News-Record.com

Joe and I have spoken about this many, many times. I see nothing wrong with the name, but I think it should be at a school where the community supports that name. Joe's area of the county is where Murrow was born. That might be a better choice. This community has voiced their opinions and support for Northern. It is a blending of Northwest and Northeast. The colors will be purple and black. A blending of red and blue; the colors of the other schools.

I also don't agree that having a 'name' is a huge influence on education. It doesn't necessarily inspire people to excel or guarantee their success. If it did then Dudley, Andrews, Smith wouldn't be in the mess they are in. Pride comes from the students and community that attend the school. Not the name. I assure you that we are as proud of our directional name as anyone is of their school name. Let this be a finished topic and get back to discussing education for our students.

Joe is right on this one. It is a great name. If you don't like it, use another distinctive name. As for Dudley, it was one of great black schools for many years after it was built. The pride was there. Besides, Joe is making progress. The last vote was 8-2 against Murrow. Don't count him out.

Where was Joe last night. I missed watching him speak at the BOE? Joe, hope you aren't quitting - you are a regular there. One day, you will get your name.

With the exception of Ragsdale, all of the traditional county schools are directional. It seems to me they should either all stay directional or all be named for people. For now, directional is the decision, and that's fine with me, and I Murrow was a relative of mine.

Patrick,

correction - what about Andrews High School, Grimsley High School, Dudley High School, Penn-Griffin Middle, Hairston Middle, Welborn Middle, Aycock Middle, Allen Jay, Kieser, etc.

there are many others

also the many elementary schools

I just read your post Debora, I agree with "education" should be the main focus. It is what goes on inside the school that counts.

I hope since Joe is so passionate about this name, one day some school in Guilford County will get the name now that the directional names are taken. But from the future projections about the next bond ref that could be awhile.

Joe, what about pursuing people who own private schools? Or a building on a school campus named for Murrow? Or a school library? Some private school are looking to expand in High Point because of all the waiting lists

I think the next new school in Guilford County will be named Dot Kearns High.

Regretfully,

I think you have to be dead to have a school named after you.

I know.

Joe,

I have an idea. If you can get the board to build a new "Colfax" high school, I'll bet you can get some support from the disgruntled High Point folks in naming the new school "Murrow High".

But, you have to live up to your end of the bargain first.

There are 6 articles in today's Charlotte Observer regarding their search for a new superintendent - very interesting reading.

www.charlotte.com

It is clear that Grier is not wanted by anyone. One panel was very perceptive in learning that he "evaded questions". Funny how his ideas for CMS are the very ones he despises in GCS - smaller central office, more power given to principals, etc.

It's clear that Gorman is the best person for the job, but Haithcock may get the nod. If so, I say we need to launch a campaign for Gorman in GCS!

quest,

No such luck. Grier withdrew his candidacy today. It appears that his heart just wasn't in it. He loves Guilford too much to leave. Of course, the sweet deal that he has here with our weak school board and their efforts to assemble an incentive package to retain him probably helps him make that decision. If he had gone to Charlotte, he would have had to really work for a living. He's got it made here. Those people saw him for the huckster and flim-flam man that he is. What is lacking in Guilford County that the citizens here tolerate him?

What a cry-baby quitter we have here running our schools. He wasn't winning so he took his ball and went home.

What does this to to his drop-out rate?

Once again the Triad is out smarted by the "Queen City".

Charlotte will end up with a Young, Innovative Superintendent from California,,,who happens to specialize in EDUCATION,,,,,,all the while Guilford County is stuck with the "LEFTOVER Waste" from Charlottes' Suprintendent Search......

Dr. Grief,,,,it looks as though your past may have caught up with you in Charlotte...

We wish you better luck next time,,, as you continue your Job Search....

Just a thought,,,,How much of Guilford Counties' TAX DOLLARS were wasted by Dr. Grief..as he chases the Stars for bigger and brighter Rewards????????????

Hey Dr. Grier,

My son isn't doing very well in his new school and wants to quit. What should I tell him to do?

Grier is scamming the citizens of Guilford County once again! His recent job search was only a ploy to get more money out of the school board. Our board needs to visit our high schools and take a good look at the terrible job Grier and his Army of Administrators is doing!
When will the suffering end?

Grier knows how to play this board but he WANTED the prestige that goes with the Charlotte job.

He wasn't good enough. His past and present actions have caught up with him. He is totally unmarketable.

We are stuck with him!!! Only the hillbillies on this BOE want him.

I guess only Mrs. Grier will be packing.

Dr. Grier withdrew from consideration for the Ed. Supervisor's position at Charlotte. Contrary to several of the posters on this blog, Dr. Grier was not rejected as a candidate but in the spirit of his loyalty to our community realized he was needed greater here than down there.

He deserves a raise and I hope the Board will renegotiate with Dr. Grier for an extended contract along with the deserved finances to ensure he remains as our education innovator.

I am pleased he has decided to reconsider his future with us and hope he stays in order to see his programs through to the success that they deserve.

General,

Your k-y reference is highly inappropriate.

I especially find it peculiar that a man of your ranking in our community would divulge his darkest preferences on a public blog such as this, especially one dealing with educational issues.

From the Charlotte Observer:

"Grier spent Wednesday in Charlotte meeting the public with two other finalists, Superintendent Peter Gorman of Tustin, Calif., and interim CMS Superintendent Frances Haithcock. While Grier won praise from some, Gorman emerged as the clear favorite among the advisory panels of parent, staff and business leaders.

By the end of Wednesday, the race seemed to have narrowed to Gorman and Haithcock, who has impressed many members of the school board in her nine months as interim leader."

Come on Bob! He can read the writing on the wall. (lotsa kids he is in charge of educating can't but HE can!)

At todays news conference Grier said;

"one of the first questions asked of him during Wednesday's interviews was why he would leave Guilford County for Charlotte. He said that as the day progressed, that question became even more difficult to answer".

"That's when I thought this doesn't feel right, it doesn't fit," Grier said Thursday.

What he really thought was "as the day went on and I was questioned hard until I was sweating buckets, I thought".

"this doesnt feel right, my past has caught up with me, they have found out I am Dr Grief"

"I am out of here. Back to those mugs up the road to milk them a bit more"

Now, after all this anyone in their right mind would kick him right back out of here!

Come on board, wake up!

My father told me when I was a kid that the thing that would upset him the most (and was absolutely FORBIDDEN in our house) was when an athelete (even a kid) would pull what he called the "LOSER's LIMP". LOSER's LIMP is when an opponent was clearly defeated..... and when he saw he couldn't win, he'd pull up with a fake injury. The LOSER would then have an excuse, other than the truth...... being defeated by a superior opponent.

In my opinion, Terry Grier has pulled the ultimate "LOSER's LIMP" on CMS. Why would any person at the $300k salary range enter into the process unless they were comitted from the beginning? If I were the recruiting firm, I would make sure EVERYONE of my peers knew how Grier left them hanging. We may be stuck with him much longer because what firm would want to promote a candidate that stuck it to them like Grier just did?

I may send them a Grier -ended magnet. It would be VERY appropriate!

Dr. Grief just doesn't stack up when compared to the other 2 candidates in Charlotte. The School Board has no reason to give him a raise or a salary adjustment because the environment is more competitive.

Dr. Grief was in fact the "Stalking Horse" in this situation.

I sincerely hope that the last two days were counted as vacation days.

My cousin, who lives in Franklin, TE, can't believe Dr. Grief is still here.

She wants to know why we haven't bamboozled him right out of town instead of us being the bamboozleee!!!

You are so right, General, we all need more protection than ever!!!!!

Back to school names:

Barbara Ann, when Patrick Eakes said that all the county schools were named after directions, he was referring, I think -- and, Patrick, please jump in and correct me if I'm wrong here -- to schools in the FORMER Guilford County system, the one that existed prior to the 1992 merger of GSO, HP and county systems into one countywide system. True, some elementary schools in the county system didn't have directional names, but they were still named after their geography (e.g., Monticello), by and large.

Lucy Ragsdale was and is a county school. It was not given a directional name. A directional name is so much worse than a location name. "Northern" means nothing except in relation to Greensboro, the central core city and county seat. Northern is not even a noun. I was here when they named the schools and I can tell you the people in the NW and NE sections of the county are wrong on this issue. The BOE never named the "Northern Area Schools". It never passed a master plan. They have the names because the planning names stuck.

I am a graduate of North Mecklenburg High School. CMS had a North Meck, a South Meck, a West Meck, an East Meck and even a West Charlotte. We were all pretty proud of our schools and never once worried about whether or not the name was a noun.

(btw..I'm glad Charlotte won't get Grier-ended)

If we had as few as Charlotte-Mech., I would be overjoyed. We have 15 directional schools and Northern Middle Schhol is the 16th. We also have NW Elementary, Northern Elementary, and Southern Middle School in the pipeline. When will it stop?

