Several people have expressed the hope for some time that Mr. Reuben Perdue would step up and successfully fill the void on WAJR-FM by using that air time to provide the community a quality mix of open discussion and a fair exchange of ideas on a wide-range of topics. He has failed. Worse yet, he has no idea how short he has fallen and therefore it is unlikely that without intervention from his senior management his stay here in West Virginia will only grow more obnoxious.
Reuben must be young. He certainly is impressionable. He has shown more enthusiasm than sense in several important areas. Apparently he seeks leadership and thinks he has found it in Board of Education spokesperson, Mike Queen. Too bad for the rest of us who do not need an away from home father figure and would like to see instead a radio host be his own man. Has Mr. Perdue become Mr. Queen’s puppet; his lackey; his yes-man; his ego-booster; his obsequious protege?
Either through Ruben’s mental laziness or insecurities he has signed over a large part of his weekly on-air time to the self-promotion goals of the Board of Education Spokesperson, Mr. Queen. How much better it would have been had he cultivated the diverse representation of other members of the community and sought their comments without having Mr. Queen having the last word on everything and anything to do with the local schools. Giving Mr. Queen that veto power over other people’s ideas makes it unnecessary to even hire a Reuben.
Last Thursday Hoppy Kercheval, on the same radio station, in talking about Coach Rod’s agent, made the comment that, “he ought to sit down and shut his ass up!” We know Reuben is from Ohio and he still knows nothing about this state worth sharing with those of us who have been here since Paleolithic times. In the meantime, he might consider applying some of his bosses insight and have a seat. He doesn’t have to shut-up but he should be all about questions and understanding before he decides to champion and echo Mr. Queen’s every view.
Below is a comment received under the School Bond topic, using the screen name, “Minister of Information”. Since those remarks provoked my thoughts on Reuben, I cut and pasted the comments here.
“Minister of information
In this soon to be, highly debated school board race, we will be subjected to many types of “political” tactics. If you are the establishment, the first tactic is to enter into the race as many “dead” horses as you can. They are not in it to win it. They are in the race to take votes from the “new” faces that have stepped up to the challenge and want to be involved in county government. Now that the field has been watered down…
It’s time to see the war of information unfold. The biggest opportunity to persuade the public to vote one way or the other, is to own the conversation.
Now we have a current HCBOE member putting out a web site that as he states is a “One-stop shop for research on public education in Harrison County and West Virginia”
This current member also states that the dialogue with his readers on his web site will remain confidential and private {your ideas won’t be openly discussed as it deserves} this will do little to further the greater discussion of education. By keeping one view quiet, the more prevalent views will win out. We the people need to hear all sides. Hell Mike, people are going to board meetings, feeder school meetings, and to board members and expressing ideas now… in the open. The question is what is the board going to do about it?
For instance, look what has happened to the radio show “the Morning Edition” with Reuben Perdue. This show used to be about the people’s opinion in the community. Tim Brady did a fantastic job of letting all sides be heard. Brady was smart enough to ‘ask’ the people what they thought and then listen to the responses. Opposing views were encouraged and aired in an open format. The show was kind of an audit of our government. At times he would encourage the opposition, by playing devils advocate, just for the sake of the discussion. Mr. Perdue likes to “tell” the people. He is as passionate as his predecessor Brady; however he is not as judicial in his tolerance of most opposing views. To make a point, Tim Brady would not have the same school board member on week after week for 18 weeks, always giving that board member the last word as if he is the authority on the subject. That radio show has turned into the “BOE manifesto hour” between 9 – 10am.
Allow these men and women to express their values, views and beliefs with out arm chair quarter backing every response. I’m afraid we won’t be able to do that. Some of us will pass judgment and draw conclusions as to why some of these “good” candidates have gotten into the race. We all know the bad ones, and we need to FLUSH them out.
Whom ever we elect, they had better be up to the challenge of doing the right thing. And it’s not going to be easy.”
Filed under: A Few Great Men, Board of Education, Education of Children, Elected Officials, Local News Media, School Bond, Voting
I wonder if random “enhanced interrogation” would help the school board win the War on Drugs. Promising–but we’d have to contend with the thorny issue of “voluntariness”. Well, heck, se can just say that they gave implicit permission by attending their designated local Homeland School since every patriotiic American knows that only an Islamofasistnarcoterrorist would object to a session with a specially trained guidance counsellor,Hmmm, any other ideas out there in Sheeple land. Oh, yeah, and how do we dispose of the tapes and bodies ?
Shockdoc : emerging from his coffin after sunset, dismayed to realize that he can singlehandedly give the garlic necklace the slip and dodge the silver bullets, but that it will require many vigilant, courageous, thoughtful people to put a stake through the heart of the undead State and tip the balance in favor of Liberty and reason over force and faith. Everyone grab a pitchfork and a torch !! The two most important things we can do is (1)make sure that our children have as much liberty as we ever did, and (2) prepare them to use this inalienable freedom by imparting them with knowledge of the physical universe; principles about private property, contracts and free market transactions with others in a peaceful, voluntary and honest fashion; and philosophy.
Government staffed, regulated, subsidized and policed schools will contribute to the decline of our Republic — assisted by the Wars on Terror/Iraq and the the Treasury printing presses going full tilt.
The School board would take exception to my concerns.
Well, it looks like I have done it again!
It was my persistance that led to being on 103.3FM once a week to talk about public education in Harrison County. As you know, I was a regular guest on the show for Tim Brady.
When Mike King took over I suggested a regular time each week to make it easier to get “hooked up” with listeners who wanted to “debate” school board matters or have access to a school board member to air a complaint or suggest an idea. When the regular Thursday morning segment started it was to include a different school board member each week.
But guess what? Mike King could not get one of the other school board members to participate on the air. He had little success in getting the Central Office staff to participate.
Because public education is of interest to a lot of listeners, I agreed to come on the show each week and take questions until another school board member or the superintendent wanted to come on.
Quite honestly, callers to the morning radio show have given me a lot of good ideas and suggestions.
When Reuben Perdue joined the show, Mike King asked that I continue to participate in the Thursday morning segment from 9:15am to 10am. I agreed.
I’ve only met Reuben a handful of times – and most of those were at school board meetings. If you think he is giving me “unchecked” access to the radio you are wrong. There are plenty of times that he and I have disagreed on issues. You’re not listening.
And you are also wrong to suggest that lots of people and your bloggers come to school board meetings. I am disappointed that VERY FEW people ever attend a school board meeting. If people want to know what is really happening (and what’s not happening) with our school system, attend a meeting and see for yourself.
The most effective way for me to expose the problems with our school system is to introduce them to the voters, the parents and the taxpayers. I try to do that at meetings. I try to do that with my website. I try to do that with the 103.3 FM radio show. AND I try to do that here with your blog.
Surely you will have to agree that I am making myself accessible to the voters — whether they agree with me or not.
For you to suggest that Reuben Perdue is allowing me to go “unchallenged” on his radio show is the “pot calling the kettle black”.
As the blogmaster to this blog, you give me unedited access to your readers. Your readers post comments and agree or disagree with me. That’s the same forum that Perdue offers to his callers.
I have talked to dozens of people who both listen to Reuben’s show and read this blog that would never call in or comment in writing….or stand up in a school board meeting to voice a concern.
People are so concerned that they, their family or their children will somehow be punished for them disagreeing publicly with a principal or school board member.
They want their conversation with me to be private. Yes, they like the radio show and this blog, but they will never become participants for fear of critisism.
Your public critisism of Reuben Perdue did not help that perception.
That’s why comments to my website will remain private between me and the emailer. Those who want public debate can (1) comment on this blog 24 hours a day, (2) can call in to Reuben Pedue’s show every Thursday from 9:15am to 10am, or (3) can speak at a school board meeting.
I have had more than 3,300 hits on my website in less than three weeks. That DOES NOT mean that everyone agrees with me but it does mean that they know where I stand on the issues. Isn’t that important, too?
I have a real job. I am not retired, a stay at home mom or independently wealthy. I have to work. So if I want to be a good school board member I have to find ways to be accessible and available to the voters. My website, the radio show and this blog help me to be as good of a board member that I can be.
It would be nice if you would recognize that once in a while.
Mike
My opinion of the Harrison county school board. This public agency has become a dynasty that is controlled by a few people at the top of the heap. They only hire their friends or friends of a friend. They have become inbred and ineffective because of this Dynasty
they have created. Mr Perdue didn’t get around to reading my E-mail (above) this mornning because Mr Queen took up the last few minutes of air time I guess or maybe he just censured me?(So much for his open forum).
I think in my heart of hearts that we need a community
leader like Louis Iquinta to lead the BOE. He’s good
at being on the radio & being heard. He could easily
translate shockdoc’s parchments. Boy he’d whip
things into shape. He’s a powerful man…..reminds me
of Jim Christie in lots of ways. What do you think?
I stop by this website on occassion and have, until now, just been a ‘lurker’. It’s fun for me to read divergent political opinion without being in the midst of the fray. I think this site is beneficial because it allows readers an ‘open forum’ in which to either agree or disagree. As folks who previously listened to me on the radio can attest, I am all for the ‘marketplace of ideas’.
I must respectfully disagree with those of you who are critical of Reuben Perdue. I will preface this by saying that Reuben and I have met, yet have never talked at length. I have, however, found him to be friendly, intelligent and very serious about his job.
Reuben may not be from this area, but he is a much more professional journalist than I was. He came to Clarksburg with, from what I’m told, quite an impressive resume. Reuben takes the business of news very seriously, which I feel is a great asset for him in hosting the talk show. I’m told he was quick to make connections and establish relationships with newsmakers and politicians. These relationships will serve him well as he continues to navigate the thorny underbrush of Harrison County politics.
My approach to hosting the show may have been different than Reuben’s, but not better or worse. Some may like me better than him, others may feel the opposite, that’s simply a matter of taste. All, however, should give him the opportunity to establish his own identity in local broadcasting.
I have listened occassionally, and I think he does a very good job. Reuben and Mike King have also been kind enough to allow me some airtime to promote events at Fort New Salem.
