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Morgan,
the link to the 'unfunded' doesn't work!

For everyone else, just so the word is out there, the air condition/heat doesn't work right at NWMS either, however it is not a new unit-- its 40+ years old. They cleaned it out this past summer and worked better for about 6 months and now doesn't work correctly. It's not just Dudley-and the central office has know about it for years.

Sorry Debora but Northwest is a little too close to High Point and, as you know, High Point is a different kind of town. Good luck on those repairs.

Thanks. I'll fix it.

Florence Elementary's HVAC hasn't work well for years either. This was in the last bond for renovations. I believe the work has been completed (?). We are, however, still waiting for blinds to be replaced (about 15+ years old) so we can actually have blinds and aren't missing that work to close in case of tornado drills.

I was promised that would be done (think when HVAC work has been completed) Will have to send a reminder email.

See Josie's Dudley article today. Lear states there fund were not in the bond referendum for some of these items. Sharon O says GCS could use funds from cost savings on projects.

Question: WHAT COST SAVINGS????

I thought there were cost overruns. Isn't that why Jamestown Middle and Ragsdale building project funds have been depleted???

Hello anyone.

I also find it interesting that the Dudley project team can insist on items out-of-scope of the initial bond project and money will be transferred to ensure the work is done.

Huh?

Out-of-scope projects now being funded???

What about in-scope projects being funded at Jamestown Middle and Ragsdale?

NO MORE BONDS FOR GCS!

Wouldn't it be ironic, if the Dudley community votes no on the next bond issure after they have gotten a new 34 million facility.

Question,

WHAT COST SAVINGS????

That jumped out at me as well this morning when I read the story. This seems rather duplicitous, as usual, on part of this group. How did we suddenly find some cost savings to divert? Of course, when you have hundreds of millions at your disposal every year, I'm sure that there are stashes of a million here and a million there as needed when push comes to shove. That is, unless it is for High Point. Perhaps, there is savings realized from the racial sensitivity training budget?

And, why is facility maintenance being allowed to lanquish so badly everywhere while Grier has millions to spend on experimental programs that don't work? I suppose the answer is that good and timely facility maintenance doesn't get stories published about you in Newsweek, does it?

Joe,

I see no irony there at all. Dudley got the same shabby treatment that other schools get. Their support was solicited last time with the understanding that they would get something for it, but they were doublecrossed just like everyone else was. When will the county voters wake up and realize what this group is doing? Charlotte realized what their board was doing and voted against new bonds. It got their board's attention. Of course, Terry Grier and this board believes that it can continually screw-over the taxpayers in this county and get away with it. Come to think about it, they are right!

If only the Dudley community would be as outraged and angered by the fact that the school has only passed 50% of their children for the last five or so years.
600 or 700 or so kids destined to fail each year.

Those kids need diversity.

I can see that any schools should have roof repair. That could come out of maintenance funds. But extras like big screens in an auditorium is another story.

Before these bells and whistles are provided, ALL schools need working HVAC systems and simple things like blinds that can close for tornado drills and lock downs.

On a side note, the new Florence building is coming along nicely and parents, teachers and students are excited. I hope all is functional when we are in next year. It has been LONG overdue. Many have said we should have put the trailer city on the front of Penny Road years ago so the community could see how long we have need a building.

I have some swamp land to sell you in Arizona!

Who's driveway?????

When did GCS start relocating ELEM SOFTBALL FIELDS????? I've NEVER seen an elem softball field!

Is the above some kind of sick joke?

Is Sharon saying the funding of an elem softball field took priority over classroom funding???

Jamestown and Ragsdale projects are flat axx broke but Guilford County Taxpayers were/are going to pay to MOVE an ELEM SOFTBALL FIELD?

Thank Goodness Sharon clarified what is really going on!

By the way does anyone know how many Jamestown Middle School 8th graders will be entering Ragsdale High School in August?

I heard somewhere in the neighborhood of 550....can anyone confirm the number?

If 550 is anywhere near the correct number GCS has failed Jamestown! AGAIN!

Is it true that the new construction at Southwest High will house a "freshman academy"?

I didn't think federal dollars could be used for construction?

If any central office or school board members are reading the CB please set the record straight!

WHAT elementary softball field?

And when did Sharon clarify?

What about left over funds?

Just read Josie's additional comment.

Foftball field?? When will Southwest High get some tennis courts?

Morgan,

please clarify

"if approved, would be spent on construction work that has already been completed, not extras."

my head is spinning (no pun intended) what is considered "extra"????

if the work is "completed" why spend anything more?

Does it mean construction work completed "improperly"? If this is the case shouldn't the CONTRACTOR or subcontractors be completing this work? If the work has been signed off on, then can't they be sued to complete the work properly? What about warranties? Out of curiosity, how much the work that was not done correctly in the first place was done by minority contractors not involved in the bid process?

