B.S.F. Forum - A Bravenet.com Forum

*!*

IP: 69.155.97.71

Nov 8, 07 - 9:21 PM

Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc.

1.) B.S.I.S.D. Superintendent Michael Downes has been monitored by the school board trustees to publish for bids on the Runnels Junior High School property.

2.) The B.S.I.S.D. school board seems to be leaning toward proposing a bond election calling for the construction of one new $34 million dollar 1400 student capacity elementary school funded by means of a 20 year bond. Washington and Bauer elementary schools would be closed. Roof repair at Big Spring High School and the construction of "gymatoriums" at the remaining elementary schools could bring a proposed bond package up to 41 million, which would be funded by a tax increase of 34 to 43 cents given voter approval. It seems to be thought that if all schools benefit, the voters will be more inclined to approve a multi-million dollar bond. K-5 would be elementary level, grades 6-8 would be at the Junior High, and grades 9-12 would remain at the high school under one plan. The school board seems to be very mindful of what the market--in this case, the taxpayers--will bear. An alternative opinion which was not rejected by the school board might be summarized as "making do with what we have got for as long as we can."

3.) A wind energy project consisting of 147 turbines valued at $173 million is likely to be completed by the end of 2008, perhaps as early as September. The development will be taxed at full value for years 1 and 2, though year one is a construction year, so the value will likely be zero. Years 3-8 the wind energy project will be subject to a Limited Appraised Value Agreement during which time the B.S.I.S.D. will realize $3.8 million. Wind turbines may typically depreciate at 7% per annum.

4.) It appears high dropout rates in the B.S.I.S.D. can threaten campus ratings. There may be as much as a 1.5 year backlog of cases against parents who do not force their children to attend school. Homeschooled children are not counted as dropouts by the state. A policy change effected by a state level official now allows school districts to solicit parents of dropouts and sign-up the dropouts for "homeschooling" over the phone, making it easier to clerically clear up the problem vis-a-vis campus ratings while not actually addressing the drop-out problem, not to mention the actual education of homeschooled drop-outs, in my opinion.

*!*

IP: 69.155.97.71

Nov 8th, 2007 - 10:25 PM

Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc.

CORRECTION:

"Years 3-10 the wind energy project will be subject to a Limited Appraised Value Agreement during which time the B.S.I.S.D. will realize $3.8 million."

HE

IP: 68.90.139.184

Nov 9th, 2007 - 6:30 AM

Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc.

*!*
This is what I call good (adult) information.

Heaven's Messenger 777

IP: 74.196.1.145

Nov 9th, 2007 - 8:51 PM

Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc.

It'll be great as long as they don't decide to build anything new on top of an old land fill!

Rita

IP: 75.110.247.213

Nov 9th, 2007 - 9:09 PM

Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc.

Kinda new here so not even sure where this school is but...could it have been remodeled to work for a jail?? Funny how this came about AFTER the jail was assured.

*!*

IP: 69.155.97.71

Nov 9th, 2007 - 9:17 PM

Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc.

Thanks for the thumbs-up, HE. The dropout business is a very sad note. Why this isn't headline news is a real mystery.

Is anyone reading this thread remotely interested in bidding on the old Runnels Junior High? Kudos to the school board and administration for disposing of this property in a transparent and above the board fashion, by the way.

Heavens Messenger 777

IP: 74.196.1.145

Nov 10th, 2007 - 12:41 AM

Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc.

Wasn't Runnels declared a State Historical Society site?

Heavens Messenger 777

IP: 74.196.1.145

Nov 10th, 2007 - 8:45 AM

Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc.

"!" -

You made the following statement. I am just wondering if you think that all children should be "forced" to attend school in your FREE UTOPIAN society? After all, you would not be for a conservative dress code that would not allow street gangs to "baggy" and "droopy" pants and clothes to hide drugs and weapons in, that might otherwise be used against you or some other FREE DOM loving person.