To criticize Reuben for having Mike Queen on the air is extremely unfair. Mike and I have been friends for many years, most will remember that he was on the show with me regularly. Mike and I do not always see eye to eye, but his best asset is that he is open to debate. That makes him a great guest for Reuben, me or any host. Mike, I’m certain, will be the first one to tell you that if his position can’t be defended in open debate it’s a lousy position.
To those who think that Mike is allowed to promote his positions unchecked on the airwaves, I have some advice. Engage in debate. Mike cannot be criticized for monopolizing the airtime if nobody steps forward to challenge him. Knowing him as well as I do, he wants people to particiapte in debate and dialogue.
I would encourage all of you to continue listening to Reuben. More importantly, call in and participate in his program.
What I heard today was Mike’s usual elitist attitude
about how how Bloggers never leave their names
and how bloggers that complain have been passed over in life was particularly ignorant also he says he has a real job and goes to the kids ball game ect. Well bloggers have jobs too Mike. If you think bloggers are insignificant just ask the major presidential candidates how important we are.
I think the biggest problem with these politicians around the county is that they are not used to being accountable to the taxpayers and it hurts when they are criticized, well get used to it Mr Queen.
I do admire his testicular fortitude though for
talking about the issues with us.
To The Real Tim Brady: Tim, thank you for your comments. For the record your name was brought up in a complimentary comparison by another participant. under a “School Bond” comment. As I tried to make clear above, I thought his observations were important enough that it warranted prime real estate on the blog and attached it to my modest observations.
As I go back and re-read it, I am absolutely convinced that his comments are valid, regardless of the use of your name and previous celebrity status.
We now have 14 candidates for the School Board (was 14, then 15, then one withdrew). Mr Queen has written that he intends to make the school board election a referendum on the school bond that he desires. Who gave him that forum? As I recall, on your show you never allowed an incumbent politician to moderate and influence on a weekly basis all the ideas that these 14 candidates may choose to pursue. That is the situation that we will be leading up to for the May election. The 14 candidates will have a legitimate complaint. in my book if Mr Queen is doing the “armchair quarterbacking”.
To your specific defense of Reuben, it is not about his better resume or that he is a more professional journalist than you ; it is about the fact that he is not practicing journalism at all.. Yelling into a microphone is just that; yelling into a microphone. He has taken Mr Queen’s assertions and then reported them as facts. He says that he went to one of the best J schools in the country. Perhaps he had mono the day they taught about getting two sources or more before reporting something as a fact.
A recent example is that Mr Queen claimed that the City of Clarksburg, “demanded” a new WI. Darlene Taylor in the Exp-Telegram didn’t use the word demanded. Just Mike Queen used it. Someone copied me on the letter two days ago. “Demand” isn’t even in it. Reuben goes on to fulminate on how dare they “demand” etc., and then reports it as news.
. Mental laziness? Yes, why didn’t he request a copy of the letter from the Board or the City? Because he is enraptured by his mentor and goes into the night forgetting that those 14 AP awards in Ohio are worthless if you don’t get it right in the market you are working.
As to his supporting Mr Queen’s desire to make the election a referendum on the specific school bond, why make him the power broker? Reuben is ignorant of the local issues. Ok, who would not be in the same situation if you just moved from Ohio. However, wouldn’t it be better to employ journalistic interview skills to seek out more than one opinion? Aside from the fact that we all ready had a real referendum on a bond and it lost by 60%, there are multiple positions on this bond issue. He announced today on his show that he will always vote for a school bond because it is about the children. He is welcome to that closed-minded position and that the other 60% of the county was wrong. I assume that he doesn’t pay property taxes. The real bill payers are looking for a long-term effective solution to improve the school system and their communities. Not all Bonds are equal in helping the children and without understanding the depth of the local differences he still ain’t the man.
Please notice that I didn’t criticize Mr Queen for monopolizing the air time. I just think there is a lack of imagination at the station for allowing it to happen. And that results in the lack of diversity of community interest.
Unlike, Reuben or Mr Queen, as you lurk through this blog you may notice I do not care if I get the last word on a topic. I therefore will yield the gavel to others.
Thanks again. Defend the Fort!
Mike is supposed to be talking about the activity of the HCBOE on the radio.
Fine.
However, he should not be allowed to use the pronouns “I” or “You” or “He” or “She” or “They”. His prepared monologue and repartee will be more focused and shorter. In fact, this could be considered a kind of test — a takehome/onair test. Don’t worry. I’m sure Mike will be more understanding and accomodating than when I politely asked Sean Hannity to stop calling every one of his callers “a great American” (He is a humorless soul).
Once Mike has passed this test, we could advance him to a greater challenge: Explain the multitudinous benefits that would accrue to “We the People” if we can repeal the 12th article in the WV Constitution which has strangled us with public schools.
Wow!
I didn’t realize that I weilded so much influence throughout the county. I have no influence in the Kelly Miller building. So little as a matter of fact that I can’t get a second to my motion to take soda pop and sugary snacks out of our middle schools…….and the blogmaster here thinks I can control an election?
He listens to Reuben’s show and I think that is a win for the forum hosted by 103.3 FM. But he didn’t hear what I said.
First, I said that I supported postponing the school bond election until November — a position I formed in part from the writers of this very blog.
To clarify, I said that the election in May will still be a referendum of sorts on the school bond in November because the two new school board members will have a BIG say in (1) what is included in the bond and (2) where a new school will be located — Shinnston or Lumberport.
But more important, two new school board members will have a say (or not) in helping to make much needed and long overdue changes in the way we operate and manage a $103 million a year school system. That change starts in the Central Office.
So am I going to watch the school board election very closely — damn right I am!
And the readers of this blog should, too.
I think what really irked the blogmaster is my reference to his cheap shot at Reuben Perdue under a pen name. It’s time to come out of the closet.
It is OK to protect the identity of your bloggers — and I will protect the identify of the commenters from my website. Doing so will encourage participation.
Are you the boogy man? I think you are a wanna-bee talk show host who never got a chance. You think you can be the best school board member ever to serve the Harrison County Board of Education…..or on the Harrison County Commission…..or on the Bridgeport City Council……… but you don’t have the courage to run for office for fear of not getting elected.
And you’re accusing me of being an armchair quarterback?
Heck man, I’m in the game! Yes, I’m getting knocked down a lot, but I’m trying to do my best. I’m not affraid to participate. I get back up and keep trying.
Oh yea. And I get to do my share of hitting back.
It’s not Perdue that you’re really after, it’s me!
And you and I both know why. I know who you are. And I know why you don’t want your identity exposed.
I wouldn’t either.
Mike
I posted this under Mike Queen and Talk Radio but have failed to get a response from Mr. Queen so I am going to post it here since he seems to be up to the challenges of answering questions in this blog. I would like to find out from the school board and Mike Queen in particular why the board still employs a teacher who was convicted for stalking a 13 year-old female student who happened to be a past student of his. Mike Queen talks about drug testing and other measures meant to keep our kids and schools safe but doesn’t ever comment on how this particular teacher is still employed. If I am incorrect that he is still employed and in the school system, then please correct me. If I am correct, please explain to me how I as a parent should feel comfortable with him teaching my teenage daughter. I can just imagine how the parents of the girl that was getting stalked feel. I think Mike Queen and the school board needs to step up to the plate and answer this concerned citizen’s question. Something doesn’t sound right about this especially considering the very strict laws that exist designed to protect children against sexual predators.
To Mike Queen: Why do you want to shoot the messenger and why does the blogger’s identity matter? (S)he started this blog as a community service and it has performed exceptionally.
You say that you know who the blogger is. I say that you don’t because you can’t. But bottomline: it doesn’t matter. Back off. If you try to out this blogger there will be no more blog and you will have done the citizens of Harrison County an extreme disservice. Don’t do it to drive this readership to your website, either. The blogger has a right to lob incendiary opinions out there. It is working. This is the one media forum for all of us that is honest and real. Don’t damage that. And don’t start rumors about the blogger’s identity because if this blog shuts down it’s going to be on you. And you’ll just end up hurting someone who is not this blogger.
You know that I am usually in your corner. Not on this subject. Lisa
“This is the one media forum for all of us that is honest and real.” but with fake names.
“A Rose by Any Other Name Smells as Sweet”…same for manure.
Dear Lisa,
When I go after something someone has done that I believe is wrong, I use my own name.
My opinions are based on the facts as I know them. Like you, I enjoy honest public debate because I believe that people can make their own minds up — if given an opportunity to hear both sides.
When you file ethics charges against local elected officials you use your real name.
When Tim Brady took me or other elected officials to task for what he thought was wrong – we knew it was Tim Brady.
When Reuben Perdue jumps on me (or anyone else) about something I said or did as a school board member — I know who Reuben Perdue is.
I host a website. I protect the identities of my commenters and DO NOT publish the comments. Doing so insures that I maintain their confidence and they will keep commenting. I need that input.
The difference between us and this BLOGMASTER is that she uses this bolg to anonymously attack people. Jim Christie, Ron Watson, ME and now Perdue!
While elected officials may be fair game, how do you justify the attack on Reuben Perdue (or anyone else) by someone who won’t reveal their real name?
You talk about honesty and then protect the blogmaster? Come on, Lisa. You’re an attorney for pete sake. You’re used to being on one side or the other.
I think this blog is a great resource. I check it our regularly. But it will never be trusted until the blogmaster is revealed.
You and I have something else in common….don’t we Lisa? We both know who the blogmaster is. Maybe you will reveal the identity of the “boogy man”.
Dear Concerned Citizen,
Dear Concerned Citizen,
The school board DOES NOT employ any teacher convicted of stalking a student.
Again, your facts are INCORRECT.
You must be related to the blogmaster!
At least you indicated that you “may” be wrong……and I thank you for that.
Mike
Dear Mike Simpson,
Great comment!!
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Mike
Hey Mike I got to hand it to you man. You like to mix it up. This blogger guy has you all fired up. I been reading your letters. Earlier when you said you know who the blogger is you said he. This letter you said she. I want to know who it is to. Is it a he or a she or a heshe! LOL
Hey Mr. Blogger,
Pleassssse give us something else to read!
This is getting way too boring!
