Emotional Evening at Hardaway!

I was so fortunate to attend Hardaway High School's Honors Night Program. As I heard the teachers comment on the accomplishments of the students I was so proud. The PTA President who is the Mama of a Senior was emotional as she talked about the end of the school year coming quickly toward us! I know how she feels! Then, teacher after teacher stood and talked about the students who were being honored. I think it is important to note that not only did they talk about the scholarly work of the students, but they talked about their good character, their pleasant demeanor, and the fact that these students were involved in so many activities! I was proud to see young people (and there was a cafeteria full of them!) being recognized for doing well! This scenario is not just a Hardaway phenomenon, but this scene is played out in public high schools all over our nation. Young people who are doing well, doing what they are supposed to do, staying out of trouble, excelling in school, and preparing for their futures are not in short demand in Columbus, Georgia or in other cities and counties throughout the United States! Many of these students will be successful adults - thanks to their parents and other family members, their own hard work, and the dedication and support of public schools! I am glad to be a part of it!

Public Forums

Last night we completed the fifth public forum. The purpose of these meetings is to allow members of the public to express their opinions about the SPLOST. The comments have been great! Citizens have come to the forums, stood up in the public meetings, and expressed themselves articulately and passionately.
Yes, some have disagreed with the proposed list and have stated the reasons why. Some have supported the list and made that known. Some like everything on the list except one item.
Noone has come to say that they do not think the list reflects the need. Some have commented that there are more needs and they are right.
I am just so pleased that we live in a country where individuals can make their opinions known in a public meeting and know that they can make a difference in their communities.
We have four more forums to go.

America . . . what a great place!

CRCT Week!!!! and Young Professionals

During this week the students in grades 1-8 have been immersed in CRCT testing. Currently the test is dreaded by most, but, you know, we really need to look at it as an opportunity to show off the learning that has occurred during the year. I firmly believe that a single test does not measure the full growth of our students but it is an indicator. I visited Fort Middle School last week and you could tell by being in the building that they were focused - focused on achievement, focused on school pride, and focused on making AYP. This focus was evident by both students and faculty. Ms Coaxum, the principal, told me, "We can taste the success of making AYP!" I believe they will do it! If they don't make Adequate Yearly Progress they will be so disappointed and I am sure that if they do miss it, it will be by just a few students or few subgroups. Go Fort!

The Young Professionals from the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce had a great reception this week to welcome me to Columbus. By now, I feel as if I have been here forever, but it was such a kind gesture and gave me an opportunity to talk with them. They are a great group of young leaders and I know we will continue to hear their names around this city for a long time. The Northside High School Choir sang. Oh my! Their beautiful and trained voices in the great acoustics of the Chamber Building was a wonderful thing to hear. The choral director was so skilled and enthusiastic. Public schools offer our children such great benefits and music instruction such as this adds so much to the quality of life for the students! I can't say enough about the quality of the music they produced. Columbus, you should be proud!

Redistricting

You are right. There are some schools where there is space. We are expecting about 1000 of the students who will come here as a result of BRAC at the beginning of the 2011 school year with the other 3000 coming shortly thereafter. As those children come and we see where they live in the county, we will have to consider whether or not redistricting is the answer to fill some of those empty seats. We have to time the redistricting well or we will have students changing schools every year or so which is difficult on the children. Many fast growing school districts redistrict every year and changing schools has become a way of life. I would hate to redistrict one year and the very next year have to do it again. Redistricting is a solution we may have to consider at some point. That, however, is never an easy answer and creates a lot of emotion in the community.

Why not July 2010 for SPLOST

BRAC is staring us in the face. We are already behind in securing ways to build facilities for the more than 4000 students that are projected to come. If we wait until July, 2010 to ask for the SPLOST we would be another year behind. The school district needs to get the consent of the voters to move forward as soon as possible. If the voters say no, then we have to determine what our other options are . . . time is running out to prepare for BRAC and the other needs continue to grow.

Spring Break!