4.) It appears high dropout rates in the B.S.I.S.D. can threaten campus ratings. There may be as much as a 1.5 year backlog of cases against parents who do not force their children to attend school. Homeschooled children are not counted as dropouts by the state. A policy change effected by a state level official now allows school districts to solicit parents of dropouts and sign-up the dropouts for "homeschooling" over the phone, making it easier to clerically clear up the problem vis-a-vis campus ratings while not actually addressing the drop-out problem, not to mention the actual education of homeschooled drop-outs, in my opinion.

*!*

IP: 69.150.192.25

Nov 10th, 2007 - 12:33 PM

Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc.

I do not know if Runnels is a classified as a historic site. I doubt it because I think such a designation somewhat limits the property owner's options--so a school district would not likely want the extra headache, but that's just a guess.

HM777 wrote: "You made the following statement. I am just wondering if you think that all children should be "forced" to attend school in your FREE UTOPIAN society? After all, you would not be for a conservative dress code that would not allow street gangs to "baggy" and "droopy" pants and clothes to hide drugs and weapons in, that might otherwise be used against you or some other FREE DOM loving person."

I am not an anarchist or a communitarian. A well-educated populace is beneficial to our society as well as to each individual. Compulsory school attendance until age 18, with certain exclusions, including homeschooled children, is the law. Allowing a child at home to be catagorized as homeschooled child out of CONVENIENCE when in fact no schooling whatsoever is occurring sounds almost demonically inspired, and in my opinion is a betrayal. Our opportunities for an extended Middle Class are being undermined. Few give a tinker's darn that some bureaucrat human chess player with an ax to grind appears to have pulled the rug out from under a small but already challenged subset, I gather because those affected are considered "throw away troublemakers." I suppose the powers that be know that these "throw away troublemakers" will have a disproportionately high chance of becoming embrangled with Johnny Law: increase the population of "throw away troublemakers" and you cultivate a population for all the new jail and prison cells which are being built in Texas. As I said, demonic. Do you agree that children should not be allowed to be abused by parents, and that child labor laws are a good thing? Or do you hold that parents and guardians should have the right to mercilessly throttle kids and work them in coal mines beginning at age 6?

Heavens Messenger 777

IP: 74.196.1.145

Nov 10th, 2007 - 5:20 PM

Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc.

Children, need to be loved and tended to by BOTH of their parents. We live in a society today that does not discourage Single Parent family living which takes one of the Parents out of the home framework.

Teenagers, thank goodness, are getting smarter about issues of their sexuality, in understanding the consequences of their actions under such conditions.

The fact about the School issue with kids, is that the School District gets between 4k and 8k per child they have in school per year. In their own self interests, the district needs to make sure that those kids who either drop out or skip school are their so they can keep their funding. It is also true that 85% of the school district's finances goes to payroll and unfortunately, Big Spring teachers are among the lowest paid teachers in the country. The Superintendent is paid what most starting teachers are paid on the east coast.

Frankly, with the economy about to tank, pitting the dollar against the yen and the euro, its not buying as much today. Having said that, the Superintendent of the school district should take a 1/2 pay cut to a tidy sum of 45k per year. He's not a CEO, CIO, CFO, or any such designation. He's an educator, who frankly, is not educating anyone.

I will say this. It is a bold move that BSISD did in getting the laptops for the kiddos to use. The district needs to take an extra step and to the following:

Get rid of 2/3 of the teachers, utilize the High School and or the Junior High with the 1/3 they keep, setting them up in a "Virtual Classroom" using the internet and the laptops, placing the teachers in an area with cubicles and multiple flat panels. The kids would then get their classwork from the teacher via the internet with exception of labs, 2 days a week at either facility. Sports would then been considered an extra curricular activity. This scenario would allow the district to take the cost of educating each kid from 8k to about 2k. It would eliminate the need to build new school buildings and allow the district to save huge amounts of money, particularly with transportation costs and staffing.

