Lead is the least of worries for Damon Raines and the school board’s leadership. There are few if any subs in Walker County because the county pays around 60$ a day which is about half of what Whitfield, Hamilton, and Catoosa pay. That means most classrooms are being covered by other teachers during their planning periods. Cafeteria staffs and custodians are also woefully underpaid meaning many teachers also clean their own rooms and students are fed pre packaged junk or half frozen fruit. Walker County’s local supplement for teachers lags well behind Catoosa, Whitfield, and Hamilton counties for certified teachers. If that weren’t bad enough, Walker County teachers work more hours than teachers in the aforementioned counties including Dade and Chattooga for less pay when broken down hourly. Test scores in Walker County have been declining for the last several years under Raines’ leadership due to teacher fatigue, lower pay, lack of subs and support staff, and veteran teacher drain due to higher pay and better working hours in other counties. The board and more specifically the superintendent seem to ignore these basic facts because they haven’t addressed them in years other than a year end “bonus” that is eaten up by taxes and a proposed bonus for subs if they work a certain number of days which is minuscule compared to other neighboring districts. Walker County teachers last day of inservice for the just concluded school year was May 31st which was later than virtually every neighboring district and they return July 28th, earlier than every neighboring district. The notion that longer hours for less pay and less support in an already stressful career is a recipe for success boggles the mind of everyone except the board and superintendent.
I’m sorry if I appear rude but I think you are missing the point of this. There is no telling how long children and adults have been drinking this poison. Stay on the subject please..
Yes, when the lions share of the taxation monies go to people at the top and for pork barrels (not teachers by the way) the safety and health and education of our children has and is being seriously compromised. Agree this has been going on for decades ... It is past time to ignore and allow a lack of transparency to continue -- damage has and is being knowingly done. This is on target, since where the monies go can absolutely rob both rank and file teachers pay/benefits and children of safety, education, and health? For example, chlorine, lead, fluoride and such additives to the public drinking water reduce IQ and/or damage health of everyone but certainly our children. Please consider this article on the topic and there are many more -- being largely ignored ...
just another way our children, but actually everyone, is put at risk of harm by things added to our water (when there are feasible alternatives available.) We all must drink water but what is in it (all said to be in the name of public safety) that is incredibly harmful? Big question is WHY? and WHY does it persist?
When you are last in virtually every academic category and your main concern is photo ops or social media as opposed to the morale of teachers and the well being of students, this is what you end up with. How many administrators at the county office make over six figures but can’t fund janitors or cafeteria workers?! It’s sad, Walker County deserves better!!
Lead is the least of worries for Damon Raines and the school board’s leadership. There are few if any subs in Walker County because the county pays around 60$ a day which is about half of what Whitfield, Hamilton, and Catoosa pay. That means most classrooms are being covered by other teachers during their planning periods. Cafeteria staffs and custodians are also woefully underpaid meaning many teachers also clean their own rooms and students are fed pre packaged junk or half frozen fruit. Walker County’s local supplement for teachers lags well behind Catoosa, Whitfield, and Hamilton counties for certified teachers. If that weren’t bad enough, Walker County teachers work more hours than teachers in the aforementioned counties including Dade and Chattooga for less pay when broken down hourly. Test scores in Walker County have been declining for the last several years under Raines’ leadership due to teacher fatigue, lower pay, lack of subs and support staff, and veteran teacher drain due to higher pay and better working hours in other counties. The board and more specifically the superintendent seem to ignore these basic facts because they haven’t addressed them in years other than a year end “bonus” that is eaten up by taxes and a proposed bonus for subs if they work a certain number of days which is minuscule compared to other neighboring districts. Walker County teachers last day of inservice for the just concluded school year was May 31st which was later than virtually every neighboring district and they return July 28th, earlier than every neighboring district. The notion that longer hours for less pay and less support in an already stressful career is a recipe for success boggles the mind of everyone except the board and superintendent.
Well said. Which issue is more likely to invite public scrutiny though?
I’m sorry if I appear rude but I think you are missing the point of this. There is no telling how long children and adults have been drinking this poison. Stay on the subject please..
Yes, when the lions share of the taxation monies go to people at the top and for pork barrels (not teachers by the way) the safety and health and education of our children has and is being seriously compromised. Agree this has been going on for decades ... It is past time to ignore and allow a lack of transparency to continue -- damage has and is being knowingly done. This is on target, since where the monies go can absolutely rob both rank and file teachers pay/benefits and children of safety, education, and health? For example, chlorine, lead, fluoride and such additives to the public drinking water reduce IQ and/or damage health of everyone but certainly our children. Please consider this article on the topic and there are many more -- being largely ignored ...
Want Clean Water? Turn on the Lights https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/clean-water-technology/
just another way our children, but actually everyone, is put at risk of harm by things added to our water (when there are feasible alternatives available.) We all must drink water but what is in it (all said to be in the name of public safety) that is incredibly harmful? Big question is WHY? and WHY does it persist?
When you are last in virtually every academic category and your main concern is photo ops or social media as opposed to the morale of teachers and the well being of students, this is what you end up with. How many administrators at the county office make over six figures but can’t fund janitors or cafeteria workers?! It’s sad, Walker County deserves better!!