"schooldude debacle"? please tell us the story behind that...sounds intriguing

Mr. "engaged". My complaint:

The school board spent $11,000.00 to lease a web-based event calendar for a year. If you don't mind, because Margaret Smith recommended a "renewal", I can only assume they have leased this for a minimum of two years. I'm now going to use the figure of $22,000.00 (minimum)

Let's start here, this is my domain and it is kind of a shell where I use it for testing things like this. I've taken the liberty of installing an event calendar here:

http://ourvolusiaschools.org/community-event-calendar/

If you go there and click on the event listed for November 20th.. the "Organizational School Board Meeting", you'll get a better idea of how it works. I've included something that the $22,000.00 (minimum) school board event calendar doesn't appear to include, and that is a map to the event.. see for yourself by clicking on that date.

It may not look the same visually (and purposely), but let me run down the list of options for the administrator of this event calender. Options include:

Create an event or regularly occurring events, create complex event descriptions with html and images, allow registration for the event, give pre-approval for user event registrations and allow users to create and manage events, subscribe to feeds of the events with any popular organizational tool (like Outlook), there are options to limit the events being displayed, by location, category etc. Full and small sized calendars for placement on the website, Google maps integration, booking options that include a ticket system.. payments.

Yep.. we can even charge and collect payment for facilities rentals.

Want a searchable list?

http://ourvolusiaschools.org/events-search/

Event submission?

http://ourvolusiaschools.org/event-submission/

A quick look at events in list format?

http://ourvolusiaschools.org/events/categories/general/

Small calendar for the sidebar of the website? Look at the lower right side of this page:

http://ourvolusiaschools.org/

I could go on.. but just how much more would you need it to do?

So there have it, Mr "engaged".. with a big cup of coffee to keep me company, I've just saved the taxpayers (us!) $22,000.00 (minimum) and I have yet to change out of my pajamas. This is about 1-1/2 hours worth of work.. there is much more that I could do if I wasn't in a hurry to give you an example.

It is not just a complaint, it is a reality.

Margaret Smith and the sitting school board members need to GO.

This is rich!.. Mr. "engaged", I'm certainly encouraged by the fact that you have attended anger management classes AND had a whirlwind romance since we last spoke.

Again you are 100% correct, so I'll be back later with something to show you that might help change your mind about complaining vs. reality.

Hey look, he should be happy now, enraged became "engaged"! Congrats sir! That must be why you are posting past midnight after pounding back a few to celebrate, but don't you have to go do "good work" at your "skilled trade" early this morning? For the safety of our children drink plenty of black coffee, or call in sick, if you do remember: 7-11 doesn't sell beer until 9am, but you could stop by Mickey D's and pick up that application! Latest I've heard is that Riceslinger and Yon Roung are running around, changing all the work crews, hub assignments and work hours before the holidays, trying to show how valuable they are before anyone takes a closer look at how their operations have been run the past couple of years. All the under bosses are told to remind the peons that their job may soon be gone (yeah scare the guys making $20,000 rather than the incompetent people making $50,000 +...good morale builders, good leadership skills Riceslingers thugs are proving to be).Rumor has it Yon Roung was so upset he left the house without his hairbrush!

big whoopie wall pale comes on here and says what everyone coulda shoulda woulda did any yahoo can do that. you cant give anything but complaints.

I feel funny calling someone Holy Chit Paul Hale :)

.. so as you probably already know Chit, these kinds of contracts are extremely hard to find. Most highly qualified creative people would have done this for a fraction of the cost, and probably been more cutting edge like using a responsive design.

Oh, and then there's that other component whereby companies actually use the people that they are paying handsomely.. to do the jobs they are paid to do.

So I just heard that the Vote Stands. I want to thank those of you who are responsible for the recount. Nearly $45K of our tax dollars down the drain. May 1 million vicious fleas call each your crotches home soon.

WOW thanks for that insight Paul Hale. I have built websites myself and contracted with companies to build websites for me. You could not be more correct in your comments Mr. Hale. Give me a big ol WTF. Come on people please this is so sad. To the members of our School Board, PLEASE PLEASE stop all of the pack patting and high fiving and realize there are BIG problems within the system that need fixed. Respectfully, Margaret Smith's time has come and gone and we need change NOW. Step out of the box people, step out of the box.

