Tuscaloosa County schools expect to borrow up to $4 million to meet September payroll – Breaking News from The Birmingham News – al.com
The recession and proration by the state of Alabama are causing enough financial pain that the Tuscaloosa County School System will have borrow money to make its September payroll, the Tuscaloosa News reports.
The Dothan City Schools are thankfully not in this situation yet. There is a proposal to eliminate P.A.S.S Academy, which will have upward of a million dollars, but that when proration hits again, that likely won’t be enough. Some tough decisions are going to have to be made in the coming months. Decisions that aren’t going to be popular with some people.
AYP Report comes out next week – What are we looking for?
The Adequate Yearly Progress report for the Dothan City School system will be made public next Monday, August 3. I have been reading up on what we should be looking for, trying to discern what all the numbers mean. Here are three things that I think will be important to note-
1. Will Dothan and Northview High Schools make AYP? Both schools were at 82% last year. What happens if they miss it again this year?
2. How has the FACES program helped Faine and Grandview Elementary Schools? I think we are going to see some real results from this program.
3. Is the system overall doing better with lower income students? We have to make some progress here if we are going to improve our graduation rate.
I am just starting to learn about the intricacies of the AYP measuring stick, but I learned enough to know that we desperately need to make forward progress in several areas. Hopefully, we will see some results on Monday.
Gov. Riley, budget leaders predict more Alabama education cuts – Breaking News from the Press-Register – al.com
Just one of the many challenges our school system is going to have to deal with.
WE DID IT!
Well, after a couple of months filled with walking neighborhoods and talking with the residents of District 3, the people have spoken. I am humbled beyond description at the confidence placed in me, and I will try with all my ability to vigorously represent the citizens of District 3, as well as all the children in the Dothan City School system.
As one chapter closes, another is opening. While I will not be sworn into office until October, my plan is to start immediately gathering the information I need to do the job. The incoming board will have a lot on its plate, and I will be as prepared as I can be to start work for you in October.
Again, THANK YOU for this opportunity!
Here is what you are really choosing from
There are two considerations the people of District 3 should weigh as they decide who will serve as their next Dothan City School Board representative. You can choose someone that has nearly 20 years of business experience; someone that has served and continues to serve in leadership positions in various community organizations; and someone that has demonstrated time and again how to work WITH a group to get things done. OR, you can choose someone that doesn’t have this experience.
Finally, you can choose someone that already attends most board meetings and knows enough about the process to start immediately after being sworn in making informed, independent decisions that benefit our kids; and someone that has a good working knowledge of the Yes We Can Dothan initiative, The Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, and other organizations that are willing and able to help our schools. OR, you can choose someone that doesn’t have this experience.
I don’t know of any simpler way to put it. Thank you for your support!
Yes, it is important
I have had several people tell me that because they don’t have kids in school any longer, the school board just isn’t that important to them. I tell them it should still be important, and here’s why.
The state of our school system has far reaching effects. If our schools aren’t the best they can be, then fewer children are going to graduate. That leads to a smaller, less educated work force. Employers considering hiring in our area always look at the pool of available workers, and if the results are insufficient to suit their needs, they’ll locate their business elsewhere. So, our economy suffers because there are fewer and lower paying jobs. Our tax base also suffers because these businesses pay taxes and generate sales tax revenue. A lower tax base, coupled with lower paying jobs, negatively affects the housing market in Dothan as well. Higher skilled workers may move if they can’t find suitable employment.
So, even if you don’t have children or grandchildren attending Dothan City Schools, you are still effected by what happens in our schools.
Measuring the results of money spent
One of my jobs as a real estate broker/owner is to determine where is the best place to spend our company’s advertising and marketing dollars. There is no shortage of ways to spend money, so we have to be diligent to make sure we are getting a positive return on our investment. In other words, does the money spent produce a measurable and sufficient return in dollars to the company.
This same principle needs to be applied to the money spent by the Dothan City School Board. Looking at each and every dollar going out and asking, “Is this the best use of this dollar?”. Times are tough, and money is tight. We need to be able to see a definite return on every dollar that is spent. Results need to be measurable.
P.A.S.S. Academy is a good example. The school system is spending upwards of a million dollars each year on PASS. Is it having a positive influence on the kids that are sent there, or are we spending this much money just to keep these kids out of the classroom of the other system schools because they are disruptive?
These are the questions that I will ask if elected.
Arts enrichment program makes difference at toughest schools | Dothan Eagle
The FACES program is one of the programs I specifically mention in my platform that we need to expand. Here is some good information on the effort.
According to a report by program coordinator Margaret Johnson to the Dothan City School Board, the FACES program has resulted in higher test scores, fewer disciplinary problems and better attendance at the two schools. Johnson reported that since the FACES program started, student performance on DIEBELS tests have improved at both schools. Johnson also reported a drop in the number of discipline referrals at both schools.
READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT THIS LINK- Arts enrichment program makes difference at toughest schools | Dothan Eagle.
Dothan Eagle Collecting School Uniforms for Clothes Closet
The Dothan Eagle is collecting school uniforms for the Dothan City Schools’ clothes closet.
The clothes closet is a collection of school uniforms the city school system is gathering to help students comply with the system’s new uniforms policy. The items collected in the clothes closet will be made available to students if they have a hygiene accident while at school or if their family is experiencing financial difficulty.
School principals and counselors will have the responsibility for identifying needs and retrieving items from the closet.
Folks who would like to donate uniform items to the city schools’ clothes closet may drop them off at the Dothan Eagle office on 227 N. Oates St. from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Eagle will collect clothes from today until July 31.
From The Dothan Eagle
The clothes closet is in need of clothing of all sizes for students in grades preK- 12. The uniform policy dictates solid red, black, navy blue, white, maroon or gold tops or polos, and khaki pants or shorts. The clothes closet is also collecting underwear, belts and socks.
“I’d be happy if we could get five of every size,” said Teresa Wall, a Dothan City Schools resource specialist who is running the clothes closet.
Donations to the Dothan City Schools’ clothes closet are being inventoried and sorted by Cloverdale Baptist Church.
For more information, call Wall at (334) 714-8414.
Quick, pretend we’re not here!
Tuesday evening was the first time we have gone out to go door-to-door in District 3. It was both mine and Allison’s first experience doing anything like this. I must say though, that overall, it went very well. We were able to reconnect with several people that, for whatever reason, we had not seen in a few years. And we were able to meet some new folks that are just as concerned about our schools as we are.
We know that most folks don’t want to be bothered with people coming to their door. We don’t particularly like it at our house either. Unfortunately, there really isn’t a better way to get the word out, and it is VERY IMPORTANT that the people of District 3 make an informed decision on who they want to represent them on the Dothan City School Board for the next four years.
That is why we are knocking on your door. All we are asking is that you compare the candidates and what they bring to the table. Which one has the experience that will suit them well in this role? Which one has the leadership qualities needed to get the things that need to be done, done? Which one knows enough about the current state of the school system to avoid a sharp learning curve when they take office in October?
Of course, I believe the answer to each of those questions is me. The voters of District 3 will ultimately decide. Think about this though…if we didn’t come to your door, how would you know who is the right candidate?
I appreciate your time, and thank you for opening your door to us!
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