Lauderdale BOE Does Its Best

 

Elected Lauderdale County Board of Education member Larry Hill resigned effective June 30th due to health reasons. His replacement will serve approximately five and one-half years of his unexpired term. Is the job financially lucrative? According to public records, the position doesn't pay a salary; however, board members may receive a per diem of up to $900.00 per meeting. That doesn't mean local members receive that much, and we are attempting to find out just what each member is paid.

Still, board members need to meet certain requirements. The three requisites specifically mentioned in a TimesDaily article are: Someone who will move the system forward, put education first, and be ready to hit the ground running.

These requirements appear nebulous to us. What do you think? So just whom did the board select?

The new board member is Charlotte T. Hill who officially joined the coven, uh, we mean board, on July 2nd.

Did you notice her last name is Hill? Yes, she's the wife of Larry Hill whom she's replacing. According to an insider, Mrs. Hill has absolutely no background in education (do any of the rest?) and hasn't held a job in 30 years.

Surely no one is thinking that, no matter what, the Hill family will still bring home that per diem, no matter how large or small it is. For we all know that the Lauderdale Board puts the children first...

Lauderdale County BOE Meeting Wednesday!

 

There will be a regularly scheduled Lauderdale Board of Education meeting on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. This is short notice for many, but several have asked how to contact the superintendent and board members.

You may also e-mail them here: Board of Education

If you have problems to be addressed, you may not get immediate results; however, all complaints and comments sent to the board will remain in the appropriate permanent records.

Ethics: We didn't know it was such a dirty word.

A Reader Writes on New Lauderdale Phone Policy

Let me start by saying that I do NOT know enough about Jerry Hill to be a fan or not of his; however, I do agree that cell phones should not be allowed to be used during the school day by students or teachers (unless the teacher is on a break). Teachers first and foremost should be teaching and supervising students. Students should be learning in an environment in which they feel safe.

Cell phones take away from a students' ability to feel safe because just like a weapon a cell phone can be dangerous in the hands of some. Cell phone usage in schools opens up the door for harmful bullying whether by words on social media or by inappropriate pictures being taken with or without consent in a school’s locker room or bathroom. Furthermore, there is no good reason for a student to have a cell phone throughout the school day. Parents who argue that they need to get messages to their child during the school day can and should do it the old-fashioned way and call the office. If a child needs to get in touch with their parent during the school day, they should also follow the proper channels.

Some will argue that students need cell phones in case of emergencies such as an active school shooter. One could also argue that a student with a cell phone could be helping the shooter. Some just argue, and they usually fall into one of two groups. Group A thinks they ae above the rules, and group B are raising the bullies.l

Bottom line: We need honest, dependable people who have the students' best interest at heart running our schools. Unless your child is in a private school, you have the power to make that happen. Go out and vote for the best, most qualified people running for school board seats and superintendent positions because they determine your child’s teachers. (The most qualified candidates for teaching positions should be hired in our schools not just our former students and children of current teachers. We all know the direction that can take.) This is so important because we put a lot of trust in these people to prepare students for the next level and keep them safe.

As for vaping, it is a huge problem in schools both public and private.

Lauderdale Schools' Official Response to CRT

 

 

From the Office of the Lauderdale County Superintendent, Jerry Hill:

 

A response regarding Critical Race Theory and any other curriculum changes in our school system. 

 

In Lauderdale county, there have been no discussions on this matter. Not sure how it all of a sudden became an issue in our system because no one has called or met with the superintendent to “ask.”

 

In conjunction with the Governor's office and the state board of education, the Lauderdale County Board and Superintendent state that there are no plans to implement any curriculum changes in our school system related to Critical Race Theory. 

 

We, like you, want the best for our students and will continue to lobby our state leaders to use caution when considering any changes to our curriculum. 

 

It is our position that we are systematically opposed to any curricular subject content that has not been thoroughly vetted or does not follow state-approved guidelines. 

 

We are committed to staying on top of any changes that will affect our students. 

 

We appreciate your interest and welcome community involvement.

 

We want to encourage you to take up this matter with the state board of education and the state legislature. The next state board meeting is scheduled for August 12, in Montgomery. 

Lauderdale County Parents Object to CRT

 

Recently we published a guest blog mentioning Critical Race Theory in local schools. According to our writer, he was not aware of this. We had no sooner published than we began to receive messages concerning the school board meeting next Tuesday.

We have no opinion on this; however, for those who wish to know what is being taught in local schools, this is a good place to start in Lauderdale County. We doubt that CRT is the bugaboo that some portray it, but nevertheless parents have a right both to know and offer input.