I hope we all remember these things when it is time to Vote for these people! actually great time to PUT TERM LIMITS on ballot for the School Board which will STOP the member's from sitting year after year!Lets also not forget the School Board attorney who makes great money off of all of us as well! It Is time for a School Board that DO what WE THE PEOPLE want them to do! Increase classroom money so teachers actually have material to teach and DECREASE admin from top to bottom! we do not need hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on websites! Maybe someone is getting a kickback retire out some of the Admin people some I know have been there 20 plus years really?? and they still cant budget It doesn't matter how much money they have! Catherine and Paul I agree with all of you! TIME FOR CHANGE especially WEST SIDE!

$11,592.00 to lease a web-based event calendar.

I know that the out of control spending and lack of accountability within the school board is difficult to understand without examples, so here's one that I'll just throw out into the mix.

There are staggering examples.. if only you look.

The master event calendar on the new and very, Very, VERY expensive school board website that we as taxpayers have now paid for is kind of hard to find so I'll save you the time:

http://ems.volusia.k12.fl.us/MasterCalendar/MasterCalendar.aspx

Now let's look at how much that cost us.

On 7/24/2012 The superintendent recommends approval to renew the Software Support Agreement (SSA) with Dean Evans and Associates, Inc., for the continued maintenance of the district's Event Management Systems (EMS) software effective August 2012 - July 2013.

$11,592.00 to lease a web-based event calendar for a year. Let me say that again.. $11,592.00 to lease a web-based event calendar.

http://www.boarddocs.com/fla/vcsfl/Board.nsf/files/8VLQVA6B1CD6/$file/7-24-2012%20EMS%20Renewal%20Agreement.pdf

This was done during this time:

Dec 13, 2011 Margaret Smith recommends approval (approved) $62,640 - The superintendent recommends approval to enter into an agreement with dataBridge, a Web Development Company, to design and implement the public access website for Volusia County Schools.

Feb 28, 2012 Margaret Smith recommends approval (approved) $42,240 - The superintendent recommends approval of the agreement with SGS Technologies. These services are for the development of the district SharePoint platform supporting the departmental and school website functions including document storage and will also facilitate the build-out of the district and school intranet structure.

August 15, 2012 Margaret Smith recommends approval (approved) $32,000 - The superintendent recommends approval to contract services with dataBridge, LLC (dB) to design and develop a new public-facing template to be used for creating school sites in SharePoint.

What are these people getting paid for.. is there not a ONE of them in this VERY large and VERY well paid "TECHNOLOGY" group with the programming skills to create their own event calendar, is there not ONE person that can respect the fact that this is OUR money they are spending?

Margaret Smith, school board members.. it is time for you to go.

I've said it before and I'll say it again..

They should be ashamed, they should be sorry.. and they should be running for the county line.

