tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post1207690558414942750..comments2024-01-08T03:21:35.616-05:00Comments on DeKalb County School Watch: Furloughs ReturnCerebrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-72147709113889045722011-06-03T12:49:14.285-04:002011-06-03T12:49:14.285-04:00Exactly right Flay!
Mary Swint of the Dunwoody Cr...Exactly right Flay!<br /><br />Mary Swint of the Dunwoody Crier just wrote a very good article on the subject -<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thecrier.net/articles/2011/05/31/front/budget.txt" rel="nofollow">DeKalb now talking 4 mill tax hike</a><br /><br /><i>The county has not seen such a dramatic drop in values since 1933, DeKalb Chief Operating Officer Richard Stogner said.<br /><br />The county might receive 50,000 to 70,000 appeals from the 240,000 assessment notices, Stogner said. The county is limited to collecting taxes on 85 percent of the assessment until the appeal is resolved and the remaining 15 percent may not be collected until 2012. To handle the high volume of appeals, the tax assessors board has asked for funds for additional appeals panels, he added.<br /><br />The CEO will make a recommendation on the 2011 millage rate on June 7 and mid-year budget adjustments on June 14. The commissioners will hold at least three public hearings on July 5 and 12 before making their final decision on July 12.</i>Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-68893227488116225322011-06-03T12:06:18.798-04:002011-06-03T12:06:18.798-04:00The tax digest in DeKalb County has decreased, but...The tax digest in DeKalb County has decreased, but there has been a method to the madness. When the county website was updated last Friday night to reflect digest revisions, I spot checked properties in my area. I found that while some neighborhoods values were revised downward, other neighborhoods perceived to have more value had minor assessment reductions or none at all. Looking further, it appears that those that received assessment reductions were thrown a bone to appease them, yet in many instances, the reduction was not in line with recent sales or foreclosures in the neighborhood. Additionally, those neighborhoods with no assessment change check out the foreclosures in your area. They will affect your appraised value if you elect to sell now. Middle to lower end condominiums were the clear winner in county reassessment, however, their new values do not come close to the value of recent sales or foreclosures. The county is gambling on the fact that few people will take the time to research and protest the value of their property and they will win this bet.<br /><br />Last year I reduced my assessed value in half of its 2009 county value. The current county valuation is actually twenty-two per cent lower than the property cost when purchased twenty-three years ago. Taking note, my neighbors met with me demanding to know the details of my success. Those that acted on the knowledge I shared with them actually had their property assessment reduced ten per cent lower than the lowest comparable property used for their protest, similarly lower than their original purchase prices. Those that did not protest their assessments received reduced assessments due to the efforts of those that did. However, their revised assessments are significantly higher when compared to an equal property of an owner that protested their property valuation. They were thrown a bone by DeKalb County.<br /><br />For those that will be selling their property in the near future, Real Estate values are troubling. In today’s market you can actually purchase a home for the cost of just the materials it would take to build it. For those of us that are stuck where we are or have no plans to sell, now is the time to take advantage of this economic down turn. DeKalb County and DCSS will not be making the financial decisions we as individuals have to make. Our only course is to reduce our tax liability. Ask yourself this: Had you rather pay property taxes on an inflated valuation of three or four years ago or on the value of the property today? For those with reduced assessments, are you satisfied with the “bone” Calvin Hicks threw you or would you prefer to research your actual value and if lower challenge the county assessment? Consider these questions carefully; millage rates are sure to rise shortly.<br /><br />Some of us out here are tired of the county and school system incompetence. Many of you have worked diligently to make changes in county government and DCSS with little success. County and BOE folks may not pay attention to us, but they sure do pay attention to the tax digest. Now get off your tail, check your assessment protest deadline and protest those taxes!flayshigshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611528643085547446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-87032834389468863712011-06-03T11:59:56.973-04:002011-06-03T11:59:56.973-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.flayshigshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611528643085547446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-55777655987833441842011-06-03T10:28:30.951-04:002011-06-03T10:28:30.951-04:00But ... DeKalb School Watch will be there all summ...But ... DeKalb School Watch will be there all summer ... the eyes and ears of DeKalb taxpayers! <br /><br />Whatever you see, whatever you hear, whatever you know ... tell us! Share your documentation with us, too, please.