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I had two kids that utilized the trailers during middle school years and the only complaint they had was when it rained they sometimes got soaked going from one trailer to the other, and of course, to lunch. My son had allergies but never complained about the trailers troubling him.

Some of the trailers I visited in Guilford were in better condition with better climate control than the main building's classrooms. Plus the kids had easy access to restroom facilities located in each trailer. In addition, ain't no asbestos issues related to these mobile units, unlike many of our older buildings used to have.

Trailers are a common feature of our NC landscape as a result of many poor people, so I don't see anything nefarious about our kids getting educated in them, after all they serve very well the problem of dealing with a rapid student growth issue.

Riverboat Bob,

Please clarify what is meant by "Trailers are a common feature of our NC landscape as a result of many poor people"

Numbersgame, it's because elitists such RB Bob expect it to be OK for their kids to be treated one way, but view the rest of the population as follows:

Well I'm White Trash,
I wave a rebel flag,
My horn plays Dixie,
And my wheels are mags.

I've got food stamps,
And I'm on Welfare too,
I use it to buy Chia Pets,
and Super Glue.

They call me White,
And Trashy,
That makes me White,
And Trashy.

I like to get drunk,
And give a rebel yell,
I'd make a good beautician,
If I'd learnt how to spell.

I said I'm Trashy,
Hey!
Thats what I said!
I lay around all day,
in my Miracle Bed.

I like it White,
And Trashy,
Because I'm White,
And Trashy.

Livin' in a trailer park,
Shootin' guns after dark,
Yell it loud as I can,
Havin me a champagne jam!

Hair feathered,
Gonna fly,
Jeans tight,
Heels high,
JD in my hand,
Crank the Charlie Daniels Band!

I aint workin now,
But I will be soon,
My workmans compensation
Will be over in June.

Because I'm White Trash,
I drive a big old car,
But since my DUI,
I don't go very far.

Because I'm White,
And Trashy,
My car is White,
And Trashy.

I like lazy boys,
And my trailer is full,
I met my boyfriend Bubba,
At the tractor pull.

I got some tattoos,
And some broken bones.
I always git in trouble
When Bubba comes home.

He's actin White,
And Trashy,
That Bubba's White,
And Trashy.

Real White,
Real Trash,
Lose my temper
In a flash.

Drivin in a trashy car,
Fightin in a trashy bar!

Livin' in a trailer park,
Shootin' guns after dark,
Yell it loud as I can,
Havin me a champagne jam!

Numbersgame,

Charlene pretty much addressed this issue better'n I would ever be able to.

Numbersgame,

Shame on me for not really addressing your housing concerns about the poor people of our state.

I hope this helps and here goes:

Trailer homes = inexpensive housing = alternative housing for people of humble means (i.e. poor people w/no or poor credit) = many people in NC who qualify = thus many trailer homes in NC.

Did I help clarify the matter by use of this algorithmic approach?

When I worked in Carroll County, Md. there were mold problems in the trailers there. As I remember it, the trailers where mold was found had been in place for a very long time, 20 plus years, without renovation.

Since when did being on workers compensation make you white trash?

I have never commented on this blog before but I guess since I am on workers comp (through no fault of my own) I am now considered white trash.
I went to work today and decided I wanted to go through pure you know what for going on 4 years now and turn my families life upside down so I could be called white trash. Nice

It's not a song I wrote, Rock92 plays it as a spoof every once in a while. I just googled "White & Trashy" to get the lyrics.

Jennifer,
I have been seriously concerned about the health of my child in school and the quality of air and odor in our school building. He has been sick most of the school year and told me the school smelled. His grades suffered due to abscences and inability to concentrate.

After many months of calling, a professional was called in to find an open sewer pipe in the building. It was in the mechanical room with the air handler to his classroom hallway.

I would have thought that the air quality in our schools would be something that is routinely checked, yet teachers that worked at this school said it has smelled since the school opened. Since this sewer pipe should have been capped when it was
built seven years ago, it probably has.

I would like to know if they are doing anything to verify that the trailers and the buildings are healthy. Based on my experience, unless someone complains loud and often it is not happenning.

Did the odor cause your son to be sick? Most odors, although unpleasant, do not make people sick.