$56,674.48 Barnes, Patti Lynn -- Acct Analyst,Telecommunication

$70,619.48 Bridges, Janna C -- Manager, Computer Operations

$30,920.52 Brothers, Doada C -- Assistant Shift Leader

$50,505.00 Dunn, Frankie M -- Network Engineer II

$81,102.44 Engel, Judith A -- Manager, Software Applications

$55,237.52 Finnegan, Thomas Patrick -- Network Engineer II

$50,803.78 Hendrickson, Darlene E -- Information Systems Analyst

$75,713.56 Kilpatrick, James G Senior Systems Engineer

$74,895.48 Marple, Stephen E Manager, Network Engineering

$58,670.13 Rushworth Jr., Robert J Senior Computer Oper Spec

$37,800.52 Brett, Brenda Admin Secretary, MIS

$74,220.52 Steele, William Burdette Senior Systems Engineer

$62,700.00 Sylvia, Alison Quimby Senior Information Sys Analyst

$51,153.46 O'Brien, Jan Turner Specialist, Budget

$67,862.08 Willis, Lynn Senior Network Security Engin

$78,825.56 Woodward, Daniel P Senior Information Sys Analyst

$61,464.52 Testerman, Harold D Systems Engineer III

$36,189.72 Miller, Susan R Technician

$81,102.44 Bateman, Richard J Manager, Software Applications

$48,561.43 Erwin, Danny Wayne Network Engineer I

$45,269.08 Bray, Rosemary Computer Programmer III

$55,876.52 Lind, David E Systems Engineer II

$43,686.92 Hester, Elizabeth E Senior Security Adm Specialist

$26,660.10 Kennedy, Jennifer E Computer Technician

$68,573.56 Houde, Joseph E Systems Engineer III

$41,982.52 Cudlin, Robin Marie Senior Network Technician

$48,054.00 Holloway, Myrna A Computer Programmer III

$35,326.22 Horn, Douglas S Analyst, Forms And Reports

$30,654.23 Pla, Concepcion A Office Specialist II

$69,923.70 Delio, Audrey A Senior Information Sys Analyst

$38,169.44 Leon, James Specialist, Computer Operation

$37,773.94 Hinckley, Lianmei Computer Programmer

$38,149.93 Clayton, Michael Brian Computer Programmer

$36,939.06 Tsai, Mao-Chen Computer Programmer

$45,443.37 Donohue, Karen S Network Engineer I

$38,165.56 Rodenbaugh Jr, Hubert Earl User Support Analyst II

$41,138.68 Ayala, Carlos M Network Engineer I

$47,769.24 Erker, Jim W Computer Programmer

$65,128.25 Richmond, Kenneth D Manager, Systems Engineering

$64,573.50 Aten, Mitchell W Senior Information Sys Analyst

$54,646.72 Willingham, Pamela A Information Systems Analyst

$37,398.63 Williams, Lawanna C Computer Programmer

$21,750.86 Colon, Lisa M Office Specialist II

$28,886.96 Rodriguez, Priscilla E Office Specialist II

$44,373.58 Vaught, William R User Support Analyst II

$33,997.56 Turley, Tracy J Technician, Network

$36,244.10 Hilton, Matthew A Systems Engineer I

$29,570.23 Smith-Crawford, Aaron Technician, Network

$50,725.46 Venkataramani, Kalpana Senior Information Sys Analyst

$35,614.02 Risley, Jay Michael Specialist, Computer Operation

$34,696.48 Foley, Scott James Analyst, User Support

$88,937.37 Hoag, Jennifer J Assistant Director, Reptng Req

$76,125.10 Boulware, Donald P Executive Director, MIS

$67,004.73 Lacey, Bonnie D Analyst, FTE Data

$65,128.25 Leary, Mark Manager, Software Applications (promoted to Asst Director since published)

$84,931.42 Parsons, Keith T Asst Director, Application Sys

$71,641.06 Kennedy, Alex J Asst Dir, Operational Services

$42,383.87 Dykstra, Paula B User Support Analyst II

$41,155.56 Anastario, Carol Senior User Support Analyst

$37,757.45 Vanarsdall, Marianne D User Support Analyst II

$46,039.01 Kaloostian, Gina M Specialist, Student Accounting

$53,840.44 Whitaker, Mark C Senior Computer Technician

$48,240.49 Boudreau, Richard Allan Technician, Media Production

Wages unknown:

McDaniel, Emily - Web Developer

Levene, Jessica - Manager, Lrn Tech & Help Desk

Ackerman, Charles - Specialist, Learning Technology

Goodman, Chad - Technician, Media Production

Orzel, Jerry - Technician, Media Production

This list does not include everyone, there are User Support Analysts that are not showing up on this list. There are probably 12 or so of those positions each making $35,000+ per year. There may be other people and positions in the department missing from the list, as well.

WHY DON'T YOU BOYS STEAL SOME CRA MONEY OR SOME OF THAT ECHO MONEY that was supposed to go to river and water.................but just gets spent EVERYTHING ELSE...

YOU KEEP MAKING NEW GROUPS TO STEAL FROM THE TAXPAYER AND THOSE TIMES ARE OVER, EVERY SANE PERSON KNOWS YOU GUYS 'HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE KIDS BEING A SUCCESS - IT IS ABOUT YOUR PAYCHECK FOR LIFE'.

YOU BOYS HAVE FINALLY RUN OUT OF 'OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY'

NO MO MONEY!

and it is sad that all these highly educated (cough cough) educators DON'T KNOW MATH

the parents do care about their kid's education, that is why if they can they send them to private schools. They take second jobs to send them to private schools..............

not another nickel will the union run public school system see, sorry guys, you wasted all our money and taught our kids that socialism was great.............we won't pay another penny for that.

and I hear complaints of the close LOSS, the LOSS TO AMERICA WAS EVEN MORE RAZER THIN when you do the math in a nation where 200 million can vote.................2.5 million was the win, but you liberals are thrilled with that 'thin' victory but hate this one

NOT SURPRISING TO ME

brevard, seminole and flagler have closed schools while volusia hid in the lies

liberals - our gas has doubled, our fees on everything have tripled, our food has tripled and you boys want MORE????

