Those poor overworked, underpaid celebs have more obligations than ever. These days, rap stars are expected to have their own line of booze and Hollywood hotties are obligated to slap their name to a perfume or cologne (because heaven knows we don’t have enough to choose from as is).
Not to be out done, Pamela Anderson is hocking not one, but two perfumes. I can’t go much further with this without being really mean other than to say: Who the heck wants to smell like that? Sorry, but I’d sooner douse myself in Lil’ Wayne’s Courvoisier or submerge my body in actual toilet water.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
Summer Wrap Up
I guess this is it. It’s Labor Day and summer is officially over. Ah, but it was a good one. With DH finishing up his school just before TR’s let out, we had plans to pack this summer with as much fun as we possibly could stand – and we did.
We kicked it off with Inch attending her very first Vacation Bible School. Since FPC doesn’t do VBS, I took her to my family’s church. Don’t you know, she had a blast - so much so that she was crushed when it ended! Gotta’ love it.
Ironically, TR took his driver’s training this summer at the very same church. Now, he’s a month away from total freedom (so he thinks.) He’s finally excited enough to put some work into the car that’s been sitting behind my house for nearly a year. I’m excited for him, but also scared. Besides worrying about his safety, I’ve heard that once he takes off, we’ll rarely see him and his last two years of high school will be a blur. I’m trying harder to treasure every little bit of time we have, something I probably should have worked harder on all along. But I digress.
In between out-of-town trips and visitors, we took advantage of local attractions with visits to the Children’s Museum, the lake, and the Smokies, including a visit with Inch to Ripley’s Aquarium. All in all, we packed a lot in and managed to create a truly memorable summer. Now we turn another page. Inch takes her very first ballet lesson tomorrow…….
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Sans Orange
I’ve fond memories of dining at the Alt Landstuhl restaurant when we were living in Kaiserslautern because they served one of the most amazing entrees I’ve ever had - Chateaubriand.
The presentation was something to behold as it most certainly was a feast fit for a king – a medieval one at that. Surrounded by roasted veggies, sat this humongous cut of béarnaise-smothered steak which sat atop a thick piece of brown-gravy-soaked pumpernickel bread. It was all held together with a giant knife or sword of some sort that had been stabbed through an orange that adorned it all like some sort of Christmas tree topper. Making the meal all the sweeter was the price tag. I don’t think we ever paid more than the equivalent of $40 for both of our meals – drinks, tip and all.
I have somewhat of a decent record when it comes to re-creating dishes, though for whatever reason have never given this one a shot. Well, it’s been over a decade since we last ate there, but I did some digging and pieced it together based pretty much on memory. I have to say, I did a pretty darn good job. DH was so impressed he took the picture.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Digging Deep into the Data
As expected, the ORSB voted to extend Dr. Bailey’s contract this evening. We are now stuck with him through 2013. Before bestowing more glowing praise on the super and after thoroughly patting themselves on the back, the board had the administration provide a partial response to my letter. Unfortunately, as Mr. Green pretty much stated, the data is quite sophisticated and probably cannot be properly understood by the average citizen. I think I’ll give it a shot anyway.
1. The administration maintains that Dr. Bailey did not receive a salary increase for the 08/09 school year. Instead, they state that what appeared to be a salary increase was actually a manipulation of an annuity. School budget documents delineate the annuity in question into a separate line item (#72320 189 “Other Salaries & Wages”) from the salary line item which is #72320 101. The 2010 Proposed Budget clearly shows an annual increase in the salary line item each year as follows:
06/07 Audit $125,475 *
07/08 Audit $128,802
08/09 Approved $131,888
09/10 Proposed $133,866
* pulled from the 2009 Proposed Budget revised/updated 3/25/08
Looks like a raise to me, but they’ve always had a different way of doing math than the rest of the world.
2. The administration stated that no TN superintendent license exists; my point that Dr. Bailey was one of only 5 superintendents out of 135 in the state who is not a licenses educator was not refuted.