I still want to know what white trash has to do with workers comp. I know its like pulling teeth to get them to pay you, therefor you cant pay your bills, then you lose everything. Is that what you are making fun of? I dont see the humor!!

My son had severe headaches and dizziness some
last year during school and it started up again as soon as school started this year. The longer he stayed in the building, the longer the sickness lasted. This year we finally tied a connection to the fact that he has the headaches on the days that the school stinks the most, usually Mondays. He has allergies and is extremely sensitive to odors. A strong cologne can trigger a migraine.

I was told that the readings on the meter was high enough to close the school if it was not capped immediately. Funny, they did not think they had a problem for 5 months, because my son was the only one complaining.

Once the odor was eliminated, the headaches went away. Now some odor is back on Mondays and he is having the headache again. I think the maintenance workers are failing to flush the pipes with water o the weekends allowing the sewer gas to come back up through the pipes.

You are right, it doesn't bother everyone and some do not even smell it. It's a condition called "nasal fatique". However, it is the same gas that in high enough concentration would blow up a porta-let if you lit a match in it.

It seems to me that the school system should immediately check out the rooms involved after one parent has suspicion of a problem. I think it would be a waste of resources to monitor all rooms all the time. The system did not react in a timely manner. I am glad you and your son got the process moving

You are right, "white trash" - there isn't anything funny or trashy about folks on worker's comp. I'm sure it's tough.

But that's the norm on The Chalkboard. If you don't live in a $400,000 house on Skeet Club Road, they call you "trailer trash". If you are on worker's comp, you are "white trash." If you are black and/or poor, then you ought to go Andrews or Central, because you sure aren't welcome at Southwest.

Oh, and if you disagree with them, you must be an evil, dishonest person.

I don't live on Skeet Club, my house wasn't quite 400,000 and I've never dictated where poor/blacks should go to school.

"Sad but true", YOU are confusing fine chalkboard folk with Dot Kearns and Susan Mendenhall.

I can assure you that Dotty and Susie's homes are over that price and THEY are the very ones you need to be targeting your anger towards. THEY are the ones that are shipping the poor/blacks OUT. THEY are the racists that could benefit from a good scolding--NOT the many that post on the chalkboard that are just simply tired of having their kids kidnapped.

Enough already please go this website below because no one posted those lyrics to upset anyone.

http://www.funny-web-site.com/white-and-trashy.html

A rather catchy tune, but no where the status of my classic --- "I WAS DRUNK THE DAY MY MOM GOT OUT OF PRISON....."

I totally agree with you sad but true. The sad thing is my daughter does attend Southwest but my house is far from being 400,00. Being on workers comp has made it very hard on my familiy and myself. We have had to struggle but when they decided to change the schools to the lottery system my daughter missed it by one grade. I still e-mailed all school board members to let them know the struggle we went through even before I got hurt just to keep my daughters in the same school system. I live almost in the front yard of the middle school. I did not get a response from any of the board members or our city councilmen. They dont care about our kids. Of course none of their kids were affected so why should they care.

See today's Charlotte Observer:

"Gorman wins job as CMS superintendent"

WOW!!! GOOD news for Charlotte!!!

In fact, CMS is on a roll. First they disban their choice plan and go back to neighborhood schools for everyone! Then they commit that when children begin kindergarten they will know everyone school he/she will attend - no more redistricting every few years - STABILITY!

Maybe CMS could mentor GCS!

I'm glad their board chose the best candidate for the superintendent's job!

Sounds to me like Terry Grier and the school board should take notes from Charlotte. It sounds like they know what they are doing. Of course Guilford County doesnt want to do what is right. I could use some examples but we all know it wouldnt do any good. Congrantulations Charlotte. Sounds like you got the right man. We got stuck with Grier.....again.

Numbersgame,

It all comes down to leadership. They've got it in Charlotte, and you'll start to see Charlotte bring its schools out of the desperate state that they have been in.

Greensboro, on the other hand, will continue to wallow in mediocrity under the mismanagement of Terry Grier. Oh, when will Jim Melvin and Action Greensboro realize what damage is being done to the city's economic development image by Grier's poor leadership? Is it too late? We had a chance to rid ourselves of him when he declared himself a candidate for the Charlotte job. We should have set him free and made a free agent of him, but we'll take him back and give him a raise so that he won't leave us for another school district that will never hire him. When will the city "leaders" ever learn?

