News-Record.com

Call me cynical, but I don't think that they will fill the spaces with kids who can do the work. I did not see the meeting last night, but I saw the last one. So my remarks are based on the discussion of this program from the PREVIOUS meeting. This program is not a magnet. This is only for Smith High students. The Medical program has some (relatively) major requirements. You can't just transfer in in the 12th grade. IIRC, the adiministration spent a little bit of time dancing around exactly how they would end up with the certain numbers of QUALIFIED students for each of the grades. When so many other alternative HS programs have withered for lack of enrollment, I'm not sure where Grier thinks the demand is coming from. Basically, Early College at Guilford is wildly popular, as is Weaver, but that is a COMPLETELY different demographic.

For once I agree with this idea, it is a new twist on Vocational education. The key will be the implementation of the programs. We need to try something new to help these students. If it doesn't draw enough from Smith, Dudley, Grimsley and Page are just a few miles away. Perhaps it will be a magnet in the future. All these HS are maxed out with students, so relief of 400 students would give alot of room for growth.

There are many people that would like a 'trade'-- not sure about Smith students, but hopefully this could be a real chance for these students to becoming contributing members of society.

I also agree with Anita (I ususally do) that the cost of trailers; new, old, moving should be put into the actual slot where the cost was incurred. It shows the true cost of each project.

There's another side to this story and it has nothing to do with education.

So, the district will "put more resources where they're needed" and Smith is "a high-impact school when it comes to poverty". Why wasn't money funneled into Andrews to help with their problems?

Oh that's right, Dot Kearns has convinced the other board members that High Point is a "DIFFERENT KIND OF TOWN". Thanks a lot DOT!! One day they will erect a statue in High Point just for you. I hope it is inside a urinal at Andrews High School.

I think when voters vote for bonds the money should be used on what the voters voted on. I think it was Anita last night who stated we should not just "slip in" new projects with the bond money.

It is understandable that building costs on specific projects may increase due to economic condidtions. It is not acceptable to just "give" away contracts because of minority requirements. The best job for the money should be sought, while meeting the legal requirements of seeking women and black contractors. This is the taxpayers money. The school board should be good stewards of the money. Projects may have to be delayed until a later time if the money is not there. They should not just be deleted.

The Smith concept may be a good idea. I do agree resources should go where they are needed. But like many other ideas, the Choice Plan for example, funding was never available in the first place. The world class programs did not come. The continual dropping projects, shifting funds from here to there, only jeapardizes the passing of future bonds. We just perpetuate the trailer town schools. Trust will continue to be an issue.

As Terp said it so truthfully, there is another side to this story.

I think we need to look long and hard at the safety, violence, and gang issues in ALL of our schools. I think all the schools need a reality check. Problems as referenced in "The Carolina Peacemaker" about Smith will only continue while the separate building is under construction. There needs to be alternative schools and consequences for breaking rules.

I truly hope this project does work out as a vo-tech program as Debora mentioned. But how long will it take to begin?

To me sometimes they put a "band-aid" on a situation that needs "major surgery". Sooner or later the band-aid falls off.

Remember High Point gets a Workforce Study by the mayor. Now that should solve all the problems in High Point.

I agree with Jennifer. Not the best use of money on a school that already has problems. I heard the same concern about the program from Deena Hayes that the kids who they want to inject into the new school would not be able to take the challenging classes required. Why not spend money in Smith teaching kids math and reading and English as a second language so they can actually get out of school and either go to college or get a job. Reading and speaking english are really requirements for everyday life in the state of North Carolina.

CREDIBILITY CONCERN!!!
Taking money, any money from bonds specifically allocated to certain projects under any condition is a betrayal of the public trust! Take it from operational funds and ask county to support Grier’s pet project. Jamestown was promised new buildings, now they have some big termites in the foundation with the queen being Terry Grier. This community was provided incentive to support (vote for) bonds on the promise of new schools for their overcrowded facilities and to prevent future cross town busing. Now, several years later, no school is in the works, they are told they are last place and if they really want new schools it will be at least 5 to 7 years (Alan’s comment last night) an already way over budget school construction program.

The annual budget should be inclusive of such “small projects” and should supplement the bonds, not the bonds supplementing annual expenditures. They have switched the logic and created an argument that doesn’t exist. (They argue that since annual funds supported some new construction bond funds could now supplement annual expenses) On occasion a community should issue bonds to help with specific rare, situations. Mostly, a fiscally prudent community will provide an annual allotment for capital projects and Guilford is no different.

We have now made a bad habit of raiding bond funds for small pet projects (remember wiring and misc expenses for Choice Plan was taken from New Construction Bond Funds) and credibility is edging (fleeing) out the door. It makes no difference how noble the project, a loss of trust is irreplaceable and where public funds are concerned this school board should be fighting to preserve the trust.