180 DAYS A YEAR in complete comfort.............and you 'checks for life' and CAN'T BE FIRED????

NO MO MONEY UNTIL WE SEE EVERY UNION WORKERS' PAYCHECK IN THE BUNCH. I want to know what union dues you boys are paying to the thugs AND STEALING FROM OUR CHILDREN

Hey 2012, taxes on the middle class are not being cut by the federal government! Give me a break.

Yes, most of the problem is the bloated administration. But I still blame the lazy ***parents who do not care about the education of their children. Yes, some of these are in the so called "middle class."

My concern is that too many people will complain and then when election time comes around the status quo remains!

People, let's put words into actions and replace our School Board. That is a first step. In fact, can a School Board be abolished as one was in California?

I agree with the well spoken person...the teachers and Principals are not the problem. They actually do the job of educating our children. It's the bloated administration that get taxpayers upset. I'm not saying it would solve all the problems, but it would be a good start to review positions at the 50k and up and see if they are really needed. If you are a Deputy something, or Assistant something is the position really necessary? As for enraged...hope you have sobered up this morning, your comments are funny, but if you really speak and type like you've shown here, and you are working around children in a skilled trade something is seriously wrong. Remember, McDonalds has pictures on the registers, don't know if they pay $9.00 to $20.00 an hour though. (Wish I was making $20.00 an hour...as do many of the Volusia County taxpayers).

Times are changing for the better. Taxpayers are tired of being milked from every direction possible and they are demanding that their tax dollars are being used efficiently and effectively. Today's taxpayers are not going to buy into the "it's for the kids" and "how can you not want to support education" lines that have been used for many years. I think back to when I was attending 8th and 9th grade in the same building that is now utilized by the Volusia County School Board's administrators. Our teachers were outstanding and most of us enjoyed our time there. Oh and the school was not even air conditioned. Back in those days educators had to be innovative, and they were. I also remember seeing the maintenance crews back in those days, they too where innovative. Some of their trucks and vans were over fifteen years old with hundreds of thousands of miles on them. As the federal government is trying to cut taxes for the middle class the Volusia County School Board and trying to raise taxes on the middle class.

my wires are crossed due to people affecting my job maybe on the west side there are problems but you should leave the the other two hubs alone as far as management goes thats their problems i see you mr wall pale you use your name and i know you left on your own and the comments are from people with in if your job is that bad or wasteful quit then and for the beacon do your research and you woll see us maintance workers are far under paid for the trades we do. and our benefits yeah lets talk insurance for a fam of three is 1160 a month and getting ready to go up 10 to 17 percent can you feed your family on 9.80 to 20.00 an hour????

Mr. "enraged", you're getting your wires crossed (the irony), I know nothing about a/c units nor did I comment on a/c units.

Mr. "Letters?".. uh.. no.

Mr. Strickland makes some great points, as do others here. Times are changing and there is an emerging activism that will force change at the school board.

We know you're stinging from the loss of the tax hike. Be creative, do something different. Stop being afraid of change.

Look at the $74 million dollars paid to Volusia County vendors.. my money says there is some fat there. You have to start somewhere, and you have to actually want to start.

Stop the normal knee jerk reaction and try managing with some humility. Don't put a lot of energy into someone outside of the school board giving insight into what you do.. try to fix the things that defy logic fiscally.

I will part ways with at least one other and NOT lump in the teachers or support staff.. or even the school based management.

All of the accountability should fall on the shoulders of Margaret Smith and the school board members, first and foremost for allowing what is being allowed to happen.

Milking the system? Like the supervisors who let their family members take equipment home to work on private side jobs? Like the supervisors who spend their work days ordering stuff for familly members? Or the supervisors who work on their children's (also employees) homes they just bought because, "I'm still on the clock, I can be reached my nextel!" As for Crapamark, don't forget the schools are also paying them to hire supervisors to oversee incompetent school board supervisors...this is where your money is going folks...don't know if the above is true...just things I've heard.

