From left, Marion School Board Attorney Fred Cooper, and board members Wayne Regan, Samantha Armstrong, and Bernard Nelson.
By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher
The Marion County School Board on Monday night voted to increase property tax collections by 4 percent for fiscal year 2010-2011.
The School Board’s decision will likely result in an increase in the millage rate, according to Marion County Board of Supervisors President Calvin Newsom. The Board of Supervisors sets the county’s millage rate and is required by law to levy the taxes requested by the School District, said Newsom.
When the School District asks for additional property taxes it comes “off the taxpayers’ backs,” Newsom said. He wishes the School District was not seeking additional property tax revenue, saying these are difficult economic times. This is not a good time to ask taxpayers to pay an increased millage rate, Newsom added.
Marion County School District Office
The School Board voted 3-1 for the 4 percent increase in property tax collections, with Keith Stuckey voting against. Stuckey said he feels the citizens of Marion County are taxed enough and that funding should come from the state not local taxpayers. It’s not fair to raise taxes on Marion County residents, said Stuckey.
“There’s a lot of people tired of paying taxes, and I’m one of them,” Stuckey said, adding that rather than raise taxes, the School District could “tighten its belt up.”
School Board member Samantha Armstrong voted in favor of increasing the amount of property tax collections, saying “We’ve got to come up with money for the budget somewhere.”
Armstrong noted that the Marion County School District has already drastically cut the 2010-2011 budget by about $2 million. She added that she is a taxpayer herself and does not like paying higher taxes either.
School Board President Bernard Nelson voted in favor of increasing property tax collections, saying there is no better way to spend taxpayer money “than on our children.” School Board member Wayne Regan also voted in favor of the measure, and board member Jackie Broom was absent.
The additional 4 percent in property taxes equals about $136,000. If the School Board had not voted to increase property tax collections, that money would have had to come from somewhere else, possibly more employee layoffs, said Superintendent Ronald Fortenberry.
With the 4 percent increase, the Marion County School Board will collect approximately $3,591,223 in property taxes. The School District’s new fiscal year begins July 1. The Board of Supervisors, which is on a different fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, probably won’t set the millage rate until September, said Newsom. It is unclear how much the millage may have to be raised to meet the School District’s request.
Marion County School District Business Manager Donna Martin said the state has shifted much of the burden onto local taxpayers. For instance, the state gave the District a $211,220 ad valorem tax reduction grant this fiscal year, and that is expected to only be $40,619 in the upcoming budget year.
In another matter from last night’s meeting, the School Board voted to borrow $325,166 to cover a shortfall in property tax collections from the current fiscal year. The Board of Supervisors may have to raise the millage rate to pay back that loan over three years. Armstrong said the county needs to do a better job of collecting taxes.
when did we give the school board the ability to increase taxes?
Humm, I see people are still ashamed to put their names on these comments. That is so sad.
Josh, check out the following for accuracy. It would be great information for the people to be “informed” about.
I believe you will find that the School Board can request up to a certain amount in increased funding and the County Board of Supervisors, by law, has to raise the taxes that much. I know it is a technicality but the actual tax increase is done by the County Board of Supervisors or the City Board of Alderman in the case of the City school system.
I didn’t know we had such a BRAVE person as an employee of the Columbia school district. Maybe you should teach an ROTC class so that your BRAVERY may rub off on potential military candidates. Better yet, we’ll get Josh Mitchell to contact General Petraeus. As soon as he discovers your undying BRAVERY, he’ll probably talk with Obama and have you drafted and put you in charge of training all U.S. military going to Afganistan!
I don’t know if your a teacher, custodian or what in the C.S.D. but:
Adams, YOU NEED TO SERIOUSLY GET OVER YOURSELF!
P.S.
Your hat size must be 14 3/4!
Marvin Adams:
Now I remember who you are in real life! You must prewrite your comments in a word document before you post due to words being spelled correctly! I remember when I had you as my 10th grade Science teacher and remember how your spelling was atrocious! We, the students, would have to spend more time in your class correcting your mistakes in your class notes’ spelling than learning the material! Thank God we had an awesome Science teacher, Mr. Brady Lewis, that taught what we missed due to your incompetence!
Well at least you are incoporating methods here or else no one would be able to read your ramblings.
I’m just trying to get all of this straight; where does the $325,166 loan come from and is it a balloon payment due in 3 years or spread over a period in installment payments? There are several other questions I have about the whole budget matter but feel sure I can find that data including a line item budget for the various schools.
While I’m on the subject, how much of the county and city ledgers are available online; would someone please answer by return comment with web addresses?
