The discussion centered on a $919,000 allotment for the BOE. The money would come from the city’s general budget fund.
The council has been looking for ways to cut the proposed budget, which stands at a deficit of $518,000. Council Member Walter Jacobson said more cuts to other departments will have major consequences.
“To go at the level we’ve got, there’s going to have to be some major casualties in the city,” he said. “It will be across city departments or some of the others like the library, park and recreation, our contracts and appropriations. That’s a big chunk of change that we’re short this year.”
Proposals have been made by Mayor Sam Wright and the city clerk’s office to use money from the ad valorem tax fund to make up the difference in funding. The ad valorem was a property tax voted in to raise money for schools.
The tax fund currently has nearly $2.5 million in reserve.
The city has set aside money for the school system each year in its general budget for more than 15 years. This year’s amount was the same as last, minus a $200,000 insurance payment the school made.
Superintendent Renee Riggins said she appreciated what the city had done for the school system in the past. She said she hoped it could be continued as much as possible, as the school faces proration cuts from the state.
“My biggest goal right now is that we keep people working,” she said. “We’ve had so many people laid off in this city. Most importantly, we have to think about the students. If we take away from the classrooms, it could hurt their instructions.”
Board President Tracey Allen said taking from the ad valorem reserve would “cripple” any future plans on a high school. She also said proration would force them to go into the reserve this year anyways.
“That is based on seven-and-a-half percent proration,” she said. “If that goes any further, and it’s expected that it will, we’re going to have to go further into that reserve.”
Council member Doug Murphree said the city should not ask the school to go into its reserves when the city has its own.
“We’ve got reserve money just like you have,” he said. “I say when we have to [cut funding] then we’ll do it. This week I don’t think we have to do it.”
Murphree referred to the $6.9 million the city has in certificates of deposit. Employees in the city clerk’s office said some of the CDs have yet to mature in value and many of them have been restricted or set aside for specific uses, such as worker’s compensation and cemetery maintenance.
Board Vice President Carole Bailey asked the Council what percentage of cuts across the board would balance the budget. Council members said they would have to look into it.
Council Member Manuell Smith called on the BOE members to make a compromise with the Council to help pass the budget.
“I know I’m the deciding vote,” he said. “I don’t want to cut [school funding] simply because we’ve got a new superintendent. But the way money is right now, you know we don’t have the money. I’m asking you to go back home, see what you could live with and bring it back to us.”
Slippery Slope - you're doing a good job at squirming and it isn't working. You said the only reason I cared was because my wife works at SHS. Wrong - I care because there are kids involved. My point (pay attention here "Proud Mom") is that I've volunteered in a lot of places; most of which my wife didn't work in. I do it for the kids; not for me. Believe me, I wish the schools were perfect and didn't need volunteers. Stop arguing with me and start arguing with the school boarad and local government. Do you want salt and pepper with your monitor?
Proud mom - read what I just wrote to Slippery Slope; it's all about the kids. I'm not trying to save the world, I'm trying to help by leading by example. If I could get by without printing my name, I would. I don't want any of the credit; I just want what's best for the kids. At the same time, every change needs a leader. Do you want to be the leader? That's fine with me as it causes me to pull my hair out sometimes. But, if you're willing to criticize, be big enough to put your name on your convictions.
Takealessoninbusines - you're the only one here that seems to make sense; you're looking at the problem and not attacking someone. You're right, it should be run as a business but that can't start at the local level; it has to start at the top and work its way down. Believe me, the teachers that I know definitely earn their money; most not nearly what they're worth for all the trials and tribulations they have to go through. A few of us do call our state reps but it "takes a village". One person is looked at as a trouble-maker, a lot of people looks like a consensus.
Slippery and Mom - I have a lot of work to do today; you'll have to argue among yourselves. If you run out of things to do, collect a few books and take them over to the schools.
Terrel is, why don't you push harder for real reform in the way the schools do business? Our school system should be operating as a business and should have to account for all the money and donations we are handing to them. I think it is time this system look at critical positions and eliminate those that are not, get rid of tenure and make each employee earn their job each year for there entire career, overhaul the way they are paid. They are paid full time salaries for part time work, and when they get so many years in, if they choose to work 3-5 more years their salaries are doubled. If every business operated that way this economy would be worse off than it is.