Coach Rod done anything this week to tick off the whole state of WV?
Mike,
Certainly I would not be as sensitive to some of these comments as you are since my name is not being used, but I missed the “attack” part of the blog. I see someone commenting about a public figure who is not shy about seeking publicity but is resentful of criticism. You make for a very unconvincing victim.
I came to this Perdue comment late in the game. I heard Perdue on the radio this morning when he said that the blogger needs to check his facts and that there are 13 Candidates for the Board of Education rather than the 14 that the blogger claimed. The newspaper said 14. Ok. I checked myself on the HC Gov web page.
Reuben is arguing the blogger’s case for him. The blogger did check his facts. There are 14 candidates. Perdue just went off the deep end without verifying anything and announced the blogger wrong. No big deal. It just gives more credence to the blogger than to Perdue.
Keep doing what you are doing with the Board of Ed and let your actions speak for you. Trying to control and influence everyone’s opinion all the time is no way to live.
Mike Queen, Who filed ethics charges against who? Did someone file ethics charges against you or the School Board? Who are the ‘local elected officials’ ? I haven’t heard anything like that. Thanks for keeping us informed.
I will file ethics charges if he promotes passage of another school bond or levy. My taxes dropped $200.00
per year after the last levy expired and I don’t intend to
stand by and let the BOE promote and pass another one. They have neglected millions of dollars worth of Harrison county taxpayer assets when they let our schools deteriorate.
The list of candidate filings sent directly from Harrison County Clerk of Courts on Monday – when the list was finalized – listed 13 candidates.
Speaking of taxes going up,can someone explain to me why people in the County who do not own property are allowed to vote for Bond or Levy issues especially since it does not effect their wallets?
Dear Blog Reader,
The only ethics complaint that I know about is the one filed against me for organizing the fight against the lawsuit to remove the portrait of Jesus at Bridgeport High School. The person who filed that complaint had to use his real name.
As you know, the Commission ruled that I HAD NOT violated any ethics regulation.
The point I was trying to make is that if you are going to challenge someone’s integrity or attack someone personally, then you should have the courage to do so using your real name — and not a pen name or as the “Blogmaster”.
Dear John,
Dear John,
If you’re taxes went down $200 then your home is appraised at about $346,000.
The average home in Harrison County is appraised at about $70,000.
For a home appraised at $100,000 the old bond cost about $61 a year — that amounts to about 61-cents for every $1,000 in appraised value.
The proposed “Greatest Needs School Bond” will cost about 50-cents per $1,000 of appraised value.
So if your home is worth $346,000 your tax for the school bond will be about $173 a year or about $15 a month.
Dear Class of ‘72,
I think that honest and open public debate makes for good decisions. We may not always agree, but we should respect each others’ opinion.
People are so busy these days. Mom and dad are both working. Grandma and grandpa are active in helping us to raise our children.
People, parents, small business owners and taxpayers don’t have a lot of time to attend school board meetings or forums. But they can log onto sites like this 24-hours a day and have their opinions known and debated.
That’s why I think we need these types of blogs. It’s OK for bloggers to comment anonymously to encourage them to participate without retribution – from the public or from the Blogmaster. Everyone’s opinion should be welcomed.
But we can’t allow an anonymous Blogmaster to attack someone who is not an elected official.
It destroys the credibility of this blog as a reliable resource for elected officials like me looking for ideas, suggestions and critisisms from the taxpayers and parents in Harrison County.
So come on, Blogmaster. Tell your readers who you are and tell them a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? What do you do for a living?
Mike
I would like to say that I think open dialogue and debate is always good. For to long, politics in our community has taken place behind closed doors. I applaud Mike Queen for providing a forum where issues can be discussed. I dont always agree with Mr Queen on every issue but at least when I dont I have the ability to tell him so. I think this Blog is also a great forum for information. So often we sit around wondering what others are thinking about on certain issues and we can only rely on newsprint and media for others opinions. Its very refreshing…Thank You
Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2008
Maple Lake
This is a very interesting blog, but throughout just about all the threads I see a common theme. Many of the topics posited by the blogger are negative, critical of the status quo, and are guaranteed to stir and promote egalitarianism in the citizenry, be such topics the complex proceedings of the Harrison Co. Board of Education, simple rants about property taxes or attacks on radio personalities.
“Of course,” one might say, “That’s the beauty of free speech and enlightened opinion. How else to address those things that have gone on too long in secret?”
But one must also remember that egalitarianism can run amok, be it disguised as populism or the sweet desires of “the common man.” The French Revolution is as good an example as any; first it’s “off with the King’s head” but very quickly degenerates to everybody’s head thence descending to the Jacobite excesses. Of course nothing was solved except paving the way for an absolute dictator. I refer you to “Animal Farm” for how that works. Nothing changes but the rulers, “just a different set of farmyard animals.”
How does all this apply to Harrison County and of much of what is written in this blog?
Well it’s pretty obvious, all the personal remarks notwithstanding (pretty much individual manifestations of overall frustrations) that a lot of our opinions are based on the basic human emotions of jealousy, “not invented here” , “not in my back yard” and so forth brought on by some elemental drivers in a growing area.
Certainly not an original thought, Harrison Co. is growing disproportionately all along I-79, north to south in the eastern part. The main economic axis as many have observed is now I-79, not the old B&O mainline. (That poor entity has been reduced to “rails to trails” whereby it’s a tax burden rather than an income generator.)
Positve gowth, finally! –in an area that is just now coming out of depression, an area that’s lost all of its major industrial base. Sure, such growth won’t be equitable for everyone. I encourage everone to obtain the plans of UHC’s new facility; it will be simply stunning, – eight stories, -over 700,000 sq. ft. , truely regional in function and scope.
Try to obtain plans of Charles Pointe, of White Oaks, Bridgeport’s expansion along the new 279 bypass, etc. Think about all the growth towards Fairmont, in Morgantown; – see the big picture. Think what tax deferrals and ‘grants’ for specific areas really mean for “go/no-go” decisions in new development. Think about who really benefits in the long run, not just the short run for these same tax issues.
Certainly all the older population centers, Clarksburg along with many smaller towns along the West Fork, defunct B&O, and streetcar lines, US 19 north, 19 south, US 50 west, and WV 20 will not see easy economic growth and expansion without concerted efforts to find niche manufacturing or tourism activity. We should encourage these areas’ growth positively, instead of negatively appealing to the basal human emotion of jealousy for “what they don’t have,” or ” what Bridgeport is getting.”
As to the School Board, perceived inequities ofcurrent school expenses and disbursments, more specifically the failed construction bond for capital improvements? Simple. True, It did not address some basic student and infrastructure issues, but a lot of the motivation for voting it down was jealousy.
Yes, in some cases other emotions were well founded, e.g., Lumberport simply was unnacceptable without adequate bathrooms. Pretty obvious that the BOE “has read us, loud and clear” in the infrastructure issues.
Elaborating a litte more about jealously, – some of it, even in areas that narrowly voted for the bond could be described by, believe it or not, statements such as “well, we paid for our astroturf with our own money, now the BOE want’s to give it, free, to everyone else.” Well ! Even Bridgeport people can descend to basal instinct. ; )
But much of the bond was aimed at the future, towards prosperity of a growing area. The hue and cry over Charles Pointe’s (yeah, gotta’ admit, the “e” at the end of ‘Pointe’ annoys me too) proposed grade school was very revealing.
From all I’ve heard the Board is going to address as many issues in the older infrastructure as they can in a pared down bond issue. They were embarrased and are doing pretty much everything in their power to make the next one right. But your elected officials can only do so much. They can’t magically make regional jealousy go away. They can’t magically make Lumberport the economic crossroads it used to be. They can’t rejuvinate Wilsonburg, or Wallace or the older sections of Gypsy. They can’t magically bring back Broidas, Parsons, three ‘Five and Dimes, or 150 old downtown businesses and Interurban trollies.
They can’t make us all igonre the phenominal growth along I-79, make us all ride the train or take the streetcar or even walk just a block or two to our cradle-to-grave providing glass plant job. They can’t make Pete Dye dissappear. (what we should do is forgive Ms. Warner for the “four lane debacle,” which has probably done far more for the economy that the daily Shinnston travelers will ever admit. …and what be their destination, for that matter.)
I could go on and on, – review the impact of the FBI facility, the emerging popularity of the Scottish Festival, the upcoming World Games, you name it, so I think responders to this blog should think a lot more positively, not so negatively, happily piling on every perceived slight imaginable. Yes, deliriously piling on….. reveals a lot about our nature, eh?
We’re growing ! Harrison County has tremendous potential and like it or not, dragging ourselves kicking and screaming into the 21st century will only impede our progress, not stop it;… and lest you think this missive is orchestrated and somewhat one sided, be advised that obstruction comes in many flavors and from quarters that might surprise you, UHC’s construction delay of two years being a tangible example.
Rick Wilson
Well put Rick, get ready for the backlash.
Hey Rick
If most of what you are saying is true, and I believe much of what you stated about the growth along I-79 is in-fact true. Then why do we need to give Tax Financing to the property owner? Do we need to build an elementary school there to help him sell houses? What about the current tax payers elementary school needs?
Is it real economic growth when; the hospital moves to Jerry Dove (away from majority of population it serves) to help spur growth? What happens to the property owners who have paid taxes for the last 50 years along Rt 20 when that traffic flow dries up? Growth for one, a loss for many others?
Who is the predator? the bloggers or the mega developers?
Just my opinion, hope nobody gets rubbed the wrong way.
Mr. Wilson, You make some valid points. But I would ask you to consider this point of view. Since you are a bit of a history buff—–>don’t you think that lessons should be learned from mistakes in history, for the sake of not repeating them. If the citizens of Bridgeport go blindly down the path of only investing in the future of Charles Pointe, what happens to the future of Bridgeport proper? I’m not ready to relinguish what we have in Bridgeport without a fight. Believe me Clarksburg would like to have that battle back regarding their schools. They will now fight to deconsolidate and regain their community schools. I will cheer them on. I believe the bond election results in Bridgeport had less to do with turf and more to do with taking care of our community schools now and Charles Pointe later. Give Bridgeport proper two or three grade schools that will aid in ensuring that this side of Bridgeport will retain its value and vitality while the Charles Pointe side grows in value as well. The conditions tied to the donation of the property at Charles Pointe did not sit well with many, the fact that the developer will only donate the property to the BOE if a school is built on it immediately. Many feel that the donation of property should be for when the population of that area requires a school, not build it and they will come. Perhaps the feeling would be different if Bridgeport had newer grade schools, but we don’t. I also believe that Bridgeport proper’s tax dollars are providing a lot for Charles Pointe and the people of Bridgeport Proper weren’t willing to pay for something else for Charles Pointe, especially since it was something the people and children who live here now need desperately—-new and updated schools.
