Red Alert – Delicious Pieces

RED ALERT…

January 27, 2012

         We must be delicious, because everyone wants a piece of us…But only the best pieces!

 

Now that hidden agendas that are being played out by our school board have become more apparent, it is alleged that a plan is emerging from the Alliance for Education’s Scott Hughes to dismantle the Caddo Parish School District.  Part of the plan is to form a new school district that would encompass the area south of I-20 and east of I-49.  The reported proposed school system is being referred to as the Forbing School District which would take in three magnet schools with a state grading of A or B status, leaving the Caddo Parish School District without an A or B graded high school.  Apparently, the goal of Alliance for Education (along with a few school board members) is to take the best schools from the Caddo Parish School District for the “haves” leaving the failing or near failing schools that have been graded D or F by the state for the “have nots.”

 

This strategy is not unlike the now infamous “Bain Capital Equity Company” reported by the press during the recent Republican debates, alleging Bain Capital takes over struggling companies only to sell off their most profitable divisions; taking the company into bankruptcy and firing the workers; leaving the local economy of the communities in shambles; and then leaving the taxpayers with unpaid taxes.  The tragedy unfolding for us in Caddo Parish is that we are not dealing with money, but with children’s lives and their futures.  Our children and their school system should not be seen as fodder for venture capitalists or real estate brokers/developers.  Children should not be written off by society just because of where they live or what zip code has been assigned to them by the U.S. Post Office.

 

Make no mistake, our school system has problems.  We know that all of our students deserve a quality education.  However, we must recognize our problems are not just school problems.  They are also community problems that include poverty, no jobs, lack of health care, high crime rates, broken families, and drug abuse.  Dividing our school system is not the solution.  Our communities are divided way too much as it is.  Only by working together can we build a better school system for all…not just for the few.

 

 

Two Great School Districts! One Super Organization!

1726 Line Ave, Shreveport, LA 71101 P:  318-424-4579  F:  318-424-4503 http://www.redriverunited.org

Red River United is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, Louisiana Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO

Red River United…RED ALERT

Red River United…RED ALERT

January 19, 2012

Caddo Parish School Board’s Message IS Clear To Teachers and School Support personnel…

 “Hear no pay raise, See no pay raise…..Speak no pay raise!!”

“NO PAY RAISES” was the message delivered to teachers and school support personnel by the Caddo Parish School Board at Tuesday’s school board meeting.  Board member Barry Rachal, through manipulating school board policy, was able to keep board member Dottie Bell from placing on the school board agenda a proposed increase in the local sales tax of .04 which would have been dedicated to employee raises.

 

Despite the fact that teachers and school personnel have not received a pay raise for over three years the Caddo Parish School Board, in a cowardly maneuver, was able to gag any discussion regarding pay raises.  This action demonstrates that the school board has little or no respect for their employees or the important job that they do.  At Tuesday’s meeting the school board arrogantly put politics ahead of our children’s education in their efforts to not only deny the public from hearing about the merits of the proposed sales tax increase, but also to keep the public from making the final decision to raise the sales tax or not.

 

This brazened action by board members is indicative of hidden agendas being played out behind closed doors by politicians who may or may not have the public’s best interest at heart.  One could surmise that there are certain school board members who consider the public as being too ignorant or dumb to make decisions regarding the sale tax or if teachers and school support personnel deserve a raise or not.  When politicians want to exclude the public and tax payers from the decision making process a foul odor usually follows.  Something is beginning to smell and the stink may only get worse.

 

More will be forthcoming as information becomes available.  Red River United will attempt to provide gas masks and barf bags if the stink continues to increase in intensity.  As with most hidden agendas the odor will be too hard to stifle.  As the adage goes…follow the money.  In this case we may just have to follow the stink!

Red River United is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, Louisiana Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO

 

Dear Under-Paid Caddo Parish Employees

Dear Under-Paid Caddo Parish Employees:

The bond and the pay raise are on the agenda for tonight’s (1/17) meeting at 4:30.  The pay raise has been placed on the agenda by District 12 School Board Member, Dottie Bell.  This was done after a number of board members spoke at the last meeting about the importance of addressing employee pay.  It seems that now that a proposal has come forth that could have the potential to make this a reality, some board members have gotten cold feet.  No doubt, they are getting pressure from outside- those who have an agenda to destroy public education and the middle class in Caddo Parish.

That is why it is extremely important that we stand up for what is right and good.  We have a great school district.  For example, approximately 4, 917 students in Caddo attend A and B rated high schools.  There are 3,450 students in Bossier who attend B rated high schools.  There are no A high schools in Bossier. In Desoto, 0 attend A or B rated high schools.  Their highest rated high school is a C+.

Let’s stand up for our district.  Let’s stand up for the middle class.  This board has not sent anything to the voters for pay raises since 1997!   Call, fax, email the board members and let them know that you will be in attendance at the CPSB meeting tonight.

Call, Fax, or Live Chat with the Red River United Office

Red River United

1726 Line Ave.Shreveport, LA. 71101

Phone- 318-424-4579

Fax-318-424-4503