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Post by weewillie on May 30, 2015 18:49:55 GMT -5
So Alex, what do you see as the solution to the problem with the board according to AvanceEd? And why didn't the board have a plan to present to them when they came back to show that there was a plan in place to correct these problems? In your front page article you say that we are in better shape than surrounding district's. Aren't we the only district in SC that is in danger of losing our accreditation?
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russo
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Post by russo on May 30, 2015 23:25:22 GMT -5
I just saw WYFF interview of the School Board Chairman and was disappointed to say the least. I have a sneaky feeling that some Administration members and maybe some Board members and even some teachers are feeding Advanced Ed erroneous information in order to create some kind of furor to raise taxes in Pickens County. I have every confidence that the issues that Advanced Ed has raised will be taken care of in an appropriate manner. It appears that the Chairman was feeding the fire and pointing fingers at other Board members, this reflects poorly on his prudence and teambuilding ability. Let me admit that I do not trust Educrats to wisely use taxpayers money, they have never had adequate funds and never will. Statewide testing indicates our students are doing pretty well, if that is not the case our Administration has certainly been spinning it that way. As a business owner, I resent having to pay for school operations while homeowners have been excused from doing so by our brilliant state Legislators. I appreciate folks like Mr. Saitta and Mr. Bowers trying to bring some common sense to the discussion. Mr. Saitta has pointed out many times and documented the strides that have been made in meeting the needs of our students. The citizenry of Pickens County were "thrown under the bus" with the implementation of the "Greenville Plan", this should explain why many citizens are apprehensive when it comes to trust. Everyone has been adversely affected by the economy over the last several years, when I look at District financials, I believe they weathered the storm well. I am not willing to give anyone a blank check and would appreciate everyone's efforts to do more with what you have, that is what I do in my business and at my home.
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Post by alexsaitta on May 31, 2015 6:21:26 GMT -5
Wee, I've said we are in better shape than other districts in terms of finance. See what came from the first page in the next paragraph. I didn't and never made that context in terms of AdvancED.
"Like every other district, we face financial challenges. And the economy could go into a recession in a year or two. Then we’ll have to tighten our belt like everyone else. However, in the here and now we are better off then most districts and addressing priorities at a healthy clip. Why? We made some permanent spending reductions (especially in non-classroom areas) in the 2010 to 2012 period to balance our budget. As a result, our budgets have been balanced or in surplus every year since then. A balanced budget is a great starting point because when new revenue comes it, it can be allocated to new priorities. That is not the case every where. Like I’ve said, Oconee is working on cutting $3 million from its budget. Greenville has raised taxes 7 of the last 8 years -- that is nothing to be proud of because it stifles business growth, hence investment and job creation in the long run. And in the end, one of the ultimate goals is to have jobs waiting for students who are graduating."
If you look at the board's response we talk about areas there has been improvement in some areas they first cited. We need to focus on the continuing issues and what seems like three new issues they've added.
What's the plan? At this point, it is up to the board leadership to do that and the rest of us will have input. First, we read the report. Second, the leadership will get clarity taking that general letter to more specifics. Third, we'll implement the plan. I'm confident this will satisfy AdvancED.
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Post by conservative on May 31, 2015 10:41:42 GMT -5
I agree with Russo's above comment suspecting collusion with AdvancED in favor of turning public sentiment towards raising taxes needlessly. After the school board encouraged debate, priorities and solutions emerged enabling the use of increased fund resources with current taxing levels. In my world, I'd rely on the positive facts Alex has laid out and dare AdvancED to continue threatening us with rescinding accreditation. But, cooler heads will win a longer lasting peace by addressing their request for substantiation that our Board is operating within legal and professional standards. My expectation is this public process will strengthen the role of the school board with reinforcement of the positive results the board has accrued with applied management oversight responsibilities. If there is an alternative accreditation body, I hope our elected officials are exploring options for the future.
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Post by weewillie on May 31, 2015 13:52:45 GMT -5
@ Conservative:
So what would AdvancEd"s agenda be if it's like you say? Arent they from out of state? Surely they don't care whether taxes or raised or not. Didn't they have specific concerns' about the board not relating to taxes?
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Post by conservative on May 31, 2015 16:00:14 GMT -5
Wee....I'm not privy to what additional info is being requested by AdvancED. The fact that they've reportedly zeroed in on our elected school board with a possibility of rescinding accreditation seems suspicious. Media reports have been pumped up with issues related to specific, unnamed trustees. Alex has tamped that down in this forum in a way that leads me to believe some are taking advantage of an opportunity to create dissension. AdvancED surely doesn't care if we raise taxes, as like you said, they' aren't from around here. They will, in my opinion, put the "care and feeding" of teachers and administration ahead of the people's elected representatives. I'm suspicious of them using the scare of accreditation against our board (if they are indeed doing so). I'll wait on more facts to emerge and based on past experience, I'll know the truth when Alex (my elected representative) confirms it.
