News-Record.com

Bruce,

Please explain further what "school health centers" are - most of us are not familiar.

I just know we need many, many more nurses in school; that we need to educate teachers, parents and staff of asthma prevention; and that substitute teachers, for one, should not be giving medication to students they might have never known in their life before.

I would not want my child taking any meds from an unauthorized person whom I did not know.

Barbara Ann

I believe health centers have social workers in addition to a full time nurse. I just wish every school had a full-time nurse! I don't think that the GCS should replace the money unless it's spread around to each school. Why just these 6? The state says one full time nurse per 750 students (I believe this is correct, Bruce? Jennifer?)but most of the schools fall way short of this. We have a nurse 1 1/2 days a week for almost 1200 students... no where near the required time. Everyone needs these nurses. I have been lobbying our state legislators to fully fund this mandate; then the GCS would not rely on funds from the county, but the state would pay for each school.

Bruce finally admits that he does NOT live in the "Choice Plan" district. He says:

"I asked the central office folks and they told me I was in the Southwest/former Southwest district. It's a moot point because I don't have any children in school."

Oh really Bruce?

It's a "moot" point? So you're saying that it doesn't matter that you've lied about what district you live in? You feel that you can lie about it because you don't have kids?? Is this what they're teaching in journalism school these days? Were you absent the day that they taught about ethical responsibilities?

I am VERY offended that you claim to live in the Southwest district, and I do NOT buy the rationale that the "central office folks" gave you the wrong information.

What other information have you misrepresented?

How long were you going to keep up the farce?

Did you feel that you were lending a "sympathic" ear to those that REALLY live in the SW district?

Did you get more inside information than you would have as a "reporter from the Ragsdale district"??

Is this how the N&R goes about getting information from the community?

Do you just go home each night to your house in the RAGSDALE district and LAUGH that your little plan lasted another day?

Do you feel even ONE little ounce of guilt???

You cannot be trusted now. And I'm sure the central office doesn't appreciate being used as the scapegoat. Who did you talk to there? When? Why not do a story about how the Central Office gives out erroneous information?

You have ZERO credibility.

SHAME ON YOU!!

Hey, why don't you pretend that you have a child in the VSN program, then you could get cozy with those ANGRY parents! That would make for AWESOME reading!

Or, pretend you're Edward R. Morrow and start advocating that the new school in the NW district be named after you!--or maybe you live there too?

You can be anything you want to be! By the way, where did you go to journalism school?--oh, never mind, I'm sure I won't get the truth.

I hope your house is up for sale and you are looking to relocate in the "Choice Plan" district. If not, you need to resign.

Posted by: OFFENDED at April 2, 2005 09:37 PM

Uh, I think you misunderstood. I was saying I do live in the Southwest district. I checked when I moved into my current home. Before that, I lived in the Western High district.

And, boy, it sure is easy to question someone else's integrity when you're hiding behind a fake name and bogus e-mail address, isn't it?

Debra,

I agree! We need a full-time nurse in every school. Where we moved from in Virginia Beach, ONLY a nurse or a parent could dispense any medications to a child in school. There was a nurse on staff at EVERY school. The rules on dispensing meds were very strict and enforced.

I am appalled at the lax attitude of who is allowed to give out medications anywhere from Ritalin to asthma meds to expecting someone without asthma to know how to use a nebulizer or how to use an epipin; to recording kytone levels of a diabetic child. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen. In reality, for example a sub most often does not know a child. So a stranger is giving a child meds. Even if it is the child's homeroom teacher, who wants that responsibility if a child could have a reaction?

I have known one child whose meds for hyperactivity were always being "adjusted". I made sure the assistant gave the child their meds and the assistant signed the sheet.

As a sub I can tell you, oftentimes no one leaves instructions that a child is on meds; or the instructions on the meds and where the key to the "box" can be found is at the bottom of a pile of papers. Also if a child behaves a certain way as a side effect of medications, oftentimes no one lets you know. You are walking into a unique situation every time.

I would give up the social worker for the sake of funding one full-time nurse for every school. We have guidance counselors and child psychologists on staff to work with kids. They stay in touch with the parents of children who are in need of these types of services.

