From the Morganton News Herald Comment Site:

Posted by ( Professor ) on 10/04/2009 at 10:52 pm.
". . . . The educated, the devoted, the talented, the creative, the parents who love their children will leave, all of them. Is that what the current majority wants? Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy??????????? Indefensible. Reprehensible. Outrageous. Malignant. Disgusting. Despairing. Morale killing. A good parent will be guilty of neglect if they do not get their kids out of there. It is almost diabolical. "

Posted by ( Professor ) on 10/04/2009 at 10:07 pm.
"Here is a question from a teacher down there. (Someone please post this. He won't.) 'Can you convince me to remain in a Burke County classroom when moving away means my expertise will be valued elsewhere, when I will not have to live in fear for expressing my opinions as a stakeholder myself elsewhere, when I will receive a higher supplement elsewhere, when I will work for a functional board elsewhere, when I will work for a supt. who practices no deceit elsewhere, when my employers will still have their fund balance intact elsewhere, when my schools will have the support of the commisioners and the Chamber of Commerce elsewhere, when my resume will not be smeared by a loss of accreditation elsewhere, when I will see more joy than worry in the faces of my colleagues elsewhere, and, most importantly, when my own children will be attending accredited schools elsewhere?' "


(Dear Professor, I hope that you do not mind me pasting "snippets" of your comments on my blog! Even though you are anonymous, you always speak truth to power. Please forgive me if I explore some of your thoughts below.)

While I agree with Professor on most everything he says and understand that he is more lettered, wise and profound than I am, I am trying to remain optimistic regarding accreditation. Yes, Professor makes valid points in all of his comments on MNH – and if I were in his position watching my children and grandchildren in abject misery due to the situation down in Burke, I would probably make the same observations.

However, I meant it when I said “I’m stuck here.” (I know I have posted that somewhere.) That is not necessarily a bad thing. And when I say “stuck,” I mean that I have made the conscious decision to stay in Burke County.* There are many things other than schools that keep me in Burke County. My family is here. My husband’s family is here. I know how difficult it is to raise children in a quasi-single parent environment, and my family has made that part of my life workable. I have seen how difficult it was for my parents to care for their aging parents at a long distance, and I want to be close when those days come in the distant future. And, I have a child in high school, so I have a vested interest in making sure the schools stay accredited.

So, back to Professor’s friend’s question:

Can I convince the teacher to remain in Burke County?

Here goes: The loss of accreditation is not a foregone conclusion. Education spending is being hit everywhere (granted, the BOE majority has hastened the economic demise of our school system). Teacher morale appears to be at an all-time low in Burke (another blow exacted by the current BOE with the appointment of a new superintendent without public participation). Those of us who resigned ourselves to the fact the BOE majority would choose a superintendent hoped that the BOE majority would choose one who had excellent “people” skills to help soothe the stress overload of the school staff. They did not.

There is a good possibility that a new majority will be elected, and that majority will have the ability to slow down the changes wrought by the old majority. There is a possibility that members of the current majority will be able to work together with the new folks on the board (I can hope, right?). I agree that restoring “functionality” and “decorum” to the board is crucial. I think the Chamber of Commerce and the County Commissioners do support the schools (at least the current County Commissioners do). If there is a new board majority, teachers will be able to speak against us without fear of being targeted by us later. We actually understand the First Amendment.

I am optimistic that the election of reasonable board members in November will mark the slow (yet bumpy) improvement of the functioning of the board, and transitively of the morale of the school employees. I know that I will do everything in my power to restore full accreditation to our high schools (as I mentioned earlier, this is personal to me – and anyone who thinks that I contacted SACS CASI and started this mess is a lunatic).

As for the new superintendent, one of the things he has said that has resonated with me is “What are YOU (the public) willing to do for the schools?” That is a question that Burke County has answered with anemic responses for decades. Those same people who resoundingly said “we will do nothing for the schools” – who said “the schools don’t need more money” are the same ones on the board majority now. The same ones who have emptied the fund balance and blamed others for its condition. But I digress . . . my point is that we have awakened a sleeping giant in Burke County.

One more positive for the new superintendent is that he apparently has mentored a significant number of administrative staff that has gone on to be superintendents themselves. We have many, many talented teachers and on-site administrators in Burke County who have the right stuff to be high level administrators. Perhaps Dr. Stellar will be able to assist some of our own who have aspirations of higher positions to achieve those?

As a county, we are beginning to understand that education is dear to us. We will hold people in the system and on the board accountable (including myself, if elected). We have learned the hard lesson that this is a participatory system – and we must participate with a vengeance.

The school year has begun. I don’t know what the teaching job prospects are in other NC counties. It is difficult for families to move in the middle of a school year. You must do what you think is best. It is a risk to stay. It is a risk to move.

I will do everything that I can to improve the situation for all stakeholders, and I know that Sam, Buddy and Susan will, too.



*Regarding staying in Burke County: That is not to say that if I win the lottery (which I don't play) I won't acquire a second home in Manhattan. I have to keep that option open.