*****

Yesterday we mentioned that over 200 supply chain businesses were hacked by a Russian group. Today the number has been upped to over 1,000. We strongly suggest everyone is prepared for the next few weeks.

The Next Principal at Lauderdale Career Tech?

 

Allen Thornton Career Technical Center - Is it the future of Lauderdale Education? The facility is currently located in Killen. 

Killen? Yes, so good they say it twice on their website. Doesn't anyone ever proof these things?

Now the principal for the past two years has been transferred. Is that a kind way of saying "given the boot?"

Who will take his place? We've asked around and have had no definitive answers. We're not sure if that's good or bad. 

We do see that the school still has a fax machine number listed. Parents, if you want to make the ultra-forward thinking Principal Gary Dan Williams' day, ask him why he's wasting money on a separate number for outmoded technology...

Lauderdale Terminates Nine Teachers

 

Let the petitions begin: The Lauderdale County Board of Education is not renewing the contracts of nine teachers for next year. Some parents are irate, while others are pleased. Of the nine, we've heard complaints about only one. Other than that, we know nothing; we doubt that it relates to any past scandals.

On the flip side, 103 are being rehired, making the terminations slightly over 8% of the faculty. These numbers don't include support personnel. If you're wondering what the national average is, according to one source, it's just over 2%.

Here's the list taken from the May 12th board meeting:

BROOKS ELEMENTARY
 

1. Rebecca Dawn Kelley           Pre-K Lead Teacher

LAUDERDALE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
 

2. Whitney Evans                      Science Teacher
3. Kayla Kelley Vandiver         Special Education Teacher

LEXINGTON HIGH SCHOOL
 

4. Cody Lee Taylor                   P.E. Teacher

ROGERS HIGH SCHOOL
 

5. Hannah Potter                       Pre-K Lead Teacher
6. Nathan Berryhill                   Band Director
7. Nicholas Siegel                       History Teacher

WATERLOO HIGH SCHOOL
 

8. Meagan Morris                      Elementary Teacher

WILSON HIGH SCHOOL
 

9. Brandon Balentine                Science Teacher

Lauderdale Coaching Move Spurs Complaint - Part II

 

When we did a blog on a troubled Lauderdale County high school principal, we discovered that those who hold that office are also considered to be the school's athletic director. Yet many school systems have a designated director for the entire network. Is this coming to Lauderdale County?

This week we learned that there's been a new coaching organization established without the consent of the board of education. We've been given the name of the alleged founder, but also told that more may be involved.

This organization requires that each school pay $450.00 to a kitty to be used for...whatever. There are seven high schools in the system, making the dues over 3K that isn't controlled by the board, but by an unofficial body.

Some of the parents feel this is simply a gateway to creating the position of athletic director. This seems like a stretch, but it could be the aim of some operating outside the board. 

We don't see how the high schools are obligated to pay this sum to an organization that has merely been thrust upon them. Like the kindergarten lottery, the board needs to step up and make a policy concerning non-official organizations in the system.

Lauderdale County Schools Draw Two Complaints - Part I

 

This week we've received two complaints about the Lauderdale County School system. One is a problem we hardly expected to hear. The schools have admission lotteries, and they're rigged, at least according to some parents.

Our information about this lottery system is scant, so we appreciate any input from parents on the subject. The bottom line is some parents believe their child's name has been removed from pools for preferred kindergartens. It seems the picks aren't done by computer program and the names are simply thrown into an open container that can be accessed by several individuals before the drawing.

On the surface, fighting to get into a specific county kindergarten seems humorous, but we're sure it can be upsetting to parents who feel their child has been cheated. What has the board of education said?

So far the board has remained silent on any irregularities with the drawings. Surely parents deserve some answers...and a better system.

Next: Just who came up with the idea for a new coaches' organization?

COVID-19 Pushes Lauderdale Schools Closer to Consolidation?

A Real Test for Lauderdale County Education

It will be interesting to watch the Lauderdale County Board of Education and its executive management scramble to cope with the economic impact of an extended COVID-19 quarantine. Obviously, sales tax revenues are going to decline precipitously as many stores, shops, and restaurants close their doors in an effort to slow the contagion. The layoffs that will continue as economic activity contracts will doubtless have a significant impact on state income tax revenues as well. The bottom line - significantly less sales tax collected locally and deep proration of state education budgets.


