"We Can Do Better"

#4

I attended the Called School Board Meeting on June 3, 2010. During that meeting I addressed the Board with these comments:

"As you press on with the task of:

• Coordinating with the Search Firm to find a new Superintendent, and
• As you conclude the FY 2011 Budget process

I remind you that the new principals for the 4 Grant High Schools need an effective monitoring system by the management staff to insure that they are 'thinking outside of the box' in an effective manner and also leading appropriate efforts as the Bibb School System is involved in 'The Race To The Top' program. I would hope this can also be done without an increase in the management staff. Thank You!!"

The State of Georgia is awaiting the announcement of which states will receive the "The Race To The Top" funds. The planned announcement date for Phase 2 applications (of which Georgia is one) is scheduled for September 2010.

During the 3 June 2010 meeting it was announced that the board anticipates information from the Transportation Department regarding possible budget cuts so that the board could adopt the FY 2011 Budget during the Scheduled Board Meeting on Thursday, June 17, 2010. I understand that the Board has conducted work sessions to wrap up the proposed budget.

I understand the the Search Firm for the next Superintendent has now established a "Web Site" so that citizens can submit their input regarding the Search. I also understand that this information will be published within the next day or two.

On Monday, June 14, 2010 I attended the Education Policy Forum sponsored by the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) at Central Georgia Technical College. This event had a very informative agenda and I am glad I attended.

The highlight of the Meeting was a presentation entitled "What I Wish I'd Known Before I Ran For the Board." Mr. Albert Abrams (currently holding Post 8) made an excellent presentation. All three of the Bibb County Candidates for Post 8 attended this afternoon event.

During this Forum I also learned that some of our elected leaders to the General Assembly feel that Public Education is a lost cause. During this Forum I learned that 92% of our Scholars in Georgia attend Public Education Schools in grades K through 12. It was pointed out that as Citizens we all should support Public Education simply because the citizens of the future will be those who we will rely on to provide our health services, retail services, and the list goes on. I understand this information, which points out quite dramatically that we all depend on the outcome of Scholars who are in the Public Education System should be a valid reason for broad base support of Public Education in Georgia. Think for a moment, 92 out of 100 citizens of the future certainly means that as we all mature and interact with service providers in 2015 (or any other year) we will place our fate on citizens that were educated in the public system. To state this concept briefly, "We all have a stake in the results of Public Education" no matter where our own Children are educated. Thus we all have a responsibility to support Public Education as we "Race To The Top." I look forward to your vote in November 2010. Thank You!!

Published by Alan Thiese

Candidate for Post 8, Bibb County Georgia School Board