Question:
If construction is now 10 to 40 percent higher does this mean by lollygagging in project management that Terry Grier and his bosses have cost us between 30 and 120 million in New Construction bond dollars? I hope this is wrong.

It is looking dubious that there could be community support for another bond in the coming decade. After all the mismanagement and misuse of the public trust, it will take a generation to overcome this boards damage.

Garth

The news is that Marti Sykes will not seek reelection. This is news. Why did N&R not go with the story? Alan seems not sure.

Marti was a level heading hard working Board Member. It will hard shoes to fill. She was always for a more efficent meeting that the BOE usually had. You could count on her to question bringing old issues that had already been decided.

Joe,

Don't try to cheer us up today by telling us that Marti Sykes won't seek re-election. That would be such wonderful news that it could only be exceeded by Dot Kearns deciding to resign. Hard shoes to fill? There you go again, trying to give us a good laugh. Ha, ha.

Trust me. It is true.

Does anyone know if Jim Kirkpatrick lives in Marti's district?

And I so looked forward to working with her...

Well at least ALan and I can become good friends.

Jim Kirkpatrick lives in Darlene's district. So far, Marti and Susan are not running, no news from Alan and Deena, and Nancy is running.

It's true about Marti. She made it official today. We're writing a story for tomorrow.

Alan and Deena haven't committed one way or the other. But personally, I'd be shocked if either of them didn't run for re-election.

I agree Bruce, however Alan is very involved with his kids and their sports as well as his law firm, so the time commitment must be a hard thing to juggle. I think Deena will run, not sure about her kids ages etc. Most people don't realize about all the meetings/school gatherings etc that they go to. It's not just the meetings twice a month.

I know Marti has some supporters. I was at a friend's house today and saw that Marti was in a family snapshot.

I think the mailmen or women like her too. Saw some interesting photos on some mailboxes.

Boy she sure gets around!!!!

Wouldn't that be a queer postion for the schoolboard if no one ran for Marti's seat? I wonder what would happen?

Read Marti's e-mail here.

That is marvelous news.

Members like her who refused to have a real honest dialogue about issues is the reason there are so many injustices in GC. Especially High Point.

Oh, I see now that the board isn't in that queer situation that was worrying me.

Finally, MARTI SYKES PERFORMS A VALUABLE PUBLIC SERVICE.

If Marti truly wanted to perform a valuable public service, he'd resign NOW.

I'm sad about Ms. Sykes. I was so looking forward to the Rhino ads. I heard they were fantastic. Is there any way they can be used for Alan's campaign instead?

Is it Mr. Sykes or Ms.? I'm so confused!

Mr., Ms.; Sykes, Dykes.... whatever, as long as that reign of terror is over.

Does anyone know if her friend is for neighborhood schools?

It doesn't matter if you get Mr. Rogers and his entire neighborhood on your board, the reign of terror comes from another source. I know, I've seen it. I've seen this man work is "magic" in other places. My advice to you all is to get the elephant out of the room and then clean house.

test

I know Terry Grier well. I know how badly you all want to get rid of him. I've seen signs and stickers and editorials and the Chalkboard. In other words, I, like many others, hear you loud and clear!

To your credit, there are other school districts that have also heard you loud and clear. Dr. Grier has interviewed for other jobs. I can't say why he wasn't hired because I don't know. But I do know that your message follows him. I know that he arrived for one interview only to find the infamous black and yellow signs adorning the sidewalk leading to the building.

What I don't understand about your situation is why those in charge in Guilford County haven't heard your message. Again, your message is loud and clear. It is nothing that hasn't been said by every other school district where Dr. Grier has been employed. The message is fact based. Why can't/won't your local school board hear you?

Anybody ever read the book Horton Hears a Who? There is a great lesson to be learned. Everyone thinks they are doing all they can to make themselves heard but it is that one small voice that eventually makes the difference. FIND YOUR JOJO!! Someone is being quiet that needs to speak up.

Aside from all the redistricing issues, we need to focus again on making our schools safe for all students. Recently, I heard of a teacher getting held up at Page, a few fights at Western and a kid shooting a gun in the air in a school parking lot. What is going on?! I used to fear for myself (as a teacher) and now I just worry about all the innocent kids who may be standing nearby when something "goes down." Here's an article I read today.

Girl uses razor blade to attack classmate at Welborn Middle School

A razor blade slashing incident at a High Point middle school has gotten the weekend off to a stressful start for students, parents, teachers, officers and administrators. It happened this morning at Welborn Middle School. It started when two girls got into a fight. Police say, one of the girls pulled out a razor blade and cut another girl in the face and arm. The principal of Welborn Middle sent a letter home with each student telling the parents that the fight did happen. Since a razor was used during the fight some parents say it's time for a change. High Point Police issued two charges. One, a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon. The second, a misdemeanor charge of weapon possession on school grounds.

