Received 4 Oct 2011. -jsq

Greed is an excessive desire to possess wealth or goods with the intention to keep it for one’s self. Greed is inappropriate expectation. However, greed is applied to a very excessive or rapacious desire and pursuit of wealth, status, and power. —Wikipedia

We
would like to think that our community “leaders” are not full of
pride and greed, but please listen closely:

• The
  CUEE Board did NOT
  meet with both school boards prior to sending the petition around
  town.
  
  
• Troup
  County Schools have not
  met AYP in 8 years.
  
  
• Tennessee’s
  Hamilton County system, the entire district, is currently high
  priority. This means they have had two
  years of bad results.
  This is the school used in CUEE’s original study.
  
  
• CUEE’s
  expert
  Steve Prigohzy said,

  "If you believe in the end that running
  one system is cheaper than running two school systems. If in the end
  you are going to cast a vote for a single system because you think
  it would save money, I
  wouldn’t cast my vote
  I do not think it will save money."

• If
  consolidation passes, there will be only
  7 Board Members representing almost 20,000 students.
  

Luke 12:15, Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Also, in 1 Timothy 6:10 we are told, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Not everyone is sitting on the sidelines regarding consolidation. I will go ahead and ask you to vote no to consolidation on November 8th. I believe we all agree that pride can be powerful and destructive. Pride is mentioned in James 1:10, 10 “But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.”

• Bussing
  will
  occur and children will
  have to change schools.
  
  
• From
  a practical standpoint, will all
  the current elementary schools stay open
  
  
  
  
• How
  many educators are currently on the CUEE board? How many educators
  are on the list of supporters of CUEE? How
  many experts on education are behind this and why?
  
  
• Which
  of the current 16 total Board (County and City) members are willing
  to walk away
  to make room for the 7 “interim” members?
  
  
• If
  this passes, Valdosta
  City Schools no longer exist.
  What if this were Lowndes County Schools ceasing to exist?
  
  
• Who
  will supply the $5 million dollars required YEARLY
  to bring the current City School Employees to the same retirement
  compensation level as the current County School Employees?
  
  
• Can
  CUEE guarantee that teachers will not lose their jobs, tenure or
  pensions? These teachers consider their jobs to be at their current
  school. Can CUEE also guarantee that no staff members will be moved
  around to other schools? Teachers
  and Principals will have to relocate.
  
  
• Couldn’t
  the enormous funds being spent by CUEE be better
  used to improve our schools?
  
  
• Our
  athletic programs will change.
  
  

• Based
  on a summary
  from Academic Leadership, Volume 4 Issue 2 Spring 2006, Authors: Joe
  Bard, Clark E. Gardener, Regi L. Wieland:
  
  
  
  
  • There
    should not be “forced” consolidation.
    
    
  • There
    is no “ideal” size for schools or districts.
    
    
    

  • “Size”
    does not guarantee success – good schools come in all sizes.
    

    
    

  • Smaller
    districts have better achievement, affective and social outcomes.
    

    
    

  • The
    larger a district becomes, the more resources are devoted to
    secondary or non-essential activities.
    

    
    

  • Local
    school officials should be wary of merging several smaller
    elementary schools, at least if the goal is improved performance.
    

    
    

  • After
    a school closure, out migration, population decline, and
    neighborhood deterioration are set in motion, and support for
    public education diminishes.
    

    
    

  • There
    is no solid foundation for the belief that eliminating school
    districts will improve education, enhance cost-effectiveness or
    promote equality.
    

    
    

  • There
    is a strong negative correlation between district size and student
    achievement in low-income populations.

    
    
  
  

According
to Wikipedia, "’United
we stand, divided we fall’
is a phrase that has been used in mottos,
from nations and states to songs. The basic concept is that unless
the people are united, it is easy to destroy them.”

As
citizens of the City of Valdosta, we are the people.
Those of us that are registered to vote, need to vote. We need to
remain united and not allow a group of individuals to destroy us.

As
citizens of Lowndes County, you are the people.
Even though you cannot vote on consolidation, you and your children
will still be directly affected in a multitude of ways. Although your
right to vote has been denied, you can still stand united with the
citizens of Valdosta against these individuals who are in pursuit of
wealth, status and power.

I
agree that as a community we should come together with a common
focus.

I
agree our common focus should be about helping the children of this
community become the best educated they can be.

As
an adult community, not a group of small children, when we ask,
“WHY?”, we deserve answers other than “because we say so”.

As
adults, do not be afraid to state where you stand. Don’t
be lukewarm.

If
you want consolidation, please stand and be prepared to answer our
“why’s” with facts.

If
you DO NOT want consolidation, please stand up,
right here, right now,
for your rights and the rights of the children in this community.