Ouch!!!!!!!

Yeah, Joe, when will it stop? Oh, the humanity!

After all, those directional schools like Northwest and Southeast are performing so much worse than schools like Dudley, Andrews and Smith that are named for real-live people. No wonder Northwest is almost empty - no one wants to go to a school with that kind of lousy name.

No doubt, the kids at Northern are doomed unless we change the name of that school pronto! Who cares what the vast majority of Northern residents want?

Welcome back Dr. Grier.

The silent majority of the county admires your work and commitment to the educational needs of our youth. It's unfortunate that a minority of malcontents (such as Quest, Truth, General, Stumpy, Barbara Ann, etc.)get all the press and provide an incorrect impression that things are falling apart.

Now back to making education better for our youth.

It will be interesting to see if the BOE gives him the enthusiastic support that he deserves on academic matters. Grier may not be perfect but he is 10 times better that Weast.

Bob,

The Vocal Majority of Charlotte made it clear to the doctor that he was lacking as a candidate for their job and sent him packing. But, I'm sure that it reinforces their opinion of Greensboro as he is loved and admired by the silent majority of this county. Do you think that they were impressed that we are proud of him and his achievements? Greensboro and Grier are now the joke in Charlotte. Bob, they are laughing at us.

Joe,

No one would likely argue with your last point. I heard today that Weast's school district was giving students community service credit for marching in the illegal immigrant marches in Washington. Now, that is the mark of a great administrator. School credit for participating in a protest march. That'll bring up their academic achievement. Hopefully, TerryGrier doesn't find out about it, he'll be mad because he didn't think about it.

Joe,
Northern may not mean anything, but to lots and lots of people Edward R Murrow means even less.

Bob,
Why don't you tell us what Grier has done for YOUR child(ren).

General,
I was worried you might have been silenced. Glad you are still with us.

Stormy,

Apparently you feel inadequate in relation to our friends to the South by your obvious sensitivity to their alleged wisecracks about us of which I feel you're blowing a lot smoke. But I guess if you tend to associate and run in those types of cynical circles, well....garbage in, garbage out.

As has been stressed on numerous occasions, if the educational affairs of our county are in such disarray why were so many BOE seats uncontested for this upcoming election?

Viking,

I am sorry you do not know about Edward R. Murrow. That is why we need to name a school after him. After you become familar with his work and life, I am sure you will think that he is a suitable role model for our children.

Best regards,

Joe, I would suggest educating people on Murrow before asking them to support naming a school after him. It might work better that way.

Everytime I hear the name I think of the building that was blown up in Oklahoma OR the guy on the front of the MAD magazine.

I thought that is what I have been doing for five years. I have contacted people on Spencer-Dixon Road and Simpson-Calhoun Road. I spent entire day interviewing citizens in the Northern Part of the county. I can assure you that the vast majority do not want a directional name. We have 15 now. May I ask, how many is enough? When will your craw be full? Thanks,

This is the pathetic letter I got in my email box this afternoon.

http://www.gcsnc.com/fridaynotes/spec04_07_06.htm

Riverboat Bob,

Have you run out of places to blog on? Or got tired of laughing at 8th graders crying?

Quit trying to bait people here. It won't work. Most of us know who you are. I haven't even been posting, too busy with other things now so what's with dragging my name into this? You haven't seen my name in the press in a long time.

You can look for Garth's name in the future when his troops come out in force to get him elected.

fyi - I only report here what I know because of my experience in working in the schools. I have witnesses that will back up what goes on. You have seen other teachers post here. They LIVE it daily. Other posters here have posted FACTS AND DATA directly from the Guilford County website or County and State reports. It is PUBLIC RECORD - test scores, ABCs, SATs, Suspensions, Arrest records, etc. etc. etc. - PUBLIC RECORDS.

Not all is wrong with our schools. Many things are right with our kids. Some of the programs are working; others have failed miserably. We have some dedicated teachers but they are tired. There is MUCH that needs to be done when you hear the Director of Transportation stand before the school board and say that the cops have to be called all the time by bus drivers; when a principal gets kicked and punched for by a student for trying to break up a fight and this has happened before. Sorry if you feel this is acceptable. I DON'T.

I will always do my best to help where I can and change what can be changed. fyi - the School Board and Dr. Grier have listened to many of my suggestions and those of my colleagues. To put it bluntly, you no nothing of which you speak.

One more thing, RBB, as for the "school board seats uncontested" this is the same old broken record. You needs some new material. You must have missed that lengthy blog discussion.

Many regulars have posted that is it a known fact it is hard to beat an incumbant. Plus many in Greensboro don't have the "issues" High Point has had to face these past several years. Remember "High Point is different".

Here are the facts:

Marti quit.
Susan quit.
Johnny Hodge lost.
Kris election was very close to and she almost lost to an "unknown"
Dot's election was 52 to 48 -another close race

Garth won't leave room for mistakes.

Change is slow but it is coming. There is no time limit here.

If you have watched the BOE meeting for the past several months, "All is not happy in Mudville". Votes of 5-6 in not a board in agreement. There is much that goes on that you know nothing about.
That's why they call it "politics".

Lex,

How would any one know that Patrick was referring to "pre merger". That is 14 years ago. We are supposed to be "Guilford County Schools" (unless you live in High Point - that is "different" -we have been told over and over again and it's been shown to us quite clearly.)

I only moved here in 1996. Most of us aren't from here so our reference point is GCS and the names that exist. We don't know the "history" of the previous names. It is not relevant. There are many schools with people's names currently. There are also many directional names.

Personally, I don't care much what a school is called as long as it is working. As Shakespeare said "what's in a name". I think it is important to have school pride and spirit. That comes from within, not the name.

My opinion on the "Murrow" name is that Joe wants it so bad, had researched it, promoted it, spoken about it, suffered through all those board meetings so why not support this one thing for a future school. Just going to every board meeting all these years should count for something. Most of the board members these days do not look like they want to be there. I do respect Joe for his determination.

River Boat Bob is right. We are lucky to have Dr Grier back. Now we can continue moving forward with vision and integrity.

Tim, Barabara, General, Garth, John: Its hard for me to believe that you think that Dr. Grier and the BOE doesn't listened to you. They listen to you its just that you are wrong, really wrong. Your motivations are founded on selfisheness and complete disregard for the greater good. You lack an understanding of other viewpoints and villify anyone who isn't like you. Do you really expect people to listen to you when you insult them and accuse them of half-baked conspiracies and call them liars? You have characterized yourselves as crazy zealots and racists and most of High Point laughs at each of you when they see your bumper stickers and signs. It quickly identifies you as one of those inconsiderate, self centered, mean divisive people. Thanks for identifying yourselves it helps to know who to keep away from. I get a chuckle everytime I see one.

Tim your daddy should have taught you a lesson about respect as well as not quitting. He should have said you should quit when you are wrong. My Daddy would have taken you to the woodshed and taught you a lesson about respect to others. He would have told you that not respecting other viewpoints is arrogant and ignorant and will only isolate you.

I don't know how any of you can look in the mirror. When you go to church do you Listen?

You may be sucessful electng Garth but he'll be useless on the BOE. An island to himself. He will be ignored. Maines will have trouble raising money and will not play dirty and mean like you did against Kearns. Your failed tactics didn't work before and they won't likely work again because people are smarter than you think. Hopefully the electorate will see Garth for what he is and Maines will beat him.

So please keep it up. Its a wininning strategy...not!

From today's Charlotte Observer (http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/14294160.htm)

"Terry Grier: The Guilford County superintendent withdrew Thursday. Good.

I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt in his rocky relationship with the public -- after all, Greensboro has its own Rhino Times to stir up animosity.

But when I introduced myself, he shook my hand and kept holding it. And holding. And holding. Reminded me of a salesman who rivets you in the eye while picking your pocket.

Plus his remarks weren't well-focused or concise. Several parents said he hadn't answered their questions. I think they just got bored with listening before he rambled on to an answer."

It looks like they figured him out pretty easily.

How come our board members and the "majority" cant figure this out too?

Beats me!

What caliber of man risks alienating his current employer by interviewing for another job nearby, then decides that maybe it was a bad idea? I would expect better of a $200,000+ executive. Anywhere else it would have been a terminating event. But a good salesman can turn it around and say, oops, I like my steady paycheck and perks after all. I feel like the lady whose hand he held and held and held, couldn't he please let go?

I'm in the schools A LOT!! I have never met a teacher that likes or respected Grier.

