Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

After attending the board of education meeting on March 31, I can safely and honestly say that business as usual" reigns supreme. Simply put, our school system is undergoing a transformation unlike anything we've ever experienced. There are several extenuating circumstances, i.e., the current economic downturn, the resultant loss of tax revenue that must be made up by increasing taxes (although nominal they are still increases) and by the loss of, now, up to nine teacher positions within the three schools. Decreases in attendance rolls is a concern also, but the economic situation explains much of that.

Once again, as in the November meeting I attended, the board "picked and chose" the written questions to be answered, and almost all answers given were polished palm pieces that did all but answer the question posed. Nothing of any kernel of sincerity was given in these articulated, and "board policy" were the watchwords given. I think I even remembered two or three questions and the same answers being given back at the November meeting.

As I see it, until this board decides that the fair, honorable thing to do is to take questions directly from the floor, and without the aid of prepared, regurgitated rhetoric, to answer those questions that we as taxpayers, no, as citizens who have a vested interest in how our system is run, then the group, good as their intentions may be, will be considered suspect maybe not of any wrong-doing, but most definitely of trying to "CYA."

I would strongly urge the board to reconsider and change its policy of not taking questions from the floor, whether it be in a small room with five in the audience or a large theater with 200 in attendance.

Darryl Drake

Millen, GA

JCHS Class of 1978

Dear Editor,

Recently I attended a local theatrical performance. I looked around, expecting to see the reincarnation of Jim Henson. Instead, the audience was entertained by Carol Gay and the Muppets.

Last night, (Monday, March 31,) the board held a genuine official meeting with the property owners. Genuine official means the board members can talk, but you can't. Most questions either remained unanswered, or were explained in a manner that would've had Benjamin Franklin scratching his noggin.

Reading from prepared scripts, several of the speakers stumbled over the wording. What a show.

Most intriguing was the use of acronyms like RESA and SASSI. I've noticed that the use of a bunch of capital letters instead of words usually translates into, "It's going to cost me more!" or "Bubba, let me impress you."

Folks listened as the chairman and board members lamented over their personal agony and concerns for those whom they chose to terminate. Their agony was so great that they had the termination notices delivered by proxy.

Then there was the oxymoron: "We have to run the school system like a business, but we can't treat the kids like a business…?" Then, the analogy that our kids are like a bag of seed corn. We have to take what we get. That probably wasn't the highest point of the night.

Some kept reminding the crowd that being a board member is a tough job. I'm sure it is. However, if you feel that it's necessary to keep complaining, why don't you just not run again?

The icing on the cake came when one board member answered the question, "What incentives could the board offer a Jenkins County student who goes off to get a degree and wants to come back as a teacher?" The answer was, "Why would they even want to? The only reason they would want to come back is if they had family and/or a family business." Huh?

My last unanswered question was, "How did the board decide to build a multi-million dollar gymnasium, and then discover that a new school was needed?" The current location isn't suitable! Hey, maybe we can build the new school somewhere else, and just bus our kids to PE.

I want to thank our dedicated teachers. You really do make a difference. And, Ray Miller you have been a positive role model for my children and grandchildren. You didn't deserve this.

Mike Lane

Dear Editor:

Wow - what a season! The Emanuel County Institute (ECI) football team experienced 'the perfect season' - 15 and 0 - and brought home the Class A State Football Championship! The awesome record brought excitement to the school, the Twin City community and the entire Swainsboro- Emanuel County area.

However, the support shown reached far beyond the county line. Support from Millen/Jenkins County, Metter/Candler County, Portal/Bulloch County, our Region 3A brothers and sisters, along with other surrounding counties during the playoffs and up to and including the state championship game was phenomenal!

The ECI Bulldog Club, coaching staff and team appreciates the encouragement, prayers and support shown to the football team's efforts. You are all truly a part of our team, and we are proud to call you our neighbors and friends. Know that we sincerely appreciate the support and financial contributions during the '07 Class A road to the championship.

We cherish your friendship, and pray for God's blessings to you and yours.

Bill Thompson, president

ECI Bulldog Club

Dear Editor,

The Board of Education (BOE) meeting this past Monday was interesting and somewhat informative. It was probably the largest crowd that has ever attended a BOE meeting in Jenkins County. What I found interesting was a statement by Mr. Bennett at the end of the meeting concerning attending board meetings. He said that the board meets every month on the third Monday and nobody (or at least very few) ever attends. I guess no one pays attention until the train derails! We should be informed when important decisions are on the agenda.

I don't fully know how our educational system works (money and education wise) because when the "gooberment" gets involved in anything it gets as complicated as Chinese arithmetic. I do know that the "No Child Left a Dime" act has cost us a lot of money and parents as well as businesses are lamenting that the current educational system is failing this entire generation.

At the meeting there were some questions asked about how people are hired or dismissed and the answers were: for hiring, the best qualified (in the opinion of the board members) were selected, but for dismissing the policy was last hired, first fired. Now somehow those positions seem out of alignment to me. If we hire only the best qualified, then shouldn't we fire only the least qualified?

Although I didn't attend the previous meeting, I read in The Millen News report that some people were calling for the dismissal of many of the board members. After this meeting, I heard some venomous remarks, and as I was riding home, it occurred to me that maybe one of the qualifications to be a board member should be that the candidate has a background in education. At least then, when they choose a person for a position, they will have a better idea of who is best qualified and when they make cut backs more consideration will be given to qualifications rather than longevity.

One thing apparent in this meeting was that the people want change. Change comes slowly. It doesn't get terrible overnight, and it will not improve overnight. The community will have to work toward change for the better by getting involved with the system and making recommendations to the board. Knowing how it works is the key to fixing the problem.

Wayne Salter Suburbs of Perkins