I don’t think it is jealously of what Charles Pointe may become, I think it is learning the lessons of history and trying to prevent making them again. That is the persective of many in Bridgeport, the other areas of the county will share their own with you soon I’m sure.
To All,
There is nothing more important for us as a county to focus on right now then developing an updated public education system with teachers teaching what their diploma says they can teach in well maintained and drug free schools utilizing state-of-the-art technology…..AND all the while creating confidence in the taxpayer that every dollar paid in taxes to support that school system is being spent as wisely as possible.
Harrison County has to restore some confidence in our school board and our school system.
PLEASE elect two new school board members who will fight to do just this!
Get involved in the election process. There are 14 candidates — and you get to vote for TWO. FInd the best and go to work to get them elected.
Our children….and our county….. deserve the very best. On election day, the voters get to say who the best two candidates are.
Mike
Acknowledging Mr. Queen’s recent remarks asking for intelligent voting. We sure need that but setting that aside for a moment….
Yes, a history buff.-
Consider the fracas over the FBI installation some years ago. Clarksburg and Bridgeport went absolutely bonkers over control over the ‘landing’ of that facility far before the internet, this blog and modern methods of opinion dispersal were effectively invented.
Clarksburg planned an indoor mall over property currently occupied by the Rt. 50 bypass. City fathers at the time were overruled by a key publishing moguls, among others…. all this way before coal was mined at what was to become East Point, with it’s almost seridipitious development along with S. Pt. and S. Pt.2. We were very lucky to have the forsighted few on those.
How far do you want to go back? A regional TV station, WBOY, finally came into existance years after first proposed, funding in hand, but pretty much over the dead body of a very influencial individual, again in the newsprint publishing business, but a generation earlier.
I could continue about several other city and county issues, settled with short term, very acrimonious solutions to the detriment of the county’s progress.
We’re very lucky the fed’s said ’settle or else’ when it came to FBI siting.
As in the court house, I can cite many good things we’ve done too, primarily allowing good, solid development of what the rest of the country takes for granted….. what our kids move away to enjoy. You may not like it, it may not sit well with those who truly worked hard for a living all their lives, who had little but shared much, and asked little but a decent chance for their kids.
So we need modern communities. Our kids today who’ve moved away to get them, want good, modern, accessible hospitals, not just for one edge of one county but regional; they want shopping centers, sport factilities, yeah, even golf courses… In business, they want (here we go) world class business parks, adequate transportation and parking for vehincles, upscale shops, wide and inviting boulevards.
So that leads us to a second factor of human nature’s basal “afflictions,” – control.
I hate to sound pedantic, but “Animal Farm,” again.
Who gets what… .who gets to claim credit for what, who gets to tax what.. all very inflammatory issues rating right up there with CRCC’s, design and paint schemes, of all things, what’s in your neighbors yard or parked out front of his house….. yeah, very human concerns.
So yes, I agree, we should not repeat bad history. What happened to the optimism that led Clarksburg’s city fathers to build a granite, very expensive court house in the midst of the great depression? Would it have been built had it been blogged to death?
I’m seeing very valid concerns on siting of local schools, particularly consolidation and loss of neighborhood schools leading to loss of community. But what’s done is done. I see nothing in the BOE’s plans to eliminate the two existing B’port grade schools, but I do see plans to build a new one in a new neighborhood.
So, yeah, run or pick a good candidate representing your views. Do the best you can but when the chips are down, then get behind the ones sucessfully elected, compromise if you have to and support them.
Anonymous or Rick, I think you may have missed my point, judging from your lengthy response in which only your last two paragraphs have anything to do with the subject at hand. The BOE decided against closing B’port’s two existing grade schools as they first proposed, but leaving Bridgeport proper with a 99 year old building on one side and what some have deemed as a structurally worse school on the other and spending big $$ building a brand spanking new school in a PROPOSED neighborhood is hardly taking care of things. Unless their goal is for these existing neighborhoods to decline and take a backseat on the second-rate side of town to the PROPOSED neighborhood. How can you not see improving or building new schools where children live now, where their parents pay taxes now, vs. building a school where virtually no people live now, no people pay taxes now. Leaving those schools open, but in a state of disrepair is so selfish, when the alternative will improve the learning environment for ALL elementry-aged children in Bridgeport. I’m not saying never build at school at Charles Pointe, but now is not the time. Firstly, there is not the population there to warrant it, and secondly, we must improve the situation and the buildings in the existing neighborhoods first. If we let Bridgport decline, and everyone moves to Charles Pointe, then what happens there in 50 years from now. The next big idea area emerges, we abandon Charles Pointe and its schools and move to there? We leave ghost towns in our wake? Now if you want to run off more of our children, mine is in FL, create another C-burg in Bridgeport proper. We must address the current condition of C-burg and do what it will take to revitalize it and we must take steps to preserve Bridgeport proper. History is starring you in the face.
Dear Hindsight,
You don’t have all of the facts on the issues that led to the decision to build a new elementary school in Bridgeport. I hope I can help you better understand.
1. Yes! The school board vetoed Dr. Friebel’s original idea to build a 1,400 student elementary school.
2. The school board has a growing student population in our elementary schools in Bridgeport — not in the middle school or high school in Bridgeport.
3. In fact, a recent internal study done AFTER the last bond failed showed that the student population in both the high school and middle school will go DOWN over the next three years.
4. Grade schools have Pre-K thru 5th grade – that seven separate grades.
5. In 2012, the state school board mandates Universal Pre-K be offered for ALL 4 year olds. In Bridgeport, that could mean 4 to 6 new classes (60-90 new students).
6. Johnson and Simpson are at maximum capacity now.
7. You probably read in the newspaper that Simpson has to give up its Pre-K program to Cubby’s because we need that classroom for 2nd graders. Johnson is so full that it has never been able to have a Pre-K program.
8. Forget about the location for right now……but a new elementary school for the Bridgeport area would qualify for SBA funding because (1) Bridgeport’s population is growing; (2) a new school would allow the school board to eliminate the modular classrooms that have been used for way too many years, and (3) it allows the school board to be able to fully implement Universal Pre-Kindergarten by 2012.
9. The SBA application for the new school in Bridgeport is for about $9 million. What the opponents WILL NOT tell you is that about $1 million of that will go to improvements to Johnson and Simpson.
10. What you also don’t want the voters to forget about is that the school board has, at my urging, already started buying land around Simpson for future expansion. We bought one of the houses in November. Why would we buy more land if we were going to abandon Simpson?
11. This county wants elementary schools to stay at or below 600 students. There is NO WAY to do that in Bridgeport AND be ready for 4- year olds. If Johnson is already above 600. Simpson is about 410.
12. Let’s just forget about Charles Pointe for a minute. Surely you would acknowledge that there is residential growth occuring in the Bridgeport school district – Pheasant Ridge, Oral Lake, Heritage Farms Crystal Ridge and the large apartment complexes located on Rt. 58 in Anmoore, at Maple Lake and on____
13. There are only a total of 78 out-of-county students in BMS, BHS, Johnson and Simpson combined. That fewer than 6 students per grade level.
14. From my numbers, it is very possible that there will be at least 1,100 elementary students in the Bridgeport school district.in the fall of 2012. There are more than 1,000 elementary students there now.
15. So if we remove the modular classrooms and reduce Johnson to about 500 students (with a max of 530) and reduce Simpson to 300 students (with a max of 330)…then the new school will be able to house 330 students (with a max of about 380).
That’s how you handle 1,100 elementary students by the fall of 2012 without building a mega elementary school.
That’s how you plan for additional moderate growth in the area.
16. So if a new school is built to maintain small schools AND to plan for moderate growth, where should it be built?
Not anonymous – Sorry, just forgot to sign the post. Had to run to dinner. I understand what your saying. I think HCBOE has seen the light and become more responsive.
Of course one of the reasons for school consolidation was the very outdated shape of a lot of the schools, mandated standards for new ones and those that had been ‘grandfathered’ for far too many decades.
Loss of major glass plants, with subsequent loss of jobs held by those of child bearing age decimated entire neighborhoods along with increasing age demographics, etc. We have de-populated local schools just like every rust belt city in the north. We’re sure not alone. A few mistakes in over consolidation were made. I think Nutter Fort elementary is too large, even though “some” think it’s just right for a Jersey school. ( No persons living or dead referred to here, of course…. ; ) )
– Not in good ol’ WVa., in my opinion. Tearing down a national treasure such as Towers (Randolph Academy, military hospital in civil war,…) was an abomination. But again, what’s done is done.
The other big reason for consolidation, particularly at the time, was cheap fuel, i.e., bussing. Yeah, cheap fuel. Even at $3.00/gal or more for diesel, that’s just $ 0.30 “old” currency. Inflation has done more to your dollar than taxes ever will. Don’t get me started on that, but I’ll simply say that cheap fuel “fuels” the world economy allowing such things as mega-ships to gather natural resources from all over the world and ship finished goods back to same. Competition can’t be contained for very long. Ask the USSR.
Spit, fight all we want, we keep buying the stuff, a.k.a. China, Wall Mart, et. al.
As for Bridgeport losing population to the next glamour center, well what do you want to do? – Force us to live on “the reservation?” Mandate where people live? Force your government to pour money into what a plethora of people with just as many discordant ideas think should be the perfect neighborhood?
The BOE’s mandate is to educate our chiidren, not guarentee a lifestyle or create or maintain no longer viable neighborhoods. Sure there’s a connection but all too often, too much is expected.