--from the Fox 8 news website

These violent incidents are not happening just at the so-called "bad" schools (though those incidents are more publicized). We are having problems in ALL of our schools with violence and gang-related problems. It's time to address these issues and not pretend that it's not going on.

Good point about Grier. Why doesn't our school board listen to us, the community? The school doesn't even listen to its principals and teachers! Repeatedly, there is a new requirement, a new spreadsheet, a new assessment that I must take care of almost on a monthly basis now. I am tired of those not "in the trenches" telling me to do things that have no impact on the education of my kids. Teachers complain for a reason. We're tired of being asked to things that have little to do with teaching. Why do I need to keep data on how many black students show up up for tutoring, how many hispanic females, etc. each month? Why are my fellow teachers now required to give writing assessments that they must take time to grade but that they are not allowed to put in their grade book? One of my students was "acting a fool" and not paying a bit of attention to what was going in class one day. When I called him out on it, he informed me that "I run the school. The students run this place."

They run it and they know it. Until something drastic happens, no seems to be listening.

We need a zero tolerance policy for offenders and 100% support for our teachers.

The GCS handbook has changed drastically over the past three years. We need to go back to strict policy of zero tolerance.

Fact: 25 pregnancies in one Guilford County High School.

Is this alarming to anyone?

Forget the world-class, bio-nuclear physics academy, we are missing something BIG. Our students are sending another kind of message LOUD AND CLEAR.

Something is gravely wrong, and once again, our school board is spending another year pouring over maps instead of addressing the problems staring them in the face.

WAKE UP SCHOOL BOARD AND SUPER, THERE ARE STUDENTS SCREAMING FOR HELP AND THEY WON'T FIND IT ON A LONG BUS RIDE IN HIGH POINT.

If you are saying that the school with the pregnant girls is in High Point - forget it! There's no help for them, none needed. Grier is ecstatic that they are still in school. At least they haven't dropped out!! As a matter of fact, he may want them to recruit at the magnet fair coming up. After all lots of girls that have 3 or 4 babies by the age of 20 wind up in the highest paying jobs in the nation, don't they? And if you sit a redistricted girl from SW beside her, shiiit, you might have the next president of the United States.

Remember the Welcome to High Point sign. Grier doesn't care about the HP schools. Hopefully the 25 pregnant girls are at Smith -- if so, THEY will get some help.

It is obvious that the problems of society have spilled over into our schools. You can call them "communities" to be politically correct. But a gang, is gang, is a gang. And that's just some of the problems.

Past year or so: Student getting shot while waiting for a bus at Grimsley; principals getting knocked down (Eastern, Central); teacher getting mugged in parking lot at Page; cars, buses, property being damaged; girl at Welborn attacked with a razor; Smith High School - Hispanics vs Blacks - the modern "West Side Story".

I have asked for cameras on buses. I was told there is no money. Why do we find money for everything else? A few years ago I remember reading that GCS was thinking about putting metal detectors in our schools. What happened to that plan? I remember my daughter was in middle school then and I cringed at the thought. I thought why am I sending her to an unsafe school? But other cities do it. I guess that "image" wouldn't go over so big for future businesses who want to come to the Triad. But when the guns start coming out, it may be necessary. We need a plan of action and teachers' watch program for when incidences do occur. We need to take back our schools.

We need altnerative settings for repeat offenders.

Over the past three years the GCS handbook has become lax on consequences. All the students know this. (See Andi's post.)

Until the students know that the teachers, principals and staff have control of the school, the problems will only continue to escalade. You can hide them all you want, but they are there. The writing is on the wall so to speak, literally and figuratively. Our local police confirm this with the gang grafitti they have witnessed.

Are we supposed to be safe institutions of public education or are we to be the social workers for problems that start LONG BEFORE the high school years? Teachers can't be the "parents" who allow this behavior to happen, or who aren't there. With all the sexual messages in the commercial entertainment industry today, no wonder we have all these young, single moms. This is a problem for all of our children. It's about impossible to be a teacher and a social worker at the same time. Heck with all the surveys, reports, and testing, it's hard to even find the time to teach, let alone the time to handle the disruptions and discipline issues. If the disruptions and unsafe conditions continue, you cheat the kids who want to learn out of their education. You continue to loose dedicated teachers and principals. They don't need this grief.

One of the most important issues facing our schools today is safety. If you get control of the schools, the teachers will stay. The kids who want to learn will learn. The ones that don't want to be there, will eventually drop out. It's sad, but true. You may save a few, but it must start EARLY and by teaching reading and the basics FIRST. You must teach children that an education is their ticket out of the poverty cycle, not one in a million chance to be the next American Idol.

