Showing posts with label rankin county schools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rankin county schools. Show all posts

Monday, September 12, 2011

Rankin school bond vote tomorrow (Updated)

OK, the Rankin County School bond issue vote is tomorrow. i met with several representatives of the district in July the day before I discussed the bond issue on the radio (The show is posted below). I don't have much time to write an essay so I'm going to just run through my notes and post them here at the end of this post. Here is a list of the projects:



and earlier commentary on the list:

"There is a need for more classrooms as the District experiences an average growth of 425 students per year. The District's website states the student population will grow from 16,298 in 2005 to an estimated 19,396 in 2012. Using the 425 per year figure, add 1,700 students since 2001 and the number of new students since 2001 is 4,798. The website states "The tax increase associated with this bond issue is around $5 per month for a homeowner with a $100,000 home. For the average homeowner in Rankin County, the increase would be around $60 per year."

More than a few people complained about the athletic facilities included in the proposed project list. The total amount allocated for such projects is $17,434,925, approximately 10% of the proposed bond issue. $27,227,812 (16%) is allocated for new classrooms. $123,275,076 (73%) is set aside for the construction of new schools and renovation of current ones. Funds are also set aside for new libraries, band halls, and re-roofing projects." Original post

Here is the discussion we had on the Kent & Larry show on WJNT about the bond issue several weeks ago. I went to the District the day before the show and went over the bond issue with several representatives (No less than five).
Here is the show:



Here is a link to the District's website about the bond issue.

Now for those of you that comment and want to oppose the bond issue, get specific. Use numbers and figures, not just "its the spending" or "the school board or district is a bunch of crooks". You oppose it? Why? Make some factual arguments.

Update: Here are what I gleaned from my notes.

*The bond issue does pay for athletic upgrades. It DOES NOT pay for a ten million dollar football field at Brandon High School. Ross Adams did some VERY bad reporting on the story at WJTV. The ten million dollars covers the following:
1. Field house for ALL athletic teams. This includes dressing and locker rooms, offices, weight room (weights provided by boosters).
2. Football field. The facility will have a field, track, bleaches, press box. Get this straight: THE DISTRICT HAS NO REGULATION TRACK FACILITIES and is unable to host track meets. As a former track man (sprinter), I can appreciate the need for at least ONE track in the district that is regulation.
3. The field will have a turf like Pearl. Higher up-front cost but lower maintenance cost.

*Classrooms. Classrooms. Classrooms. Did I mention classrooms? Every classroom will be hard-wired as well as wireless. Classrooms will use the interactive white boards and have the use of pods. Pods are these little devices the kids use when a teacher asks a question. Each student has to answer on the pod. This benefits the teacher so that instead of just asking one student the answer, she can tell how many do or do not know the answer to a question.


*The bond issue itself. The schedules and all the inner workings are not yet available but the issues are going to be split into two. The first issue will be $110-115 million and implemented as soon as possible. This will be covered by the six mill increase. The second issue will occur when a current bond issue rolls off of the books. The result is the homeowner will not see a net increase in what he currently pays for that issue. The figures are based on a rate of 4% with an AA- rating.

*The priority list is still in the planning stage.

*Key figure: The district currently uses 58 portable buildings. Northwest Rankin Middle School alone has 16 units. Everyone get that? Guess what folks? Its not going to get any better. Just drive through NE Jackson. Notice all the for sale signs? Where do you think those people are going to move?





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Posted by Kingfish at 8:59 AM
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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).

Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.

In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS.