Mr. Greg Jones has announced his intention to run against John Nunes for School Committee. Curt Brown has a post here on his blog breaking the story. From the blog post,...
...He (Mr. Jones) said his aim is to improve academic performance through a different allocation of existing funds.
Mr. Nunes, who will have served 19 years on the School Committee in April, has also taken out nomination papers and said he welcomes Mr. Jones’ participation in the race.
Another contested position in the town election. That doesn't leave many uncontested races. The Library Board of Trustees and Town Meeting Moderator incumbents are among those still uncontested for re-election
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Greg Jones to run for School Committee
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25 comments:
Good Luck Mr. Jones! We need new people with fresh ideas on the SC. You have my vote.
I'm glad these races are being contested but this is disappointing news. I would like to see someone who is very involved in the schools but also someone who understands the problems which need to be addressed. I realize Mr. Jones attends many meetings and gathers a lot of information. However judging from the comments he posts and past media exposure, I don't think he is able to properly analyze this information. He seems to become emotional. Emotions shouldn't come into play when reasoned thought is required. Neither candidate is a good option. It's too bad.
To Greg Jones.
Although, we have never met, I'm pleased to hear that you are running for a seat on the school committee. If I had your e-mail address, I would be more informative, as it relates to the school committee duties. As it relates to education, I certainly agree with your concern for academic performance.
In my opinion, Dartmouth schools performance in sports/music appear to be outstanding. If you could convert their success into the student academic programs, I will be astonished. Good luck, you've got my vote.
Ooooop's, when elected, you will find yourself stuck to the educational spider web. The web is constructed by the state legislatures and the M.T.A. is the spider. The web makers have delegated your duties to that of a fly. You may fly around the web, but sooner or later the web will clip your wings and the spider will move in for the kill.
These analogies are kind of cute but you get the message. Your only duties will be regulated to appointing a supper, ass't supper and contract negotiations. Oppppps, don't forget the business manager. This little unknown position has been able to avoid the web/spider. It's also protected by the state academic certification board. You can not hire a business manager w/wo an M.B.A,.unless he/she is state certified. You've got to be kidding right?? This is call protectionism.
Oooops, I must be hungry. I meant to spell SUPER not supper. Sorry!
First of all, emotions are normal. Second of all, Greg Jones is one of the calmest and most collected parents and Town Meeting members around. He is extremely fair and balanced. Please get to know him, I'm sure he'd have coffee with you. He is open and accessible. Really an honest man and neighbor.
Mr. Nunes has put in his time and supported music and sports successes, time for a new person who attends Finance meetings to look at the broader picture in context of town affairs. Hopefully to make smarter academic funding decisions. Our Superintendents need oversight. This needs repeating, our Superintendents have a group hug and praise fest at School Committee along with the Business Administrator. Our School Committee members need objective, vocal participants with good ideas and cost effective attitudes.
Mike this citizen is right for the job and his only interest is what is best for townspeople and students. An advocate for core education. You won't be disappointed, but I agree try to get to know him or attend a meet and greet.
Thank you Bill for posting up Curt's article and thnak you folks that have expressed your support for me. I'll do my best to not disappoint. I am in the process of putting together a little background on me and what I think are the primary issues facing our schools. It may take me a little time to get it put together and distributed. If Bill is willing, I'll ask him to post a link to it when its ready.
Mike, I will have a new e-mail address set up specifically for the school committee race and when it's ready I'll get it out there.
I do want to hear from people and their thoughts and concerns. If I have learned anything over the last couple years it's that I still have a lot more to learn. I don't have all the answers and can only promise to try to do my best to learn.
Greg Jones
Full Day Kindergarten will probably be put off due to state budget? But learning space issues still matter, especially at Middle. The Middle is often the jelly of the PB and J that gets forgotten!
Mike - I have a dedicated e-mail address set up for my school committee race, its Greg@GregJonesDPS.net. Please feel free to share your thoughts. I am currently working on a web site-hope to have it running before too long.
And anon 2:12 I like your analogy of the Middle School situation and do not disagree.
Good luck Greg looking forward to reading your bullet points and info on education aims.
Talking to Eddy.
The state department of education leadership agree that more money for teaching will bring a higher(caliber) teacher into the class room. As a school committee member, it's my elected duty to provide teachers with monitory incentives. You elect and we select. We the committee, need all the extra money we can receive from the town, state or feds. We also encourage monetary incentive for department management instruction, including sports/music. A child education is more important than a town hall full of contract problems, patched pot holes, or law enforcement who spend more time at coffee shops than patrolling the town. For a better Dartmouth, education must be it's top priority. School committee members are elected to support education, not to manage the town fiscal problems.
To 8:40, Interesting viewpoints and you claim to be a shool committee member. Which member are you?
Anon 8:40: What if the school committee was part of the town's fiscal problems?
Your greed is only superseded by your arrogance. Someone once stated, power corrupts and total power corrupts totally. It's been long recognized that school is a place of learning. To encourage the best quality teacher, teachers need a decent salary.