The market and available financing will “dictate” where one desires to live. If one can afford C. Pointe or behind Maplewood, then so be it. More power to ‘em. If not then there are lovely homes available in older Brideport. Their care will be dependent on the industriousness of the homeowners. If the end up being a ton of rentals then you know where that goes.
The BOE can’t declare “owners only,” or “renters only.” Some of the current arguement sounds so very much like what I heard when Ray Blake’s development was taking off… Old B’port vs. the New ‘ticky takcy” one. Woodside Heights alone set off tantrums imaginable only today with the C’point similarities. Amazing. Yes, 50 years from now I’d almost bet that M’town, F’mont and Ckb./Bgpt will have merged in all but perhaps governmental entities. And I’ll bet that the current fracas over C’point will be as forgotten as the Woodside heights vs. old B’port is now. Uh, er, Isn’t it?
And dont ‘forget that we live in a state that is economically fractured. Come to think of it most states are. North central looks towards Pittsburgh, All along the Ohio river looks either towards Pitt or Cincy, The Kanawha looks downstream towards Huntington thence to Cincy. The mountains look to Roanake, etc. The eastern panhandle looks to Washington and is even include in the greater met area. N. Central WVa. is becoming a mini-met area in its own right. About time.
Do you think Pittsburg coming out of the great 40’s smog city was not because of thinkers and doers? -that vast tracts of land weren’t condemned to make the greater Pitt airport, downtown green spaces and parks, that such doesn’t continue today in virtually every progressive community. Someone has to put up the money and take the risks.
Older neighborhoods can and do stand and rejuvinate in their own right, given the impetus and attractions; look at Glen Elk.
It takes positive thinking. Granted, a lot of what’s written on this blog will enlighten and help.
Let’s do it. Let’s talk up our county, cities and communities.
Took so long to write that Mr Queen slipped inbetween. This will be it. I just thought that a “view of the whole forest” might be worthwhile. A wealth of detail has been posted by others.
Hidesight,
(Page 2)
A new school should not be built close to Johnson and Simpson. A new school should be built outside of the area served by Johnson and Simpson.
We need to build a new school to handle the students from (1) all the way down Saltwell Road to Coon’s Run, (2) Maple Lake and the developments along the Harrison County line and (3) the students from Oral Lake and East.
Students from these areas DO NOT WALK to school now. The ride the bus or hitch a ride with their parents or a neighbor.
So, where would you locate a new school.
17. No one will argue that there needs to be a new Simpson built. It is the oldest school in the county.
A 330 student school to replace Simpson (after the modulars are removed and some students rerouted to the new school) will (1) be cheaper to build and (2) not take as much property to build it.
It takes two years to build a new school. Building on to Simpson is like realigning the chairs on the Titanic. The view may be better for a little while but the ending is still the same.
Just because a new Simpson isn’t built on the time frame that you and the opponents want doesn’t mean that the school board should abandon the idea of a third grade school in Bridgeport.
Turn your distrust in me and the school board into action to elect two new school board members not afraid to make cuts to fund new school construction – and I will show you how we can develop a short term and long term strategy to build new schools to replace Simpson, North View, Norwood, Wilsonburg, Lumberport, Lost Creek and Adamston…..
In the future, please tell the readers all of the facts.
Mike
Mike, LETS HAVE SOME SERIOUS FUN FOR A MIN.
1. Yes! The school board vetoed Dr. Friebel’s original idea to build a 1,400 student elementary School. THAT SHOWS POOR LEADERSHIP MIKE, DO YOU SUPPORT TWO CANDIDATES FOR REAL CHANGE?
2. The school board has a growing student population in our elementary schools in Bridgeport — not in the middle school or high school in Bridgeport.
CHECK THE ENROLLMENT AT CUBBYS DAY CARE. HOW MANY CHILDREN FORM OUTSIDE BPORT FEEDER AREA ATTED THAT WONDERFUL DAY CARE ? CHILDREN THAT WILL NEVER SEE THE INSIDE OF SIMPSON OR JOHNSON ELEMENTARY BECAUSE THEY LIVE ELSE WHERE IN THE COUNTY BUT ARE COUNTED AS PART OF THE BPORT ELEMENTARY ENROLLMENT.
5. In 2012, the state school board mandates Universal Pre-K be offered for ALL 4 year olds. In Bridgeport, that could mean 4 to 6 new classes (60-90 new students). THIS IS TRUE, MON THRU THURS (4DAYS) (by the way I think this is a terrible thing for our state to mandate). WHAT HAPPENS ON FRIDAY WHEN YOU NEED CHILD CARE? WE PARENTS WILL END UP GOING TO A DAY CARE WHO CAN PROVIDE THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE NEED 5 DAYS A WEEK. OR WE KEEP OUR CHILDREN HOME, ITS NOT MANDATORY FOR US TO SEND THEM. JUST MANDATORY FOR OUR COUNTY TO SPEND MONEY ON IT.
6. Johnson and Simpson are at maximum capacity now. AND WE DESERVE A NEW SCHOOL WHERE WE NEED IT. IN OUR COMMUNITY
7. You probably read in the newspaper that Simpson has to give up its Pre-K program to Cubby’s because we need that classroom for 2nd graders. Johnson is so full that it has never been able to have a Pre-K program. AGAIN CHECK WITH CUBBYS. BY THE WAY, CUBBYS IS MUCH BETTER EQUIPED TO HANDLE 4 YR OLDS. THATS WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING FOR A LONG TIME. GOV. vs. PRIVATE EDUCATION?
8. Forget about the location for right now……but a new elementary school for the Bridgeport area would qualify for SBA funding because (1) Bridgeport’s population is growing; (2) a new school would allow the school board to eliminate the modular classrooms that have been used for way too many years, and (3) it allows the school board to be able to fully implement Universal Pre-Kindergarten by 2012.
(1)LUMBERPORT MIDDLE QUALIFIES FOR SBA FUNDING BECAUSE OF HEALTH AND SAFETY, WHY DID THE BOARD BUILD A MOUNTAINEER MIDDLE FIRST? NOW WHY ARE WE NOT ASKING FOR THE MONEY FOR LUMBERPORT/SHINNSTON AREA??? (2) ELIMINATE THE MODULARS WITH PERMANENT CLASS ROOMS NOW?
9. The SBA application for the new school in Bridgeport is for about $9 million. What the opponents WILL NOT tell you is that about $1 million of that will go to improvements to Johnson and Simpson. WHY NOT PUT $9 MILLION IN JOHNSON AND SIMPSON??? WHAT YOU FOR GET TO TELL US IS THAT YOU WILL COMMITT $1MILLION A YEAR OUT OF OUR BUDGET TO HELP BUILD IT.
10. What you also don’t want the voters to forget about is that the school board has, at my urging, already started buying land around Simpson for future expansion. THANK JESUS THAT THE BOARD LISTEND TO YOU ON THAT ONE
11. This county wants elementary schools to stay at or below 600 students. PARTLY TRUE, WE FIRST WANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS! THEN STUDENT POPULATION IS NEXT….. BELOW 600, THAT SOUNDS GREAT, WHAT ABOUT NUTTERFORT ELEMENTARY (1200+)? DON’T THOSE CHILDREN DESERVE THE SAME?
12. Let’s just forget about Charles Pointe for a minute. GREAT IDEA, LETS NOT THINK ABOUT IT AGAIN UNTIL WE NEED IT. IT COULD BE A GREAT DEAL FOR BOTH PARTIES, BUT WE DON’T NEED(WANT) IT NOW.
13. There are only a total of 78 out-of-county students in BMS, BHS, Johnson and Simpson combined. That fewer than 6 students per grade level. HOW MANY CHILDREN FROM OUTSIDE OF BPORT, THAT LIVE IN HARRISON COUNTY ATTEND BPORT SCHOOLS? THAT COMBINED WITH THE OUT OF COUNTY CHILDREN IS CAUSING THE BOARD TO THINK WE NEED TO SPEND MILLIONS ON MORE SCHOOLS ALL THE WHILE SOME ARE AT 1/2 CAPACITY.
16. So if a new school is built to maintain small schools AND to plan for moderate growth, where should it be built? CRYSTAL RIDGE?! JUST KIDDING MIKE. HOW ABOUT A NEW SCHOOL FOR THE ANMORE, STONEWOOD, QUIET DELL CHILDREN. THAT WOULD (1)ALLEVEATE SOME OVERCROWDING IN BPORT (Rt58) AND(2) TAKE CARE OF EXISTING CHILDREN THAT HAVE A NEED IN THE COUNTY
the new school should be built at the top of stout st. after we level julia comptons house to build the mega Carl Friebal Memorial Elementary Complex complete with a Jesus picture in every room
Now that is funny
Hey Rick
I like what you have been saying in the above post. Two desentions though….
I don’t think the big reason for consolidation was because of cheap fuel. It was the State SBA using words like econmy of scales and effeciency guide lines. They forced county BOE’s to cave into this line of thinking to get “free” money. Close a couple of schools and will help you build a new one. To bad they were more concerned about consolidation than education.
You are right about inflation and our $$ not worth a damn today.
Schools are the biggest investment in a neighborhood. If you can build one where no children live, you can build one in Stealey or North View where 500 children live. What is wrong with a voter, parent, tax payer, wanting the school where they live? We all are paying for it as an increase in property taxes or increases in rent. All the same, people will support a good idea for education.
The school board IS responsible for maintaining its schools in neighborhoods. Close just Simpson and move that school to CP and see what happens. In less than 10 years you will have the same problems Clarksburg has been facing in its school envied neighborhoods. The school board caused that decline, not that factory that closed 25 years before.
All over the country, school districts are rebuilding back in the older communities. It makes economic sense. You have less cost in infrastructure, people can walk to and from, helps support existing tax base, area currently served by local government with no added fees to cover larger area and so on.