There are a lot teachers and principals that like Grier. His immediate staff and HQ staff in general has the very highest regard for him. The main disagreement is over whether we can do better. Many teachers say they are doing the best they can do and it is impossible to do better. Grier believes that even the best teachers must continually review their methods and that we are all capable of learning and doing better. Is his ideas unreasonable? I think not. Your will find that the very best teachers (Teacher of the Year and etc.) have very high regard for Grier. Grier certainly supports benefits and increased pay for teachers. His staff is modest compared to other systems. I don't find the animosity for Grier that you have found. Just remember, Weast had star chamber proceedings with teachers and told some that they would be ruined if they did not resign in the next 30 minutes. My how we have a short memory.

While I don't agree with everything The Majority had to say, I do agree that Garth will have serious problems forwarding new ideas if elected to the Board. It takes six votes to get things done and my impression is that Garth has burned a whole bunch of bridges with the BOE before he has even deployed to the battle front.

Garth, how do you see your role as a possible agent of change? One of being the compromiser, of a prickly thorn?

Majority, fyi I have never owned a yellow magnet or had one on my car. You obviously don't know me at all. I preferred the "build more schools not buy more buses" at election time but obviously that's a stretch now. Some people will just always choose to remain in the dark. You also have do not know the others you referred to. What you think really doesn't matter. Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion.

Hoggard,
I know Garth pretty well now. He is a little direct and maybe a little abrasive to some people but what he will do without doubt is bring a very healthy aspect to the board.
He will also look after "ALL" children in his district. For instance, the school within a school that Mendenhall has allowed to exist at Central will not be tolerated. He will make sure those poor kids down at Central have a chance.
Garth has/is the voice of all people. He will be a little like Amos if you ask me.
Cant wait!
There is a whole army of people that will be at polling stations/at supermearkets etc etc etc supporting and pushing for him! He WILL get in!!!!

Garth, don't let Hoggard bait you!

"Your motivations are based on selfishness and complete disregard for the greater good."

I'm sorry Mr. or Ms. "Majority", are you talking about Dr. Grier, Dot Kearns, or Susan Mendenhall? Or all 3?

Garth can turn that board 6-5 the other way. It only takes "one" at a time. There are others who keep changing their vote. I agree with Truth. Of all the people on that board, Amos is one of the most sincere. He is for getting in there and doing something for education. Amos is a leader with sincerity and passion for children.

Darlene is another one who cares. There are others.

Many assign too much significance to Grier. He is an employee hired by the board. Grier is only one factor in the big picture. The board is what needs to change, one at a time. All else can fall into place as the truth keeps revealing itself. Facts, test scores, state report cards are a matter of record. With Garth on board, the school system can start on the way to accountability. He will see to it.

Truth (and BA for that matter),

Why is it that when you guys post views and opinions on the BOA, schools, diversity, etc, it is business as usual... but when I (or Majority, ) post their views, it is termed 'baiting'?

It was a serious question for Garth and one that could quite possibly be asked in an open forum in the not too distant future.

Garth?

You bait.

Majority has a warped sense of reality.

If I bait ...what is it you do? Fish?

Hoggard,

Don't you get it? It's your hair man!

And as for the naming of schools, if any school gets a NON-directional name, it should be WEAST!

Weast High, Weast Elementary, Weast Middle, Weast Scales, Weast Magnet..you get the picture..but DEFINITELY WEAST in the name! That man was awesome!!

And after a Weast School, then of course a school named after our current ruler--Grier. We need a Grief High, and it should be in High Point.

It's interesting how these "open minded educational experts (Barbara Ann, General, Stormy, Quest, Truth, etc.)" tend to dump on anyone who offers a point of disagreement to their posts. My, the minority is all in a huff now that Dr. Grier won't be leaving our school system anytime soon.

Sounds to me as if our educational system has failed many of you since you're unfamiliar with Edward R. Murrow and the great accomplishments he exhibited during his lifetime.

Garth,

A shame, with your putative background, that you fail to recognize a man whose skills are highly marketable and are sought by other educatinal systems. If you should win in November, I forecast you will be 'The Outcast of Poker Flat' on the Board of Ed as a result of your alienating skills as demonstrated on this blog. We need someone to help build on the successes of our Board and Dr. Grier, not to divide.

Always an Excuse Barbara Ann,

You can beat an incumbent when your message is more attuned to the constituency of the district than the other person's. Apparently, the Board's voice is being heard by the Silent Majority and it is ringing true.

Riverboat Bob, if you are looking for someone to build on the successes of the present school board and Dr. Grief you will be looking for a long time.....for the successes that is....

If you are looking to replace any of them, including Dr. Grief might I suggest a family of organ grinding monkeys.

Joe, I agree with you that we should name a High School after Murrow. He's fine example for our children to follow. In fact I think we should completely do away with directional names of all of our schools.

For instance Southwest isn't all that far South since its in North High Point. Its directional name confuses newcomers.

Lets rename SouthWest High School for Dorothy Kearns. She has served our community with integrity and and an unwaivering support for children. She has dedicated her life to helping others. She has faced extreme criticism and threats but has never changed her core values. She's not intimidated by nuts with yellow signs and bumper stickers. When effigies are errected about her she knows she is on the right side of things by distancing herself from ignorant self centered trash. She's a local hero that should be recognized for her outstanding contributions to this community. She's the epitome of good character! Many children have benefitted from her leadership and our community is better because of her.

Food for thought, if we don't get this thing right and support our educational process (even if it has flaws), just someone like Judge Manning (the State), though not wanting to, might impose his educational will/philosophy on our entire educational system.

At least our Board, Dr. Grier, and Garth (if he wins in Nov) are a known quantity. Judge Manning isn't.

When a complete educational takeover occurs, typically overseen by a judge, his/her powers are almost dictatorial. For example, in the Kansas City case, the judge (in this case the Feds) felt the system was underfunded (as well as too segregated, thus, bussing & redistricting ensued) and raised property taxes to cover what he perceived was a shortfall in funds. In these cases, the Board almost becomes irrelevant (Also, forget about any superintendent of schools at all during his reign.). So much for Education by Representation.

Southern Elementary should be renamed for Billy Yow, after all these are his people according to statements he's made. Plus he's installed about every septic and well system in Southern Guilford county, and flying directly below the Stars & Stripes, would be his infamous t-shirt, you know, the one with the Anti-NAACP statement emblazoned on it. And we wonder why the parents of Southern Elementary refused to integrate with the more diverse Sumner Elementary.

Majority,

Has Dot kicked the bucket? Sounds like a fair trade-off.

However, I think Dot will be turning in her grave if any directionally-named school other than "Central" bears her name on their sign.

The mascot can be the Socialists! The Dot Kearns Socialists. I like it. Uniforms for all students. Every team will have the exact same number of black and white participants, from the football and basketball teams to the debate team. The IB program will have to be evenly mixed, too. Great idea, Majority!

*************************************************

I just checked the obits. Seems like we will have to continue this conversation at a later time.

False Alarm,

Do you really wish for the death of one of our school board members. You really are a sick puppy.

Dot's not socialist, but I can see why a racist from your vanatage point would think that anyone left of the White Power movement would be socialist. Extremists always see everyone who doesn't believe in their viewpoint as extremists.

Dot just wants an equal opportunity for every child in Guilford County. Why do you think your children deserve better than other children? Every child deserves an equal opportunity. Your kind of thinking is what is wrong with this world. Its whats wrong with all of you nuts. I suggest you go to church Sunday and listen!

Big River,

Your comments about Billy Yow were truly funny but he's not an education advocate. So I cannot support naming a school after him but we could consider naming a waste treatment facility after him.

Majority,

Can you clarify for me what Dot Kearns has done for Dudley and Smith?

Numbersgame,

Dot has supported many initiatives that were designed to help low performing schools like Dudley and Smith. Reducing Class Size, School improvement teams, supporting efforts to recruit and retain teachers. Dudley and Smith are both making progress inspite of what Judge Manning says.

Unfortunately she and the rest of BOE haven't done enough to balance diversity at those schools. More needs to be done. More resources are needed.

Unfortunately the school board has been mired in mud while they fight off attackers who waste their time and money rather than try to help the schools. Take Barbara Ann for instance. She would rather the BOE spend $30 to $40 million to build a new school in North High Point just so her middle class kids don't have to go to school with poor kids. Andrews is really only a short bus ride. She doesn't want to face facts that there are adequate numbers of seats in High Point schools it just that they aren't ideally located in her suburban middle class neighborhood. Her agruments are hollow because they are simply designed to find justification for her shameful agenda. So she and her co-horts take valuable resources away from the school system by continuing with stupid allegations of wrong doing and half truths. Now they threaten a law suit. It would be funny but no matter how ridiculas it is it will take away limited resources from our children. It doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell but they will find some sleazy attorney to take their money and then waste the BOE's money. Its shameful behavior.

Instead of working to help the situation Barabara and her co-horts make the problems greater.

Majority,

Please check the "Reducing Class Size" at Dudley and Smith - I think you will find that the facts don't support your assertion.