Maybe we should just hand over our paycheck to the school systems. I have a better idea. Since I have to find work outside this county and the taxes are rising on a continuous basis, I might be wiser tojust get out of Marion County. This is absurd.
Hummm… The Marion County School District has REALLY cut back huh… lol…
Has anyone seen the new district office with ALL NEW FURNITURE???
I have had the same desk for 19 years & it works great! You learn to take care of what you have and learn to live on your current budget… No one can afford to give you a raise right now! Learn to live with it, and give the hard working people of Marion County a break!
I think I may quit my job, sell my stuff and live on welfare like half the rest of this county. Get free breakfast, free lunch, foodstamps for supper, free housing, free health care. Try to get my kids a SSI check, etc. I get sick of them raising taxes on us poor saps that actually try to “have” something. I mean whats the use??? To end up giving them a better part of it?? If the school board really wanted to do something, they would seriously think about combining the 2 school districts. Oh, but neither Superintendent wants to lose their job. Its crazy to have to 2 seperate school districts. They are are wasting our money. UUUGGGHHH!! Frustrating!!!
This is a sad state of affairs, and I know it sounds uncaring, but I have to agree with you. Between free rides and administration, we are all going to have to get extra jobs to keep them all in the fashion they appear to be used to.
Sickening.
THIS DOESN’T COME AS A SUPRISE!!!
Folks are out of work, we don’t know what is going to happen with the crisis in the gulf, times are really hard for Marion Countians. “Oh, wait a minute, I have an idea. Let’s raise taxes, yeah, that’s a real good idea.”
For those less quick on the uptake, that is sarcasm!
Thanks Mr. Stuckey, at least we have one board member with some intelligence.
So these folks vote to give themselves a raise, then raise taxes so we can pay for the raise, complain they don’t have enough money and borrow some more, then talk about raising taxes again next year in order to pay for the money they borrowed.These educators need an education in fair play and investment. Thus far, citizens have seen no return on their investment.Look at the test scores for our schools. In any other business enterprise, when there is no return on investment, the business is closed.I wish Josh would focus in on this group more closely.
Thanks school board. Of course we need to increase taxes so that we can continue throwing money into a school system that the children’s test scores fall well below national average. And Im with Janet I wish I had all the new technology and office furniture etc that the school districts have. the school board needs to learn to budget money like all of us that pay taxes have to do.
When all else fails, or in this case when nothing else has been tried, lay it on the taxpayers! What a joke! I encourage everyone to vote for somebody else in the next election, regardless of who it may be. Even The biggest moron on the ticket could raise taxes another 4%. And what do we the taxpayers get out of this? County schools that are consistently behind.
And “the county needs to do a better job of collecting taxes.” What? Do they not know that people are not working?! This bunch of school board members needs to go…quick!
One word, idiots
Why would the school system not cut back. I think it is unreasonable to increase taxes that once in place will never be lowered. The county schools do not educate well and does not score high in the state testing. Also I think the administrative level employees could stand an adjustment to their paycheck like everyone else.
The school board did not represent me in the vote and I think it is despicable.
Josh, something else for you to “inform” us about. Give us the real scoop on how this actually works.
I think there is a ceiling on the total amount of taxes a school district can receive. The amount, in fact, does drop from time to time when G.O. Bonds and other similar obligations are retired. The money has to drop occasionally or the ceiling would eventually be reached with annual increases.
This, by the way, would indicate that there could be years when the net tax burden drops. Something that Josh might want to look into as well.
If you can remember back to last year, they RAISED the salary of several high ranking individuals in the system.. I asked one of the board members why?… His reply, “Everyone deserves a raise every once in a while”.. My thoughts, “No sir, not while we in a recession and people are fixing to lose jobs”.. I’ll remember this when the next voting for school board comes around..
Sooooo, Marion Co. out of money and according to the newspaper two Saturdays ago, Marion Co schools hired a golf coach for E Marion. Hmmm, exactly how many students will benefit from this? Don”t spend my tax $’s like this!!
The golf coach was hired by the assistant superentindent
Just about everything is run by the “Assistant Superintndent” or the “Ciriculum Director” or whatever his “job name” happens to be this week. The Superintendent cannot make a decision or answer a question without getting back with Russell. The Super may just as well go home and wait for his check to be sent to the bank, because he sure as heck hasn’t earned it yet. When are the elections???
I agree with you peanut. I thought we voted Fortenberry in office. But Russell is the one you half to clear things with. Fortenberry is clueless!
But am wondering….Joe, did the assistant superentindent pay out of his pocket for the golf coach?
Surely you “nameless” people are aware that the golf coach is also a full time teacher.
They hired a teacher in a school. Lets fire them all.
Y’all crack me up.
Between Obama and the school board the people of marion county do not have a chance.
