City School Roof Woes

MoonHowler

Manassas News and Messenger reports that the Mayfield Intermediate School roof has been declared unsafe by safety inspectors.  According to N & M:

On Monday, Manassas city officials deemed Mayfield Intermediate School unsafe after the roof started to show signs of collapse.

According to city schools spokeswoman Al Radford, a structural engineer has evaluated the situation and determined that the building cannot be used until the entire structural system is evaluated and the compromised structural trusses replaced.

This will require, at least for the next several weeks, that the Mayfield Intermediate School students and staff be housed elsewhere. Staff are working on alternatives regarding instructional settings. Mayfield serves approximately 1,000 fifth and sixth grade students.

Mayfield was constructed before the 2006 school year and houses more than 500 students, according to the school’s Web site.

The question becomes where to the 5th and 6th graders go to school during the time the roof is being repaired?  They cannot stay out of school.  They can’t go to school in an unsound structure.  Will Metz be used to double shift the kids?  Can the elementary schools take some of the kids?  Things will be very uncomfortable until normalcy can be resumed.  “The next several weeks” has an ominous ring to it.  Who knows how long it will really be once the snow is cleared up and inspectors and roof repair people really see what is going on. 

The following announcement is posted at the Mayfield Intermediate Website:

Also, please be advised that the excessive snow loads from the recent storm have caused sections of the roof structure at Mayfield Intermediate School to be compromised.  The school will be closed indefinitely so the entire structural system can be evaluated and the damaged areas replaced. Specific plans regarding Mayfield instruction will be communicated by the end of the week using the Alert Now system and the Mayfield and division websites.

 

The City of Manassas Schools will have some tough decisions to make that will definitely test the mettle of administration, teachers, staff, students and parents. They are certainly up to the challenge but it won’t be easy.

Meghan McCain–A Breath of Fresh Air

MoonHowler

One of the best things about Election 2008 is that Meghan McCain is still around, on the TV talk shows and lecture circuits.  Meghan McCain is just a breath of fresh air.  She is a Republican who isn’t afraid to disagree with her dad and she is unafraid to speak her mind. 

Have a listen:

Meghan is definitely her own woman.  She cannot be put in pigeon hole.  Does she have a political future?  Is she Republican enough or will she end up as a Democrat because of the culture wars?

LCI to be Unfrozen by Governor McDonnell

MoonHowler

Good news!  I just received the following from Delegate Jackson  Miller:

  
Today, Governor Bob McDonnell announced that he will undo the freeze to the Local Composite Index that former Governor Tim Kaine proposed before he left office.  Prince William County, Manassas City, and Manassas Park City Schools would have suffered greatly had he not made this bold move in support of our schools throughout the Commonwealth.  I applaud Governor McDonnell for his leadership and thank him on behalf of our community. 
Below is the press release from the Governor’s office: 
 

 

 

Governor McDonnell to Undo Proposed Freeze of Local Composite Index

-Introduced Budget Froze LCI for First Time –

Governor Identifies Savings to Allow for Annual Update to Index

 

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that he will support updating the Local Composite Index (LCI), the formula which determines state and local education funding responsibility, in the upcoming budget.  The move will mean another proposed change to the introduced budget, which froze the LCI at its current level. The LCI has historically always been adjusted every two years to account for changing local economic conditions. The proposal to freeze the Index was unprecedented, and would have cost certain localities in Northern Virginia $128.3 million in state education funding.

Speaking about his decision, Governor McDonnell stated, “For nearly forty years, the Local Composite Index has been an impartial means by which to determine state and local responsibility for education funding in Virginia. The application of this Index has always been done in an objective manner, using the most recent fiscal data to most fairly apportion state resources. For many school districts, particularly in Northern Virginia, the biennial update of the Index has meant far less funding from the state than that received by school districts in localities experiencing lesser rates of economic growth. Accordingly, I will not support the proposed freeze in the budget introduced by the previous Administration. The Local Composite Index must be applied to all localities, at all times, in the same objective and fair manner by which it has always been utilized.”

McDonnell continued, “The decision to continue to update the Local Composite Index is one that I reached after extensive meetings with my finance staff, legislators, and local government officials. I thank all these individuals for their input and thoughts during the process. Ensuring that we have a fair formula that is implemented without regard to temporary or political considerations is the best means by which to appropriate education funding in the Commonwealth. Every time the Index is readjusted some school systems gain funding, while others receive less. This has occurred for nearly forty years, and local officials understand the routine and objective biennial implementation of the Index.”

