The Truth About Colbert County School Spending

JUNE 24, 2016 - TIMES DAILY:

Muscle Shoals - City school employees will get a 7 percent increase this year.

The school board added a 3 percent local raise on top of a state raise (recommendation by Lindsey). School finance officer said the RAISES WOULD COST THE SCHOOL SYSTEM (aka TAXPAYERS) $850,000.00 PER YEAR.

Lindsey declined the raise - after all, he received a 5 year contract and an increase in salary to $150,000.00 plus benefits and perks. “We went through some tough times when proration hit and really had to tighten our belts to make it through those years,” Lindsey said.  - COACH - NEWSFLASH !- It’s been more than 6 years since proration.

ONE YEAR LATER -  7/19/17 - TIMES DAILY

Superintendents MSCS Coach Lindsey, Colbert County Satchel, Tuscumbia Aiken told county commissioners they need MORE MONEY - and ask them to RAISE YOUR COUNTY SALES TAX..

The 3 spoke about several things:

Colbert County’s loss of students & declining tests scores because of bunsen burners.

Muscle Shoals has capital needs and more buildings. (more athletic facilities on top of the 10 million dollar complex?)

Tuscumbia has outdated buildings and needed repairs.

Each of them asserted their board members and city officials were in favor of the tax and even said ALL the superintendents supported the additional tax  (Sheffield Superintendent was not in attendance).

Times Daily reported in the same article: Sheffield Superintendent said his Board of Education does NOT support an increase in sales taxes.

4 DAYS LATER - 7/23/17 - TIMES DAILY

Tuscumbia mayor said he HAS NOT BEEN approached by the Tuscumbia Superintendent or members of the school board.

Muscle Shoals councilman Chris Hall said NO ONE HAS CALLED HIM about the proposed tax.

Sheffield mayor said “someone would have to do some convincing” to make him support a tax increase.

Lindsey said MSCS is facing roof repairs at McBride where a storm blew off a temporary roof (Insurance claim?) Chiller at the High School (been repaired and replaced how many times?) A new elementary school because of infrastructure problems with the two old schools. 

Those “old” buildings were "old" 12 months ago when he gave $850,000.00 a year in raises.  $850,000.00 a year would have gone a long way for the CHILDREN.

Satchel “needs” a new building to store records while renting a luxury vehicle at the taxpayers expense to go out of state. She also gave a whole week vacation to the employees at taxpayers expense as she went on a week of vacation. She has hired more central office employees.(That should make the total employees in CC schools close to 400 while less than half that number are teachers in the classroom.)

These 3 superintendents do not understand capital improvements planning and budgeting. A LACK OF FINANCIAL UNDERSTANDING and BUDGETING ON THEIR PART DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN EMERGENCY ON OUR PART OR TAXPAYERS FOOTING THEIR BILLS!

This job is more than these superintendents are qualified for when they deem these everyday issues an  “emergency”. 

http://www.timesdaily.com/news/education/muscle-shoals-school-workers-get-pay-hike/article_bb1445fb-c3d8-5748-bcfd-15531dfc4a41.html

http://www.timesdaily.com/news/local/commission-wants-public-meetings-to-discuss-school-tax-request/article_d8c5e70a-00af-5abe-b059-5e0bdad4db45.html

http://www.timesdaily.com/news/public-input-needed-in-colbert-tax-increase-request/article_006c7afc-ab0e-5ed0-b616-2a1e2369a0c2.html

 

 

Leslie M. Shoals