Jackson Jambalaya

Sorry KF,

Hinds County and the City of Jackson took all the Fuelman cards.

I saw that. I was thinking, I get asked to pretty much provide for hand sanitizer, tissues, etc. for each child's class room, along with many other supplies throughout the year and these jokers are getting iPads I can't even afford b/c of the economy. Don't get me started on the funding of special programs that the students are in threat of losing.

Why not provide them to the classrooms for students to learn on rather than administrators to update their FB status!

It's past ridiculous, it's obscene.

But, sadly, I've pretty much come to expect that kinda stuff.

I think that not always the smartest people become princples and department heads.

I cannot think of a better example of why the traditional battle cry of the teachers unions and their allies in bloated academic administrations of more funding for education is an absolute farce. The administrators of a public school system in a horrid time of economic recession should not be rewarded with toys by sheer virtue of the fact that the money is made available to them by federal appropriators. Disregarding the usefulness or lack thereof of the iPads for the administrators, the timing of announcing this during such dire straits makes the decision both arrogant and foolish, in my opinion. I wish I could really articulate in an intelligent manner how dumb I think this is.

3:26, Judging by the comment volume on the CL website, you are not alone.

I placed a call to the Superintendent's office - got voice mail - to express my displeasure at the purchase. I hope everyone else who has an opinion - pro or con - will do the same. There may be some information that makes this purchase a valuable one, but I don't see it.

Have you ever reviewed a budget and so the printing costs for board meetings and etc? You would be very surprised not only the trees that were cut but the costs are just astronomical. The Ipad is $500.00 and it will pay for it self alone in 2 -3 months. Agendas and all are down loaded to the Ipads and you all you do is read flip a page and it was a one time charge..... Now add those dollars up and see why this is a plus for savings!!!!!

4:04, step away from your desk at the Taj and go to my daughter's kindergarten classroom. While I have no doubt there is a cost savings to not printing the board's agenda for the board members, that savings pales in comparison to the needs of the classroom. Get a grip.

ipads are the future!

this was sent from my flying car

I have a sister who is a teacher in that school district. The ceiling above her computer leaked all year last year because they didn't have the funds to repair it.

And now they have funds for THIS? Epic fail!

Cut the drama please, think beyond your nose..... The savings are there. The only question here is how much money will this save! The same stir in society when cell phones came to life, now look we could never go back, look at the time that would be wasted which in labor hours that is costly. Now think beyond your nose and do not be so envious or is it just selfish....

Cell phones don't save money. If you can't define the savings right now then you don't have a business case to justify the expenditure.

Your nose must be buried up your ass.

Ok just shallow minded.... I can not help you!

6:34 pm...

"Cell phones don't save money"
BULLSHIT!
-Maybe not in the government sector, but in the real world (which should obviously be on your "bucket list"), they are invaluable.

I guess you still have your horse and buggy outside.

Invaluable does not equal savings. Dumbfuck!

Ya'll are freaking out for nothing. Everybody knows that in Rankin County this sort of perk is paid for by sale of aluminum cans picked up by the county inmates. It's called the Can Fund (get it? Can Fund). They sort and save those cans when they clean up right-of-ways. When they get a truckload, they sell it. It adds up people.

Making Rankin County a better place to live. One Can at a time.

8:49
You kiss your mom with that mouth?

You jokers don't get it. These administrators think that they are entitled. Federal funding is for those who feel that they cannot do what they are capable of without the Feds supporting it. Apparently iPads will solve their paper problems. Do you see the bullshit. Wait, are we talking welfare here for rich folks? Let us post the salaries of these fortunate ones.

Hey Kids...NO MORE MUSIC! Apparently the administrators and the department heads are busy creating a fan page for all of you to learn about the closing of all music programs, sports programs, and for that matter ANY extra curricular activity. But, in the end, you get to LIKE it.

Oh wait, I guess music will now be conducted on the iPad, during staff meetings of course. You know, the piano app. That will qualify under Federal guidelines as music appreciation, regardless if it benefits the students. We know the board can tickle the ivories b/c they have the tools to learn to do so.

9:02 way to go with a nonsense response.

Obviously the plan is to take all the budget savings from the paper and printing costs so Brandon can get a $750k rug to play football like Pearl.

If it wasn't for football HS students wouldn't receive even a minimal education.

Cecil Brown for Hinds County Dogcatcher.

I'm guessing anon above is the same person as technoteacher on the CL forum. He/she spent the entire school day defending this asinine decision.

Despite all the excuses for this idiotic idea, ultimately it was about giving the board members and administrators a little something extra. Brownie points for the technology coordinator and/or superintendent.

