sales tax if it would help their mediocre schools.

Here we go again with Apples and Oranges….
This is the ignorance of which I speak. No one doubts or questions the quality of education or students here in Fayette County. If people would only read, process and comprehend then all of your squealing and assumptions would be for naught and an intelligent decision could be made.” I am neither for or against the eSPLOST I would just like the facts to be known and distortion and ignorance abound here. I need more information and considerations for budgetary clarification and what other avenues have been or could be explored”. This is about budgeting and fiscal responsibility. So, I’ll break it down again for you. First I stated that I am Neither FOR OR AGAINST the eSPLOST. I am speaking of Systems of the same size when considering a SALARIES, BUDGET CONCERNS AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. I also note if you want to bring test score into it you left out Coweta the closest in size to Fayette with test scores virtually now identical to Fayette operating on a smaller revenue base (Coweta avg. 1516 to Fayette 1537), Houston County avg. SAT score in 2008 1497 to Fayette’s 1537 40pts not a big disparity by any means on 2400 pt system but Houston operates with a larger budget and more students so more money does not = better test results. “Our high schools score 3rd in the state on the ACT and SAT” Correction only 2 Fayette County Schools scored 3rd. Fayette County relies heavily on 2 schools to carry their avg. (Starr’s Mill 1606 and McIntosh 1639) FCHS 1461, SCHS 1484, WWHS 1497 below the National Average of 1511(All three of Coweta County’s High Schools scored Higher than FCHS, SCHS and WWHS-East Coweta 1502, Newnan HS 1526 and Northgate 1520) I will state this once again Test scores are a result of the student base, dedicated teachers and involved parents and most definitely not about money. SO using your logic we should take more of the budgeted money’ and give it to the lower performing schools and their test scores will now through the process of osmosis rise to the level of the MHS and SMHS.

“Money is not the main barrier to performance, “The main barrier to performance is how to use money more effectively.” University of Washington professor Paul Hill.

“There is no consistent amount of money per student that a school district can spend in order to get that student to reach a target test score. “ Robert Costrell, economist at the University of Arkansas.

You state:

“I would bet that parents in Houston, Newton, and Spaulding counties and all the other non performing counties would happily pay a penny added sales tax if it would help their mediocre schools.”

And that’s the point it doesn’t.

“After controlling for variables such as race and socioeconomic status, there is no relationship between school spending and student achievement.” Robert Costrell, economist at the University of Arkansas.

We ran as fast as we could from Newton County. I can not say at this point if I am for or against e-splost, but the quality of education is extremely important, not only to students but to our home values.

We moved to Fayette for the quality of education that our children would receive here. We could have bought our home in a surrounding county for less money. We paid more to live here, in Fayette, for the schools.

In Newton County, the BOE is reactive instead of proactive. The elementary school we came from had over 900 students and 18 trailers and was designed to hold 650 students. The restroom facilities were dirty, constantly out of soap and toilet paper. I cannot tell you unless you have lived it, what a overcrowded school is like. The middle school we were zoned to attend had not met AYP for at least 3 years.

If we are talking fruit here... then Fayette county is the Cherry on top (there is no comparison with those other counties) and we have to keep it that way, not only for our children, but to attract home buyers who are buying homes simply based on quality of education. Those are the kind of home buyers we want. The kind that will pay more to be in a great school district!

I don't know who you are, but you sure shoot holes in every balloon they float up. You are wonderful. Thank you so much for apples to apples.

We have people in office now that haven't noticed..the economic world is falling for the rest of us. They have been wanting to prove themselves right and get their way so long, they are totaly ignoring the financial reality for everyone else.

inmyopion, you state, "we continue to raise the property tax to service the increased debt and make it less affordable for a teacher to live and teach in Fayette County" Maybe you should understand by the foreclosures, it is hard for a lot of people to live ...anywhere...right now.

I don't begrudge teachers their salaries, but some may 80 and have 2 months off in the summer and more holiday time in school session than the rest of us ever dreamed of having.

A little compasion for the taxpayers would go a long way now...we are almost in a depression. And frankly, people like you are very narrow minded, looking at only your needs. There comes a time when there is just no more money.

Not all the BOE, but at least two, are crying like stuck pigs for more, when....NO ONE HAS ANY MONEY..GET IT? THAT IS WHY PEOPLE ARE LOOSING THEIR HOMES!

You guys remind me of Marie Antoinette, wanting the commoners to eat cake.