I know one and I will vote for one of the candidates that has the Kuhunahs to stand up against the machine. I hope there is another “one” in the bunch of 14 that will come out. We need two real leaders.
joesixpack u r OOC
Mike Queen, Several of us “Moms” were having a conversation in between basketball games. Talking about the school bond and the school board which led the conversation to your website (very helpful) and this blog (very helpful) and one of the Moms commented that you always list your website on this blog and on the radio show, but not everyone is getting to the blog site unless they hear about it or get the link emailed to them. I like you and your site and I think you have helped clear up a lot of stuff by addressing issues on this site. You have stated several times how you have used ideas or feedback that you have read here. So why don’t you list a link to this blog on your website. We like to see the questions, comments and the answers from you and others. We all thought a link to this site would be helpful to others as it has been to us and you.
Thanks Mike for all you do!
Mike, you have the milfs in your corner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rock on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dude, leave Reuben alone. He’s a nice guy. You should see him sing karaoke in Saturday night. He’s awesome. He does one heck of a rendetion of “My Way.” It calls a tear. You’d think ole blue eyes himself were up there with a gin & tonic belting out a smoooooth melody. Rueben IS THE MAN!!!!!!!!!
Love for Mike and the blogger – what a great comment. One thing both Ruben Perdue and this blog have in common is that they do not restrict Mike Queen from promoting his website anytime he get’s a chance, he should most definetly repay the promotion on his website/blog to this website/blog. How about it Mike?
Dear Mom’s,
I would be happy to add this blog as a link on my website…. however…..
If the Blogmaster of this site wants to remain anonymous then I need some assurance that there is at least some censorship of some of the comments made here. The Blogmaster does some censoring now and I appreciate that.
Elected officials are fair game!
Family members of elected officials are not. If this blog is going to be a reliable conduit for people (including the Mom’s) to air their concerns, ideas and suggestions then the Blogmaster has to do a better job of discouraging bloggers from personal attacks on non-elected officials and family members.
As for opening up my site to publish comments and suggestions from my readers — I will have to decline.
95% of the emails I get from my website are from parents or school employees. The majority of those emails/comments are private matters regarding their student , a problem at school or their employment. If I am going to be successful at using the website to communicate with the voters I need to respect their privacy.
More than 300 emails have been generated from my website in less than two weeks. I ready every one of them.
So Mom’s, I’ll meet you half way. The link will be up on my site by the end of the day tomorrow.
Thanks,
Mike
gee mike, you sure are swell. I know who the blogmaster is and you can know for 50 dollars. meet me tomorrow at the city park at 11pm be sure to blink your lights twice so i know who it is. JSP
Joe Six Pack,
Joe Six Pack,
I thought that you weren’t allowed to hang out in parks or near playgrounds anymore? Don’t you have to be back in your home by dark each night?
Thanks for the invitation but I’ll pass.
Mike
Mike Queen in an entry above says”If the Blogmaster of this site wants to remain anonymous then I need some assurance that there is at least some censorship of some of the comments made here. The Blogmaster does some censoring now and I appreciate that.”
I say no censorship,” (except profanity)”we don’t live in Russia and we have had enough of that with the Bush administration. Your an elected official and if I say your an ass then I have a right to say it. If you can’t stand the heat then get out f the kitchen. Actually I think your doing a good job keeping the rest of the board on their best behavior Mike. Keep up the good work.
“NO NEW TAXES”
I agree with John Q, no censorship except for profanity .These blogs are great for saying what you always wanted to say but feared retaliation. No one forces anyone to read the blog or post on here….Its good to see that there are a lot of people out there who feel the same…….”WE’RE MAD AS HELL AND WE’RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!” Politicians put their names out there when they sign up to run….If they dont play by the rules the public should be able to call them on it and shouldnt have to identify themselves.
I don’t agree with Mr. Queen 50% of the time, but he has got this one right. Mike is making the point that you CAN call him a donkey regarding school board issues, you just can’t call members of his family anything. That has been the only editing I’ve witnessed from the blogger…a few boneheads have gotten carried away and made comments about an elected official’s family members and one genius went so far as to comment about someone’s child. Believe me this is a very valuable “censor-free” zone for everyone. We can live with just the tiniest guidelines. THANK YOU BLOGGER…I don’t care who you are!
To WVURAH – Ok, he’s a donkey!!!
Hey I said ass twice and no one censored me.
Me too I said ass
Duh, you said ass!
Too obvious—-I just can’t go there!
no comment
Dear Mom’s,
As promised, the link to this blog is now activated from my website: mqschoolboardupdates.org
Dear Pulleeeze,
Why didn’t you answer items 14, 15 and 17? And it is not surprising that you got your facts all wrong again. It is OK for you to be against progress and against a new elementary school but you should do it based on facts….not fiction.
Dear Rick,
Good stuff. I didn’t know you could right that well!
Dear Ratpack and John Q. Taxpayer,
TRYYYY TO FOLLLLLOW MEEEE. TRYYYYY TOOOO LISTENNNNN THIS TIMMMME.
The only censorship I am suggesting is staying away from personal attacks on non-elected officials!
My family, your family, Reuben Perdue, Julia Compton and people who do not participate in this blog are the kind of “off limits” that I am talking about!!!!
Dear Bevis and Butthead,
You would be funny if you’re weren’t the same person.
To All,
Maybe the blogger will start a new section for this question…….
There are 14 candidates running for the school board. You get to vote for TWO. (Go to my website for a complete list of the candidates.)
Which ONE do you support the most…..and why?
I will read comments on this question with a lot of interest. Have a nice week everybody.
MIKE QUEEN
Mr. Queen: I notice that you don’t work well in the dark.
You have really got to try it it can be lots of fun.
It seems that having been elected to HCBOE you have
afforded yourself license to a plethora of practices.
Would it seem that your duties as a board member
are to enlighten yourself as to the scope of the HCBOE,
attend meetings, vote judiciously, and to communicate
with parents and staff.
Perhaps I have been remiss, or unknowing—forgive
me for that, but as an elected member of the HCBOA
have you been comissioned to protect the likes of
Julia Compton, Reuben Perdue, or anyone else?
Have you been knighted to scribe the ground rules for
this blog? Why are you trying to outguess Bevis and
Butthead? Is your personal American Idol Rush
Limburger?
Mr. Queen, if you are fearful of the dark..get a flashlight.
Consider focusing on the tasks at hand as an elected
HCBOE member.
OK, OK, OK.
There are myriad problems with the “mandatory random drug tests” proposed by Mr. Mike Queen :
C
(Continued)
…Constitutional, privacy, economic, etc…but wherein lies the “mandatory” component for parents or kids. As far as I can tell the only thing mandated is pulling 2% of the names out of the hat by the duly appointed -and-paid school-hat-name-pulling-employee.
There is no ‘mandated’ drug testing.
So what gives?
Not much gives except that the state wants you to GIVE up your vigilance and skepticism, and GIVE them your trust and your children and your money.
Orwell was right : The state wants you to believe that war is peace, and slavery is freedom. To allow the state to slip into their discourse words synonymous with ‘ commanded’ or ‘forced’ — even when it is a ruse — only makes it easier for them the next time.
Perhaps they should ’sanction’ “mandatory random drug tests”….sanction ? SANCTION ?? allow? prohibit? Which one is it now? Careful now.
And the war of words continues. Don’t let the state win this war. Who ever sets the terms of engagement , will win the war.
Don’t get mad. Just grab your guns , your gold, your macaroni AND your OED (that’s an abbreviation for Oxford English Dictionary for those of you who, well, don’t use it properly, like you know who)
Shockdoc : Liberty and Reason are not and can never be synonyms for Force and Faith, respectively, except to those washed and brainwashed by the state. They are not even double entendres or dual use words. They are antonyms.
Hey how come fuzzy didn’t get censored?
MR QUEEN — your repeatedly say posters do not have the facts. Yet, there are as many requests from posters to you to provide “facts” – i.e. studies on student numbers. And nothing comes of those requests other than “call the Board office”. You profess to be the conduit for full and accurate disclosure of facts of the HCBE. You acknowledge public’s loss of confidence in the HCBE — the HCBE and not just specific members — so how are we to trust you to know ( and devulge) all the full and accurate facts? Let’s start with three simple facts -
1) What is the( current /now/ EOM Jan) utilitzation % of RCB? And — that is how many F/T students?
2) What is the total operating budget (HCBE) for RCB for fiscal year ?
3) What is the EXACT (as of EOM January ,2008) amount of money remaining from the last bond issue?
Thank you.
Dear Be Informed,
PLEEEZE TRYYYYY TOOOOO FOLLLLOWWWW MEEEE VERRRRYYY CLOSELEYYYY.
You evidently haven’t caught on to the things I have posted on this website….and not just this article.
First, I have never told anyone to “call the Board office” for information. You should focus more on the truth.
I always suggest that people seeking information contact or call me first! I put my phone number at the end of each email that I send out and I have my phone number listed at the top of my website.
Second…..I have said numerous times and wrote in this very blog that my website took me two months to develop because I wanted it to be a one-stop website for information on the Harrison County school board – budget, enrollment, statistics, policies, etc.
PLEEEASE LOGGGG ONNNNN TOOOOO MYYYY WEBSIIIIIITE TO GETTTT ALLLLLL OOOOOF THEEEE INFORMAAAATION THAT YOUUUU NEED.
It appears as if you are computer literate enough to navigate through the information listed on my website. The only info that is not yet fully complete is the total enrollment….but that is coming.
In any event, please allow me to help you find the answers to your questions:
1. The current enrollment at RCB is 813 full time students which equals 77% utilization. Based on the current enrollment at RCB and the 8th graders coming in from WIMS, RCB’s enrollment will grow to 868 in 20008-09 and to 910 in 2009-10.
2. The total operating budget for the 2007-08 year is approximately $103 million.
3. There is $3.8 million in the bond repayment reserve fund left over in the 1991 bond. The final payment to the bondholders was made in May 2007.
Dear Media Broad,
I’m certainly not afraid of the dark…..it’s a shame that you don’t know that.
I want my participation on this blog to be part of open and honest dialogue that will have some impact on finding solutions. I don’t mind the occasional jab if it’s accompanied by a good idea or different approach.
I don’t have all of the answers and do not believe that just because I am an “elected” official that I have been granted powers to solve all problems. It’s a shame that you don’t know me well enough to know that as well.