Careful or you will hurt yourself while "patting your own back". Give me a break! If you have done all these fantastic things let us know so we can recommend you for the Mother Theresa Award. You and you alone will conquer the monster of bad school building; insufficient books (for us in the south) Congratulations on achieving your Doctorate of Analology.
I can tell you one thing, if the teachers stop buying those materials, either the BOE or the City Schools Foundations will cough up the monies to purchase them. You can not be serious that after agreeing to another 9 mills of tax for a total of 18.5 mills or 1.85% of our property tax going to the BOE that parents have to provide the school system with toilet paper? If that is the case, I smell something fishy. When I received my school lists for my child while in school, and it had things like paper towels, hand sanitizer and the such, I never purchased them. How many paper towels and hand cleaner does one school need? At SHS, he had to pay dues for certain classes, then on top of that had to provide 2-4 reams of computer paper? How many sheets of paper does one child print in a semester?
I know the gig, us struggling parents that are not on welfare or government aide are asked to provide supplies for those that are. My child was told that if he did not provide 2 reams of paper, he would not receive his grades and would be not get graduating credits for that class? That is extortion. I provided the paper, but do you think they could get away with doing that to a minority child? See how fast it would take Al Sharpton to get on their case. I am just saying, if one has to conform to rules, then all should or abolish that rule. The BOE and City Schools Foundations are sitting on millions of dollars, and people like you and the schools are begging for toilet paper and computer paper? Take that 18 mills tax and buy what you need to run your school, or lets go back and vote to abolish those mill taxes and then you can ask for handouts fairly. You have drank the kool-aide, but I have not.
OK, I agree with you that I care about SHS because my wife works there and because I graduated from there. But, she doesn't work at NLMS, Pinecrest or Indian Valley. Does that mean I should go take back the money I've helped them raise through the adoptaclassroom program I set up?
Does that mean I need to go take back all the books and supplies I've donated? Does that mean I need to tell the lady who is bringing down more books from Birmingham to stop and turn around? Does that mean I need to write to all those schools I volunteered in when we lived in Florida (the 15 or so where my wife didn't work) and apologize for trying to help?
Dang, all that time I thought I was helping but I guess I wasn't. Please help me; you seem to be the expert at this.
Larry Barton - Thanks for your information and confirmation of Darryl's information. BTW, is Sic'nTired really a police officer? I sure hope not. He sure doesn't like either you or Darryl.
Darryl Davis - Thanks for bringing this issue to the forefront. I'll download and review.
Steve Terrell - I don't think Slippery Slope has too high an opinion of you. Might be like Lintseed, no Linthead, said about me today regarding REEF. He said his lawyer told him not to talk to folk like me. He said he didn't like my attitude. Broke my heart.
Active Citizen - did we run you out of this discussion?
I am like the other commenter, there are other school systems in the World that teach their children just fine with far worse buildings than ours. Buildings do not teach children, teachers do. Are your children not receiving a proper education at SHS despite the "harsh" rules and "horrible" building conditions? My child did just fine and never paid one iota of attention to anything you parents condemn. Give a child a certain structure/rules, give them consequences for breaking them and guess what... 9 out of 10 abide by the rules and never give them a second thought. I agree with one thing at SHS, the administration lets certain ethnic groups get away with 10x the dress code violations than others. That sagging pants phenom is called just that "sagging" - it got its start in the hip-hop culture along with many other clothing trends like wearing clothes inside out so you can see the name brand labels they are wearing. You have one person to blame for allowing this - that is the principle. If I were a current parent and my child got wrote up/detention for a clothing violation, I would be in the principle office and he and I would walk to every classroom, ask every male student to stand-up and see how many "saggers" were in violation. The rule book clearly states that pants must be worn "on the waist" and "with a belt". They get away with it by wearing 2x large shirts that are long enuff to hide their underpants, but it is still a violation. Try what I suggested if your child gets detention for clothes, betcha that will start the ball rolling.
Do other kids do stuff like keeping skoal in their pockets and wear ball caps to school and keep them in their locker, sure do. There are numerous violations on all sides. Girls can not carry purses from class to class because they can conceal weapons, come on now, that's a stupid rule? Ever heard of Columbine? If they need a feminine product, they go to the office and get one, they keep a ample supply for them.
Last note on the new school issue, if they decided tomorrow to build a new school and you have a Freshman, they will never see the inside of that school before they graduate, then you "build it" people could care less again, just like you did before your child reached SHS. Just facts.
