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!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
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I don't think it's fair that the citizens of Columbus are basically being spiteful about not voting for another SPLOST. Don't punish the student of Muscogee County and the new superintendent for the actions of the school board. Make your feelings know at election time by voting those board members who you feel mis-managed the SPOLST out of office. You were hired to lead this school system, we need to give you time to do that.
ReplyDeleteI think voting against the splost again will send a message to the board that if they want our support, they will need to start actually listening to the public. Yes, a new Carver High is necessary, but a new fine arts academy is completely ridiculous. Most of our arts programs are lacking in materials and support. Why not actually invest some money into those instead of buying a new school and spending even more money to have kids bused from all over town to attend the school. This is crazy.
ReplyDeleteCurrently students in all magnet programs are bused from their homes to the magnet program they select. Muscogee County Schools is so fortunate to be able to have such a wide variety of magnets: liberal arts, science and technology, gaming and simulation, communication, and now, Kendrick will have a Graphic Arts magnet. Students who attend the magnets don't seem to mind the busing to get to a program that fits their particular interst. The Board of Education and I are committed to supporting the fine arts in all of the current high schools. These schools will continue to have band, art, chorus, and drama for students who want to be in those programs and they also want to be involved in other traditional high school programs. The students who will attend the Fine Arts Academy will be those students who have such a passion for the arts that they want to spend more time creating and cultivating their talent than they want to do much of anything else! Albany is preparing to open a fine arts academy. Birmingham, Atlanta, Savannah, Raleigh, Augusta, and Jacksonville already have wonderful examples of fine arts schools. In speaking to those districts, the band, art, and drama programs in their traditional high schools continue to be popular programs. School choice is a great way to provide programs for students with a wide variety of interests. My goal is to strengthen every magnet in the city so that students and parents will have a hard time selecting just which one to attend because each of them will be special in their own way! I believe we can do it and the students will be the great beneficiaries of our efforts!
ReplyDeleteThe Fine Arts Academy sounds like a great plan for the students that will participate, however, I have to agree that the current budget for art in the lower grades is so low, is there a way to add more for the elementary schools..we need to cultivate these gifts at a young age and currently our PTA is helping with Art and Music to ensure that our kids have the best program. Will more funding be allocated for elementary Art and Music?
ReplyDeleteI agree that we have to make sure our programs are adequately funded. In the current economic times it is difficult to say that "more funding" will be allocated, but that must be our goal as the economy improves - to adequately fund the programs that we have.
ReplyDeleteYou say that you and the board support the arts but I have to disagree. I was born and raised right here in Columbus and I am here to tell you that the arts in this community are not supported. I am currently a music education major at Columbus State and I want nothing more than to teach right here in this community which has given so much to me.
ReplyDeleteIf you really and truly want to support the arts in this city then you should ask the teachers, who work hard every day but are consistently thrown under the bus, what they need to do their jobs. It makes no sense that music teachers who, 20 years ago had some of the best programs in the state, can’t get a single child to make All- State or can‘t get their programs to perform high levels of music. It has nothing to do with their work, they work just as hard now as they did before. It has nothing to do with the students, there are lots of schools who have fantastic programs in our state. It has everything to do with this schools boards change in priorities.
I believe that every child deserves a creative outlet, not just a select few. If you supported the arts you would work to make every program the best it could be. Teachers are not allowed to recruit new students into their programs so their programs get smaller and smaller every year. Many of the bands in this city don’t even have enough kids to go to large group performance evaluation (LGPE), the orchestras are almost non existent, and you think creating a fine arts academy is going to solve these problems? Think again.
You say that adequate funding is difficult because of the current economic climate? What about the past twenty years? What was the excuse of the board then? The Arts haven’t been funded in the past and it remains so still no matter what reason is given. My Grandfather was in the Bob Barr band at Jordan High school when he came up and to see the disappointment in his eyes when he went back to the Jordan vs. Columbus football game to see the state of the bands. It broke his heart.
You site these cities that have fine arts academes, well have you talked to the teachers or the students who have to deal with these situations on a daily basis? Many of the students go to school with me now and their perceptions seem to be quit different from yours.
You don’t seem to get it. These magnate programs are tearing this school district apart. Columbus High is killing the rest of the schools in this county. Academically, Culturally, and Ethically. This fine arts school WILL be different however. Not only will it kill most of the arts programs in this county, it will be mediocre as well, there are simply not that many great fine art students in the city due to lake of good programs for so long.
You say the programs at the other schools will be unaffected. Sure, there may still be a drama teacher at Jordan, but will they be able to put on plays? Sure, there many still be a chorus at Columbus, but will they have any students make all state? Sure, they might still have a band at Carver, but will they be able to go to LGPE with out their best players? Sure, they might still have art at Hardaway, but will they still have their AP class? And will anyone have an Orchestra? They are struggling so much right now, my guess would be that many of these teachers will lose their jobs. As will one of the art teachers at Northside and Columbus and so on.
I want nothing more than to teach right here in Columbus and give back to the school district that made me the man I am today but it doesn’t change the fact that this school board has and still maintains neglect toward the arts.I have been told by teachers and administrators from high school that I was an exception to the rule as far as talent goes, but we need to support our teachers and make it so that every child has the chance to be as successful as I was.