How long are the people of marion county going to let incompetent individuals make dumb decisions like this one that effects the lives of the people of marion county. Lets boycott the school board and their businesses until they wake up and help the people that voted them in.
Given the economy, the board should erase any tax hikes. Thank you, Mr. Stuckey, for doing the right thing by voting against a tax increase. I am disappointed the other members voted in favor of a tax increase, however it is not always easy to be morally courageous and make the hard choices. Operating within ones means is not a new phenomenon it simply takes skills, experience and desire. Budget crunches are a fact, perhaps cutbacks on employee travel and convention expenses, office improvements such as furnishings, clerical and adminstrative expenses could be made or wage freezes implemented. Reducing general overhead waste would be helpful and the education of the students would not suffer. It seems to me that the students are the ones to suffer during budget cuts because something is being taken away from them rather than the administation. Let us all reduce waste.
Why thank Mr Stuckey? All he did was get the monkey off his back and forced the board president to vote since one member was absent. By voting no, stuckey has made himself appear that he was looking out for the citizens of Marion County. Why was the board member absent? If they cannot perform the function for which they were voted for or appointed and ACCEPTED THE RESPONSIBILITY, they need to resign. This was probably one of, if not the most important meeting of the year. Given the fact that the citizens do not know what is on the agenda for the meeting, this particular meeting should have been rescheduled so all the board members could and should be present, unless, of course there is an unforeseen emergency.
East Marion and West Marion as a whole have always had the lowest test scores. The administration gets raises when the ones actually doing the work get laid off. Now they ask to have everyones taxes raised? Sell the building on Broad Street and use that money for the increase in budget. After Jan 2011, the additional county, State, and Federal tax increase is going to leave the working man scratching a broke ass!
I assume you are aware that the “building on Broad Street” is owned by Marion County and NOT the Marion County Schools. So is the new one.
Point is, that the Board of Supervisors would have to allocate any receipts from the sale of that building to the schools if your suggestion were to come to pass.
Anyway, isn’t there a “For Sale” sign there already?
To use the old quote, “Taxation without representation is tyranny.”
Marion County School Board is taxing us more without putting out a better product, which is better educated students. They are doing this and blaming it on poor tax collections, and saying the county needs to do a better job of collecting taxes. I am appalled that the the school board would even think of such.
Hello people!!! Tax revenues are down because people don’t have any money!
What are you people……on dope?
I’ve heard that it costs between 8000 and 8500 dollars a year to educate a student in Marion county. Does anyone know if that’s accurate?
If so, maybe the administration needs to ask Columbia Academy for some help, they can get it done for about HALF that.
And as a tax payer myself, I wouldn’t feel nearly as bad about this if they hadn’t given themselves a pay raise lady year, or spent ridiculous amounts of money on ball fields etc. I’m sick and tired of taxes, federal, state, and school board.
Maybe the school board should plant one of those money trees they think all of us HARDWORKING tax payers have stashed in their backyard. Why should the administration get a raise, when I fund their salary and don’t get a raise and have to pay for more of their spending habits? How is that fair, especially when I do not have kids in the County Schools, never went to the country schools, and will probably never have children in these schools?
Has the School Board ever thought that if more of our money was actually put into the CLASSROOM and not into their pockets we might not be so hostile toward paying them more? I’m just saying, if they want us to invest more in our children, then invest it in the children, not in new furniture!
Something you must remember is that the Superintendent does not raise taxes. He submits it to the school board. They do not raise the taxes, they just approve the budget and they submit it to the Board of Supervisors, who in turn is basically held, (by law), to give the school district whatever it DICTATES, as far as money is concerned. You must remember this when the elections come up. Also your STATE POLITCIANS have the capability and authority to CHANGE THE LAW to make school districts, including administration and board of education responsible and accountable. Contact your legislators and let them know how you feel about this and remind them that elections are coming up and you will not forget them.
good luck with that route. Don’t forget that they are politicians also
Where is “Walking Tall’s” Buford Pusser when you really need him?
I guess I’m gonna have to cut out the money I was spending at Wayne Reagan’s restaurant so they can send it to East Marion to teach them to play golf. Wayne, i hope you’re reading this! Keith Stuckey, Thanks!!
we already cut out the fish house and money going into Wayne’s pocket when he voted to keep Mrs Fairburn.
Ms Armstrong has apparently learned a lot since she has been seated on the Board. “The County needs to do a better job of collecting taxes”, isn’t that the same as “the school board and the administration need to do a better job of running the school district.” She must have tunnel- vision, because it is obvious to this taxpayer that she has no clue as to what is going on around her. Didn’t they just recently take out a loan for 3 million dollars? I cannot wait for the months just ahead of the elections to find out who my NEW board representative will be.
