tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post2749074348077029499..comments2024-01-08T03:21:35.616-05:00Comments on DeKalb County School Watch: How Much Should DeKalb Schools be Spending for Maintenance?Cerebrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-31800561047568738202012-01-19T19:57:13.186-05:002012-01-19T19:57:13.186-05:00The use of the words "massage” by Dr. Atkinso...The use of the words "massage” by Dr. Atkinson was rather vague and ambiguous. The definition that seems to match her statement regarding a massage was; b. to manipulate, organize, or rearrange (data, figures, or the like) to produce a specific result, especially a favorable one: The auditors discovered that the company had massaged the books. WHAT????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-62622102183567782432012-01-18T22:44:08.674-05:002012-01-18T22:44:08.674-05:00Will Bowen and Walker begin to complain about Dr. ...Will Bowen and Walker begin to complain about Dr. A? They have quite a few relatives employed in non-teaching positions - Walker has at a least 5.<br /><br />Already Walker has been making noise about student achievement and Dr. A. He never cared about student achievement with Lewis and Tyson. Taxpayers need to watch Dr. A's back.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-66599556171507834192012-01-18T22:36:34.233-05:002012-01-18T22:36:34.233-05:00The board members other than Walker and Bowen need...The board members other than Walker and Bowen need to be bombarded with correspondence to make sure the central office gets right-sized.<br /><br />I remember the first thing Bowen told Tyson to say when they were presenting redistricting in the board meeting is that noone would lose their job. Walker has already been complaining about employee changes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-89389536952209207182012-01-18T22:27:20.842-05:002012-01-18T22:27:20.842-05:00DeKalb County News 8:53 p.m. Wednesday, January 18...DeKalb County News 8:53 p.m. Wednesday, January 18, 2012<br /><br />Report: DeKalb schools have too many administrators<br /><br />http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/report-dekalb-schools-have-1307169.html<br /><br />"But don't expect immediate cuts. Job titles, and their lack of descriptiveness, are a problem, Atkinson said. The district employs directors, coordinators, secretaries and others in the central office whose titles don't reflect their responsibilities."<br /><br />"Atkinson said she's not sure how closely she'll follow the consultant's proposal.<br /><br />"This is their recommendation," she said. "We'll take it now and massage it."<br /><br />And the chief masseur will be ....<br /><br />Drum roll!!!! Why the BOE of course.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-83733334301981545592012-01-18T22:14:49.457-05:002012-01-18T22:14:49.457-05:00If Burbridge was given his walking papers from APS...If Burbridge was given his walking papers from APS, his appearance at DCSS makes sense.. The usual deal is that DK County and DCSS pick up Atlanta rejects so that they will have jobs and pensions. A few years ago an Atlanta finance lady got canned because of incompetence. She ended up at DKC with a raise. Part of the network.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-81573209503793335082012-01-18T21:17:41.217-05:002012-01-18T21:17:41.217-05:00This was on Maureen's Get Schooled blog post o...This was on Maureen's Get Schooled blog post on Marching bands tonight. Unsettling if true. Anyone know anything?<br />"Dr. Atkinson needs to explain why APS Chief Financial Officer, Chuck Burbridge is working for Dekalb County Schools several days a week. Is this the reason she transferred Dekalb Schools CFO, Marcus Turk. I smell a rat. I hope that she is not planning to hire a CFO from a school system (APS) that was determined to be involved in the biggest cheating scandal in America’s history. By the way, Chuck Burbridge was one of Beverly Hall’s cabinet members. If I was Dekalb Schools, I wouldn’t touch Burbridge with a 10 foot pole."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-69291157566920282902012-01-18T21:16:26.837-05:002012-01-18T21:16:26.837-05:00@ 8:49
"If each of the 300 extra employees co...@ 8:49<br />"If each of the 300 extra employees costs the County $50,000 in salary and benefits per year, that would total $15,000,000, every year."<br /><br />$15,000,000 in overpayments to non teaching personnel was coincidentally what the 2004 audit stated - the one Lewis buried and Tyson couldn't find. <br /><br />http://dekalbschoolwatch.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-much-have-non-teaching-salary.html<br /><br />http://dekalbschoolwatch.blogspot.com/2011/02/too-many-chiefs-and-not-enough-indians.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-42594302226520637602012-01-18T20:46:20.197-05:002012-01-18T20:46:20.197-05:00If each of the 300 extra employees costs the Count...If each of the 300 extra employees costs the County $50,000 in salary and benefits per year, that would total $15,000,000, every year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-8061151702449695212012-01-18T20:38:56.151-05:002012-01-18T20:38:56.151-05:00It is 300 extra employees, not 3000. Still, cuts ...It is 300 extra employees, not 3000. Still, cuts should follow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-4548060354192088872012-01-18T20:36:30.922-05:002012-01-18T20:36:30.922-05:00The AJC is reporting that a study requested by Dr ...The AJC is reporting that a study requested by Dr Atkinson finds that DCSS has 3000 more administrative and central office employees than it needs. Based on this study, cuts have to be in order.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-70308717304638992292012-01-18T14:03:34.132-05:002012-01-18T14:03:34.132-05:00Oops! Shold have read:
The number of maintenance...Oops! Shold have read:<br /><br />The number of maintenance and technical personnel in DeKalb should ensure sparkling facilities and seamless technology for the classroom.. This is not happening and that is a source of much concern.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-31392818969731048662012-01-18T14:00:58.479-05:002012-01-18T14:00:58.479-05:00"How do you educate children in third world c..."How do you educate children in third world conditions. How do you teach in third world conditions. "<br /><br />And many of our schools in DeKalb stay in disrepair, air and heat not working, toilets broken, computers not fixed. <br /><br />The number of maintenance and technical personnel in DeKalb should ensure swarming facilities for the schoolhouse employees. This is not happening and that is a source of much concern. <br /><br />DeKalb Support services are out of line with other comparable school systems and the service is also lacking. <br /><br />No matter how you look at it, comparing DeKalb with similar systems shows our support services costs are not in line with other school systems. We may have older buildings, but Gwinnett has virtually the same number and their square footage dwarfs our square footage as they provide services for 60,000 more students. Decatur and Marietta have aging buildings and facilities like DeKalb. <br /><br />It seems odd that Lewis and Tyson felt students could do without 600 teachers, but they kept the support numbers virtually the same. This was a very lazy way to balance the budget, and students paid the price.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-14244050157116718712012-01-18T12:45:05.383-05:002012-01-18T12:45:05.383-05:00From the Penta website:
Nationally, it is estimat...From the Penta website:<br /><br /><i>Nationally, it is estimated that there will be a 31.7% increase in demand for HVACR technicians and 18.7% increase for Plumbers and Pipefitters through the year 2010.<br /><br />The average salaries for Heating & Cooling System Technicians include: National ......$2,910/month</i>Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-28684676754802793412012-01-18T12:40:52.081-05:002012-01-18T12:40:52.081-05:00I share this link often. It's to the fabulous ...I share this link often. It's to the fabulous Vo-Tech high school in my hometown in Ohio. They pull from five area counties (lots of rural farm counties). Student enrollment in these 5 counties combined is only about 30,000. So by my calculations, DCSS should be offering 3 schools like this one. (BTW, this is the school students attend all day every day. They officially are listed as students at their 'home' school and can play sports at their home school as well as officially 'walk' and graduate from their home school.)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.pentacareercenter.org/" rel="nofollow">Penta Career Center</a>Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-59570426064397300912012-01-18T12:30:57.816-05:002012-01-18T12:30:57.816-05:00Anonymous 9:43 P.M. Thanks for the posting. The ad...Anonymous 9:43 P.M. Thanks for the posting. The adverstisement is basically for a Journeman HVAC Mechanic that has experience with the latest controls. Which if I did the interviews with my Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer and Supt. of Maintenance Panel, we would be looking for a Journeyman that had had training classes with Johnson Controls, and any other controls systems we had. We would need someone that knew Boilers, Chillers as well as smaller 5-10 ton roof top units. The $43,000 starting salary is too. Low. The Salaries I gave are plus benefits. I was telling you what Facilities Trades people who will properly run your facilies go for. <br /><br />I was on the Federal Wage Survey Panel for Over 10 years that went out every 2 years to business over 500 -1000 employees that surveyed what they were paying different Blue collar, eg. WG jobs in different classifications. My job in this bi-annual survey was to review the confidential information that came back from the two man labor/management crews that went out to every company in the Atlanta Metro area that met this Critera. For Example, Delta, Coke, UPS, (GM & Ford use to be on it, but their are hundreds of companies that are survied). Let me assure you that the companies that pay these critical position to keep their physical plants operating correctly are at the very high end of the scale. They know that they will spend much less money on operating expenses in the long wrong and manufacture their core product with greater success in the end. How do you educate children in third world conditions. How do you teach in third world conditions. <br /><br />Celebration, yes the schools should have Votech classes the districts should have Jr. and Seniors going to Votech classes in the Afternoon. Up North 2 high Schools share a Votech High School. At the end you have a kid that is either trained for a votech job or ready for a two year technical college. 