Speaking of that, now Fantasia's story is supposed to be put into a movie. What will that continue to do for the image of City of High Point and the Triad?

It doesn't matter what superintendent we get if they are not going to address the immediate safety issues and get control back in our schools. And if they do address the problem, it is in the end, the school board who makes policies on these issues. It gets political. Any superintendent in this position does not have roots in the community, they are career people. They move on; the dust stays behind. It's not up to one person when policy is set by a School Board.

The School Board needs to insist that safe schools be the top priority in Guilford County. Hopefully, the new School Board will take action. The sooner the better.

Since the words "tipping point" seem to be the latest buzz word. Allen J refenced it in a recent strand. Grier talks about this book. Dot referenced it in the "Yes Weekly" interview in reference to public opinion and its strength.

When will the fair City of High Point realize they have reached the "tipping point" of the northern transplants leaving the city. The Yanks are not interested in saving the dying inner city of a once vibrant past. I would think many of the old timers have lots of big bucks invested in old HP, not so for the transplants. They have no vested interest here. Their cars have wheels. They have corporations that will transfer them. Many can afford private schools if they choose.

How many Las Vegas show rooms does it take to be the "tipping point" of the market going to Vegas? It's happening very fast. The bad publicity does not help.

How many property taxes will the city loose in revenues as people continue to move out? What will be the "tipping point" when the revenues go down?

Future bonds look doubtful. The red light money is gone.

What will be the "tipping point" from all the bad publicity that keeps Dell and others going to other cities/counties? When Fantasia's book becomes a movie, this can only help push the "tipping point".

What will be the "tipping point" of more taxes? and taxation without representation before folks decide to stay?

What amenities can High Point speak of that newcomers can't find elsewhere?

I was always taught to keep the dance partners you have. When all the dance partners have left North High Point for a better, more peaceful life elsewhere, who will you have left to dance with?

It will be "The Day the Music Died" (Don McLane) It's not coming back. Problems need to be fixed from within.

Keep the new blood of High Point happy. These are your voters. This is your tax base. This is your life line. Don't tip this new life over to other counties.

Uh, just a thought but I was wondering what everybody would think about a self-imposed word limit on posts? ....say.....under.... a million?

Yup,
post too much banem.

Max 100 words.

Read another blog if you don't like it.

We should just keep in mind all the "functional illiterates" around these parts. Keep it simple, stupid.

COME ONE, COME ALL!!!
This Is An Invitation For The ENTIRE County...
If you are fed up with presenting your case to the Board of Education, only to get no answers, feeling frustrated... and have them simply do what they intended to do all along (waste our tax dollars) HERE is the next plan.

After talking to a few of the County Commissioners and asking their advice, we were told by one of the Commissioners, that the next step for us is to prevent the School Board from getting the additional funds needed to fulfill their redistricting dreams. So, come one... come all, to the Commissioners meeting this coming Thursday night, and enlighten them of what the School Board is really asking them to fund. Again, we were given this advice from a few Commissioners, who feel it will help us hinder this redistricting. The School Board is attempting to push this through very fast, before anyone can catch on to what they are really doing here, so let's do all we can. See you Thursday night. Remember, strength in numbers... let's make a show!

The BOE and Guilford Co Commissioners are having a meeting Feb 15 6pm at Eugene Street-- this is found on GCSNS.com It has to be an open meeting for legal issues

County Commissioners meeting sounds great. Can you imagine that if they had a real budget instead of a "flixable spending plan", they might have to educate instead of shop. Take away the purse and we might loose some bloated head office and this would free up some teachers from burdensome trash generated by the bloat and then we might even get some TA's and then...

There I go again, dreamin, I must be dreamin...

Realty check time when Garth gets on the BOE.

You can't fool a CPA.

GANGS IN OUR SCHOOLS
I dont' have any great contacts on staff in Northwest schools, but most of my other schools all report gangs and gang violence, and only High Point seems to actually report it, but they still keep the term "gang" out of the news.

Ragsdale even has it, but again it is not reported. It is about time we addressed issues not "pet projects". But yes, we need to export our Gangs throughout the county, how much would it cost to bus a couple of gangs from central to Northwest?

NOTE TO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS READING THIS: WHILE SOME MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ARE INTELLIGENT ENOUGH TO REALIZE THAT THIS WAS SARCASM AT MY POOREST, SOME OF YOU MIGHT HAVE LOST YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR ALONG WITH YOUR COMMON SENSE. THEREFORE PLEASE NOTE, I REALLY DO NOT BELIEVE IN BUSING PROBLEMS, THEY MUST BE FIXED WHERE THEY ARE. I BELIEVE ALL CHILDREN DESERVE A QUALITY EDUCATION AND BUSING A FEW TO GET BETTER AND BUSING A FEW TO GET WORSE MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL. ALSO DUMBING DOWN THE GOOD TO MAKE ALL EQUALLY PITIFUL SEEMS A BIT ON THE LESS INTELLIGENT SIDE MR. GRIER.