As challenging as it would have been to navigate this situation under ideal conditions, the task will now be exponentially more difficult because the school system's leadership has lately chosen to squander huge sums of public funds on highly speculative ventures. Most notable among these blunders being a completely unnecessary $610,000 expansion of the Board's administrative office campus, but at least that was a one-time, lump sum waste. Compounding the looming financial adversity, Senator Tim Melson's favorite hand maiden, board member Ronnie Owens, continues to be the chief proponent of draining $250,000 annually from school system revenues to help fund the Ag-Center boondoggle, a project whose viability was already highly dubious under the best of economic conditions.


Lauderdale's citizens should not be surprised when layoffs cut even into the ranks of tenured staff, and school consolidation will become far more likely than ever before, a virtual certainty I believe. But as I have always said, the segment of the Lauderdale citizenry that continues to elect these glad-handing, duplicitous sphincters richly deserves these adverse outcomes. Unfortunately, the fully literate among us must suffer alongside the morons, because they apparently outnumber us. The dumbassery against which we contend is profound and pervasive indeed.


Humbly submitted for you considerations by,

Justitia Adventus, Sic Semper Mendaces

New Lauderdale County Tech School

A missive from Zar:

I am so glad that the new season of Project Ag Center is finally back online. I know a lot of people originally complained about the casting, but you were right! They really are starting to grow on me.

I am also looking forward to the new upcoming spin-off show - L.C. Tech - A dramatic comedy based on the new technical school on the campus of the Ag Center.

Question: who will play the main role of Lauderdale County B.O.E. Superintendent?

One would think that the job of superintendent will include, but not be limited to, overseeing the planning and construction of the new school in the best interest of students, teachers, and community.

Is it also safe to assume that if the BOE was okay with spending almost $2 million on a field house (how they received the money is beside the point) that a new state-of-the-art tech facility will probably cost about as much as the Ag Center?

Ag board members have dangled this new tech school idea over our heads for far too long. They even took money away from our schools via TVA funding. Now it is time to elect a superintendent who will grab the ring and run.

Who will it be? Hill or Williams? I really do not know, nor do I understand why either candidate has yet to address this issue.

Until next time. Take care.

Your good bud, 

Zar

Next Big Lauderdale County Schools Brouhaha: Athletic Director

A few weeks ago, we published a blog concerning Lexington School principal Todd Davis. At that time, we learned he was also the athletic director for the school. Not long after, someone who regularly contributes information to our site informed us that each principal in the Lauderdale County system was also that school's athletic director. We haven't seen a job description for the title, nor do we know how much extra financial incentive is involved; however, we have been curious.

Now, in the throes of a runoff for county superintendent, there are rumors of plans to establish a county wide athletic director and do away with that facet of the principals' job. Is this a good idea?

We would like comments from the public, but it certainly seems like a much more practical approach to that aspect of school sports. How do the principals feel about this? We assume they would lose part of their income, but they would also lose a great deal of added stress.

Why is this an important issue now? Has a candidate (or both candidates) promised this job to a certain person in return for his support and endorsement? 

While it's possible, we're not sure if this is true of either Hill or Williams. After all, the position doesn't now exist and may never exist. To us it seems like another red herring to obfuscate the real issues. 

Again, comments welcome!

How to Vote on Tuesday for Lauderdale Superintendent?

Will Jon Hatton Meet His Waterloo On Tuesday?

Due to various factors, we're not going to endorse any one candidate in this election. We're going to comment on the four contenders in the order they fared in a recent poll:

4th - Scott Jones. Dr. Jones was kind enough to respond to our questions concerning the future of education in Lauderdale County. The only downside that we see with Jones is that he has run before and been soundly defeated in these attempts. He came in dead last in an unscientific online poll last month. 

3rd - Jon Hatton. Dr. Hatton did not respond to our questions. Since he's been in office, we've contacted him twice about school system problems and did not receive an answer to either request. Many feel he won the office four years ago when he defeated an incumbent who took on a tremendous amount of baggage while in office.

2nd - Gary Dan Williams. Dr. Williams did not respond to our questions; however, two of our blogging team are very familiar with the educator. One supports Williams, believing one or two ex-employees of Williams have set out to have him defeated. The other thinks him personable, but incompetent.

1st - Jerry Hill. Dr. Hill contacted us, stating he planned to send in comments on our list of questions. As of yet, we have not received those comments, but do appreciate his effort to reach out to us and the voters. The main criticism we're seeing of Hill is that he got where he is because of his family. While family connections can help in any career, no one has a choice in the family he or she is born into; therefore, we don't find this a particularly valid complaint.