Digest that as a posibility to saving money and cutting costs. BTW: You only keep the teachers who want to teach, not the ones who only want a paycheck and don't have the best interests of the kids at heart.

*!*

IP: 69.150.192.25

Nov 10th, 2007 - 6:05 PM

Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc.

HM777, You didn't answer my questions about child abuse and child labor laws. The divorce rate in the U.S. is 50% or greater, and many children are being raised by extended family. The erosion of the Middle Class no doubt contributes to the chaos, as money matters are a huge factor in many divorces. A less educated populace will not be as equipped to compete. Of course, as I indicated, I am concerned that the real plan is to shrink the size of the Middle Class. In the recent past, our area has had some of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the United States. Am I correct in assuming that there is no comprehensive, age appropriate sex education in area schools? As I understand it, the incentive for schools in Texas to classify drop-outs as "homeschooled" is that when a school has too many drop-outs that negatively impacts the school's academic performance rating. There isn't a snowball's chance in the Mojave that your cost saving plan will ever be adopted in public schools in Texas. Even if it would be better, teacher unions and all would not allow the politicos to enact it. I am mystified as to why the B.S.I.S.D. would choose Apple computers over Dell or the like. I wonder how many B.S.I.S.D. computers have been broken or stolen to date. If it is a low number, then there might be some unexpected citizenship lessons which have come from the one laptop per high school student program. Hopefully, the computers are a way for us to level the educational playing field in our economically challenged area, though I don't totally buy into the >$$$=>learning argument.

tink1

IP: 64.12.116.12

Nov 10th, 2007 - 7:34 PM

Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc.

STOP!!!
STUPID QUESTION TIME
where is this school located?
thank you
kindly resume

Heavens Messenger 777

IP: 74.196.1.145

Nov 10th, 2007 - 9:25 PM

Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc.

"!" -

Sounds like you have an AXE TO GRIND about homeschooled children.

For the record, Homeschooled Children often make much better grades than those in the Public School system. Many are 2-4 years further in their education than those of their public school counterparts.

Regarding Child Abuse and Child Labor laws, those issues have been long dealt with are of no concern as it relates to this issue.

*!*

IP: 69.150.192.25

Nov 11th, 2007 - 12:36 AM

Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc.

tink1 wrote: "where is this school located?"

tink1, The now empty Runnels Jr. High complex is located near downtown Big Spring at the 1000 block of Runnels street.
http://www.bshsalumni.com/Then%20and%20Now.htm (see photo)

"Between 1916 and 1919, the right half of this building, known affectionately as "the Runnels Building" (from the street that is seen in the picture), was constructed to house the high school. In 1924 a junior high school was built southwest of this building (later Central Ward Elementary). In 1928 the left half was added. . After 1952 this building became the Junior High School when the high school moved to the Eleventh Place location."

HM777 wrote: " "!" -Sounds like you have an AXE TO GRIND about homeschooled children. For the record, Homeschooled Children often make much better grades than those in the Public School system. Many are 2-4 years further in their education than those of their public school counterparts. Regarding Child Abuse and Child Labor laws, those issues have been long dealt with are of no concern as it relates to this issue"

HM777, I have nothing against homeschooled children. I do have a problem allowing dropouts who are not really being homeschooled to be labeled as homeschooled so that school districts do not lose ground in school ratings performance, e.g., school goes from "superior" to "recognized" if it has too many dropouts, but is not demerited if the dropouts are clerically, and by name only, converted to "homeschooled" status. Calling a dropout homeschooled when he or she really isn't homeschooled is about like calling me professional basketball or football player. You can call me a professional basketball or football player all you want, but I will never be one. How can a dropout be homeschooled if he isn't really being homeschooled?

*!*

IP: 65.70.109.118

Nov 17th, 2007 - 6:09 AM

Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc.

UPDATE: Runnels Junior High Property

The bid information on the Runnels Junior High School property will be available soon, and the notification may be published in the Big Spring Herald as early as Tuesday November 19.