In announcing his decision to undo the proposed freeze of the Index, McDonnell also identified specific budget savings to account for the additional state spending required. The update will cost the state $29 million in FY 2011. To cover this increased funding, McDonnell will recommend to the General Assembly the transfer of $13 million from Literary Fund balances; $8 million through the use of available balances in the Health Insurance Fund to reduce state health insurance premiums; $5.2 million will be found in Real ID savings and an available $3 million will be captured in additional Non-General Fund balances.  Budget recommendations will continue to be made and communicated to the legislature in the coming days.

 

A big thank you to Jackson Miller for the notification.  He knew some of us here were clamoring  for Governor McDonnell to remove the freeze.  Also a big thank you to Poor Richard for raising the level of concern here on this blog. 

Another Perfect Storm Headed our Way?

MoonHowler

*****UPDATE****  

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS WARNING OF 7 TO 14 INCHES OF SNOW.  4:07 PM 2/8/10

The weather forecast is becoming more ominous for our area.  2 storm systems are converging.  One storm is coming in from the north and the other from the south.  They are predicted to meet over the Atlantic Ocean, right off the coast as 2 low pressure systems.  The end result doesn’t sound good at all. 

Between 5-10 inches of new snow is predicted from this storm.  While not carrying the moisture that Snowmaggedon contained, this storm is predicted to be more meteorologically intense with much higher winds.  According to the Capital Weather Gang at the Washington Post:

FREQUENT QUESTIONS

When will the snow start? Between mid-day and mid-afternoon tomorrow.

When it will end? Probably around late afternoon Wednesday — later north and east.

How much?: Our best bet is 5-10″ in the metro region, but 8-14″ as you head north and east towards Baltimore. South and southwest of the Fairfax County, 3-6″ is most likely.

Could it be more or less? Yes. Double digit totals (10″ or more) remain a possibility throughout the metro region (25% chance). By the same token, if the coastal storm forms too far north, lighter amounts from 1-5″ or so might do it.

How bad will the winds be? By very late Tuesday night and into Wednesday, sustained winds may reach 25-35 mph, with higher gusts. Assuming there is falling snow, this could create blizzard conditions.

This new storm spells trouble and danger,  People will be out of work, kids will be out of school.  People who work hourly will not get paid.  High winds put power lines and trees at further risk.  Roofs will be further stressed.   Municipalities and VDOT will be further strapped with snow removal costs as crews continue their round the clock pushing, digging and scraping.  Power workers will continue to work to get electricity back on.  Some folks will be a week without power when all of this is over.  It is a dangerous time of year to be without electricity.  Even those with gas heat won’t have it because there will be nothing to run the fans.

Let’s hope this prediction is wrong.

On a sad note, Rep. John Murtha has died of complications of gall bladder surgery.  He was 77 years old.

The New Political Correctness and Rahm Emanuel

MoonHowler

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has come under fire from all corners over his mouth flashing…again. This time it is not over your usual F-bombs, but over the use of the word ‘retarded.’

According to the LA Times:

In an unguarded moment, Emanuel had referred to a group of liberal Democrats as “retarded.” When reports of the remark began circulating, the former Chicago congressman — already famous for his foxhole profanity — moved to express his regret and promised to help leaders of the disabled community sensitize the public on the issue.

Actually, there might have been an expletive in front of the word in question.

Sarah Palin, mother of a child with Downs Syndrome, got very indignant and had the following to say:

I would ask the president to show decency in this process by eliminating one member of that inner circle, Mr. Rahm Emanuel, and not allow Rahm’s continued indecent tactics to cloud efforts. Yes, Rahm is known for his caustic, crude references about those with whom he disagrees, but his recent tirade against participants in a strategy session was such a strong slap in many American faces that our president is doing himself a disservice by seeming to condone Rahm’s recent sick and offensive tactic.

The Obama Administration’s Chief of Staff scolded participants, calling them, “F—ing retarded,” according to several participants, as reported in the Wall Street Journal.

Just as we’d be appalled if any public figure of Rahm’s stature ever used the “N-word” or other such inappropriate language, Rahm’s slur on all God’s children with cognitive and developmental disabilities — and the people who love them — is unacceptable, and it’s heartbreaking.

A patriot in North Andover, Massachusetts, notified me of Rahm’s “retarded” slam. I join this gentleman, who is the father of a beautiful child born with Down Syndrome, in asking why the Special Olympics, National Down Syndrome Society and other groups condemning Rahm’s degrading scolding have been completely ignored by the White House. No comment from his boss, the president?

