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Why is this a surprise? Could we not anticipate that a new High School would need music? Please help me.

Joe,

It's a good question. Central office told me it's an issue for the school.

I asked why didn't they see this coming and essentially what Kimbrough told me was because it's been so long since a new high school was built they just didn't think of it.

Brian, Come on I almost cried until I thought about it. Northern lacking band music? Just tell Kimbrough to ask those NW parents to open up their fat wallets and buy some.

What about doing a story on the Schools that dont have Math teachers or the schools kids that dont have a seat on their school bus and have to sit on the floor or even about the schools where the lunch food runs out before everyone is fed!

Those were just two of the complaints of parents at this evenings High Point Mo's listen and learn tour.

The Northern PTSA gave $2000 last year to buy music and other needs for this deptment, but that is a drop in the bucket. Why do you think that the parents should aways pay. Don't we pay taxes? Don't our children deserve equal consideration? Our kids are on buses that are over crowded; we have teacher turn over (we do currently have all positions filled, but classrooms are over county average) until Northern was built, NW was and probably still is one of the most overcrowded schools. SW is probably the most overcrowded. Each school has issues, but it is not always 'up to the parents'-- trust me we do alot already.

My son started the year with 2 of his AP classes having only 1/2 as many textbooks as the number of students taking the classes.

The school knew the spring before (during registration) how many students would be taking the classes - yet they waited until AFTER school started to order the other 1/2 of the books. There was a backorder and the first quarter was nearly over before every student had the textbooks.

The same was probably true with this music teacher - I'm sure the students had to register last spring.

Why don't the schools do a better job in planning???

The blame falls clearly on the schools.

All,

I'm here to help but if you don't provide specifics there's not much I can go on. I need school names, teacher names, bus numbers etc. If you don't feel comfortable posting this stuff then email me at brian.ewing@news-record.com.

If students are sitting on the floor of a bus or not being fed at lunch then I need to know about it and so does the rest of the county.

ordering books for AP classes is done from the administration of each school. Each school has x amount of dollars to spend through the central office (the school has an allotment)-- there is no allotment for any type of music, that money must come out of the school money, and with a new school the needs are huge.. ap kits for one, music, art needs, etc. At Northern we had about 70 students that was not in our estimated count, we all know that money from the supply fund has been held with a tight fist this year. It is a vicious cycle.

Brian,

I was also at the meeting last night with Mo green. I also heard the same complaints from parents that the previous poster noted. I would be happy to give you the specifics but I don't have them. Were you not at the meeting??

I was at the meeting too. I saw Joe Stafford there. Perhaps you could hire him as a scout reporter for you Brian.

I like Mo. He seems a good guy but I dont think he handled these complaints very well. Maybe he wasnt supported by staff enough. I think his staff should have been all over these complaints.

I would have liked to hear him say, "Madam please give your name to XXXXX and we will investigate and get back to you this week".

Instead he gave a sort of wishy washy response to a couple of complaints and to another couple he didnt even answer, he just stared out blankly.

I will give him a break on that and I will do that just by thinking that one year ago we were with TG and we would never have had the chance to have this open dialogue! I still have high hopes but Mo needs to get up to speed a little quicker. I think he quotes Charlotte too much and somebody should remind him that he has been here for almost one semester already!

GO MO!

I cant, I just cant feel sorry for Northern!
Its a definite case of the haves and the have nots and Debora, dont complain about Northwest. It might be overcrowded but it is that way for a reason. Its because its the absolute best school in this County! I will not shed a tear about that school and dont please dont come crying back with a response. You need to be thankful for your great school!

Brian, There is your answer. Even Mo get specifics!

I am not crying about Northwest, I know its a good school, I know that they have good teachers etc, but as I said all schools have problems, just different problems. My son is at Northern and over all I am happy, but some things aren't great and they don't have to do with a new school.. We didn't have foreign language books for weeks at the beginning of school, some didn't have environmental science books.. why? More kids than predicted. Our technology still isn't working after almost one year. We have over 30 kids in many classes.. these problems are minor compared to other schools and I know that, but I am tired of people always assuming that the parents should just buy things to fix the problems. GCS should do its best for ALL children in this county, from the school with the most FRL to the ones on the other end of the scale.

Minor they are.

Was I at the High Point meeting? No, I was not. I wish I could have been but I had an interview set up.

It was a tough call to make but I had to choose between that and meeting with the family profiled in this story http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/01/10/article/nowhere_they_can_call_home

We've covered several of these town hall meetings and I had planned to attend this one but sometimes that's how it works out.

I'll certainly look into these concerns and get back with you with what I find.

And I think Joe Stafford could make a fine reporter.

Deborah:
Please explain technology not working. How, what and if possible why. Is same problem at Northern High?
Garth

Deborah:
Please explain technology not working. How, what and if possible why. Is same problem at Northern High?
Garth

Deborah:
Please explain technology not working. How, what and if possible why. Is same problem at Northern High?
Garth

Seems another technology has bumps also, sorry

We only got the tv's about 1 month ago at Northern High- we don't have the capabilites to have the scrolling info things on tv's like most schools. Many of our rooms didn't have the stuff to hook up the computers to do overhead projections until Nov.... just takes time is what I hear, meantime teachers had no way to dispense technology, no overheads, no computer stuff for streaming... it's a little over my heard.