What choices do the working class have? We shoulder the burden for any idiotic idea that the likes of our school boards, our county and city administrations, and our legislators can dream up, and they do these things with such arrogance, because they think we are just ignorant enough ourselves to let it happen.
Well, what can I say? After all, we were educated in public school systems ourselves. Maybe we are all ignorant.
The inmates are running the asylum!
HOW CAN WE GET THIS VOTE OF RAISING TAXES KICK ALL THE WAY OUT OF MARION COUNTY AND YES THEY WILL NOT GET MY VOTE NEXT ELECTION
I want to know how much East Marion is spending to build the new softball field so the girls can have their own. They need to focus more on getting the test scores up. At this rate, there is no reason why the county schools are in the condition they are in. I know people of all races who do not want their kids at the county schools due to the test scores and condition of the schools.
Not sure why you “nameless” people keep bringing this up. You need to talk to your FEDERAL Representatives about this one.
Federal law requires that girls and boys sports be funded equally. According to the feds, the girls softball field was inferior to the boys baseball field and therefore mandated that they improve it or face federal action.
The School Board put the project to bid and to the lowest bid of three.
I am not sure what else you would have the administration and School Board do.
First off, weren’t they playing on the same field? If so that’s equal enough for me.
Second, no one I’ve ever talked to saw the request for those bids, where were they posted. I think they needed to get a few more, because it sounds like TL Wallace is making quite a lick off that one. (as well as all the other bids, seems he’s the only one that’s won a bid lately.
But Marvin, our biggest problem with it, is that we are doing this stuff at a time when the people can’t afford more taxes. I mean we’ve got OVER 10 percent unemploymen in Marion County. We should have told the state to build it themselves, or we will get back to when budgets are better and our TEACHERS ARE FULLY PAID AND WE HAVE ENOUGH OF THEM TO MEET STATE REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENT TEACHER RATIOS.
I have a question…. nationwide and here in Marion county the value of our houses and land has decreased. Several places in the U.S. I have heard of had had their taxes re-done and their tax bills were reduced to reflect this devaluation of their land and homes. IF the county was realigned to show the value of our land/homes now Im sure it would go down, the school board would ask for their increase… and chances are it would come close if not less than what is being paid now. Why cant they just see the big picture, leave it alone and count themselves lucky and live on the budget that they have. I have to.
Just to let you all know, if the state test scores for East Marion are not significantly better, the Marion County School District (this includes West) will be taken over by the state just like the Jeff Davis county schools. All school board members, superintendents, prinicipals, etc, will lose their jobs and be replaced with someone from the state, so we may not have to worry about a tax increase.
great
IF IF IF, how long have the test scores been down? that is another saying, (the state will come in and take overthat has been totally over-used during the past few years. I say let the state come in, get rid of the dead meat, including the school board, get the schools operating properly and start all over again with new administration.
Josh, will you please correct this misinformation? Marion County is in no danger of being taken over by the state.
The new designations for school accountability are very misleading.
mr marvin,why are you asking Josh to correct this information? he has plenty to do in this county. If you know this information is incorrect, how about some references and some info that is not “very misleading”?
Here’s something you might want to look into:
How much does it cost to build a softball field for a marion county public school that didn’t even have a softball team at the time?
Estimate $ 250,000.00. Yes, you read it right, a quarter of a million for a softball field. Did the board approve this WASTE of money? This board needs to be held accountable.
I am glad someone finely used their real name.
Mr. Blow,
It may or may not be a waste but the Board had no choice. It was a federal mandate.
You guys really need to quit beating this particular dead horse.
I believe that the softball field at west marion was built for about $30,000 with a lot of donated time,
under the previous superintendent.
Tax Revenues are down. People cannot pay these high taxes. What does Mrs. Armstrong want the Tax Collector to do? Go door to door and ask people to pay their taxes?
Mr. Nelson says there is not a better way to spend taxpayer money than on our children. REALLY.
What about test scores for East & West Marion. Check test scores for the District. You will see our tax dollars at work.