There you have the basics. We certainly believe there will be a runoff and will comment more at that time. Vote wisely!

The Board of Education Is Ready To Swing

How We Visualize Our Friend ZAR

It is that time once again, ladies and gentlemen. Time when voters in Lauderdale County will forgo voting for President on the Democratic Primary Ballot just to have a say in local elections.

I am almost as hyped as when Melson released that video the night before his last election. He poked fun at his political opponent for wearing a pink hat before swearing his alliance, not to the people of Lauderdale County, not the State of Alabama or United States Constitution, but to the Trump Movement.

I wonder if Superintendent Hatton goes by talking points? Waiting on him to release a statement concerning recent forced resignations seemed to take as long as the almost half a decade that plans for the new Tech School have played second fiddle to the ag center.

Principal Williams has the most experience in trade schooling. I understand that claims have been made that he is possibly a hot head? I have never met the guy, but since Facebook court is currently not in session I will make a judgement. Williams is hereby found guilty of tooting his own horn in the first degree. He is sentenced to cease from making videos that resemble Alexander Shunnarah ads, I am your superintendent Lauderdale County!

Coach Hill can yell and get pretty loud as well. Please remind me again why everyone at Brooks High School was so up-in-arms concerning their football player's field house? They are building a coliseum now. I also do not understand why Principal Hill made such a huge deal about being endorsed by the Leaders of Limu?

I have no doubt that Principal Jones would do a great job as superintendent, but by my own principle I usually do not vote for anyone who runs for office several times without being elected.

This question goes to all the Republican candidates:

How can anyone be a Trump supporter, and also be anti-bullying? Isn't that an oxymoron...?

Speaking of moronic things, we live in a state that still believes hitting children as young as a 5-years-old with a stick is the right thing for principals to do.

Paddling students does not require any level of patience.

Principals paddle the same students day-after-day, and yet they cannot comprehend that it does no good?

Who is the ignorant one now? If you don't like that, stick it in your smoker!

Happy Leap Day Everyone! Don't get too froggy.

Your good bud,


ZAR

Lauderdale County Schools Continue in Violation of State Law

So I see that some Lexington High School parents are now voicing their irritation at being coerced to participate in fundraiser after fundraiser after fundraiser by faculty and staff at the school, all while the school makes some highly questionable spending decisions. Take it from someone who knows more about the inner workings of public school finances than most folks will ever understand, this is common practice throughout Lauderdale County and has been for many years.

What does this say about the financial condition of our schools, you ask? Well, making purchases of such dubious need as a trailered commercial smoker does indeed make the school's administration appear irresponsible, impulsive, and indulgent, but there is a much deeper reason for schools to foist endless fundraising efforts onto their students and parents than the general public seems to understand.

Throughout Lauderdale County, high school athletic programs have been operating in the red (at a recurring annual loss) for many years. How do they continue to operate year after year at a loss you might ask? Simple. Colluding with their athletic staff, school administrators routinely "borrow" what they consider to be "excess funds" from other school activities, funds which were never intended to subsidize an insolvent athletic program. This "borrowing" even extends to State funds raised through taxation and appropriated for other specific purposes. This is a flagrant violation of Alabama State Law.

Why hasn't the public been made aware of this, you might ask? The public HAS been made aware of this! The State of Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts has repeatedly cited the Lauderdale County Board of Education in its last three consecutive annual audit reports for violating Section 94 of the Constitution of Alabama which prohibits schools from operating any of their activities in deficit. The Examiners' reports are public record and can be downloaded from their website at examiners.alabama.gov. The Public might also recall a front page article about this in the TimesDaily on November 19, 2017.

The Superintendent, Jon Hatton, and Board Member Ronnie Owens have now announced their re-election bids. Does their apparent cavalier attitude toward the school system's continued violation of State Law suggest anything about what kind of people they are? Perhaps not. But one thing is certain - while they cannot seem to find the funds needed to make the system's athletic programs solvent, they sure can find $610,000 to purchase unneeded land next to the Board Office, and they sure can see their way clear to allow Tim Melson to siphon $250,000+ from school funds annually to fund his Ag Center boondoggle. Yet they have the unmitigated gall to come begging for your votes in the upcoming primary elections, touting their enlightened leadership and their superior financial management skills, as if they have the first clue about how to run a hot dog stand, much less a school system.

Humbly submitted for your consideration by,

Lauderdale School Consolidation Rears Its Ugly Head

It's been almost 11 months since we've seen the subject of school consolidation broached in Lauderdale County. Is it because it's no longer being considered or due to an election drawing nearer?