Too bad the administrators were looking out for themselves rather than the kids. Typical. It isn't the money, any principal could easliy afford an iPad. It is pure arrogance that makes them think they have a right to get luxuries at someone else's expense.

Football has nothing to do with this. Cecil Brown is whatever.

Get back to topic.

If the discussion is above your ability to understand the hypocrisy of this decision on how to spend Federal Dollars, please spare us comment.

4:04 PM Do me a favor and send me a check to pay for the gas b/c you can't keep bullies from spitting on my child on the bus.

Uh, let me guess -- Kingfish doesn't have any children he wants to educate.

Uh, 10:13PM you base that comment on what?

Maybe checkout who the vendor is?

Did someone make you the board cop Kaptain?

Do you feel you have committed a crime?

I see egghead Weathersby has struck again.. Add this to his family's income from RCSD and you see what we have been dealing with for years. I have no idea how in this world this fool keeps getting elected. Certainly not from my vote. They have my number on a list by the phone not to answer if she calls...

His hers, he-she-it, we you they. Get your pronouns right. If you learned Latin you would know better.

Do you think that all the apps will be paid for too?

Also, as far as savings go, how much is saved when they start playing solitaire on the i-pad.

Solitaire does not come on ipads. But they can buy apps once they open an individual iTunes account. A lot of thought went into these before the purchase but you all will never understand this, over your heads!!!

Bu th way when is Kingfish coming back?

Why should I? I just posted this to let you guys go at it.

Key point is its a federal grant. Question should be why is the federal government paying for this. Rankin just took advantage of what the feds provided although I seriously question the need for such devices at this time, technoteacher's protests notwithstanding.

Where is the article on the clarion ledger website? Can't find it - anyone know if it has been taken down?

I still don't get the big uproar. There are so many other issues in RCSD to get indignant over.

Do you, or do you not, want teachers and/or administrators to be encouraged to use technology that will be commonplace sooner than you think?

Exactly what should they have spent the funds on? What would make everybody happy? NOTHING would make everyone happy. These comments sound like what people probably said when they went from chalk tablets to using paper. Paper?! Expensive! Wasteful! Useless! Why do Mississippians complain about the way things are here, yet put up presumptive and knee jerk reactions to almost anything resembling progressiveness? This is the same thinking that keeps education in MS in a sinkhole. If RCSD is rife with corruption, nepotism and mis-use of funds, and you care that much, jump in and get some cold, hard facts about what's going on and do something about it. If you really object to the use of that money as it was, complain to RCSD, make calls, write letters and emails. I personally don't see how this was the worst waste of the money possible, and if you really do, seriously take it up with whomever made the decision. Now, redecorating the teacher's lounge with it? Yes, I would have had a problem with that.

10:24 aka technoteacher on the CL website:

If you read the comments (which judging by your own comment volume I'm going to assume you did) on the CL website, you would have heard stories of broken computers in the classrooms, no money for ink for the printers and more narratives along those lines. So, yeah, I can think of few other uses for federal computer/networking grant money other than a new way for the board members to read a paperless agenda. But then you are entitled to your own (incorrect) opinion.

Here's the link to the CL story:

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20100924/NEWS/9240346

Opinions are neither correct or incorrect. They are only opinions.

If there's no ink for printers and broken computers and dripping ceilings, etc., why hasn't anyone long already addressed and corrected it? So, confront the decision maker in charge of that with the ipods for teachers issue. Be proactive, and get an explanation instead of sounding like pissed off children banging their forks on the table.

RCSD has all sorts of ridiculous issues of which this ipods for teachers could be the poster example for. How do they justify the multi-million dollar adm building on hwy 80, what with other problem$ they had? Just some of that $ would have fixed a hellofalot computers. Oh, but those funds have to be used for construction or such. There's some kind of explanation I'm sure.

All in all, the ipods weren't the worst use of money. The biggest money waster of ALL is some of the adminstrative salaries in RCSD. Start with wasteful spending right there.

On Feb. 10 about 100 or so RCSD employees were gathered in the Taj conference room for "a brief meeting...to discuss specific changes that will take place as a result of state budget reductions". Some of those summoned were certified (non-classroom)personnel. Most were classified (assistant) personnel. All were to hear that their positions were to be riffed (i.e.100% cut in pay).

Dr. Weathersby had the gall to began the meeting by talking about how difficult it would be for "his family" if he had to take a 15% cut in pay!

Though I don't know Weathersby's salary, I'm guessing it's in the $130,000 range. Fifteen % of that is more than I made in a year as an assistant.
His daughter, DepSupt Christy Maulding, has a yearly paycheck of about $110,000. His son's salary, I think, is in the $85,000 range.

Yep, Weathersby "family" would really have a hard time with a 15% cut in pay.