The school system needs to save money and operate with education as a primary focus.

There are some ways to save money.

1. Hire a new Superintendent and not pay $265,000 (salary and benefits). A younger, smarter person who actually is an innovator in education.

2. Phase out the bus system and work with Votran to provide transportation, one government bus system is enough.

3. Reduce administration posions by half. Especially in the county offices where whole floors of offices are filled with people administrering this that and the other, Mostly managing paperwork and getting in the way of teachers.

4. Principals should work for teachers. Principals need to focus on helping teachers teach and not getting a raise or job in the county office. Currently principals owe their jobs to the Superintendent and have no loyalty to teachers.

Well, you get the idea. We could do it better and way differently.

im not a high paid county worker im merely a under paid worker that does work.so you know so much about these a/c units please tell us more about them because im sure you do not know the full story .did you hear it from your two fmt's

Paul Hale,

Can you pleae provide a copy of the letter that YOU sent? Thanks.

Well hello Mr. High Position VCSB maintenance person using all lowercase letters in an attempt to blend in with the little people. Glad you could check in with us.

Which one are you, anyway? I hate to have to keep referring to you as "enraged", it's just so informal.

Anyway yeah.. you are 100% correct, all of that milking of the system was starting to become a real burden on me and I resigned more out of fatigue than anything else. No one can put up with that kind of **** for long, geez.

Moving on, any other moves to give Aramark more money for less service and older equipment lately?

i love the names that is very creative,but before you bump your gums you should know what you are talking about.before you bash maintance you should stop a think about all of the times you left your school on the tax payers dollars mr wall pale,yes i know all about your milking of the system

Update: A reply from Candace Lankford.. and with something I hadn't considered, the old "different perspective" gag.

I referenced the Beacon story and my opinion that her statement was powerful.. and asked if she believes that the majority of Volusia County voters do not see the value of education, or if she was misquoted by the Beacon.

Her reply:

Dear Mr. Hale,

I was not misquoted...just coming from a different perspective.

Thank you for your request for comment/information.

Sincerely,

Candace Lankford, District 1

Volusia County School Board

In the DeLand Beacon news story located here:

http://www.beacononlinenews.com/news/daily/5437

... the following was printed:

Lankford noted the school referendum lost by less than 1 percent of the vote. “It’s heartbreaking,” Lankford said. “And I think it’s very shortsighted to not see the real value of education.”

I have written her for a clarification (though she has not answered earlier requests).. it looks simple enough to understand, though.

Candace Lankford believes that the majority of Volusia County voters do not see the value of education.

What more do you need to know about this over paid part-time elitist?

Funny Margaret Smith as Usual doesn't feel the need to take this back to the board and ask their opinion some more wasted money in our County! Thank god we have some new board members in place this year and a few we still need to get rid of that have sat for way to long!This board thus far does not want any parent participation unless it serves them! there attitude is they know more then anyone else its a smug bad attitude!Next to vote off should be Candace Lankford who has sat for too long and doesn't understand the West side or her own district! then you can get rid of Magaret Smith time for a new leadership! the sooner the better!

Put back one or two FMT's at each school. Fire all of the backshop crew and their supervisors. Let go any FMT's left over and sell the 6 very over priced trailers (the one's the FMT's use). Close down the shops in each area (hubs ?). Put one or two crews together to do filter changes and check equipment once quarter. Oh, FIRE THE WORKERS WHO DON'T WORK!!! TELL THE TEACHER'S UNION GO F--- OFF. PUT 20 PLUS KIDS IN A ROOM. FIRE THE TEACHERS WHO CAN'T TEACH MORE THAN 20 KIDS AT A TIME.

OUT SOURCE ALL MAINTENANCE THAT THE FMT'S CAN'T DO OR THE EQUIPMENT CREW CAN'T DO.

BUT THE ONE THING THAT WOULD SAVE US ALL (TAX PAYERS), IS THE REMOVAL OF dr. smith. IT'S TIME FOR NEW MANAGEMENT AT THE TOP.

Citizens need to get involved when School Board positions are on the ballot and vote for new people. How long do you think it will be before the School Board comes back to the voters again asking for either a property tax increase or a sales tax increase? As soon as they can, they will. We need new School Board members and Margaret Smith should be replaced.