SNL, always on top of all things political, did the following skit, mocking Emanuel:


 

 I have to ask, when did ‘retarded’ become a bad word? It wasn’t until about 10 years ago that the word was used without anyone blinking. There were kids in EMR classes (Educable Mentally Retarded). I understand that calling someone ‘retard’ is rude. It always has been. However, saying that the Smiths have a retarded child seems rather harmless to me. Retarded, developmentally delayed, intellectually challenged, all words or phrases which mean that an individual has somewhat diminished intellectual capacity, seem to be words we must tiptoe around. I am not sure what I should say and not say. As long as we are being polite and not cussing and carrying on, why have some of these words become verboten? Who gets to decide what is polite and what isn’t or what is politically correct?

I find it increasingly difficult to keep up with PC. I feel certain I have been unintentionally offensive.

Good-bye to Gridiron Great William ‘Bullet Bill’ Dudley

MoonHowler

William ‘Bullet Bill’ Dudley (far left, carrying the ball) has often been called the University of Virginia’s greatest football player and the greatest football player to come out of the State of Virginia.  He died Thursday, at the age of 88 in Lynchburg. 

 Dudley grew up in Bluefield, Virginia and played for Graham  High School.  He went to UVA at age 16 on a scholarship and soon became a star (see Times Dispatch).  After UVA, he was drafted in the 1942 NFL draft as first pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers.  WWII interrupted his football career but following the war, he returned to Pittsburgh for 9 NFL seasons.

Bill Dudley went in to the insurance business in Lynchburg.  He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1966.  He also served in the General Assembly for 4 terms and was known as being  outspoken and direct.  Bill Dudley suffered  a stroke at the end of January and died at home February 4, 2010, in the arms of his wife, Libba.  Bradley and Libba celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in July.

Certainly Bullet Bill Dudley will be remembered at some point during the Super Bowl tomorrow.  He was a native Virginian and one we can all be proud of.  This picture and more information about Dudley can be found in the Richmond Times Dispatch.   

This picture is especially important to me.  Imagine looking at it and seeing Old # 66 along side Bullet Bill Dudley.  # 66 is quarterback Walt Smith, who was my dad.  Old football players never die, they just fade away….

Good Old Song

That Good Old Song of Wahoowa,
We’ll sing it o’er and o’er.
It cheers our heart and warms the blood
To hear them shout and roar.
We come from old Virginia,
Where all is bright and gay.
Let’s all join hands and give a yell
For dear old UVa.

What though the tide of years may roll
And drift us far apart,
For Alma Mater still there’ll be
A place in ev’ry heart.
In college days we’ll sing her praise,
And so, when far away,
In memory we still shall be
At the dear old UVa.    

(tune Auld Lang Syne)

Further reading about Bullet Bill Dudley

Richmond Times Dispatch

Bill Dudley Wikipedia

Nothing Says Snow Day Like Jon Stewart

MoonHowler

Jon Stewart discusses the past weekend as only Jon can. He discusses Ronald Reagan’s birthday, the Superbowl, the Tea Party Convention and its guest speakers, Sarah Palin and Tom Tancredo.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c
AmeriGasm
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show
Full Episodes		 Political Humor Health Care Crisis

 

A really wonderful interview with Jenny Sanford who is actually quite the wit herself:   You might have overlooked the interview because it isn’t high comedy.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c
Jenny Sanford
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show
Full Episodes		 Political Humor Health Care Crisis

 

Tancredo’s speech was over the top.  I would hope the audience was offended.  I thought that Amerigasm is one of the funniest skits I have seen Jon Stewart do.  Have a mavericky watch as Stewart analyzes Palin as a pop culture phenomena.

Potentially Historic Monster Storm Bears Down on the Washington Area

MoonHowler

A potentially historic storm is bearing down on us, coming up from the south in a blaze of glory.  Virginia has already had its huge storm, back in December.  Yet here comes another when last weekend’s storm still hasn’t melted. 

Predictions have changed hourly.  Currently the prediction for the Virginia burbs is 20-22 inches of snow by Saturday night.  That is a heap of snow.   The December storm was recorded at 16.4 inches for Washington, DC.  Naturally areas outside the city measured in at deeper amounts.

This storm is expected to hit around noon Friday.  VDOT has already requested that people stay home, starting Friday night.  It is harder to plow when cars are on the road.  This storm will be a real budget buster for VDOT.  Most area schools, especially in Virginia, cancelled classes for tomorrow. 