So what's your beef with Darryl? You obviously have some problem with him because your comment has absolutely nothing to do with the subject being discussed.
Another situation at the school that really has me scratching my head is the times students are allowed to go to the restroom. Please, do the administrators limit their visits to the restroom per semester, or do they try to go between a class when they are allowed to go to their locker? I don't think so. If a student goes over their limit they have D-hall. PLEASE!! Who made this rule?
I witnessed yesterday a student walking home from school and had on a pair of extemely LARGE sweatpants that he could have hidden a SKS assault rifle in. They were below his rear when came out of the school building, so he was wearing them in the building this way. But a student goes to school with his shirt out or a small hole in his pants and he is sent home.
If you want to learn anything about what goes on in the school, sit at either parking lot after the 3:20 bells rings and you will really be shocked! I wanted my kids in the city system, because I thought their standards were soo much higher than other schools in the area, but I am now seeing otherwise.
Yes, I'm tired of Sylacauga. And I know a number of others who are as well. Unfortunately, the economy has placed us in the situation where we are forced to stay, not necessarily job wise, but investment wise, until things start rolling again. When that happens, while I can't speak for others, I'll be be out of here faster than Sam Wright can pocket under the table money.
Regarding your coments about finding students to revolt against the school, you're probably right, but I truly hope not. And the reason you're probably right is because SHS alumni like you(my assumption), who are so hung up on history and tradition, fail to recognize the reality of the current state. In doing so, and while countering folks like me, you lower the level of the students' expectations for quality school facilities and education. They have no other baseline from which to judge and people telling them things like "it's not that bad", "just wait, things will improve", "times are tough right now", or "George Bush did it" are doing nothing more that stating the case for the local politicians and appeasing the students. Shame on you.
Finally, I have no reason to go see Mrs. Riggins. By all accounts, she is well qualified for her new position. My problem is with the folks that she reports to. I'm not worked up. I'm simply stating fact.
These students have basic human rights that are being violated - rights to health and safegy, among others. I recently asked why the reinstatement of corporal punishment at the high school. My direct questions were on issues like why are detention hall slips passed out for a guy having his shirttail out rather than a coachable moment, why girls couldn't carry purses to class, and why only 1 locker visit per day. I've received no responses to date.
So here you have approximately 500 students, forced by law to attend s school which is in substandard conditions, and now their civil rights are being abused. But through this all, they're remained calm. Now lets give them an ignition source. Try taking their cell phones away. I'll bet you'll find more than one leader emerging and the rest of the complaints will fall in line.
Go Aggies! Get you a leader and regain your strenght, dignity, and direction. Then "Really Go Aggies!", you'll be in business.
Mr. Terrell - perhaps you can help answer a question that my discussion with her brought to mind. What are the conditions at Comer? What about surrounding city and county school systems? How do we rank SHS against neighboring schools in Mississipi, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida?
Folks, we have 2 extremely serious problems in Sylacauga, and I rank both equally important.
1)REEF must be stopped immediately and by way of whatever means those suffering are willing to take. 2) We have to rescue our students. It's a terrible shame that Col. Arthur D. "Bull" Simons, whose 1970 raid on Son Tay prison in North Viet Nam and in 1978 led Ross Perot's team that successfully rescued several EDS employees and their families from Iran after the fall of the Shah, has long since passed away. It appears such planning and effort demonstrated in both raids might be just enough to rescue our youth.
There's nothing wrong in that building that cannot be corrected - have you been there recently? The north wing has a lake on top of it well after it rains, there is mold everywhere, there are asbestos containment areas, there are broken AC ducts, there are holes in the walls, floors and ceilings; it goes on and on.
I've spoken to ADEM and I've spoken to OSHA. The latter doesn't have jurisdiction and ADEM says the mold isn't a problem; we can clean it up but, unless they fix all the leaks, it will be right back the next time it rains.
I am an SHS alumni, I grew up here and was in the class of 1974 that had to put up with the rebuilding effort of the middle part. I say take that stupid building, run a bunch of bulldozers through it and build our students and teachers something suitable for learning!
Cut and paste this URL into a browser, look at the pictures and then tell us we're wrong.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=926838047308:2097191973
FYI, that rusty A/C duct picture? It runs directly into my wife's classroom. She's had bronchitis 7 times in the 3 years we've been here.
You just don't get it. That building is a health hazard; worse than REEF simply because we're locking over 500 kids a day in there.
Wake up.