Another problem is oftentimes a kid is sick and cannot go home. There is no parent at home; you can't reach a parent or a parent has no transportation to pick up a sick child. It is pitiful to see a sick kid have to endure at school all day. At least a nurse could keep an eye on that child and make him comfortable until the long bus ride home.

p.s. to last poster don't forget we live in the "Twilight Zone" district - the possible end to a decent education and definitely another dimension.

As far as Bruce and the information Central Office has been known to give out in the past many times - different answers to different people - this is very believable. Also if you don't have kids, it is not that much of a current concern as far as "your own kids".

Bruce, can you answer this question: If a kid attended SWH as a freshman; attended Ragsdale because of a divorce in the family as a sophomore and now is moving back into what was considered the SWH district before it was in the Twilight Zone can that child as a JUNIOR automatically get SWH, OR does she have to go in the Pick 3 Lottery for the HP Twilight Zone?
I am asking for a friend.

Basically for 2005/06 year would it just be freshman and sophomores who would move in to the area and be thrown in the lottery?

Barbara Ann

You can have legitimate complaints and have all the right points and evidence to back up your position, but if you act ugly enough, eventually no one cares whether you're right or not because all that stands out is how ugly you've just acted.

Children's temper tantrums perfectly illustrate this.

A child can even be right about something (yes, even in comparison to an adult), but once the child throws a temper tantrum, does any adult care?

I'm assuming the bravely annonymous "OFFENDED" (a.k.a. "WAY offended") is an adult, but don't let that keep any reader from labeling his or her post anything less than an ugly temper tantrum.

And if it is from an adult, it's arguably worse than a temper tantrum because adults should know how to behave better than to express something full of such ugliness.

You can argue all you want that the way things haven't gone your way justify such behavior, but realize that you're on the exact same completely shaky ground as terrorists who claim that they have a right to commit terrorism because of all that they have endured.

Once a person commits an act of terrorism, who cares if they had valid complaints or not?

The same principle also applies to lesser degrees of ugliness than terrorism--once such ugliness is displayed, who cares if the person had a legitimate point or complaint?

I don't know Bruce Buchanan, but a part of me hopes he is the most evil person around because maybe then that would justify some of the ugliness heaved his way by "OFFENDED"/"WAY offended" in his/her post.

But I don't suspect that Buchanan comes close to being evil--from what I've read of his posts, he seems very sincere and accomodating, and he certainly showed the most impressive and remarkable restraint in his response to "WAY offended"/"OFFENDED".

I hope "WAY offended"/"OFFENDED" reads this and maybe realizes how unclean a post he or she made and does the honorable thing and apologize profusely to Mr. Buchanan (NOT Bruce).

I'm not assuming the absolute worst about "WAY offended"/"OFFENDED"--I'll give the benefit of the doubt and assume a moment of mistaken misguidedness; we all are capable of mistaken moments of ugliness. Hopefully we're all equally capable of aknowledging our mistakes, apologizing, and working hard not to make the same mistakes in the future.

It would also be a good and decent thing for other readers to express disgust and disapproval for the tone and the content of the "WAY offended"/"OFFENDED" post. Not doing so is akin to ignoring a racist or sexist comment directed toward a person. Just continuing on as if nothing has happened might lead some to assume mistakenly that such conduct is condoned, tolerated, or excused.

You can make strong, valid points without being ugly.

Otherwise you should choose a life of celibate silence about what you think or feel.

Hopefully "OFFENDED"/"WAY offended" will learn from this, grow up, and conduct his or herself in a more civil, professional, adult manner in future posts.

He or she may have great ideas and opinions to share and express, but unless the ugliness is removed, quite frankly, WHO CARES what he or she thinks, feels, or has experienced?

The only "Terrorist Group" I have seen in Guilford County is the school board that is still strangling the rights of the people of High Point.

The rights of our middle school students have been ripped away.

The students are being held hostage by an experimental plan that might happen in a socialist third world country.

Their "FREEDOM OF CHOICE" has been stolen by a school board that is out of control.

Where will these students go to school next year?

They will go wherever our school board forces them to.

Freedom and Democracy are slipping away in America.

Griers' Terrorism of Guilford County must be stopped.

Nothing is so ugly as a blantant lie.

IF YOU ACT UGLY, NOBODY CARES WHAT YOU POST,

Well said.

The vicious ugliness expressed by Offended speak more about the writer that the one she attacked.

IF YOU LIE, NOBODY CARES WHAT YOU PRINT.