<br /><br />If you don't want to comment, you can always e-mail to: reparteeforfun@gmail.com<br /><br />We can keep a confidence and we won't blow your cover!<br /><br />Help DeKalb School Watch help you!SHShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07809309296308250111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-58268173722531022582011-06-03T10:07:27.394-04:002011-06-03T10:07:27.394-04:00The $2k chair comment was tongue in cheek really -...The $2k chair comment was tongue in cheek really -- I mean, does it matter? $2k or $5k? My chair cost $59 at Office Max! Geesh!<br /><br />And yes, we are about to enter the most difficult time to track the actions of the board -- and sadly, this is the time they will be choosing a new superintendent.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-68974612132125115162011-06-03T01:33:17.353-04:002011-06-03T01:33:17.353-04:00Great find Cere! I remember that meeting at Kittr...Great find Cere! I remember that meeting at Kittredge. Womack was saying stuff and it was right before the election Redovian and Jester were there weren't they? Wow, great find! This needs to be played at the next public comments so Womack could explain what he meant.<br /><br />Sorry Cere I meant to say $2K chairs earlier. Something over there cost $5K. I know the light system in the Palace Meeting room cost in the $30's right?<br /><br />Hope to see lots of teachers at the next public comments meeting. We must remain vigilant even during the Summer, the time the BOE can do most of the damage before the taxpayers realize it.Atlanta Media Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16934015425859698186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-58387598314463861382011-06-02T20:49:13.420-04:002011-06-02T20:49:13.420-04:00ok - someone sent me the link in an email -- it wa...ok - someone sent me the link in an email -- it was a post on the blog! The Kittredge meeting (I shot it with my iPhone -- my apologies for the poor quality!)<br /><br />http://dekalbschoolwatch.blogspot.com/2010/11/interesting-meeting-at-kittredge-magnet.html<br /><br /><i>Also, Paul Womack promised us that they were in the process of cutting the administration so deeply that it would be "unrecognizable". </i>Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-83179996810990904962011-06-02T20:10:56.949-04:002011-06-02T20:10:56.949-04:00aquafinanow, catch this life preserver!aquafinanow, catch this life preserver!flayshigshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611528643085547446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-55615369196698229382011-06-02T19:58:36.737-04:002011-06-02T19:58:36.737-04:00Help! Help!Help! Help!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-10494558081094918802011-06-02T19:54:18.243-04:002011-06-02T19:54:18.243-04:00Oh!Oh!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-38553732189286239102011-06-02T19:43:13.000-04:002011-06-02T19:43:13.000-04:00Save the schools by saving the teachers.Save the schools by saving the teachers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-36737065027180624562011-06-02T19:37:24.592-04:002011-06-02T19:37:24.592-04:00I remember the promise Cerebration...no significan...I remember the promise Cerebration...no significant cuts were made at AIC. 2009-2010, DCSS central office staff created benchmarks for every 6 weeks in reading and math at elementary level. This year 2010-2011, DCSS central office staff reduced the number of created benchmarks by over 50%. Instead local school house staff, including APIs, were trained to create benchmarks at the school house. From my perspective, it seems like the DCSS staff that remained at AIC did way less this year than last. AND I know that **More AIC staff completed specialist and doctorate degree programs at work. When AIC staff can complete graduate studies at work, it's time for them to go. Surveys of school house employees documenting the number of hours they work at school and at home on behalf of children versus central office staff documentation would show a significant percentage difference. Many jobs at AIC are what I like to refer to as cushy jobs, come at 8, 1 hour for lunch and out by 4, with no work at home. In addition: A solution for Title I Office of School Improvement Federal Funds only department---put all Title I employees including Dr. Audria Berry back in classrooms to lower student/teacher ratio. AIC staff needs to be in the "trenches" again. BOE needs to be in local school houses again. Bottom-line with furloughs returning-teachers morale will be at an all time low. Want to build up morale of teachers, cut AIC staff. Give only AIC staff furlough days. Leave all school based employees alone. DCSS has a deep wound that hasn't healed. It is time for major surgery! It is time for healing!Passionate...https://www.blogger.com/profile/07428539988625033252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-44411646074837154102011-06-02T19:34:32.197-04:002011-06-02T19:34:32.197-04:00We must work together to save our schools and rest...We must work together to save our schools and restore our home values.