I AGREE WITH SAME OLD STUFF AS WELL AS OTHERS ABOUT THIS ” TAX HIKE ” WHAT WILL THEY NEED NEXT YEAR? LAST YEAR,THE SCHOOL BOARD NEEDED A RAISE. SO SAY. AS 1 BOARD MEMBER SAID,EVERY BODY NEEDS A RAISE EVERY NOW AND THEN. THAT IS ALL AND GOOD,IF WE THE TAX PAYERS COULD AFFORD IT. THE WHOLE SCHOOL BOARD SHOULD BE VOTED OUT AND GET SOME NEW PEOPLE IN. I HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU MR.STUCKEY FOR AT LEAST STANDING UP FOR THE PEOPLE. THE REST OF THE BOARD JUST SUCKS. ONE IDEA,WHY DONT THEY PUT SOME SCHOOLS TOGETHER. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A SMALL TOWN AND COUNTY HAVE SO MANY SCHOOLS.I HAD THOUGHT THAT MR.FORTENBERRY WOULD DO BETTER WHEN HE TOOK OVER,BUT HE JUST LIKE THE OTHERS,JUST FELL IN LINE TO TAKE ORDERS.I GUESS ITS OK TO SPEND THE MONEY WHEN YOU DONT HAVE IT? THEY ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE I KNOW,INCLUDING MY SELF THAT HAS NOT HAD A PAY RAISE IN SEVERAL YEARS. THAT DOES NOT GIVE THE SCHOOL BOARD THE RIGHT TO JUST JUMP IN AND SAY WE NEED MORE MONEY. WHO DONT. IT IS ALSO SAD THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD CAN TELL THE SUPERVISORS WE NEED MORE MONEY,AND BY ” STATE LAW ” THEY HAVE TO GET IT. SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS WAY TO MUCH AUTHORITY IN THESE MATTERS. ONCE AGAIN I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU MR.STUCKEY FOR SATNDING UP. LOOKS LIKE THE OTHERS WOULD HAVE THE GUTS TO DO THE SAME. CUT BACK
Can you believe this
yea more taxes just add more on to the people that work everyday and try to have something!!!! all these cut backs are sickning also they need to be getting rid of the teachers that are so HATEFUL to the children thats why the scores are down i bet if they took a poll of some inmates i bet their problems started in school from teachers like some at west marion
Chrome:
You are WRONG to blame teachers for people committing crimes and being incarcerated!! Maybe if you would have paid a bit more attention while in school you would have learned the correct way to: spell, write sentences, capitalization rules, run-on and fragment sentences, etc. Does your inability to use the basics of English grammar indicate that you have a criminal record? You said that people which were not educated appropriately have more than likely been at some point incarcerated!
You want to blame teachers for low test scores. However, you are WRONG about that as well! Education is a group (parent/teacher) effort. Just because you send little Chrome Jr to school doesnt mean your job is complete in his education. Parents have a responsibilty in their child’s education as well! You are NOT suppose to take Chrome Jr’s word that the reason he is failing is because Mrs. So-N-So hates him and is failing him on purpose! Get real! If Mrs. So-N-So hates him, why o why would she fail him to have to teach him again next year?
If you have an issue with state tests, then the issue you have is NOT with a teacher. Hint: state test=from the state! State tests are designed to make sure we do NOT have students slipping through the educational crack while lacking skills (inability to use basic English grammar) that should have been previously taught to the students.
Spending money does not make a better student, no more than spending money on your car makes it a better car unless the mechanic
has the right talent.
Yes, parents have a lot to do with it, but we cannot do anything about
that, except educate the child with
a teacher that treats education like a religion and hopefully we can reverse that trend.
We need to eliminate lead teachers
which are nothing more than an administrative position.
Then more money can be spent in the lower grades by putting no more than 10 students (grouped by ability)to each teacher, so that the basics can be engrained in them.
These teachers should be specially picked for their work ethics, to inspire, teach and lead a new generation. They should love their job and be aware that they are on the frontlines of the battle
to bring America back to the top.
They should know as soldiers know,
if they fail, we are all lost.
Thank you Mr. Stuckey
I agree that taxes should not be raised. As far as the test scores you can go to mississippi schools report cards and compare any school in the state including Columbia school district scores with Marion county schools scores. Last time I checked they are all on academic watch. I feel sorry for the students and the teachers because of cutbacks.
yes thank you MR. Stuckey and Jackie Broom why were you not at this meeting? Isnt going to meetings what you get paid to do?
Oh my – just think about the taxpayers who live in the city school district and have to pay BOTH city and county taxes.
Just to clarify, city residents only pay school tax to the Columbia school district. Not to the county school district. They do have to pay general county taxes. However city residents get the benefit of sales tax collection that the county residents do not. Also the city school system benefits from the high assessed value commercial properties that exist partly because county residents shop and spend money in the city.
i have an idea!!!!!!!! lets build another ball field!!!! We got some stupid people running the school board!!!!!!!! i was told yesterday that if we got up a petition and got 1500 votes on it they couldnt raise our taxes!!!!! so somebody start a petition!!!! and lets make some changes next election!
I don’t know anything about starting a petition, but I Will make some calls and see what I can do.