Northern High School is in an area that has kids with and without. I am a parent that lives in the area with the withouts, My neighbors and I have had to pay for alot of things we should not at Northern to make sure our kids have what they need, We have nothing else to give. How can the school keep asking us to pay for things that the school system should be paying for? We pay taxes and this is to be a "Free" education. This is far from the truth.

I think I am going to breakdown and cry. You Northern/Northwest folks need a dose of Guilford County reality!

OK - reality check to you Northern and Northwest parents - come visit most of the other high schools in Guilford County.

I'm sorry your tv's didn't come in until a month ago - at least you got them - we don't even have them at my son's school!

I've heard about the wonderful technology available to the teachers on wheels or whatever they're called - each teacher equipped with the best of the best.

We can't even get replacement bulbs for the antique projectors we have at our school.

Doesn't Northern have a coffee lounge for the kids? Wow - we don't have enough cafeteria space for our kids.

I've heard there are some great field trips offered at the schools in the Northwest area too. The best we can do is local field trips where the facilities don't charge because too many kids couldn't afford to pay for the trip.

Oh, and our PTSA has ZERO dollars - yes, that is correct and not an exaggeration - ZERO dollars.

I heard Northern Middle has in excess of $20,000 in their account.

So, should the parents have to pay - no - but they can pay. Many of our parents cannot and we have even less to begin with.

Be thankful.

As a taxpayer...I want to know why the 60 million dollar school is not up and working 100%..

This has been paid for and should be working....
This will not happen until the parents and taxpayers yell....louder!

Do not criticize them for doing so...it is the only thing that will get this done
...and your tax dollars paid for it?

For the parents complaining about the lack of technology in their school, yell even louder!!!

There must be a survey done in every school to make sure that technology is up to date in every school and that all of our students have the tools they need. If it is not, someone that is being paid big bucks downtown is not doing their job.

We must all stick together on this to make sure all of our students have what they need...
from .....lacking library materials..to lack of copy paper....classroom books...etc...

Technology is important in today's world...even in EC classes which are the ones that are the most overlooked and underfunded.

We need to prioritize and pull together for EVERY school and EVERY student.

How can we yell any louder?

Numerous emails have been sent to the school board and the most often reply says go to the leadership team and ask for money.

They don't have it either

Hi...

Follow the chain of command:
principal,
school project team
maintenance...or technology department
board member for your school
school board.
MO..

Show up to tne next board meeting in large numbers with "accurate data" and your administration. Go to the school leadership team and document their reponse and have them go before the board.

I had to yell for 6 months for them to react to one of my complaints....but I did not go away...Now I usually get what I ask for quickly...because they want me to go away quickly. I even called the company that they told me the work was contracted to and asked for their project plan and timeline.....Some people think this is none of your business...but if you are a parent or a taxpayer....
you better make it your business.

Let them know you are not goiing away and publicize it anyway you can!! Stay on top of them...find out what department is responsible for getting this done and check in with them twice a week...if you do not receive response...go to the next in charge....and document everything!!

Save every email and response. You will surprised at the response when you let them know you are keeping a diary to share with the board or public.

Of course, if it is a money issue you will find out..

Watchdog - thanks for your post.

A few questions: our school is in need of some very basic items - e.g., projector light bulbs. The teachers can't afford them (don't know why they're so expensive). The leadership team has already spent their budget. The principal also has no remaining funds. The school board says that it will have to wait until next year when the leadership team gets more money.

That's just one minor need. The greater needs are for computers, books, larger cafeteria, etc.

When everyone tells you there's no money, then what do you do?

Anonymous,

E-mail all the parents you can and organize. Document your needs, have a plan and go to the school board meetings in numbers. Go as often as it takes. Grier always seemed to find money for his cooking schools and academies. When copy paper was out at some of our schools, it money magically appeared for more copy paper. The squeaky wheel get the oil. You'd best start squeaking louder.

Mo can find mo money if it's there. Heck they can write D.C. for some grant money. Somewhere there must be a grant for light bulbs, books, etc.

If your cafeteria is overcrowded, check with your local fire marshal. I'm sure he can help you out there.

Hi...

What I found that works is to build a relationship with those in charge to find out what is going on?

1...Tallk with your teacher

2...Meet with the principal and find out what his concerns are...

3...Attend the school leadership team meetings and ask questions. You do not have to be an elected member to attend...just to vote.

4...Ask to be a member of the leadership team next year.

5...Once you know what is important to those in charge you will have a better understanding of what is going on and what to do.

6. Attend or watch the GCS board meetings...this will give you a good idea of how things operate

7. Within the leadership team identify the problems and prioritize them. A lot of these things are in your principal's hands.

Unless you squeek loud you will be overlooked. don't squeek one time but keep squeeking until something gets resolved. We as parents need to advocate for our children. If parents don't let the powers that be know then nothing will happen. These are your children and you need to make sure they are getting a proper education. No one has extra time but we need to make the time for our kids. Their future is up to you and no one is going to do it for you. Parents need to fight for what is right, not be told what can't be done. Don't just fuss DO!!!!!

Think then "do" so you don't end up with "do-do".

Be proactive and never ever give up! You have nothing to lose but your child's welfare and education. The school board member can lose their seat the next election. This has happened to many of the past board members.

Look how long Dot and Susan were on the board. "nuff said"!