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*!* IP: 69.155.97.71 Nov 8, 07 - 9:21 PM	Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc. 1.) B.S.I.S.D. Superintendent Michael Downes has been monitored by the school board trustees to publish for bids on the Runnels Junior High School property. 2.) The B.S.I.S.D. school board seems to be leaning toward proposing a bond election calling for the construction of one new $34 million dollar 1400 student capacity elementary school funded by means of a 20 year bond. Washington and Bauer elementary schools would be closed. Roof repair at Big Spring High School and the construction of "gymatoriums" at the remaining elementary schools could bring a proposed bond package up to 41 million, which would be funded by a tax increase of 34 to 43 cents given voter approval. It seems to be thought that if all schools benefit, the voters will be more inclined to approve a multi-million dollar bond. K-5 would be elementary level, grades 6-8 would be at the Junior High, and grades 9-12 would remain at the high school under one plan. The school board seems to be very mindful of what the market--in this case, the taxpayers--will bear. An alternative opinion which was not rejected by the school board might be summarized as "making do with what we have got for as long as we can." 3.) A wind energy project consisting of 147 turbines valued at $173 million is likely to be completed by the end of 2008, perhaps as early as September. The development will be taxed at full value for years 1 and 2, though year one is a construction year, so the value will likely be zero. Years 3-8 the wind energy project will be subject to a Limited Appraised Value Agreement during which time the B.S.I.S.D. will realize $3.8 million. Wind turbines may typically depreciate at 7% per annum. 4.) It appears high dropout rates in the B.S.I.S.D. can threaten campus ratings. There may be as much as a 1.5 year backlog of cases against parents who do not force their children to attend school. Homeschooled children are not counted as dropouts by the state. A policy change effected by a state level official now allows school districts to solicit parents of dropouts and sign-up the dropouts for "homeschooling" over the phone, making it easier to clerically clear up the problem vis-a-vis campus ratings while not actually addressing the drop-out problem, not to mention the actual education of homeschooled drop-outs, in my opinion.
*!* IP: 69.155.97.71 Nov 8th, 2007 - 10:25 PM	Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc. CORRECTION: "Years 3-10 the wind energy project will be subject to a Limited Appraised Value Agreement during which time the B.S.I.S.D. will realize $3.8 million."
HE IP: 68.90.139.184 Nov 9th, 2007 - 6:30 AM	Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc. ! This is what I call good (adult) information.
Heaven's Messenger 777 IP: 74.196.1.145 Nov 9th, 2007 - 8:51 PM	Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc. It'll be great as long as they don't decide to build anything new on top of an old land fill! Email: HM777@suddenlink.net
Rita IP: 75.110.247.213 Nov 9th, 2007 - 9:09 PM	Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc. Kinda new here so not even sure where this school is but...could it have been remodeled to work for a jail?? Funny how this came about AFTER the jail was assured.
*!* IP: 69.155.97.71 Nov 9th, 2007 - 9:17 PM	Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc. Thanks for the thumbs-up, HE. The dropout business is a very sad note. Why this isn't headline news is a real mystery. Is anyone reading this thread remotely interested in bidding on the old Runnels Junior High? Kudos to the school board and administration for disposing of this property in a transparent and above the board fashion, by the way.
Heavens Messenger 777 IP: 74.196.1.145 Nov 10th, 2007 - 12:41 AM	Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc. Wasn't Runnels declared a State Historical Society site?
Heavens Messenger 777 IP: 74.196.1.145 Nov 10th, 2007 - 8:45 AM	Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc. "!" - You made the following statement. I am just wondering if you think that all children should be "forced" to attend school in your FREE UTOPIAN society? After all, you would not be for a conservative dress code that would not allow street gangs to "baggy" and "droopy" pants and clothes to hide drugs and weapons in, that might otherwise be used against you or some other FREE DOM loving person. 4.) It appears high dropout rates in the B.S.I.S.D. can threaten campus ratings. There may be as much as a 1.5 year backlog of cases against parents who do not force their children to attend school. Homeschooled children are not counted as dropouts by the state. A policy change effected by a state level official now allows school districts to solicit parents of dropouts and sign-up the dropouts for "homeschooling" over the phone, making it easier to clerically clear up the problem vis-a-vis campus ratings while not actually addressing the drop-out problem, not to mention the actual education of homeschooled drop-outs, in my opinion.
