News-Record.com

Two things come to mind while I read this articles.

1-It is not surprising that the counties need more money. Greater number of students and more cuts from the state equal the need for more.

2-I was impressed by the fact that Wake County at least has some idea of where they will make cuts. As reported in N&R most of our BOE those discussions have never been brought up! It would be nice for our BOE to have a plan. I know where most of the parents would start (big smile)

Just got the new Rhino.

Looking at some of the six figure salaries on the school systems payroll, I can think of several places to start cutting fat.

I see where Griers buddy, Joe Yeager, is still hanging around making a cool $110,000 plus.

What is his job anyway???

Joe Yeager is one of the district's school support officers who works with schools on their curriculum. He also is slated to be the principal of Northern High School when it opens.

From WFAE on May 18,2005
http://www.wfae.org/wfae/nav1024.cfm?cat=18&subcat=93

"County Manager Harry Jones joins Mike Collins on this edition of Charlotte Talks. On Tuesday, Jones will have made his recommendations for the County Budget to the Mecklenburg County Commission. We'll talk to Jones about what the recommendations are, what tax increases are expected, and why they're occurring. Taxes, cutting programs and adding new ones on this edition of Charlotte Talks."

http://www.wfae.org/wfae/audio/CT20050518.asx

Bruce,

Did Joe Yeager Follow Grier from Tennessee???

Also, what happened to the principal who got caught paying students to not take the SAT test a few years back ???

I believe he was another of Griers" BUDDIES ".

I don't know, but could you tell me if he is a principal in the southeastern part of Guilford County???

The school board and Grier have wasted millions on controversial programs that have resulted in NO ACADEMIC IMPROVEMENTS OR RESULTS. In fact, based on the 1st semester results, they did more harm than good. I will not support giving more money to Grier or this school board. And to think they also want taxing authority! I intend to move out of Guilford county. I have lived here for about 15 years and I hate to think of leaving but until we get a more responsible school board and until Grier is gone, no child in Guilford County and no community can be sure they will not become a rat in their social experiment.

For 5-Star Gen. Slak:

That principal is still the head principal of Southeast High. Many of my teacher friends left Southeast this year because of him and still more would like to if teaching positions were available elsewhere for them.

Print that NR!!!!

If what 5-Star and Andi have to say is true, why isn't this made public.

I'm with Reassigned, if these stories of corruption are out there, why doesn't the N&R investigate and get to the bottom of it?

The N&R likes to see that the children and education are important, but is that just lip service? Show the taxpayers that you don't bow 5 times a day towards Eugene Street.

The N&R doesn't investigate! Don't make me choke on my Wheaties this morning.

They are only in business to print the media releases that they get from Grier and Company.

Duh!

And a happy Monday to you, too. If Buckmtn and Z two are finished throwing bombs and calling names, allow me to point out one small fact: We did report this story.

Date: Sept. 10, 2003.
Headline: SOUTHEAST PRINCIPAL RAPPED ON BONUSES
KEITH KREMER SAYS HE DID NOTHING IMPROPER AT NORTH MOORE HIGH SCHOOL.

Here's the story in a nutshell: Mr. Kremer, who is the principal of Southeast High School, was principal of North Moore High in Moore County until 2002. During his last two years there, North Moore improperly spent $2,200 from a state fund designed to help struggling students on cash bonuses for kids who did well on the SAT. The district had to repay that money to the state.

Even more troubling, students who weren't expected to do well on the SAT were advised not to take the college admissions exam. Instead, they were asked to take the ACT, an alternative college admissions test.

Mr. Kremer said he made an honest mistake in spending the state money and said he had permission from the Moore County Schools to do it. At the time, that district's administrators were under pressure from their school board to improve SAT scores.

"We didn't fly on our own," he told the News & Record. "I can't spend (remediation) money without someone above me approving it."

State associate superintendent Philip Price said these types of mistakes are common and said Moore County Schools acted in good faith to correct it.

Dr. Grier said he believes Mr. Kremer acted honorably, both in Moore County and Guilford County. No bonuses were paid to any Southeast students.

Mr. Kremer also said he hadn't discouraged any Southeast students from taking the SAT. Dr. Grier said he "won't tolerate" any attempts to steer kids away from the SAT.

However, we noted in the story that the percentage of Southeast High kids taking the SAT fell from 77 percent to 60 percent in Mr. Kremer's first year at the school. He said "(the drop) has absolutely nothing to do with Keith Kremer."

Still, that was the biggest one-year change of any Guilford County high school in the last five years. Southeast's SAT participation rate was 68 percent in 2004.

And there you have it. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get my prayer rug out. Which way is Eugene Street again?

I believe that Bruce and Jennifer do a fair job with what they are given. They can't just print anything without solid evidence and first hand accounts from teachers and others that work in the schools. The catch is that most school staff do not want to report wrong doing for fear of losing their jobs or being asked to resign. I had quite a bit I wanted to share with the paper after what I went through this year; however, a fellow teacher advised me not to because she said that teachers in the past had been "burned" by misquotes and that it sometimes made the teacher reporting the information look bad.

To be honest, I would like to share more with the public about what is going on with our schools, but I also have to think of my family and how I'm going to support them. I don't have complete freedom to speak out without facing repercussions in my career. The sad thing is that until people speak out the corruption and shady deals will continue.

Bruce and Jennifer, please continue to seek and write about the truth. You have the opportunity to make the public aware of important issues and to be a catalyst for change.

