Cutting bus service, adding furlough days discussed by BOE

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Thursday, April 14. 2011

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In a move to cut expenses from its FY2012 budget, the Barrow County Board of Education is considering a variety of possible cuts, including having students who live within 1.5 miles of their school provide their own transportation.

Other possible cuts include having 10 furlough days, limiting middle school athletics to only in-county competition, eliminating middle school golf and tennis programs, eliminating five teaching positions and freezing local coaching supplements.

The BOE discussed those and other financial options at a meeting Tuesday night dedicated to the system’s FY2012 budget. The board will again discuss its budget April 26 at its regular meeting.

No action was taken Tuesday night on any of the options.

For the full BOE story, see the April 13 issue of the Barrow Journal.

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#1 Anonymous on 04/14/11 at 07:42 AM [Reply]

How can you make the employees do ten furlough days this is not right and fair to the ones that are paid less money every month .Why do this to them every time you turn around the insurance goes up and the BOE is only paying some of there insurance .Think about this befor you vote on it think about the employees who hardly make any money now .

#2 Teacher's Wife on 04/14/11 at 08:54 AM [Reply]

Ten furlough days! I guess I'd better start watching that Extreme Couponing show and taking notes.

#3 mollyrose on 04/14/11 at 09:37 AM [Reply]

How many of these budget experts have walked a mile and a half lately? You expect our kids to do this on Barrow Co roads, REALLY! Go back to your think tanks and think again. I expect getting rid of some of these experts and their higher salaries would go a long way in balancing the budget without possibly injuring some school kids walking to school. Give these problems to the common man with street sense to solve - they will do a much better job.

#4 Anonymous on 04/14/11 at 09:44 AM [Reply]

why not a 160 day calendar? It's been used this year in other counties and so far none of those counties are switching back?

#5 anon on 04/14/11 at 10:06 AM [Reply]

How about making parents of students, that are not homeowners and do not pay property taxes, pay a supplement fee to the BOE.

#6 Chalis Montgomery on 04/14/11 at 10:43 AM [Reply]

That's it. I'm running on an independent ticket. I have great respect for the hard work the BOE does making the tough decisions, but it's time a teacher was on the board.

#7 Erin on 04/14/11 at 11:06 AM [Reply]

"Anon" do you realize how many rentals there are in Barrow county due to good people losing their homes due to job loss? Why target non-homeowners? The fair solution would be for EVERYONE living in Barrow county pay a local school tax. It's done in Ohio, why can't it be done here? Targeting one type of demographic is not fair and a not appreciated. Thank you very much! The furlough days are getting ridiculous and I agree about the ridiculous suggestion on cutting bus routes. I for one would never let my child walk to school living a mile and a half away. Reality is that there are parents that will not be able to provide the transportation because of work schedules, no money to pay for a sitter, etc. Think of something else Barrow County BOE!!!

#7.1 anon on 04/14/11 at 09:10 PM [Reply]

Because nonproperty owners don't pay property taxes. So essentially, they send their kids to school for free. They should contribute their fair share.

#7.1.1 Joe on 04/15/11 at 03:43 AM [Reply]

Renter's pay property tax in the form of rent. If the landlord isn't charging enough rent to pay the taxes, then the landlord needs to raise the rent.

#7.2 Joe on 04/15/11 at 03:59 AM [Reply]

I agree, a school tax is the only way to ensure that the tax will be collected. Many of the other ideas presented would be very difficult to enforce. A school tax would impact everyone equally including renters giving that the landlord should raise the rent to offset the tax. If you can afford to pay private school tuition then wonderful for you then you must have enough extra money to afford the school tax also. If not, send your child to public school like the rest of us. I went to public school then became valedictorian of the college that I attended. You get out of public school what you put into it just like any other experience in life. Life is what you make it.

#8 JT on 04/14/11 at 11:17 AM [Reply]

I have heard other areas talk about increasing the school day. Adding one hour a day would shorten the school year, save on bus service, school lunch, and electricity. Hopefully with these cost cuts, then teachers could keep their same rate of pay with extra days off for their extra hours of work each week.

#9 Fortitude on 04/14/11 at 11:31 AM [Reply]

Heres what should happen.
1. Anyone that is not a citizen of the county should not be allowed to attend school.
2. Non property owners (rental houses do pay property tax) must pay atleast $100 per child to attend (it cose $7k a year to educate your kid)
3. Go to the 160 day calender.
4. School is not your babysitter, so you must work around their schedule or move out. I have to adjust my work schedule around my kids and find a babysitter (YMCA) for afterschool programs.
5. Parents, we need to be more involved in letting the BOE/Superintendant know what WE want for our children. That is the only way for them to know, is to hear our voices.

#9.1 Voted for the other person on 04/15/11 at 07:24 AM [Reply]

There are other counties in Georgia who have gone to a 4 day school week. This was proposed by a candidate running for the BOE a few years back. It is basically the same as shorting the school year.