3. The administration demonstrated an increase in the ORS graduation rate. This does not conflict with my original contention that we failed the No Child Left Behind standard of 90% 2 years in a row, while 92% of Tennessee schools passed.
4. The administration alluded to the Newsweek rankings that Oak Ridge schools have completely off of this year. They offered no data to show that Oak Ridge schools are, in fact, on that list.
5. The administration itemized some (not all) of the principals who have been replaced by Dr. Bailey. They failed to provide the pertinent details such as how many were forced to resign (I’ve confirmed at least one) and how many resigned or retired early. Why did Hayes retire in the middle of a school year? Why would Carringer walk away when he was within inches of retirement?
6. The administration addressed only one of the 6 years of overspending that the superintendent’s travel line item reflects. Setting aside the one year they did explain, the overspending percentage is reduced from 56% to 50%. No explanation for why this occurred or how it was paid for was offered.
The administration neglected to mention the other 10 points that my letter discussed (US News & World Report rankings, enrollment decline, increased spending, vehicle purchase and allowance for unlimited personal use, excess year-end assets, the Oak Leaf scandal, the transportation cuts, the high school coach fiasco, the assistant superintendent who left our school system and then returned and chooses not to put his children in Oak Ridge schools, and the newly hired high school principal who has less experience than the majority of our system’s teachers and has NO managerial experience.)
I was pleasantly surprised that Mr. Eby chose to vote against the extension. I wasn’t surprised at the rest of the board’s votes but am very disappointed. I regret my votes in the last two elections for two of the current board members. I won’t make that mistake again.
1. The administration maintains that Dr. Bailey did not receive a salary increase for the 08/09 school year. Instead, they state that what appeared to be a salary increase was actually a manipulation of an annuity. School budget documents delineate the annuity in question into a separate line item (#72320 189 “Other Salaries & Wages”) from the salary line item which is #72320 101. The 2010 Proposed Budget clearly shows an annual increase in the salary line item each year as follows:
06/07 Audit $125,475 *
07/08 Audit $128,802
08/09 Approved $131,888
09/10 Proposed $133,866
* pulled from the 2009 Proposed Budget revised/updated 3/25/08
Looks like a raise to me, but they’ve always had a different way of doing math than the rest of the world.
2. The administration stated that no TN superintendent license exists; my point that Dr. Bailey was one of only 5 superintendents out of 135 in the state who is not a licenses educator was not refuted.
3. The administration demonstrated an increase in the ORS graduation rate. This does not conflict with my original contention that we failed the No Child Left Behind standard of 90% 2 years in a row, while 92% of Tennessee schools passed.
4. The administration alluded to the Newsweek rankings that Oak Ridge schools have completely off of this year. They offered no data to show that Oak Ridge schools are, in fact, on that list.
5. The administration itemized some (not all) of the principals who have been replaced by Dr. Bailey. They failed to provide the pertinent details such as how many were forced to resign (I’ve confirmed at least one) and how many resigned or retired early. Why did Hayes retire in the middle of a school year? Why would Carringer walk away when he was within inches of retirement?
6. The administration addressed only one of the 6 years of overspending that the superintendent’s travel line item reflects. Setting aside the one year they did explain, the overspending percentage is reduced from 56% to 50%. No explanation for why this occurred or how it was paid for was offered.
The administration neglected to mention the other 10 points that my letter discussed (US News & World Report rankings, enrollment decline, increased spending, vehicle purchase and allowance for unlimited personal use, excess year-end assets, the Oak Leaf scandal, the transportation cuts, the high school coach fiasco, the assistant superintendent who left our school system and then returned and chooses not to put his children in Oak Ridge schools, and the newly hired high school principal who has less experience than the majority of our system’s teachers and has NO managerial experience.)