Just got back in town and scanning 10 days of newspapers (nice to be on my own computer) ....back to the Health Centers subject now that I have read the article.

I would close them if you cannot provide the same program for each school in the county.

I would focus on providing a full-time nurse for EACH school in this county and education parents, teachers and staff on health issues such as asthma. There is Social Services that provide social workers. The schools have counselors and some have school psychologists.

This is what I would do but not that that matters to the powers that be.

Working on next post for the off the subject issues.....

Last post didn't take so I apologize if this turns up the second time.

Back to the original subject - just got back in town and have scanned 10 days of newspapers (nice to be on my own computer).....

Read the article now on Health Centers in one of this week's papers.

I think that they should just be closed if you cannot provide this service to EVERY school.

I would focus on providing a full-time nurse at every school in this county and education parents, teachers and staff on health issues such as asthma management. We have social workers with Social Services. Schools have counselors and psychologists. We don't have to duplicate this.

This is what I would to but not that it matters to the "powers that be"...

Working on the "off the subject post"

As a sub at Welborn and Andrews I have never had to give medication to a student. All medication is kept in the office at Welborn and students go there to take it. At Andrews they do have a health center. They take medication from the nurse. It is a good thing to have. All a parent has to do is fill out authorization and a medical history. The nurse can dispense Tylenol and Sudafed in addition to prescriptions. I know one time my son hit his head on an open locker and the nurse gave him Tylenol in addition to an ice pack. All a regular school nurse can do is give ice packs and band aids. I think the health centers are good because they can do more to help keep kids in school, but the nurse cannot see someone who is not signed up. You only have to do the paperwork once and it carries over from year to year. I think the schools were chosen because of the at risk populations but the service is available to every student in the school.

Okay, "Time Out" - I am gone for one week - do I have to come home and send you all back to your rooms for a "time out" (HA)

In defense of Bruce, I have known him as a reporter now for 2 years. I have never caught him lying. Reporters may not always tell you all they know off the record but that is not "lying". Some sources are kept in confidence. Now if that confidence is broken, that is another story.

There may have been articles put out by N & R that had a definite slant many times by any the reporters who report on school issues. With reference to that - sometimes they only know the b.s. that they are fed by the GCS. As those of you "in the know" know - some people are really convincing. I think many of us have forced the reporters to seek out the truth many times this past year.

We have certainly seen the very slanted editorials put out by N & R - so we know where the paper has stood. Also letters to the ed have just seemed to get lost sometimes.

The reporters have tried to report what they know. They may not always "know it all" either.

Bruce may live in Ragsdale or SW - I don't know. And how many times has Central Office told us different stories??? The list goes on and on and on and on and on, etc. Does it matter where he lives?

Now for the phoney who signed under "IF YOU ACT UGLY, NOBODY CARES WHAT YOU POST"

First of all, YOU are the one who has ZERO credibility. You sound exactly like a School Board member and by your writing style I have it narrowed down to 2 but feel surely I know which one it is. You did not sign your name and you have a fake e-mail address. What does that say about YOU? (You could be EK too)

Secondly, this is called the "Chalkboard" - some of us are the fingernails scratching on the board or the squeaky chalk, and yes at times, people may express their opinion in a manner which is not comfortable for you and very annoying. It is still "Freedom of Speech" which makes the Chalkboard a success. It is not the timed three minute speech at a school board meeting. If we want that we can go and speak and not be heard.

Thirdly, have you ever seen "Bruce" address himself as "Mr. Buchanan". You have heard of "Cher", "Roseann", "Sting", etc. Here we are just "Bruce", "Barbara Ann", "Teddy", "Marcie", "Slak" or whatever personna someone chooses to post under. Bruce is younger than some of us and he has never told us to call him "Mr. Buchanan". I don't think in knowing him that he expected someone to call him "Mr. Buchanan".

Back to you having "no credibility", do the words "3 billy goats gruff" sound familiar? or "London Bridge"? You could actually be "Offended" and "WAY offended" and "IF YOU ACT UGLY, NOBODY..." - you could be the SAME person - you could be SYBIL! You could have your own little drama going on here. Who would know but you?