I appreciate good debate dedicated to solving problems. The problem that I have is a limited amount of time. I work. I have a son that is active is a lot of things and I am active in my community and my son’s school.
If this site is going to be a “think tank” of sorts then I’m in. I’ll log on once or twice a day to read and respond to each of you.
But if this blog is going to be a way for the “wanna bees” and for the “never bees” to sting people with personal attacks….I have better things to do then to support that kind of crap by participating with postings.
I will not be a part of that.
I have my own website and readers of this blog can log onto that site anytime they have some ideas, concerns or need for information.
In the meantime, please remember that the dark is not so bad if you know your way around.
Mike
624-5080
MR. QUEEN — YOU, SIR, NEED A GOOD LESSON IN MANNERS…..and you can do away with that immature typing style. Not impressed.
“truth”, Mr. Queen. You should perhaps learn “truth ” and “respect”.
On January 20, 2008 at 4:27 pm you posted:
Or of you email Dr. Friebel with the information you want to look at, I am sure he will have the staff (Neil Quinn or Victor Gabriel) to prepare it for you. Or you can go to: http://www.HARCOBOE.com to contact the Central Office.
One other option is to call the Central Office switchboard at 326-7300 and ask for any of those three men.
(END OF “YOUR” QUOTE)
I asked for the operating budget for RCB. Thank you for the information on the carry-over dollars from the 1991 Bond. I expect others more versed than I will deal with why those funds remain unspent. I have not researched all sources but I seem to remember the carry over dollars to be above $4 mil when the last Bond Request was presented.
And I would suggest, young man, if you do not wish to have the “loss of confidence” in the entire Board to turn to ” loss of confidence – specifically Mike Queen” — you change your attitude. No one is picking on you -yet.
Again, thank you for the information provided.
I thought this was about Reuben. Mike how do you turn these conversations upside down? YOU are the most powerfull person in Cyber Space…
MR. QUEEN – Can you explain why there is what some would call a dramatic decrease ( 19%+/-) in the “bond repayment reserve fund” since last May, 2007? What specific projects were these funds used to complete? And do you see this balance continuing to decrease until next November ?
From the Clarksburg Exponent – Jim Fisher – June 11, 2007 —
” Although the bond call is designed to raise nearly $43 million, the total package is about $67 million, according to Superintendent Dr. Carl Friebel.
That includes a $20 million commitment from the state School Building Authority and a roughly $4.7 million carryover from the bond that expires on June 30. ”
Thank you for your truthfulness…….
MR. QUEEN – I would like to know how last year’s utilization rate for RCB was around 60% and now it is 77%? Did RCB really gain that many students or was the design capacity lowered?
From the Exponent-Telegram
Wednesday, January 24, 2007 7:30 AM CST
“Re-zoning was mentioned as an alternative to alleviate 93 percent capacity at Bridgeport High and bring up 55-60 percent capacity at Liberty and RCB high schools.”
Thank you.
Dear Linda,
Dear Linda,
I don’t want to be “powerful”.
I want help to make our school system better. I need interaction with thinkers (most of the bloggers here) who can help, too.
This blog can do that if it is a legitimate location for sharing ideas and concerns — and where everyone’s opinion is respected.
Dear Be Informed,
You know, the newspaper doen’t always get it right. Jim Fisher and Darlene Taylor do a great job but they don’t always have the correct numbers. Such is the case with the bond fund.
The actual balance was “estimated” to be about $4.7 million. It ended up being about $4.5 million.
The board used about $700,000 of that to match SBA funds for a major renovation to West Milford Elementary School.
That leaves about $3.8 million still in that account. I can get you the absolute exact numbers if you like but I am pretty close.
Dear Just Curious,
Again, the newspaper didn’t get the exact numbers. But I did make a mistake. I went back and looked at my meeting records to find the actual numbers.
Last year’s student enrollment at RCB was 786. This year it’s 813. Next year it’s supposed to be 868. The school was built to house 1,300 students.
I guess the utilization at RCB this year is closer to 63%. The overall utilization of all 24 schools is 77%. I am trying to respond to alot of these questions based on memory.
Sorry for the confusion.
BHS’s student enrollment is actually down this year. And it is expected to go down again next year (about 830 students) and remain at that level for the next 3-4 years.
At my urging, the school board instructed the superintendent to do a 10-year projected enrollment forecast to determine if we needed to redistrict. What we found out was that BHS’s numbers were coming down a little while the enrollments at Liberty. Lincoln, South Harrison and RCB are all going UP!
That report was announced by the board back in December. On 12/06 a story on the report was published in the newspaper.
If you go to my website and click on “Enrollment” a complete summary of that report and a press release can be read in their entirety.
Mike Queen
Mike: Note that there is very little difference between
powerful, ill-mannered, and OCD.
Mike: I asked about your personal fear of the dark because you are demanding to know the names of
bloggers—in the gase you didn’t get it.
Ive gotta admit Brady had a fair and balanced show. Maybe Perdue has advanced journalism skills ,but its hard to teach people skills. Sorry Ruben I tune into Mike and Mike ESPN radio
Are you tired of having your E-mails to Reuben and Hoppy censured? or not read? Tired of listening to a bunch of cry babies (School personnel State workers and Delegates ) whine about their pay?
Tired of Hoppy giving a bunch of Legislators free air time to pat each other on the back? Tired of listening to excuses why State workers can’t do their Jobs?
I think if these two Hosts changed their agenda these Cry babies wouldn’t come on their show. Is that it ? I don’t know but it’s getting boring. We have virtually no consumer help on this station either,I guess they are afraid of ticking off a sponsor? And now we have Non-Stop Basketball!! I’m logged in on the Internet to 750 WSB. Neil Bortz and Clark Howard have a great alternative to this Crap. I’m outa here Guys.TIP: Go down to Radio Shack and pick up a cheap pair of speakers for your computer it will enhance your internet listening experience greatly.
Hey,your right it works great I just plugged my old laptop in and used my speakers they are plenty loud enough.
Clark Howard has tons of good consumer tips. Wasn’t too impressed with Neil Bortz but better than Listening to Harrison county school board and Mike Queen all
mornning though. I think Reuben should just make him the Co-host and they could talk about school board issues all day.
I think after Reuben’s bad legal advice he gave to Mr. Queenconcerning the hiring of a new superintendent ,his legal career is over. Better stick to being a radio host Reuben!!
If you are tuned to station 103.3 FM at 12:06 pm, annoying bumper music will start. Following that is the most annoying talk show you have ever heard. You must change the station when the music starts, or the next voice you hear will be Rush Limbaugh.
Go past 104.1 FM. That is soft-rock and is equally tedious to listen to. Switch to 1340 AM and listen to Jim Rome.
I am “ignorant”– just ask Maria P.
We are all “ignorant” — except for the knowitall nannynazis at all levels of government. But, hey, don’t take my word for it , just ask them. They”ll tell you. — and then proceed to set up a War on Ignorance.
But ignorance just means not knowing about something. And so, it is an inevitable and natural state of affairs.
I stopped listening to Hoppy because he irritated me, but not because he is ignorant. As you picked up JQT, he can uncover the argument put forth by both sides of the issue, but then I guess he thinks he is doing everyone a favor by giving both sides equal respect, when one side needs to be torn down and shredded right there on the air.
He lets slip at times with a sophisticated nuanced view of libertarian economics — particularly the Hayekian school — but will not plunge it into the dark heart of the collectivists proposals. He almost apologizes for being too thoughtful –or atleast more thoughtful than his guest — and it is painful to hear him pull punches. He gives the impression to the audience that just because the guest has a state name tag and is enthusiastic and chatty, that their argument should not be confronted and molested. He is a good man, he is not ignorant about the issues, he definitely knows better, but he is a coward.
Perhaps then, he can only be accused of being ignorant about his corrosive effect on the reasoning faculties of the audience. While he is the Dean of Talk Radio in WV, we will remain poorly served.
Did Mike unceremoniously rip the microphone away from Mr. Romano, or was he really bumped off the air by a hard break at the end of the hour ……
Dateline: Clarksburg, WAJR 103.3, March 5, 2008
0959:58
Mr. Romano”…and the reason these socialized, centralized countries are poor is that they DO NOT HAVE FREE DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH –”……..
!!!!!!!!!!
[emphasis mine]
No mention of PRODUCTION of wealth through protection of property rights.
The problem with DISTRIBUTION of wealth “by countries” is that it is not FREE. It makes them poor. Ask West Virginia
Froydean slip, maybe.
Maybe part of the Hilabama advance team.
So let’s cheer on Mike next week. He’ll do the right thing.
Go Mike. Charge !!
How about those stupid annoying infomercials
on that 103.3.. I’m surprised we haven’t heard from Billy Mays and his Oxi-Clean demo. I guess this crap pays the bills, but there can’t be any left over for coffee.
What a waste of air time. Thank god and Al Gore for internet radio. Or was it all Al’s idea?Im free at last.
Give Neil Bortz and Clark Howard a try WSB Radio.com
YEAH I WAS GETTING SO SICK OF THAT FREE CREDIT REPORT OFFER WHICH IS NOT FREE, I HAD TO SWITCH CHANNELS. IM SURPRISED DARREL MCGRAW HAS NOT KICKED THEIR BUTT’S OUT OF THE STATE BY NOW,COME ON MR MCGRAW EARN YOUR PAY.THE EXPERIAN CREDIT BUREAU OWNS FREE CREDIT REPORT.COM AND SEVERAL SIMILAR NEGATIVE OPTION COMPANIES.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY WRITE TO EXPERIAN AND GET A REAL FREE CREDIT REPORT WITHOUT GIVEING THEM YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER. IF WE HAD A RADIO STATION THAT SERVED IT’S LISTNERS INSTEAD OF THEMSELVES,WE MIGHT HAVE SOME CONSUMER INFO THAT WAS BENIFICIAL.
Jack, you don’t need to scream, we can all hear you.
Sorry normlguy,im mad as hell and I ain’t gonna take it no more!!!!!
Like him or hate him, Reuben has you folks talking about him. That is the objective. That is professional talk radio at its best. Thanks Reuben.
To the internet radio promoters who have left comments:
How often have you gotten a local news, weather, school closing, or sports update on internet radio.
