Comments for The Real Story at http://www.theind.com , comment 1 to 35 out of 20 comments http://www.theind.com Mon, 20 May 2013 14:23:04 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.theind.com/re/9081-the-real-story-#comment-24794 Well the citizens have spoken! No more 2 1/2 crookeds for the taxpayers. We are taxed enough. Go to Iberia Parish and take a class on managing the school system!! - the original northsidian Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:03:47 +0100 http://www.theind.com/re/9081-the-real-story-#comment-22977 Perusing the presentation/powerpoints that CSRS put together for the LPSB, it seems that CSRS is advising LPSB to outsource physical plant management and cafeteria management to "Aramark". They do stadiums and colleges, manage the food/custodian/maintenance. - ragin_cajun Sun, 02 Oct 2011 16:13:59 +0100 http://www.theind.com/re/9081-the-real-story-#comment-22976 Bushwacked, simple answer. There should be no need to pay millions to consultants to "manage" LPSB funds. We pay central office staff and the LPSB members. Why do we need to pay consultants to protect our money from the same people we "trust" to run our schools? We will still have the same "mismanagement" of the LPSB/LPSS funds. Typical LPSB/LPSS management style to divert attention to a new program/project and ignore the real problem. We are not taking care of the facilities. This year we painted moldy walls instead of "fixing" the problem. This is not maintenance. As Morrow pointed out, we can't even mow the grass. What makes you think that will change? I have been watching this "show" for over 30 years. HIring consultants, throwing more money, and retaining the present staff will not solve the problem. What happened to the "teacher raise tax"? That is my point. Show me. - Pedro Sun, 02 Oct 2011 11:14:09 +0100 http://www.theind.com/re/9081-the-real-story-#comment-22964 The money from this tax will be in seperate account never to go the general fund. How can it be mismanaged if it dedicated? - Bushwacked Sat, 01 Oct 2011 11:31:02 +0100 http://www.theind.com/re/9081-the-real-story-#comment-22963 not voting for more taxes. What would happen to LPS if all students currently enrolled in private schools were suddenly public school students?.....the system would fail!! LPS has the tax monies for each student w/o the responsibility or cost of educating them. Louisiana is number 3 in the nation for highest sales taxes. Why not add more? Yes Texas has high property taxes and great public schools...the difference, they do not have state taxes. A change is needed and the first needs to be with the school board. We need to expect no DEMAND more with less. It can be done. This problem did not happen overnight, it took generations of bad decisions to get to this point. - no more taxes Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:09:15 +0100 http://www.theind.com/re/9081-the-real-story-#comment-22961 Sarabeth and Papadoh, I don't hate the LPSB nor do I want to punish anyone. I readily acknowledge (read my posts) we (the voters of Lafayette Parish) are responsible for the conditions of our schools/facitlities. What I am "saying" is not much within the LPSB/LPSS has changed (we hire consultants to do the jobs of central office employees we also pay. We don't have accountability in LPSS central office. Please refer to readsalot's post. LPSB is great at starting new projects/programs, it is the maintaining they are not so good with. My children attend LJ Alleman and LHS. I have current information/facts. Until we clean house at central office and expect some sort of accountability within the system, throwing more money in the system will not accomplish much. - Pedro Sat, 01 Oct 2011 09:06:24 +0100 http://www.theind.com/re/9081-the-real-story-#comment-22960 Dear children-- Because your mother and I love you and care about your education and well-being, we work very hard and long hours to EARN the money we spend on your clothing, home, athletic activities, transportation, and education. Because we know that you will one day need money for college, we save a portion of our earnings every month and have for years. Unfortunately, though, a HUGE majority of your neighbors and fellow citizens are not as diligent and responsible as your mother and I. They believe that your mother and I must also take on the responsibility of educating THEIR kids as well. They feel ENTITLED to a share of what WE have produced. Now these looters have decided that schools all over Lafayette Parish need to be completely replaced and/or "modernized", so they want Mommy and Daddy to contribute an amount close to what we save monthly for YOUR college tuition. Your greedy neighbors hope to obtain this money from us by law, through a "tax", and they will seize our home if we don't pay it. So Mommy and Daddy will have to either quit saving for your future education, quit paying for your athletic activities, or perhaps not pay for those summer camps you love so much, so that THEIR kids can have the best facilities that money can buy. But don't worry kids, because these shiny new school buildings will LOOK nicer, so bureaucrats can puff their chests and be PROUD when they bring business leaders in to tour Lafayette once or twice a year. And don't worry when these leeching