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Now Bruce, you opened the door on this! I can't wait to read the thoughts!

Bruce,

I have to admit that Wake County and Charlotte/Meck as the two largest school systems in the state deserve only the best to solve their educational problems. Since we are making such excellent progress here in Guilford County, whereas those two have so many problems, it is only right that our beloved superintendent be given his release to pursue one of those dream jobs. I mean that he can help so many other people in one of those locations. We need to understand that we shouldn't hold the most progressive and innovative superinetendent in the world to ourselves. But, I am sure that our BOE will rise to the occasion and find $50,000 to hold him here. Who could blame him for taking one of these positions at a princely sum when he actually has to achieve some goals here in Guilford County just to get a measly teacher-like raise.

Free Terry Grier!!

Na, na, na-nah. Na, na, na-nah, hey-aAYYYY-GOODBYE!!!!!

Well this guarantees a substantial raise for the good Dr. afterall. I'm sure Guilford County wouldn't want to lose its gem of a leader to Wake County or Charlotte-Mech.

No, wait a minute, aren't these 3 areas linked by rail? And we already have an All-State School Board member. Just think of the possabilities...

Dear God,

I have tried to be a good person in my lifetime and try not to ask you for many special request,,,,but just this one time if you could answer a prayer that many citizens in Guilford County have been on their Knees for.

You see Lord,, we have this Dictator who rules the Public School System....Since his "Reign of Terror" started in GCS,,,the Schools have spiraled Downward.....This man s' main priority at his job, is his own personal gain..

Mecklenburg and Wake County now have openings for a Superintendents Job,,,, PLEASE LORD,,,HELP US,,,PLEASE send mr. grier away from us,,,,I wish no harm to others,, but we have suffered enough in Guilford County.

Thank You Lord,

AMEN

IS MR. BECOATS BEING GROOMED FOR THIS JOB HERE?

To the Dozen-Star General,

I pray that your prayer is answered. It's tear-jerking to see a General so sincere.

God Bless you.

I don't think Mr. Becoats is being groomed for the superintendent's job, because I don't think Dr. Grier is going anywhere any time soon. The school board (or at least a majority of board members) is pleased with the overall job he's doing. And Dr. Grier is under contract until 2009.

Personally - and this is just my observation, not based on any inside knowledge - I think the school board would do a national search and look for an out-of-town hire. That's what happened in 2000 when Dr. Grier came to town and at the time, there were more experienced senior staff members in the central office.

I'm certainly not knocking any of the current senior staff members, but I'm not sure if anyone on staff has the political experience needed to run a large, urban school system.

It's one thing to understand academics or how to balance a budget. It's another thing to understand how to negotiate with county commissioners and how to get a majority of school board members on your side. I've spoken with a number of current and former urban superintendents and they all say that the toughest part of the job is the politics.

I would suspect that when the time comes to replace Dr. Grier, the school board will look for someone who has been a superintendent before. But like I said, I don't expect that to happen any time soon.

I am not very religious but I am getting out me prayer mat and off to church this sunday..

Forgive me father because I have sinned. I have thought evil thoughts of SB superduper and the SB itself.

Bruce, if what you said is true that Grier is under contract until 2009, I hope to God that we have a new school board by then. (replacing Dot) If we don't, I will have to start self medicating because I will never make until 2013 when my youngest is out of this system.

Bruce,

You have reinforced my faith in your good sense of personal character with your last post. I always knew that Terry Grier's only attribute was his political savvy, and you have confirmed it. But, I agree with you, Terry Grier is an experienced politician of the first order. He knows how to manipulate people and things to his own advantage very well.

Let's see. One definition of politics is "One who seeks personal or partisan gain, often by scheming and maneuvering". I think that is a very adequate description of Terry Grier, but I take no comfort in having an expert politician in charge of our public schools. Personally, I would rather have a person who actually cares about children and their education, not a politician.

Bruce and Gilda,

If you check with an experienced lawyer, you will find that an employee contract in North Carolina is good for one year. I was told you can sign an employee contract for as many years as you want but it doesn't matter. An employee contract is good for one year only in North Carolina.

Grier is an employee of GCS like anyone else. So this may be challenged.

Like you said Bruce, the School Board wants him here. That is where he will remain until they decide to let him go or he quits.

You also have to consider. What else would you get? How much would it cost? What kind of job would the next person do?

It will be interesting to follow what measurable objectives are set at tomorrow's meeting. It will even be more interesting when the retroactive raise time comes.

I can't fathom that any man could sit there and watch schoolboard members, facing myriad problems like paper and other supply shortages-laying off teachers assistants etc and many others also due to financial limitations, waste valuble time at retreats and meetings lasting to 1am figuring out schemes and formulas of how to pay him more, when he's already making 210K. I simply can't fathom the vanity, the self-interest, the callousness, the pathetic foolishness of it. It makes me vomit. If this man had an ounce of integrity and decency, he could simply say "look fellas, we can skip it this year." Dr. Grier you are a scoundrel and a fool. You should be ashamed.