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-67543603145972695652011-06-02T19:26:01.071-04:002011-06-02T19:26:01.071-04:00dundevil, you should actually point your fingers a...dundevil, you should actually point your fingers at the state legislators. They changed the law that now allows foreclosures to factor into property assessments. Factor in the junk loans given to residents with little to no money down who could not afford the home along poor quality entry level homes that were overbuilt in South DeKalb, you have the situation we have today. <br /><br />Some might also say the deregulation of the investment banking industry which allowed them to get into the residential mortgage business with junk loans caused much of the problems we see in DeKalb and around the country.<br /><br />Follow the dollar. There is plenty of blame to go around. Watch the movie "To Big to Fail" for more eye opening infomation about why we are where we are.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04676448124010158751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-73278064607836269832011-06-02T18:52:37.569-04:002011-06-02T18:52:37.569-04:00Been looking - can anyone find the video of Paul W...Been looking - can anyone find the video of Paul Womack, taken at CHS, I believe, after Crawford's department and the board members were circulating around in advance of redistricting decisions? What I’m thinking of, is Paul’s declaration that a year from now “you won’t recognize” the DCSS administration because of planned cuts and changes (to Central Office). Do you all remember that promise???Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-80779184743951912802011-06-02T18:49:05.301-04:002011-06-02T18:49:05.301-04:00Atl Media Guy - let's not exaggerate - those c...Atl Media Guy - let's not exaggerate - those chairs were only $2,000...Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-62841705869714460312011-06-02T17:46:03.399-04:002011-06-02T17:46:03.399-04:00I am disappointed. We were given bonuses and resto...I am disappointed. We were given bonuses and restoration on December 9th. April we were told no furlough for 2011-2012 and that we should see an increase on our checks. Now 6 months later we are furloughed again. SMH! I am also upset because Madam Tyson received $70,000 plus increase and no questions were asked. Again what has she done to deserve this. NOTHING!!! The slavemistress needs to go along with the BOE. DCSS employees are slaves and the overseers and mistress are at the plantation (MIA in Stone Mountain)Pineapplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16308228926019658234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-7437129060589697902011-06-02T16:55:44.433-04:002011-06-02T16:55:44.433-04:00In computer talk there is the expression GIGO -- ...In computer talk there is the expression GIGO -- Garbage (information) In Garbage (answer) out.<br /><br />Why is it that I have the suspicion that the DeKalb County Tax appraiser's computer program is rigged to lower appraisals (and taxes) in South DeKalb and maintain the 2007 peak value appraisals in Central and North DeKalb?<br /><br />After 8 years of Vernon Jones and 2 of Burrell Ellis (affectionately called "Little Vernon" on the DKC Police Officer's blog) nothing would surprise me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-90495119633509530152011-06-02T15:14:52.507-04:002011-06-02T15:14:52.507-04:00Sorry Sandy, You're right! I was trying to be...Sorry Sandy, You're right! I was trying to be level headed with only a 20% cut, but reading your excellent posts you highlighted, I wonder what would happen if we furloughed 50% of the Central Office Staff for a month, would anyone notice? Plus, wouldn't that be enough to fill the budget gap without furloughing the front line staff, OUR TEACHERS and IN-SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS?Atlanta Media Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16934015425859698186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-9085465383447484222011-06-02T14:25:19.273-04:002011-06-02T14:25:19.273-04:0050% of the bloated, ineffective, over-paid and und...<b>50% of the bloated, ineffective, over-paid and under-talented Palace staff could be cut and they would never be missed! Ever.</b><br /><br />Want proof? See: http://dekalbschoolwatch.blogspot.com/2011/05/found-dcss-has-money-for-education.html<br /><br />More proof? See:<br />http://dekalbschoolwatch.blogspot.com/2011/05/office-of-school-improvement-oxymoron.html<br /><br />The Palace People have NO shame!SHShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07809309296308250111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-51651467212846818702011-06-02T13:13:41.838-04:002011-06-02T13:13:41.838-04:00The public is screaming, the teachers are screamin...The public is screaming, the teachers are screaming and yet the bloated Central Office staff remains and the teachers get furloughed again. I guess this means their 401K match promises will be broken again too. <br /><br />Yet, Audria Berry and her Army continue to fail DCSS in her Office of "improvement" and since those are Federal Funds they all keep their jobs, the kids continue to fail and the fraud that DCSS is continues.<br /><br />Mr. Womack it's time to start answering our questions. How can you vote for a budget, that will most likely raise our taxes and in good conscience not expect the Central Office salaries and expenses be cut by at least 20%?<br /><br />Hey BOE, the kids are failing because the teachers are giving up since you do not show them the respect they deserve. These folks continue to do the dirty work yet the Central Office gets their $5K chairs, Air conditioning that is so cold everyone wears sweaters when it's 90+ degrees outside and the cushy jobs that have no effect on the classroom continue to get created.