School Improvement teams are mandated and exist at all schools. I'm afraid you can't give Dot Kearns credit here.

Please help me to understand why "More resources are needed" "to balance diversity at those schools".

Majority,

You can't name a school after anybody until that person has croaked.

D-o....y-o-u....u-n-d-e-r-s-t-a-n-d?
T-y-p-i-n-g...v-e-r-y...s-l-o-w-l-y...n-o-w.

Hey Majority, I heard about this lawsuit, but it turns out the last two sleazy lawyers in Greensboro had conflicts of interest. The first is a white version of Erkel and actually sits on the School Board, the second attends the School Board meetings and has her hair flop from side to side.

And by the way, less resources will be needed as more and more kids transition to any of the fine Christian schools in High Point and Kernervsille. That's not a threat, why don't you call the admissions office of any of these schools and find out for yourself. There are going to be plenty of spare seats to go around at HPC, Andrews, and SW.

I believe the expansion going on at Wesleyan is being referred as the Dot Kearns wing, so she actually does have a portion of a school named after her. And she had a lot to do with the need for the expansion.

Taters,

I'm sure you are correct about the high numbers of students who are 'transitioning' into private schools and away from HPC, Andrews and SW. I am saddened by this, I truly am.

Since you are knowledgeable about the flight from public schools in that part of Guilford, could you venture an estimate as to the racial makeup of those families who are 'transitioning'?

Sincerely,
The kid with the wig

Taters,

It's sad that when we are faced with educational challenges that impact our community, many of the "Christian" families threaten (or actually do) to take their kids out of the public school system and enroll them in an exclusionist enclave (Christian schools).

That's not being much of a witness.

Lord Hear Our Prayers.

David, I do not allow myself to get hung up on race. In my mind this is the makeup of the transitioning families:

1. Families tired of the complete failure of the existing School Board and Administration.
2. Families that no longer want to worry if that next police call is going to their child's school.
3. Families that want to have constructive input into the education of their children.
4. Families that are willing truly willing to sacrifice for their children. You would be amazed how many giveup the family vacation, house additions, new cars, cigarettes, dining out, why even Kentucky Bourbon.

Oh and Bubba, it's no longer a threat, I challenge you to call any of the private or Christian schools in High Point and ask what the waiting list is. As far as witnessing goes, well let's just say at our daughter's school, the entire student body was on a variety of missions trips last week, either locally, out of state, or out of the country.

David and Bubba,

Of those that choose to visit the public health department rather than a doctor in private practice, what do you think the racial makeup is?

I think that in the near future, starting with the High Point schools, you will see the same thing happen. Only those without means will choose the public schools.

public health & public schools
Government programs for those that can't afford any better.

Southwest was just below national average and parents flocked to it, building and buying homes near the school. Northwest is an Average High School as the nation goes, it is the most sought after school in the county. That we pay a private institution to send our select magnet High School students to, speaks volumes to failure, not success.

Grier believes in private schools, he sends selected students at taxpayer expense to Greensboro College. This is his idea of a successful program, provide private school education at taxpayer expense and call it success. (Did I miss something here?)

Some parents have decided to relieve the taxpayers of the burden of providing inferior education to their children. My wife had me interview and research private schools for our 3 sons. I found only 1 that was significantly above national average, the remainder at national average. So why do middle class parents pay for average schools? See list above. It’s the basics we are failing at!

Let us grow up, get past the race, prejudice and hate speech and address real issues. Why can’t we provide a safe, quality education at a local school? Things have become worse under Grier and the School Board. Weast’s reign of terror is beginning to look like a picnic to our school teachers and principals. Our Board spends more time on french fries, sensitivity training, green schools and getting more money to spend than actually addressing why our schools are failing to deliver the bacon.

THE REAL QUESTION IS “WHY ARE PARENTS WILLING TO PAY TENS AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS TO GET WHAT IS OFFERED FREE, TO ALL COMERS?”. Instead of ridiculing these parents, (many of whom are among the most educated in our community and very few are even close to racist) we must address the cause of their choice.

Many people think if something is free it is no good. Many people try to shield their children from poor people and people that are different than they are. Why do people live in gated communities? Our forefathers and foremothers would hang their heads in shame at what we are doing.

White Neighborhood,,,White Church,,,White Country Club,,,,,

"If only I can get my old High School all White again,,,I will have the perfect world".

Soon,,,Dot may have her WISH.....

Socialsm is Wonderful !!!!!!!!!

Long live Ted Kennedy!!!!!!

Hillary Rules!!!!!!

Garth,

Why don't you grow up and face the real issue here is race and fear based on race. None of you with the exception of Barabra Ann have ever done anything to help our schools. You crawled down from your ivory towers only when you were threatened by the fear of your children having to go to school with children who were from different neighborhoods. As state before "after all you bought your homes so your kids could go to Southwest" an enclave of middle class families trying to avoid mixing with your neighbors in other parts of the city.

Some people actually choose Christian schools because of their faith but many are just purely racist. They say so in private. I've heard several High Point Christian parents say they don't like the religous part but they put up with it so their little darlings don't have to go to school with blacks (they used a different word and it wasn't African American) (I know they have a couple of token blacks). Many of them never even consider the public schools they base their decisions on rumor and half baked lies told by people like your cohorts.

What I hear you saying is I'm not racist but I don't want my kids to go to schools where the children aren't just like them.

This pattern continues in the South by way of private Christian education insulating the White people's kids from the Blacks (i.e., kids that have from kids that don't).

It has nothing to do with religion but is motivated out of a fear of White kids having to associate with Black kids, and unfortunately, these Southern Christian institutions see an opportunity for profit (not discipleship) by exploiting this heinous situation and by doing this have, unwittingly, become conduits for continued segregation in the South.

Don't want your kids to go to a school with Blacks just send them to the Christian schools. One of the most lilly white institutions in America.

God Bless the Child that's got his own.

Lord Hear Our Prayers.

I grew up on welfare and moved around constantly (that's what poor people do when they can't pay the rent for those of you not in the know). I lived in neighborhoods with all kinds of people (one time our next door neighbors were kicked out of their apartment for running a brothel)and I learned how to get along with various people. In fact, I had to learn how to speak Spanish better to survive in one neighborhood where my family was one of the only English speaking families. I was fortunate though that I had supportive teachers and family members that encouraged me to go to college and told me that education was my way out. I worked hard and became a teacher. The things I see at our schools appall me. The behavior and downright disrespect cross color lines and socioeconomic backgrounds. I thought because of where I came from and my stuggles growing up that it would be eaiser to be able to reach my students. It doesn't seem to matter. My kids need love, support, and discipline. They need and crave boundaries and there is little of that at our schools when rules are not strictly enforced and teachers are left to fend for themselves in some cases. While I want a better education for all of my kids and want to push them to a higher level, I understand now why some parents would want to send their kids to private schools or schools in other counties. It's not a race thing; it's an education thing. And right now, our schools are struggling to meet even the basic standards. I struggle myself with the idea of a good, free education for all while also wondering if I would want my future kids to go to a public school. Did I leave the welfare system to become a teacher only to help graduate students that will end up in the welfare system?

Majority, I’m one of those HPCA parents that you have so glowingly just spoken about so let me set the record straight for you:

1. I purchased our present home back in 1988 long before I ever met my wife and kids were the furthest thing from my mind. It is not my fault that I have worked hard all my life, paid off this house, and can now afford to send our daughter to HPCA. I refuse to apologize for this.

2. My immediate 10 closest neighbors where I live has 3 African American families and 2 Hispanic families so you will have to enlighten me about these exclusive communities you talk about, perhaps where you live?

3. We chose HPCA because of the dedication to education in a safe environment. Why don’t you listen to the Guilford County School Board and tell me how many times they say the word ‘EDUCATION”. All you will hear are crickets chirping.

4. Yes, there was a reluctance to put our daughter at HPCA, but it was because they were only having their first graduating class this year, it has nothing to do with the fact that Bible class was a required subject. You know what? My fear turned out to be unfounded because they have had several seniors accepted at colleges both in-state and out-of-state.

5. As far as remaining in an ivory white tower and not involved in our daughter’s education at HPCA would you like to discuss my chaperoning on out of town trips, shuttling kids back and forth to band competitions and basketball games, or taking our child to school early so she can review homework questions with her teacher? Again, am I boring you with the discussion of education issues on a Blog called the Chalkboard as opposed to a socio-economic whining session that individuals such as yourself enjoy wallowing in?

6. By the way at one of these basketball games it was senior night and all of the boys and girls who were graduating had tables set up highlighting their academic and athletic careers at HPCA, as well as where they were accepted at college.

7. The only exclusion issue I am aware of at HPCA is that they are probably close to capacity. If I remember correctly this year’s sophomore class was already filled last summer due to parents trying the HP Lottery Plan for one year. Now I would anticipate that they have received a great deal of inquiries about Middle School as well.