FYI
I am out of town today and will return tomorrow. First thing I do, before I even go home will be to register for the election.

I am working on a full page for Sunday News and Record - Bruce or Jennifer, could you put me in touch with correct person.

Thanks
Garth

InDue Time
About "foolin" a CPA, sorry to disillusion you but "ya gota be a fool" to run for this office. You should be checking my sanity from the gitgo. Also, the ENRON MESS was created by CPA’s, it is the public’s diligence that will save our children and our schools.

I have kids, I love kids and I know they are our future. I know we can do better for all children and do not believe a bit in "resegregation". I am fool enough to believe that integration must become an archaic term because skin color, ethnicity and prejudice have no place in a modern society and that quality education will do more to eliminate this than busing. If a man thinks I am “prejudiced”, I owe it to myself, my god, and that person to find a way to show that I am not. This must be done in the most intelligent way possible and I believe that is to serve his children as I would my own.

I pray that I have the wisdom to discern when I am being hoodwinked by this practiced lot and when they may actually come up with a legitimate project.

Thanks
Garth

Following on Lisa's mail you can also E-mail the commissioners. See below.

sarnold@co.guilford.nc.us
imlshaw@aol.com
twade0@co.guilford.nc.us
mwinste@co.guilford.nc.us
byow0@co.guilford.nc.us

ccolema@co.guilford.nc.us
msa2820@aol.com
kcashio@co.guilford.nc.us
kidappeal@triadbiz.rr.com
pgibson@co.guilford.nc.us
kperkins@triad.rr.com

I Over heard an administrator at one of the troubled High Schools in High Point say, "If I could remove 50 kids from our school, we would rid the school of most of its' problems and would once again have a good learning environment".

Simple Solution: Remove known "GANG MEMBERS" from the General population in our schools,,,,these children should be isolated in a building with teachers who are trained to deal with THUGS.

If and when a child decides to reform and fly the straight and narrow,,,then and only then should they be considered for probationary re-instatement into their regular high school.

If this policy would be implemented,,there would be no need for Swapping, Busing or any other costly experiment that would eventually put the final death blow to the city of High Point.

Mayor Smothers,,,,it is imperative that you step in and HALT any plans to Swap Children in the High Point Schools!!!!!!!

If you allow Dot Kearns and the rest of the "HAMMER and SICKLE GANG" to use children as Manure to cover their past failures,,,,,then you to will be left with blood on your hands for the death of High Point.....

Davidson County, Forsyth County, and the Private schools in the area are once again welcoming the parents that are giving up on High Point...

How long can High Point endure the Mass Exodus?????

Productive Families are leaving High Point,,,,,who will they be replaced with???????

Could High Point soon become known nationwide as a "SAFE HAVEN for GANGS"??????????????

Mayor Smothers,,, you must step in and stop the madness before grier and his mob destroy "YOUR TOWN"...

Garth

Point taken and well said. Correction: A CPA should know the NUMBERS at budget time. We believe in your sanity. We believe you can bring common sense, truth and balance to this board.

Sing to the tune of "London Calling" /The Clash

High Point calling, to far away towns.
War is declared, the battle's come down.
High Point calling to the outside world.
Won't you step in and help, all the boys and girls!

The Ice Age is coming, the big fix is in.
Mad Dot and Sue are doing it again.
A nuclear era, but I have no fear.
High Point is drownin' and I...
I live by the river...

Excellent post General!

Has anybody talked to the mayor about the redistricting plans? If so, I would love to hear what she said. Is she still saying that it's not her job to run the schools?

I personally plan to obtain a license and picket the next market if she lets this school board treat High Point differently than the rest of the county. That is a promise!!!

The Mayor only likes secret meetings. See the HPE editorial today. That says it all.

General, don't forget you have reached Sweet 16 Stars. In case you forgot or didn't feel you deserved the 16th one this last post put you up there with MacArthur, Patton, Eisenhower and all the great ones.

I Do Solemnly Swear,

Perhaps you could do a photoshoot of the HP gangs. These would make excellent posters when the time comes. The problem is what do you call the gangs that don't live in a neighborhood but claim the hood name. How does the Mayor and her friends in Emorywood dibby up these gangs?

I've heard Dot say more than once "High Point is a different kind of town than Greensboro". I can only think she means High Point has some really ignorant people living there. So, if High Point needs so much help and we are that stupid, why are we relying on more ignorant High Point students to be the only ones solving the problem?
It seems to me that you are just stirring in more dumb-asses.