But another hugh part of the problem, is that 2 on the board have lost credibility with a lot.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND???? A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING NOW???? THEY ARE VERY CLOSE TO LOOSING THEIR HOUSE, THE ROOF OVER THEIR KIDS HEADS....AND YOU ARE TRYING TO JUSTIFY THIS...GIVE ME MORE ATTITUDE OF SOME OF THE BOE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN GOOD STEWARDS, NOR APPRECIATIVE OF THE MONEY THEY ALREADY GOT FROM THESE TAXPAYERS....WAKE UP!

Just so you know....when we're not working...we're not getting paid! Many of of us work during the summer. Our "holidays" are not paid by any means!

I want to say again, that in no way do I begrudge your saleries. What I'm trying to say, is that a lot of people work longer hours for the same pay and less time off. I worked for a major airline...it took me maybe 25 years to get 4 weeks vacation. We had to work nights, days, weekends and holidays, it was expected. If you didn't, well they can't do it, but they did, they would find fault with your work, and you just weren't there anymore.

Children? you can bring them to school with you...Airlines..never mind the BS about how much they care about the passengers paying kids, yours...just hang them from the nearest hook and come on in.

Dying parents? well that was nice too, if they died quick...if they lingered, you were put on probation for staying out with them. They liked nice neat quick deaths where they could send flowers and be done with it...and you be done with it too!

Snow storm? you really better get your butt in! When things were the worst, that was when they ...demanded...the most.

That didn't mean the VIPs came in...no way...!

Most common workers work under different rules than VIPs, and the retirement packages are the left overs that they feel they can give you, and if they want to change the rules, they do. Michelle Burns and the fabulous group that was gonna save Delta couldn't gut the rank and files retirement, but the could ..legaly ...gut the...WIDOWS AND ORPHANS...FUND! They took 40 plus million out and made their selves a pension, even though some had been there less than 2 years.

So you see, your retirement is garenteed by we the taxpayers....We the taxpayers, are often left with nothing..but the crumbs..when the corporate VIPs swill their bellies full.

Tell me if I am wrong but don't teachers get paid an annual salary, divided by 12 months and paid every month---even when off for the summer?

I don't know what your unpaid "holidays" would be!

Are you not a teacher and do they not pay you in the summer as teachers are paid?

Employees are paid per diem (that's by the day). Teachers are contracted for 190 days of work with 10 days of planning/staff development plus 180 school days with students. Their daily salary is multiplied by 190 and divided by twelve so they receive a paycheck every month. No holidays, no paid vacation - 12 sick days, 3 for personal use with prior approval and not on certain days.

Other employees have contracts for different numbers of days. Principals work more days than assistant principals. Teachers work more days than parapros. County office administrators work year round. Maintenance workers work year round. Get it?

Let’s say a teacher’s salary is $42,000 a year (many of course make more). They are paid $3500 per month for 12 months. PeteSake says teachers get no holidays and no paid vacation. What an irresponsible statement! Call it what you want. When schools’ out in May, teachers don’t come back until August. They get a week off at Thanksgiving, two weeks or more at Christmas and New Years. A week for Spring Holidays, 2 weeks off for planning, which is up to them whether or not they work, 12 sick days they can take even if not sick, 3 personal days, and all the National Holidays such as Labor Day, etc… That’s about 19 weeks off, not including weekends. That’s about 95 work days off plus 104 Saturdays and Sundays for a total of 199 days off. In addition, they can leave work at 3 or 3:30 in the afternoon. That only leaves about 166 days of actual work. Divided by 30 days in a month, teachers only work the equivalent of 5 ½ months a year. Taking the hypothetical $42,000 annual salary, that amounts to $7,636 pay per month of work. Oh, I forgot, they also have teachers’ assistants and at least a one hour off period each day for planning and grading tests. And dumb jerks like me often have to work weekends and nights to make ends meet and get a tax increase for schools every year. Thanks Janet Smola. PeteSake must be a teacher. And they’re going to have a workshop in PTC to instruct parents on how to learn the “new math” so they can help their kids do homework? By the way, the Financial System just collapsed, and I just lost my job. There was a mob of thousands yesterday on Wall Street protesting the bail-out with a young man holding a sign reading, “I’ve got a 4.0 GPA, $90,000 in student loan debts and NO JOB”. While Janet Smola’s of the world are increasing his future property taxes and huge future debts for the boy to pay. And the poor boy doesn’t even know it, because they didn’t teach him this crap in school.

