BASTA!

Comments from Susy Tilley (who spent her formative years in Italy - thus - "Basta!" or, in english - "ENOUGH!):

Mr. Burleson has spent his life working towards bettering our children. Do we want him to stay because he's a great guy? No. That's just icing on the cake. Give the citizens more credit and realize that we want him here because he's an excellent superintendent and under his leadership, our students continue to thrive.

The DPI report cards for each school show growth, an average of 18% in the 2006-2007 school year. It is my understanding that the percentage of progress our students made in the 2008-2009 school year, although not yet published, will be even higher.

According to Ms. Norman, the children who don't make it are the minorities and the poor. The largest positive progress differential on the report cards is made up of three groups: Blacks, economically disadvantaged and children with disabilities!

Those very same children Ms. Norman told the media were failing in this public school system.
She said that it is time to get on board and give these kids the same education as the "upper crust." It's her opinion, not fact, that we have a substandard school system.

The media was able to dispel that rumor and disprove Madam Chair's statistics that same night on TV.

We have a superintendent with a contract, which the board approved. Mr. B could retire, if he chose, on April 10th, 2010, with full state benefits. This board has made it its mission to see that he not get what is rightfully his after all the years of work and dedication. Aside from breaching the contract, it's just plain wrong!

This board has been dishonest with the people of this county in order to get elected. The board majority approved the use of special counsel to be paid under Utica Insurance, a policy we taxpaying citizens pay for. The cap for the legal expenses is 100K. As of right now, no one on this board knows how much of that has been used.

Ms. Sain told me to ask Ms. Norman. Ms. Norman told me to ask David Burleson. She told me to ask Mr. Burleson, what HER lawyer's fees were up to! Mr. Schwartz stated that Utica keeps up with that and they don't generally notify the board until the maximum cap is close to being reached.

This is financially irresponsible, given that we, the taxpayers would be footing the bill for any of your legal whims exceeding 100K. It is also irresponsible to even CONSIDER using ANY money, to buy Mr. Burleson's contract.

This money belongs to our children. The people who pay property taxes say that is where it needs to go. Taking it away from them is tantamount to stealing, no matter how you shift it, move it, etc. It does not need to go to a buyout simply because YOU don't like the guy. You were elected to be impartial representatives of our children AND your children. The fact that some of you chose and still choose not to educate your kids in this system is completely your decision. Maybe you think that our children are "lower crust."

If you based your decisions on incorrect statistics, well, you were misinformed. It is NOT your job to force a public school system to be anything but a PUBLIC system that welcomes all cultures, races, economic statuses and beliefs.

Do not think that if you take children from abuse, drugs, poverty, put a uniform on them and let them read only what you want them to, they will be a success in life. It does not work that way, and you know it. Mr. Burleson has always had the foresight to know that it takes family, community and school to make a child successful in life. This is how BeeBee, Bust'r and Betsie got their start. He knew long ago that "at risk" children need an earlier start and extra community support in order to have a fighting chance in this world.

Ironically, this county was just granted 5.8 million dollars, which will help our students learn the benefits of good physical and mental health. For the next three years, our children will have comprehensive programs to deal with the problems of drugs, alcohol, violence and neglect. This size grant is extremely difficult to get and I want to thank Mr. Burleson and all the people who collaborated with him in order to get this incredible opportunity. You are truly the kind of visionaries we need here.

Stop your crusade and be accountable to those who elected you.

Susy Tilley