I was pleasantly surprised that Mr. Eby chose to vote against the extension. I wasn’t surprised at the rest of the board’s votes but am very disappointed. I regret my votes in the last two elections for two of the current board members. I won’t make that mistake again.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Your Attendance and Attention, Please
On July 14th at 7:00p.m., the OR School Board will vote on extending the superintendent’s contract length and on a possible salary increase. Dr. Bailey was hired in 2002 and his current contract runs through 2012. According to the terms of his contract, the board is under no obligation to act on his contract until July 2011. The following has been submitted to Mr. Keys Fillauer, chairman of the Oak Ridge Schools Board of Education:
Mr. Fillauer,
I understand that you are the sole person responsible for making the recommendation to the Oak Ridge School Board on Dr. Bailey’s contract extension and possible salary increase. I urge you to delay your recommendation out of consideration for the facts provided below.
According to his contracts (of which I have obtained complete copies) the board is not obligated to adopt any amendments at this time.
Contrary to the overwhelming evidence of decline in our schools since Dr. Bailey took the helm seven years ago, the board has issued him near-perfect evaluations every single year. They have also provided him with increasing benefits over the years that are highly questionable. Of you, I ask that this year, a true evaluation of the following matters be performed prior to any further consideration for the terms of Dr. Bailey’s employment with Oak Ridge Schools:
Declining Performance
Last month, ORS dropped completely off the Newsweek rankings (of high schools based on the Challenge Index) after steadily declining for the last 6 years from 256 to 929. Dr. Bailey’s response indicated that he was unconcerned about the matter and his explanation did not align with the facts presented on the Newsweek site.
Oak Ridge schools failed No Child Left Behind two years in a row for graduation rates. In 07/08 Oak Ridge High School joined some 8% of TN schools as being in "high priority" Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status. The 08/09 figures show a great improvement, but we still fell short.
In 2007, U.S. News and World Reports produced its own ranking of America's Best High Schools with the goal of determining which schools “set the best example of how to prepare students to achieve their post-graduation goals.” With over 18,700 schools analyzed from only 40 states, 32 Tennessee schools made bronze or better. Some East TN schools that made the grade include Gatlinburg, Halls, Oakdale, and Morristown. Missing from the list all together? Oak Ridge.
Turnover/Staff Morale Issues
During his interview process, Dr. Bailey bragged of the volume of teacher terminations he achieved in his previous school system. Since 2002, Bailey has replaced 10 head principals and at least 5 vice principals. Only 3 of those people retired, though the timing is questionable. We are on our 4th principal at the High School and 5 vice principals have or will be hired under Bailey’s term. Countless teachers and administrators have retired early or have been let go. The most recent loss is that of the alternative school principal – a man loudly praised by the board and administration for huge successes, not the least of which is the achievement of nearly 500 credits recovered by his students. Such a feat undoubtedly contributed to our increased graduation rate.
Questionable Fiscal Responsibility
For over a decade, Oak Ridge Schools have outspent every school system in TN (as well as the national average) at $11,794 per ADA – greatly exceeding the state average of $8,345.
Since Dr. Bailey came on board seven years ago, enrollment has declined slightly yet spending has increased by over 30%. He inherited a $39 million budget and by the end of 2008 was spending over $51 million NOTE: These figures do not include the cost of the high school which is funded almost entirely by the city budget.
Dr. Bailey negotiated for himself a raise for the 08/09 school year after having refused one to teachers and staff.
In 2006, the OR BOE approved the funding of a new vehicle (purchase price of $24K per car) for both the superintendent as well as one for the assistant superintendent. For that same year, they amended his contract to allow him to use this vehicle for both business and personal use and to pay for full insurance, maintenance, and repair costs from school funds.
Since joining ORS, Dr. Bailey has exceeded his travel expenses by over 50%. In 2007, he was approved to spend $7,000 but spent over $12,000. What’s worse is that he’d been granted a 50% increase over his predecessor. In his last year, Dr. McCoy had been approved $3,500 for travel. (see table below)
Every year, Dr. Bailey publicly laments about the need for additional funds from the city; however, the most recent audit of ORS financials stated that “Total governmental assets at year-end were 94.8 million and exceeded liabilities by 9.2 million” last year and that “at year-end, the Schools’ governmental funds reported combined ending fund balances of $3,361,956, of which $2,926,104 is available for spending at the Schools’ discretion.”