<br /><br />Let's go BOE, show some guts! SCW did with her questions. Ms. Jester, Speaks and Edler need to join in the chorus of what the ______! <br /><br />Mr. Turk is not the best at his job, if he was he would have already blown the whistle on CLew and Pope as well as the rest of CLew's inner circle. He tried once but was rebuffed pretty quickly by Clew himself. I bet Turk knows something about everyone on the staff. He was the one that went to Tyson about clew's P-card abuses and then went directly to Clew himself and told him he could not take a companion (allegedly Ms. Berry) to the Bahamas or Reynolds Plantation Ritz on his P-Card. Yet Clew did just that. A great CFO would call his boss on it and start whistle blowing, instead he wimped out. Sorry Dr. Walker, Mr. Turk has not been a good steward of THE TAXPAYERS money, neither has anyone on the BOE or in the Central Office staff.Atlanta Media Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16934015425859698186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-35644563940303618262011-06-02T13:08:31.247-04:002011-06-02T13:08:31.247-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.flayshigshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611528643085547446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-25309783237908525662011-06-02T12:37:18.429-04:002011-06-02T12:37:18.429-04:00@ Sharon 10:59 AM
DCSS has plenty of money to edu...@ Sharon 10:59 AM<br /><br /><b>DCSS has plenty of money to educate our children well.</b> But, Ramona does not have the guts to do what needs to be done in terms of getting rid of over-paid, under-talented Palace employees, beginning with Crawford Lewis' inner circle. Unfortunately, Ramona, herself, was part of that group.<br /><br />As Deputy Superintendent of Operations, with Finance reporting to her, Ramona was one of 4 direct reports to Lewis. She had to know exactly what was going on. It is unlikely, for instance, that Marcus Turk made a unilateral decision to approve P-card expenditures that he had already told Lewis were not okay. Tyson was his boss. Wouldn't Turk have gone to her for approval of Lewis' questionable P-card expenditures? <br /><br />Maybe she is being blackmailed? Who knows? Regardless, Ramona is NOT getting the job done in terms of significantly cutting the over-paid, under-talented mostly-friends-and-family Palace staff. Cutting by half would be a start -- beginning with the highest paid first. They are not the worker bees.<br /><br />Take a look at:<br />http://dekalbschoolwatch.blogspot.com/2011/05/found-dcss-has-money-for-education.html<br /><br />and this:<br /><br />http://dekalbschoolwatch.blogspot.com/2011/05/office-of-school-improvement-oxymoron.htmlSHShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07809309296308250111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-43650257297604969002011-06-02T12:24:13.362-04:002011-06-02T12:24:13.362-04:00According to realtors, in parts of N. DeKalb price...According to realtors, in parts of N. DeKalb prices have dropped to levels between 2001 and 2004, so not yet quite as bad as the rest of the country, but not great either.<br /><br />However, because there have been so few sales it is going to be hard to appeal this year. (AT least in some neighborhoods.)<br /><br />However, now homes are coming on to the market where people don't have a choice.<br /><br />In my neighborhood, there are 4 homes that are for sale -- two are because the owners died and the other two are job relocations. We also had a foreclosure that closed last year.<br /><br />I see no uptick in prices/values coming anytime soon.<br /><br />Gene Walker admitted his optimism was misplaced for this year -- the problem is that I don't think anyone appreciates how bad it is going to be next year.themommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01829171693817032539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-72984348358317881192011-06-02T12:03:05.529-04:002011-06-02T12:03:05.529-04:00We had an appraiser come out and appraise our hous...We had an appraiser come out and appraise our house in January after hubby was offered a job out of state. What they did was look at homes that have sold that are in similar condition to your home, in the same school district (feeding schools), and have sold recently. <br /><br />In my neighborhood there were 2 foreclosures that had sold in November and December and they were the houses that had sold most recently. These foreclosures plummeted my home value. <br /><br />I did not think that my property values would have dropped as much as they have. People have their homes up for sale for much more than what they will be appraised for. Doesn't matter what someone is willing to pay, it matters what it will appraise for. I have friends that are real estate agents and home appraisals are what are killing many home sales. Banks are not willing to pay more for a house than it's worth and with home values still falling, many banks are taking 10% off of what it appraises for as what they value the home at, leaving a cushion if home values drop further.<br /><br />You can look at tax records of homes that are similar to your home that have sold recently. The difficult part is finding recently sold homes. Good luck.teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05376631088818447603noreply@blogger.com