Let's stir in some of those pristine students from Greensboro to help. Those students at Dudley are so much smarter (right Dot?) so let's add them in the mix. And those brilliant students at Smith could really help a backwards town like High Point.

Please do something because stupid plus stupid can only add up to stupider.

Mayor Becky, don't you agree? High Point needs some smart Greensboro kids to help us? We're too ignorant to help ourselves. Are you too dumb to see that this is what your friend Dot says?

Momma alwayz sayd stuped is as stuped duz.

Run Forrest Run!

Dumb as a Rock,

You just might be the smartest rock I ever did run across.

Bruce, Jennifer....ah, no new threads since 2/10?

Hello?????Anybody home?????

what, you guys have lives or something???

I'm sure they're working on a special Valentine present for their CB readers.

C. Boy,
Bruce is on vacation for a few days so it's just lil' ole me.

I've been busy working on getting you folks some maps. We should have something in the paper in the next few days. I think we're just waiting on space. These maps are pretty big.

So I apologize for being such a slacker posting to the Chalkboard.

Jennifer,

Does that include the requests made by Alan, Anita, Kris, and Dot last Thursday?

We had a solution for those who wished to be a disturbance in school and those who wished to "run' with them. Yes, they were called gangs even then but in whispers by the school board and the community leadership. The solution was called Reform School. We had juvenile judges who were not afraid of offending anyone or hurting anyone's feelings or bruising egos of the "lil punks". You bring a knife to school and you were out on your ear and on your way to Reform School until you were 18 years old in most cases. Some just graduated and went on to an institution of a higher degree, called State Prison. Others learned a lesson and came home and got a job from the skill they learned in Reform School. Shame they did away with such illustrious institutions because of political correctness.

The nerve of some people to take vacation. Especially now, when the entire fate of the free-world educational system rests right here in guilford co. Education by the people, for the people vrs. education by the government for the government. He should be summoned home immediately, even if he is embedded in Iraq.

mrproduce,

Careful - while most of us agree with you, that kind of talk will get you 3 smacks of a paddle on the palm of your hand.

Remember - it's not about discipline, it's about self-esteem.

Numbersgame,

Geesh, we're not magicians! Can't make a map when we don't have the data. These are copies of what has been approved and what is still on the table that we've seen so far.

I don't know if we'll have time to turn around maps from what the board gets on Monday. If we can get those before then, we'll try our best.

Not in todays schools terp. Don't you know that that will injury some little twerps ego. My hands were swatted so many time with a rule for holding my pencil wrong, for missing a spelling word, for missing a math problem, for mispronouncing a word. No matter what, you got your hand swatted with a rule. Can't say that it did any good but I suppose it helped the teacher cope.
And your are right again terp. There is no discipline in schools today, to dang politically incorrect to require discipline. No wonder kids carry knives, guns, razors, chains etc to school with impunity. No wonder they stand and tell teachers "I run things". No wonder teachers quit by the multitudes each year. Crap like goes on in todays school would have gotten you slapped to the floor by some old time principals for lack of respect for a teacher. Then you would have been hauled, and I mean hauled by the nape of the neck to the office and there had you butt beat with a board with holes drilled at very strategic places. Then you would have to sit and wait until your parents came and then the principal would sit and watch as your parents beat your butt, knowing that when they got you home there would be another butt whooping.
I wouldn't teach for all the money in the country. I tried it for part of a year as a sub. Students were getting bold but not as bold as some of us hardnose guys who would just as soon take you outside and give you the opportunity to act like a frog and jump. I offered but guess the twerp was smart enough to know that I really didn't give a rats butt and would take him out just for the joy of it. He failed, I gave him the grade he deserved, his daddy complained (former school board memeber), principal tried to get me to change the grade, superintendent tried, but I said no , but hell no, he got what he earned. I didn't get a contract next year, and that suited the heck out of me. I went back to the military and away from the civilian jungle. It was safer in the SEA jungles than it was in many schools .

A sad day for news coverage of education issues in the paper and on this blog. (Read the editor's log) Bruce has resigned to accept a new job.

Bruce, best of luck in your new endeavour. You will be sorely missed...Thank you, thank you for all you have done to keep us informed and for sifting through the minutia when certain SB reps have failed to clearly communicate with their constituents.

When is Bruce's resignation official?

I heard that the NHP folks want to throw a party in his honor.

A special ERECTION for the hotty Bruce!

Maybe the N&R can steal Kateisha Hayes away from the HP Enterprise to replace Bruce.....

mrproduce,

You sound like a good candidate to run for school board.

Do you live in the county????????

You would be a good person to balance the likes of Dot Kearns ,,,,who seems to PANDER to and sympathize with the Gang Members lifestyle.

I'm with you mrproduce,,,CRACK THE WHIP!!!!!!!!