How is a writer on a blog site in any way like a "terrorist"??? You have to realize parents have been pushed to the limits and are sick and tired of being pushed around. You don't walk in their shoes! Slak is more on the target here. Our children and the families of Guilford County are the ones who have felt terror - terror of 90 minute bus rides; terror of going to unsafe schools where teachers and principals continue to leave and where teachers with felony records have taught; terror of not being able to sell their house when their husband gets transferred because they live in the Twilight Zone School District; terror of being taken away from the friends they love and the terror of not having a competent teacher to teach them or being forced to take ridulous courses like mime and puppetry.

That is YOUR OPINION about people not speaking out against "Offended". Opinions are like belly buttons; everyone has one.

The bottom line is people express things in different ways; are entitled to their opinion; may just be having an "off" day and lost it. Who are you to say they are a "racist" or "sexist" - you don't even know these posters. It is a fake name on a blog site. That is it. This is not an article in the Washington Post. it is a credible as you believe it to be. Period.

I think we could all use a "time out" including me and get back on the subject. But this is just my "opinion" - take it or leave it.

Just "Barbara Ann" please....

It's funny that "truth" mentions, well, the truth.

I've done a little checking. As moderator, I have access to individual computer signatures of every poster, even if they don?t leave a name and legitimate e-mail address.

It turns out that the "truth" message was posted from the same computer as "also offended." Which came from the same computer as "Way offended/offended." Which came from the same computer as "another teacher." Which came from the same computer as "educator."

In fact, this person (or people) has posted at The Chalkboard under 18 different names in the past week alone. Some of those include:

- lol
- Marcy
- Sherry
- accountable accountant
- grier's HOT
- wits end

And since The Chalkboard started, this same poster (or someone using the same computer) has used no fewer than 50 separate user names. Some of these include: Mini-dad, a mom, Rosey, Grace, Pam, tim, Paul, B.J., furniture gal, common sense and Tweekybird. Some of these names pop up over and over again, while others are only used for a day or so.

I know that anonymous posting is a part of blogging, for better or for worse. But it appears to me that using that many separate identities - including different names within the same thread -is deceptive, to put it politely.

UPDATE: Add one more to the list. He or she just posted as "Janette" over on John Robinson's blog. This reminds me of that Chevy Chase movie "Fletch," where he changes his identity every 10 minutes or so.

To Andrews sub,

You have been lucky. At elementary schools, the instuctions, the metal box containing bottles of pill for SEVERAL kids are in the box, the key is somewhere they tell you. You give out the meds and sign the log with your initials. What is someone gave the wrong pill to the wrong kid?

I personally will not be giving out any meds anymore; I will not take on that liability for a "paid volunteer" job and I am not authorized in writing by their parent. I am not a nurse. I plan to have the assistant do it if she has or call the office and have someone in charge come down.

Barbara Ann

Bruce,

In all fairness, there are many situations where several people use the same computer. While I was trying to read my e-mail this morning and read the Chalkboard from the hotelin Virginia in business office; 4 women were cackling next to me and shopping for rings on the shopping channel and it was very annoying so I got off line.

People could use one computer from a public library; a dormitory; a sorority. I know of a few friends who share the same computer. I know of people who like to call in beeps together. Any one could go to a public library and use that computer and a fake name.

There is nothing wrong with sharing the same computer and people posting from it.

As mentioned in another post or somewhere, blogging is a different medium. People take all they read with "a grain of salt". You never know the source. It is not verified data. Look at all the other websites - many people NEVER use their real names and for many reasons. Some could be teachers or Guilford County employees or vendors of the school and could lose their accounts. Others just choose to remain anonymous. That is the fun of blogging and why people write so openly.

I think everyone should drop this issue and start fresh.

Just my humble opinion for what it's worth.

Simply "Barbara Ann"

Just a future tip to anyone, don't call Central Office and ask them what school district you are in and NEVER rely on your realtor. Many are still saying "Southwest" district which does not exist. And we all know about getting variou answers from Central Office whether it be in a written conflicting publication or by a phone call. It depends on who answers the phone or who they forward you to. Look how many people called to ask various questions regarding their kids particular situation with regard to the lottery rules and got all kind of different answers.

I would go door to door and ask your neighbors who have kids where they go to school. That is if they still have any kids left going to public school.

Just a thought.

Barbara Ann,

You make some great points as usual.

I thought about the fact that it could be a common computer. But some of these posts were made at 10 p.m. on a Saturday night. That would strongly indicate that these came from a home computer, rather than the library.