This will be our snow thread for the week.  Will we have a blizzard?  What will total amounts be?

Tea Party Convention

MoonHowler
Convention Attendee
Convention Attendee
View of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel
View of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel

This political movement  needs a new name. What group of adults says they belong to the Tea Party. What does it stand for? Does anyone remember? From all reports, the Tea Party Convention this week in Nashville isn’t going too well.  Various people have stomped out and there is plenty of bickering. 

Why? The average person can’t afford to go. There are a bunch of Tea Party grassroots organizations. Many of them are squabbling already over the overly priced accommodations and set up in general. The Washington Post describes the following problems:

… [T]he first gathering of a sprawling movement, made up of hundreds of disparate Tea Party groups, has been marred by controversy. Some high-profile speakers and activist groups have canceled their appearances in protest of alleged profiteering by the convention organizers.

Attendees have been charged $549 a ticket (plus hotel and transportation) to gather for three days at the luxurious Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center — an expense that critics say is out of reach for the average grass-roots activist. Some of the proceeds will go to cover former Alaska governor Sarah Palin’s reported $100,000 fee to deliver Saturday’s keynote address.

There was also some mention of a $600 per person lobster dinner that one person who sat home described as a typical Republican fundraiser dinner. That sure doesn’t sound like an ‘average Joe’s’ kind of meal.  Sarah Palin is a keynote speaker who has said she will not profit from her honorarium but has yet to say who will receive her speaking fee.

What has happened to the grassroots, ‘tired of high taxes’, just your every day average person who showed up at town hall meetings to shout his or her outrage at the ‘system?’  The Post article indicates that those in attendance at the initial Tea Party Convention in Nashville are not your ordinary people being taxed to death.  The people attending the Convention are staying in  opulent accommodations, eating fancy meals, and living high on the hog.  The little man probably can’t afford the plane ticket much less the accouterments that go with that plane ticket.

Read More

County Schools Could Lose 700 jobs

MoonHowler

Dr. Steven Walts has proposed massive cuts in the School Board budget to make up a shortfall of nearly $80 million dollars.  Projects and building will also be delayed as will certain school bus routes.  After school programs will also see the budget hatchet.  700 jobs could also be cut. 

According to the Manassas News and Messenger, additional cuts considered are:

Walts is also proposing increasing parking fees for high school students, charging athletic participation fees at the middle and high school level and reducing Central office budgets by 10 percent. The elimination of bus routes means that all students being bussed to specialty schools out of their district would be eliminated. However, bus routes for Thomas Jefferson School for Science & Technology and both Pennington and Porter Traditional Schools would remain.
The net effect of the bus issue, according to budget presenter David Cline, would be to transition those 32 buses to handle the surge in the regular student population, which is expected to reach more than 78,000 students by next fall.

 

The budget cuts are going to run deep.   Bus services for specialty programs will be cut.  Parents would have to provide transportation.  Parking fees will increase.  Central office will get a 10% cut.  Class sizes will increase.  Retirement will be encouraged.

Finally the N & M has hinted at the freeze on re-calculating  the Local Composite Index issue  submitted  by former Governor Kaine and apparently getting ready to get the nod by current Governor McDonnell.  They have taken no position to day on NoVA schools being short-changed by millions.  The county and both cities stand to lose millions of state dollars because the formula is not being re-calculated  as it should be. 

The budget takes into account an expected $20 million shortfall due to the proposed freezing of the composite index by former governor Tim Kaine. The index is a formula that determines the ability of localities to pay for education, and grants state funding based on that determination.
Prince William’s index dropped more than 4 percentage points, thanks in part to a huge decrease in property values and consequently, potentially less money for both the county and the schools. Approximately 57 percent of the general fund revenue from the county goes to the schools.

People who value education should be swamping the governor’s office with letters, calls and emails advising him to recalculate the formula to ensure the Northern Virginia schools do not get shortchanged as they surely will if things remain the same. 

The Washington Post makes no bones about the LCI causing a quarter of the problem:

Officials attributed a quarter of the school system’s projected $80 million shortfall to a proposed freeze in the adjustment of a state funding formula that is intended to compensate school systems for enrollment growth and declining tax revenue. School Board members urged parents to contact their elected officials.

“The entire General Assembly needs to hear that this is not fair,” said board member Don Richardson (Gainesville).

In an unrelated topic, the PWC School Board has appointed Lisa Bell to serve as the Neabsco School Board member until a special election is held November, 2010.