Where did you obtain this information about the petition? Who would it need to be turned into and how does it need to be worded. and when would it need to be done by??
from the article it said, “The School Board voted to borrow $325,166 to cover a shortfall in property tax collections from the current fiscal year. The Board of Supervisors may have to raise the millage rate to pay back that loan over three years.”
So… they want to raise taxes this year to cover all the mess they created in the past year such as giving the upper administrations raises that they didn’t deserve, nor could afford…building ballfieds that weren’t particularly needed when they could have played on an existing fields… hiring GOLF a instructor at EM… and who knows what else…
I agree with “My 2 Cents” FORTENBERRY is CLUELESS… and I for one will support anyone that opposes and runs against him in the next election, regardless the party affiliation…. ANY MORON/MONKEY COULD DO THE SAME OR BETTER JOB THAN HE’S DOING! (“Yes I hope he reads these posts!”)…
Here’s a way to make do with the money you got… TIGHTEN UP YOUR BELT AND CUT THE CRAP OUTTA THE BUDGET… CUT EVERONES SALARIES BACK TO WHAT THEY WERE BEFORE YOU HAD THE AUDACITY TO RAISED THEM… THEN…. !!TAKE AN ADDITIONAL 2-5% CUT ACROSS THE BOARD TO MAKE UP MORE FUNDS AND DO A LITTLE BIT OF SACRIFICING… Every household in Marion County does that on a daily basis… and when we can’t afford it we don’t get it….
SO…. When you go to borrow the funds… (LISTEN UP LENDERS) They can’t afford it… DON’T LEND IT TO THEM!!!
Heres to all the administration and the teachers and the Board… If your not willing to sacrifice for the kids and buckle down and get the test scores up and get off of Acedemic Watch (GET OUT OF THE PROFESSION)… HEAR THIS… your not performing to standard and you don’t deserve a raise….!!!!!!!
If I did not do my work efficiently I would not expect any more compensation from my employer either…
Since your asking me and the citizens of Marion County to foot your bill, then we are your bosses and we say the job is not being done efficient enough!!! If it were and we could be proud to say it was all good…then, If the economic times were not as bad as they are and people weren’t losing thier jobs left and right, I suppose the people would not complain as much when you come panhandeling to our doors demanding we pay you more !!!!
You knew the $$$ situation when you got into this profession and I would think most would say you originally got into the teaching profession to make a difference in a childs life, not for the money…. So DO IT ALREADY!!!! Get back to the basis that you believed in once!!!
I will just say this about upcoming elections… They are coming and you will be opposed and you will most likely lose… then we have to see if the next bunch is just as bad as you are…
GOOD DAY!
Please do not blame the teachers. They are teaching what the admin tells them to teach……the test!! If they were let go to teach the way they were taught, a lot of problems would be solved. Teachers are the last ones involved in the curriculum decisions. Teachers also cannot teach when they must spend most of their time with discipline issues. Put the power back in the teachers hand and someone, please make all teachers a paddle!
I have made several replies throughout the comments above and I think it should be noted for the purpose of full disclosure, I am an employee of the Columbia School District.
With the exception of the softball field issue in which they simply had no choice, I have not defended anything the County Board has done nor have I condemned them for what they have done.
I have done neither because I am completely ignorant of the reasoning behind the tax increase. I do know how to find out if I were inclined to do so. I expect the 2 million dollar cut from the state left a nice size hole in the budget.
Surely you are aware that the actions of the legislature in order to not increase taxes on that end shifted the burden to the local governments. They mandate that schools do all sorts of things but then do not fund it. The feds do the same thing.
But I will concede that the general consensus is that there is still too much fat in all government and you all think it should be trimmed further. The expression of that opinion is fundamental to our freedom and I believe the expression is healthy although I would be nice if the facts are valid before the healthy expression of opinion is given.
But reading through the posts I just wish two things.
1) You guys would stop hiding behind a pseudonym (not putting your real name on your comments. John Hancock would be ashamed of you all. He risked DEATH by putting his real name.
2) I really wish you would get the facts straight before posting what you imply to be factual information.
I love to be able to read through and see the differing opinions. Thank you Josh for this forum.
Many of these posts are very interesting and though provoking but those with fabricated facts are nothing but counterproductive and very likely confusing.
I guess you can makeup what ever you want if you are not telling anyone who you are.
It just seems that if we all have guts enough to put our real names, we will be more likely to check our facts before expressing our opinions.
Maybe it is just me but I think we could have some very productive and healthy discussions here if everyone would stop hiding behind fake names.
