Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2011 21:24:58 -0500
From: djsmith
Subject: Misinformation
I have attempted to sort out exactly the arguments for the reconfiguration of our K-8 schools . I have looked at the issues , read the blogs and comments, researched the topic and attended meetings and spoken with parents. I have come up with the following conclusions. Mr. Logan and his Assistants which make up the Senior Leadership Team (Robert Logan, Robin McCoy, Tina Hester, Susan Little, David Moody) may not have been completely honest with the citizens of Chatham County.
The reason originally presented for a reconfiguration of our K-8 schools was because of the tremendous budget shortfall for the 2011-2012 school year and how this reconfiguration of the K-8 schools would provide a tremendous savings : (As quoted from Mr. Logan on his blog Entry #2 on Wednesday, Janurary 19, 2011 “While studying redistricting possibilities, it was determined that between $675,000 and $1 million could be saved by reconfiguring our schools from the present seven different grade configurations to only three (Pre-K-5, 6-8 and 9-12)”. ..
Now the information that is being given and will be given to the board has changed drastically: The difference between leaving the schools as they presently are and changing them to the K-5 / 6-8 concept is only $2823.00..
Where is the $675,000 to $1,000,000 savings that was presented to the board when the plan to reconfigure was presented in the work session on January 14? Does it not bother the board that they were presented with wrong information on such an important organizational plan of the Chatham County School System? Evidently someone (Mr. Logan and his leadership team?) had not done their homework.
And we learned the plan to reconfigure the schools was already in the works months and months before the 2011/2012 budget was even being considered. But the budget shortfall was used as the “scapegoat” for bringing the issue up at this time. Let’s be honest with the people of Chatham County.
To the Board of Education: You should be asking some very important questions and hold these people accountable. How do you know that this is not the first time you have been given eronious information in getting you to vote to approve something that has not been presented to you accurately and may not be in the best interest of our children. What a shame we have these people in the Central Office making vital decisions for our children. It’s up to you to see if they truly deserve the overgenerous salaries they are earning.
I went out to Margaret Pollard to see the school after reading about the tremendous waste of the taxpayer’s money and the discrepancies in this school and the other schools. You were right. I cannot believe that Mr. Logan and David Moody who is the Assistant Superintendent of Auxiliary Services and oversees the construction projects in the school system, permitted this to happen. How unfair and what a waste and now we have a budget problem. What did you expect? Again someone did not do their homework. Should we continue to let these people make recommendations and decisions and presentations (we have already seen that their presentations are not always accurate) for the school system? It may be time for the board to think about a change in the leadership of the school system? I know some of the citizens of Chatham County are thinking a change may be needed and some jobs eliminated at the Central Office.
DJ