If you think teachers are paid well, go to school and become a teacher.Three of my children are teachers, so I speak from experience.
Teachers who leave at 3:30 bring work home.I have seen my children up until midnight grading homework and tests. I see them on their time off doing lesson plans, planning projects and contacting parents.Last week my daughter had to attend mandatory meetings 3 days, and they went past 5:30 pm. None of my children have teacher's assistants.In addition, they and most other teachers spend some of their own money to purchase items for their classrooms. Personally, I don't think teachers get paid enough.

and is it any wonder why we can't get "qualified" teachers? What young person in their right mind would willingly throw themselves into this sort of snake pit. You begrudge teachers the paltry sums we pay them. And what do we pay them for? To take the kind of abuse you heap on them. Obviously you have never attempted to spend any time (Let alone a 30 year CAREER) trying to lead students to knowledge while being beset from all directions by parents who do not want their children to learn anything they have not already taught them.

You have spent a great deal of time and effort picking apart teacher pay-for-work hours. You have failed to account for furthering their education ON THEIR OWN TIME. You have failed to account for the time spend preparing lessons and grading student work ON THEIR OWN TIME. You have failed to account for time spent supporting students in their extra-curricular efforts as coaches and spectators largely ON THEIR OWN TIME. It is no wonder schools are in the state they are in when EXPERTS (and I use the term VERY loosely) like you are continually stabbing them in the back.

Can schools do better? Of course they can, but they will not do better if administrators, board members, and teachers are constantly having to look over their collective shoulders to see who is sneaking up on them this time to push the knife a little bit deeper.

Keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

I used to be a teacher myself. My brother still is. My point about teachers is not that they don’t work but that we have a 115 Million $ Education Budget that compromises 70-80% of our property taxes and there’s too much waste in the budget. That the 12-1 teacher/student ratio could be changed to 24-1 needing only 900 teachers for 36 Million $ savings. If teachers spend their own money, as just wondering said, it’s obvious that most of the money is not going toward our children as Janet Smola claims it’s needed for.

No one ...is...belittling the teachers....they are belittling the way the money is handled. I agree if teachers are having to spend their own money, something is very wrong.

I think a lot of people feel this SPLOST vote was brought on by a hunger for power and control with little accountability.

No one is saying they don't value the teachers, but hey, how bout some compasion for the taxpayers? Some are losing their jobs and hanging on by their finger nails.

What is really bad is, I don't think we've seen the worst of it.

Another year won't kill the schools. If Janet Smola was really concerned about the taxpayers, there would have been conversations with...all...the BOE members for a long time before now. There wasn't.

For someone who thinks she's so smart, she let Dr. Todd make a monkey out of her. He asked the question and drew her out, then he just sat back and watched her big mouth and obnoxious ego do the work!

You are not clear!

Isn't what I said what you said? If they work 190 days les sick days, etc., they get paid for twelve months for the contracted amount!

If you are saying they SHOULD get the two months off but get their current salary as contracted for plus be paid extra for the summer months.......
40,000 salary divided by 12 months = $3333.33 per month for twelve months. Work 10 however!

But, but but it was nit who said it, not you. Now you either forgot who you logged in as again, or you're finally dropping the pretense that you're different people. Which one would that be?

I yam what I yam....Popeye

Tell me if I am wrong but don't teachers get paid an annual salary, divided by 12 months and paid every month---even when off for the summer? It doesn't matter how much they work!

I don't know what your unpaid "holidays" would be!

Are you not a teacher and do they not pay you in the summer as teachers are paid?

With over 80% of the current school budget being spent on salaries and benefits, not our children, can you honestly expect me to hand you another $65,000,000+, yes the citizens of Fayette County make up at least 50% of the sales tax revenue in Fayette County, with NO accountability?

The FCBoE tells my child that they shouldn’t use drugs via the D.A.R.E. yet they themselves, the administration, seem to be “Exempt” from the teachings of that same program.

For a mere $1,000,000 in tax money, I expected full, honest and OPEN disclosure of all expenses from our FCBoE about all school system expenditures. Yet we’re treated to “client confidentiality” double speak from a lawyer that can’t legally even make that claim.

Tell me, did the FCBoE learn financial management from some of Wall Streets finest? Does the FCBoE have a financial interest in national home mortgages or just local land speculation?

You can kiss the center of my lower cheeks if you think I’ll give you another penny before I see what you’ve already wasted my Federal, State and local tax dollars on.

From Slide 24 on BOE's SPLOST Powerpoint:

"About 88% of the district's operating budget with is supported by state funding and local property taxes, goes to pay the salaries and benefits of teachers, administrators, bus drivers, food service employees, custodians and other staff. The other 12% pays for items such as textbooks and supplies as well as utilities such as fuel, natural gas, electricity and water. State funding and local property taxes do not provide substantial funds for regular building maintenance, replacement of buses, or for technology and safety enhancements."

