“Remember the Bell South Cell Phones!!!!”

If the Anti-School Bond Movement ever needed a battle cry it would be “Remember the Bell South Cell Phones!”  Those were purchased from the 2004 bond election pushed by the same crowd; The Alliance for Education, Philip Rozeman, The Chamber of Commerce and school board member, Larry Ramsey (at the time a Bell South employee.)  All the schools were excited to get “phones” for each classroom. They promised that the phones could even work out on the playground if an emergency happened out there. NOT!  These phones were obsolete upon arrival. Some trash Bell South had not been able to sell. So Caddo Parish took them off Bell South’s hands for $795 each plus the cost of the charging stations. That’s for each classroom in 72 schools.  I can’t do that high math.  They sat around collecting dust for years. Some schools put them in boxes and hid them in closets. Most were never turned on.  Some loyal frustrated principals tried to play the game and had a recharging station for the teachers to return the phones each day. Eventually, even those schools gave up the pretense.  Then in the last couple of years some folks showed up at the schools in CPSB vans, reboxed the worthless phones and said they were taking them to the IT department at Central Office. To add insult to injury, the TAXPAYERS are still paying for those worthless things.

I wonder what business or businesses have something they can’t sell that the schools need?  Big ugly metal buildings? Oh this is just one of the CBC’s financial reports. You get the idea.

The Powerful, Enforced Silence Around Standardized Testing

deutsch29: Mercedes Schneider's Blog

Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) testing takes more than ten hours for students in grades 3 through 8 to complete.

These students have spent countless hours preparing for the PARCC tests, and they have heard that the tests are important. However, they will receive no immediate, clear benefit from taking the tests. Their teachers will receive no clear, immediate information to inform instruction. By the time PARCC scores come, the school year is over, and likely another begun.

The teachers know that student scores on PARCC are meant to be used to grade them and their schools.

All of the above makes for a high-stress situation for both kids and teachers.

And once it is over, kids now know that the testing companies and departments of education are trolling social media to see if kids discuss the experience.

Such constitutes an abuse of power.

Pretend…

View original post 441 more words

Board Member’s FaceBook Post Aids Law Suit

Shortly after Board Member Larry Ramsey’s post appeared on Facebook that the law prohibited the CPSB Superintendent and all staff from making public statements supporting the bond proposal, a local attorney filed a law suit.

This message was sent to Board Members in private, but Mr. Ramsey chose to post it on Facebook. It appears he was answering the outcry from many residents wanting to hear both sides, since Dr. Goree is obviously only presenting the VOTE YES side. But instead, it drew attention to the fact that it is possible the Superintendent and staff are indeed breaking the law. Citizens have been very impressed by the presentation of Elliott Stonecipher.  Since the Superintendent is using his position and taxpayers money to hold, not only, public presentations at schools all over the parish, but in-addition, requiring all employees to stay after work for an hour and listen to him and staff do their sales pitch. Many citizens believe it would be fair to them to offer the same to Mr. Stonecipher. Well, that got all twisted. The Superintendent stated that he did not want to dignify Mr. Stonecipher’s position by answering his questions and facts. And if too many questions and facts are brought out at Dr. Goree’s presentations he will say we are out of time and leave. That is what happened at the presentation at Captain Shreve.

One dilemma we find ourselves in here at Tammy Tales is, which award does Board Member Ramsey deserve?  The Best Board Member because he pointed out the law that prohibits the Superintendent from promoting a bond issue.  OR  The Tail-end Award for not realizing he was drawing a lawsuit against the Superintendent.

February Board Member of the Month

Some readers will understand the TT Best Board Member for the month of February. But some will think our choice is totally ridiculous. And on any given day, both opinions are 100% correct. But this month’s award goes to the CPSB Member from District 12, Mrs. Dottie Bell.  She received this award because of how vocal she was on an issue concerning students’ safety.

 

According to Mrs. Bell’s interview with the TT staff, she said that she had to vote against the Superintendent’s recent decision to continue to allow students to be place in a dangerous situation in one of our classes. The administration sees nothing wrong with combining students of different levels and skills into one class.  And when this situation was brought to the Superintendent’s and the School Board’s attention, they decided to continue to put our students in a very dangerous situation. She spoke up in her very loud style for their safety and she voted against the Superintendent’s and his staff’s recommendation. For her true ability to put children first, we name her the Tammy Tales Best Board Member for the month of February.

Is This Bully Speech?

Superintendent Lamar Goree said “Schools still will close regardless of the election’s outcome. Given this, voters will have to decide if they want to build new schools to accommodate students or allow them to be shuffled around and sent to existing schools. . . .The question is where will students go?”

This quote is from a recent recent article in the Shreveport Times about the proposed bond.