3 of my nephews have gone this route in New York State. <br /><br />I stongly believe that all of our teachers should be union as well as all of the other Employees. We do not pay near enough taxes in this area to fund what education costs. Look at what Catholic School tution costs, that is what it really costs for tution for non-SPED students.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-23016883370073506472012-01-18T11:23:12.733-05:002012-01-18T11:23:12.733-05:00As a retail business manager, I recently worked fo...As a retail business manager, I recently worked for over a year at an approximately 108,000 square foot commercial building in Midtown Atlanta owned by a prominent Atlanta real estate investment company whose name is well-recognized in the area. They own numerous high-rises and shopping centers and parking garages.<br /><br />I was responsible for calling the property manager whenever facility repairs were needed. Although we tried three commercial HVAC contractors before finding one that worked out all the problems, the property manager made sure we did not pay the contractor more than they merited for the repairs they successfully accomplished.David Montanéhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03306820541878515647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-76531694710523608032012-01-18T09:32:05.046-05:002012-01-18T09:32:05.046-05:00The root of the problem is and has been for years ...The root of the problem is and has been for years mismangement of money and people. Often, there is NO BUDGET for maintenance, or repairs. So the workers who are headed by unqualified people must scotch tape the problem until more funds are available. When will that be...after years of this treatment who would not give up?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-88102438568196086612012-01-18T09:29:10.233-05:002012-01-18T09:29:10.233-05:00"worthless HVAC personnel" are rare in t..."worthless HVAC personnel" are rare in the midwest and northeast. Most HVAC technicians are highly reliable, smart and well-trained. Why? Because of Vocational - Technical schools and state leadership that values the middle class.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-24799660702768875182012-01-17T22:30:22.239-05:002012-01-17T22:30:22.239-05:00@2:18 and @8:35
I don't know about commercial ...@2:18 and @8:35<br />I don't know about commercial HVAC services, but worthless HVAC personnel are pretty pervasive in the private residential sector in the Atlanta area. There's lots of competition, but very few have competent personnel.<br /><br />Outsourcing doesn't necessarily mean better service.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-75199692061223549092012-01-17T21:43:23.553-05:002012-01-17T21:43:23.553-05:00"Sorry teachers, good trades people HVAC, Con..."Sorry teachers, good trades people HVAC, Controls, Plumbers, Electrican's and Boiler Operators should make over $50,000 a year."<br /><br />But DeKalb already pays this for shoddy work in many instances. Here is a job posting directly from PATS last year (and this does not include retirement and insurance benefits. That would put their salary in the range you are stating):<br />"Below is the job description on PATS for HVAC personnel (DCSS currently has 5 openings):<br />“The Mechanical Maintenance Department is seeking a qualified HVAC Mechanic. The minimum requirements include a High School Diploma or GED equivalent. A minimum of three (3) years experience in HVAC installation and control systems is required. Two (2) years experience in industrial or commercial HVAC is preferred.<br />Position: Mechanic, Air Conditioner/Heat<br />Salary: $43,111.20 to $58,665.60”<br /><br />DeKalb Schools has a finite amount of money. How it is spent is important to students. DeKalb cannot keep incurring expenditures that are out of line with other school systems. Other school systems have to pay competitive rates as well so when we are out of line with their per pupil expenditures for support personnel, that denotes a problem to be solved. When more of our per pupil dollars go to a comparative cost center than other school systems, then there must be corrective measures.<br /><br />Cere has compared DeKalb to school systems that are larger, smaller, similar in demographics and as old as DeKalb. We still come in as higher than we should be for support personnel per pupil dollars.<br /><br />Why should taxpayers incur a buyout to get rid of the "dead weight" as you term it? These support personnel are Classified Personnel. They have NO contracts. Because they are Classified and have no contract, they are paid OVERTIME - time and a half for any hour over a 40 hour work week - subtracting 30 minutes for break time every day. IMO - you can't have it all - be a non contract employee making 1.5 times your salary for any hour over your 40 hour workweek and then want the benefits of the Contract employees.