Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 14:13:55 -0400
From: Heather Johnson
Subject: response to Ms. Crowell
Ms. Crowell,
I see that you skimmed over the news article that references PITTSBORO as the location of the story. So Pittsboro is the city and we live in CHATHAM County.
You reference an increase in “Sales Tax”. Ms. Crowell rather than skimming looking for political jabs – as you mention it is an election year – please read the sentence below in full. It states: “County commissioners said increased county sales tax revenue will pay for the program’s projected $575,000 cost.”
The Commissioners have said that there has been an increase in sales tax REVENUE. For instance, the new Walmart has added in excess of a million dollars of sales tax revenue in less than a year! Broadening the tax base to lessen the burden on homewoners in our county has now been able to help us improve education services in our county! As promised during their campaign in 2010, Commssioners Pam Stewart, Brian Bock and Walter Petty have NOT RAISED TAXES. Every year during the budget process they have scrutinized every dollar so that Chatham County can provide services to our citizens without increasing our tax burden. Thank you Commissioners for holding the line and for caring about my children’s education!
Since Ms. Crowell is reminding us that it is an election year, I encourage everyone to learn about the promises BOCK, STEWART and PETTY made in 2010 and how they have kept them. These three Commisisoners have set sound priorities that are very basic – public safety, public health and education. Every decision they make is guided by plain common sense.
Please see below in the N&O story how our Commissioners are being hailed as the ONLY local authority in our entire state to make up decreased funding for our teachers. In the state! Even Superintendent June Atkinson, who does not share the same Party affiliation as our BOC majority, recognizes their efforts as being a leader in the state. Other recognition comes from incoming County Commissioner Karen Howard (who also does not share Party affiliation with the Board majority).
From the N&O article:
Chatham County teachers and teacher assistants will be eligible for bonuses of up to $1,000 a year if student test scores rise, making the district the only one in the state with a systemwide teacher incentive program, county leaders say.
The state had an incentive program that gave teachers bonuses up to $1,500 when a school’s test scores improved, but the program ended in 2009 when the money ran out during the recession.
Chatham County Schools’ program, approved as part of the county budget this week, offers $1,000 bonuses to teachers and $500 to teacher assistants if their school exceeds expected growth in test scores, school board Chairwoman Karen Howard said.
If a school meets expected growth, based on targets the state sets before the school year, then teachers will receive $500 bonuses and teacher assistants, $250 bonuses.
“We’re hoping that teachers thinking about leaving the district will change their minds and stay,†Howard said.
County commissioners said increased county sales tax revenue will pay for the program’s projected $575,000 cost.
Chatham County Schools has 565 teachers who teach in 17 schools serving about 8,200 students.
Howard said she thinks Chatham County is the first school district in the state to have a district-wide, locally funded incentive pay plan.
State Superintendent June Atkinson said Lee County Schools has a similar program but it only rewards the teachers of the school that makes the most growth.
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If you would like to learn more about the Commissioners who are running for re-election, please Like their Facebook Pages and visit their websites:
https://www.facebook.com/
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Commissioner Petty does not have an opponent in this election cycle. Chatham County has 5 Commissioner Districts but all registered voters in Chatham can vote in every County Commissioner race (we have county wide voting).
Heather Johnson