If “unification” is about education, where was CUEE at the
last two days’ school board meetings?
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.
Craig Cardella said his wife Anne
was a current Valdosta City Schools teacher and former Teacher of the year,
and he was a former city manager who had done community development all his life.
I can tell you without doubt this is the most damaging useless thing
I’ve seen proposed in many many years.
This will do more damage to our community than just about anything I can think of
short of a hurricane running through the middle of town.
It will damage both the county and the city school systems severely.
It will hinder the growth of the education of our children.
It will cause chaos among the city and county school staffs,
both of which are like this, because a lot of times they’re
the same people.
The most damaging useless thing —Craig Cardell @ VBOE 29 August 2011
education, referendum, consolidation, statement,
Work Session, Valdosta Board of Education (VBOE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 29 August 2011.
Videos by John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
More transcription; he’s just getting to the best parts:
Continue reading →
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.
I see nothing in consolidation that would improve education,
so I see no need for it ever.
I got to the VBOE meeting really early, so I was the first to sign up to speak.
My main topic was to praise the Valdosta Board of Education for
putting
their agendas online in web-readable form (rather than entombed in PDF
as so many other organizations do).
Consolidation won’t improve education so I see no need for it ever —John S. Quarterman @ VBOE 29 August 2011
education, referendum, consolidation, statement,
Work Session, Valdosta Board of Education (VBOE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 29 August 2011.
Videos by George Boston Rhynes for
K.V.C.I.
Later I also complimented the chair for having
one of those rare objects,
a clock on the wall where everyone can see it so they can know how long
they’ve spoken already.
Thanks, George, for the compliments in the information on your YouTube video.
You were blogging long before LAKE.
Everyone please look at George’s blog,
K.V.C.I. Keeping Valdosta Citizens Informed.
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?
VBOE voting to oppose school consolidation
education, referendum, consolidation, statement,
Work Session, Valdosta Board of Education (VBOE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 29 August 2011.
Videos by John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
A motion and a second were heard on
the statement just read by Vanassa Flucas.
Jeana Beeland spoke up, talking about how proud she was of the
school system and how it has grown; she went to VHS; her children
are in the system, and “I know it’s serving them well”.
And my greatest fear is that I will come to you so biased
because I know that the school systems not consolidating
for the next few years is what’s best for my child….
Why I’m going to vote against the motion —Jeana Beeland @ VBOE 29 August 2011
education, referendum, consolidation, statement,
Work Session, Valdosta Board of Education (VBOE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 29 August 2011.
Videos by John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
But there are so many people involved in this issue….
And I
Chairman Lee asked Vanassa Flucas to read
the statement
the board was about to vote on regarding school system consolidation:
The Valdosta City School Board
opposes consolidating the Valdosta City and Lowndes County
school systems at this time.
The board feels that a decision to merge the two systems
should be a collaboratively planned effort between the two school boards,
the citizens of both the city and the county,
along with those who have the best interest in educating
all the children of our area.
Valdosta School Board statement against school consolidation
education, referendum, consolidation, statement,
Work Session, Valdosta Board of Education (VBOE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 29 August 2011.
Videos by John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
The Valdosta City School Board
is proud of our school system.
We have an organization that
The Valdosta Board of Education voted tonight 8 to 1 for a statement
opposing school system consolidation.
Here are some still pictures.
Update 10AM 30 August 2011:
Video to come of the board statements and vote is now available (see below).
Chairman Lee asked Vanassa Flucas to read the statement.
The Valdosta City School Board opposes consolidating the Valdosta City
and Lowndes County school systems at this time. This Board feels that
a decision to merge the two systems should be a collaboratively planned
effort between the two school boards and citizens of both the city and
county, along with those who have the best interest in educating all
the children of our area.