neighbors of yours call us "greedy rich" people because we want to spend the money WE earn on OUR kids. They don't really mean it. That's just what adults say when they're trying to take things that they didn't earn. When you grow up, you'll hear it, too.... Love, Daddy - ragin_cajun Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:17:01 +0100 http://www.theind.com/re/9081-the-real-story-#comment-22955 Pedro, Who are these people you speak of? Are any of them still around? I'm a parent at LJA, the scores and parental involvement are higher than they have ever been. What are you trying to say? - Sarabeth Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:43:32 +0100 http://www.theind.com/re/9081-the-real-story-#comment-22947 Dear Little Johnny and classmates: I am sorry that you are forced to spend your days in deplorable conditions but you see, I hate the school board and want to punish them. Even though I have no real knowledge of what their jobs entail, I feel I am best qualified to tell them exactly what they are doing wrong. Don't ask me to get any current information or facts about where money has been spent in the past because I already know everything there is to know. I've actually baked cookies and once I even mopped a floor so that makes me more qualified than anyone. So until the school board (which I helped elect) does and says everything I want, you can just sit in your overcrowded, unventilated, moldy and crumbling classroom. And while you are there, you better improve your scores and the scores of all your peers! Sincerely, Morrow and/or Pedro and/or Ragin Cajun and/or BoFred... - Papadoh Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:46:24 +0100 http://www.theind.com/re/9081-the-real-story-#comment-22913 Morrow, As a Woodvale parent, we used fundraisers and our own sweat equity to subsidize what the LPSB did not provide in materials and maintenance...including replacing 30 year old carpet in the library. Katie Landry expected it and we delivered. At LJ Alleman, things changed drastically and we did complain, loudly. Ms. Brown came in amid plenty of turmoil. At the time, LJ Alleman scores and parental involvement were rising. That ended quickly. There were many vocal parents. In fact, there was a large group of parents meeting with Dr. Easton every month with no results. It was political. Great teachers left the school and the school facilities were largely ignored. An AC leak ruined the entire gym floor during the summer. Maintenance was aware of the leak. The roof leaked and computers were ruined. The amount of dust and mold in the school was incredible. The bathrooms were filthy and sometimes locked. We were vocal, believe me. Our LPSB members, Judy Cox, Beverly Wilson and others were not interested and neither was Dr. Easton. There was lots of "vocalization". BoFred, the inside of LHS looks pretty much just like the outside. - Pedro Fri, 30 Sep 2011 08:50:07 +0100 http://www.theind.com/re/9081-the-real-story-#comment-22907 I'm taking Auntie's advice. I'm not looking back. I'm looking forward. I am so looking forward to voting against the enormous tax proposal for a school system that has proven IT is not concerned with spending tax payer dollars wisely. I am looking forward to speaking to the SR citizens, on fixed incomes, who have not had a cost of living increase in 3 yrs, why they should not have to pay more in rent when their property owners raise their rent. I am SO looking forward to speaking to the college students registered voters why they should vote NO because they will never afford housing for themselves because of property taxes in Laf. parish. I am so looking forward to the people I have already spoken with who say they can't afford even $200 a yr more in property taxes voting NO. And Auntie, when I worked the fundraisers, I knew the money for was playground equipment, library books and computers and computer programs. Those fundraisers free up a lot of money that should be used to maintain the schools but haven't. This school board is as bad as the last. I have seen schools that could be cleaner, but no one makes them. Don't expect me to do more because I have done enough. - Morrow Fri, 30 Sep 2011 07:17:57 +0100 http://www.theind.com/re/9081-the-real-story-#comment-22906 Dear Auntie, you're welcome, but you're a tad bit confused. I paid my taxes with the intent the school board was doing what it was supposed to do & maintain the schools. Instead, I find out they've deliberately let them run down, without much vocalization from the people who's children attend those schools or the employees of those schools. Now all of a sudden, they're all falling down, I guess as of last year, & the present school board didn't know about it... they've only been in 4 o 5 yrs.... and all of a sudden, it will take A BILLION dollars to correct the problem. Sorry, Auntie, the only point I'm making is I will not support this dog & pony show of a tax proposal. I will fight with all that I have not to give another $500 - $1000 to fatten up already FAT SCHOOL BOARD TAX COFFERS. - Morrow Fri, 30 Sep 2011 07:09:07 +0100 http://www.theind.com/re/9081-the-real-story-#comment-22900 My real sympathies are with "readsalot" & I am sorry a lot fo good employees (& students) have to deal with conditions like this. I