News-Record.com

Morgan,

You ask what would I take off? That's easy - Dot Kearns, Susan Mendenhall, Kris Cooke, Marti Sykes, Walter Childs, Deena Hayes.

I will only vote for another school bond if it means the immediate resignation of the above board members.

As long as they control the money, the answer is NO!

Either this school board has a highly developed sense of humor - or they are completely tone-deaf to what is going on around them.

Talking about a bond on the same week that massive construction problems are front-page news? Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.

There's no doubt that Guilford County has plenty of school construction needs. Another bond probably is needed.

But first, the school board needs to prove it can handle the money and projects it has now. At least these past couple of weeks, they haven't exactly been doing a great job of it.

I regret to say that the BOE has done some things that has cost us millions of dollars that could have been used in a much better way.

The BOE continues to buy Modular Units and Pods. Had we emphasized seats instead of renovations millions could have been saved. Right now, we are buying several million dollars of Pods and Modular Units. If Northern Guilford Middle and High School has been started a year earlier, dozens of units would have been freed up.

Also, we should buy land in one Bond Issue and build the building in the next. Currently, we don't start looking for the land until we have the money for the building in place. This means that no building takes place for about 18 months after the Bond Issue is passed.

All I ask is that they use common sense when they decide what is to be in the bond.

One thing I do not understand is when they build a new facility they donot plan of mobiles. This costs us tens of thousands. Water, telephone, sewer and water should be planned in with the new school. This would facilitate fast hook-up.For instance Pilot Elementary had mobiles the second year it opened. Extensive work had to be done to receive them.

Also it is depressing to see that they want millions for fixing parking lots that were not properly maintanied. When cracks develop, you have to put tar in crack to prevent grass from growing. If grass appears, it must be killed immediately so it does not widen the crack. My surfaced parking lot is 16 years old, it is still nice and serviceable. Every year I fill cracks and make sure grass does not get a toehold.

What Idiot made the cost estimates for the new Academy at Smith High School(Old Oakwood Building)??????????

If they missed their target by 2 Million Bucks on a 4 million Dollar project,,,they should be fired immediately.

Over the years, GCS money has been lost, tossed and Stolen by the people in charge and this practice must come to an end..

The public needs new representation on the school board that is capable of being responsible stewards of the TAXPAYERS MONEY.

This BOE sucks at every aspect of construction bonds from sticking to the list to getting true estimates to completing work on time to getting the work done right.

They can't be trusted.

I would like to think that every person in Guilford County supports the idea of a free and appropriate public education for all of our young citizens. Unfortuneately because of the credibility gap created by ten years of dissembling on the part of the school administration (and this precedes Dr. Grier, who I believe has developed some decent programs) too many people don't trust school leadership. They have proven to be less than truthful and poor stewards of the public dollar. Can I back this up? How about this--

"1. Completion of projects in 2003 bond: Jamestown Middle (replacement school), Ragsdale High (phases 1 and 2), Guilford Middle (renovation of elementary wing)"

If we already paid for this in 2003, why are we being asked to pay for it again?

Would I support any of the above? Sure, after the county gives me (and my children who will also be paying off the last bond) a refund for services not rendered.

Alan Duncan has said over-and-over that this board is a good steward of our money. This statement lacks data to support it. Until the leadership of the school system changes, no bond will be passed.

This is a very wishful "pipedream wish list" at best. Timing is everything. The timing is ludicrous.

Ditto Zhak's comments about "refund for services not rendered" in particular money depleted from Jamestown Middle and Ragsdale.

If the list is ever passed why would Dudley be on the list for anything new? Dudley had the most expensive renovation in the history of the schools. You have a judge threatening to close the school! Why would you build any additional athletic facilities until you fix the problems of educating the students? All the bells and whistles of appearances won't fix the problems within. Books, tutors, teachers, involved parents should come first, then sports. Adding Dudley is Guilford County politics at it's best.

And Joe, I think the trailers appeared at Pilot Elementary within the first few weeks of the school's opening.

NO BLOODY BONDS!

Trailer Watchers,

Look at Florence Elementary. They have a beautiful array of trailers in their front yard, at the same time they open their brand-spanking new wing.

Poor planning? Idiodic administration? Map "C" cramming more kids into and already crowded school?

ALL TRUE, and what a sickening, crying shame. The new building is hidden behind the ghetto appearance of the front lawn.

Way to go Guilford County School Board and Grier. I honestly think that you have it out for certain areas. Dudley gets an entire make-over complete with new toilet-bowls and High Point/Jamestown get MANURE!

ANOTHER BOND?? Are you on drugs? Not until Dot Kearns and Susan Mendenhall apologize to every single child that they insulted with her scheme to "whiten" up High Point Central.

When they resign, I'll personally go door-to-door soliciting for a new bond; and NOT a day sooner.

Trailer Watchers

I heard that several trailers will have to remain at Florence Elementary. Florence is the opt out school for Union Hill so therefore it may still become overcrowded even with the new building and the remaining trailers. The front looks horrible from Penny Road. The public never realized how many trailers were in the back of the school (30 some?. Too bad they didn't move them up front sooner. Maybe Florence would have had a new building sooner than 2006.

It was reported by a teacher today at SWH that the school was built for 800. The current enrollment is 1,456. A line was out the guidance counselor's door with others waiting to enroll even more students.