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/education/k-12/2015/01/28/three-highland-schools-costliest-maintain/22457153/

Many citizens in Caddo Parish have referred to that quote from Superintendent Goree as nothing but a threat of retaliation and bullying of all the voters in Caddo if the bond proposal does not pass. He now believes, that with a School Board that no longer feels any need to represent the citizens of Caddo Parish, that if his “demands” are not met, he can do even worse.  Yes, he will put all the children in the Highlands and Stoner Hill neighborhoods on buses and send them anywhere he sees fit.

Citizens from across the parish are shaking their heads and saying, “Surely this is not the congenial smart young man who grew up here and went off to the Dallas area to gain experience and returned to us? What has happened to him?”

The only answer we can come up with is, he is on a destructive power trip.

 

 

Who’s In Charge of Outsourcing Our Security?

Strange things are happening in our school district. I received an email from a trusted source that read;

        “On December 29th a Pilot Security Program will begin at Southwood High School by Guardian 

Alarm  Security. The Pilot Program will end on January 29, 2015.” 

The email was CCed to Roy Murray.  Does that mean he didn’t know about this?  Did Dr. Goree authorize this pilot outsourcing program?  Did we give folks a raise and now think about taking away their jobs?  Usually the School Board votes to outsource jobs or pilot them. Were RFP’s sent out?   But with half the board leaving and new ones not coming on until January 6th, who is pulling the strings?  Board Member, Mr. Larry Ramsey likes to be the man in charge and South Wood is in his district. Does he know the current owners of Guardian Alarm Systems? Guardian was started in 1991 by Del Roy Chandler and Wes Usie.  Ramsey likes to make things happen for certain people.  Did he, Dr. Goree or Roy Murray do this without letting the Board know?  The 2014 Board is still a sitting board, so shouldn’t there have been a special called meeting if this was an emergency?  Where is the board attorney Reginald Abrams?  Oh yeah–Mr. Abrams is busy co-chairing Mayor Tyler’s transition committee. 

Ramsey was busy campaigning for his lady, Mrs. Tyler. 

So we, the tax payers, are paying employees and Guardian Alarm Systems.  The CPSB must think they have money to burn–our money.

Denying Denee

When a representative of a neighborhood association spoke with their board member elect Denee Locke about the bond proposal; she denied meeting with the Superintendent about it.  Maybe she was playing semantics, but the previous post on TT has 3 lists of persons meeting about the bond proposal.  Mrs. Lock is on the first page as meeting on December 9th in the Superintendent’s conference room,  We know Larry Ramsey was there too.  Maybe Ramsey told her to DENY meeting to hear about bond plans; because as far as our sources tell us, Dr. Goree did not. youtube.com/watch?v=aggLMhDN-2Y

Then to rub salt in the wound, when called by the current elected president of a neighborhood association, about meeting with the residents she was elected to represent, and was actually representing at the bond discussion in the meeting on December 9th, she gives this catty reply:

From: Denee <ddmlocke@comcast.net>

Subject: 12.17.14 Voicemail

Date: December 17, 2014 at 2:59:29 PM CST

To:

Cc:

Mr.

In reference to your voicemail this morning, I have spoken with the Superintendent and your requested dates have  been sent to the Communications Department.  They will be in contact with you to schedule a presentation to your association.  They will notify me of the dates and I will make every effort to attend.

 

In the future, all communication and requests directed to me should be sent in writing to my CPS email address:  dlocke@caddoschools.org.  My term does not begin until January 1st therefore, this email address will not be active until then.

 

I assure you that during my term I will extend the same courtesy the (Blank) Neighborhood Association has extended to me.

Merry Christmas,

Denee’ Locke Closets In Order

9020 Youree Drive Shreveport, LA  71115

318.797.1186  –office 318.208.7643  — cell

www.closetsinorderinc.info

Oh my, does this board member think her constituents will put up this type of SERVICE.

Honey, welcome to public service.  You are now an elected SERVANT.  Haven’t you ever heard fellow board member Dottie Bell talk at the board meetings about getting stopped at Wal-Mart.  Get ready for your cell phone to ring at 7 am, high noon and 10pm.  The citizens of district 8 did not elect the Superintendent or his Communication Department to serve them.  An attitude adjustment is in order.

Merry Christmas (and answer your phone)

 

 

Who Is Proud and For What?

Voters please do not be fooled by these “failed politicians” and I mean that in the worst sense of the word.  Turn a deaf ear when they try to “advise” you on who to vote for in district 8.  How many of them even live in School Board District 8? Maybe just Max Malone?  Thomas Carmody has one of the worst records for public schools in the state legislature.  He is pro-charter and anti-teacher.  Seabaugh was a ring leader in the effort to break this district into 3 districts and make Scott Hughes the Superintendent in the S.E. District. Councilman Michael Corbin voted against 3132 and for lining the pockets of developer Larkin.  He has not been for our future. Denee Locke has publicly said that she meant to run against Barry Rachal, but the redistricting put her in Mrs. Crawford’s district.  Mr. Rachal has never had an agenda item that he has placed on the agenda pass.  Talk about ineffective!  Just tell these guys, if you are for Locke, then we know we had better keep Bonita Crawford.  She will not sell out our children and public school employees.

