One of the issues the Oak Ridge Board of Education has been discussing is weather or not to have a residency requirement for top administrators. Another "hot topic" is weather or not School officials and adminitrators should have their children enrolled in the school system they serve. What is your opinion? Answer our poll questions.
A recent Letter to the Editor:
BOE member's residency concerns too little, too late - Oak Ridge, TN - The Oak Ridge
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Are all ORHS students offered equal options?
One issue that has been brought out is that ORHS offers many AP and advanced classes for high achieveing and gifted students but not as many options to the average and below average students. While the Honors and AP classes are great for the high achieving students, the options for the average student seem to be more limited. I also feel if more attention and encouragement were given to average and below average students then more of them would be able to take the AP classes at the Jr. and Sr. level possibly improving our Newsweek ranking even more.
Also having one child who is gifted I do know that special attention is given to monitor her progress on an ongoing basis. I am concerned because I feel all students should have proper monitoring, encouragement and equal options. What is your opinion? Please vote on our poll.
On another note:
It was reported at Monday's School Board meeting and in the Oak Ridger that ORHS is still ranked in the Newsweek poll. Apparently the data was not reported in time to be published. This year the ranking is just a little higher than last year. It is still somewhat concerning that our rankings in this poll have dropped significantly over the last several years and we are still failing NCLB as well.
ORHS ranks No. 889 in Newsweek poll - Oak Ridge, TN - The Oak Ridger
http://www.oakridger.com/localnews/x592694730Source: oakridger.com
Also having one child who is gifted I do know that special attention is given to monitor her progress on an ongoing basis. I am concerned because I feel all students should have proper monitoring, encouragement and equal options. What is your opinion? Please vote on our poll.
On another note:
It was reported at Monday's School Board meeting and in the Oak Ridger that ORHS is still ranked in the Newsweek poll. Apparently the data was not reported in time to be published. This year the ranking is just a little higher than last year. It is still somewhat concerning that our rankings in this poll have dropped significantly over the last several years and we are still failing NCLB as well.
ORHS ranks No. 889 in Newsweek poll - Oak Ridge, TN - The Oak Ridger
http://www.oakridger.com/localnews/x592694730Source: oakridger.com
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
What is your opinion????
Whether you agree with our opinion or not we encourage all Oak Ridge citizens to submit letters to the editor to both the Oak Ridger and the Oak Ridge Observer. Let your voice be heard (or at least read anyway).
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Digging Deep into the Data
Trina's response:
As expected, the ORSB voted 4-1 to extend Dr. Bailey’s contract this evening. We are now stuck with him through 2013. Before bestowing more glowing praise on the super and after thoroughly patting themselves on the back, the board had the administration provide a partial response to my letter. Unfortunately, as Mr. Green pretty much stated, the data is quite sophisticated and probably cannot be properly understood by the average citizen. I think I’ll give it a shot anyway.
1. The administration maintains that Dr. Bailey did not receive a salary increase for the 08/09 school year. Instead, they state that what appeared to be a salary increase was actually a manipulation of an annuity. School budget documents delineate the annuity in question into a separate line item (#72320 189 “Other Salaries & Wages”) from the salary line item which is #72320 101. The 2010 Proposed Budget clearly shows an annual increase in the salary line item each year as follows:
07/08 Audit $128,802
08/09 Approved $131,888
09/10 Proposed $133,866
2. The administration stated that no TN superintendent license exists; my point that Dr. Bailey was one of only 5 superintendents out of 135 in the state who is not a licensed educator was not refuted.
3. The administration demonstrated an increase in the ORS graduation rate. This does not conflict with my original contention that we failed the No Child Left Behind standard of 90% 2 years in a row, while 92% of Tennessee schools passed.
4. The administration alluded to the Newsweek rankings that Oak Ridge schools have completely off of this year. They offered no data to show that Oak Ridge schools are, in fact, on that list.
5. The administration itemized some (not all) of the principals who have been replaced by Dr. Bailey. They failed to provide the pertinent details such as how many were forced to resign and how many resigned or retired early.
6. The administration addressed only one of the 6 years of overspending that the superintendent’s travel line item reflects. Setting aside the one year they did explain, the overspending percentage is reduced from 56% to 50%. No explanation for why this occurred or how it was paid for was offered.
The administration neglected to mention the other 10 points that my letter discussed (US News & World Report rankings, enrollment decline, increased spending, vehicle purchase and allowance for unlimited personal use, excess year-end assets, the Oak Leaf scandal, the transportation cuts, the high school coach fiasco, the assistant superintendent who left our school system and then returned and chooses not to put his children in Oak Ridge schools, and the newly hired high school principal who has less experience than the majority of our system’s teachers and has NO managerial experience.)
I was pleasantly surprised that Mr. Eby chose to vote against the extension. I wasn’t surprised at the rest of the board’s votes but am very disappointed. I regret my votes in the last two elections for two of the current board members. I won’t make that mistake again.
Trina Baughn
Dan Digregoiro did question whether or not the board had to vote at this time but unfortunately was muted on his last attempt when the vote was called and he went ahead and voted yes to the contract extension.
