Fayette Hospital-- generally good but very inadequate emergency room.

As you walk in the front door of the Fayette hospital, what does it remind you of?

It’s designed to be converted into a hotel if the hospital business goes bust.

Thought you would like to know.

as I have seen on the Citizen blog.If it's a Fayette County resident attending summer school, and on my ticket( my tax dollars) I couldn't give a rats **** less when I compare that to spending my tax dollars to educate a kid from another county.

I am going to speculate that you see this as selfish, but responsible people will agree that I am right on target!! Why don't you offer your explanation why I should pay to educate a child from another county. And please, don't give me the crap that everyone is better off when a child is educated. Socialist logic doesn't cut it with me.

We have just normal kids:). Math kicked a lot of kids' tails this year, but aside from that, 513 is a low percentage, and this will probably be a wake-up call to parents that they need to get back on top of the homework issue.

mom678

I have not plowed in on the out of County students because it has been said. Meaning don't be here unless you are paying to be here.

As for the 513, that is actually a pretty low percentage with a school population of over 20,000.

Hopefully both parents, where appropriate, and students will learn a big lesson and get their acts together and get on with life.

No population is ever perfect. But Fayette, overall, is doing pretty good in the comparisons.

-----------------------------
Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.

are good, stay away from Sandy Creek and Flatt Rock or you will just waste your money

I visited the Town of Tyrone with a real estate agent who spoke highly of all Fayette Schools. Could you elaborate on your comment so that I don't waste my money? The home I found is within the Sandy Creek district.

I will value your opinion.

Thank You from a hopefully "future" resident of Fayette County

I moved to FC from ATL to take advantage of the schools here. I had every fear and trepidation a parent could have when faced with the prospect of my children attending southside Atlanta high Schools. Most likely, every comment uttered by outofbounds, or whatever your name is, was probably spoken by me about them as well. But to read the slamming of these two fine schools is mean-spirited and unproductive to all our area schools. Thank you for reminding me that it's far easier to be critical of situations than crucial in their improvements.

the only thing I agree with is that it probably has the highest 'non county' population, but again, read what I said, if the school board had got off their butt years ago and done ANYTHING, these two schools may not be in the shape they are today. I don't care anymore if it is in county, non county, or from Mars, these two schools ARE NOT UP THERE with any of the other schools in Fayette. I have been to Whitewater and looked it over, it is a joke that you try to compare these schools. The shoolboard has not lifted a finger till now to fix this and what about the kids who have tried to tuff it out there while the people like Smola on the school board did nothing? Some of these kids are wore out from 'tuffing it' and so are their parents. It is just no worth it to lisen to vailed promises anymore. Aside from the schools, this area has other problems. One is Tyrone. It has higher taxes than Peachtree City and we have nothing to show for it but an over paid town manager, around $100,000.00 a year to manage a 5000 population town. It is my understanding the Mayor of Tyrone is paid more than Peachtree city, and use to drive a school buss for a living. Then, as has been hotley debated by others in this paper, many times before, a police force that finds any excuse to write tickets to the already over taxed people of this town. It has been said that they get their jollies this way. Their concept of border line harrasment in some people's eye,s does not make this a better place to live, to the contrary. But at the end of the day it is much easier to ticket the people that won't fight back as opposed to criminals.
To bear this all out, the houses here in Tyrone go for a fraction of what they do in the Rising Starr/ McIntosh/ Whitewater school districts, though we have much easier access to the interstates.
People are very willing to drive further to live, to have better schools and lower taxes. Everytime they are stopped in Tyrone by the police for something micky mouse only makes them value where they live more.

Out of county, if you are going to comment on education, could you at least use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation? I got to the sixth line of your comment and counted five errors. Incidentally, it's "Mickey Mouse", as my pre-K child pointed out.

mom678

It is obvious that you are a teacher,someone on the board, or in someway responsible for the head in the sand attitude that has gone on here for years. The only thing you can find to fault in what I am saying is grammar, spelling and punctuation. How about the meat of it? 1. fact...Flatt Rock and Sandy Creek's scores are no where near Mcintosh, Rising Starr or Whitewater. 2.fact... Houses of same quality and nearer the interstate are going for far less in Tyrone. People are moving out and further south. Before I moved here, I was warned not to because of the schools and taxes. I did it anyway with an open mind and we have paid the price.
PTC and south Fayette have lower taxes and better schools and command higher dollar for their houses because of it. You can't stemm what is happening here with promises. It is far too late. Because we are getting less and less for our houses here, the out of county people now just buy here, it is now on par in Tyrone with Fulton. Then your area is next, no matter what you say.