Here we are! Another beautiful Spring Break! When the students in grades 1-8 return next week, they will be faced with taking the Criterion Referenced Competency Test (CRCT). As I have visited schools, I have seen teachers really drilling students on what they need to know. I speak to teachers with a forked tongue - I say, "It's not all about a test score." Then, I say, "I want the test scores to be great!" I believe in accountability and I want us to be accountable to the tax payers for the money we collect, but the test just doesn't begin to tell the public all of the great things that are going on in public schools.

Last week, I loved going to the Rose Hill Center, which is our alternative school for students who have violated the discipline code. Remember, these are not criminals and this is not jail! These are students who made bad choices and now they are away from their peers and their regular schools as punishment. But, what I saw at Rose Hill made my heart sing. The students were engaged in a carpentry class, building blue-bird boxes and solid wood lecturns. They were so proud of their work and the quality was great! There was a wonderful feeling of respect between the students and the adults. I enjoyed being there and I believe the students will go back to their home schools with different attitudes and with a determination to stay out of trouble and get their diploma! Great job, Rose Hill!

Why not wait until November for a SPLOST vote?

The question continues to be asked why the school board does not wait until November to hold the SPLOST election. Waiting until a general election would save the school board money, right? Well, actually, in this case, No. We have contacted the elections supervisor and we have been told that there are no elections scheduled for November, 2009. So, the Board of Education will have to pay for the election whether it is held in September or November, and honestly, the sooner the better. We need to get some new schools coming up out of the ground!

Employees Children

Whether or not to require employees to pay tuition for their children to come to Muscogee County Schools if their residence is outside of the district is another one of those issues that was placed on the table as we talked about budget cuts and where to get additional revenues. In our discussions nothing was sacred and we laid out every area in which we thought we could save money. We were not prioritizing or determining at that time the pros and cons of each suggestion, but just brainstorming ideas. There has not been a formal decision on this nor a recommendation to the board about this. Again, with the federal stimulus money to assist us in saving jobs, I hope we do not have to charge tuition for employees' children. This was just part of the discussions we were having as we desperately looked for ways to reduce the budget or raise revenue.

The law which allowed Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for schools states that the money may only be used for capital projects. We can't use the money for personnel. To receive money for personnel from the State, school systems in Georgia have two student counts each year - one in October and another in March. Based on the number of students we report, we receive state money. This money accounts for about 65% of the total Muscogee County School System budget. We receive about 8% from the federal government and the rest is local property taxes.
The money flows AFTER the students arrive and AFTER the counts are taken; therefore, local tax dollars pay for the additional teachers, supplies, textbooks, etc. until we get the State money which comes to us about a year after the student actually gets here. There is a formula outlined in State law for calculating how much money the system receives for each child. We receive more money for students with disabilities, more for a kindergarten student than a regular high school student. It is a complicated and imperfect system which has not ever been fully funded be the State.

Gifted Education

St. Elmo Gifted Program is a great program and it is a joy to walk through the halls and see the student products. At this time, there are no plans to cut the staff for next school year. As with all programs, the budget may have to be trimmed, but hopefully we will maintain the quality of the program, in spite of hard times.

Paraprofessionals

There has been alot of discussion about whether or not first grade paraprofessionals will continue to be employed next year. This discussion had started prior to my becoming Superintendent. As the State budget for education continued to be cut, the school system had to develop ways to cut the budget - and I do mean, CUT! Three million dollars had to be cut during this school year and state revenues look even bleaker for next year. Administrators began making lists about ways to make these cuts. One of the many considerations which were brought to the table was that first grade paraprofessionals could be cut. They are all paid with local tax dollars. Muscogee County receives no state funding for first grade paraprofessionals. Although understanding their value, this was listed as one of the many sacrifices that may have to be made to balance the budget. As of this posting, we still do not have the revenue figures for State money for next year. I am hoping that due to the receipt of the federal stimulus money, we will not have to eliminate first grade paraprofessionals for next year. Unfortunately, SPLOST dollars cannot be used for personnel, only those items defined as capital projects. Let's all keep our fingers crossed!