Yes, 40% is a minority, but it’s also the largest representation in front of the school board in decades, so don’t underestimate the significance. I say 40%, because in just under a week (during a snow storm no less), GEPA members gathered over 600 signatures (both online and in person) on petition asking the BOS to reject the SB budget. Going through that list, and matching it with school directories, we counted parents of more than 1000 students. We could have kept seeking more signatures after our week of work, but the point was made and the circumstances changed. It served no purpose to continue to get signatures at that point. Facebook and our blog are means to communicate information, not measure support.

So, 40% is a minority, but also a pretty impressive number given the circumstances and the amount of time spent getting to that number. If that many parents can be reached and their signatures gathered in 5 days, I’d say that this represents the strongest parent movement in at least a decade, if not two. Parents can indeed support an organization, petition or movement without being present at each meeting.

I’m not sure if you attended all the school board meetings or just one. If you did attend any, then you know who I am, so please introduce yourself to me (you’ve chosen to be anonymous here). I’m interested in your opinion and welcome the opportunity for you to change mine with the information you have gathered through this process. Perhaps you know of a good reason to fire teachers instead of administrators. No one else has come up with one yet, so I’m all ears.

John, I hate to point out the obvious, but 40% is still a minority. But on what basis do you make that claim? I have never seen “more than 40%” of the parents in your corner at any of the public meetings. Your Facebook page has 102 members, some of whom appear to be students, not parents. So… 40%?

Last time, I promise!

I said every single word that was attributed to me. I am not running away from them, and would say them again. What upset me was that my personal opinion was inserted into an article about GEPA. I can’t speak for every member’s wishes. I think Mr. Odor and I have put this behind us.

Also, GEPA doesn’t not seek anything for any one segment of the student body that it doesn’t seek for all. GEPA has many members, consisting of gifted, regular and even special education student’s parents. Despite what Dr. Underwood tells the public, we only seek to save all teachers, textbooks and programs. By programs we mean things like Tender Tots, the preschool program, etc.  Gifted education will continue, even if it is decentralized. The real tragedy is losing Tender Tots and Preschool.

Don’t be fooled by Dr. Underwood’s misrepresentations about GEPA being only a small number of gifted parents. We have the support of parents of more than 40% of the school’s students.

Rick, I’m not too sure what tie in you are trying to make with your statements as it relates to GEPA and TCSD.  As far as I can tell, the two have nothing to do with each other.  Although I did reference TCSD in my response to you as an example of some of the current oversight issues in county governance, it is clearly not the only issue the county has had in recent memory.  The entire DEQ issue at Hidden Rock park as a “for example” is another adventure that ended up costing the county more money than necessary.  There were also the charges of misuse of county resources a few years ago that lead to a individual being fired and a $750,000 counter lawsuit around whistleblower protection. 

http://www.courts.state.va.us/opinions/opnscvwp/1090250.pdf

although it appears the lawsuit has been dismissed, I’m not sure if anyone really found out what really went on, nor if county rules and regulations were “tight” enough to pass judgment one way or another.  Of course I know you’ve also been following the KPMG audits…and the accounting errors are not just TCSD related.  In my opinion, Ms Dickson is the new head coach, and she needs a few able bodied assistants to get it done.  It seems she found one already in the ranks (Don Charles), yet felt compelled to bring in another because the county was missing something.  I don’t expect her to be a full fledged accountant, but I do hope she has the wisdom to hire someone to perform that duty (because it is apparent, we’ve had our problems with this)....I don’t expect her to know how to develop good methods and procedures, but I expect her to recognize where ones are needed, or are in need of improvement or better clarification, and do something about it.  Potentially she brings in someone who recognizes the vehicle use policy in Goochland is lax, and by tightening up the rules, she can save the county $30K a year in expenses and tens of thousands a year in not having to purchase new vehicles.  In my opinion, from what I see, hiring someone with financial accounting background was a necessary hire given all the facts that are playing out in the papers.  What KPMG is reporting leads me to believe, we either don’t have someone with those skills in the current gov’t structure, or if we do, they are not in a position of authority to speak up. 

BTW, I agree about the TCSD, like all utilities it should be funded by those who use it.  It should be up to the the county’s economic development arm to bring in tenants to West Creek Park…to help offset those costs.  Not sure when the new hospital is due to be built, but I’m sure they use a lot of water.