Tuggle must live here and knows. I too, am voting out the school board.

I would say from the comments, board member from the Sandy Creek/ Flatt Rock school district, need not apply, to win by default again?

Are you a english major or teacher? Odds are your not. Leave the correcting to people who get paid to do it. If we didnt ask, we dont care. Ever heard that moto? Lets try not to be so petty in the future.

If you want folks to take you seriously when you write--especially if you're writing about the importance of education--try to demonstrate at least a basic grasp of punctuation, spelling, and grammar.

Shouldn't you have used a coma rather than double hyphens?

Just asking.

P.S. Spell check was invented just for me.

It looks like the double hyphens were meant to be long dashes. Some keyboards (like my laptop computer) don't have the long dash. Long dashes are acceptable so the writer can set the clause apart from the rest of the sentence for added emphasis. Commas would have worked in this case as well.

You're means you are, not your! Speak English for goodness sake--try a little.

I disagree that Sandy Creek and Flat Rock are ruined, but there is clearly a perception that these schools do not measure up to the other Fayette County schools, and the number of people moving away from Tyrone just a few miles south to Peachtree City, particularly when their children reach middle school age, bears this out. It is encouraging to hear parents tell of their children's good experience at Sandy Creek. There is no denying, however, that both these schools have a substantial number of illegal students. And while the newly announced crack-down on illegal students is welcome news for Fayette County taxpayers, time will tell whether this policy will actually be enforced. I certainly applaud the district attorney for agreeing to prosecute the cases and Dr. DeCotis and Sam Sweat for finally giving this problem the attention it has long needed. I give absolutely NO credit to the current school board members, all of whom, for far too long, have ignored this problem and have turned a deaf ear to parents and taxpayers who have complained about it. Anyone who has attended a school board meeting knows they are quick to pass out awards for this or that and discuss any number of issues of lesser importance, but never will you hear them address the illegal student problem at a public board meeting. Once again, it's the upcoming election that has forced them to take action (or at least announce a policy of action). My votes are going to Mr. Todd and Ms. Hardnett. I'm tired of listening to the incumbents' excuses as to why this problem couldn't be tackled sooner.

What you say is right. And kids in Coweta ..do...well and their schools are good. PTC mom and others can hide behind their snobbery, but it is the truth.

Flat Creek and Sandy Creek have not been ruined. They are both still good schools with good kids and staff. Please note that Sandy Creek is the only Fayette high school with an active AND award-winning ROTC program before you go busting their chops. Just for the record, I do not have kids that go to either of the above schools nor do I work there - solely because of location.

mom678

http://reportcard2005.gaosa.org/k12/Centers5.aspx?vSysSchoolID=|638:ALL|,|656:ALL|,|ALL:ALL|,|638:5054|,|638:196|,|656:192|,&T=SAT&TS=0&D=

this is a comparison between Northgate, and Newnan High in Coweta and Sandy Creek in Fayette. We are not comparing the other high schools in Fayette as everyone knows they are good. That is not what we are talking about at all. It is the fact that these fringe schools are not doing well and the people living in this area have paid high taxes when they could have gone to Coweta and got as much bang for the buck and a lot less taxes.

I've heard some good things about Northgate, but Newnan and East Coweta have a ways to go.

Honestly...you have no idea what you're talking about unless your kids go to a Coweta school. I just graduated as salutatorian of East Coweta with a 102 GPA and am going to the Honors Program at UGA this fall. The only reason I didn't attend an Ivy was because they don't have HOPE and the journalism program I need that UGA does. My best friend moved this year to East Coweta from McIntosh High School and really loved it. It's not just the academics...it's the atmosphere. It's all what you make of it. Sure, we have some poor test scores and the economic disadvantages here that you guys mostly avoid in Fayette really pull us down sometimes, but our AP program and teachers kick the tail of other Coweta schools and even some Fayette courses, I hear. I am the daughter of a poor, single mother and statistically should be pregnant and arrested for drugs by now. Take a look at where I'm headed. By the way, the reason I got to this post was because I'm doing a story on the Coweta-Fayette, etc. affidavits needed for residency for schools for the Newnan Times-Herald. I just graduated and they're giving me hard-hitting news stories to cover. Take a look sometime. My point: It's all what you make of your education, no matter where you are.