Questionable Judgment of ORS Leadership
Dr. Bailey is only one of five superintendents (out of all 135 in this state) who is NOT licensed. (see #5 in link)
The Oak Leaf scandal brought unwanted national, negative attention and is now listed on Wikipedia as one of the few highlights of about our high school.
Dr. Bailey advised the OR BOE in 2008 to eliminate transportation to students without consideration for the implications on their safety.
Dr. Bailey and the assistant superintendent successfully terminated and destroyed a teacher’s career after having granted that same teacher tenure.
Dr. Bailey overruled the committee he’d appointed to fill the high school football coach position when they recommended someone whom he did not approve of. Subsequently, he hired a man who, among other things, whipped out a knife in front of students and got into a scuffle with another coach at a football game. That coach was then removed and replaced yet again.
In 2007, Dr. Bailey hired Ken Green back into OR schools as the assistant superintendent. Mr. Green vacated his previous position as the OR High School principal for another job just two years prior. That same assistant superintendent doesn’t trust the school system he runs with his own children; instead, he has them home schooled.
Dr. Bailey recently hired a high school principal with only 5 years’ educational experience and NO managerial experience. While Mr. Goins may be entirely capable of such responsibilities, the risk of such a decision is compounded when one considers the results of Dr. Bailey’s first pick for the job in 2005. Of her, he said, “Mrs. Ervin was the overwhelming favorite of the committee. In fact it was the consensus of the committee that she has 'the right stuff.'" He went on to say, "There is not a tougher job in the community than Oak Ridge High School principal. When it comes down to the bottom line, the buck stops at the principal's desk." Ms. Ervin was removed from her position less than a year after she was hired.
Trina Baughn
ORS Superintendent Travel Expenses
............Approved/Audit (Actualized Expenses)
96/97 $2,000 / $2,713
97/98 $2,000 / $3,374
98/99 $2,000 / $3,561
99/00 $700 / $2,827
00/01 $3,500 / $3,510
01/02 $3,500 / $3,851
Bailey Years
02/03 $3,500 / $4,378
03/04 $3,500 / $4,687
04/05 $4,687 / $7,094
05/06 $4,500 / $6,897
06/07 $4,500 / $8,074
07/08 $7,000 / $12,171
Mr. Fillauer,
I understand that you are the sole person responsible for making the recommendation to the Oak Ridge School Board on Dr. Bailey’s contract extension and possible salary increase. I urge you to delay your recommendation out of consideration for the facts provided below.
According to his contracts (of which I have obtained complete copies) the board is not obligated to adopt any amendments at this time.
Contrary to the overwhelming evidence of decline in our schools since Dr. Bailey took the helm seven years ago, the board has issued him near-perfect evaluations every single year. They have also provided him with increasing benefits over the years that are highly questionable. Of you, I ask that this year, a true evaluation of the following matters be performed prior to any further consideration for the terms of Dr. Bailey’s employment with Oak Ridge Schools:
Declining Performance
Last month, ORS dropped completely off the Newsweek rankings (of high schools based on the Challenge Index) after steadily declining for the last 6 years from 256 to 929. Dr. Bailey’s response indicated that he was unconcerned about the matter and his explanation did not align with the facts presented on the Newsweek site.
Oak Ridge schools failed No Child Left Behind two years in a row for graduation rates. In 07/08 Oak Ridge High School joined some 8% of TN schools as being in "high priority" Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status. The 08/09 figures show a great improvement, but we still fell short.
In 2007, U.S. News and World Reports produced its own ranking of America's Best High Schools with the goal of determining which schools “set the best example of how to prepare students to achieve their post-graduation goals.” With over 18,700 schools analyzed from only 40 states, 32 Tennessee schools made bronze or better. Some East TN schools that made the grade include Gatlinburg, Halls, Oakdale, and Morristown. Missing from the list all together? Oak Ridge.
