Protesters save CCPS art and music programs in preliminary budget
Monday night, 500 parents, students, and teachers protested many of the proposed budget cuts created by Clayton County Public Schools Superintendent Edmond Heatley in order to offset an estimated $49 million deficit over the next two years. One suggestion included cutting 37 days off the school year and making the school day two hours longer, which our Board of Education rejected.
“I am concerned about students being able to be actively involved in learning for two hours longer each day,” adds BOE Chairperson Pam Anderson. “I understand that such a move would save the district money, but I must have assurance that student achievement will not decline. We also will have to consider the effect such a move will have on after-school activities.”
According to the News-Daily, the list of cuts include: Reducing consultative teachers by 46 positions ($6 million); delaying textbook purchases in fiscal year 2012 ($2.8 million); reducing utility costs ($2.7 million); switching to a virtual alternative education program ($2.6 million); cutting 12 high school assistant principal positions ($2.3 million); eliminating school shuttle bus services in the district ($1.9 million); cutting eight coordinator positions ($1.9 million); eliminating the elementary school In-School Suspension program ($1.6 million); cutting six middle school assistant principal positions ($1.1 million), and reducing the school system’s transportation department budget by $1 million.
One cut many will approve of is CCPS no longer holding its high school graduation ceremonies outside of Clayton County. This has been a sore spot with many residents over the years, who preferred to see the money paid to outside facilities stay in county coffers.
Another public hearing will be held before the BOE approves a new budget at the end of June.
Your thoughts? Click here to view the Superintendent’s Budget Recommendations.
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70 comments Add your comment
Brick House in FP
March 11th, 2011
1:13 am
..Should State Representative Darryl Jordan, of District 77, change his first name to “NO” or “Ney” ?
…Every time a Legislative Bill comes up that make any sort of logic, for the people in our county, Darryl Jordon votes against it.
…It gets worse
….James Brown was running on the Republican ticket against Darryl Jordon and James lost by a landslide defeat :
Election Summary Report
Clayton County
State of Georgia General Election
November 2, 2010
STATE HOUSE 77
Total
Number of Precincts 11
Precincts Reporting 11 100.0 %
Total Votes 9599
JAMES BROWN (R) 1074 – 11.19%
DARRYL JORDAN (I) D 8515 – 88.71%
…..We have to do a much better job at keeping a more closer eye on our State Legislators from Clayton County; This should be embarrassing to all of us in this county.
…Before we can ask for more improvements in our county, we should ask ourselves about those that are Representing our best interest at Georgia’s General Assembly Sessions, under our Gold Dome.
Matt Dillon
March 11th, 2011
5:53 am
The more I hear, the more I wish the State Of Georgia would desolve this county. Its almost hopeless.
Brick House in FP
March 11th, 2011
4:38 pm
SynamonSays! : ” I would like to suggest that the BOE go to the Clayton County Legislative Delegation and ask them to lift the millage cap ”
…”Two wrongs don’t make a right “
The Shadow
March 11th, 2011
5:03 pm
Mr. Ralph could not have been more embarrassed at this past Tuesdays Board meeting when he had to present a Driver’s Safety Scholarship to four outstanding Clayton County Students.
The students should indeed be commended for their safe driving achievements!!!
Wole Ralph, in his role as the Clayton County Safe Driving Initiative Chairman should have excused himself from this self belittling and very demeaning role he played.
How disrespectful to the deserving young awardees? Mr. Ralph had them play the role of unwitting dupes in his appearance as a role model. But then again, if he has no respect for himself how can we expect him to respect fellow citizens.
And by the way Mr. Ralph, since you refused a sobriety test and your license has been automatically suspended, how have you been transporting yourself?
Don’t let The Shadow find out that you are being chauffeured by Clayton County vehicles and drivers at taxpayer cost.
But Mr. Ralph, The Shadow does know doesn’t he?
To avoid further public embarrassment, admit your misuse of County Vehicles and Manpower or you will be publically scorned. Better to admit it early than late. If not that little open records vehicle use log might be made public now wouldn’t it? Certainly Sir, if true, you should remove yourself from office.
Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows. HA HA HA HA HA
Brick House in FP
March 11th, 2011
5:48 pm
..No Mater how sad or disgusting it might seem to me, the Clayton County voters and their choices in elected officials never ceases to amaze me and provide my thirst for entertainment, if nothing else.