I was impressed that Bob Eby voted no, stating he felt he could not make an informed decision at this time. I sincerely hope that Mr. Eby will continue to hold the School Board accountable for implementing better criteria for evaluations of the superintendent and themselves next year!
While some of the data presented at the meeting was impressive, it did NOT address all of the concerns that have been voiced by citizens.
Michelle Doka
As expected, the ORSB voted 4-1 to extend Dr. Bailey’s contract this evening. We are now stuck with him through 2013. Before bestowing more glowing praise on the super and after thoroughly patting themselves on the back, the board had the administration provide a partial response to my letter. Unfortunately, as Mr. Green pretty much stated, the data is quite sophisticated and probably cannot be properly understood by the average citizen. I think I’ll give it a shot anyway.
1. The administration maintains that Dr. Bailey did not receive a salary increase for the 08/09 school year. Instead, they state that what appeared to be a salary increase was actually a manipulation of an annuity. School budget documents delineate the annuity in question into a separate line item (#72320 189 “Other Salaries & Wages”) from the salary line item which is #72320 101. The 2010 Proposed Budget clearly shows an annual increase in the salary line item each year as follows:
07/08 Audit $128,802
08/09 Approved $131,888
09/10 Proposed $133,866
2. The administration stated that no TN superintendent license exists; my point that Dr. Bailey was one of only 5 superintendents out of 135 in the state who is not a licensed educator was not refuted.
3. The administration demonstrated an increase in the ORS graduation rate. This does not conflict with my original contention that we failed the No Child Left Behind standard of 90% 2 years in a row, while 92% of Tennessee schools passed.
4. The administration alluded to the Newsweek rankings that Oak Ridge schools have completely off of this year. They offered no data to show that Oak Ridge schools are, in fact, on that list.
5. The administration itemized some (not all) of the principals who have been replaced by Dr. Bailey. They failed to provide the pertinent details such as how many were forced to resign and how many resigned or retired early.
6. The administration addressed only one of the 6 years of overspending that the superintendent’s travel line item reflects. Setting aside the one year they did explain, the overspending percentage is reduced from 56% to 50%. No explanation for why this occurred or how it was paid for was offered.
The administration neglected to mention the other 10 points that my letter discussed (US News & World Report rankings, enrollment decline, increased spending, vehicle purchase and allowance for unlimited personal use, excess year-end assets, the Oak Leaf scandal, the transportation cuts, the high school coach fiasco, the assistant superintendent who left our school system and then returned and chooses not to put his children in Oak Ridge schools, and the newly hired high school principal who has less experience than the majority of our system’s teachers and has NO managerial experience.)
I was pleasantly surprised that Mr. Eby chose to vote against the extension. I wasn’t surprised at the rest of the board’s votes but am very disappointed. I regret my votes in the last two elections for two of the current board members. I won’t make that mistake again.
Trina Baughn
Michelle's response:
Dan Digregoiro did question whether or not the board had to vote at this time but unfortunately was muted on his last attempt when the vote was called and he went ahead and voted yes to the contract extension.
I was impressed that Bob Eby voted no, stating he felt he could not make an informed decision at this time. I sincerely hope that Mr. Eby will continue to hold the School Board accountable for implementing better criteria for evaluations of the superintendent and themselves next year!
While some of the data presented at the meeting was impressive, it did NOT address all of the concerns that have been voiced by citizens.
Michelle Doka
Thursday, July 9, 2009
We at SERVE
We at SERVE want to inform the public about issues relating to our community. These issues include safety issues, issues pertaining to our school system and other community issues. We also would like citizen input so feel free to add comments to our blogs and take our polls. We hope to make Oak Ridge a better and safer place for all who call this city home!! For safety issues you can also go to http://protectoakridgekids.blogspot.com/ In the post that follows are some Letters to the Editor we have submitted urging the public to speak out to School Board members to not vote on yet another contract extension for the current superintendent. Please read and act if you agree!!!
A message to the citizens of OR - Oak Ridge, TN - The Oak Ridger Source: oakridger.com
School chief misleading public? - Oak Ridge, TN - The Oak Ridger Source: oakridger.com
Is Bailey worth renewing his contract? - Oak Ridge, TN - The Oak Ridger Source: oakridger.com
Contact information for School Board Members:
Keys Fillauer wkfillauer@comcast.net 482-3841
Bob Eby ebyr@usec.com
Jennifer Richter jrichter@utk.edu 483-2912
Angie Agle agle@bellsouth.net 482-6979
Dan Digregorio donato60@gmail.com 483-8939
A message to the citizens of OR - Oak Ridge, TN - The Oak Ridger Source: oakridger.com
School chief misleading public? - Oak Ridge, TN - The Oak Ridger Source: oakridger.com
Is Bailey worth renewing his contract? - Oak Ridge, TN - The Oak Ridger Source: oakridger.com
Contact information for School Board Members:
Keys Fillauer wkfillauer@comcast.net 482-3841
Bob Eby ebyr@usec.com
Jennifer Richter jrichter@utk.edu 483-2912
Angie Agle agle@bellsouth.net 482-6979
Dan Digregorio donato60@gmail.com 483-8939
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