News-Record.com

"A first-class school system is one of the most effective ways to reduce social welfare costs, attract new businesses and improve quality of life for everyone whether or not they have kids in the school system"

Agreed, but money has little to do with it.

"Nay"

Only if you can ensure me that my tax increase will be used efficiently and to educate the students. No one has been held accountable for the fire at Eastern Guilford, nor for allowing the insurance policy to contain such little coverage. Why wasn't the policy written for replacement cost? Why can they build 2 schools in Forsyth county for what it cost us to build 1 school?
Why are we spending ton's of money on diversity training, Show me a direct result of my new tax bill and better education and I will be glad to vote yes. Until then it is still business as usual downtown playing shell games with students instead of fixing the problems!
I'll give my my share directly to my kid's teachers, because I know they will use it for that purpose.

Greg,

I do not disagree with your premise about the benefits of a first-class public education system, however:

1) $1/2 Billion of brick and mortar does not ensure a first-class education. Building do not educate anyone.

2) This school ,system has miles to go before it could ever be considered "first-class", or even second-class, for that matter.

I recall five years ago when the school board forced the High Point Choice Plan into the High Point high schools, Dot Kearns proclaimed that the three schools would be "world class" schools. So, after five years, does anyone really believe that Andrews, Central or Southwest could be considered world class or even first class by any stretch of the imagination?

"like, duh", Greg. Put down the koolaid. You will vote for these bonds because you think that your children will benefit from building a $88 Million high school for 1,500 students. That's about $60,000 per student per seat. If you went to the race track, Greg, would you put a $60,000 bet on a nag that is broken-down and every race it has run it has been a distant loser? "like duh".

Some of the worst schools in the county are in the nicest buildings.

I say if you want to send your kid (or grandkids in my case) to an excellent school, vote NO on the bonds. That will put more money in your pocket and you might actually be able to afford to send your kids to an excellent school. They are hard to find in the GCS so you better start checking out some of the private options.

A great reason why not to vote for the bonds on May 6th.

http://greensboro.rhinotimes.com/Articles-i-2008-04-17-177410.112113_Bonds_Have_Long_Bite.html

ORR, didn't you read that the high price tags are because we're constructing "buildings that teach"? The buildings themselves teach. According to GCS. That's why they cost so much.

I have two kids in GCS and I won't be doing the "like, duh" thing. Unlike the letter writer, I find such infantile logic to be unpersuasive.

For parents like Greg that support these school bonds, because they think that it will mean better facilities for their kids to attend school, I would remind him and them of Terry Grier's comment, when asked about why Jamestown and Ragsdale did not get their new schools as listed on the 2003 school bond. Terry Grier's said: "We never promised that we would do everything on the bond list." Translated, that means that they want you to vote for the bond, but do not want to be locked into using the money as they proposed. They do not keep their word. It's the old bait and switch, folks. Basically, it's a matter of lack of trust in these people to do what they say.

So, we are to approve another school bond for Jamestown and Ragsdale....again? I voted for that one already. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

tufncsu correctly mentioned Foryth built two schools for what it cost to build one in this county. A board member in Forsyth stated that it was critical to their credibility and to retain the trust of taxpayers that they build schools as they promise on the bond list, which they did. He said that you must fulfill your promises to retain the trust of taxpayers so that you can get future bonds approved. As Greg's kids would say: "like duh". Remember that GCS school board members.

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To reiterate:

On ANY "Yes/No" issue such as constitutional changes, bond issues, tax changes, etc., ALWAYS vote "NO."

The good ideas will pass anyway ... and if your "NO" vote swings the result, it was probably not a good idea in the first place.

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