{"id":1787,"date":"2011-07-08T12:06:30","date_gmt":"2011-07-08T16:06:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2011\/07\/were-here-to-save-our-schools-sam-allen-fvcs-7-july-2011.html"},"modified":"2011-07-08T12:06:30","modified_gmt":"2011-07-08T16:06:30","slug":"were-here-to-save-our-schools-sam-allen-fvcs-7-july-2011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2011\/07\/were-here-to-save-our-schools-sam-allen-fvcs-7-july-2011.html","title":{"rendered":"We’re here to save our schools —Sam Allen, FVCS, 7 July 2011"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/a>
\nSam Allen, former chair of the Valdosta school board and head of
\nFriends of Valdosta City Schools (FVCS) held
\n
\na press conference<\/a>
\nto announce opposition after
\nCUEE announced 9,000 petitions for a referendum to
\ncombine the Valdosta and Lowndes County school systems.<\/a>.
\nWhy so late with the opposition?<\/p>\n

\nSam Allen explained:<\/p>\n

\n“We were scared.
\nWe were intimidated because we had heard about all these consultants coming down,
\nand all these studies being done.
\nSo we just thought that we would just sit back and watch
\nand this thing would eventually go away like a bad dream.
\nBut folks I want you to know it’s not going away like a bad dream.
\nIt’s becoming a nightmare.<\/p>\n

\nNow we stand before you with one purpose in mind:
\ndo not sign any petitions.
\n… If it comes to a vote, we want you to vote no.”\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Guess they’re not scared any more.<\/p>\n

\nHe added:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n“If I could be told it would benefit our children.
\n…
\nBut everybody who is on the opposite side can not
\nguarantee you that we will have a better system for our children.
\nWhy?
\nBecause no one on the other side is a board of education member for
\neither Lowndes or Valdosta.”\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Standing to Sam Allen’s right were two Valdosta school board members:
\nAnnie Fisher and Vanassa Flucas.<\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/a>
\nSam Allen asked:<\/p>\n

\n“We hold our public officials accountable.
\nCan you hold CUEE accountable?”\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The crowd answered that:<\/p>\n

\n“No!”\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In the crowd picture,
\n
\nJade “Talks Heat Up” Bulecza of WALB<\/a>
\nstands next to
\n
\nDontaye “Showdown” Carter of WCTV<\/a>.
\nBoth published reports.<\/p>\n

\nHere’s
\n
\nthe video:<\/a><\/p>\n

\n