…There is never a dull moment in this county; How can we not fail to love our voters for this new form of entertainment in our county ?
claybar
March 12th, 2011
4:45 pm
did you know that the 4 day week would have saved all the other items proposed to be cut from the budget
The Shadow
March 12th, 2011
9:20 pm
Tragic that Ms. Baldwin has chosen to play the race card. She seems quick to inject race when alleged crimes are being prosecuted but not a squeek while Jeff Turner, Terry Baskin and Ms. Knox are being persecuted. But thats different.
From: C. Synamon Baldwin
Sent: Friday, March 11, 2011 11:11 AM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: BLACK WOMEN UNDER ATTACK IN CLAYTON COUNTY? PLEASE LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS…PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO YOUR EMAIL COMMUNITY…
Greetings NAACPers and Friends!
As you know, at the NAACP we receive numerous complaints. We are revitalizing our local chapter at this time so that we can address the complaints in a timely matter. We ask your patience and support as we move forward. I have been given permission to craft a Resolution to present to our National Office regarding, ” a seemingly concerted attack on Black elected and appointed officials.” Please send me your thoughts and ideas for the Resolution.
I received a very disturbing letter that I feel compelled to share with you. This person believes there is an attack on Black women. It reads as follows and I have inputted it exactly as it was written:
DAngerous to Black Women
When warned several months ago that our DA Tracy Lawson had shown a high level of disregard for Black Women, some of you scoffed at the notion. Just because she cut a deal to allow a man to publicly beat a Black woman and only spend 43 days in jail was fine some of you said.
Now you see this same DA attempting to prosecute another Black woman, Angela Jackson, a well educated woman who has led the county finance department to win many awards (AJC writer highlights her accomplishments in the upcoming issue of We Are Clayton magazine). The DAngerous is prosecuting her for not keeping Verizon call logs that they can get any time they want by asking for them.
Not only is she attempting to prosecute, but she is purposefully stretching the law to make this “non crime” a felony. It must be more to this, some of you may say. Surely, we didn’t elect a person who would do something like this, you say. When she is found innocent, I hope you will see what I see now. Tracy Lawson is DAngerous.
We have received phone calls and questions regarding this recent occurrence. You are encouraged to contact the DA for answers as we have not looked at this.
C.Synamon Baldwin, President
Clayton County Branch NAACP
404.424.6567
A Mass Meeting for Black women to explore this assertion is being planned and you will receive information regarding date, location and time.
SynamonSays!
March 12th, 2011
9:53 pm
Not happy in Clayton? Leave, we do not need the cry babies.
Taxpayer
March 12th, 2011
10:24 pm
Synamon, why do you have such an ugly spirit? How can you lead an organization and/or people when you speak with such venom? People are always going to disagree, so why do you behave or speak in such a contentious and confrontational manner? There are some who are upset about how this county is operating and choose to speak accordingly. We don’t have to agree with what they are saying, but we certainly don’t have to call them names either. I hope you take this with the sincerity in which it was written.
Brick House in FP
March 12th, 2011
10:53 pm
SynamonSays! : “Not happy in Clayton? Leave, we do not need the cry babies”
..For the first, I have to agree with you !
…I might add that, Clayton County has No more room left for self-serving, patronizing, egotistical, arrogant, greedy flim-flam opportunists. We would get along a lot better without these people in our county.
Oh really?
March 13th, 2011
9:52 am
Lets see.
Failed homeowners group.
Failed “TV”(cough) show.
Now running a failed local civil rights group.
Now becoming the joke on the forum.
Oh yeah! Your opinion carries weight here!
The Shadow
March 13th, 2011
10:03 am
The communiqué’ below contains a simply unbelievable diatribe generated by Ms. Synamon Baldwin, now Chief of the Clayton NAACP.
It was difficult to believe a lady such as Ms. Baldwin and the NAACP, both of which The Shadow hold in the highest regards, would stoop so low as to play the race card. This holds especially true in light of the recent past where County officials pursued the former police chief Jeff Turner, the outlandish actions by some on the Board against the Tax Commissioner and finally Ms. Knox of the Housing Authority whistleblower fame.
All of the above are fine Black Citizens and agents of this county but not one public comment about the indignation they suffered at the hands of their fellow black colleagues in this county.
