Neil,
How do you feel knowing that you were lied to about the ESPLOST saving jobs...or better yet how do you feel knowing you were the pitch man that championed the cause...how's it working out now?

How about the wife...is she going to lose her job? Have enough people contacted the BoE to save the most qualified media specialists? Bet you can't believe your unlucky stars.

ESPLOST= no saved jobs + higher taxes!!!!!

The FCBoE = Bad Math!!!!

Take Care

Neil Sullivan
Co-Chair Fayette Citizens for Children
www.yesfayetteESPLOST.orgSorry for the second post. Too many numbers running around and not enough caffeine.

I promise to discuss the school capacity issue in the coming days but time is short right now. So let me get to the other point on the bonds.

Mayor Brown makes a good point that FCBOE promised to use these bonds to build schools and for technology bandwidth. I have confirmed with the state that bandwidth for bond purposes is cables and thinks that become part of the building for networking and such NOT computers and things you can easily remove.

But, if the FCBOE were to repurpose would they be breaking their word from 2004 even in an emergency? I think so. Emergency can be casually stretched based on precedent in the future.

Even if they were to repurpose, we would buy assets that have a useful live of 3 - 6 (very high side) years with bonds that will be paid over almost 20 years. That is reckless and almost negligent in my opinion.

Take Care

Neil Sullivan
Co-Chair
Fayette Citizens for Children
www.yesfayetteESPLOST.org

Neil,

I thought you said you'd discuss the school capacity issue this week in the newspaper. Well, you lied.

Sam Sweat was the one who said the bond funds could've been used for the computers. I guess he would know.

Can't believe you'd support the actions of Smith and Smola and call others "reckless." You're a little low on character Neil.

Vote Republican

Same issue as before. I am working on that but all wheels stopped on Monday, but soon.

As far as character, I am the one out here in my name. Presenting facts developed from scracth for the most part. So it is ok to disagree and I think we do, but let the hero tell us his real name if
he values character so much.

Bed Time

Neil Sullivan
Co-Chair Fayette Citizens for Children
www.yesfayetteESPLOST.org

The election is Tuesday, you've got a big ole web site and you still don't know the answers?

Give us a break!

It's cut and run time for the E-SPLOST people!!

On October 23, you promised to address the over capacity deal. Instead of being honest about the disaster, you cut and run.

Vote Republican

I think you have been conned into doing the dirty work. Smola has always lead the charge for SPLOST. Now, with her job in jeopardy, she put you out there. The truth of the matter is, unless you squeeze/scare the hundred of school employees/voters, bad enough, you aren't gonna get it. It has also been noted that your wife is a teacher and that you would have to pay more in insurance like the rest of us if this doesn't pass. That is not very fattering picture.

The truth is the public, who don't have school ties, and something to lose if SPLOST doesn't go through, see it vastly different.

Our children will take longer buss rides past empty fields owned by developers. More money out of our pockets and Janet Smola and Terry Smith still making decisions. The answer is NO! and though you mean well, you are painting yourself with the same brush by being their little parrott.

Suggarfoot

I wish we had talked last Sunday when we were together at the Gathering Place. There you heard me say that my wife is a teacher at McIntosh and my son will be entering kindergarten next year. I have also stated that clearly in a letter to the editor.

You will recall I said there and I will say here, when I started this journey I was actually against the idea of an E-SPLOST. But then I dug into the numbers myself and worked outside of FCBOE data to understand the situation without any bias. What I found is that the situation is serious. Not due to financial mismanagement but a fundamental shift in the economy that has caught many companies and organizations in a difficult place. For some companies this change is going to mark a significant end, for our schools it is more likely a pause period. We must now make hard decisions.

The funding cuts from Atlanta coupled with the rising costs of the best school system in the state have created a situation where we need to decide how to proceed. We are now maxed out on our property tax millage rate for all reasoned purpose. We have a veteran and proven teacher workforce that is paid average against surrounding systems. Our schools need to be sure to attract and retain the best teachers. We have programs that most other systems do not have and our results reflect that. However, in the past the State of Georgia has funded almost 58% of our schools, next year they will fund less than 48%.

You talk about long bus rides and closing schools. However, there is no logical way to close any school in our system that would be a scare tactic. Our elementary schools are 86.7% full, in 2004 this number 84.4% based on Fayette standard which is 95% of state maximum capacity. 14 trailers worth of Tyrone and North Fayette Children from Burch Elementary will be moved inside the building when River’s is open. Overcrowding inside Burch will be relieved. Burch is currently at 110% of Fayette standard. Our school system was 89.75% full in 2004 and is 89.5% full today. In that period we have opened 4 schools. We will be publishing a 5 year look at school capacity next week on the website after I confirm a few more numbers.

We are all connected to the schools by our property values and as members of the community. Our great schools attract and retain great neighbors. The best schools system attracts great employers such as Cooper, Hoshizaki, and other quality employers. As our new friends from Northwest decide to move to Atlanta, they will choose to live in Fayette County because of our quality schools. Our excellent schools provide our children with the best opportunity for scholarships and entrance into the best colleges. Did you know that UGA actually has to limit the number of early admissions from Fayette County because we can fill the place up based on performance?

Our great schools benefit the entire community regardless of your point of view, and I have chosen to support them to get the resources we need and keep our unique and valuable programs. I respect your opinion to differ.

