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The real question is this:

Is it worth it to place the families in that part of the country through yet another redistricting?

Why is it that the board continues to bully that part of the county? Every single year they have to face another upheaval and series of forums to try to convince the board to just leave them alone.

Isn't it time to pick on Greensboro this time?

I think that Mr. Belton and the others should have a community meeting in Jamestown to solicit the community's thoughts on this. Lets' see, they diverted the bond funds away from Jamestown to other more important projects, even though Jamestown was listed on the bond when it was submitted to voters for approval. They then promised Jamestown that their school would be priority on the next bond referendum, and now they are talking about redistricting because the school would be to big. What game is being played here? Is this a ploy to garner bond support in Jamestown?

Yes, they should have a community meeting in Jamestown. I suspect the good citizens there have something to say to Mr. Belton and the school board.

I doubt that they will mess with that area again.
If the School Board has learned anything from the last few years they would be advised not to.

Doubtful,

I would venture to say that this current school board never learns from its mistakes. I would not be surprised by anything that it might do. Certainly, some constant monitoring is in order.

We have many watchers ready and willing to spring to action if necessary.

I've heard that Jamestown Elementary is out of control this year because of all the overflow while Union Hill is being built. Also heard a few weeks ago that the school didn't have teachers for their specials.

A smaller Jamestown Middle is a better idea since that middle school is having behavior problems also.

I must agree with Doubtful. The school board should have learned their lesson about messing with North HP and Jamestown. One by one the old board is being replaced. Dot's turn will come in 2008 then most of the mission will be complete.

The school board should realize by now that NHP and Jamestown will continue to fight for their children. Their lives have been turned topsy turvy, their home values decreased.....they have nothing else the school board can do to them.....patriots are united more than ever and on standby to fight again

the underground has spoken; silent now but a strong, UNITED force to be dealt with

Score:

marti gone
susie gone
johnny gone

slow, steady and united wins the race

I've heard that Jamestown Elementary is out of control this year because of all the overflow while Union Hill is being built. Also heard a few weeks ago that the school didn't have teachers for their specials.

A smaller Jamestown Middle is a better idea since that middle school is having behavior problems also.

I must agree with Doubtful. The school board should have learned their lesson about messing with North HP and Jamestown. One by one the old board is being replaced. Dot's turn will come in 2008 then most of the mission will be complete.

The school board should realize by now that NHP and Jamestown will continue to fight for their children. Their lives have been turned topsy turvy, their home values decreased.....they have nothing else the school board can do to them.....patriots are united more than ever and on standby to fight again

the underground has spoken; silent now but a strong, UNITED force to be dealt with

Score:

marti gone
susie gone
johnny gone

slow, steady and united wins the race

You all are talking my language.

http://erikhuey.wordpress.com/2007/10/26/the-rest-of-the-102507-meeting/

Redistrict again? Noway, over my dead body.

Aunt Dottie remains the big prize, just a couple more percentage points to go in '08.

No doubt everyone can get warmed up by voting down these bonds, whatever the amount in May.

Our school should have been built from 2003 money. Now they are going to cut it down and redistrict?

This bond does not stand a chance!

I will be really mad if this school board do any redistricting in Jamestown. I am also upset that they are changing what they promised and did not deliver.I will watch this closely and depending what happens I will take action.

I will be really mad if this school board do any redistricting in Jamestown. I am also upset that they are changing what they promised and did not deliver.I will watch this closely and depending what happens I will take action.

So right Buckman! ......that is if Aunt Dottie's heart can take the next campaign. I heard those Rhino ads and displays near SW schools just about put her over the edge last campaign. There's plenty more funding out there for fun campaign ads. Our creative geniuses are still at it.

Oops (last post) forgot Gary B. He would not have run anyway. 4 down 1 big prize to go.

btw after seeing one of Cookie's last votes (10/1) about shifting funds, I think she has seen the damage of what political fall out can do. 2004 was too close for comfort to a virtually unknown inexperienced candidate.

I am still seeing red over the shifting of funds from the last bond campaign. Voting for bonds means more redistricting.

Just say NO to any bonds.

I think Ragsdale and Jamestown parents must join together now to put pressure on this Belton guy. Who is he anyway? Its been a long time since I have followed anything with the school board.