Proof positive that Dr. Smith is out of touch. "It's all for the kids", well you just continue to add to the waste that the kids parents, and other taxpayers are being fleeced for by continuing this recount. $35,000? There's a teachers salary gone (I know, different budgets, but still...). The school board needs to pull the leash on this lunatic and start doing what they are being paid for: respecting the wishes of the taxpayers. How come every article reads, "school board attorney" but it's a different name? How many attorneys are on the payroll? Aren't we already paying "Top Billing" Doran $200,000? Disgusting. You Dr. Smith are a disgrace and need to leave...I am sure in this economy we can find someone just as able (maybe a retired professor or principal who actually taught in a classroom in the past 3 decades) who would do the job at half the salary. btw Love the comments on the Maintnance Department, ask the next plumber, electrician, etc. you see at your kid's school about the incompetence, and money wasted and you will just get more angry. Riceslinger and his high paid cronies should be the next to be reviewed!

No surprise here, it is taxpayer money.

"Volusia County Elections Supervisor Ann McFall asked School Superintendent Margaret Smith whether she wanted to call off a recount of the Nov. 6 votes on a 1-mill tax for schools.

Smith and School Board attorney Mike Dyer declined, McFall said.

McFall estimated the first two days of the recount had cost the county around $35,000"

Societal problems aside, this conversation (to me, at least) needs to remain focused on the Superintendent and the school board members that have allowed the culture that now festers there.. to live and breathe.

It is a culture of arrogance, nepotism, disrespect for employees as employees, as parents, and as taxpayers. The absolute refusal to cultivate ideas and input from good, intelligent, thinking people.

It is bad.

Don't believe me? Ask the actual working people (not the money wasters) in their Technology department about the $250,000.00 that was spent on support software. Bloated, commercial software that they continually gravitate towards.

While you are at it, ask them why they have highly paid programmers employed.. that do not do any programming.

When times are tough, you turn to your people and ask for their help and input.. you don't slam the door in their face because of some convoluted insecurities.

Margaret Smith is either a willing participant in the gross mismanagement of our money, or she is irresponsibly out of touch. Either way she needs to go as a way of sending a strong message to our School Board members that this kind of old school "educational establishment" way of operating, is over.

Then each of the school board members should be challenged in elections with vigor.. and simply showing their record will make a case for their replacement.

I challenge anyone to look through the minutes of past school board meetings:

http://myvolusiaschools.org/school-board/Pages/Agendas-and-Minutes.aspx

.. and see if you can find even one meeting or vote where a school board member has cast a vote of dissent, after the queen has made her recommendation to approve especially as it relates to spending the taxpayer (our!) money.

Go ahead, at a minimum it will make for interesting reading.

We can not just blame the school system, we also need to blame the sorry aXX parents out there. I do not know if you people have noticed but there are a lot of baby factories together with their sperm donors pumping out child after child that they expect the rest of us to take care of. This too cost the school system more. So as we are playing the blame game let us also remember the other side of the coin. As we blame the school system we also need to seek out our own acquaintance and even relatives who are sperm donors or baby factories, not parents, and let them know what we think of them as well.

It is sad that the Volusia County Schools do not use great teaching techniques in every classroom. There are a few classes that children and parents want their kids to be in because the great teachers are known to the parents and the students.

Technology could help people learn to think which might be the best possible goal for our education system. Standardized test check the facts and not the processes of thinking. Textbooks contain errors because so many are outdated. Charles Dickens wrote of Mr.. Gradgrind, who just wanted to teach the facts, in the 19th century. This is the 21st century and we must do it differently in order to get a better outcome.

Penny Wise:

The financial well-being of any school district relies on the forward vision of its Superintendent and its board members.

There is no dedication, resourcefulness, or creativity on the part of the Volusia County School Board.

If you are not a part of the "back patting" circle of the grossly overpaid, as an employee of the Volusia County School Board with ideas or concerns you are considered a threat, or a "problem".

Arrogance. We need to keep digging, and we are.

My kid attends a D rated school. All the money in the world won't change this rating. The sadddest part of being part of this D rated school is the rating is indicative of the even worse problems that exist there.