Wasn't the original High Point Choice Plan to RELIEVE overcrowding at SWH? Did we not hear this over and over again? And what was the purpose of the redistricting swap? What did it accomplish to help SWH? Never mind. We all know the real reasons.

When you drive on Barrow Road the new housing developments just keep growing. Where will all these children go to school?

I know for a fact that not only SW Rd and surrounding were decorated with yellow SOS signs that the Guilford County School offices were too.

Imagine Terry Grier arriving to work with those "get Terry Grier otta here" signs all over his front lawn!

I would of loved to be a fly on a sign.

I hear that Sharon Ozment was doing a different type of clearing up late Thursday evening.
She was signed-out when she finally went home.

Watching OZ get those signs was one of the funniest thing I have ever seen. I still laugh a little to myself when I think of it.

126

Thankyou Mrs Mendenhall for 16 years of sevice to our industry. 16 years of incredible growth.

You will be sadly missed.

Thank YOU Mrs. Mendenhell, for forcing me to look at ALL of the education options in High Point. Had it not been for your persistence in pushing the Choice Plan--for the betterment of your precious High Point Central--we possibly would have never discovered the fabulous Private school where my child now attends.

We are so grateful to you for pointing out the hopelessness of the Public schools. We have been so happy with the private education that our child has been receiving since you made that motion to implement the High Point Kidnapping Plan.

Thank you, thank you for showing your true colors. Because of you, our child is receiving a top-notch education!

Our company has had tough times over the last few years but you, Mrs Mendenhall, have supported throughout.
Thanks for the 16 years.

Since we're thanking Ms. Mendenhall:

Thank you Ms. Mendenhall for supporting our company. You have been our most valued customer. Never in the history of our company did we sell so many products to one person. Only you could pull off wearing a Turtle-neck in the summer months!

Mrs Mendenhall,
thankyou for all your business all these years. For your information we are opening a bigger and better location in North High Point on Skeet Club.
We know that you are fond of sticking em down in this area..

I didn't realize it was "Thank Susan Mendenhall" day!!

Forgive me! I have MUCH to thank her for!

Thank you Susan for always doing what I told you to do. Sixteen years is a very long time but year after year you always voted as I told you to vote, did as I said, ...jumped when I said jump. My god you were basically like a well-trained monkey!

What will I do in 126 days when you are gone? Who will I demand to vote as I say? Who will help me whiten up the rest of High Point?

Oh well, Walter is doing a fine job of filling your shoes. Take care and thank you again for 16 wonderful years of looking up to me and helping me climb up this pedestal. I hope it doesn't get lonely up here all by myself!

I just realized that if you pause the video of OZ taking up the Grier signs it actually looks like she could be putting them out! I've gotta send that to the Rhino.

I am with numbersgames; I will never vote for another bond as long as Grier is in power and Dot, Walter, Deena, and Duncan are on that board.

Has anyone read the article in Today's Parade Magazine regarding education?
It validates everyones point on what makes good schools.

Good schools can happen WHEN THEY HAVE ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE THE FOLLOWING:

1. Make schools a family resource

2. Challenge the entire community to get involved.

3. Start a mentor program

4. Demand better teachers

5.Use the brainpower of business leaders.

Did the article mention swapping kids around. No! it didn't! So unless they start putting my tax dollars to good use, I say NO BONDS 4 U SCHOOL BOARD AND DR. GRIER!

ATTENTION SCHOOL BOARD AND DR. GRIER:

NO BONDS 4 U!!!!!

SIGNED THE BOND NAZI

125

BondNazi,

I think I love you.

As I sat in the office at Welborn Middle school today I witnessed an interesting event.A young male and his father came in to the office and indicated that he needed to register for school.The secretary asks if he attended Welborn last year. He indicated that he had attended Penn- Griffin, but apparently got in to trouble and was sent to the Scales facility. After completing his time at Scales he returned to Penn-Griffin, but was told that he would not be allowed to return.He then went to Welborn and apparently finished the year.
The secretary at Welborn indicated that this is new year and Penn-Griffin should take him.The father indicated that he wanted his son to go to Welborn and wanted to discuss this with someone in charge.
A different administrative lady then proceeded to get involved and asks for the kids address.The father indicated that he did not live at the address given, but apparently the kid does live at the address of record.
After a moment to clarify the address the secretary indicated that the kid is now assigned to Southwest Middle.
As a parent with a child that lives 1 mile from Southwest Middle, but a result of redistricting nonsense I now find myself at Welborn and found this situation both sad and comical.
Here you have a kid who obviously has had problems in school (Scales), but his dad is trying to get him into a school close to his home and where he apparently did okay last year for a while,but now you are going to send him to a school far from his home and of which he is totally unfamiliar.
It does not take a real smart person to understand that the odds of this kid doing well are minimal at best.

If the Guilford County school board doesn't change soon there will be no fixing these schools.Community support is dwindling fast and the problems will be too many to address.

Real solutions are needed.Please read the Parade magazine article in Sundays paper. There are three school systems who were struggling and through hardwork,common sense and creativity, these once struggling schools are thriving.
Busing and shuffling of kids is not mentioned.Are these school systems simply smarter than the GCS?

Perhaps Dr. Grier and the school board should get a copy of that article in the Parade Magazine!

Attention: School Board and Grier stop swapping a scoop of chocolate for a scoop of vanilla and visa versa or no bonds 4 u!!!!!!

While the board continues to discriminate against the children of Greensboro and only provide diversity for children in High Point there definitely will be no bonds.