Happy Race Weekend

Neil Sullivan
Co-Chair Fayette Citizens for Children
www.yesfayetteESPLOST.org

I got you confused with someone else about the kids. I still feel you are being used.

The end of the story is that very few will vote for SPLOST because of the credibality of some on the BOE. Everytime taxpayers drive 9 miles ow past open fields owned by developers,to take their little ones to school, their blood is going boil. Especially when they past the little Tyrone Elementary not half a mile from their house.

The amount of money that has been layed out for what most feel was ego spending on the part of some, will not get us to shell out more.

You must understand, you are not fighting people with cold hearts over their children's future, but the track record of your buddies.

Suggar

No worries. I have confirmed with FCBOE that the attendance lines for Rivers will not pull anyone past Tyrone Elem, also there are no plans to close it or Brooks. This was my worry as I live in Centennial. It made no sense for our kids to pass PTC Elem. to go somewhere else. I am glad most of the districts do not work that way. Tracey my co-chair was on the committee and drove the whole county to understand where everything was before she agreed to any lines. I don’t think any redistricting will please everyone, but I really respect the work of the citizens on that committee. Several of those people are working with us on the E-SPLOST.

Our committee doesn’t feel we are fighting anyone and aren’t trying to. We feel there are a lot of facts to discuss regarding the E-SPLOST and we are working on getting those out. Our position is that facts support the E-SPLOST. Like I said this Sunday, we believe this initiative is about our children, our schools, and our community NOT about our school board or administration.

No matter what, we plan on continually monitoring FCBOE finances and reporting on what we find, like the data currently on our website.

Peace.
Neil Sullivan
Co-Chair Fayette Citizens for Children
www.yesfayetteESPLOST.org

look real close at what they are saying to you..."No worries. ... will not pull {anyone past Tyrone Elem}, also there are no plans to close it or Brooks. This was my worry as I live in Centennial. "

Look at the track record of these people...and then just look at what you said...no one ...PAST TYRONE ELEM....Past?

They are already taking either the Principal, or asst princ...and shuffling them between there and Brooks...they are trying to scare people at Tyrone Elm, but what they are doing is making them unite...

If you are a good person, and I think you may be, move out of the way and let Smola and Smith take their licks...in the past Smola has lead the charge...she is using you...and hiding behind you...let that witch come out from behind your coat tails and speak for herself..this is about our kids...and you will be left looking like the bad guy and she can skunk away smelling like a rose!

run that big mouth and tell us why...you didn't build the high school next to the elem and middle over on 54 and why you sold the excess land to the developers....except for a few for a swiminng pool..? Tell us how you thought it was unbuildable but the developers bought land and built a sub on it...now tell us why you bought more land down the road from dev to build the high school on?

Come out...come out Smola and quit hidding behind Sullivan...you have never played little bo pee before and quite honestly,,, it would be really bad casting...so come out and speak for yourself instead of trying to turn a parent into your parrott..!

Smola, Smith, Sullivan = Splost.

Students and Schools

Neil Sullivan
Co-Chair Fayette Citizens for Children
www.yesfayetteESPLOST.org

preciousStahr that should be a slogan!

Nor to be rude, but didn't I understand you to say ...you have ...no...children?

VOTE NO FOR SPLOST for accountability, if nothing else!

McCain-Palin 2008!
For the good ole' USA!!

Neil let's just THINK about this, if it was such a bad idea to pay for technology with bond $$$ than why did the school system do it in the first place?
Doesn't it make more sense to use bond $$$ for what is needed and is in hand rather than continue to build schools to foster development?

Hi Grover:

The technology purchased with bond money becomes part of the building, like data cabling and things inside the walls to make computers work.

The technology we need is computers, servers, and software. That cannot be purchased with the bonds as they are currently purposed but CAN be purchased with E-SPLOST money.

Take Care

Neil Sullivan
Co-Chair Fayette Citizens for Children
www.yesfayetteESPLOST.org

Actually Spear….. There you go again! Telling only part of the story. BUT you did help me think about a different way to think about the budget issue. The costs are rising while revenue is not keeping up. We can choose to pay for the quality we have or choose to change our programs
When we think about computers, we can have a five day discussion on lease versus buy. However, one thing is certain; a decision to lease a few years ago now threatens the success of our schools. If the 1,800 computers were owned, we could choose to forego paying any money except maintenance. For example, my car is 8 years old and I paid it off 4 years ago. I pay for tires and oil and enjoy no car payment. Thus as long as the car is serviceable, I can go on. This example ignores obsolescence which is tangible in the computer world.
We cannot take funds to lease computers from the E-SPLOST, we can only purchase. If we choose to continue to lease we must use operating cash. However, if we purchase the money for the current leases can then be used to ensure the quality of our instruction is not at risk.
Remember, benefits have been increasing at a double digit rate which is over $2 MM if the employees pay half the increase. Teacher pay was increased by the state by 2 % which is approx. $1.8 MM before longevity which I cannot figure out how to model. The state has taken over $1.5 of expected funds for “austerity”, and the cost of nearly everything else has risen.
Many quality organizations have been stymied by the turn in the economy which has been pretty unpredictable going on almost two years. Nobody saw growth absolutely stopping like this. Like any company I can see mistakes, but the results measured by the cost reflect a very high return on our investment.

Neil Sullivan
Co-Chair Fayette Citizens for Children
www.yesfayetteESPLOST.org