Dear Andi,
Have you and your colleagues spoken to NCAE about your circumstances? it is my understanding that they can speak for you and you can remain anonymous.

Dr Grier believes Mr. Kremer acted honorably???

HOW IN THE WORLD WOULD GRIER RECOGNIZE HONOR?

Bruce,

I hate to repeat this Question but, did Joe Yeager follow Dr. Grier to Guilford County from Tennessee ??????

Also did Sandra Barker-Carr work with Grier before Guilford County?????

Maybe in Texas????

Or was his first association with her through Nova-Southern University????

Just a few questions to ponder....

Whoops, almost forget, Did O. J. ever find Nicoles Killer?????

Did Michael Jackson Really get Aquitted?????

With Jackos' Credentials, maybe Grier could find a CUSHY job at Central Office for him...Maybe another school support officer.

5-Star Gen. Slak:
I tried to send this to your email address. It is the article from THE TENNESSEAN about Yeager following Grier.

"March 11, 2001
Section: WILLIAMSON
Page: 11W

YEAGER FOLLOWS GRIER
BARBARA ESTEVES-MOORE

PAGE HIGH PRINCIPAL WILL TAKE 30 YEARS OF EDUCATION EXPERIENCE TO NORTH CAROLINA

By BARBARA ESTEVES-MOORE

STAFF WRITER

FRANKLIN -- Principal Joe Yeager will leave Page High at the end of this school year to take a principal post in Guilford County, N.C., where he again will work for Terry Grier, former director of Williamson County Schools.

Yeager does not know which school he will be assigned to yet.

"I was very impressed with the system and the community," Yeager said of Guilford County in central North Carolina. "I've enjoyed my time being at Page. The opportunity there is just really something we really need to take advantage of."

Yeager's daughter will graduate from Page this spring, and the family had discussed leaving the area after she finished high school. He moved here from Lawrence County nine years ago. This is Yeager's 30th year in education in Tennessee, making him eligible for retirement in the state.

When Grier contacted, him he jumped at the chance.

"I enjoyed working with Dr. Grier. I felt like you knew where you stood and what his goals were," Yeager said.

Despite his excitement, Yeager said it will be hard to leave Page. He is glad he is going out on a high note, that pinnacle being the New American High School award bestowed upon the school in December.

Page was one of only 27 U.S. high schools designated as a 2000 New American High School by the federal government. The honor recognizes schools for pioneering reforms with rigorous academic standards and is part of the education department's continuing effort to encourage improvements in U.S. public high schools.

Yeager went to the White House to accept the award.

"I think we've raised the esteem of the school based upon real improvement in student achievement and the climate of the school," Yeager said. "The high water mark was the recognition as a New American High School. It was the icing on the cake."

Guilford County is a larger school system with nearly 100 schools in and around Greensboro.

Yeager is the second Williamson County Schools administrator to leave this year to join Grier in Greensboro. Brentwood Middle School Principal Beth Copenhaver left last month to become associate superintendent there."

How long was Yeager at High Point Central?
Why did he leave?

Gen. Slak,

Sorry about that; I meant to answer that question.

Yes, Joe Yeager did come from Williamson Co., Tenn. (Dr. Grier's old district). He was at Central for three years. He's slated to be the principal at the new Northern High - opening a high school is a pretty prestigious deal for a principal. With Central and the other HP high schools starting up these new Choice Plan programs, it was a good time for the school to make a change.

And, yes, Cassandra Barker-Carr does have a doctorate from Nova Southeastern University. It's the university that Dr. Grier teaches at part-time.

But I don't know if that's where they first met or if that's why she came to GCS. She was an assistant principal in the Houston area before coming to GCS in 2002.

Henchman,

Simmer Down now, it sounds like your job stress may have you a little on edge...

I do want my kids to succeed in life, that is why I continue to fight the the current administration in charge of our school system.

There was a time when I thought about leaving Guilford County due to the Socialist Direction our county government is heading.

At no time have I posted any attacks on the hard working employees in our schools.

Yes, there are some high paid administrators that Dr. Grier has on a leash, just as he does many of the school board members.These are the employees that must go !

As long as the deception and corruption continues to occur under Dr. Griers' Stranglehold, I will continue my Pursuit of freedom and justice for all students in GCS.

Henchman,

If you are a hard working school employee, May God Bless you...

If you are one of Griers' Goons, Take some your own advice and get the HELL out of Guilford County!!!!!!

Henchman,

why so jumpy? If you are a teacher who works in the schools, or an administrator who works in the schools, you know first hand how tough things are, since you are on the firing line. If you work in the central office, you also know how full of B.S. Grier is. We all want our children to get ahead. We all want a great school system. What we don't want, is increasing dollars to be wasted on fluff, or worse, transportation of children all over creation for a failing social experiment. With taxes rising, and funding being cut, we all have to eliminate waste, but Dr. Grier doesn't want to do that. He wants to continue to sepnd, spend spend.

oh, one more thing, why do you use a bogus e-mail address. got something to hide?

YOU GO Mike G and General Slak - 6 Stars after that "from the heart" logic.

About the false and nasty email address of the Henchman, I wondered that myself, Mike. A great teacher would be proud to defend the system.

You are right guys - many good people just choose to stay involved and make things right by our kids, all of the kids.

That is why the good parents remain steadfast in the fight just like the good teachers remain.

Easier to leave - certainly.

Some folks just believe in Truth, Justice and the American way for all of our children and try to help in what ways they can.

Correction: Meant to say

A "great" teacher would be proud to defend the system if they loved it so much.