newsobserver.com projects - N.C. Department of Public Instruction - Comments

Re: Don't read the instructions

Kingixolib — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:03:45 -0500

Maybe the reason for the confusion is that someone who didn't pass the competency tests wrote the instructions. It's but one of the downfalls when the criteria for a diploma is "just show up".

Re: Diploma diplomacy

PoliticalJunkie — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:01:40 -0500

Potential Chaos?

How about actual chaos.

Re: Cuts put 26 at DPI out of work

neo_mom — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:44:01 -0400

Wow - a whole 26 people off the public roles.

Didn't I just hear that school administration has grown at a faster rate than either number of students or teachers?

I'm thinking there are more cuts to be had here. They aren't looking hard enough.

Re: Cuts put 26 at DPI out of work

Kingixolib — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:27:32 -0400

$136,000 per year plus bennies!

He got an $11,000 per raise to return home and do his best to reverse the spin Baby Dumpling has created.

Re: Cuts put 26 at DPI out of work

j1c2kp — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:01:00 -0400

How much is the salary for the guy Bev just created a job for? Around $136,000 or something like that.

Re: Cuts put 26 at DPI out of work

nojimmie — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:10:31 -0400

I believe the reporter meant 26 people/bodies were cut - 15 transferred and the remainder (23) were vacant positions. Hopefully this article can be clarified.

Re: Cuts put 26 at DPI out of work

bniolet — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:09:56 -0400

The post has been updated to clarify that 26 people were laid off. Sorry for any confusion. BN

Re: Cuts put 26 at DPI out of work

informed — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:59:09 -0400

Err, talk about some fuzzy math. Apparently, no one lost their job, not necessarily a bad thing depending on your perspective. The source of their funding changed, and the rest of the positions were vacant. Eliminating vacant positions doesn't cut spending, it cuts the budget. Interesting methodology being employed to balance the books, but it's only on paper. I'm sure the cuts in spending that will ultimately be required will be geared toward organizational efficiency, and not the result of political posturing ad nausea. Or, maybe it will. If there is only one job left in state government at the end of it all, it will be Bev "do as I say, and not as I do" Perdue's position.

It's also quite the comedy to see this trial balloon of an article appear, gauging the public's appetite for any real layoffs in state government. Where do you start? I suggest furloughing all retirement eligible state employees immediately. It's in their best interest to hang on as long as possible and milk their employment for every cent they can get, and it's in the interest of the rest of us that they retire.

If furloughs across the board occur, that's not such a bad thing either. It reduces general fund spending, and guarantee some attrition will occur. Or even salary reductions.

It's tougher to eliminate positions with real people in them. Holding people accountable and responsible for performance would be a start, but when was the last time you heard of anyone losing their position in state government for anything less than malfeasance? The answer is never. So, unless a policy is put into place to reward performance, and punish non-performance, the only resort is furloughs. Otherwise, you'll be fighting lawsuits until the next recession, depression, or whatever you want to call it. I prefer to call it the end of Camelot.

Re: Cuts put 26 at DPI out of work

guppyman45 — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:54:33 -0400

26 people lost jobs...well, not exactly. 15 were moved and are being paid by other depts. so 11 people came off the state payroll.
all the other jobs were already vacant. how does that save 4.6 mil

Re: Atkinson at conference for first day

got2reply — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 23:49:39 -0400

Note, this is not a national conference per se; it is the Council of State School Officials. June Atkinson is North Carolina's Chief State School Official and is on the Next Generation Learners (Innovative Systems of Student Support) Committee. Her duties extend beyond the walls of the DPI building. NeverbloggedB4, just like the use of the word waiver vs. waver, do some research before writing. June did not sign the directive regarding no travel. That directive came from the Governor's Office.

When she first filed the lawsuit, I wrote that the judge would have to rule in her favor because the Constitution is very clear on this issue. She could have sat back while earning a six-figure salary and just enjoyed the ride, but this is a woman who wanted to do her job. Now, five years after her first term of office began, she can fulfill the role for which she was elected and that is what she is doing in Colorado!

Re: Rand: lawmakers should change ed law

time4change — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:14:12 -0400

The voters should maintain the right to appoint via votes, the person he or she wants to head up the DPI. Rand is a J E R K! He is a Black and Decker left over.

Re: Atkinson at conference for first day

time4change — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:50:53 -0400

AND? What about Perdue's little creation of a position for a friend/campaign contributor to head up our education system with a quarter of a million dollars salary? What blatant waste when the public had already voted Atkinson in to do that job. One would expect in a position such as Atkinson's, she would have to attend national conferences as part of the job. Education does not stop at the NC borders. We have to go out to see what the rest of the nation is doing, how we can learn from others' trials and tribulations, use what works and not use what doesn't work. S*&(, Perdue should through one of those high paid jobs to me or one of my family members.

Re: Atkinson at conference for first day

time4change — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:45:38 -0400

GLAD Sup. Atkinson took Perdue to court over this. We voted Atkinson in as the Sup of Ed and that is what she should be doing. Perdue is turning out to be another Weasely. I had hopes for her and kept an open mind, but she has proven to be one of them. I don't have such a high opinion of her I once did. Anyway, yippee for Atkinson on winning the case!

Re: Atkinson at conference for first day

rlboyd — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:58:54 -0400

Being at work for a superintendent isn't always the same as "being in the office." Lots of principals and other top administrators have many duties that take them out to meet with peers and with potential donors, grant providers, government leaders, etc.... It would be interesting to know how her trip is being paid for if in fact there is a travel freeze for administrative staff. As superintendent elected by the people, is she a "state employee" in the same way that the hired staff is? Perhaps the trip is being paid for in some other way.

You bring up a word usage question here. There are 2 different words here: waiver and waver. One is a kind of dismissal, as in to sign a waiver of right to an attorney. The other is to give way or fail to hold fast, as in "She never wavered in her determination to save her children." Sometimes dictionary reference checks come in handy before throwing stones about word usage.

Re: attending national conference to represent NC is WORK

neverbloggedB4 — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:55:19 -0400

I would expect her to live by the same directives the rest of the state has been given. In light of the Easley issues, I would expect her to understand the perception of her ignoring a directive that she signed for everyone else to live by. I fully understand the value of conferences but I also know that many many school employees across this state are cutting back and tightening the belt for the good of all. Most summer conferences and travel have been stopped. And at budget time, why would she give the critics of education in the Leg. more ammunition? DPI thinks they sit on a hill and can look down at all the rest. Part of the problem. Just not smart.