The savings comes from lowing utilities and not from the pockets of teachers, parapro's, bus rides, etc...

We HAD the chance to vote out half the board two years ago and get the same chance next year.

#9.2 rac76 on 04/15/11 at 05:42 PM [Reply]

I agree with everything that you said. I don't mind starting school later, actually, I prefer it.

#10 Tammie W on 04/14/11 at 11:59 AM [Reply]

Why don't we just charge $5.00/week for bus service. $10.00 if you have more than one child. Other schools are using this like city of Gainesville and Atlanta and it works. You can't transport for any less than that. Just a suggestion so that we don't endanger any children's lives. This would mean, however, that you make an adjustment somewhere else in your budget. Perhaps, beer, cigarettes, or getting nails done, gym, smart phones, snack cakes, chips, colas, any of which you don't really need.

#10.1 JT on 04/14/11 at 01:31 PM

(Comment removed)

#10.1.1 TW on 04/14/11 at 02:01 PM [Reply]

It was only a suggestion. I hang my clothes out so that I can save $50.00 month on my electric bill to afford my child's lunch. We live 2 miles from the school so I take my child in my vehicle. I buy clothes used. I turn off my hot water heater when I don't need it. I grow my own veggies. There are ways to find $10.00/per week. No no one should have to do without food. I'm just saying these are your children, not the county's. Do you rely on the county to get them to the doctor or to the grocery store to buy their food? I take full care of my kid. It is my responsibility.

#10.1.1.1 Fortitude on 04/14/11 at 08:48 PM [Reply]

Amen, I understand that there are the "ones" who qualify for free/reduced lunches and that they are to sorry to get a job or a second one to feed their children, but what will the county do if they don't pay ? I say keep their report cards and let their parents pay "backfees" when they get their big return check for being poor.

#10.1.1.1.1 Lisa on 04/15/11 at 10:50 AM [Reply]

You realy have no clue.... Over 3/4 of the kids in Barrow County Schools get free or reduced lunches. Infact the numbers are so high in some on the schools the food is ALL paid for by the Federal Goverment.

#10.1.1.1.1.1 Tw on 04/15/11 at 11:16 AM [Reply]

I really do have a clue. I am a single mom to a sick child. I live on an income that most of you couldn't even fathom. I love my child so I make sacrifices that will allow my child to live better than me. I will not make her a subject of ridicule simply because I am too lazy to do what is right. What makes this generation feel that they deserve things that our past generations never had, or that they are too good to do somethings. The welfare system has made us lazy.

#10.1.1.1.1.2 Tw on 04/15/11 at 11:21 AM [Reply]

I don't depend on the government to care for my child's needs. That is all I am saying. Past generations took care of their children, we should too.

#10.1.1.1.1.2.1 Lisa on 04/15/11 at 01:27 PM [Reply]

Hey i'm not bashing anyone. My kids are part of the group who gets free lunches. There father passed and death benefits don't replace his check. I myself am tired of people (kids and adults) who think they should have everything they want. I grew up with hand me downs and was happy to get them.

#10.1.1.1.1.2.1.1 Victor on 04/20/11 at 07:13 PM [Reply]

Free lunches in school are teaching kids early on that welfare is OK and it's OK to live off of handouts from others. Get them over the stigma of living off of the government at an early age, and they wont have any problem living off of welfare for the rest of their lives.

A better alternative would be to creat in-school work problems where the kids provide labor for menial tasks in exchange for their free meals. It would reduce the costs associated with custodians and maintainance services. Kids can do everything from take out the trash to mow the grass, depending on their age. That way, kids can be taught from an early age that they have to work for their food, as opposed to being taught that the government is there to support them.

#10.1.1.1.1.3 Fortitude on 04/15/11 at 03:44 PM [Reply]

Lisa, Im sorry for your loss and Im sure your doing everything you can for your children. However, the "3/4" (which is not accurate) that get the free lunches do not deserve them. I have a family member has two kids, two different daddy's and she literally could not afford to work because of all the "freebies" she gets.
Now, why is that fair ? You had a loss that reduced your income and your kids should not have to suffer. But for the Methhead, Trailor park Barrow residents who work for minimum wage, collect all benefits off of the productive members of society they are the ones who should not be allowed to collect the freebies.
There has to be a tougher criteria to get govt handouts and this county citizens do not care. I would vote for any fee associated for non residnets, renters and more than 3 kids in a dwelling to attend schools. No wonder so many kids are going to private schools and being home schooled.

#11 Victor on 04/14/11 at 09:12 PM [Reply]

It's time to completely remove all organized after-school athletic programs from the schools. School should be about learning to read and write, not play games. The amount of money wasted on football, basketball, soccer, baseball, track, cross country, softball, etc., etc., is ridiculous. Think of the millions that could be saved by cutting these programs and the "coaches" that suck up tax payers dollars, all for a very, VERY small percentage of student-athletes...

#11.1 Fortitude on 04/14/11 at 10:00 PM [Reply]

Right, and how about a talented athlete missing out on a scholarship or a talented chorus member, band member etc that can use their gift to further their education and possibly make a career.
We need to cut out those students and their parents who are a leach on society and funds. let the kids who are dragging down the classroom and impeading your childs learning ability be kicked out or placed in remedial classes.

#11.1.1 Victor on 04/15/11 at 07:44 PM [Reply]

There are many who advocate removing athletic scholarships from colleges as well. Again, we send them to school to learn, not play games.

#11.2 Beth on 04/16/11 at 07:47 PM [Reply]

It IS the parents responsibility to teach the kids and keep them out of trouble, but bottom line: Obviously that is NOT working!!! Sports/Band/etc. makes the students feel like they are part of a FAMILY, which sadly some of them do NOT have! It is an incentive to stay AWAY from peer pressure, and "hang out" with their teammates. I remember my son's FIRST day of High School...he was SOOOOO scraed, but as he walked into the cafeteria the baseball team(that he had practiced with) told him to come sit with them! In MY neighborhood, Sir, there were seven 8- year old boys when we moved in. One played football, mine played baseball, and the OTHER five are on drugs or in prison!(they are now 24 yrs old)

#11.2.1 Victor on 04/16/11 at 09:44 PM [Reply]

Kiddies playing organized sports are just as likely to get into trouble as those who do not. If you think not, look are the recent events surrounding UGA's football team. Again, you are advocating using those programs to raise the kids, and it simply isn’t their responsibility, nor does it make fiscal sense. In 2009 there were 12314 kids enrolled in the Barrow County school system. How many made the rosters of the organized sports teams? 500? 1000? To make is simple, using the extremely generous estimate of 1000, that means 8% of the kids. A ridiculously low number compared to the costs of the programs and all of their associated peripheral costs...

#12 Beth on 04/15/11 at 12:11 AM [Reply]

Cutting the athletic programs is the WORST thing we could do in this County!!!!!! Sports/cheerleading/chorus etc. is what keeps kids OFF the streets, and OUT of trouble! We already have the second highest teen pregnancy rate in the Southeast, a MAJOR drug problem, and you want to cut athletics??? Shame on you!

#12.1 CB on 04/15/11 at 11:49 AM [Reply]

Well if that is the truth...these programs aren't really working then are they? I have lived in Barrow County all my life and it is the Athletic kids that are having sex and doing drugs and having the parties too. Sorry but this doesn't work either.

#12.2 Victor on 04/15/11 at 07:49 PM [Reply]

That's a huge part of the problem, Beth. Responsible parents should be what keeps kids off of the streets, not afterschool programs. It's the responsibility of the parents. Parents who use those programs for state subsidized babysitters are simply adding to the problem. If those programs are so important to you, of course you would be glad to bear 100% of the financial burden for your child to participate, right?

#13 Jack Legg on 04/15/11 at 12:01 PM [Reply]

Victor you are an idiot, atheletics is the ONLY positive thing that our schools have going for them.
Furthermore anybody who thinks that renters pay their fair share of school/property taxes just simply does NOT know what they are talking about.I would be ok with taking the school tax out of the property tax loop and chargeing people whose kids are in school a tax or fee and the people who have no kids in school either pay nothing or a reduced amount "for the betterment of society".
Charge for bus riders, tammy was right you people can find the money, just smoke less crack and drink less beer and you will be amazed about how much money you have left at the end of the week.

#14 observer on 04/15/11 at 02:16 PM [Reply]

What is wrong with only having bus routes to those living more than 1.5 miles away from the school???? I live in the back of a neighborhood less than 1 mile away from an elementary school. From the time I leave my house to the front, which isn't that far, I wait on 4 bus stops with PARENTS sitting in their cars waiting with the kids!!! Really!! In the 20 minutes you have just sat in your car, you could have taken your child to school and arrived back at home in less time!!!!

#15 TickedOff on 04/15/11 at 04:05 PM [Reply]

Ha Ha Ha. These comments are amazing. Everyone is looking for a place to lay the blame. Look no more. It is your local BOE.
Citizens of this county pay a school tax, the feds give money for schooling and its up to the local BOE to make it work. If private monies enter the equation, then no need for the government or board, dissolve it and move on. As far as athletics go, I ve served on booster clubs for 10 years, schools don't fund athlectics, don't let the board fool you. Foe example, baseball, the school is responsible for the following: chalk, balls, and umpires, transportation. Thats it. Uniforms, some coaching supplements, equipment, bats, screens netting etc. is raised by booster clubs. And by the way Victor, if you do away with sports our insurance rates will double due to obesity for the remainder of those left as functional citizens. Wanna start somewhere, do it where corporate( at least in my case as a business owner) starts, at the top. Our High schools have 3 and 4 principals making 6 figures. When I was there we had 1 principal and 1 assistant. And someone please tell me what the heck a graduation coach is? I agree some coaches are overpaid, but do realize the portion funded by the state is based on their degrees and have no problem with it. Let booster clubs fund the supplements, cut out the b.s. tutoring at 65-75 dollars an hour just to pass AYP, and stop opening, staffing and maintaining a "nontraditional" school to do what the ones we have are supposed to.