*!* IP: 69.150.192.25 Nov 10th, 2007 - 12:33 PM	Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc. I do not know if Runnels is a classified as a historic site. I doubt it because I think such a designation somewhat limits the property owner's options--so a school district would not likely want the extra headache, but that's just a guess. HM777 wrote: "You made the following statement. I am just wondering if you think that all children should be "forced" to attend school in your FREE UTOPIAN society? After all, you would not be for a conservative dress code that would not allow street gangs to "baggy" and "droopy" pants and clothes to hide drugs and weapons in, that might otherwise be used against you or some other FREE DOM loving person." I am not an anarchist or a communitarian. A well-educated populace is beneficial to our society as well as to each individual. Compulsory school attendance until age 18, with certain exclusions, including homeschooled children, is the law. Allowing a child at home to be catagorized as homeschooled child out of CONVENIENCE when in fact no schooling whatsoever is occurring sounds almost demonically inspired, and in my opinion is a betrayal. Our opportunities for an extended Middle Class are being undermined. Few give a tinker's darn that some bureaucrat human chess player with an ax to grind appears to have pulled the rug out from under a small but already challenged subset, I gather because those affected are considered "throw away troublemakers." I suppose the powers that be know that these "throw away troublemakers" will have a disproportionately high chance of becoming embrangled with Johnny Law: increase the population of "throw away troublemakers" and you cultivate a population for all the new jail and prison cells which are being built in Texas. As I said, demonic. Do you agree that children should not be allowed to be abused by parents, and that child labor laws are a good thing? Or do you hold that parents and guardians should have the right to mercilessly throttle kids and work them in coal mines beginning at age 6?
Heavens Messenger 777 IP: 74.196.1.145 Nov 10th, 2007 - 5:20 PM	Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc. Children, need to be loved and tended to by BOTH of their parents. We live in a society today that does not discourage Single Parent family living which takes one of the Parents out of the home framework. Teenagers, thank goodness, are getting smarter about issues of their sexuality, in understanding the consequences of their actions under such conditions. The fact about the School issue with kids, is that the School District gets between 4k and 8k per child they have in school per year. In their own self interests, the district needs to make sure that those kids who either drop out or skip school are their so they can keep their funding. It is also true that 85% of the school district's finances goes to payroll and unfortunately, Big Spring teachers are among the lowest paid teachers in the country. The Superintendent is paid what most starting teachers are paid on the east coast. Frankly, with the economy about to tank, pitting the dollar against the yen and the euro, its not buying as much today. Having said that, the Superintendent of the school district should take a 1/2 pay cut to a tidy sum of 45k per year. He's not a CEO, CIO, CFO, or any such designation. He's an educator, who frankly, is not educating anyone. I will say this. It is a bold move that BSISD did in getting the laptops for the kiddos to use. The district needs to take an extra step and to the following: Get rid of 2/3 of the teachers, utilize the High School and or the Junior High with the 1/3 they keep, setting them up in a "Virtual Classroom" using the internet and the laptops, placing the teachers in an area with cubicles and multiple flat panels. The kids would then get their classwork from the teacher via the internet with exception of labs, 2 days a week at either facility. Sports would then been considered an extra curricular activity. This scenario would allow the district to take the cost of educating each kid from 8k to about 2k. It would eliminate the need to build new school buildings and allow the district to save huge amounts of money, particularly with transportation costs and staffing. Digest that as a posibility to saving money and cutting costs. BTW: You only keep the teachers who want to teach, not the ones who only want a paycheck and don't have the best interests of the kids at heart.