I guess that you have wasted 2 of your three wishes, rub your lamp again for the third one. Many people will use a pseudonym because they or a close friend are employed by the school district and are in fact “in the know”. Much like the police department, you can remain anonymus and still get facts out. If people are interested enough, they will personally check into them. In this county and city, it is really hard, sometimes impossible to get “the facts” because the people that “know the facts” are not willing to put that information out or are capable of skirting the issues, (baffling them with BS). If you are an employee of the MCSD and question actions, policies or issues within the MCSD, you stand a good chance of looking for employment next school year. Explain to us just how we can find out the reasoning behind this tax increase, as I for one am very inclined to do so. I do agree with you, though, a 2 million dollar cut, if that is fact, would surely leave a nice size hole in the budget. As far as “fabricated facts”, in many cases, theycome directly from the elected officials, including the superintendent’s office and the school board.
And that, Marvin, is exactly what happened to the EMP principal, Mrs. Gonzales. She spoke up for her teachers, disagreed with the administration, was fired because of “cut-backs” and overlooked for another primary principal opening that should have automatically been offered to her. Thank God, Marvin, that you are at Columbia Schools. It’s hell on earth at MCSD.
You have so much anger why don’t you turn the channel if you don’t like the programming. And on this topic ( Taxes being raised ) the first thing you wrote on your post was a remark about people not using their real names, You need to stay on topic . Are you a brave guy because you post your name here are is it you need attention. Go enjoy CNN
VOTE THEM OUT
The proposed tax increase shouldn’t surprise anyone. For too many years liberals have controlled the education system in America. The results are not hard to see. The public education system in this country if not failing isn’t passing with flying colors. The last time I checked we spent more per child on education than the rest of the world. As with all things most liberals like to think more money is the answer to all problems. As a working taxpayer I am tired of being taxed because I have a taxable income. It really makes me mad that a small percentage of the population whether it be a state or federal legislative body or a local four person board of education can have this kind of power. Did John Hancock lay his life on the line for the type of government we have now? I don’t think so. Where does all of this end? As a former teacher I can attest to the fact that there was & probably still is allot of fat that needs to be trimmed in all schools, both county and city. As a teacher I felt like I was compensated “fairly” for the amount of time I spent actually working. While workers in the private sector deal with cutbacks, layoffs and firings most in state and federal jobs until recently haven’t had to worry about that. Why don’t we compensate based on performance? Bring that up in a teacher’s meeting and you’ll get some dirty looks for sure. Didn’t Haley Barbour propose something along this line? Heck, that’s the way it is with a good portion of private sector jobs. I know because I’ve worked in both. I said it while I was teaching and I’ll say it again, if the education system was a publicly traded company that depended on profits for its survival it would have either gone out of business or heads would have rolled many years ago. Administrators and teachers need to think about that. Educators in general need to realize what too many politicians have forgotten and that is the money received from taxpayers “ain’t your money”.
Bill,
This is what I am talking about. Clear concise comments based on facts not fiction.
THANK YOU BILL
You already have a system that is based upon “performance”.If you do what admin wants you to do, you either keep your job or are promoted. Some people call it “sucking up to the boss”. in other cases, such as what recently happened, you will lose your job. I and others cannot understand how an administrator can get fired for “budget cuts” and another individual get promoted to the equal position. I find this hard not to believe it was a blatant case of one sucking up to the boss and the other not sucking up to the boss. Personally, I would love to see the fired individual file and win a lawsuit against the MCSD even though, once again my taxes would go up next year just to cover the cost of the award to the plaintiff. What happened to the “slush fund” or spare money that WAS available to the school district when the previous superintendent was in office?
Performance pay would be great if the teachers could choose their students. Students are humans and there is no way to adjust humans to make an even playing field for performance pay. Now a paddle could go a long way in making an even playing field if parents and principals would let teachers handle the students in a manner that they needed to be handled. (And I’m not talking abuse here!!!)
Until every class can be equal in every way, PERFORMANCE PAY WILL NOT WORK.
Equality is a pie in the sky theory whether it be in a classroom, on the athletic field or working as a cashier at Walmart. Teacher unions oppose performance based pay even being discussed, I repeat discussed, because they are afraid of some less than qualified teachers being exposed. Remember I taught school and I know first hand what goes on. With the classes that I taught, I got a good number of students who were not exactly top tier students. I had my share of notorious “bad kids” but I can promise you they knew exactly what was expected of them when they walked into my classroom. Stand firm on the basic rules from the start and your discipline problems will be far less, paddle or no paddle. To steer back on course I just want to say that by throwing in the towel on performance based pay you are essentially giving up. Raise the bar and results get better. Lower the bar and results get worse. Keep the bar the same and this argument will go on forever and we’ll continue to throw our tax dollars away on this so called education system we have in our country.