As a previous poster correctly pointed out , the methods used to teach our kids ,are NOT working !!!! Does not any ONE in the School Board or the State look at the statistics and say "hey , maybe there's a problem here"? Apparently they don't. It's easier to say we need more money or else your childs education will suffer. Well guess what? It's too late. You are already failing not only my child but far too many children to get one more penny from us. Additionally over 60% of the students at this school receive either free or reduced lunch. Do you really think these parents can afford another tax hike? Ridiculous.

As suggested , it's time to go back to the basics. Families and businesses alike have had to cut back , looks like the School Board will FINALLY have to do the same. The fat is always thickest at the top - start there.

I would love to see the School Board administrators working and being tested in 30-40 year old portables with intermittent heat and air (if any), trying to learn from teachers that literally have mostly their own interest at heart. If it's good enough for my kids , it should be good enough for them.

This is but the tip of the iceberg on why I voted against this referendum , and until things change for the benefit of the students , I will continue to say no to ANY additional funding requests.

P.S. According to a couple of the Dads I've heard voice an opinion - they love the Principal and her wardrobe. I believe the term used was she dresses like a pole dancer. Another great example being set by our "leaders".

I would start with Ms. Smith's salary. It should not be $170,000 plus expenses. Then, I would look at seeking bids on an attorney. Paying $240,000 seems a bit much to me. Then, I would cut the salaries of all School Board members to about where they get paid $250 per school board meeting. Then, I would look at all administrator's salaries who are in the 6 figure amount and cut them back.

Then, I would send the trouble kids to ALC (Alternative Learning Centers) or to a home or to jail, etc instead of bouncing them from school to school. This would weed out these kids and the ones who want to learn won't be shifted all over the place due to the silly Class Size Amendment.

I would offer the option of allowing kids go to half day in school and half day on the internet. This should cut down on waste. And if there are some kids who cannot do this, I am sorry. My wife and I are teaching our kids outside of school anyway, so why not allow us parents to benefit from teaching our kids.

Finally, the current method of teaching kids is not working. We need a creative Board that can think outside of the box. Of course, this Board does not know how to think beyond some memo from Dr. Smith.

It appears to me that there are a few News Worthy issue posted here that the Beacon could investigate for the tax payers. Time for a good house cleaning. I am not an anti-government type. I tend to be an optimist. I also pride myself on doing all that I can to be properly informed before I cast judgement. From all that I have learned, Mrs. Smith needs to be relieved of her duties. The entire Volusia County School system needs to be reformed and it is going to take competent leader to get the job done.

Hey I heard the carriage was only secretly repaired three times (glug,glug) before they decided it was easier to give her close to a thousand dollars a month car allowance (no police report needed for accidents to upper echelon, or sobriety checks). Not Charlie Gravedigger, that rumor has it, had a perfectly good $200,000 air conditioning unit hauled off to the junkyard, where it released freon into the atmosphere because it was not properly drained? Shhh! we gotta keep some things schtum! How about the father (boss)and son duo over in Deland? If you question why his son got all the overtime, leave early for his college classes,or pick and choose where and who he worked with you will be FIRED! oops forgot...they are part of the Yon Roung elite. (backyard BBQ's and plenty of beer is where the real decisions are made I am told) Let's not forget the million dollar deals with Crapamarc, follow the money trail on that one and see where it leads...Millions spent on Multiuniversity high...the school is already sinking, and thousands were poured into the atletic fields over the summer while the taxpayers weren't looking, because the contractors screwed it up the first time and were not held accountable. I'm not saying these things happened, only things I've heard. Many more stories can be told by the rank and file....I think they forget we are taxpayers....well Conte remembers! Remember rank and file, these are only rumors, and use satire, don't get caught on their bad side or you will be DEALT with.

The schools don't need more money, they need to figure out how to make more efficient use of the time they have in a school day. In elementary school - music and PE are a complete waste of time. Time spent away from learning to line up a class and walk them to and from 'special area'. Two thirty minute PE classes a week and one half hour of music is not life changing. I would much rather that time be used in the classroom and let me make sure my children get exercise and learn to play the boom-wacker if they so choose.

Better learn to make do with what you have. Why do you think the Republican's were so successful in Volusia County?.

Do not vote one PENNY to this school board or county.

This county is all about wasteful spending as Pat Northey..Carl Persis and Frank Bruno

It does not matter how much money they get they will use the money to indirectly buy votes with it.

I could talk about how watching their maintenance department reminds me of a gangster movie made in the 1940's.