Turnover/Staff Morale Issues
During his interview process, Dr. Bailey bragged of the volume of teacher terminations he achieved in his previous school system. Since 2002, Bailey has replaced 10 head principals and at least 5 vice principals. Only 3 of those people retired, though the timing is questionable. We are on our 4th principal at the High School and 5 vice principals have or will be hired under Bailey’s term. Countless teachers and administrators have retired early or have been let go. The most recent loss is that of the alternative school principal – a man loudly praised by the board and administration for huge successes, not the least of which is the achievement of nearly 500 credits recovered by his students. Such a feat undoubtedly contributed to our increased graduation rate.
Questionable Fiscal Responsibility
For over a decade, Oak Ridge Schools have outspent every school system in TN (as well as the national average) at $11,794 per ADA – greatly exceeding the state average of $8,345.
Since Dr. Bailey came on board seven years ago, enrollment has declined slightly yet spending has increased by over 30%. He inherited a $39 million budget and by the end of 2008 was spending over $51 million NOTE: These figures do not include the cost of the high school which is funded almost entirely by the city budget.
Dr. Bailey negotiated for himself a raise for the 08/09 school year after having refused one to teachers and staff.
In 2006, the OR BOE approved the funding of a new vehicle (purchase price of $24K per car) for both the superintendent as well as one for the assistant superintendent. For that same year, they amended his contract to allow him to use this vehicle for both business and personal use and to pay for full insurance, maintenance, and repair costs from school funds.
Since joining ORS, Dr. Bailey has exceeded his travel expenses by over 50%. In 2007, he was approved to spend $7,000 but spent over $12,000. What’s worse is that he’d been granted a 50% increase over his predecessor. In his last year, Dr. McCoy had been approved $3,500 for travel. (see table below)
Every year, Dr. Bailey publicly laments about the need for additional funds from the city; however, the most recent audit of ORS financials stated that “Total governmental assets at year-end were 94.8 million and exceeded liabilities by 9.2 million” last year and that “at year-end, the Schools’ governmental funds reported combined ending fund balances of $3,361,956, of which $2,926,104 is available for spending at the Schools’ discretion.”
Questionable Judgment of ORS Leadership
Dr. Bailey is only one of five superintendents (out of all 135 in this state) who is NOT licensed. (see #5 in link)
The Oak Leaf scandal brought unwanted national, negative attention and is now listed on Wikipedia as one of the few highlights of about our high school.
Dr. Bailey advised the OR BOE in 2008 to eliminate transportation to students without consideration for the implications on their safety.
Dr. Bailey and the assistant superintendent successfully terminated and destroyed a teacher’s career after having granted that same teacher tenure.
Dr. Bailey overruled the committee he’d appointed to fill the high school football coach position when they recommended someone whom he did not approve of. Subsequently, he hired a man who, among other things, whipped out a knife in front of students and got into a scuffle with another coach at a football game. That coach was then removed and replaced yet again.
In 2007, Dr. Bailey hired Ken Green back into OR schools as the assistant superintendent. Mr. Green vacated his previous position as the OR High School principal for another job just two years prior. That same assistant superintendent doesn’t trust the school system he runs with his own children; instead, he has them home schooled.
Dr. Bailey recently hired a high school principal with only 5 years’ educational experience and NO managerial experience. While Mr. Goins may be entirely capable of such responsibilities, the risk of such a decision is compounded when one considers the results of Dr. Bailey’s first pick for the job in 2005. Of her, he said, “Mrs. Ervin was the overwhelming favorite of the committee. In fact it was the consensus of the committee that she has 'the right stuff.'" He went on to say, "There is not a tougher job in the community than Oak Ridge High School principal. When it comes down to the bottom line, the buck stops at the principal's desk." Ms. Ervin was removed from her position less than a year after she was hired.