You taught school? How long ago was that? Stand firm on the basic rules? Teachers do not make the basic rules. The administration does and they also set the discipline. However, there is a big a big difference from setting the discipline and actually administering it. All school sysytems need to go back to ‘OLD SCHOOL” ways. If a student is causing problems or trouble, (fighting, cussing, showing disrespect among other things), they should get their ass beat by ADMINISTRATION, and then again by their parents when they get home. A teacher cannot have control if they have no backing by administration or by the parents. Read the comments above by Her it is once again and Marion Resident 55 above about your performance based pay, I believe they know what goes on and tell it like it is.
Apparently sir, you have not been in the MCSD and observed how some teachers are always given the “low” or “discipline problem” students. Performance is out the door in that case when it is based on the state test. Performance may work is the load is shared AND performance is based on GROWTH and not STATE TEST!!!
Furthermore unions may not want it, but teachers are willing to discuss it. And equality is not “pie in the sky” when you are dealing with honest, moral people, which are hard to find in any school administration!
I’ll be honest in that I have never taught at East or West. All of my teaching was at CHS. I’ve never been in either of those schools except for an athletic event. Hopefully we can agree on one thing. More money thrown at a perceived problem whether it be a failing education system or whatever is not always the answer. In this case, raising taxes to fill a void couldn’t have come at a worst time in my opinion. Remember who foots the tax bill. It is for sure NOT the institutions asking for the increases.
As far as the amount spent per child for education, what all is considered? Does this average per child include the renovated facility for the central office along with the new furniture for the same? does it also include the costs to “update” the board meeting room, or the 3 million dollar loan, (that so many speak of), that is for who knows what? anyone can do almost anything as far as numbers, percentages and averages go. You should really be asking about the amount that goes directly to the childrens’ education and not the comfort of the administration.
I think the city should be cutting the city overhead and lowering taxes instead of raising them.
What has that got to do with the county school board and them trying to spend more money than they should be spending?
Several of the so called coach/teachers should be let go. You have coaches teaching that are not qualified to teach, but they let them because they are a coach and need them for football, basketball, ect. Have been talking to some of the students in the public school system about their classroom activities. Some watch movies in several classes while the teachers leave the classroom.
Some did not go to a certain class but took the final exam and passed the class because the final exam is the same 11 questions every year. Principals never coming out of there office except to go to lunch Finding out alot about what goes on in the classrooms, will post my report when finished.
Ms. Armstrong voted to raise taxes. You know some people have to work hard for what they have and some get breaks. Lets see for example did she have her home built ? Did she buy it ? Or was it given to her from family years ago. Here’s a thought , if you ride by Columbia Academy in the mornings youl see a long car line , grandparents & parents bring the kids to school. In some cases neighbors that have children attending the school take turns bringing them. They have two bus routes that go out of town. Maybe its time to do away with the buses in the county school system, I’m a parent Ive always gotten up and taken my children to school. Wonder how much money is budgeted to busing bet it would cover their short fall. But if you take your kids to school youl have to get out of bed early five days a week instead of just the first of the month to take that walk to the mail box for that check.
This situation is so important that
placing blame and spending more money will not help. We need teachers with the right stuff to teach as much one on one as we can get. They need a mission to teach the lower grades the basics.They have to teach as though failure is not an option.
We cannot pass legislation to make better parents. The education system and teachers must fill as much of that void as possible. We will have to make hard choices to get the job done with the money on hand, even if we have to take on volunteer teachers from the community, who must pass certain requirements. Teachers are born, not turned out in a college, it only takes a proficiency of skills to teach basics with a born teacher who believes in their mission.
We must also teach some Christian values. Don’t say we can’t do this or that, we have no choice but to do this or we are lost. We may have to go back to teaching schools in the community, as we once did. Each community may have to fill this need again, as the government is too tied to this law or that law.
The community may have to bring pencil, paper, lunches, and books to the old oak tree. We may have to study by candlelight as Abe Lincoln did. We may have to furnish everything because the school no longer buys textbooks, so that the parents can help at home. We may not have to do things this way, but we have to do something, NOW.
More Taxes, get real. The population in Columbia is going down already. Higher taxes will eventually lead to a degraded society and proterty values wil go down. I say that they lower their own saleries and get rid of some city overhead.
I agree with “”VOTE THEM ALL OUT”"”
MR.ADANS IS SO HUNG UP ABOUT PEOPLE GIVING THEIR ” REAL ” NAMES HE SEENS TO LOOSE SITE OF THE REAL PROBLEM. AS I SAID BEFORE.SOME PEOPLE MAY BE IN A POSITION THEY CANT USE THEIR ” REAL” NAMES,BUT THAT IS THE GOOD PART ABOUT FREE SPEECH. SO GET OVER IT MR.ADAMS