Comments on: Patch Poses 10 Questions to Decatur Superintendent http://www.decaturmetro.com/2011/06/14/patch-poses-10-questions-to-decatur-superintendent/ Decatur Georgia News, Events, Atlanta News Mon, 25 Jun 2012 02:44:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Garrett Goebelhttp://www.decaturmetro.com/2011/06/14/patch-poses-10-questions-to-decatur-superintendent/#comment-120506 Garrett Goebel Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:46:07 +0000 http://www.decaturmetro.com/?p=20705#comment-120506 185 signatures were on the petition as of last night. Note, the petition was online for only 8 days in the middle of Summer break. -No one to my knowledge went knocking on doors. It was signed by students, graduates, teachers, community members, parent school volunteers, PTA, PTO, and PTSA executive board members, a past DBA president, and members of many of the School Leadership Teams (SLTs) including those affected by the proposed amendment. If that is a minority, it is a minority which is over-represented by the folks who represent community engagement.The original April proposal and the Transportation Fast Facts had stated that more buses would be needed. So I want to recognize the Central Office staff for looking harder at the problem and coming back with a better solution. It may not be the schedule I would prefer, but it represents a real improvement over the original recommendation. The current bell schedule, if I understand it correctly, will use 10 regular buses and 2 special needs buses next year. This represents 4 fewer buses than we currently use. 185 signatures were on the petition as of last night. Note, the petition was online for only 8 days in the middle of Summer break. -No one to my knowledge went knocking on doors. It was signed by students, graduates, teachers, community members, parent school volunteers, PTA, PTO, and PTSA executive board members, a past DBA president, and members of many of the School Leadership Teams (SLTs) including those affected by the proposed amendment. If that is a minority, it is a minority which is over-represented by the folks who represent community engagement.

The original April proposal and the Transportation Fast Facts had stated that more buses would be needed. So I want to recognize the Central Office staff for looking harder at the problem and coming back with a better solution. It may not be the schedule I would prefer, but it represents a real improvement over the original recommendation. The current bell schedule, if I understand it correctly, will use 10 regular buses and 2 special needs buses next year. This represents 4 fewer buses than we currently use.

]]> By: cranky old timerhttp://www.decaturmetro.com/2011/06/14/patch-poses-10-questions-to-decatur-superintendent/#comment-120485 cranky old timer Wed, 15 Jun 2011 15:08:37 +0000 http://www.decaturmetro.com/?p=20705#comment-120485 Dr. Edwards has perfected the art of politic-speak. Which is to say that statement is quite circuitous. "Yes. I believe I did. That’s how I work. I would be happy to have a group of folks interested in this issue and work with them and take this on at a later date. But let’s look at it. Just because 100 or more made up their minds that they want it a certain way and the board has voted a certain way, I don’t get between that. If this is what they want, to revisit the issue, I agree." Huh? Assuming that Renee quoted her accurately, this statement says NOTHING-- and everything. And by the way, in this town, and in this small school system, 100 or more is a lot of voices. So it's not so good to ignore that. Dr. Edwards has perfected the art of politic-speak. Which is to say that statement is quite circuitous. “Yes. I believe I did. That’s how I work. I would be happy to have a group of folks interested in this issue and work with them and take this on at a later date. But let’s look at it. Just because 100 or more made up their minds that they want it a certain way and the board has voted a certain way, I don’t get between that. If this is what they want, to revisit the issue, I agree.” Huh? Assuming that Renee quoted her accurately, this statement says NOTHING– and everything. And by the way, in this town, and in this small school system, 100 or more is a lot of voices. So it’s not so good to ignore that.

]]> By: Decatur Metrohttp://www.decaturmetro.com/2011/06/14/patch-poses-10-questions-to-decatur-superintendent/#comment-120362 Decatur Metro Tue, 14 Jun 2011 21:59:44 +0000 http://www.decaturmetro.com/?p=20705#comment-120362 It certainly doesn't jive. We can debate motivations of key players here until the cows come home, but this aspect of it is what really makes me unsettled. It certainly doesn’t jive. We can debate motivations of key players here until the cows come home, but this aspect of it is what really makes me unsettled.