Buck,

How many (percentage) Black kids go to the HPCA school?

Buckmtn, Andi,

I didn't say everyone at HPCA was racist. I know people there who aren't. But I also know people there that are. I know morally deprived people that send their children there while living a christian life is the furthest thing from their minds.

Private / christian schools have their place and they always will. People choose them for various reasons some good some bad. I do think that they hurt our public schools by draining talent and resources. I don't think Jesus would be ok with the private schools. I think he would prefer that christians help the poor in a meaningful way, not just shoe boxes with school supplies. I think I've read something in the bible about that. WWJD probably frown on these "Christian Schools."

Further, I agree that there are problems in our schools that need to be fixed but attendance lines have nothing to do with those problems. Socioeconomic balance helps some of those problems. Its not the only solution just part of it.

Sure Southwest has 44% minority but that has nothing to do with socioeconomic balance. Many of those minorities are middle class not low income. Its wrong to have all low income kids concentrated in certain schools. It creates bad dynamics and they have less resources. Its simply unfair.

The Majority

Bubba, 100% of all races that make a decision as a family to go there, have acceptable grades, and pay their tuition on time go there.

Then 100% of all races of children who maintain good grades and maintain good behavior get to remain there.

It's the no-nonsense approach to academics and enforcement of rules that have impressed me. Quite honestly I could care less about ethnic background, the size of a person's house, etc. just shutup and produce - PERIOD.

Buck,

What?

I just asked in your opinion about the ethnic census of HPCA? What is it since you're a parent? Does there appear to be quite a few Black students at the HPCA, or is it lilly white?

I'll answer that, no, there are few if any Black students at HPCA. In addition, the inquiries for enrollment spiked at HPCA as well as the other private schools in HP when White parents were confronted with the possibilities of their kids going to Black Andrews or Central.

Majority,

I'm curious about your thoughts on some things. In your discussion above about having "all low income kids concentrated in certain schools", what do you think the School Board should do about Smith? It has the highest concentration of poor children of any high school in GC? Also, what do you think about Dudley - it has the 2nd highest concentration of poor children?

I always am befuddled about these posts and how they always lean toward High Point. The facts are that there is more imbalance in Greensboro than in High Point.

Also, the initial attendance line proposal for the new Northern High School showed approximately 35% poor children in attendance. After re-drawing and re-drawing, I think the current proposed number is closer to 10%.

I never heard any outcry from anyone about that travesty.

Folks love to point fingers at North High Point parents and ignore the rest of the county.

The facts are that Smith, Dudley, Northwest, and soon-to-be- Northern are schools most out of balance.

Bubba?

Majority?

The proposed number for Northern is 13% FRL, and 22% minority. Not as diverse as some, but more than your numbers.

Nice try Bubba, but my interest spiked both in HPCA and Wesleyan as the violence spiked at Andrews and Central. My wife and I didn't have any problems with the minority students at SW Middle and would not have any problems with these same minority students at SWHS.

I could care less if INQUIRIES into enrollment went up at any given point in time, the simple fact is that ENROLLMENT went up, that's when a person put's their money where their mouth is.

I can't help you with how many or how few minority students are enrolled at HPCA, Wesleyan, Westchester, Caldwell, Greesnboro Day, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Our Lady of Grace, or any other private school in the area I have overlooked. Based on the parents or grandparents I know at each school any and all are welcome to come.

Parents just need to bring their checkbook and their children need to bring a willingness to learn and their best behavior.

Buck,

Be truthful for just once in your life.

You and your kind's interest in private (White) education for your kids spiked when the potential arose that your kids might be sent to a Black school. Violence is just your excuse to put your mind at ease with respect to your decision.

Altercations occur not only at Black schools but at White as well. I don't recall any events like Columbine or the one in Mississipi occuring at mostly Black schools. Do you?

And the "Christian" private schools are loving every minute of it. Enrollments up, monies are rolling in (Praise the Lord and count them dollars), and they're able to maintain the lilly white environment that is conducive to the expectations of the NHP community.

Lord Hear Our Prayers.

Bubba, do you recall the constant rolling thunder of HP squad cars at both Andrews and Central over the last several years?

How about the Chief of Police leading last month's assault on HP Central after the same Principal is sent to the hospital for the second time in a little over a year? I believe his picture was in both the N&R and HPE after this episode.

Not to diminish what occured at Columbine, but I don't want our daughter exposed to risk when it is not necessary. That is completely different than having her at a school with children of different races and economic backgrounds, which is what she experienced both at SW Elementary and SW Middle. I was honestly fine with that. I would have to be fine with it because I attended a public high school where white was the minority race behind African American and Puerto Rican.

It's unfortunate that there are other schools within the Guilford County system that are out of control situations. What is even more unfortunate is that the existing School Board allows it to continue. The fact that my wife and I choose a different path is certainly within our rights.

And place don't continue to single out NHP, I believe if you looked at the enrollment of HPCA you would find that the largest percentage of students come from children that are the neighbors of Dot Kearns and Susan Mendenhall. How do you explain that?

Why I'm at it how do you explain the kids that attend HPCA that are from Thomasville, Lexington, Asheboro, Summerfield, Kernersville and NE Greensboro?

Are you attempting to villify everyone who disagrees with you in a 5 county area?

Pls give one good reason why we can't use cameras in the rooms of schools that have a high amount of fighting and disturbances. Putting everything on tape will help reduce violance.

Joe, we can't do it because Gorman kicked Grier's butt for the Charlotte job. If Grier was outta here, Deena and Skippy wouldn't be making these decisions in Guilford County.

Buck, HPCA should pay you for that glowing review. How nice it must be to have that much pride in one's school, public or private. I'm picking up an application tomorrow!

HPCA Bound, ask for Ms. Higgins, she'll be glad to take care of you. That's the weird thing about HPCA everyone is called Mr. and Ms.

By the way I understand they have a baseball team that is not very shabby if you kid plays. According to the General they have already beaten Andrews and Central this Spring.

Numbers Game,

I think its wrong for Greensboro schools to remain segregated as well; but since i don't live in Greensboro I'm not as concered about it as the schools in my home town. But since you are so concerned about it maybe I can count on you to be an advocate for socioeconomic diversity cunty wide?

Buckmtn,

Since you are concerned about police response to Central and Andrews then I would think you would see the inherent problem with putting high concentrations of poor children together. it makes the problems more difficult to manage by the school and further the majority of the students have a street culture that they bring to school with them. So then why do think its ok for some students to have to go to schools impacted with these situatiosn while other kids aget to go to an all middle class school. Well you really don't count because you opted out. Rather than do whats best for our society you chose to run from its problems and join a so called Christian school with other false christians all trying to insulate your children from the real world. Jesus would be ashamed of you. Jesus would not condone your behavior or that of your fellow church school bretheren. Keep fooling yourself, someday you and the creators of such schools will be judged where it matters most. Wow way to go HPCA baseball team. How many Morehead or trinity Scholars has HPCA had? None. Sure I know they are a new school but I doubt they will have any anytime soon. WCA has had a geart soccer team too but no Moreead or Trinity scholars from that long standing Christian School. IAll of their children seem to get accepted to college but then look at where they are accepted, Bob Jones Univ. and Pat Robertson nut house. Hardly real institutions of higher learning. Are they allowed to teach science at HPCA and WCA? Evolution is a dirty word there. Now thats just the kind of narrow minded thinking I want for my child! Of course you would probably send your child to the Third Reich to avoid mixing with children unlike yourselves. In fact I think that is where the "General" got his stars.

Majority,

Point of clarification.....WCA had a Moorehead Scholar in 2003. She attends UNC-CH and has been studying abroad. She already has enough credits to graduate, but is continuing to pursue multiple majors. She is fluent in French and is developing other languages for her career in international business. She also has a sister who went to WCA who graduated from UNC-CH and is in the process of trying to enter dental school.

I also know that there are many others who attend very prestigious schools of higher learning. I am sure you could call WCA and get accurate information.

By the way, I have one child who graduated from GCS and another who is a soph. in GCS, so I am not a "private school parent", but wanted to address your misconceptions.

I do have a question though for anyone who would care to answer. I have seen several accusations about white people that move out to the county or who choose private school be labeled as racists. If this is true, what do you call "non-whites" who make these same choices?

Good question Kay,,,,Maybe ,,,"Does Jesus love Bubba" would like to take a guess on the answer...

Hi Kay, thank you for the clarifications.

Majority, sorry but we choose to not permit our daughter to be drafted into a socioeconomic experiment. She actually rides home in a carpool in the afternoons with a friend of hers from Central and the poor girl is still terrified after being there for almost an entire school year now. I fail to see where you think the school system has the right to draft anyone's child or how any parent can be criticized for taking matters into their own hands. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe in this country it is the parent's child and not the State's child.