Josie it look like you have more stories to write on this topic.

systemdown,

I believe bond money paid for the addition (construction)at SWH. It was on the last bond ref for a cafeteria and some classrooms.

Federal grant money may have been used for the academies (programs) at all three high schools in High Point. It was part of a grant for small learning communities (same one Grimsley people did not want for their school).

IMO there does needs to be more intense schooling/screening in math and reading in 9th grade. Actually, it needs to start much earlier but that is another subject for another day, i.e. social passing, intervention earlier, extra tutors in reading and math, etc.

Speaking of HVAC, I believe the fire in the trailer at Florence this past year was due to a faulty HVAC unit. This could happen in any of the 100s of trailers in GCS. Maybe the trailer units need to be put in inspections schedules too if they haven't been already.

Hopefully, all the schools have now been put on maintenance schedules for filter changes, leaking systems that cause mold, etc. since the Dudley story broke.

The work at Dudley has to do with costs added into the construction project because of delays and unforeseen work. I don't have my notes in front of me but it has to do with the contractor running into problems like unsuitable soils. It's lawsuit against the system also mentions added costs due to asbestos removal, I believe, which delayed its work. When I mentioned extras, that is referring to the list of unfunded work, like the projection screens, fixing roof in the science building, etc. The school system also did some of value-engineering to keep costs down but it has come back to haunt them.

Every project has value engineered items, even our pricey Northern Middle/High took plenty of cuts. The real problem is architects that overplan... they give you pie in the sky and then cut back. I think there are plenty of schools that would like more money.. Oak Ridge is still finishing up and they will probably have a trailer this year or next since the school is growing at twice the rate that was predicted... The school board needs to say NO to unfunded improvements. More schools need basics instead of upgrades.

Just In......

The Addition at Southwest High School will be Incomplete due to the lack of $$$$$$$...

Dot,,,Susan,,,could you help to verify this?????

Take it from Jamestown.

There is plenty of space at Andrews.

New families arriving in Guilford County have only one choice if they want their children to have good education with stability. The choice is buy a house in the North west region.
Everybody knows it.
They will take the overcrowding over the chance of being redistricted.

Who can blame them!

Cutem,

According to ongoing discussions between Anita S and Eric there is no additional space at Andrews! Eric mentioned they were going by state capacity figures. Anita had different sets of numbers on different occasions for Andrews' capacity.

Classrooms were torn out to make labs.

Teachers are teaching on carts.

Classrooms are supposedly smaller ratios because of the 9th grade smaller learning communities.

Space is needed for the remedial reading classes.

Note that SWH and Andrews was a SWAPPING plan. Numbers didn't change much.

SW can't even fit everyone in cafeteria for lunch.

You have no GROWTH at Andrews in surrounding areas. In fact, look to the future of HPU for neighborhoods to be torn down and taken over by the university.

You have constant growth at SW area.

This is absurd if SW addtion cannot be finished!

READ THE NEWSPAPERS. WATCH THE BOARD MEETINGS!

The Whites Mill kids aint going to Andrews.

There will be space there.

From what I understand, the Whites Mill kids will be going to SW with their siblings or HPCA or Wesleyan or Central's IB program or moving.

Please, don't bother saving them a seat at Andrews in the Fall!

One more thing.

Andrews and Welborn parents are lining up to fill in requests to stay at their neighborhood school!

I hear there are many closed door discussions at the school board about this. Many board members are requesting info from the communities!!!

To NOBODYWANTSTOBEREDISTRICTED,

I'm a Welborn parent who's been working with parents of kids who were moved to SW, but really want to stay at Welborn - some of these kids are rising 8th graders (w/b grandfathered, but have no transportation) or rising 7th graders (doing well at Welborn - no way their parents can be involved at SW due to distance - really want to stay, but not "grandfathered" and again, transportation is a problem)

You mentioned closed door school board discussions - would you share with me what you know? I know some parents that are really discouraged and if there's a hope that something might change if the SB heard from more parents, I want to let these parents know so they can speak up (again and louder!).

Some SB members are really concerned that the redistricted from North HP will not show up at Andrews and Welborn. Indeed this is what the preliminary numbers do show.

Some of these board members are quietly after more info to promote these back door discussions to be placed on the table.
You need to get those parents you mention to the board meetings. I believe there is a meeting tomorrow.

There is still hope.

Some on the school board do not believe that A&W are against this.

Morgan,
this looks like a good story. You should contact Amy to pubicise the plight of the Welborn parents.

The School board likes to prepetuate the story that it is only SW parents that do not want to be redistricted.
The N&R fish wrap supports them in anyway possible.
There will be no investigation of how Welborn or Andrews parents feel.

Parkview was on the TV news loud and clear how they felt.

Yeah, but that has been buried away in the archives and hidden away for good.
Morgan, what about breaking the trend and doing a report on some of Amy and her driends difficulties?