How we have this old and fading matronly leader of the gang.. "Ma" Garrett-Smith, and while the movie doesn't address it directly, her actions suggest to the viewer that there are early signs of dementia settling in.

Once the criminal mastermind, we sit in bewilderment as she hands over more and more of the gang's power to the unscrupulous (even by gang standards) Ty "Knee" Riceslinger.

The film documents the rise to power by the Ty "Knee" Riceslinger gang aided by his faithful personal assistant (wink, wink), Chinese underwear launderer and part-time hair stylist Yon Roung. We also have the Riceslinger heralded vacuum cleaner salesman/7-11 cashier/Kelly Girl turned enforcer - Dave "The Heel" Stiletto (oh stop it.. that tickles!), Charlie "Navy Seal(ed) With a Kiss" Gravedigger who can be seen here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InBXu-iY7cw

..and the clueless but well meaning screw-up Joe "The Mortar" Forder.

But I won't.

I could talk about their maintenance department that is ripe with mystery and intrigue.

I could talk about the taxpayer expenses related to scuba-diving expeditions, the queen's carriage being repaired under the cover of darkness, less than honest men in high positions using school facilities for personal use, the "Schooldude" debacle, a $35,000 sidewalk to nowhere, the "4 Men and a Bucket" roofing crew, the logic defying and laughable way in which they have somehow convinced Margaret Smith that stripping schools of their "site-based" management of school custodians and the results (the results being schools that are not clean, at a higher cost), their "odd" and expensive relationship with an outside contractor, their policy of "ask no questions or become a marked man" and on and on, and yes.. even Jesus sandals.

But I won't.

Nothing will change at the VCSB until you:

FIRE MARGARET SMITH

I am so tired of the bureaucrats pulling at our heart strings and using our children as pawns in their game. All that keeps coming to my mind is that our School Board approved $96 MILLION to build ONE, just ONE, High School in Orange City. Oh yes it is fancy, however fancy does not educate our children. This is just one of MANY examples wasteful spending that I could note. Government has a way of throwing money at problems as opposed to fixing the problems thought other means. The Volusia County School system needs to concentrate on providing our children with a sound fundamental education. Just as we need to stop building fancy schools, the fluff needs to be cut out of the curriculum. Reading, Writing, Math, Science, and History should be the main focus. Those who have no problem taking from my family and the families of others need to realize that they just may be blocking us from being able to send our children on to college. If I have a choice of my daughter being able to be a High School Cheerleader or my daughter being able to attend College, I'll choose College. Oh and yes you will have people who will say, "Oh the increase will ONLY be this amount or that amount in your annual tax bill". Well at this point every dime counts and everything else is also increasing. I have been around politicians and on the "in" with many politicians throughout my adult life. Most all of them become very defensive when their decisions are questioned and they tend to excuse everything to death as opposed to listening and learning from what their constituents are saying to them. Another problem the issue is the over abundance of parents who will cry out when non-essential programs are cut. To bad, if they want their children to play football, be a cheerleader, lift weights, or learn to sing or play the drums, THEY NEED TO PAY FOR IT. Let me save every extra dime I can for my children's future. It is not about what we WANT folks, it is about what we NEED. Wants and needs are two different things. I want a ten bedroom house located on the river with a huge pool, yet we live in a modest three bedroom two bath house that is located on a small lot. Thing about it is, both houses would do the same thing and serve the same purpose.

There is only one way to begin to pull out of the mess that has been made at the Volusia County School Board.

FIRE MARGARET SMITH.

Put the school board members on notice that if they do not replace her with a forward thinking and progressive business minded person, THEY WILL BE NEXT.

The move is underfoot right now.. Mr. and Mrs. school board member.

Your arrogance is being exposed.

The Real Problem Here is misappropriation of the original funds............. So lets slide'm more.............

If they are blank, that was most likely on purpose. It is everyone's right to vote in whatever way they felt. Personally, I don't want to see any more taxes because it is hard enough to make it these days without every political/governmental force trying to do the two step pick pocket!

Every vote counts. Everyone who didn't vote or left the bubble blank are interesting evidence of the lack of information and campaigning on either side of the question. As in the Orange City Charter Amendments a good number of our neighbors did not know how to vote. If you are for something or against it and it matters you have to campaign and act like it matters. It always matters.