Received 4 Oct 2011. -jsq<\/p>\n
\n\n
\n \nGreed<\/strong>
\nis an excessive desire to possess wealth or goods with the intention
\nto keep it for one’s self. Greed is inappropriate expectation.
\nHowever, greed is applied to a very excessive or rapacious desire and
\npursuit of wealth, status, and power. —Wikipedia\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\nWe
\nwould like to think that our community “leaders” are not full of
\npride and greed, but please listen closely: <\/FONT><\/FONT>
\n
\n- The
\nCUEE Board did <\/FONT><\/FONT>NOT<\/B><\/FONT><\/FONT>
\nmeet with both school boards prior to sending the petition around
\ntown.<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P>
\n- Troup
\nCounty Schools have <\/FONT><\/FONT>not<\/B><\/FONT><\/FONT>
\nmet AYP in 8 years.<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P>
\n- Tennessee’s
\nHamilton County system, the entire district, is currently high
\npriority. This means they have had <\/FONT><\/FONT>two
\nyears of bad results<\/B><\/FONT><\/FONT>.
\nThis is the school used in CUEE’s original study.<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P>
\n- CUEE’s
\nexpert<\/B><\/FONT><\/FONT>
\nSteve Prigohzy said,<\/p>\n\n"If you believe in the end that running
\none system is cheaper than running two school systems. If in the end
\nyou are going to cast a vote for a single system because you think
\nit would save money, I
\nwouldn’t cast my vote<\/B>
\nI do not think it will save money."\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n- If
\nconsolidation passes, there will be <\/FONT><\/FONT>only
\n7 Board Members representing almost 20,000 students<\/B><\/FONT><\/FONT>.
\n<\/FONT><\/FONT>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/p>\n
\n\n
\n \nLuke 12:15,<\/strong><\/p>\n \nThen he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all
\nkinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of
\npossessions.” <\/FONT>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\nAlso, in 1 Timothy
\n6:10 we are told,<\/p>\n\n“For the love of
\nmoney is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money,
\nhave wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many
\ngriefs.”\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\nNot everyone is sitting
\non the sidelines regarding consolidation. I will go ahead and ask you
\nto vote no to consolidation on November 8<\/FONT>th<\/FONT><\/SUP>.
\nI believe we all agree that pride can be powerful and destructive.
\n<\/FONT>Pride is mentioned in James 1:10,
\n<\/FONT>10<\/FONT><\/SUP><\/p>\n\n“But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will
\npass away like a wild flower.”\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n\n
- Bussing
\n<\/FONT><\/FONT>will<\/B><\/FONT><\/FONT>
\noccur and children <\/FONT><\/FONT>will
\nhave to change schools<\/B><\/FONT><\/FONT>.<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P>
\n- From
\na practical standpoint, will <\/FONT><\/FONT>all<\/B><\/FONT><\/FONT>
\nthe current elementary schools stay <\/FONT><\/FONT>open<\/B><\/FONT><\/FONT>
\n<\/FONT><\/FONT>
\n<\/P>
\n- How
\nmany educators are currently on the CUEE board? How many educators
\nare on the list of supporters of CUEE? <\/FONT><\/FONT>How
\nmany experts on education are behind this and why?<\/B><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P>
\n- Which
\nof the current 16 total Board (County and City) members are willing
\nto <\/FONT><\/FONT>walk away<\/B><\/FONT><\/FONT>
\nto make room for the 7 “interim” members?<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P>
\n- If
\nthis passes, <\/FONT><\/FONT>Valdosta
\nCity Schools no longer exist<\/B><\/FONT><\/FONT>.
\nWhat if this were Lowndes County Schools ceasing to exist?<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P>
\n- Who
\nwill supply the $5 million dollars required <\/FONT><\/FONT>YEARLY<\/B><\/FONT><\/FONT>
\nto bring the current City School Employees to the same retirement
\ncompensation level as the current County School Employees?<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P>
\n- Can
\nCUEE guarantee that teachers will not lose their jobs, tenure or
\npensions? These teachers consider their jobs to be at their current
\nschool. Can CUEE also guarantee that no staff members will be moved
\naround to other schools? <\/FONT><\/FONT>Teachers
\nand Principals will have to relocate<\/B><\/FONT><\/FONT>.<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P>
\n- Couldn’t
\nthe enormous funds being spent by CUEE be <\/FONT><\/FONT>better
\nused to improve our schools<\/B><\/FONT><\/FONT>?<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P>
\n- Our
\nathletic programs will change<\/B><\/FONT><\/FONT>.<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P>
\n<\/UL>
\n
\n- Based
\non <\/FONT><\/FONT>a summary
\nfrom Academic Leadership, Volume 4 Issue 2 Spring 2006, Authors: Joe
\nBard, Clark E. Gardener, Regi L. Wieland:<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P>
\n
\n- There
\nshould not be “forced” consolidation.<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P>
\n- There
\nis no “ideal” size for schools or districts. <\/FONT><\/FONT>
\n<\/P>
\n“Size”
\ndoes not guarantee success \u2013 good schools come in all sizes. <\/FONT><\/FONT>
\n<\/P>
\nSmaller
\ndistricts have better achievement, affective and social outcomes. <\/FONT>
\n<\/P>
\nThe
\nlarger a district becomes, the more resources are devoted to
\nsecondary or non-essential activities. <\/FONT>
\n<\/P>
\nLocal
\nschool officials should be wary of merging several smaller
\nelementary schools, at least if the goal is improved performance. <\/FONT>
\n<\/P>
\nAfter
\na school closure, out migration, population decline, and
\nneighborhood deterioration are set in motion, and support for
\npublic education diminishes. <\/FONT>
\n<\/P>
\nThere
\nis no solid foundation for the belief that eliminating school
\ndistricts will improve education, enhance cost-effectiveness or
\npromote equality. <\/FONT>
\n<\/P>
\nThere
\nis a strong negative correlation between district size and student
\nachievement in low-income populations.<\/FONT><\/P>
\n<\/UL>
\n<\/UL>
\n
\n