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-55310396357126945682012-01-17T21:42:43.188-05:002012-01-17T21:42:43.188-05:00Sort of makes the case for vocational-technical pr...Sort of makes the case for vocational-technical programs...Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-91268168605669739992012-01-17T21:13:21.566-05:002012-01-17T21:13:21.566-05:00I am the 4:41 comment. I do not think that Dekalb ...I am the 4:41 comment. I do not think that Dekalb can successfully contract out or outsource anything out. To many hands in the trough. They will do the Minority set asides and give the contracts to the Supt. and boards friends. <br /><br />As someone else stated Gwinnett at least gets a better building product because they don't do the minority set asides. <br /><br /><br />Just look at how much money Dekalb has cost the Tax Payers with Heery. This is all ridiculous. Heery has one of the better reputations. Dekalb will never win this case. They will blow Pat Pope to pieces. She does not have a Purdue Engineering degree as CLEW stated in his deposition. They didn't give them at the campus she claimed to go to when she claimed to go there. <br /><br />The problems with the roofs are the only roofs that really work are modified bitchimin ( tar). All of these other type of roofs sold during the last 20 years are jokes that don't last.<br /><br />Sorry teachers, good trades people HVAC, Controls, Plumbers, Electrican's and Boiler Operators should make over $50,000 a year. Good ones can make $70,000 to $90,000 a year. Do you ever try to get your AC fixed during a heat wave in the summer, a summer like the past one good HVAC guys probably made $90K. They need to be paid market rate for specialized equipment. Also time and 1/2 for overtime they can all free lance and make alot more. I explained that numerous times. <br /><br />I would suggest a buyout to get rid of the deadweight.Then bring in new professional managers that can go through and hire qualified staff. Perhaps team with the districts Vo-tech programs to show career opportunities.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-77639516544061223992012-01-17T20:35:28.081-05:002012-01-17T20:35:28.081-05:00The post by January 17, 2012 4:41 PM is right on t...The post by January 17, 2012 4:41 PM is right on the mark about this:<br /><br />"any Facilities Management Organization must be headed by degreed or Registere Engineers or Architects in 800 series positions"<br /><br />But the post is off about contracting out service. I work in facilities and contract out HVAC. We are lucky in metro Atlanta to have a number of companies in competition, so they strive to provide strong service.<br /><br />I also contract out some custodial. Deep cleaning should be done after hours, but for schools, I agree that ONE custodian should be present during the school day, mainly for the cafeteria and restroom emergencies.<br /><br />It is near impossible to provide deep cleaning during the school day.<br /><br />I've visited many DCSS schools, and the custodians all seem like nice people, but their motivation and performance is lacking at best.<br /><br />As a facilities professional, it is unheard of having a principal with no prior experience in charge of a facility stock worth hundreds of millions of dollars. it takes years and years of experience to be properly qualified to manage and maintain a few buildings, let alone 150+.<br /><br />DCSS needs to get the proper professionals on board, instead of placing unqualified buruaecrats in positions they are doomed to fail.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-53148875157625704482012-01-17T20:25:07.239-05:002012-01-17T20:25:07.239-05:00Here's the deal: We wouldn't ever think of...Here's the deal: We wouldn't ever think of evaluating the Sam Moss budget IF this support department provided excellent service, facilities and grounds.<br /><br />But this department and its leadership (a former principal with no facilities and maintenance experience) provides less than mediocre service. Most facilities are in poor shape. The grounds at most schools are an embarrassment.<br /><br />HVAC systems, roofs, boilers, etc. do not last as long as intended because of poor preventative maintenance.<br /><br />Too many schools have leaky roofs. Too many schools have mold and mildew. Too many schools have disgusting restrooms.<br /><br />The only athletic fields in good shape are the ones maintained by coaches and parent volunteers.<br /><br />I've been to hundreds of schools in my life, and DeKalb's are the dirtiest and most embarrassing by far, despite a very large Sam Moss dept. staff with overly generous salaries.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-32116669678948358882012-01-17T20:06:39.429-05:002012-01-17T20:06:39.429-05:00@ 4:41 p.m. Your post gave me quite a chuckle. I...@ 4:41 p.m. Your post gave me quite a chuckle. I work in a federal bldg and we have AC in the winter, heat in the summer,mold, constant breakdowns and lights going out in the middle of the work day. Everytime we call the maintenance office, we are always told "we are waiting for the guy from Johnson Controls."<br /><br />As a taxpayer, I want outsourcing. As a society we can no longer afford the expensive benefits, especially the defined benefit pensions, for public employees.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com