Daddy Weathersby won't run for re-election. Word on the street has been that he will retire before his term is up and recommend to the Bd that DepSupt/daughter Christy be appointed interim supt. She would then be the incumbant at election time.

Technoteacher.... please do us all a favor and put down your pom-poms. Thank you. Now go hire someone to administer busing issues. Oh, wait, we can't, that is right, our administrators are busy surfing the internet on their new iPads.

If I have any say and I will voice my opinion, I say you are are fool and the administration best figure out how to best educate students.

I also take your discussion to be fickle. You have yet to address the issue of Federal Dollars being used. You over simplify the issue by playing cheerleader, have you read the Ike Brown story. Take a stab at that and come on back to this discussion when you take in the idiocy of the Federal Voting Commission and the ineffective "application of Federal Law." In the case of this situation, RCSD administrators are enriching themselves through Federal funding and I might add - they made a decision over educating the students in a better way. "Save paper" is your argument? Wipe less.

Okay Okay, or technoteacher here - please id yourself, you are still anonymous, but it does aid in communication, which I am finding you lack any ability to conduct.

Because 'technoteacher' is so adament that administrators should have iPads before classrooms receive needed updated technology, I think of her as 'techNOteacher'.

KF, we need a rec or like feature for comments. 5:06 would be my first vote.

Thank you, 5:38.

We keep you alive to serve this blog, 5:06.

You people for this waste of spending need to understand the IPAD before you comment. It IS NOT MADE for the use Rankin County has intended. It is made primarily for media use , it does NOT have Microsoft programs because it is apple software, you would have to spend millions outfitting the whole district with apple software to make it more than Just a convenience, there are computer labs in the district without working computers in them. I say fire Weathersby and his klan! This is ridiculous !!

Weathersby is a former supervisor from District #1 he had issues then.
The school Board has people who do not have children in the school system, they back the supe in all he wishes to do. Remember the Brandon school was built on private land and not 16th section

The iPad is the most useless thing I have seen in technology yet. It is a nice and fancy toy, but far from what is needed for any business or government entity, especially schools. This is more evidence of out-of-touch comfy government positions.

8:58

That's what everyone who doesn't know how to maximize the iPad's potential says. Skip the games and try exploring business tools.

uh, you mean the business apps they mentioned in a press release yesterday, the ones that aren't available yet? what kind of deal did you get on your time machine?

Okay, I have no empirical data to base this on and it is a simplified analysis, but assume that to continue using paper for the one district official would cost $1,000/year. The Ipad purchase cost $500. Sure, the Ipad may be a larger upfront cost (i.e. the $1,000 cost is spread out over 12 months) However, at the end of year 1, the district would have $500 more to spend on classroom essentials such as fixing leaking ceilings, hand sanitizer, etc. So, the more economically responsible decision would be to buy the ipads. EVEN if the numbers don't add up the first year, the cost of the ipad is bound to lead to cost savings in the future as it is a fixed cost as opposed to the reoccurring monthly costs that making copies requires. This does not take into account the cost of time spent making copies which could actually lead to reduction of staff. Is buying a car and driving to work PER SE more expensive than walking? In terms of upfront cost, absolutely. In terms of overall efficiency and making sure you earn the most money per hour? Of course not. Now, to me the question will be will the District take advantage of the potentially cost savings? If they don't, I'll be the first in line to complain. But I for one will give them an opportunity instead of premptively judging this as a poor use of my taxpayer dollars.

I just bought a ream of paper (500 sheets) for $3 at Walmart. How much are they printing if they're spending $1000 per year on paper? 500 sheets a day?

So it will take 10 years to recoup the investment. Assuming the aforementioned leaky ceiling lady has not drowned by then (or died from mold inhalation) THEN they would finally have enough $ to fix that and other problems. Well, assuming the new IPad model purchase did not use all the $. For me, it's all about saving the trees anyway. Buy an IPad, save a tree, even if our dilapidated schools smell like pee.

What business tools are you fools talking about? Is a calculator not a "business tool?"

Apparently from your traffic meter, it appears that someone from node1.rcsd.ms and bugs.rcsd.ms is utilizing their iPad to read your blog. I guess they are being put to use for "official school business?"

The only people who do not consider the RCSD board a total joke are themselves. Some of them I know personally and I used to think there was integrity on some of their parts. I had an experience a few years back that made me reconsider. On a couple, the jury is still out but as far as the top... That is obvious. Ask anyone in the county except some cronies and you will get an eyeroll at the least and a dog cussin at worst. If you have a problem do not look to Weathersby or any of his sidekicks to help you. You are totally on your own. He reminds me of Shoultz, he knows nothing.