Your comments about what colleges these children are accepted at is completely unfounded. If you would have taken a moment to check either schools' website you would have found:

UNC Charlotte
Lenoir Ryhne
Appalachian State
UNC Greensboro
East Carolina
Liberty
North Carolina State
Gardner Webb
High Point
Wingate

As you see there are several state university schools on this list which offer a rather diverse student population. I therefore find any and all comments about sheltering children as unfounded.

These kids are well aware of the world around them, they all just completed missions trips in the last week and several tutored at some of the failing schools within High Point.

Oh and yes, they are allowed to teach all aspects of Science.

Majority, please save your ignorant biases for someone else. If your backwards thinking represents any type of a "majority" it is truly a sad day and a sad commentary on Guilford County.

Sounds like Majority has Star-Envy.

NEWS FLASH...NEWS FLASH.....NEWS FLASH......

Early this Morning,,,The General Slak of North High Point was awarded a 19th STAR,,,,in honor of his continuous battle against Communism and Socialism in the Guilford County area.

Upon his return from Washington, the General informed us that he recieved news that the Guilford County area, especially High Point has
become a HUB for Socialist Activity....

The Leaders of this Regime are described as a Older Blonde Women,,,some times Disguising themselves as School Board Members,,,but most of the time can be found running in circles with "OLD MONEY LILY WHITES" in the Emerywood section of High Point.

The 19-Star General Slak vows to continue to battle these "MENACES AGAINST FREEDOM" and to once again instill DEMOCRACY into this area..

Soldiers,,,Band together and lets' Remove High Point from behind the "IRON CURTAIN".

********************************
Congrats General! Well deserved.
********************************

Back to Basics:

1.) Quality Education (schools performing close to national average in Guilford county are mostly private)

2.) Safe pleasant environment (we need a discipline policy that is enforced and meaningful)

3.) Predominantly Neighborhood Schools (parents and children do not like long drives to schools across town)

If Grier and the School Board focused on achieving these goals, all other issues become manageable. Providing building contracts, social engineering, specialized hybrid magnet schools, green schools, cooking schools etc. all distract from the real mark of providing all members of the community access to a local neighborhood school that is safe and where their children can obtain an education that would allow them to graduate with skills close to the national average. The sad part is, in Guilford County the national average is a goal far out of reach of most of our schools. Arguing about private schools, white flight, social engineering etc. distracts from the basic issues. With what we spend per student at or above tuition costs for private schools, shouldn’t we expect a bit better?

Another way to say is that the BOE does not have a clue on how to stay on message 24/7 365 days per year. Our BOE does not even have a goal to be at national average by a certain time. Garth, I wish you well. Very few of the current members promised change when they were elected. Those that did dicided it was more fun "fitting in" than to take on the tough issues. Never forget, when the children of Guilford County were born, they were as smart any group of children around the state or nation. Something happened.

Great question Kay about the non-whites sending their children to private schools. What do you call them?

Majority must have forgotten that Garry Burnette wouldn't even send his own child to Andrews. He sent him to private school. I heard Deena's children go to two different public schools. Do board members get to pick and choose their own school?

Majority,

Not that you really warrant a response because so many of your so called "facts" are so screwed up. You really have some misinformation about what is going and about many people. But here goes anyway....

First of all I am not involved in any lawsuit. I have heard of some pending possible lawsuits by some parents whose kids where affected.

We moved here in 1996 from Virginia Beach where schools are good, better and best - some of the top public schools in the country. To this day, my husband often regrets taking the job promotion here, although I must say our daughter has done fine in GCS. It has surely opened my eyes about the entire public school system. Although she would have done fine in any challenging situation.

We just got back from Virginia today and I saw new brick building schools, NO trailers and no "for sale" signs on houses. The market has appreciated like crazy. Good schools are a part of the equation along with a thriving military area and lack of land for new construction, plus the beach. There are days I question why I moved here too. The only answer to me is she has thrived here, in school and with good friends, etc.

Before we moved here, we researched the school for one year while my husband commuted and traveled. We studied the test scores. We build in an area that was close to work, shopping, interstate access, etc. As far as schools, church, doctors, everything was so spread out (not like we were used to in Virginia). We wanted SWH because of the scores and also because of the many AP classes offered, otherwise we would have gone private. (And no, we are NOT close to Andrews like you state.) When we moved here my daughter was so ahead of what she learned in elementary school the first year here. Because of her IQ and what the schools came from, it greatly concerned me. Once she got in AL classes it helped some. She just read and learned a lot on her own and was always a top performer. Now because of AP and honor classes, she has continued to be at the top.

As far as safety, that is also a number one priority with us. My daughter has told my husband and I the "gangs" just fight with the "gangs", they don't bother anyone else. He says he worries about what happens in the "crossfire", just like the principal at Central who got knocked out for the second time. I respect anyone who leaves the public school system because of safety issues and to be around Christian values. You are responsible for your own child's safety and upbringing. With what the trash media puts out there (movies, TV, music) and what kids hear every day in school, it is a challenge to be a tough parent and raise a child with positive, moral values.

When our daughter went to middle school I was in shock to see a resource officer at school. I never heard of a cop a school when I grew up. This in itself concerned me. I see now why we need resource officers. I think we ALL should be concerned about the safety, lack of discipline and respect that is tolerated in our schools.

My husband and I did not move here to change an "old regime" education system that has been in existance in High Point for apparently a long time (the haves and the have-nots. We didn't cause Fantasia not to be able to read. It won't change by shipping any kids across town on a bus. Kids in CP classes in high school still can't read. Putting them on a bus doesn't teach them reading or math. Once a child gets to high school the mold is set. The resources and good teachers have to be provided early on. It must start at home with the parents. The teachers cannot change certain children that their parents lack of parenting skills have helped to create. Teachers are not social workers. They can't do it all. Children also must take responsbility for their actions.

It is not just GCS where children are being failed. It is a national problem. (see Oprah this past week - two very good shows on educational crisis in this country).

And yes I would certainly rather see my tax dollars go to a brick building rather than $60,000 on portable classrooms that can blow away in torndoes - "temporary" trailers that have been around for 20 years. To me this isn't temporary. Our schools are busting at the seems. But now because of recent shifting in bond funds from Jamestown Middle, Ragsdale and do to all the past redistricting shananigans of the past several years, I doubt this county will see money for new school buildings in the way of bonds.

In conclusion, you really don't know much about me nor my "co-horts" as you put it, nor who my "co-horts" are.

My daughter graduates next year. I will be glad she is getting out of the public school system. But I am also very proud of her many accomplishments and offer no apologies for sending her to SWH. I am glad she is getting out before all the schools continue to "equalize" or dummy down as they say. Also we are losing many great teachers to other systems or who are choosing to get out of the teaching field altogether.

I believe in neighborhood schools. I believe a person has a right to work hard, save and more to a house they can afford and where they choose to live. I believe that all schools should be good and children should not have to be bused to receive an education. Unfortunately, there is a lot of work to be done in all of our schools.

Great Question, apparently Deena Hayes has her kids at 2 different public schools so she can check on the progress of the contractor work being done at two different schools at the same time by her boyfriend/co-habitant/co-owner of her house or whatever else you want to call him.

When that works tries up I guess she feels free to find another project for the company he works for to get into. No conflict of interest I'm sure. Not to worry though because it is obvious Deena always calls it right down the middle.

So now that some have tired of kicking Dr. Grier around, let's find somebody else, a woman, African American at that, AND ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, who just happens to have a good friend, whose also probably African American, who lo and behold, is cracking the good old boy's (translate, White Man) stranglehold on govt. contracts for Guilford County services.

Good Old Boys are fuming:

"Gotta be some hanky panky going on here. Ain't no way an African American man can do what a White man has a right to do. Impossible, they ain't got the connections, nor are they the right color. Gotta dig up some dirt, cast a light of controversy on the matter, imply that someone's breaking the law. Can't upset the status quo. Something stinks in the diddie.

They almost beat us with this Lottery, but we ain't gonna let it happen again. Beat 'em down before they get airs."

Lord Hear Our Prayers.

Who said anything about being tired of kicking Dr. Grief around?

I believe Stormy has raised several valid points on another strand of this Blog, that's all.

And spare me the race card OK. I believe as a taxpayer I have the right question whether any conflicts of interest exist. No doubt the Rhino surfaced many valid points yesterday and there are other Board members who feel the same way.

Race has nothing to do with it because there are also questions in the Guilford County community about conflicts of interest in regards to the rendering of professional services with some of white Board Members.

Right on Buckman!

The Rhino was VERY informative this week. There are considerable questions being raised about conflicts of interest. The legalities were mentioned by a lawyer in the article. The law of influencing contracts is VERY CLEAR here regarding public officials, influence, conflict of interest.

