Police Probe School Finances

[trustme]

actually the town drunk was Bozo, he was Pee Wee's brother who lived in the Frito Lay truck in Buddy Grigsby's gas station.

[HB Rules]

yep.....thats good ole cb...........

[doyourhomework]

Teachers are paid according to a step scale. First year teachers get one thing, and so on... Some teachers get 3 year contracts, i don't think in our school system. Our teachers get one year. The gov't did cut their portion of the funding, but the town covered the amount mandated by the state. They did not give anything extra. The school has too many administrative positions for a school this size. And dollars aren't the only way to get a raise. How about going from a 12 month employee to an 11 month employee? Also, do yourselves a favor and go to town hall and get the pie charts - there are two of them - that show revenue streams and expenditures. Enough guesswork, do some homework.

[Casual Observer]

doyourhomework wrote:

Teachers are paid according to a step scale. First year teachers get one thing, and so on... Some teachers get 3 year contracts, i don't think in our school system. Our teachers get one year. The gov't did cut their portion of the funding, but the town covered the amount mandated by the state. They did not give anything extra. The school has too many administrative positions for a school this size. And dollars aren't the only way to get a raise. How about going from a 12 month employee to an 11 month employee? Also, do yourselves a favor and go to town hall and get the pie charts - there are two of them - that show revenue streams and expenditures. Enough guesswork, do some homework.

I saw the pie charts and I only have one thing to say, there are lies, damn lies, and statistics.

The pie charts compare the school division which is its own fund with a department that is only part of a fund (called the general fund) Missing in the pie chart is all the money spent in the utility fund.

In other words, someone is comparing apples to oranges and thinking they are doing something smart.

One of the things I did notice about the pie charts that has me very concerned for the town and that is the exorbitant administrative costs that the Town has. Either someone is being paid very well or there are too many people working for the town for as much work as is generated.

Maybe the Mayor and Town Council should look into their own finances and make it a priority to clean them up.

[notsofast]

doyourhomework wrote:

Also, do yourselves a favor and go to town hall and get the pie charts - there are two of them - that show revenue streams and expenditures. Enough guesswork, do some homework.

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING?!?!? That's the funniest joke I've heard since Anne Congdon. You want us to get info from Town Hall? And ACCURATE info with that? LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

[Doubter]

I have been doing my homework. I have found that the town has include the taxes that are collected from the county's portion for the school with theirs. I have also found that the town gives the school only what they have too. When the school goes to them for additional funding, they are questioned and made to look like fools.

As for the town, they projected the Utility fund wrong and now are going into the reserve funds. If the school does this there is H**L to pay for them but it is okay for the town to make a mistake. Seems like this town has a double standard.

[CB Resident]

notsofast wrote:

<quoted text>
YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING?!?!? That's the funniest joke I've heard since Anne Congdon. You want us to get info from Town Hall? And ACCURATE info with that? LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

It sounds like to some people the Town is not so transparent. So when the Town Council complains about the problems at the school, it is a smoke screen, they should really be looking at their own house.

[somethings fishy]

and it's not the river. I love small towns, and this is a really nice place to live. But I have always thought that something isn't quite right-maybe the school board is corrupt, or maybe the town council is corrupt-or maybe both? I think it goes back to the fact that this is a town built on gambling.....a horrible vice that brings alcoholism and drug abuse with it.....but maybe this is the dawning of a new era. we can hope!

[HB Rules]

drinking, gambling, and bastard children........just about sums it up!!! we should be so proud......

[single mom]

how many of the people currently on the town council have demonstrated true integrity in their personal lives? how many attend church regularly? how many volunteer to help the community without photographers around? in short, are there any really good people on town council? honestly, I am just asking!

[Good Question]

That's a good question

[cbfromhere]

If you voted then you helped elect them, If you didn't vote you again help elect them. People on Council are just like us, just trying to do a good job. At least they stepped up. At $175.00 for the Mayor and $150.00 for council members a month it's surely not for the money.

[Charles DeWit]

It's the power, the ability to steer contracts, to set a personal agenda into motion, and we PAY them to hold such power. Do not pity those we pay, demand action for it is they we do pay, one way or another.

[sad but true]

sorry, I have a town address but I'm in a county voting district. Yes I vote at every opportunity but since I live in the county I do not have the option to vote in town elections. However, since I live so very close to the town, there descisions-good or bad-affect me as well. I don't think they are just like me-I am a working mother, so I don't have the leisure time to spend in countless public meetings. Think about it-an ordinary working person could never "step up" as you call it-we have jobs to go to!

[drifterboy]

I can't believe the stuff I read from the anti-school folks, and believe me, thats what they truly are. Ok, let's suppose we "consolidate" the superintendents: He/She would be the only superintendent in the Nothern Neck in charge of two high schools, and by the way, one of the poorest counties in Virginia. That person would ask for more money to run both school systems. Who would be that person's boss?? The County SChool Board or the Town SChool Board? What if the Town School Board wanted to fire or not renew this person's contract but yet the County DID. Where would that leave our Schools? A superintendent, in conjunction with the School Boards, generate a budget and sends that request to the Supervisors/Town Council. Who gets final say??? You think we have problems now?? That would be a total cluster! The facts are clear. These folks come into town every few years, win elections, while never being truly honest about their opinion on the school. They all "support" our school until they get into office. I wish they had the guts to say get rid of the school and be done with it. I agree with SeeBee, let's have Dr. Howard run the County schools too, and save US some money!! Or, how about we get rid of our police department, give it to Sheriff Balderson, and REALLY save some money!

[Cat Woman]

If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck....most likely it's a friggin duck!

[HB Rules]

drifterboy - you have somethings right.......they support the school when running for office cause they can promice all the crap the typical person in cb wants to hear before the election......then they get voted in and reality hits them.........you can talk about building new schools, giving teachers raises, new school books, hiring more teachers..........it takes actual cash for which the beach does not have!!! then the new school board has to go back on their promises....happens every time.....

[Just Asking]

HB - if you are right........then it is the people in the town who need to realize an empty promise when they see one........do they have that ability........??

[drifterboy]

Hi just asking,
those were the question I posed last night, and to me it seems impossible. As I said, who would be the Superintendent's boss? The Town School Board or the County? If that's the case, another reason not to consolidate.

[Larry]

The only reason I may vote to consolidate the school superintendents is we could get rid of this school board. Montross school board would take over. Trivett and Condgon would have no say in anything. Sorry to say they will never give up the power they think they have. So dont worry about consolidation, they wont let it happen.
Sorry Bridges, you cant come back. No matter how much Trivett and Condgon and 2 former concil members want you. The truth will come out.