Trina Baughn
ORS Superintendent Travel Expenses
............Approved/Audit (Actualized Expenses)
96/97 $2,000 / $2,713
97/98 $2,000 / $3,374
98/99 $2,000 / $3,561
99/00 $700 / $2,827
00/01 $3,500 / $3,510
01/02 $3,500 / $3,851
Bailey Years
02/03 $3,500 / $4,378
03/04 $3,500 / $4,687
04/05 $4,687 / $7,094
05/06 $4,500 / $6,897
06/07 $4,500 / $8,074
07/08 $7,000 / $12,171
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Dust in the Wind, Baby. Dust in the Wind.
The line between acceptable and unacceptable behavior in our society has been seriously blurred. Never in my lifetime has this truth been more evident than it is today.
I’ll never forget hearing the news about Princess Di. Even though I wasn’t really a fan of hers, I was shocked and saddened by her untimely death. Perhaps it was because I was a young mother and I felt for her sons. Or maybe it came from knowing some of the adversities she’d overcome and feeling like we’d lost a tremendous asset to humanity. Whatever the reason, her death affected me in a profound way, if only momentarily.
For that reason, I don’t want to judge those who are mourning Michael Jackson. I truly don’t. But, I am concerned about what this really says about our society. How can a man, talented or not, be as out of touch with reality as he so obviously was and yet be exalted to the point that he is called the “prince of peace” and a “hero?”
I can accept that he may never have harmed a child. I can accept that his motives may have been borne of his own adolescent short-comings. I recognize that he was probably abused himself as a child and never received the necessary guidance to fully mature into a well-adjusted man. But this extravagant show of love and adoration for someone who admitted to a host of inappropriate behaviors with children is beyond my comprehension. Frankly, it’s beyond acceptable.
I’ve visited the Père Lachaise cemetery and have seen the headstones and tombs of some of the most famous people of all time. It’s quite sobering to consider the impact some had both during their lives and beyond only to realize that no one who actually knew them is still alive. In fact, with each passing generation, fewer people are alive who even care about their accomplishments. One day, they'll all be just some "dead guy" or "dead gal" that no one gives a hoot about.
This, too, will become of the pop singer known as Michael Jackson. Not even his future great, great, great grandchildren will give him too much thought (that is, if he will really have claim to any) . I hope he’s now in heaven, free from his tormentors, I really do.
I’ll never forget hearing the news about Princess Di. Even though I wasn’t really a fan of hers, I was shocked and saddened by her untimely death. Perhaps it was because I was a young mother and I felt for her sons. Or maybe it came from knowing some of the adversities she’d overcome and feeling like we’d lost a tremendous asset to humanity. Whatever the reason, her death affected me in a profound way, if only momentarily.
For that reason, I don’t want to judge those who are mourning Michael Jackson. I truly don’t. But, I am concerned about what this really says about our society. How can a man, talented or not, be as out of touch with reality as he so obviously was and yet be exalted to the point that he is called the “prince of peace” and a “hero?”
I can accept that he may never have harmed a child. I can accept that his motives may have been borne of his own adolescent short-comings. I recognize that he was probably abused himself as a child and never received the necessary guidance to fully mature into a well-adjusted man. But this extravagant show of love and adoration for someone who admitted to a host of inappropriate behaviors with children is beyond my comprehension. Frankly, it’s beyond acceptable.
I’ve visited the Père Lachaise cemetery and have seen the headstones and tombs of some of the most famous people of all time. It’s quite sobering to consider the impact some had both during their lives and beyond only to realize that no one who actually knew them is still alive. In fact, with each passing generation, fewer people are alive who even care about their accomplishments. One day, they'll all be just some "dead guy" or "dead gal" that no one gives a hoot about.
This, too, will become of the pop singer known as Michael Jackson. Not even his future great, great, great grandchildren will give him too much thought (that is, if he will really have claim to any) . I hope he’s now in heaven, free from his tormentors, I really do.
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