I agree Coweta schools are as good and the stats show it. Since you are doing a story on the Fayette affidavits needed for school, why don't you also do one on why some on our schoolboard...M.O.V.E.D.. to South Fayette with his family and got a lawyer to keep his seat on the school board for his district in another part of Fayette? Why would anyone do this for a low paying job? Perks? We would all like to know what gives.

Congrats on your choice. UGA's journalism program is one of the best and you will learn so much from it. Be sure to get a class with Conrad Fink, if he's still there. He was the best professor I ever had. Good luck to you.

What you've said is true of so many things in life: It's all what you make of it. Sounds like you have surely made the best of your high school experience. Congratulations on your accomplishments, and best wishes as you pursue higher education.

Thanks to both of you for the positive comments. I was caught off guard at first--it's terrible that the world revolves around negativity and negative viewpoints. I certainly hope to make the best of wherever I end up next. Thanks for the tip FCHSalumni...I checked the UGA website and it looks like Fink is still at Grady!

Excuse me but some people would like their kids to learn more than to MARCH! And if that was all I was after, I would have sent my child to a military school. Since you DON"T have kids there, you don't know what you are talking about. You need to go on line and look at the test scores before you open your mouth. I repeat Coweta High and Northgate are right up there with or above and there is not all the distraction going on there.

My son finished his Freshman year at Sandy Creek and I was very impressed with the faculty and staff. They really care about the students and their success. My son is an advanced student and took some sophmore level courses with 4 A's and missing his 5th A by 2 points!

I was concerned about discipline, but all incidents that I have heard about have been handled strictly and quickly.

I think that the diversity better reflects the society that these students will face in the real world. It's good to learn that some kids do live in trailer parks and they are just as good as you.

I think the peer pressure to "fit in" may even be less than the cliques in some other schools.

I looked hard when I moved from Henry County at Coweta County. 2 years ago, the test school comparisons of Coweta and Henry were about on even ground. They were not CLOSE to Fayette County Schools. I finally decided on PTC, and I now wonder why I didn't move here 20 years ago. My Son left Eagles Landing for Booth, and the difference was night/day. I still think McIntosh/Whitewater/Rising Starr and their respective Middle Schools are well ahead of any school in Coweta County.

The area around Northgate is pretty nice, but the Middle School for that area was way the other side of Interstate 85, and access is terrible. That and the lack of amenities for the area sent me to PTC.

Booth is good, we are not talking about it, we are talking about the schools on the edge of the county and they are not even close to Booth in grades and marching is not what I paid for my kid to learn

What if we take up a collection and start a citizens reward so we can put a bounty on the moochers' heads. If the school board would pitch in about $20K in addition to our monies their return on investment would pay off big time real soon. I could see a few soccer moms tailing and investigating suspicious bus stop activities. They could make a couple hundred bucks here and there and save the BOE and the taxpayers huge money.

Then SkySpy and I could get out our fire extinguishers and go after the deadbeat moocher parents after the sheriffs department apprehends them.

I will personally contribute $500 to every citizen who turns an illegal in that is then kicked out of school. Now that law enforcement is involved in this, the arrest will be public record.

I am so glad DeCotis put Sam Sweat in charge of this - good men - both of them.

Follow these people home from bus stops - you know the ones who have a parent parked 100 yards away from the bus stop so you can't see their Clayton County tag. Take pictures. Post their names here. Get involved, let's take back our schools and stop paying to educate kids who don't belong here and probably bring down our test scores.

I hope you are helping the candidates Hardnett and Todd who will make a difference when elected. They are the only reason this issue has been dealt with by the current do nothing board. They would sit on their laurels from now on if Faith Hardnett and Bob Todd had not made this a campaign issue. Thanks goodness that awful Powers is history. He needs to go NOW.

Yessss! I'm on board. My cell phone camera will be ready in August. I will follow the bus around and take photos of the parents at every stop. I am bound to get at least one.

Thank you Robert W.
meow

There you go Bobby that's a good idea. Let's follow up to make sure you keep your ample billfold out there.

I find it a little disappointing that the Board of Education hasn't solved this problem earlier. They should solved it years ago. Bringing in the District Attorney to solve this problem is like ordering an air strike to end a fight in a sand box.

I see you really took to the dry-chem idea.

We pay a lot of money to live in PTC. Heck, I could easily get a lot more for my money (housing) if I went to Newnan or elsewhere, but I get less house to live in a low-crime area (with the exception of the spoiled teenagers, of course).

I can't wait to hear my kids say, "Johnny Smith isn't at our school anymore. Did he move?"

"No," I'll reply. "His parents got honest."