A school board member mentioned they thought she was married. Apparently some of them didn't know her live-in was being awarded the majority of all these contracts.

The article states that some of theses bids were DOUBLE what the job should cost. Maybe this is one reason why our schools over are so over budget. It will be interesting to know who is getting the contract for the Smith High School project which Deena is supporting. This story is worth following and worth public comment.

More reasons taxpayers will not vote on future bonds.

Deena Hayes puffs out her chest at the board meetings and acts like she is concerned for the black contractors when really she is only concerned for HER black contractor.

Barbara Ann,

Wow what a come back! Sorry I don't have time to respond to all of it. My new white Lexus is covered in pollen and looks green. I want to wash it so when I pull up to the club tomorrow its shiny! We have something in common, I'm from Virginia. I'm part of no old regime. I grew up in Virginia. I'm never lived in Virgiia Beach myself though it was Woodbridge. My Dad worked in Washington. I used to spend a lot of time in the Tidewater area though. One of my favorite family memories was sailing down the bay to Waterside, eating soft shell crabs at a marina restaurant and once attended a floating Jimmy Buffet concert. They have a great Labor day celebration there. We we used to get tired of every weekend in Annapolis so we would head south when time allowed. Awsome times! I even went to a submarine launch ceremony when the elder Bush christened a submarine. The coast Guard had the harbor blocked but we had permission to sail right up to the sub and dock next to it. really cool. I don't think the sub was built in Norfolk but they had the christening there. I was in graduate school but my family were staunch Republicans and my Dad worked with every Republican President since Eisenhour. Bush even joked around that he wished he could go sailing with us after the ceremony.

Yeah thats right I'm a Republican not a socialist. I'm just not your brand of Republican. I'm ashamed of W and the GOP's catering to right wing radicals especially the southern baptist assembly. They have ruined the party and make me sick! I'm more like a Lincoln Republican and not so much like the majority of the GOP today who are more like George Wallace. Maybe I should switch parties because its hard to find decent Republicans around here, too many mean religous nuts and racists like you guys.

But like you found with your daughter I found that when I moved to North Carolina with my kids the schools were not as challenging in fact we were way ahead. My son skipped a grade. I don't think it has anything to do with the location of the school but more had to do with the quality of the teachers. What I've found in high Point thugh is that teachers have left the impacted schools to get jobs at middle class schools like SW. This leaves the most challeneged schools with the least experienced teacers and lots of turnover. The BOE should change that poicy and not let teacher pick the school but let the central office place them where they are needed most. Also if you balance diversity then it really doesn't matter which school your children attend because they are all the same. That doesn't mean you have to dumb them down as you like to say. By the way when you say that you are talking about my kids and I guarantee you that your darlings would be much better off for having associated with my ids. I bet their GPA would move up a few points if they just were lucky enough to pass my kids in the hallway.

When I was a kid in Virginia our schools were not segregated. I really had no concept of segregation until I moved to NC. Our school was clean, neat and seemed to have a lot more money than the schools in North Carolina. I was bussed from the suburb on the Potomac River to an inner city school. I think it was about 6 miles maybe further, about the same difference between SW and Andrews. My parents didn't seem to care it just wasn't important. They weren't neighborhood schools. Like High Point we were experiencing rapid growth and the schools couldn't keep up with building so we rode a bus to make use of available space and balance diversity. We could have attended the local accademy but my parents taught me that it was elitist and that as long as they had an influence in our lives the school we attended would make little difference. I guess they were right, I'm no genious but I've done pretty good, better than most of Garth Vaders' clients he's so proud to brag about.
I went to school with many kids in the projects and after sports I gave them rides home in my Mom's Mercedes wagon. You wouldn't believe how many kids I could get in that car and how bad it smelled after football practice. The wheels would rub on the inside of the fenders. It was so bad she wouldn't drive it anymore and it became my car. I wouldn't trade those experieces or those friendships with the kids in the projects for anything. Years later I handed the Mercedes down to my younger sister when I got a Porche and my sister used to say that everytime she rode near a bus stop she heard boys calling my name.

Buckmtn,
I don't live in Emerywood, I like the old houses there but my wife likes her horses too much and she likes to have them close at hand so Emerywood just isn't big enough to ride ad restricted agains livestock.

By the way Liberty was listed as one of the colleges students from HPCA attended. Ha what a joke, Pat Robertson's school. It has absolutely no credibility. If I saw that on a prospective employees resume I'ld kick them out the door. I have no use for anybody that is that stupid! Do you need to be reminded that the head of the Southern Bapists movement Pat Robertson said that Hurricane Katrina was God's way of punishing the heathen blacks in New Orleans. Another racist in the same network of idiots as HPCA. HPCA teaches the same warped dogma they teach at Liberty. It the same network of nuts. You should be ashamed for damaging your kids. But I support your right as an American Idiot (Green day) to send your darlings where ever you want! Heaven forbid they might be influenced by a child of color or grow up with an open mind. You sacrifice your own kids intelligence just to avoid blacks. Oh one more thought. I think HPCa is a further ride to school than Andrews or Central so why the fuss over the distance? I can read between the lines you are a racist!
The Majority

Jennifer,
the "majority's" posts are in ver bad taste and need to be removed and he/she needs to be banned.

Majority, you could have saved thousands of keystrokes, you and I will never see eye to eye.

And by the way Liberty is not Pat Robertson's school. Once again you have your mouth in overdrive while your brain idles.

Based on that oversight I've chosen to ignore whatever you say. WELL BASICALLY I'VE ALREADY BEEN DOING THAT.

Majority,

if your kids are anything like you then heaven forbid that mine get influenced by yours. My daughter is at Central, I dont know where yours are but if they are there too then I am asking for a transfer.
You are unbelieveable.

Majority,
you seem to enjoy calling people names and being down right nasty.
I seem to be like a lot of people in NHP. Not from here orignially, chose this place to live because of a good school, closeness to work and good local facilities. NHP is a great place to live. Its a melting pot of different cultures. Its not Northwest by anymeans and I think you would have difficulty to find many homes above 400K and even above 300K for the most part. Not that matters, people that live here love it.
It does seem however that greedy eyes are upon us. Some people for whatever reason look at us and think thats not fair. They have it too good. Lets mess it up for them. Lets brand them racists (yes the ole racist card)
Those people are very similar to you, filled with greed and jealousy. Sad people!
Majority, SW will still be a good school. Andrews will still not improve and the school within a school at Central will still exist.
You can still call N.High Pointers names though cant ya!
Buddy, the joke is on you!

Majority,

I am from the great Commonwealth and I will call your bluff.

In the great Commonwealth, there are City schools and county schools and never the 2 shall meet. That is because in my home state, cities aren't part of counties. You either live in a city or in a county, not both. The school systems are run accordingly.

You couldn't have been bused from the suburbs to the inner city, as you state.

Majority's kids are probably at Central, nice and segregated with the Emorywood crowd from the "other" type of children. You see thanks to Central's audit we know the real story on that school. Grier has done nothing to fix that. What more blacks on the IB program?? No way!
The school within a school at Central needs to be sorted out! I dont hear any cries from Mendenhall asking for help there. Upset the status quo....No way!That would upset the Country Club friends wouldnt it?
Majority, how many black children get invited over to your house for saturday evening pizza?

Great observation, Wahoo. In Tidewater you have Virginia Beach Schools (in NO COUNTY), Norfolk Schools, Chesapeake Schools......There is Fairfax County Schools (one of the best school systems)

Majority, in one of your posts you mentioned amble seats in High Point. If that were so why are there trailers at Southwest? Why did the recent redistricting just do a blatent racial swap and not relieve overcrowding? (see this week's Rhino article on "Violence" after you read the article on Deena and her hand picked favorite contractor) Dot rambles as usual. She mentions about spreading out the "communities". There is no mention of the word "education"???? (Just like the choice plan)

Why are some classes still overcrowded at the HP high schools? Why did Eric H never answer Anita's question about the numbers at Andrews being different from the numbers she was given?? Classrooms were torn out to make labs. There are supposed to be much smaller classroom ratios for freshmen at all three schools. Eric claims he is using "state capacity" numbers. Anita heard they are teaching on carts at Andrews.

Not overcrowded.....??? Room for everyone???? Check the numbers, walk the halls. Why is SW building an addition? Why was land purchased next to Andrews?

btw Majority you sure love those expensive cars. I'm glad that makes you so happy. Sounds very insecure to me. Kind of what they say about men with big dogs.

FYI MAJORITY, LIBERTY IS JERRY FAREWELL'S SCHOOL, NOT PAT ROBERTSON.

Just got back from another trip down south. The mission to change the HP swap plan continues and the new mission "Oust Bruce Davis" is gaining ground!
WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP!