I am not involved with GEPA, and as mentioned in previous weeks, I have several children in GCPS system, and none of them are in Gifted.  I could care less if gifted has it’s own building or is folded into the regular school, or whatever.  That said, I support GEPA’s efforts and don’t see any hidden motivations here.  The consistent commentary from the citizens of Goochland (including GEPA and non-GEPA) has been that FIRST, WE KEEP ALL THE TEACHERS.  If we need to make cuts, then fine, there are 200 NON-TEACHER positions to consider.

Dr. Underwood knows citizens will want to keep the teachers.  She manipulates this desire against the citizens because she knows if she advocates a need to fire her Back-room seat warmers then the citizens will say that is fine.  She is using the teachers as human shields to hide her bloated bureaucracy behind(s).  The good teachers we have are sending out resume’s faster than we send comments to the paper, and our good teachers will be hired away, and Dr. Underwood will still get her way through attrition instead of through lay-offs.  And of course the teachers who leave will be the Best teachers, because any school system who is hiring right now will have Plenty of applicants and can select only the best. 

The games Dr. Underwood is playing is truly repulsive and a shame for this county, and so unfair to our teachers.  The board should remove her or the citizens should remove the board. 

Mr. Wright, you have my vote.

I agree with the parent of the GHS student.  I have been heavily involved in several previous budget meetings and each year, it seems as if each year, “concerned” parents come out of the woodwork to go on about how the gifted programs cannot be cut.  These parents are not concerned about all students, just their own children. While I support the gifted program and its merits, people need to understand that the majority of the funds need to be spent where the MAJORITY of the students fall, in the middle.  They way some of the parents of gifted students talk, you would think it would be absolutely horrific to have their children placed in classes with “regular” kids.  As a parent with children in the accelerated/honors programs, I find that extremely offensive. 

In an economic time where EVERYONE needs to tighten their household financial belts, wouldn’t it stand to reason that so must our governmental entities?  Just because I would prefer filet mignon at every meal doesn’t mean I can afford it, not to mention it wouldn’t be financially prudent of me to spend my money on that instead of paying my mortgage.  Right now we need to get the basics covered and hope that there is enough left for some extras.  These times won’t last forever, and we don’t expect to have our education system go backwards.  But we do need to reorganize to allow for growth in the future.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not a fan of Dr. Underwood and people should not confuse the School Board with her.  I believe Dr. Underwood has her own agenda and really does not want the opinion of the taxpaying citizens, no less the parents of her students. What that agenda is, is the question.

Where was GEPA before they found out the school budget would be cut and the “gifted” program may be cut?????  How many or are there any members of GEPA whose children are not in the gifted program?  I have personally spoken with one of our school board members and know how hard the decisions they are making are.  Everyone must understand that the decisions they make are in the best interest of all students, and not just a select group of students.  I’ve also listed to Dr. Underwood speak and think she is doing a good job.  Maybe if folks had of gotten involved before the budget cuts we wouldn’t be in the position we are now.

John you seem to be a smart fella but GEPA is a minority that makes a lot of noise . they do not represent the majority of the county .
  any position to oversee TCSD should not be paid for by taxpayers . it should be fully funded by monies taken in for the services rendered . we should not have to pay for someone elses utilities . TCSD should pay their own way !
  i dont want any teachers to lose jobs either . across the board salary cuts could probably have been negotiated . especially those BIG SALARIES going to a select few .

I like the picture…ah yes….The Linda Underwood Memorial Bus Garage.

I would like to add to my previous comments something that has bothered me since the printing of this article.

I had a 40 minute conversation with Mr. Odor, in which he spent a great deal of time soliciting answers from me as a representative of GEPA. I answered each of them to the best of my ability. He specifically asked if GEPA felt that the superintendent should be fired. I answered that not every member of GEPA was in agreement, and so I could not speak for the group. He then asked me if I personally thought she should be fired, to which I gave the quote used in the article, with the qualification that it was my opinion alone, and that it shouldn’t be in the article. Of course, that is the only mention that I get, the one thing I said couldn’t be printed.

I spent 40 minutes trying to get him up to speed on the school budget situation. We discussed numerous subjects within the budget. I gave him several great quotes. This is what he prints? Either he intentionally misrepresented me to sensationalize the story or there is a hidden agenda. hmmmmm