News-Record.com

Bruce and Jennifer,

I think a link to your weekly Poll is needed on the N&R Home page. (If it is there, sorry, I haven't noticed it.)

I think a more visible poll would get more activity, thus more credence.

Thanks,

The following letter and comments are 'borrowed' from the Letters to the Editor:

Board deserves raise now less than ever

Why am I not surprised that the Guilford County school board is considering giving itself a pay raise?

All I hear from the board is how it doesn't have enough money to fund all the educational needs in the county. I realize that the total amount of these increases is not significant in the overall budget. However, if times are tough the board should be showing leadership by refusing to consider a raise. They knew how much they would be paid when elected so if this is not enough for them now, they can simply resign their positions effective immediately.

I know a number of people who could do a much better job of running our school system and would be willing to do so without compensation. What have we gotten from this group? For starters, we have the infamous High Point "choice plan" debacle, which has proven to be a failure; the debate over where to place magnet schools; the list goes on and on.

Perhaps if they actually took action instead of talking all the time we could see some progress. This board has to be the weakest and poorest run group in the history of Guilford County.

Steve Sumner
Summerfield

Posted by News & Record at March 31, 2005 03:00 AM

Comments
I see that raises are given for 2 purposes: To adjust for Cost of Living and to award people based on merit. Only one of those applies to this school board. Can you guess which one?

Posted by: mr t at March 31, 2005 09:15 AM

I can not say it any better than Mr. Sumner and Mr. t have.

Posted by: Yvonne at March 31, 2005 11:10 AM

Amen to Mr. Sumner.

Over at the Chalkboard and also previously on Doug Clark's site, a reader asked if anyone could name one single academic achievement of the High Point Choice Plan.

No one can and finally Bruce Buchanan admitted that there is not one single academic achievement.

So, the board continuously makes bad decisions - that's bad enough, but then they never go make and try to correct the bad decisions. Rather than stop the insanity with the High Point Choice Plan, they think they need another semester of data. In the meantime, the 8th graders are awaiting their assignments for next year.

Considering there are only 4 years of High School for these students, one year, two years, etc. is too much wasted time on failure.

The board's condescending, elitist attitude is sickening. If their concern was truly for the education of the children, they would do the right thing.

Thank goodness, at least, we have Darlene Garrett and Anita Sharpe. The are the only logical, reasonable, and concerned members.

Posted by: quest at March 31, 2005 12:58 PM

Mr. Sumner,
I respectfully beg to differ with your describing the school board as the weakest and poorest run group in Guilford County. The Guilford County Board of Commisioners has held that ditinction for many years now and has worked very hard to maintain the title. The school board is at best a close second. Please give credit where due.

Posted by: yellowdog at March 31, 2005 01:53 PM

Mr. Sumner,

Thank you for your correct assessment of the Guilford County school board.

I'm happy to see that you are NOT from High Point. It seems that this board likes to create the impression that only a small group of North High Point residents cry foul to their recent decisions. It's obvious now that the entire county has had enough of their shenanigans.

I made the exact statement as you that I could find, in a day's notice, folks to replace the inept on our board and NOT require a CENT in compensation.

And "Yellowdog" I can see where you are coming from with the distinction of "weakest and poorest run group in Guilford County" going to the commissioners. But, it's true. The Guilford County School Board has surpassed the asinine antics of the CC's. I wouldn't even call it a tie. The School Board wins, hands down.

Posted by: Sherry at March 31, 2005 02:29 PM

Marcy,

I checked with our tech guys about getting the poll out front. That won't be possible since they are redesigning the Web site and already have a separate poll planned for the "front" page.

But we did ask if they could set up the poll so that as soon as you enter the Chalkboard you will see a link to it. That way it won't get buried as we post more items and the poll question post gets pushed down the page.

I'm sorry, but that's the best I could do. Hopefully, it will help make the poll somewhat more visible. Once we see the redesign, other ideas may present themselves to make the Chalkboard (and weekly poll) more visible.

Keep the suggestions coming. Where we can, we'll incorporate them into our coverage, such as adding the weekly poll.