Oh, you can read the local papers?
Sure, if you want to find out what happened yesterday.
Local radio is and always will be a wanted and needed service nationwide.
Your neighborhood businesses and job market depends on it !
Local, weather including radar images are running in a window beside WSB radio, school closings are only a few days in the winter, sports updates are on the web too. What we need is fewer infomercials in the morning from 8:00 to 9:00 Am and better informative programming.
I feel left out.
103.3 does not have reception inside where I’m at. It is not a strong enough signal. I can’t very well sit outside in my car to listen, I wish that 103.3 HAD AN INTERNET radio connection.
Is there antenna boosters that can help FM? I know there are for TV signals, I’ve just never seen one for FM.
Unless 103.3 boosts the signal by turning up the wattage, I have no other choice in what to listen to.
I can’t get it either
Why waste your money on extra antennas just to listen to infomercials. Politicians and teachers trying to extrapolate sympathy and money from the taxpayers via Hoppy and Reuben. I’m sick of whining teachers
and the Harrison County School Board always coming to this station with their hands out asking for more money. I think they know they better get it now because this is Mansions last term that he will need their votes, I don’t think he will be as beholding to the Whiners next term.
Jack, good point. I’m telling you that the only way to go is listening to sports radio. You won’t make yourself crazy, nor will you alienate your family and friends. How can anyone listen to Rush Limbaugh, Hannity, Colmes, et al, with their blatantly and somewhat forced right wing stances. Not only do they piss me off with their conservative-at-all-costs-never-mind-the-issue stance, but their pandering to Christians in an effort to sway the electorate is repulsive to me. Do you think Jesus would have been an arch conservative? Or do you think He would have run screaming from those white supremist, homophobic, xenophobic, zealots?
Um…..normlguy…..Alan Colmes is far from conservative.
Now that we’ve emptied your bowl of fudge, [sniffle]can we lick the spoon ? Waah !
So the state supported teachers union thinks it would be good idea to have an extra paid day at the start of the year “to prepare” for the actual school year.
Hmmm. Cute, real cute.
Have they thrown open the whole concept of what a school year entails, or should entail? Let’s pick up where they left off this morning, shall we.
Let’s all agree with the premise that 200 days of required schooling is just aplain, old, run-of-the-mill, garden variety, ARBITRARY figure — just pulled out of thin air. You know, kind of like the long held myth that kids need twelve years of such desking, or the canard that there is not a single stretch of the interstate system that can’t be negotiated safely above 65 miles per hour.
But, of course that leads to the question : is the school year too short or too long. Why is it that we can only think of lengthening the school year. What about examining the possibilty that the “year” could be shortened instead ?
Now follow me at the bifurcation:
I am not going to discuss their petty selfserving claim to lengthen their paid school year any further.
Is it possible that the school teachers — as a group, mind you and let’s call the group something original and convenient like, oh, say, [Hmmm] A “UNION” !! — could receive the same exhorbitant total annual pay ‘n’ benefits but only be required to work , say a minimum of 150 days, with the proviso that certain results are achieved ? After 150 days if the individual teacher and/or union group could produce tangible ‘results’, they could then start their summer holiday early.
Prima facie, this would appear attractive for everyone
It would require that benchmarks could be accepted and contracted — but the benchmark(s) could be flexible, including reaching certain standardized test results, or even getting polling opinions from parents. Or, neutral third party evaluations –a la Consumers Report. Another way ( which I prefer )would be to teach to the kids a course until they scored better than the class that preceded them.
What a novel idea :
You teachers can have a really short school year and a long summer as long as your class results are better than last years class.
This is really only emulating what everyone — even the most stalwart union official — expects as they wander around during their ‘real’ life in the marketplace of goods, ideas and services anyway.
Ordinary people and union officials know that this years batch of doctors or stereo equipment or arugala crop is better than last years. So, why should teachers and education results be any different.
This would have many advantages, including the consequence that as kids master a subject and reach an agreed upon landmark, they could focus more of thier time/effort on subjects that are more challenging for them towards the end of the school year. And EVERYONE would want to succeed with their landmarks and get the hell out of Dodge, oh, say, in March instead of June.
But, what if some teachers are not quite as competent, or perhaps just have difficult or challenging students. Then as other teachers achieve their landmarks, release their grinning charges in February for the summer and lock up their classes, they could be used to help out other teachers who are still struggling — IMAGINE THAT — at day 150. Towards the end of the school year (day 150 or whatever) the less productive teachers and less able students will get lots more help. This type of organization — with attendant risk — will be best assumed by the union
This would require that the union take on the mantle of a corporation and manage their members. The union would presumably be in the best position to organize, in a vertical, top down fashion the teachers’ assignments.
So, we know the union teachers are keen to get paid handsomely for “emptying boxes of books” at the start of the year, but do they have the intellectual and moral hosepower to abandon their heretofore unaccountable socialist ways and profit from capitalism?
The gauntlet is thrown back at them.
Next : working creatively with the newly formulated capitalistic teachers corporation to reduce public desking from twelve years down to six with equal or better results (yeah, like the old days — but “old” is so, so, …gauche)
Now that we’ve emptied your bowl of fudge, [sniffle]can we lick the spoon ? Waah !
So the state supported teachers union thinks it would be good idea to have an extra paid day at the start of the year “to prepare” for the actual school year.
Hmmm. Cute, real cute.
Have they thrown open the whole concept of what a school year entails, or should entail? Let’s pick up where they left off this morning, shall we.
Let’s all agree with the premise that 200 days of required schooling is just aplain, old, run-of-the-mill, garden variety, ARBITRARY figure — just pulled out of thin air. You know, kind of like the long held myth that kids need twelve years of such desking, or the canard that there is not a single stretch of the interstate system that can’t be negotiated safely above 65 miles per hour.
But, of course that leads to the question : is the school year too short or too long. Why is it that we can only think of lengthening the school year. What about examining the possibilty that the “year” could be shortened instead ?
Now follow me at the bifurcation:
I am not going to discuss their petty selfserving claim to lengthen their paid school year any further.
Is it possible that the school teachers — as a group, mind you and let’s call the group something original and convenient like, oh, say, [Hmmm] A “UNION” !! — could receive the same exhorbitant total annual pay ‘n’ benefits but only be required to work , say a minimum of 150 days, with the proviso that certain results are achieved ? After 150 days if the individual teacher and/or union group could produce tangible ‘results’, they could then start their summer holiday early.
Prima facie, this would appear attractive for everyone
It would require that benchmarks could be accepted and contracted — but the benchmark(s) could be flexible, including reaching certain standardized test results, or even getting polling opinions from parents. Or, neutral third party evaluations –a la Consumers Report. Another way ( which I prefer )would be to teach to the kids a course until they scored better than the class that preceded them.
What a novel idea :
You teachers can have a really short school year and a long summer as long as your class results are better than last years class.
This is really only emulating what everyone — even the most stalwart union official — expects as they wander around during their ‘real’ life in the marketplace of goods, ideas and services anyway.
Ordinary people and union officials know that this years batch of doctors or stereo equipment or arugala crop is better than last years. So, why should teachers and education results be any different.
This would have many advantages, including the consequence that as kids master a subject and reach an agreed upon landmark, they could focus more of thier time/effort on subjects that are more challenging for them towards the end of the school year. And EVERYONE would want to succeed with their landmarks and get the hell out of Dodge, oh, say, in March instead of June.
But, what if some teachers are not quite as competent, or perhaps just have difficult or challenging students. Then as other teachers achieve their landmarks, release their grinning charges in February for the summer and lock up their classes, they could be used to help out other teachers who are still struggling — IMAGINE THAT — at day 150. Towards the end of the school year (day 150 or whatever) the less productive teachers and less able students will get lots more help. This type of organization — with attendant risk — will be best assumed by the union
This would require that the union take on the mantle of a corporation and manage their members. The union would presumably be in the best position to organize, in a vertical, top down fashion the teachers’ assignments.
So, we know the union teachers are keen to get paid handsomely for “emptying boxes of books” at the start of the year, but do they have the intellectual and moral hosepower to abandon their heretofore unaccountable socialist ways and profit from capitalism?
The gauntlet is thrown back at them.
Next : working creatively with the newly formulated capitalistic teachers corporation to reduce public desking from twelve years down to six with equal or better results (yeah, like the old days — but “old” is so, so, …gauche)
Just give me my school vouchers!!
Speaking of the Harrison County BOE,does anyone know
when the Mike Queen Show is scheduled to air?
^^ It’s on in the mornings.
They disguise it as ‘the morning edition’
This guys show is a joke and his show is more of a nuisance. He has Mike Queen on promoting school bonds (which buy the way is Illegal) then he has 30 minutes of commercials then he expects the listeners to collect their thoughts and call or email. By the time I have the E-mail finished it’s time for Hoppy’s show. Thank god for internet radio I switch over to Neil Boortz.
Mike Queen is now promoting censorship of school board meetings.
(Reuben Purdue morning show Oct16th 2008)
He’s fearful someone will insult a School board member.
Last time I checked they are public officials and we still have Freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. We are not under communist rule yet.
But if we give Dubyas Republican gustoppos another 4 years we will be.
Mike Queen is the one who needs shut down,
but your Obama is the one who will support bigger government, more social programs, and more taxes.
Who’s the gustoppos?
I don’t think Obama can top G Dubya in spending.
We had a 600,000,000.000 surplus when he took office. Look what he has done to this country in 8 years.
I do hate it that the Republicans let the Camel get it’s nose under the tent though. We now have a socialized banking system.
Read my lips Mike Queen “No new property Taxes”
I’m saving $150 a year since the last Bond expired.
I think Reuben Perdue is the man!! He’s fair and Balanced.
He does censor my E-mails a little though. I thinks he’s afraid of the PC cops.Sometimes he reports old news cause he’s afraid of getting sued. Problem with that is once people learn their listening to old news they won’t comeback to the show.
AP news Oct 16th.Obama playing for West Virginia with ad buy.
Obama is increasingly edging into what long has been considered Republican turf as McCain looks to play defense less than three weeks before the election.
GET OUT YOUR WALLET McCAIN