Oh Yeah Jennifer,,,watch how you use the term "slacker",,,,,it is insensitive and could possibly hurt the Generals' tender self esteem.

I'll be at the N&R until Feb. 24, quest. And I'll be back in the office on Thursday.

And I'd love to get together with all my NHP friends sometime soon. But I'm not going anywhere -- I'll still live in Guilford County and you'll probably see me around town.

Found an interesting item on E-bay..
Take a look at item No.6254008141

Bruce,

Left you a post over at the Editor's Log. (This is a sad say for us.) We definitely all need to plan a big party before your departure.

BA

Numbers Game,

I had that same question about the requests by board members and the maps changing. If the maps change significantly don't they need more public forums?? How much tweaking can you do before it is a new map.

I thought Susan was quoted in the paper that changing the Eastern/Page kids would just be a "swap" and the one side wouldn't have time to comment.

How much swapping/tweaking can be done? We would have to allow input by the new people swapped if a NEW swapping plan comes about that was not based on previous forum requests by parents.

Hey Bruce, can you post a picture of that

NO TRUST=NO BONDS liscence pate from E-bay?

Item noted above.

Bruce,

We'll miss ya, man! I can't say that I can fault you for getting out of this mess. The only thing that is more irritating and frustrating attending a GCS board meeting and listening to the drivel that occurs there is to have to attend them in ad naseum and try to maintain and report a neutral version of what happens there. As a friend of mine once said, there's not enough Pepe Lopez to get me through one of those meetings anymore.

Jennifer,

Any truth to the rumor that Bruce is going underground freelance for "Rolling Stone" and possibly his own full lenght-hardback expose: "Hot Time In the Old Town Tonight"-The Terry Grier Story? If not when are we gonna have the N&R do a "Jeffries" on the the Terrymeister himself?

hey bruce,
congratulations on your new job & i wish you the best of luck! but....sure will miss you at the news-record!
will you be at the commissioners/school board meeting tonight?

Brucie, we hardly knew ye. May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Sincerely,

C. Boyo

C. Boy

Maybe he and Fantasia could be doing a new expo book project together. That would make some big $$$$$.

Some observations from NAACP mtg. last night. iT WAS VERY EYE-OPENING IN THAT YOU SAW ALL KINDS OF PARENTS UNITED IN THAT THEY WANT BETTER SCHOOLS. The Speaker; Lawyer from Chapel Hill cited the statistics showing poorer students do better in schools with kids of more means. Nobody has any doubt this is true. Reasons given was greater parental advocacy, better teacher retention, more resources etc. probably all true. The big problem I have is, I like to think this is what we have at SW right now. (40+ percent minority, 37FRL) I like to think we are one of the very schools they are citing as good examples in the studies, so the response of the board is to take this apart?? It makes no sense. The people at the other schools will say but they need help too. I would say; we know you do but I'm trying like hell to support the school where I am. I can't compensate for a national teaching shortage. I can't change abject poverty. I can't change one of the real problems in High Point and that's the attrition of the more well-to-do High Point kids from public schools into private schools-a process that will be accelerated greatly by forced-re-districting. All these studies cited were taken from schools that were diverse from natural lay-of-the land- factors, from naturally mixed neighborhoods. There are no studies showing what happens when you move people 10 miles against their will so they can "save" a different school.You're preaching to the choir with this diversity thing. The SW parents are STILL HERE. You can't on the one hand say "We want you to come to a different school to be an advocate there, but we feel you are not competent to make a judement of where your children should go to school. It's a big inherent contradiction on the one hand saying we're competent potential advocates, but incompetent parents.

Another thing that opened eyes. Parents at SW could never hammer the schoolboard worse than they are getting hammered by the NAACP parents. I almost felt sorry for Amos and Deena.

The most apparent thing I felt was that the answer, if there is one, was sitting somehwere in that room. I don't know exacly where or how, but it was in that room. It's not up on Eugene street with people pouring over maps that they don't understand and playing one against the other.

FIRST; LET'S NOT DO SOMETHING STUPID NEXT WEEK!!!!

Great article today on the Rockingham school super. Astounding the guy could get hired?? Don't the boards check the guy's history?

"So Mr. Jones, you want to be our school super?" "Ah, yes sir". "Well let's see here, you look like you're breathing" "Yes, sir" . "Your apparently not incarcerated" "Probation, sir". "Child molestation"? 'Breaking and entering and then there was this little arson thing". "Well nobody's perfect. You're hired" .

They said the guy beat out twenty other candidates? ?????

No General, I left Guilford county in 1999-2000 to escape the corruption, the traffic, and a few other things which we see on some of the blogs of the N&R.
I had retired earlier from the Feds and found few jobs that satisfied my desires in G'boro. I was too old, to experienced or not the correct ethnic background and/or sex. Moved and found that I really didn't need what G'boro had or didn't have and found my niche in volunteer work and church work.
I have kept up with the going's on in G'boro through the many friends that I still have living there and now through the on-line news and blogs. I see things have not changed for the better in Guilford or G'boro. How unfortunate. I still visit on occassion.