Why Target Crawley, Crawford and Armstrong? Part 1

There has been a lot of speculation about why 3 board members, Charlotte Crawley, Bonita Crawford and Ginger Armstrong seemed to be targeted by the Rozeman/Hughes duo. But mostly people were rather dumb-founded that Crawley and Crawford had opponents.  They were the 2 that had actually done the most for teachers and students; items like 1) lower teacher-pupil ratio in Kindergarten from 28-20, 2) $200 at the beginning of each year for teacher supplies, 3) properties for more parking at Byrd, and 4) a new library at A. C. Steere; to name just a few.  The only board members who came close would be Hooks, Green, Priest and Dottie Bell.  The others either rubber stamped the Superintendent’s plans or had dealings away from the boardroom.  

One citizen, Rob Broussard, took to his computer and wrote a letter to the editor stating reasons he believed they could have in http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/opinion/guest-columnists/2014/10/27/real-motive-behind-local-pac/18024919/  He used 3 terms, racist, sexist, or elitism, that I have been prone to dismiss.  So a good bit of research has been done concerning these 3 board members and Dr. Rozeman. 

The first and easiest place to look would be the ethics site and examine the candidates’ filings.  In the 2004 SB race between Crawford and Gard Wayt, Mrs. Rozeman gave Wayt $1,000.  Be aware that after Wayt lost, he started a charter school at Linwood.  So Rozeman likely knew he was pro-charter. Then the next election Rozeman gave Crawford only $300. Crawford has voted for all recommended Charter Schools.

In the Cook/Crawley/Settle school board race, Rozeman gave Cook $1000. He has never given Crawley a donation.  And she has never voted for a Charter School

In the 2006 Armstrong/Whitehead race, Rozeman gave Whitehead $500. Armstrong has voted for all recommended Charter Schools.

Even when Pam Byrd ran for school board, he didn’t donate to her campaign.  Studying her filings, it looks as though everyone else in Shreveport made modest contributions.

Dr. Rozeman has given large donations to Larry Ramsey, Eursala Hardy, Dottie Bell, and Carl Pierson. While Mrs. Bell has only voted for 1 Charter.  Ramsey and Pierson have voted for all recommended Charters. 

So I can see that maybe Rozeman does not prefer white female professional educators.

An Identity Crisis

Actually I’m not the one with the identity crisis.  I certainly know who I am. 

Some folks on FB have made snarly comments for example: “Dear “Tammy” 1. You are not a real person- I’m upset that you want transparency yet you cannot call out for this as a honest, real person. 2. You say you want fairness, but you really just don’t like change. You don’t believe in democracy. You only want people currently on the board to stay. 3. The person you like the most didn’t even vote for Goree twice, but claims to be on his side. 4. I’m thankful for free speech, democracy and positive change for the children of Caddo Parish. 5. Happy Thanksgiving, we truly have so much to be thankful for this year”! by Taylor Robertson McDonald.

Through-out history political satirists have used pen names check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pen_names

A pen name may be used to make the author’s name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her other works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her writings, to combine more than one author into a single author, or for any of a number of reasons related to the marketing or aesthetic presentation of the work. The author’s name may be known only to the publisher, or may come to be common knowledge.  I have a number of reasons to use the amusing name Tammy Tales.  I doubt anyone really guesses my correct identity, because really I’m sort of a nobody.  If you knew it you would say “who?” So I think that would be used against me.  Also, several people are allowed to write on this blog and FB page, so you may see different personalities revealed in the posts.  Whatever, no one has to read anything.  But if you happen to and you disagree, then in a civil way voice your disagreement about the post.  Do not be mean or call someone a demeaning name.  It is true that some of the posts may not shine a good light on some people’s activities. Well that is my exact point.  But hopefully the truth, as Tammy Tales sees it, is being told.

As far as not wanting change, I want defined change.  Any, and often times the most ignorant of us, fall for that mantra.  We must know what is implied by those promising change.  Don’t be led by false leaders who use vague terminology to snare us into their control.  I know that BESE Board, East Baton Rouge School Board, Caddo Parish School Board and Shreveport Mayor races are very small potatoes in the scheme of things.  But Louisiana is my home and I was hoping to raise a family here.  A place where the average person can participate either by voting or running for office.  When someone like Bloomberg puts $600,000 into these elections and now local people follow his lead, I am heart sickened.  This is what destroys democracy.