I also know that the school department is the largest employer of political favoritism. In other words, school insiders appoint teachers according to education favors given to other school administrator from other school systems and this includes the Dartmouth school system. It's called give and take.
The school committee has no say on the appointment of teachers or school administrators. This authority is delegated to the building principal. The superintendent appoints all school building principals. However, the school committee appoints the superintendent/asst superintendents. The school committee authorities salary increase for all school employee's, thats it folks! Once the school committee agrees to a salary increase, the town of Dartmouth shall approve all salary increases. It's the law. Through a state act, all schools must be funded by cities/towns on what is called minimum school funding. If school funding is cut, the subjects to be reduced, area done according to the recommendation by the superintendent, not the school committee.
This situation puts the town and education at risk. The white elephant is gaining weight, while the pee-n's are having their heads cut off. Who mandates which areas are to be reduced or eliminated?
A town override authorized the employment of seven police officers. The selectmen are now looking at laying off four of the newly appointed officers. I thought the override for the new officers were approved by the town voters. Teacher are a very important part of our town education force. Police officers provide the town with security. Why did the town voters authorize the employment of seven officers.
That is the problem with overrides. The money goes to the tax levy to be used as deemed appropriate. There is no guarantee where the money will go in the future. Overrides DO NOT solve the problem but only make the problems worse. The schools do not have the confidence of the voters. Any money given would only end up being used for salaries which will in turn create more of a financial burden because there will be no means to fund them in the future. I, as many others, do not believe funds would be used for the children in the form of textbooks, technology etc. There is no doubt that if they did receive an override, initially they would use the funds correctly but would soon find the funds were quickly eaten up by the funding of salaries and benefits.
Yes, like the override question for textbooks that was on the ballot. There was no guarantee that textbooks would be funded in the future. I think the mantra was "trust us". I guess the voters chose not to.
The salries and benefits have to change even in the libraries for the top three.
Russell has done nothing to deal with the salry and contract issue even if the teachers slaries lag.
Public schools are not working in the best interest of our students. The system is broken but we continue to spend more money. Get rid of public education and turn to charter schools. The constitution doesn't give everyone the right to an education. If you want one, pay for it yourself. Get off the backs of the taxpayers.
Regarding the above poster- hard to believe in this day and age that people such as this person still exist. Sad state of affairs this blog is. Far too many negative comments outweigh good dialog and ideas. Very toxic and not conducive to progress.
Regarding the above. The public education for children have failed. Get your liberal head out of the sand and look at the state academic. As it relates to education, I'd like to see the collapse of public education, then we can start teaching and stop whining. People do not have a right to public education. This is the generation of “you owe me” _not how can I. It's the big reason why our government is failing, along with the banking system. Just look around. Don't like the truth??
To posters, some of you sound like you hate education and haven't graduated H.S., or was the pre-school. Wah wah. Cheer up and support the students who if they stick around will volunteer to help you when you're old or older.
To above
Just because I speak of the failure of public education, don't get all f lusted and uppity. As it relates to the Dartmouth public schools, in a time not too long ago, students received an education in math, reading, history, science, and how to a good citizen, the list goes on. I graduated from Dartmouth high school. Went into the army for four years. Enter college to become a teacher. All this when public schools where at their best.
Now that I'm retired, I can say that pubic schools are no longer teaching. Teachers are just trying to make it through the day. For some students, school is a place to tell a teacher to f—k off or stick it up your b--t. Go ahead and hit me, after my lawyer gets done with you, I'll own your house. The teacher complains to the head master but nothing gets done, why/ because the headmaster was told by the student that he will burn his house to the ground.
All of the above is true, but what about all the good students? Just that, what about the good students. They are still good students without a good education, because of the few BAD students that get all the needs attention and special attention. If you could walk into the high school, with out an escort, you'd be in shock. Students up against the wall kissing and grabbing each other by the ass. Teachers walking by and continue to the next class. Student walks into the bath room and throws a lit match into the paper container. No fire department called. Students smoking out doors and in all the bath rooms. Black pencil marking all over the walls. Metal seperaters punched in or kicked out from the hinges. Wake up, take a walk and see for yourself. I'm just one voice of many. Public education is in the toilet. It's time to fix it or stop it.
I must confess, I'm in LOVE with Diane Gilbert. Diane, take this seriously, I never miss Monday night with DCTV. Not because I'm limited, or without having enough things to do, it's truly because of you. Strong assertive women have been my interconnect. I just can't get enough of your maximum intellect and the depth of your understanding of town politics. You've uncovered the uncover able. You've exposed the unexplainable. I'm amassed at how well you play out your roll as select person. You are one of a kind. If you were single and I not married, I would take you to the the best restaurant in Massachusetts just to listen to you explain the undoing of the old political machine. Don't allow the uncaring political hacks who attempt to make you feel uncertain, you shall win re-election. Don't give up the good fight, a lot of voters are with you.
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