]]> By: cubalibrehttp://www.decaturmetro.com/2011/06/14/patch-poses-10-questions-to-decatur-superintendent/#comment-120351 cubalibre Tue, 14 Jun 2011 21:18:41 +0000 http://www.decaturmetro.com/?p=20705#comment-120351 The only thing I "get" for sure right now is that Dr. Edwards seems to be talking out both sides of her mouth. I'm starting to understand why some posters have difficulty believing what they're told by CSD's admin. The only thing I “get” for sure right now is that Dr. Edwards seems to be talking out both sides of her mouth. I’m starting to understand why some posters have difficulty believing what they’re told by CSD’s admin.

]]> By: perplexedhttp://www.decaturmetro.com/2011/06/14/patch-poses-10-questions-to-decatur-superintendent/#comment-120334 perplexed Tue, 14 Jun 2011 20:32:03 +0000 http://www.decaturmetro.com/?p=20705#comment-120334 I still can't figure out why we have 12 or is it 16 buses?.. in a 4.2 square mile community that has deemed it a priority to be more green, conserve more, use less energy, burn less fuel etc...not to mention money put into walking/biking paths plus programs to promote walking/biking to school. I see large buses with few students riding around as is already... I still can’t figure out why we have 12 or is it 16 buses?.. in a 4.2 square mile community that has deemed it a priority to be more green, conserve more, use less energy, burn less fuel etc…not to mention money put into walking/biking paths plus programs to promote walking/biking to school. I see large buses with few students riding around as is already…

]]> By: Decatur Metrohttp://www.decaturmetro.com/2011/06/14/patch-poses-10-questions-to-decatur-superintendent/#comment-120330 Decatur Metro Tue, 14 Jun 2011 20:16:26 +0000 http://www.decaturmetro.com/?p=20705#comment-120330 THanks for pointing to this. I was beginning to think I made this all up. From that note:"Please understand that there is no action item on the Board of Education agenda. This is an administrative decision not a policy decision and one that I have made for several years now. It would also not be feasible to go to the School Leadership Teams since the start and end times for school all impact other schools’ start and end times. We only have so many buses to move between the elementary and the middle/high school students. I am currently looking for ways to reduce the CSD budget and had hoped that with the new K-3 at Glennwood, most k-3 students might walk or roll to school."I know both sides of this issue, but I don't understand why we went from the above to where we are now. It's this process I don't get. THanks for pointing to this. I was beginning to think I made this all up. From that note:

“Please understand that there is no action item on the Board of Education agenda. This is an administrative decision not a policy decision and one that I have made for several
years now. It would also not be feasible to go to the School Leadership Teams since the start and end times for school all impact other schools’ start and end times. We only
have so many buses to move between the elementary and the middle/high school students. I am currently looking for ways to reduce the CSD budget and had hoped that with the new K-3 at Glennwood, most k-3 students might walk or roll to school.”

I know both sides of this issue, but I don’t understand why we went from the above to where we are now. It’s this process I don’t get.

]]> By: LongTimeResidenthttp://www.decaturmetro.com/2011/06/14/patch-poses-10-questions-to-decatur-superintendent/#comment-120287 LongTimeResident Tue, 14 Jun 2011 17:53:50 +0000 http://www.decaturmetro.com/?p=20705#comment-120287 Clearly, this issue was not addressed with the community. It was "decided by admin" and there is a great sense that CSD had little interest in community input on this topic. This is not in character with this school district. If CSD does not listen to the community, November is not far away. Clearly, this issue was not addressed with the community. It was “decided by admin” and there is a great sense that CSD had little interest in community input on this topic. This is not in character with this school district. If CSD does not listen to the community, November is not far away.

]]> By: aggiehttp://www.decaturmetro.com/2011/06/14/patch-poses-10-questions-to-decatur-superintendent/#comment-120285 aggie Tue, 14 Jun 2011 17:49:14 +0000 http://www.decaturmetro.com/?p=20705#comment-120285 FYI Dr. Edwards' letter of March 7th is still posted on CSD's site. Click on "Hot Topics" and scroll down to the "Start times" heading. Read it and contrast with the statement made to "Patch." FYI Dr. Edwards’ letter of March 7th is still posted on CSD’s site. Click on “Hot Topics” and scroll down to the “Start times” heading.
Read it and contrast with the statement made to “Patch.”

]]>