*!* IP: 69.150.192.25 Nov 10th, 2007 - 6:05 PM	Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc. HM777, You didn't answer my questions about child abuse and child labor laws. The divorce rate in the U.S. is 50% or greater, and many children are being raised by extended family. The erosion of the Middle Class no doubt contributes to the chaos, as money matters are a huge factor in many divorces. A less educated populace will not be as equipped to compete. Of course, as I indicated, I am concerned that the real plan is to shrink the size of the Middle Class. In the recent past, our area has had some of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the United States. Am I correct in assuming that there is no comprehensive, age appropriate sex education in area schools? As I understand it, the incentive for schools in Texas to classify drop-outs as "homeschooled" is that when a school has too many drop-outs that negatively impacts the school's academic performance rating. There isn't a snowball's chance in the Mojave that your cost saving plan will ever be adopted in public schools in Texas. Even if it would be better, teacher unions and all would not allow the politicos to enact it. I am mystified as to why the B.S.I.S.D. would choose Apple computers over Dell or the like. I wonder how many B.S.I.S.D. computers have been broken or stolen to date. If it is a low number, then there might be some unexpected citizenship lessons which have come from the one laptop per high school student program. Hopefully, the computers are a way for us to level the educational playing field in our economically challenged area, though I don't totally buy into the >$$$=>learning argument.
tink1 IP: 64.12.116.12 Nov 10th, 2007 - 7:34 PM	Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc. STOP!!! STUPID QUESTION TIME where is this school located? thank you kindly resume
Heavens Messenger 777 IP: 74.196.1.145 Nov 10th, 2007 - 9:25 PM	Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc. "!" - Sounds like you have an AXE TO GRIND about homeschooled children. For the record, Homeschooled Children often make much better grades than those in the Public School system. Many are 2-4 years further in their education than those of their public school counterparts. Regarding Child Abuse and Child Labor laws, those issues have been long dealt with are of no concern as it relates to this issue.
*!* IP: 69.150.192.25 Nov 11th, 2007 - 12:36 AM	Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc. tink1 wrote: "where is this school located?" tink1, The now empty Runnels Jr. High complex is located near downtown Big Spring at the 1000 block of Runnels street. http://www.bshsalumni.com/Then%20and%20Now.htm (see photo) "Between 1916 and 1919, the right half of this building, known affectionately as "the Runnels Building" (from the street that is seen in the picture), was constructed to house the high school. In 1924 a junior high school was built southwest of this building (later Central Ward Elementary). In 1928 the left half was added. . After 1952 this building became the Junior High School when the high school moved to the Eleventh Place location." HM777 wrote: " "!" -Sounds like you have an AXE TO GRIND about homeschooled children. For the record, Homeschooled Children often make much better grades than those in the Public School system. Many are 2-4 years further in their education than those of their public school counterparts. Regarding Child Abuse and Child Labor laws, those issues have been long dealt with are of no concern as it relates to this issue" HM777, I have nothing against homeschooled children. I do have a problem allowing dropouts who are not really being homeschooled to be labeled as homeschooled so that school districts do not lose ground in school ratings performance, e.g., school goes from "superior" to "recognized" if it has too many dropouts, but is not demerited if the dropouts are clerically, and by name only, converted to "homeschooled" status. Calling a dropout homeschooled when he or she really isn't homeschooled is about like calling me professional basketball or football player. You can call me a professional basketball or football player all you want, but I will never be one. How can a dropout be homeschooled if he isn't really being homeschooled?
*!* IP: 65.70.109.118 Nov 17th, 2007 - 6:09 AM	Re: Developing: Runnels for sale, new elementary, drop-outs, etc. UPDATE: Runnels Junior High Property The bid information on the Runnels Junior High School property will be available soon, and the notification may be published in the Big Spring Herald as early as Tuesday November 19.