News-Record.com

Rumor has it that a Cuff Link was found in the smoldering ashes.

What would Horace Mann Think ????????

Allen,

Why would you say that this news isn't shocking? Were you expecting the report to say arson?

Allen,

With the district being placed under sanctions because fo AYP's and the sad results reported on high schools graduation rates, along with everything else that has gone on this year, do you still say that Grier deserved a contract extension due to rising student achievement? I'm sorry, but I just can't see it. Maybe this recent bad news explains why the board crammed the extension through in a secret session with a lame duck board.

Grier got his extension purely because of what his staff did in helping the Eastern kids. It was an emotional decision and not a rational one.

WRONG!
WRONG!!!!!!

His staff did a great job. He did not need to motivate them. Many of us would do the same.

An extension of his contract should of been based on his results: Only!

Amos Quick is probably kicking himself tonight!

The "educators" Marti Sykes and Susan Mendenhall left their final mark.

The problem with Educators is the following. They leave High school go to college and then go straight back to school. Most teachers have NO IDEA of the real world. Enter your Marti's, Dots and Susan's.

The only bright side of this is that they are long gone and THANK GOODNESS!

Just one more left.

DONT RUN DOTTIE!!!!! PLEASE!

Truth,

I thought Joe S had lost it when he gave his little speech on educators at the BOE meeting. Mentioning Susan not hitting the gavel was a true statement but his opinions on Marti......you covered that well about "educators".

Teachers do know what goes on in our schools. The problem is the professional "educators" fall for every new theory and program that comes down the pike and experiment with our children. They don't listen to the teachers and what is really happening in the classrooms. I would imagine many of these new program deals are promoted at "educational" conventions or on the golf course.

See the latest Guilford Education Alliance newsletter. The latest trend is "mainstreaming" problem children into the classroom. We see what's happening in our schools. No one is learning when these "mainstreamed" students constantly disrupt others. We need to take back our schools and bring discipline and respect back to the classroom.

Stormy, I won't say I was expecting the report to say arson but I knew it was a possibility. So, as I said, I wasn't shocked but I certainly was dismayed.

Allen,

Did you "know it was a possibility" because there have been cases of arson in 4 other districts where Grier worked?

No. Because fires typically don't set themselves.

I find it hard to believe that a Trash Can Fire or any other small fire set by a student could turn into the Inferno that destroyed Eastern Guilford.

I believe that this looks more like an Intentional Fire that was set by an Arsonist with alot of experience in this field.

If I were an Investigator, I would look into School Leaders, Teachers ,Employees, and Students who may have been involved with FIRES in their past.

A very small percentage of the public is ever involved with a fire in their lifetime,,,if you can find a person that has been involved with,,say,,, 4 or 5 fires in their past,,,maybe you would have a Suspect??????

The time to hesitate is through.
No time to wallow in the mire
The longer he stays, the more you lose
And your schools become a funeral pyre.

Come on, baby...

Allen, I'm no attorney, but there are some statements on this strand that appear slanderous.

I know the N&R intends to provide an open forum and I appreciate that. But shouldn't the paper have some minimum level of standards for decorum on these blogs?

I would think that accusing someone - by name, no less - of committing arson and attempted murder should fall below that threshold. Allowing these types of comments may say as much about the N&R as it does about the people who are making them.

They should be able to solve this crime. To set a fire inside a school is pretty sociopathic. The teachers and admin. should be able to narrow this down to a very few individuals and then cross check it with the kids who had classes in or were familiar with this particular science lab who had no alibi for the time period involved. If they can't, one would begin to wonder about a pro.

Just Saying: You're right. The accusations are reckless and irresponsible. I will delete them.

Why is it the assumption that a student lit the fire?

It could have been an adminisrtator, teacher, janitor, or maybe a parent.

With the lack of security at most schools in GCS, anyone off the street could have wandered in and lit it.

Good point. We probably shouldn't jump to any conclusions.