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Morgan,

Thanks for the info. Can you provide us with additional information regarding the Union Hill replacement school? Why does a new school need to be built? What will happen to the existing school?

I'm having trouble understanding the need to build replacement schools when there are schools (e.g., Jamestown Middle, Ragsdale) that have been promised additions due to severe overcrowding.

Good question Numbers Game. Also why does Union Hill need a new school if Florence Elementary is the Opt Out School for Union Hill? Won't they be losing the number of students?

Morgan,

How is Dudley handling the cost of the required uniforms for the students that qualify for "free" uniforms under the 1996 Mandatory Uniform Act?

According to this "federal Law" if a school requires
uniforms, students in need based on the federal free and reduced lunch program must have uniforms provided to them.

Is this included in the schools budget?

Montlieu also has a "SMOD" starting this year. Who's paying??

And Morgan, when you get Mr. Lear to add Northern Elementary back to the list, tell him to put Ragsdale and Jamestown Middle back on too.

SMOD ( Standardized Mode of Dress)
Is a tricky way of saying we are having uniforms, but the parents are paying? Just enough option and choice in style and colors to avoid the pitfalls of the federal law. Dudley would have been wise to have used the terminology from the beginning, but has not.

Dudley is "selling uniforms" at it's school which falls under the federal law?

So, who's paying for Dudley's students uniforms?????
No wonder the parents voted in favor of this, if I was going to receive free school clothing I would have also.

Montlieu is also "selling" uniforms. There are scheduled dates all through the summer so parents can buy and learn the new SMOD rules.

Interesting.
When did Montilieu's parents vote on uniforms?

Numbersgame,
GCS plans to build a replacement Union Hill on the same site, demolish the current (old) building and construct Special Ed West on top. Officials are not sure if they will follow through with the Special Ed West component or do something else with the old building.

Morgan,

Thanks for the info. Why is there a need to demolish the current Union Hill building? Couldn't it be renovated and/or added to at a much lower cost than demolition followed by new construction??????

Numbersgame,

Sure, but have you ever known this school system to do anything that is cost-effective or reasonable? Remember, this is a school system that spends twice as much to build a new school as does our neighboring county. By building new, it provides much more opportunity to give business to minority contractors. This is, of course, a goal of our school board and a performance goal for Terry Grier.

By the way, does Terry Grier have any other performance goals other than increasing minority contractors business?

Stormy,
I remember that Dr. Grier's raise is tied to the teachers-- heaven forbid if we give him an 8% raise. I can't put my hands on the requirements, but they should be in the minutes from the meetings, best I remember about Oct/Nov time frame.

Debora,

It looks as though from this clause, that Grier might be eligible for the 8% increase.

"He further reported that at its next meeting, the Board would establish goals for the Superintendent to meet for 2005-2006. At the end of the school year, the Board will review those goals and determine if the Superintendent met the goals and what salary increase if any he should receive. The salary adjustment would be retroactive to July 1, 2005 and would not exceed the 2.24 percent plus legislative adjustment."

Also, here is an outline of his performance goals. so, how well did he do?

"Chairman Duncan presented goals for the Superintendent for the 2005-2006 school year as agreed upon by the Board.

* Articulate a clear and focused vision for the system in conjunction with the Board and communicate this vision effectively to students, teachers, parents and citizens.

* Improve the measurable performance of the system as measured by:
+ Increase graduation rate based on cumulative index.
+ Decrease or maintain current dropout rate.
+ Increase average score and participation in SAT.
+ Continue to make progress to close the achievement gap in grades 3-8 in math and reading.
+ Increase in number of schools that meet AYP.

* Formulate a plan and bring it to the board for implementation for the coming year to increase the number and tenure of highly effective teachers in our most impacted schools.

* Increase visibility in the community and interaction with community groups that desire greater opportunity for the chance to communicate directly with the superintendent about their educational concerns at least eight times. The Board will assist with the identification of the groups.

* Develop a strategic plan that outlines goals for MWB/E in conjunction with the Board and institute measures aimed at increasing participation.

* Focus on employee morale by creating an instrument to measure and assess working conditions for all staff.

* Increase community and school personnel familiarity with new senior administrators by providing periodic reporting on their interactions with the community and staff."

Note that only one of these performance goals is actually directed at the education of students, but this is in keeping with this board's style.

Morgan,

We know about the construction faults with the gymnasiums at Eastern Middle and the others built
just like it. The only notice was given about the gym and we were not allowed to use the gym all year because of the structure hazard, but now the entire school is completely closed to everyone.

Any idea why? Were our students in danger?
They would not let us use the gym this year due to concerns with structural safety yet it appears the entire building was unsafe and is now being repaired.

Not knowing the truth starts rumors.
Is there any truth?

Articulate a clear and focused vision for the system in conjunction with the Board and communicate this vision effectively to students, teachers, parents and citizens.
===================================
Andrew William

Link Building