Perhaps what I did not make clear is what is my intention in asking this question about the size of Jamestown MIddle. The current Bond list was in large part, put together before Garth and I began service on the current BOE. I have, from my own experiences as a parent, concerns about the size of our school populations. I think that 1200 students in a middle school is too large. That is my personal opinion. Because it is my opinion, and not an issue that I had heard clear discussion about, I asked the question. Because I do respect the wishes of both parents and taxpayers, is precisely why I asked Jamestown Middle's representative(Anita Sharpe) what she thought. That was not the first time I had mentioned this to Anita. If I were simply out to forward some agenda of my own, carelessly implementing what I think is best, I would not have asked for input from Anita. It is my intention to give this community one last chance to say what they want in a new school. Once we build the new school it will be too late to shrink its' capacity.
I asked this question to give all parties involved an opportunity to be sure of what they want. I am uncomfortable in building such a large school, however, I have been an advocate of our school facilities for many years and understand the importance and validity of community input. I am seeking to foster that input. I have asked the staff to give the BOE and the community an idea of what a smaller Jamestown Middle might look like.
While a candidate for the BOE I stated repeatedly that the then BOE had erred in not prioritizing the 2003 Bond package. Leaving themselves open to justifiable criticism when those Bond projects were reduced, changed or altogether removed from the list.
I am aware that Northwest H.S. and Northwest Middle are by BOE standards and in my opinion too large. I am also aware that they have had significant academic success despite their size. If the Jamestown Middle community really wants a middle school with 1200 students to be their current and future size, then so be it. I will not oppose it.
Lastly, this discussion about Jamestown Middle does not change its' position as the number one item on a prioritorized bond list. I, nor do I think any Board member has any intention to change that number position for Jamestown Middle.
Yours,
Jeff

Surely the size of a school would depend on the growth of the area itself and the surrounding area. The original number of 1200 must surely have been decided by some analysis. If its dropped down to 900 that means that some redistricting will probably have to happen down the road.

This year we have 1100 kids in our school? Who leaves?

So, We have a school that currently holds 1100 and we are going to make a new one to hold 900?

I would suspect that the way that growth is in this region we will need 1200. How many extra will Allen jay hold?

The lack of strategy with the school board is unbelieveable!

My son has attended overcrowded schools all his life. Two years ago NWMiddle had over 1100, last year 950 and this year about 850. The smaller number is much more manageable, the teachers get to know each other since the staff is smaller, there is more personal involvement, more access to books etc. Lunch periods don't start at 11 and go till 2. However, even if you build Jamestown smaller with growth in a popular area, it will regain the numbers over a short time.

I would love to hear some good ideas about how to utilize empty seats at Welborn. I think that is a concern for the BOE. Should we look at some magnet school? Welborn made AYP's this year; so hopefully they are on the right track and will continue to grow.

Mr. Belton: Thank you for your response. As you can see, a Jamestown revolt has started. I can understand your concerns about such a large middle school, and because the Board in general fails to properly plan for growth, our schools are getting larger. Failure to properly plan for growth in High Point resulted in the many rounds of redistricting GCS saw...and you saw the result.

Granted, our Jamestown area schools have weathered some recent challenges, but many good hard-working folks in this community believe and take stock in these schools, and I can assure you that they will not have them wrestled away in the name of politics.

As Jamestown...and High Point...and many parts of Greensboro and other parts of Guilford County continue to grow, our schools are going to have to grow with them. But it will take smart growth as it relates to our schools. Right now, as is, this bond does not have a chance. It's dead. So if I were you, I would be putting collective heads together to see how we can get these facilities built...smartly and cheaply. The way Jamestown continues to grow, I feel as though another middle/high school is probably not too far off the horizon.

To strategize now is smart growth...and growing smartly. I still am a fan of K-8 schools and I know this is the way the county is thinking of traveling...so this is something to think about down the line...but the clock is ticking.

Any talk of redistricting will make people upset, me included. You cannot have this kind of discussion off-the-cuff, without any type of community-meeting or a wide-ranging discussion of some sort. Anita Sharpe properly described it..."outrage."

I would be willing to sit down with you to discuss this and other issues with you over coffee, if you're interested.

E.C.

A good "real" sucessful magnet for Welborn is a good idea.

I have some good ideas for Welborn M.S., Debora. Contact me offline so we can chat:

erik@hueyforguilfordschoolboard.org

I will put it point blank.

If the school board messes with Jamestown again. This Bond is DEAD!

Make it simple:
Leave Jamestown alone, Board messed around with last bond to create failed disaster known as High Point Choice Plan and wasted money on wiring a school when told to go wireless, now we pay for wireless, all at the cost of voter trust with Jamestown. We are getting close to where I may find myself agreeing with Dot and voting no on a bond. We now have enough room at Andrews and Welborn for smaller class sizes to really make a difference and now we call the empty seats unused space at the same time everyone said this would be great to have to help these schools. These schools need the unused space for smaller, more manageable class sizes.

I agree with the idea of standardized building specs, but the way we are doing it is just another way for a few to support overspending. We spend more on useless consulting and less on real solutions than I ever imagined.

Violence in schools and disruptive student discipline is the #1 impediment to learning in our district. The feed back I am getting from task force is not encouraging me. The Southwest incident has been misconstrued and in my simple opinion is not true justification for my position and I cannot comment on disciplinary actions taken for legal reasons. It is not a needed incident to prove to me that we have a DISASTER in the making that if not corrected immediately will set the wrong direction for our county for decades.

I cannot make it clear how well we cover up incidents that put our children at risk. Many talk about how great an SRO is by how well they do at not reporting incidents that were violent or criminal on campus. The public has a right to know and should be at the School Climate Public meetings to let them know it is not healthy for public support. It is voter apathy that has contributed to this issue. It is time for you to get off the posterior and get a bit more involved.

Garth