Wednesday, March 30, 2011

The Boy is Back!

"Sanity is not statistical."

- George Orwell, 1984, Book 1, Chapter 9

 
Hello, Happy Wednesday! Who am I kidding? When did Wednesday become a joyful occasion? Well, when I hear pitter patter of kids size 10 feet running across my floor! When I hear “Dinosaur Train” or “Dora” or “Diego” on the TV and Thomas the tank engines running on the new tracks on my floor. That’s when.

When my coffee cup is filled with good brew like “Smokey Mt. Blend” and I’ve slept the night before beside the apple of my eye. That’s when!

When someone sneaks up behind me and says “Peek a boo, memaw”! That’s when.

You’ve guessed it. The boy is back in town. And this memaw couldn’t be happier.

That being said, the boys on the local scene are back too. They really didn’t go anywhere. We citizens just had a (short one day) reprieve from the sad state affairs our schools will be in if they don’t get what they want.

Who might I be referring to? The boys in the BOE, Central Office, and School System. I picked up the paper this morning and on the front page is another, yes another, article on another forum that will be held to discuss the “proposed” budgets cuts. At least this time the article plainly states the forum is to "encourage" participation.  Participation to hound the commissioners, legislators, and those of us who believe in limited government - starting with the school system!

How many times do we need to be told the “end of the world” is coming if the Board of Commissioners doesn’t hand over a blank check? Geez. I’ve had enough.

Maybe it’s time to define the word “cuts”. Like a previous President, who seemed quite confused on what the definition of “is” was, we have a voting population that can’t distinguish what a cut really means. Do they do vocabulary in our esteemed schools anymore? I use to have a vocabulary test every Friday.

But let’s make it simple. Think the boys can handle this? I doubt it.

Webster’s dictionary says a cut means:

“reduce: cut down on; make a reduction in; "reduce your daily fat intake"

Ex. "The employer wants to cut back health benefits"

Ex. “Rob is making $8 an hour. His employer has asked Rob to take a decrease (cut) in pay $7.50 an hour.”

Ex. “I have to cut out eating out on Mondays. I can still go on Tuesdays, but not Mondays.”

A cut is not where you ask for MORE and don’t get it but stay at the same funding level you're at!

Ex. “Employee A is making $25,000. He is banking on his company giving him a raise in 2011 to $30,000. 2011 comes and goes and he is still making $25,000. This employee did not get a cut in pay.

How about a "Real life" example:

 XXX County School System asks for $7.9 million MORE in funding this year than last year from county commissioners. County commissioners say no. Employment in XXX county is 12.7%. There isn’t more money coming in, there is less.

XXX County School System tells currently funded employees under the currently funded levels, they will lose their jobs if the XXX County Commissioners do not increase funding.

Folks, this is NOT A CUT. This is hype, scare tactics, and 1st grade math coming from what are suppose to be leaders in our community.  

Note to Sheila:  Let them borrow your TI-83 calculator.  Other note to Sheila:  You'll have to teach them how to use it too.

Ugh.  If the current budget is funding jobs, where the heck does the Lee County School administration get the audacity to tell people they will lose their jobs if they don’t get more? Our teachers have been scared out of their wits. It’s a wonder they can even teach at this point. I know if my employer told me somebody will lose their job if he didn’t get more from his shareholders, dang if I would keep working 55-60 hours a week. No one in their right mind would.

How do you sleep at night, Jeff Moss and BOE members? How? Have you ever wondered where the money comes from? The last I looked the trees in my yard were not growing dollar bills. How do you justify what you are doing to your staff?

Easy: That’s how bullies act. And frankly, those are the kind of boys (and girls) I don’t want in my town.

Later,

Sheila


1 comment:

James_Madison said...

I was completely taken aback at the NBC-17 report on last night's pep rally, led by Lee Senior Principal Greg Batten. It's disgusting to watch him spread myths and hollow speculation about athletics. The last speaker in the interview even predicted commissioners would raise taxes by three cents a hundred to keep all the sports in place. Where did they find these people????

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