Also, I re-read many of these posts from the same computer. You can see the similarities, both in writing style and in the point they try to get across. Obviously, there's no way to know for 100 percent sure if the same person (or perhaps the same family) is posting under these 50+ names. But I'm pretty convinced that's the case.

And you are absolutely right that we should all take what we read on blogs with a grain of salt.

To "If you act ugly, nobody cares what you post, I agree with you wholeheartedly. I am guilty of not responding in the past to these type of posts. I don't like to see the name calling and criticizing that some people seem to always resort to. And I know I will be criticized for this post because some people never try to understand your viewpoints, they just put down anyone who does not agree to their agenda.

I do have one question, though, to everyone that is critical of the High Point Choice Plan. Would you be willing to have the attendance lines redrawn so that the true neighborhoods of each high school in High POint be guaranteed a seat in that particular school? A line could be drawn in a 1 to 2 mile radius around each school. The rest of the students could be then divided up so that each school had their seats filled. Or maybe the Choice plan could be used for those students who don't live in the immediate vicinity of the school so they had a choice of high school.

Why don't we just redraw the attendance lines altogether, like the school board suggested a couple of years ago when this debate all started.
But no one from Southwest wanted that so it was not done. That's my principal problem with this whole debate. A lot of parents want everything their way with no compromise on their part. And when you don't get your way, you resort to ugliness. That's when I and many other people just tune you out.

Another thought along these lines are 'true' magnets. Make the schools excellent in their 3 catagories and alot of people might choose those schools! Its long bus rides, poorly thought through plans and courses that aren't well staffed as well as the uncertainity from year to year that continues to upset the vocal opponents.

To Sandy Allen - last post:

Redistricting was done in 1999 - it took many years and lots of hours and hard work to come up with "the maps". There was much community input. Previous school bond money was passed based on these maps that were voted on. Those in the county always had the disadvantage as each school got 2 reps; most schools at that time were in the city - i.e., Central HS area. Representation was not based on demographics.

Members of the School Board at that time who had their own agendas created those empty seats at Andrews in a land locked school hoping people would come. People moved. The problems at Andrews that some of redistricting created were made known to everyone in the newspapers; they have continued to worsen with teachers leaving; principals leaving - you know the rest. The School Board should fix the problems they created.

One school board member I spoke with awhile back told me that she would not support sending anyone to a school with so many problems.

If the problems of violence; discipline; getting competent teachers who would stay, etc. were FIXED, I would think parents would send their kid to a good school if they didn't have to bus across town. But this is not the case.

You are forgetting one important detail. Andrews would have been an OPT OUT school had the Title I funds not been shifted. NCLB could have stepped in and actually HELPED the school. The school failed to pass government standards; but now the "rules" have changed. Just because the rules have changed and it is not a Title I school doesn't mean the school has improved.

Now there is no opt out; no title I money.

Whoever voted for the current school board got what you wanted - "equal" schools. No extra money; lack of adequate teachers; fluff courses.

Welcome to Public Education 101.

p.s. Sandy

The bottom line is so many of our schools are way overcrowded - Ragsdale, etc. We need more schools. But it is a "Catch 22" - with the trust issues of the GCS and School Board and money it will be tough to get the support for another bond referendum in this county.

Ditto what Debra M just said!

If these are magnet schools; which they are NOT according to Guilford County Schools' publications and the NC Department of Education this could work. Great schools; true magnets; great curriculums; fix all the discipline and violence issues; good teachers would come, etc. etc.

This would be so ideal; but alas this is not an ideal world, esp in Guilford County.

One more thing, we have been telling the School Board and Admin for years that smaller classrooms would work at Andrews and take care of the "space" issues the board carelessly created.

Now all of a sudden, they are saying that smaller classrooms work better for learning. WOW! what a novel idea!

Just use the seats for smaller classes and deal with the problems instead of trying to always hide them and shuffle them around or bus the problems to spread them out.

Also, no one has ever yet answered the question, "What has the HP Choice plan done to improve academics?"

Still waiting - it's been several weeks now.

This may be a little late, but I wanted to address Barbara Ann's question about the student transfering into Southwest.

Since the student will be a junior this fall, it's my understanding that they would automatically go to Southwest, without going through the lottery. But if they are a rising freshman or sophomore and transfer in, they would have to go through the lottery. I'm not 100 percent confident of that, though. As you said, I would get that in writing.