As for AdvancED, I'm not impressed by them or the service they sell. My gut says they've made themselves self important and their function is redundant, at best. At worst, it's a facilitator and cheerleader for increasing the cost of teaching students.
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Post by strangerintown on Jun 1, 2015 13:22:44 GMT -5
IT IS ABOUT TAXES AND ANY THING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT HAVE 100 PERCENT IN ITS GRASP. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMIN PRESENTS A TAX INCRESE AND THE SCHOOL BOARD DOESN'T SWALLOW IT SO THEY CALL IN ADVANCED TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD TO FOLLOW ALONG. I TALKED TO AN OLD BOARD MEMBER AND HE TOLD ME THE LAST SUPER CALLED ADVANCED IN WHEN SHE DIDN'T RECEIVE SOMETHING SHE WANTED. NORMALLY THE SCHOOL BOARDS ARE PACKED WITH FORMER EDUCATORS WHO BOW TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMIN. NOT IN PC SO THESE BOARD MEMBERS LISTEN TO THOSES THEY SERVE THE PEOPLE A LITTLE, BUT THE ADMIN CAN'T HAVE THAT SO THEY CALL IN ADVANCED TO TEACH THE BOARD A LESSON. |
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Post by conservative on Jun 1, 2015 21:07:36 GMT -5
We have diverse School board managing an executive level Superintendent managing college educated, highly trained, motivated and caring teachers (many love the job so much, they retire and still keep teaching). Our State has a Department of Education solely charged with distributing required funding and overseeing our County School District to insure all laws and mandates are followed. The Federal Department of Education is lead by a POTUS appointed cabinet level Secretary to insure that all resources and protections afforded by United States Law, Court Order and Proclamation reach every child in our County.
Somebody, please, tell me what possible good can AdvancED do for us that the aforementioned resources are not already responsible and qualified for? If ongoing professional development or avant-garde, incubation level teaching and learning methods can be offered , OK, I can understand a private company can see with fresh eyes. But to have them evaluate our elected representatives in a way that allows them to be "judge, prosecutor and jury", well, we have our own Pickens County and South Carolina based processes to adjudicate impropriety and non-compliance with standards.
I'm sure this is a tempest in a tea-pot but whoever brewed this should be forewarned. Raising property taxes is a non-starter after the work that's been done during the budget cycle this year. I'd lead next year with new ideas that would lead directly to higher test scores, lower drop-out rates and prouder parents. If you suggest them, this current board will find a way to implement them and raise taxes after all else fails. A tax increase first is a loser. My opinion.
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Post by alexsaitta on Jun 3, 2015 8:34:27 GMT -5
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russo
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Posts: 117
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Post by russo on Jun 3, 2015 10:00:28 GMT -5
This group cccp is a nasty bunch, they are using everything they can to denigrate Mrs. Saitta, Bowers and Wilson. I remember when we cut the 7th seat from the Board. The 7th seat was always someone from Clemson or Easley, giving them more representation on the Board. If you don't swallow the whole worm that cccp throws out you are tagged as a narrow minded, education hating fool. I resent these characterizations of these three fine men. They have well reasoned positions and aren't afraid to think outside the box. To cccp tax increases are the only answers to all the questions. I suspect that some district employees are angry because they didn't receive their step increases and human nature being what it is I guess I understand that. But with the economy what it has been we all have not received what we would have liked to receive. It seems that Public Employees squeal the loudest and get the most attention when they are asked to make a sacrifice. If there was a group that criticized the other three members just like cccp criticizes the above mentioned men these liberals would be outraged. I believe this is our political system working and they just don't like the results.
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Post by strangerintown on Jun 3, 2015 12:39:30 GMT -5
THERE WAS AN ELECTION AND THREE OF THE TRUSTEES WERE REPLACED. THE LIBERALS IN EASLEY AND WITH CONCERNED CITIZENS COULD HAVE WON THE SCHOOL BOARD THEN BUT THE PEOPLE DIDN'T LIKE THEIR CANDIDATES. SO THEY GO AROUND THE VOTERS AGAIN AND TRY TO STACK THE BOARD WITH SOMEONE WHO THINKS THEIR WAY. I THINK IT IS UNFAIR AND SHOWS WHY SO MANY ARE DISGUESTED WITH POLITICIANS LIKE NEAL COLLINS.
