School Committee Incorporated

I need to sound off with regards to the School Committee.  I really think they need to get away from the idea of becoming a business where they are offering services for a price.  For example, access to our schools for out of towner's and school bus services for a fee and don't forget the sale of advertising...

They are absolutely horrible at it and it is becoming increasingly more embarrasing that they continue this effort with such a high failure rate.  It is even more embarrassing that they are not even capable of doing the job at hand.  The fact of the matter is that Levine comes in and finds approximately $100,000 for the budget.  I wish they would have all the school committee run at the same time so you could completely clean house.  There are maybe one or two individuals that I would keep but the reality is that they all need a good kick in the butt.  

That being said, I think bus services should be reduced to the only obligated group of kids due to distance.  It is amazing how resourceful parents can be when they are finally told they have to pay.  This year they are almost 1000 kids short of expectations which is approximately $275,000 short on their projected budget.  There is no way that they are going to come close to that number.  I never thought a free education included limo to and from school.  We all heard our parents about walking.  We have elementary schools all over the place and you are telling me they need busing?  Please....

The advertising is another big joke.  They are pushing the local principals to sell advertising.  Then when we are trying to live in a greener world they are forcing it on the back of notices that go home instead of leveraging digital media.  They are forcing schools that have already have had a reduced administration budget (Due to our fearless leader) to print with ink and paper that comes via donations from the parents.  So the city is making money off the parents yet again.   The principal has much bigger concerns like dealing with the spoiled union employees that won't do anything outside their contract window.  There are a few but that is a very small group.  This is based on past experiences and also what I have been told.

Open enrollment.  How are you going to get children to come here when the perception of Peabody is anti-schools.  Again, I said perception.  You never want to open your doors to other towns problems.  The best case senario is that you get a couple of kids but then they end up needing specials services that will cost Peabody more money than we are getting.  You can't discriminate so we would get screwed doing that as well.  We should see it as a blessing that no one applied.  Just like America, close your borders and make your city isolated.  That is why I was against the city giving a blank checkbook to the VOC.  The city is going to be hurt for a long time with that horrible deal.  We need to keep all the money we can in this city.

The sad part is that there is only one outsider running so which current one is the lesser of two evils.  I know I am voting for the new guy even though I don't know him but this committee needs to be shaken up and I now need to decide if I only vote for him so he gets a step up when I vote.  That is my recommendation to everyone.  Only vote for the new guy and scare the crap out of these incumbents.  Maybe even to it for the City Councilors as well.

What are your thoughts?