read today a board member is using the "we inherited it" defense, and my answer to him is he's had 4 or 5 yrs to deal with it & they haven't. I rode by Laf High last night. The grass is overgrown. Its only Sept & the building had not even been washed for school to start. There is NO EXCUSE for that. I can only imagine what the inside looks like. THAT SCHL COULD HAVE BEEN CLEANED. Now the athletic areas look well maintained.... That's a situation - a maintenance - the school board should make sure happens AND IT DOESN'T CALL FOR A BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT. Proponents can talk till they're blue in the face. I'll not vote for this huge tax proposal. CUT, CUT, CUT THE FRILLS & THEN I'LL CONSIDER GIVING UP MORE OF MY HARD EARNED MONEY. I believe the schools are being MADE to look as bad as they can - part of the plan. GET RID OF DROP FOR BUS DRIVERS, CLOSE THE SPECIALTY SCHOOLS: each highschool has one, open one trade school, use some of the closed schools - assure the public no waste or consultant fees. Hire a project manager instead of an 18 million $ firm. I just can't support this, not financially, not morally. I too wonder what would be done with the general fund money freed up by this tax proposal. - BoFred Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:43:31 +0100 http://www.theind.com/re/9081-the-real-story-#comment-22869 As an older educator with 20 years teaching and 14 years in the parish I hesitate to vote for the new property tax. I am very disappointed on what is going on with LPSB. 5-6 years ago a tax was passed that would either give teachers a raise, lower class sizes, or for professional development. Well we have received 2 (lump payments) since and one this October. But did our salary increase? NO Did they lower class sizes?NO classes are at max capacity and let me tell you where I teach there are many major behavioral and academic issues. And as far as maintenance. We teach with very poor or very little AC and mildew on ceiling tiles and the walls that have been there for years. Also try getting a transfer. They have been non-existent for the last 4 years, unless you know Mr. Lilly very personally. As far as for Burnell Lemoine, I am very disappointed. I thought when he replaced Mr. Easton we would see a big change. Well, big mistake all it is like over there is Olde Time Louisiana Politics. I feel for the new board members as they inherited a huge financial legacy by former members that made the decision and then jumpFor a city that touts itself as one of the top elite and forward moving cities in Louisiana, they sure have dropped the ball on eduction. If you don't believe me just try to navigate that $13,000 website they paid for. What a waste. - Readsalot Thu, 29 Sep 2011 17:21:17 +0100 http://www.theind.com/re/9081-the-real-story-#comment-22861 Ollie, Simmer....I think it odd a committee of citizens had to be formed and consultants hired to develop a plan to "fix" our facilities. Dr. Z built new schools quickly. We failed to maintain them. Now we want to spend more money hiring/paying consultants to do Kyle Bordelon's job. Let's at least be honest/realistic about the problem. No change there. Read the emails published by TDA between Bordelon and the architects/contractors of the new schools. What we need to 'fix" is the dirty, filthy politics within the LPSS/LPSB. Your "new generation" has failed to change that. Have not seen much "action" there. I still believe if the citizens of Lafayette wanted great public education, we would have it. This community is filled with many bright, successful people. I have done much more than "complain" or "sit around with my buddies". I have painted, scrubbed, dusted, cleaned, installed equipment, fundraised and more. I have written many checks for supplies and equipment the LPSS should fund. I spent countless hours at PTC and LPSB meetings. I volunteered in many of the schools my children have not/don't attend. This is not just about my children. I do not take this lightly. I am not criticizing you for voicing your opinion. What I am telling you is we need to work together. The LPSB has been given many chances to change. It has not happened. I have solutions. Let's fire most of central office, elect educated/financial minded LPSB members, and demand some sort of accountability from our administrators. Let's take a real vested interest in public education, teachers and our students. Building new facilities/hiring consultants won't do this. Yes, I do believe a new superintendent would have reassured the voting public the LPSB/LPSS is headed in a NEW direction. It was wrong to retain Lemoine, give him raises and contract extensions. This board had plenty of time to correct the mistakes. Show me, then ask me for money. - Pedro Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:41:12 +0100 http://www.theind.com/re/9081-the-real-story-#comment-22857 Aunt Ollie -- I think it is very presumptuous of you to say what the new generation of voters wants. I have a very different take on this new generation of voters. I think this new generation of voters deeply resents being told that they must always give more, pay more, no matter how bad the results, and being told that they don't take AND LIKE IT, that they are selfish or "don't get it" or somehow part of the problem. I guess this election will tell us whether you, or I, have a better estimation of this "new generation of voters". I can't wait for the election, and "may your chains rest lightly" - ragin_cajun Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:26:22 +0100 http://www.theind.com/re/9081-the-real-story-#comment-22856 Imaresident2- The amount of money the LPSB takes in as well as where that money is spent is public record. SHOUTING IS NOT NECESSARY FOR YOU TO FIND OUT WHERE IT ALL GOES!! If you really want to know, all you have to do is go to the School Board office and request a copy. And if you don't trust what they give you, then go get it from the state offices. And yes, they do take in MILLIONS! But those millions don't go very far when you consider the large number of students, facilities and employees those millions must provide for! You have to look at the whole picture, not just the dollar amounts. - 3rd Resident Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:18:48 +0100 http://www.theind.com/re/9081-the-real-story-#comment-22854 Oh MORROW, thanks for making my point for me. You've worked and paid taxes for 30 years and KNEW of the mishandling/mismanagement of funds yet did NOTHING to stop it. I didn't say you didn't bake cookies or hand out chicken dinners, etc. Proceeds from those type of fundraisers are not used for maintenance. State law does not allow it. And as far as the millions this dedicated maintenance fund will "FREE" up- Stop and think for a moment-if you were forced to do an emergency extensive remodel/addition of your home could you do it with just your existing income? No, you would likely borrow from the bank. Does borrowing that money from the bank free up any of your budget? No. The dedicated maintenance fund is in ADDITION to the current maintenance budget to keep us from finding ourselves in this situation 20 years down the road. Its time we stop looking back and pointing fingers. The majority of our currently seated school board members are there now BECAUSE just like you and me they were fed up and wanted a change. Our community voted them in and when their terms are up, if we are not satisfied with the job being done, then we can vote them out. Bottom line-the current situation is unacceptable and our kids deserve better! PEDRO-I'm one of the "many" who has been trying for years to get the community involved. But now that they ARE getting involved, they are being criticized for speaking up. We can't have it both ways. The voters DO want a better public eduction. Maybe you don't realize that the voting population changes every year with old ones dying off and new ones becoming of age. This new generation of voters wasn't raised to just take it lying down-they've been taught to have a voice, to speak out over an injustice and to take action. They don't just sit around with their buddies complaining and finger pointing. They don't come to the table with problems, they come to the table with SOLUTIONS! And you really think a new superintendent 2 years ago would have fixed this problem? Seriously?? Was Harry Potter looking for a job back then because if the new superintendent didn't have magical powers, those buildings would still be crumbling. - Aunt Ollie Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:35:17 +0100 http://www.theind.com/re/9081-the-real-story-#comment-22830 Aunt Ollie, Many of us have tried for years to get the community involved in the LPSS/public education problems of Lafayette Parish. It is my belief the community is not interested in the LPSS/LPSB unless their child (children) have a problem. Ex.....it took over 30 years to lift a federal desegregation order. If Lafayette Parish voters wanted better public education we would have it by now. Watch or attend the LPSB meetings. It is embarrassing. Hiring consultants will not solve the problem. If the LPSB had hired a new superintendent 2 years ago this discussion would not be happening. - Pedro Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:50:34 +0100 http://www.theind.com/re/9081-the-real-story-#comment-22827 Dear Aunt Ollie, YOU LIE! I have paid property taxes for the past 20 yrs that have gone up and up and up, never down. A large percentage of that goes to the school board. I also purchase in Laf parish, cars, appliances, food, drugs, clothing etc. you get the pic. to the tune of thousands upon thousands of dollars a year for the past 30 something years I have been working. So DON'T TELL ME I'M NOT PAYING MY FAIR SHARE. I think I've been MORE than fair. Tsk Tsk. AND MA'AM I have worked bake sales, barbeques, bought raffle tickets, and donated my time and $$$ to several schools - PUBLIC in Lafayette parish. SO UP YOUR NOSE WITH A RUBBER HOSE! I shouldn't have to pay more than what I'm paying now and I DO NOT, REPEAT, DO NOT WANT TO PAY THE ADDITIONAL $500 A YEAR, MAYBE EVEN MORE IF THE OTHER MILLAGES KEEP GOING UP. And dear Auntie: CAN YOU tell me what the school board plans to do with the millions upon millions of dollars this designated maintenance money will FREE up? How does the LPSB plan to spend that windfall they expect? So dear Auntie, you can tsk all you want to me, but its the LPSB you should be tsking..... - Morrow Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:16:38 +0100