There is abject silence at the call for an investigation of Chairman Ralph, using county vehicles to allegedly transport himself after losing his drivers license following an alleged drunken rampage on Stewart Avenue Metropolitan Avenue.
The NAACP did not even have the decency to come to the aide of Mr. Bell, when he was recently cited for riding and elephant illegally at the Universoul Circus in Atlanta. Even PITA defended the elephant! http://www.ajc.com/news/clayton/dnr-investigating-eldrin-bells-854994.html
From: C. Synamon Baldwin
Sent: Friday, March 11, 2011 11:11 AM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: BLACK WOMEN UNDER ATTACK IN CLAYTON COUNTY? PLEASE LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS…PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO YOUR EMAIL COMMUNITY…
Greetings NAACPers and Friends!
As you know, at the NAACP we receive numerous complaints. We are revitalizing our local chapter at this time so that we can address the complaints in a timely matter. We ask your patience and support as we move forward. I have been given permission to craft a Resolution to present to our National Office regarding, ” a seemingly concerted attack on Black elected and appointed officials.” Please send me your thoughts and ideas for the Resolution.
I received a very disturbing letter that I feel compelled to share with you. This person believes there is an attack on Black women. It reads as follows and I have inputted it exactly as it was written:
DAngerous to Black Women
When warned several months ago that our DA Tracy Lawson had shown a high level of disregard for Black Women, some of you scoffed at the notion. Just because she cut a deal to allow a man to publicly beat a Black woman and only spend 43 days in jail was fine some of you said.
Now you see this same DA attempting to prosecute another Black woman, Angela Jackson, a well educated woman who has led the county finance department to win many awards (AJC writer highlights her accomplishments in the upcoming issue of We Are Clayton magazine). The DAngerous is prosecuting her for not keeping Verizon call logs that they can get any time they want by asking for them.
Not only is she attempting to prosecute, but she is purposefully stretching the law to make this “non crime” a felony. It must be more to this, some of you may say. Surely, we didn’t elect a person who would do something like this, you say. When she is found innocent, I hope you will see what I see now. Tracy Lawson is DAngerous.
We have received phone calls and questions regarding this recent occurrence. You are encouraged to contact the DA for answers as we have not looked at this.
C.Synamon Baldwin, President
Clayton County Branch NAACP
404.424.xxx
A Mass Meeting for Black women to explore this assertion is being planned and you will receive information regarding date, location and time.
The weed of crime bears bitter fruit. Crime does not pay…. The Shadow knows!
claybar
March 13th, 2011
10:46 am
we don’t need self-righteous – self-serving “leaders” either
Roach
March 13th, 2011
1:11 pm
You leave, and take your lying, greedy politico pals with you. I’m sure you’ll be welcome wherever life is just too happy and prosperous, and where people are ready to see there whole community slide into the toilet.
Ann Smith
March 13th, 2011
5:10 pm
Where is all the money? Why is the BOE not managing the Superintendent ? This BOE is just has bad as the last one, get rid of all of them!
Ann Smith
March 13th, 2011
5:21 pm
Taxpayer – Well said!
Get rid of all of them! The BOE does not care about the kids!
One board member told me this was his part time job! No more than that.
With that mind set no wonder everyone at the school system is messed up in the head.
Melvin Cox
March 13th, 2011
5:58 pm
Why don’ t you leave? Oh and another thing, Black Women are under attack??? Uh, okay…NOT!!!
Methinks thou protesteth too much and some JUSTICE is about to be SERVED!
claybar
March 13th, 2011
9:53 pm
DearAnne Only a fool with no clue – or no idea of the seriousness of the idiocy of the last two BOEs could make such an asinine statement. The money, which is now only 65 to 70% of what is was 5 years ago, is just not enough to maintain the status quo. This is the fifth largest school system in the state, and IF you had 1 lick of sense – you would know that the housing market has decimated the tax base here. There are some very hard decisions to be made . Help by putting forth some worthy suggestion. Any A$$ can complain and put people down.
Brick House in FP
March 14th, 2011
11:52 am
..Happy Trails !!!
claybar
March 14th, 2011
10:37 pm
Synamon — why are you so selective on the black officials and citizen that your organization pick to support. Oh yeah – I get it – you only support your buddies on the BOC and their interests. Too bad – good black public servants and outstanding citizens have suffered much with no support from you or the NAACP. SAD , very sad.