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Post by conservative on Jun 3, 2015 13:24:55 GMT -5
If the goal of eliminating even the possibility of a tie vote is real, why not suggest eliminating a seat? Adjust the voting districts to better balance the population ratios by adjusting voter counts in Easley and Clemson (if they are higher now). Easley and Clemson areas get one seat each, the balance of seats are divided amongst the rest. If there's a problem now, that solves it equitably. Why grow the Board when the school population is not?
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Post by aycaramba on Jun 3, 2015 15:06:34 GMT -5
My guess would be because the ultimate goal of the "increase taxes" gang at CCPC is going to be to attempt to have the county gerrymandered into districts that will result in a combined total of four board seats from the Easley and Clemson constituencies, and three seats from the Pickens/Dacusville/Liberty constituencies. How would re-districting work, anyway? Who defines the districts?
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Post by conservative on Jun 3, 2015 15:29:19 GMT -5
Another idea...........Two separate districts, ala Anderson County. Let the Liberal locals have Easley/Clemson to fund by themselves. The normal people can run Pickens/Dacusville/Liberty just fine. This current effort shows us what the Easley/Clemson crowd thinks of us when they can't stand for us to be on an equal footing on a representative Board. Liberals claim to seek compromise. Of course they don't, because they're demonstratively smarter by gene pool, we should kowtow for our own good.
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Post by aycaramba on Jun 3, 2015 18:42:00 GMT -5
I don't want to do that, because then I'd have to move in order to be with the normal people!
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Post by pickenscoresident on Jun 3, 2015 21:43:08 GMT -5
Aycaramba, I found this link via a google search to the SC agency that is responsible for redistricting. I briefly scanned the pdf guidelines. It looks like each district can't deviate by more than 10% in population and the census boundary lines are used as the borders. I'm not sure how 7 districts would be shaped beyond that. I've seen census lines before. They've got to number in the thousands. rfa.sc.gov/mapping/redistricting |
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Post by conservative on Jun 3, 2015 22:47:54 GMT -5
Aycaramba, I went a little to far in my attempt to expose absurdity by being absurd. We need all the normal people we can get in this battle for common sense. Liberals are people too but I wish they would give up on trying to run everything with other people's money. They must be exposed as "math and accounting deniers".
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Post by strider on Jun 4, 2015 15:03:38 GMT -5
If the purpose is to end tie votes, my I ask how many tie votes there have been?  |
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Post by alexsaitta on Jun 17, 2015 16:15:44 GMT -5
There has been about 700 votes in total since the board has had six members. Nine issues had tie votes and 7 of the 9 issues were settled with a compromise. Two issues were not settled and neither were education issues.
In the Fall those calling for not one, but two school tax increases said they were a must because the school district was in a financial crisis. I questioned the entire premise – what financial crisis are they talking about? At the time I wrote a letter to the editor (October) and said this at the November board meeting, asking what crisis?
Fast-forward eight months ahead and revenue for 2014-15 turned out to be stronger than even I expected, generating a good budget surplus. 2015-16 is looking strong. That’s a good thing, however, the administration/ board runs the risk of becoming too optimistic and overspending that revenue thinking happy-days-are-here-again.
There is enough revenue growth to address building maintenance needs, computer refreshes, boosting classroom supplies and narrowing the teacher pay gap. By all means do that, but don’t budget to spend more money that is coming in. Myself, conservative, I would not budget to spend all the anticipated revenue for 2015-16 right off the bat, but instead put some aside for mid-year expenses that are likely to crop up or save a bit for a rainy day.
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Post by alexsaitta on Jul 14, 2015 5:54:44 GMT -5
In December the administration presented a capital needs plan to the board. The plan focused on the priorities of computer refreshes, HVAC’s and roofs. The plan didn’t have majority support, mainly how it was funded.
The board sent the plan to the facilities committee, and Henry Wilson was the chairman of that committee. Working with the administration the committee tweaked the plan and it is presented here by Mr. Wilson and Dr. Merck, and then approved by the board. The result was a $4.7 million plan.
Personally, I didn’t have a lot of confidence in the process initially. The board was given a different lists of capital needs over a series of meetings, stating these are the needs for the next year. The total cost ranged from $3.6 million, to $5.4 million, to $5.6 million to as high as $8.5 million.
Where was the board’s due diligence? The people in my district felt they were hoodooed by the building program, how it was financed and the fact it grew from $158 million to $387 million. They expect their board members to know what they are voting on and do their due diligence when they spend millions more on buildings or building maintenance.
The board was told there were needs, but no board member actually saw the need, so I think it was wise of the committee members to see some of the need for themselves. One of the things on one of the list was new carpeting for school such and such. I thought it was a good idea for a board member to walk the school to confirm if the carpet needed to be replaced now, all of it, and what was the rank of that project on the list of total needs?
What is the point of electing board members, if they are just going to rubberstamp what is put in front of them?
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