#16 TickedOff on 04/15/11 at 04:16 PM [Reply]

By the way, why would you cut routes within 1.5 miles when a bus has to surpass that window of students to get to the school? Just add several stops to those that run outside the radius and eliminate the entire route close to the school. Id really like to know how many students live within this area? And for all of you who think every citizen in Barrow Co. is a drunk or meth head, although there are many, some folks are just flat out sorry. I know several adults that kids get free or reduced lunch and they make 50,000 a year. They just know how to work the system, yet my daughter is an honor grad, and getting HOPE is an act of congress, each time I submit paper work they want more financial info. This has nothing to do with what she earned. If I listed her as a single parnet child on welfare she'd get right through. Im too proud for that but have seriously about doing it lately.

#17 Anonymous on 04/16/11 at 08:56 AM [Reply]

When I was in High School back in the 80's I remember us not going back to school until after labor day and getting out the Friday after memorial day. What happened to that? Why can't we do the 160 days or the 4 days a week? Cut in places where it can be cut and leave the bus drivers pay alone they already don't get paid what they are worth and NEVER recognized for the GREAT work they do. They are the 1st ones our kids see in the mornings and last ones they see in the evenings and the drivers need more reconition than what they get. Cut the pay of the ones that are getting the 6 figures.

#18 anon on 04/16/11 at 12:58 PM [Reply]

Is it true that in Barrow 80% of properly taxes go to the BOE?

#19 Seriously? on 04/16/11 at 03:04 PM [Reply]

10 Furlough days???

Of course, let's make cuts by digging into the pockets of the teachers.

#20 Fortitude on 04/17/11 at 01:25 PM [Reply]

Lets petition the BOE to go to
1. 160day calender
2. charge gas fee ($5-10)
3. do not allow non residents to attend schools
4. charge $20 per child each year and eliminate all the "fundraisers" and school supply request
5. each child that fails, charge the parent for their lack of student support

That will get most of the money back and keep the parents involved as it is an investment

#21 Wondering on 04/18/11 at 04:57 PM [Reply]

Ten furlough days???

Our children are already out of school enough! What about the parents who have to work and can still hardly make ends meet? It's sad that there are those of us that work everyday & do the best we can & then have to pay the YMCA $115 a week per child for childcare! Kids need to be in school!

Maybe the government should cut the free housing, food stamps, TANF checks, for those who are not trying to make their life better!

Maybe its time the government make sure people are actually unable to work before they give out disability!

Yes this stuff may be from another budget but its time to pool the money together and keep the teachers working and stop taking from their pay as well as our children's education!

Our children are our future & one day will be in office for government jobs so lets make them as smart as we can! Let's stop only teaching them to pass the CRCT test!!!

Just a few thoughts!

Pray this all turns out right!

#22 Why is a Barrow County School Bus on 04/21/11 at 07:13 AM [Reply]

traveling to Athens every day? I see this bus in the mornings on my way to work. Bus 9901 travels down the Atlanta Highway and hops on the outer loop around 7:30.

We can't afford to educate our our children much less children from other counties, not to mention the cost of the gas for the bus to travel that distance.

#22.1 ????????? on 04/22/11 at 07:50 PM [Reply]

there is also a bus that goes to Jackson County and one to Rome and one to Macon.

#22.2 Barrow bus drivers #1 on 04/23/11 at 03:36 AM [Reply]

We take children to school in Athens to Rutland, Cleveland Rd School , Macon for the blind school, Cave Springs to the deaf school, What ever the needs of the children ,we take them lots of love. Its the law to take these children to the schools that have what they need. People don't seem to mind where we take the children to sports! Why don't you question this? They deserve a Education too!

#23 Charles on 04/22/11 at 06:57 PM [Reply]

If we are in a position to have to save money, then why the heck are we opening this Career Academy school?

I think Dr. Creel and the BOE have some explaining to do about that.

#24 Rebounding Master on 06/02/11 at 03:57 PM [Reply]

It would be hard to justify cutting all the after school activities because it is what keeps the kids off the streets. Find somewhere else to cut from or better yet do some fund raisers and find some sponsers so that everybody wins.

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Cutting bus service, adding furlough days discussed by BOE

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