C. Boy,
We all know that arsen is a prerequisite for any superintendent job.

hey john,
i think we share a common goal with those in attendance at last night's NAACP meeting - WE ALL WANT BETTER SCHOOLS. and according to some quick figures i threw together (no time for doublechecking yet), moving kids from one school to another will not help them academically (at least not in gcs). it seems to matter little what the white enrollment is at our high schools, a more defining indicator of high school success is whether or not students attend schools in "greensboro" or in jamestown/high point.
and, according to those same figures, high school students in guilford county are all getting screwed - both black and white. and this board and dr. grier are accountable & responsible.
i base these statements on: 04/05 white school enrollment figures and 05/06 state ABC EOC passing rates - figured these were close enough.
gcs average passing rate: 80.8% white students passed, 47.5% black students passed.
state average is 84% and 55.8% respectively.

we have 14 regular, traditional high schools in gcs (including sw, andrews, central) which hold about 20,141 students.

only 3 gcs high schools surpassed state average passing whites: grimsley (58% white enrollment), dudley (1% white enrollment) and northwest (86% white enrollment). "greensboro" schools
only 3 gcs high schools surpassed state average passing blacks: northeast (51% white enrollment), northwest (86% white enrollment), and southeast (76% white enrollment). "greensboro" schools
the 2 LOWEST SCORING SCHOOLS for passing blacks:
central with 32.6% black passing rate and andrews with 24.2% black passing rate (by far the lowest in the district - the next lowest is Smith with 43.1% passing). both are high point schools.

Let's do a comparison: Grimsley has 58% white enrollment with 90.5% white passing, 54.7% black passing rate. Southwest has 56% white enrollment with 81.6% white passing, 50.1% black passing. Ragsdale has 55% white enrollment with 81.2% white passing and 48.1% black passing rate.

similar white enrollment figures. the difference in my opinion is that sw and ragsdale are not "greensboro" schools. no high school in the jamestown/hp area surpassed state averages in passing ABC's - not in the black passing rate NOR the white passing rate. They were all below state average. GCS is failing almost 3 times the number of blacks as whites (according to these figures) 1611 blacks do not pass hs ABC's and 604 whites do not pass.

GCS is failing both black and white students, but those being failed most (percentage-wise) are being educated in the jamestown/high point areas. i have to wonder if those schools are receiving equitable resources as those in "greensboro".

bottom line: basically, we all want the same thing for our kids - a good education (measured by state/national standards) in a safe environment. whether one lives and has children enrolled in greensboro, high point or jamestown - whether one is black, white, hispanic, asian, challenged in some way, etc. - we need to all stand together for our children. it is the board of education's responsibility to provide an adequate education for our students.

Amen, Cheryl. If you were in the military, I would certainly nominate you for a "star".

What do you think folks? The first female General in the NHP/J-TOWN militia???

I'll second that motion, C. Boy.

I hereby salute 3 Star General Cheryl!

Cheryl - in all honesty, did you send that to the board?

Jennifer - I think this sounds like an outstanding article for the N&R.

CONGRATULATIONS and welcome to the 3-Star General Cheryl,,,,, your hard work has not gone unnoticed and for that you deserve your Promotion.

Keep up the Good Fight General.

General Cheryl sir,

you need to send this to the school board.
Now sir,
Yes sir!

General Cheryl, et al,

I say 4 stars for General Cheryl. Great report. After you have sent it to the School Board, please make sure Mayor Becky gets a copy. She could add this as an addedum to the Work Preparedness Force. Mayor Ragsdale may want one too.

Let's not forget how the Jamestown Middle Project just keeps dwindling away - a "pipedream" at best.

I was just thinking too remember when we were promised a new entrance (shelter) at SWH and an addition along with the addition at Florence. Well SWH has a few girders up. Bonds were passed in 03 (3 years this fall) - lots of kids bussed out in the lottery won't even get to enjoy "their" new school that was promised for years. Same if busing continues; they promise us schools; build an addition; then bus our kids far away.

Bruce,

We miss you already and you are just on vacation. Hurry back. Redistricting (or maybe a hold on it in HP) awaits before you leave.

I know Jennifer will do a fine job here on the CB and in the school reporting.

"Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you got till it's gone..." The N & R will surely miss you. I know we will (see The Editor's Log when you get back - I left you a post there. You have a few more messages to read.)

Thank you for all your great reporting these past years. Seems like the past several years, the school news has just grown. Wonder why?

17 Star General,

I think Bruce deserves a few stars too for all his hard work and dedication.