Gov. Bev Perdue is visiting the Observer tomorrow to talk with reporters and editorial writers. This blog's readers pose smart, pointed questions, so I'm outsourcing a bit: What would you ask the governor?
I'll try to get as many answers as possible, bearing in mind that I'll be one of many journalists in the room and time will be limited.
The obvious one for me is how she plans to protect teachers and assistants while cutting taxes. Others?
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Questions for Perdue?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
20 comments:
My question would be:
Governor,
Since 2009, President Obama has been telling the American people he is committed to eliminating waste and fraud in his health care reform to reduce costs and eliminating unused government buildings and properties.
In light of this, would you be willing to ask or even demand the Obama administration to force the USDA to allow the state of NC to conduct full audits of the school lunch program to root out the millions of dollars of waste and fraud in this program?
Having a true, accurate number for those who truly qualify and eliminating those who do not would save the state money. Since many state and federal funds go to other programs whereby students with an FRL designation get other free benefits they may not be entitled to.
What's your favorite BBQ joint in Charlotte?
Do you ever have the feeling your being watched?
Who's the boss at your house?
What's the most naughty thing you've ever done?
What government entity or standardized testing agency concluded you have the proper credentials to be an effective leader?
Do you own a dog?
oops, "you're"...
Are you willing to take on the winner of the Observer's spelling bee?
Even though she is planning on not cutting jobs in K-12, teachers have not gotten a raise in 3 years and there is rumor of teachers with national board certifications will lose there 12% increase in salary. How does she plan on keeping these talented teachers in this state if they are under paid, under appreciated and overworked?
WAY too much fun! (again). OK, I'll stop after this.
While we value your individual academic achievements, initiative, talent and character above all else, will you be submitting your SAT scores to the Observer?
What would you do with a million dollars?
What would you do with one dollar?
What final Jeopardy category would ensure your re-election?
Have you ever been suspended, put on probation or dismissed from any high school or college? (failure to answer this question will result in immediate termination of this interview).
Breakfast of Champions?
Disclaimer:
CMS prohibits discrimination in all its doings on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program (not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).
To file a complaint, Press 1...
The Observer is an equal opportunity employer.
--Would you support less standardized testing of k-12 students, to allow teachers more time to do their jobs and actually teach their students?
--How would you build accountability into a system without overburdening students and teachers with standardized testing?
--How will you ensure that schools are funded to sufficient levels so that your promise to protect education can be kept?
--Do you think you have sufficient legislative support for keeping higher taxes?
Is the governor aware that the state top school system is about to take a worst case scenario approach to the budget. Dr. Gorman is going to release allocations to schools next week based on the cuts. Schools, PTAs, SLTs and principals are preparing to present information to schools on how to do less with less. Each school is being asked to select among a literacy facilitator, a guidance counselor or media specialist to be eleminated. Will the governor assist CMS in stopping another round of cuts that will directly impact the classrooms.
Is the governor aware that the performance metric being used to cut teachers from CMS is the new teacher evaluation instrument - the one designed as a growth tool to assist teachers in becomming better at their craft?
Is she in favor of giving school systems flexibility in the school calendar and flexibilty with how to spend state money?
Is she a card carring member of NCPTA?
Great stuff! I've shot several of these to her press office in hopes of boosting my chance at getting answers.
It looks like she's shifting a big portion of educ. funding responsibilities from the state to the counties in the proposed budget. Can she explain the rationale for this? I'm not sure how moving costs around makes anything better for taxpayers or students in the long run.
After swearing I'd stop...
OK, what idiots affiliated with the NC Dept. of Education decided to add Dance to the standardized EOG/EOC testing lineup in 2013?
Gov. Purdue, can you demonstrate a proficient tour jete?
What do you think about Ann's possible secret crush?
Why don't you offer teacher buyouts totaling all the bonuses and incremental raises we've lost since the mid seventies. I know many that would have no problem using Waylon Jennings as a quote for Bev or Rev. Petey of the Church of Grantocracy
Why don't you break up CMS so that the property taxes I pay into the system actually support my children? I am tired of funding everyone else's problems. My kid' school gets the lowest funding per student in CMS, yet my area's property taxes are some of the highest. Your state tax income rate is ridiculous (one of the highest in the country) along with high sales and gas taxes, yet you seem to never have enough money. Sounds like you have a spending problem to me, or you are driving out all the folks with money that actually pay taxes and leaving the state with the leeches that are sucking up all our tax dollars.
If NC is really adding an EOC in dance, can someone please shoot me a link or other info? That seems so unlikely. CMS, however, is creating a whole bunch of new year-end exams for all subjects that don't have state exams. Presumably that would include dance.
Adding more EOC tests does not seem to make sense since they just cut 4 out for the coimng year like for Algebra II and others. See press release.
Isn't it disingenuous to say you are saving teacher jobs but in the same breath put more bus transportation costs back on the counties?
Correction,
CMS (not NC State Dept. of Education) is working on it's own special PAY FOR PERFORMANCE standardized EOG test in Dance to measure teacher effectiveness.
So, Dr. Gorman, can you demonstrate a proficient tour jete?
I worked in the school system for most of my life as a classified employee and retired in the past few months. I know that teachers most of the time received a small salary increase but classified staff were forgotten several years in a row and always ignored during budget shortfall years. Now the state budget proposal states that potential retirees could receive $10000 payouts for retiring now and early retirees $20000 payouts to help the state save moneys. If there is no moneys to pay the state funded projects why is this payout being encouraged? Where is this money coming from to pay them to retire early before they planned to retire? It best not come out of the state employee's retirement program--that is moneys mandatorially deposited by all state employees and matched by their employers over the years to pay them their retirement benefits when eligible. You need to start cutting budget and positions at the top salary levels instead of picking on the lower classified staff members. This is more ridiculous every year.
Gov Perdue needs to remember all the dedicated state employees--she was a teacher at one time. Also you need to eliminate the lazy people who do not do much except get paid every month. The harder workers are picking up their slack.
Post a Comment