Sandy

I wish I had more time to address everything, but I'll do the best I can in a short amount of time.

I would not agree to lines being redrawn in High Point so everyone has their neighborhood school. Reason: this plan is much more farreaching than High Point.

I live 12 minutes from SWHS, 13 minutes from Western, 14 minutes from Ragsdale, 28 minutes from Andrews and 40 minutes from Central. I could get to almost any high school in the county quicker than Central. I travel to my sons high school at least 2 times a day and many times 4. If redistricting were going to happen, it would have to encompass the entire county and as stated earlier, that has recently been tried.

I believe a better solution would be to provide a quality education at all of Guilford County Schools. One suggestion would be to let all families have real choice and choose one of the three closest high schools to them. If all schools were top notch, I don't think there would be any complaints or problems with attracting families. For my family, we could choose between SW, Western, or Ragsdale. For another family, it might be Page, NW, or NE. For another Central, Andrews, or SW.

I think its time that Guilford County start educating our students, preparing them for college, and quit using our schools and children as political bargaining chips and experiments. It's time to educate all students (without excuses), no matter their color or economic status. Every child and family deserves a great public school!!!!

We have lost too many families to adjoining counties and private schools and the trend will continue until real educational issues are addressed instead of being covered up.

It's time that we all work together and hold the School Board accountable. Until that happens, the cycle continues.

Kay,

You are exactly right. We hold them accountable at the ballot box! The only way to force any changes is with next year's election. And please do not think this is a BOE issue only! The county commissioners are equally to blame. They neglected education in this county for 20 years by not building facilities to address growth long ago. Now, the Board will never get the amount needed to address all the problems. So, they must be very smart about where the focus the dollars. And that is where this Board is failing. There are too many magnet schools that are nothing more than legal bussing charades. They need to take a few successful programs and duplicate THOSE across the county and stop adding every new crazy idea that comes into Dr. G's head so that he can try and get a grant to pay for it. Time and again I watch this board discuss a new proposal for a few minutes, then vote it in, and then the staff goes back and come up with a plan to implement it after the fact. The Craven School debate was the first time I saw that fail, thankfully! They had $1.5 million to spend and by golly they were determined to spend it! I say keep Craven closed until a viable plan comes to the table that is ALREADY fleshed out, then vote. WOW… what a concept!

Transportation is also a HUGE problem! Jim Moen should have been FIRED last September after the bus NIGHTMARE at the start of school. Instead he was just told to go "fix it"! THEY LOST CHILDREN, AND HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT!!! There was NO accountability shown over what could’ve been a very tragic ending to a HUMAN ERROR! They knew before school started that they did not have the routes set. In the non-government world, he would have been fired on the spot for such a careless attempt to transport thousands of CHILDREN!!!

That is why next year's elections are so important. The 5 members that are up for election need some serious challengers to step up and take them on. And those challengers need to be willing to represent ALL students, not just one group. This Board is afraid to stand up to the special interest that is "waggin' the dog". I am tired of hearing that the needs of the "under-served" are the only needs that matter. Yes, they do matter... and so do all the other students in Guilford County! I agree with John Hammer, this board is concerned with diversity and not education. It is obvious that speaking out will not change anything, voting will!

Kim

I haven't agreed with a lot of information presented by the NR but to host this blog shows innovation in taking a "hot" pulse of the issues. In my profession even the Bosses work is reviewed for errors etc. That Bruce and Susan take such input is a very healthy sign. They do not edit the paper, and corporate politics will effect anything produced at the corporation be it Cars or Papers. Journalism is not and never has been a "higher standards" profession, like many others they have many good professionals tryng to make their professional standards higher and more credible while others don't care. Even the very best journalists are fed bad info, only the very best have or make the time to question everything. This BLOG allows better questioning by 2 professionals who do have impact on the community.

We should all be willing to stand up and make a difference with good research and intelligent discussion.

Thanks Bruce and Susan

Garth

Garth,
you must man Jennifer instead of Susan! But what I wanted to say is- 'you go, girl'-- I couldn't have said it better myself! Vote for change!!!

Just wanted to ad - finally scanned 10 days of papers from being gone - saw a great letter to the ed I think dated 3/31 in N & R regarding SB raises. The writer made a great point. There are many people out there who would be great on the school board and would do it for the same or nothing.

If you missed it, you can go to the letters archives.

Kim, you are so right!