0.800 Batting Average going into the All-Star Break

We're heading into the All-Star Break ans SP-EYE is carrying a blistering 0.800 batting average.

Back in January, we predicted the following school board actions:


N Buy more land
................................ After an extended process (and lots of legal fees) the board quietly purchased additional land for the high school construction project. Did anyone know that?

N Spend more money
................................. It's what they do best. We've added a new program (4K), paid more to scrap security guards in favor of the " feel good style" Youth Advocates.

N Increase Admin Staffing
................................. The board approved a new administrative position for HR...they just haven't hired someone yet. The picture is even worse if you look at all the Admin Support staff. From the 2007-08 to the 2008-09 school year, the Admin positions increased from 21 to 23. Salary and fringe benefit costs increased 13% to just shy of $3,000,000. Wonder how high that will go in '09-10?

N Vote to start a 4K Program
.................................. Despite concern from one of their own (Jill Camber-Davidson) and a decision from one of the largest (if not the largest) daycare center in the city (Gingerbread) to NOT participate, it was full speed ahead. Everyone says that it's a "good program" to help kids prepare for school. What they don't tell you is that all research has been geared towards using 4K and the Headstart program to help jumpstart the educational learning of socioeconomically disadvantaged kids. How many of those will be in the 4K program? Hmmm they're not talking that one up. Wonder why? If raises for Admin approach 5% for 2009-10, we could also have 2 or more new members of the $100K club, bringing the total of this elite group to 11!

s Re-structure Board Committees
....................................This is the only one that has yet to come to fruition, yet Al Slane and Jim McCourt (accidentally) discuss it in conversation as if it's a done deal. Hmmmm....wonder why they haven't pushed this one through yet. Perhaps someone actually read the article from Tim Culver that started this bonfire and decided it was not what it was chalked up to be? Come on now! SP-EYE's looking to bat 1.000!