Maybe we’ll see CUEE at some of the three forums VBOE is organizing. Maybe they’ll address issues such as consolidation producing no improvement in academic achievement, consolidation causing increased taxpayer expense, and the need for any consolidation proposal to come from educators and parents, and to be voted on by all the citizens in the affected school districts; you know, the issues LCBOE just called them on.
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This is truly a time for educators, and the families of students in our communities’ schools to celebrate the leadership that the BOEs have shown.
That said, I would like to commend the LCBOE on the strength of their resolution. They not only state clearly that consolidating the schools would not increase in academic achievement, but a large tax increase would be expected. Another point that LCBOE included in their resolution is that such a referendum should only be brought by citizens, families, or educators.
Jame Wright also made this point in his statement to city council last week. Without the support of the educators involved, and the families impacted, such a referendum question is just a big buck political agenda on the ballot.
This town is still small enough to call this spade – money trying to drive the education bus into the ditch.
Let me just say this-
NOT WITH MY KIDS’ EDUCATION, YOU DON’T!!!
Hm, they noticed yesterday’s VBOE meeting with its statement and today’s LCBOE meeting with its resolution.Two south Georgia School systems don’t want to consolidate.
Almost as interesting is what they don’t mention.
CUEE is not named; it’s just “a citizen group”.
And there’s no mention that both meetings were full of FVCS people
opposing consolidation, and not one single CUEE member willing to
speak up for it.
Less than two months ago, both WALB and WCTV named both groups
and
used words like “Talks Heat Up” (WALB) and “Showdown” (WCTV).
What’s changed, TV media?
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adopted today by the Lowndes County Board of Education.
It does not seem to be on their web pages yet.
First a video of Superintendent Steve Smith reading the resolution,
followed by the text of the resolution.
Here’s the video:
LCBOE resolution against school consolidation, read by Supt. Smith
education, referendum, consolidation, statement,
called meeting, Lowndes County Board of Education (LCBOE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 30 August 2011.
Videos by John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
This text is my transcription of what was read. I have added a few links.
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Continue readingRESOLUTION
WHEREAS the Lowndes County Board of Education, Valdosta, Georgia, met on August the 30th 2011, to discuss positions regarding the consolidation of the Valdosta City School System and the Lowndes County School System.
WHEREAS the Valdosta City School System met in session on Monday
It took the Lowndes County Board of Education less than two minutes
at today’s 1PM called board meeting
to adopt a resolution against school consolidation.
Here are a few excerpts, followed by the video:
Nobody had any comments or discussion.Superintendent Steve Smith: As y’all are well aware, we have had numerous requests from our constituents that we adopt a stance regarding consolidation. So I think this resolution pretty much describes our position regarding consolidation.
So they moved and seconded.
Philip Poole made the motion.
I didn’t catch who seconded.
Chair Fred Davis asked for a vote indicated “by raising your hand individually
and reciting your name, please.”
Continue reading
Karen Noll of FVCS illustrates the result of
today’s Lowndes County Board of Education meeting:
eight to zero unanimous for
a statement opposing school consolidation.
More videos of the meeting will follow.
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The Lowndes County Board of Education has put up
an agenda
for today’s called meeting at 1PM,
which includes these items:
VI. a. Resolution Regarding ConsolidationHm, another school board that puts its agendas online in web-readable form. Maybe the municipal elected and appointed bodies could adopt this format.
VII. a. Resolution Adoption
On the other hand, would you want to merge with a school board that doesn’t
know when its own meetings are?
I went to the Lowndes County Board of Education at 11:30, and the woman (Terri) who
previously told me
that was the time of today’s called meeting now says it is 1PM.
She apologizes for the confusion. She says it was previously 11:30,
but they changed it to 1PM.
Here’s the video:
1PM (confirmed) today LCBOE to vote on school consolidation
education, referendum, consolidation, statement,
Work Session, Lowndes County Board of Education (LCBOE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 30 August 2011.
Videos by John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
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I called the Lowndes County School Board number just now at (229) 245-2250 and asked if there was a school board meeting today. They said yes, at 11:30. (That’s different from the rumored time of 1PM.) It’s a called meeting for the purpose of discussing school system consolidation. The woman who provided this information said:
Not sure there’s a resolution. They may say their stands.They meet at 1592 Norman Drive in Valdosta.
There is at this writing nothing on their web page and no notice in the newspaper that I can find. Of course by state law all they have to do for a called meeting is to post a notice at their meeting location and send a notice to the newspaper of record; the newspaper doesn’t have to publish it.
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According to the City of Valdosta’s website 19 August 2011: Continue reading
“Are you willing to put your children’s education at stake because somebody has promised you something they can’t deliver? I for one am not willing.”
Here’s the video:
Your children’s education at stake —Sam Allen, FVCS, 7 July 2011
No school consolidation,
Press Conference, Friends of Valdosta City Schools (FVCS),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 7 July 2011.
Videos by John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
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