Half of our scool board members cant function without Terry Grier. They have to be told which way to vote on Griers new programs etc. Without him, they would be lost.

D A Coe, you just dont get it. I can tell you have never been on workers compensation. I hope you never have to deal with anything like that. My advice to everyone...Please dont get hurt at work!!

White Trash,

It's true, without an education expert such as Dr. Grier, the GBOE would be listless, as would the Boards of other cities. The GBOE looks upon Dr. Grier as the leader and facilitator of ideas that they as well as he might recommend. After all, if they were all knowing, then they wouldn't need the expertise of an Education Supervisor such as Dr. Grier, or anyone else of that caliber.

The GBOE, as most elected education boards, are not typically educational experts. That's why they rely on the expert advice and guidance of an education expert, an Education Supervisor.

For example, Greensboro's City council also relies on the expert advice of the City Manager.

For example, Guilford County Commissioners rely on the expert advice of the County Manager.

I trust you will prove victorious over the issue that placed you on the rolls of workmen's comp very shortly. I know it's difficult to want to work but are not able to. I've never had the misfortune of not being able to work as a result of injury, but like you, am thankful there is a catchnet out there just in case this happens.

Bubba, you have finally hit upon something which I shall start to agree with you on as far as GSO City Council and GFD County Comm with regards to the City/County Managers.

Since you have already set the table as it were, shouldn't Dr. Grief also sit out in the audience with the other paid employees and not at the table with the elected officials?

Buck,

You just had to go and do it. Didn't you. Want to get things all stirred, don't you.

Stormy and I had a nice civil discussion about this same issue a while back and I enlightened Stormy with the finer aspects of Board etiquette that he obviously was unfamiliar with.

Dr. Grier, though not an elected official, may (at the invitation of the Board, or according to the bylaws of the Board) sit on the Board dias in virtue of the position of his office, as an ex officio member.

I might also point out that during City of Greensboro meetings, the City Manager (also not an elected official) sits to the right of the Mayor (almost elbow to elbow) during their meetings.

The good Doctor's presence at the Board table in front of the hired hands is very typical for a person in his capacity and stature.

Bubba, not to worry, you and I can have a civil discussion... here goes....

You don't get the GSO City meetings in High Point, my loss I guess.

I'll base my obervation on the County Commissioners and other Public Boards in other states that I have observed.

You and I have a difference of opinion on Dr. Grief that is as vast as the Grand Canyon.

I'll give you that the position may merit a seat up on the Board, I'll never agree that Dr. Grief is the person of that "capacity and stature" as you say. I need to look no further than the events that unfolded over the position in Charlotte the last couple of weeks.

Apparently Charlotte already had a lady who was professional in every way and they decided to replace her with a gentleman who is also a professional. I can only assume that Dr. Grief was there to remind everyone how bad things could be. The only place Dr. Grief's picture belongs is in the Post Office.

Other than that I agree with you on this topic.

Regards....

Jen,

Thanks for sharing this.

I have been in trailers with air/heat problems; I have been in classrooms with worse problems. Some of our schools HVAC systems are so old. They simply don't work. Sometimes kids have brought in afghans to stay warm and kindly brought me one.

AC systems leak, cause damp rugs and thus mold. The heat/AC controls for several rooms are down the hall in another room. Some of the carpet in trailers and regular classrooms is just plain old - dust and mold result. Then there are some classrooms that have tons of papers and dust, dust, dust. Let's not forget the children who come in wreaking of cigarette smoke odors because their parents smoke indoors. It is all other their clothes. This brings on a sudden asthma attack or headache.

Then there was the glue/fume problem in with the new carpet at Florence about two years ago. I hear they took care of it.

Then there were the teens standing on chairs to wash vents with clorox to get mold off in our high school a few years back. Not very smart; not too safe.

Being asthmatic myself, I would like to see us all be able to breathe cleaner air. It would be great to have a regular inspection schedule for all of our schools for the HVAC systems, mold problems and the never ending clutter and dust in some rooms.