ALL the money is spent on students...most of it for employees who directly deal with students...the rest is either for support of instruction (teacher training and such) or necessary overhead. Gotta have a finance department...gotta have a human resources department...gotta have a special ed department...gotta have curriculum support...gotta have a lawyer...gotta have insurance...somebody's gotta answer the phone...somebody's gotta spend their days researching and searching email archives and making copies for Open Record Requests...gotta have lights...gotta have heat...gotta have water...

Before we give this group more of our money to mismanage, maybe we should get new blood in there. They can have a fresh look at the budget etc. and see if there REALLY is a need for SPLOST. I can almost bet that there are cuts that can be made W/O cutting the jobs that are closest to the students.

You want to elect a new board, to wait for them to get trained, to fire the current leadership, to hire new leadership, to throw out the current plan, to create and implement a new plan that is supposedly better? How long do you expect that to take? Results have proven we have one of the best schools systems in the state. Is it your idea of a good plan to throw out the baby (and today's schoolchildren) with the bathwater and figure out what to do about today's problems later?

I guess that I would rather have it on backwards than have it in a place where the sun don't shine.

We need to elect a new board, cut the fat in Fayetteville, cut the waste at the school level, and then see how great the need is for a SPLOST. How long will it take? Oh, I don't know. That's part of the problem. There's too many of them pushing the paper around. As another poster said, the BOE and the administrative staff are NOT responsible for our great school system. It's the teachers, parents and students. We need changes in the BOE and in the administration BEFORE we consider a SPLOST. We have excess personnel at the administrative level in Fayetteville, but Sweat et al. are not going to make any cuts there. They'd rather threaten to cut parapros because that speaks to voters' emotions. There's plenty of wasted dollars at the individual schools as well, but there never seems to be anyone who monitors such things. Once things are done a certain way, no one ever questions whether it might lower costs to do things a different way. It's just habit and lack of oversight.
There's no way I'm going to vote to give our current BOE more money. Many of us are living through our own "austerity cuts" these days. How do we deal with it? We spend less! And if a different BOE were to revisit a SPLOST later on, there are other options, such as a half-cent tax rather than a full cent, or a shorter-term SPLOST of 2.5 to 3 years.

Your logic to not give the BOE any more money is rather flawed as property taxes will rise and cuts will be made if additional funding is not made avialable from other sources. As I stated before, the voters had an opportunity to change the make up of the BOE and choose not to take that action. You must live with your choices, therefore you must think clearly as to the consequences of your actions. If you react in anger, you will find that the situation will not change and only get worse. We need to change our method of funding the school system as we still don't get it as a county - the only one in Georgia not to pass a SPLOST for school funding.

Yes times are difficult for alot of people, however a significant number made bad financial decisions and unfortunatley, we all are paying for them. If someday we all decide to take responsibility for our decisions, then we can solve problems and not make them worse.

Guess what Peeps...regardless of whether we pass the SPLOST or not, your property taxes will go up. They get us coming and going. But...most people write off their property taxes on their income taxes so their goes that argument. Seniors don't pay the school portion of property taxes but would be hurt by increased sales tax. And with this economy, sales can slow down at any time and still leave the bofE supposedly short of $$. When the BofE wanted to get the bond passed, Dr DeCotis said that any county who relied on a SPLOST in a bad economy would be hurting because of lower sales revenue. So, if that argument was valid then why isn't it now?

I love this argument that proponents of the SPLOST are saying..."Every other county in GA has one, so we should too." As I tell my children when they say that to me..."if everyone is jumping off a bridge would you do it too?" That usually shuts them up. Fayette County supposedly has the best schools in the county...w/o a SPLOST. Why should we do what everyone else is doing? We must be doing something right here.

But the most important thing that we must remember...these two people have not been elected yet! The election isn't until NOVEMBER!!! There is still time!!

Like most people, I took Janet Smola at her word when she loudly, proudly and often bragged about her financial acumen prior to the July primaries. I tend to take people at their word until they have proven to be deceitful.

And let's face it, Janet Smola and Terri Smith are very very deceitful people. 6 days after their re-election seemed all but assured, they dumped this half-baked SPLOST proposal (short on specifics for "maximum flexibility") and declared financial ruin was on the horizon unless they received an additional $115 million dollars to mismanage.

Right now, the only hope of busting up the Smola/Smith/Wright cabal is to elect Nicole File to the board of education in lieu of the deceitful Janet Smola.

Electing File would also have the added benefit of forcing Terri Smith to act more professionally. Smith would be forced to tone down her childish petulance without two other guaranteed votes catering to her whims.