Majority,

Just returned from Spring break. When did you trade in your Volvo with all the Kerry/Edwards stickers for a Lexus? Did a membership at the club come from working the elections for Dot?

By the way that's not yellow pollen on your imaginary car. It's dust from all the yellow and black signs you seen around Southwest.

Majority or Riverboat Bobbit

one of you (probably the same person actually) posted something about Central Office telling teachers where to teach

Alan D has stated before you can't do this

good teachers are in demand. they can teach in any surrounding county for a much better work environment.

you can place new teachers where you want but principals have a say in who comes to their school too. certified, experienced teachers can name their school.

forcing teachers will never fly. the incentive program might work for some but most teachers don't won't work for extra combat pay. others teachers themselves are fighting this new incentive plan. they aren't giving up their supplements to give to support this. they will fight it.

Mark J had many questions about this plan at the last board meeting. he doesn't believe taking money from other teachers is the answer.

I am amazed and disgusted at what is either Majority's ignorance or his/her intentional lies, or both. He/she has already been exposed on the Virginia schools and the Liberty lies, and he/she speaks wrongly and libelously about Pat Robertson being the "head of the Southern Baptist movement". Robertson was born and raised as a Southern Baptist, but no longer claims to be a member of that church, much less the head of it; that would be Bobby Welch, President of the Southern Baptist Convention. Pat Robertson does not speak for that religious group. I suspect that Majority seeks to defame religious groups, along with people living in North High Point.

Along with being a racist, Majority appears to suffer from being a theologicophobic, although after reading all of the rediculous posts that he/she has made, he/she doesn't appear to be suffering from catagelophobia. But, after reading Majority's posts, I am beginning to suffer from an acute case of myxophobia.

They are in the book, you can look 'em up.

Jennifer,
Is the News and record going to cover the Deena Hayes allegations? Since she is probably sitting on furniture brought from Guilford county taxpayers I think a full investigation is required and the public deserve it. She is directly involved in a conflict of interest in my mind.
It would be less obvious if it wasn’t for the fact the minority contractors is the only subject that interests her.
It is plainly obvious that she and her boyfriend have been lining their pockets while the Smith students she represents have been failing year after year.
We need an explanation!

It should be very clear that the law says every purchase must be made at a "fair and reasonable" price. It makes no difference if the item costs $10.00 or $10,000,000. The $30,000 threshhold seperates the informal procedure from the formal bid process. It does not change the requirement that the purchase is made at a "fair and reasonable price". It is against the law to award a contract at a price known to be in excess of the market price for the goods and/or services. If everybody is selling widgets at $30.00 each, the BOE may rotate vendors or consider other factors that is in the best interest of the BOE. It cannot award at $40.00. This is against the law and it would be throwing money down the drain.

Joe,

That sounds like you just have your next speech cut out for you. Good work!

This is how I see it:

$500,000 racial healing paid by taxpayers by a questionable ministry
$500,000 cost of proposed "diversity" study
$ 25,000 (I think that was the amount mentioned)
for consultant Deena knows to head up
minority contracts
$ ??????? Cost of Smith project
?????? Names of the contractors doing the Smith High School Project (Deena's district)
$???????? How much more taxpayer money will be handed out to favorites while our children are uneducated???

Money should be spent IN THE CLASSROOM not on overpriced construction costs. $500,000 to waste on more overbid projects should NOT even be considered by the School Board. They are treading on thin ice here. There are laws about misuse of public funds and bidding.

Little Red School House,

warn't me.

Majority,

Liberty U is Rev. Jerry Fallwell's, and not Pat Robertson's, school.

You know, the one that defaulted on millions of dollars of bonds for his campus' improvement campaign and later settled for pennies on the dollars with his bondholders.

Liberty is another lilly White "Christian" liberal arts (what an oxymoron) educational institution, like HPCA, that White parents send their kids to school because their scared of them mixing with Blacks, commies, "free thinkers", feminists, infidels, activists, liberals, Grier lovers, etc.

I brought up HPCA's website, didn't see one Black kid in the many photos. Just another exclusionist institution masquerading as an all loving "Christian" institution. Jesus would weep.

Lord Hear Our Prayers.

Hey Bubba, speaking of not lilly white, check out the "Skip Alston in a skirt" Deena Hayes. It turns out she is just a pure as let's see...

Oh I know...

Bruce Davis
Carolyn Coleman
Earl Jones
Skip Alston (SPEAKING OF DEFAULTING ON LOANS)
Rev King of Homestead fame, probably a martyr to you Bubba.

But enough about them, back to Deena since she masquerades as someone interested in the education of children, when it turns out all she is interested in is making sure her "man" has a paycheck.

I guess she may actually be telling the truth when she says she will be sure that "her people" (her words, not mine) will not support another school bond. Turns out she can sail this thing through at $30,000 a pop under the radar screen and all is well. Well atleast all is well for her man, but maybe not the constituents and their children in her district.

Bubba,
HPCA sounds a lt like Dudley doesnt it. They dont want whites in their either. They have even offered to bus them in..For free!

I am with you. Its disgusting.

Taters,
you are too hard on our girl Deena.
I am sure she is really passing this money on to "her" people.
I don't believe she is the type to keep it for herself. I mean she only drives a Lexus for instance, right?
Its only a coupla grand car.

Deena has a lexus? I though it was only supposed to be SW parents who have them!

Seriously, I sau that because I think these are serious allegations.
Will someone investigate this? Will Alan Duncan or someone give the public some info on what the baord thinks?

Alan commented briefly at last night's meeting about the newspaper article after the discussion about the consultant for minority contracts. Conflict of interest was mentioned about how careful board members are about not voting when there is a conflict of interest.

According to the Rhino they were also talking seriously about conflict of interest from influence. When they discussed the minority consultant's contract last night I didn't hear Deena say anything. Now that is a 180 turn. She commented at length on this at the last meeting.

Please sign this "oust Grier" petition.

http://www.petitiononline.com/mark0112/petition.html

Do you think Deena hasnt become Mrs Green because its a loop hole out of a possible "conflict of interest"?

Whyisntshemarried,

Good question. Here is the GCS policy relating to board member conflict of interest. Note that it specifically mentions "personal or pecuniary interest". A reasonable person would conclude that a personal interest would cover a live-in mate with whom you jointly own a home.

The pertinent part of this policy that seems is being ignored is the one that requires disclosure of an such an interest. Even though Ms. Hayes may claim that since she isn't married, no legal relationship exists that she was not required to disclose it, but all ethical organizations require individuals that can influence decisions for the organization "over disclose". That is, you disclose when there is a chance that there may be a perception of conflict of interest, which obviously exists in this case.

Descriptor Term:
BOARD MEMBER CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Descriptor Code:
BHA

Presented to Board:
December 9, 2003

Adopted by Board:
March 9, 2004

Revised by Board:

Board members are expected to avoid conflicts of interest involving any matter pending before the Board. A conflict of interest is deemed to exist when a member is confronted with an issue in which the member has a personal or pecuniary interest or an issue or circumstance that could render the member unable to devote complete loyalty and singleness of purpose to the public interest. A Board member owes to the Board a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of the district.

1. All Board members will comply with state and federal laws pertaining to conflict of interest. Nothing in this policy restricts or affects a Board member's duty to comply with those laws.

2. In addition to conflicts arising out of personal or pecuniary interests, Board members may have family or business relations that could create the perception of a conflict of interest. In such event, where State and federal laws do not require any action, the Board member shall disclose the interest, shall abstain from voting and avoid the appearance of impropriety.

3. In all matters that may have the appearance of impropriety, in addition to disclosing the interest and abstaining from taking any formal action, the Board member shall not attempt to influence the decisions of staff or other Board members on the issue.

4. In addition to restrictions on taking formal action regarding matters which create the appearance of conflict of interest, a Board member is expected to avoid a conflict of interest in the exercise of the member's other duties. A Board member shall not:

a. disclose or use confidential information acquired during the performance of official duties as a means to further the Board member's own personal financial interests or the interests of a member of the Board member's immediate family,

b. accept a gift of substantial value or economic benefit which would tend to improperly influence a reasonable person, or which the Board member knows or should know is primarily for the purpose of a reward for official action,

c. engage in a substantial financial transaction for private business purposes with a person whom the Board member directly or indirectly supervises, and/or

d. receive any compensation for services rendered to the district from any source except Board compensation and reimbursement of expenses incurred as a Board member.

Stormy,

That works for me. Especially Number 3 "attempt to influence decisions of staff or other board members" could not be ANY CLEARER HERE.

Watch any of the board meetings. See who talks the most on minority contracts (and not white women).

GUILTY!!!!!!!!

That is very incriminating. Well done Stormy.

We the GC tax payers need a very good explanation here.

To the Gallos,,,,,at once!!!!!!!!!!!!