At least one candidate has dared to mention the possibility, a possibility he says is not needed. That candidate is Gary Dan Williams; where do the other three candidates stand?

Let's hope all four candidates remember that the harder they oppose consolidation now, the more difficult it will be to persuade citizens that it's needed at some point in the near future. 

No matter the reason, it seems that Waterloo is safe for a few more football seasons.

Remember our aborted series on personnel problems at UNA? Problems with audio to go with the blogs prevented us from continuing. Concerned Citizen 101 has now transferred these recordings to YouTube, a site from which we can easily download them.

Beginning tomorrow, we hope to begin presenting CC's riveting accounts of machinations at UNA. While we published part one previously, we'll start from the beginning with audio properly attached.

It should be interesting...

Clueless & Inept Lauderdale Educators?

A long-time friend and professional educator has contacted us concerning one of the candidates for Lauderdale County superintendent. We won't name the subject of his communication, but our friend has found him to be clueless and inept. We then asked our friend to prepare some questions for the four candidates; here's the list:

* What is your professional background?

* Why should voters select you over the other candidates?

* If elected as Superintendent, what changes do you envision for LC schools?

* Which system employees do you feel are most underappreciated and how do you plan to address that issue?

* Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

* Where do you see LC schools in 5 years?

We've already been contacted by one candidate. Props to him for being aware of what is being talked about in the community. We hope to have statements from all candidates in the near future.

With four candidates in the primary, a runoff seems almost inevitable. Nevertheless, Lauderdale voters should be prepared to make the best decision when they arrive at the polls in March.

Welcome To Alabama

LCBOE, You Can't Have It Both Ways

We've been fortunate to receive new blogs from both the Lauderdale Luminary and ZAR. Today, we'll present the Luminary's view of the Lauderdale School Board; tomorrow, we'll publish ZAR's most recent take on current events.

We want to stress that we'll be happy to publish any blogs defending the school board and its recent actions. Unfortunately, we've not received any...

I find it very interesting that members of the Lauderdale County Board of Education would complain to the TimesDaily that "social media is an enemy to credible information" regarding the recent flurry of staff resignations, several of which are said to be related to the on-campus sexual activities of a group at Lauderdale County High School. It seems terribly disingenuous of the board members to complain in this way. Being the politically astute individuals that they are, they must realize that their own evasion and obfuscation of the facts surrounding this matter merely fuel the rumor and speculation that naturally occurs independently of the existence of social media platforms. Social media merely amplifies the effect. Surely the highly educated moral exemplars who sit on this Board know this to be true. So what is their angle? What do they expect to gain by attenuating the truth? Whatever their strategy here, I do not believe that it will redound to their political benefit in the long run.


One thing is certain, even to the most casual of observers. When it comes to whether an errant employee will be coerced to tender a resignation to this Board, it depends upon who the employee is related to and who the employee knows. The Board cannot show that it has ever consistently followed any objective criteria for employee discipline or dismissal. Incestuous nepotism and cronyism are systemic attributes in all governmental agencies in Lauderdale County, and most especially on the Board of Education.


"Those who live by the sword, shall die by the sword". The pompous pedantic pontificators on this Board would do well to embrace the multi-faceted meaning of this proverb derived from the Gospel of Matthew, as would all such two-faced dissembling politicians.


Humbly submitted for your considerations by,

Special: When Is Next LCBOE Meeting?

Many of our readers are complaining about lack of information concerning the next meeting of the Lauderdale County Board of Education. It is not listed on the calendar. Why?

Aside from this being odd, it is listed on the left sidebar on the school system's website. The meeting is tomorrow. Details:

Date: Wednesday, December 4th

Time: 3:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Place: Board room of the district office, 355 County Road 61.

We realize that many are working at this time; however, if you can attend, you should. These people work for you. Don't forget that...

LCHS Names/More Fallout to Come?

Since the names of terminated LCHS employees are now posted online, we're presenting screen shots of the board minutes in which their names are listed:

Several parents have emailed us asking what will become of their child's special ed classes. While we have no inside information, we would think teachers from other schools will be brought in to fill the void until permanent replacements can be arranged. Yes, this is very sad for these students. 

Second, we've had several who maintain that the terminations are not over. We believe it's possible that more will be asked to resign, but have no inside knowledge of this. Again, we would advise anyone who has the financial means to remove their child from this system and place him/her in a private setting. 

To those of you whose families have been affected, we say good luck!