-- — Why I can’t vote yes on the consolidation referendum

I have patiently sat on the sidelines on this issue for weeks trying to get answers regarding what the pros and cons are concerning the consolidation of the Valdosta City Schools with the Lowndes County School System. No one seems to know the answers to some very basic, but I feel much needed, questions. The other night at the open forum held at Valdosta Middle School the only answers to most questions including mine were, “We just don’t know what’s going to happen if it passes.” I have went as far as to ask both friends of the VCS and CUEE supporters the same question. All I get is a whole lot of static and no answers, I was even told recently that “we don’t want Lowndes County to look like the bad guys.” Here are the issues as I see them:

1. According to VCS officials, there are over 7,000 students in the city school system, with over 400 teachers.

2. There are seven elementary schools, two middle schools, one  high school and one alternative school in the city school system.

3. Currently the property tax rate for the Valdosta City School tax is slightly over 16 mils (Lowndes County property tax rate is 14.9 mils)

4. If the referendum passes then Lowndes County has some very serious questions to answer and some difficult decisions to make.

5. Lowndes County will have raised the millage rate to help off set the cost of educating the new 7,000 students. The maximum they can raise the millage rate by law is 20 mils without a referendum from the voters of all Lowndes County.

6. Lowndes is already facing financial hardships like everyone else, that’s why they are furloughing teachers now. So how many of the over 400 city school teachers will they hire, even with a 6 mil rate increase. Lowndes County currently has several elementary schools within close proximity of at least four city schools and has plans to build a new high school at the Pine Grove location. Financially, they can’t afford to keep all these schools open, especially if they can’t afford to hire the needed teachers, faculty and administrators needed to run them. They don’t have the money now and won’t have it with a 6 mil property tax increase.

7. Lowndes County already has a stadium, so why would they pay the expense of maintaining two stadiums. Especially when Valdosta State has expressed interest in buying Bazemore-Hyder.

8. Where would the new school district’s line be drawn and how many and which of the current city schools be closed?

9. How would Lowndes County make up the difference in lost tax revenue (16 mils city - 14 mils county = 24 mils. They can only raise the millage rate to 20 mils by law, that means 10 mils that can’t be applied to the county’s tax roll).

10. I have nothing against the Lowndes County School System nor its schools but I feel that we are being forced to rush into this consolidation issue without the facts being explained to people and way too many questions not being answered. Therefore, I cannot and will not vote yes on Nov. 8 to consolidate.



Valdosta Fire Chief J.D. Rice is a resident of Valdosta.

Solar: Infinite and Clean

If we are to believe Fox News and the Tea Party, solar doesn't work because the solar panel manufacturer Solyndra went belly up, despite the fact that it received $535 million in subsidies. While wasting an enormous amount of tax dollars on a company with a flawed business concept should raise everyone's eyebrows, the conclusion that the Solyndra mess means "solar doesn't work" is mind-boggling. It’s like saying "cars don't work" because Chrysler went bankrupt in 2009, or "T-shirts don't work" because Fruit of the Loom filed for Chapter 11 in 1999.

Solar is one of the most attractive renewable sources of energy throughout the world, from China to Europe, and from New Jersey to California. Just a few days ago National Solar made the announcement that it will build a 400MW solar farm in Gadsden County, Florida, only a few miles west of Tallahassee. This project will not only provide hundreds of temporary jobs, it will also lead to about 120 permanent jobs, while contributing to America’s energy security.

In the US the solar industry employs more than 100,000 Americans, working at more than 5,000 companies, the majority of which are small businesses. The solar industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the U.S. economy, and in the last couple of years the price of solar panels has dropped so significantly that solar has become viable even for smaller residential projects.

With or without Valdosta and Lowndes County, the solar industry will continue to grow and will contribute to our efforts to become independent of foreign oil.

Should you own a home with southern exposure that gives you plenty of solar radiation, this is a perfect time to invest in a solar array. A 5kw unit costs about $9,000 after tax savings have been applied. If such a solar array is paid in cash, you will recover these costs after 9 years, since you now produce your own energy. If you need to finance the solar array with the help of a bank, this may take up to 15 years, depending on your monthly payment. However, since solar panels have a warranty of 30 years, you will make money for at least half of the life time of your solar array.

We can go a long way as a society in terms of our energy security by embracing renewable sources like solar, wind and geothermal.

If combined with measures to improve energy efficiency and energy conservation, this will not only save us money and create jobs, it will also protect our natural resources and provide us with a healthier environment.

P.S.: Between 2002 and 2008 the U.S. coal industry enjoyed subsidies of around $17 billion, while the solar industry only received $1 billion.



Michael G. Noll, President, Wiregrass Activists for Clean Energy

Perception

Perception: the process of attaining awareness or understanding of the environment by organizing and interpreting sensory information. —Wilkipedia

I have sat on the sideline for a while on the issue of consolidation. Perhaps I am still on the sideline since I am not going to tell you how to vote. Regardless of the decision on Nov. 8, I will continue to support education in one or two systems. Here is my perspective from the sideline.

It is very apparent that we have pride in our schools. Pride is both powerful and destructive. In the Bible, it is one of the deadly sins.

We need to set aside our pride and be humble as we make our decision and do what is best for our kids and our community when we vote “Yes” or “No.”

It takes a good bit of planning, time, and energy to effectively consolidate anything, whether it is a school, hospital, or business. Consolidation of any entity rarely comes from within an organization, but from the outside  or the top — the leadership. In this case it will be from the citizens of Valdosta who happen to be Lowndes County citizens. The length of time it takes to consolidate two entities varies. It is complicated and takes due diligence to even establish a plan. We have an opportunity to vote “Yes” or “No” and having a plan or not having a plan should have no bearing. It will take time, leadership, hard work, and the community and coordination from both systems.

When I saw the shirts worn by many opponents of consolidation with the words “United We  Stand”, I could not help but think of the other part: “Divided We Fall.”

It gave me a moment of reflection and I  began thinking in a broader sense. This is not about our two schools, though our pride would say it is. It is not about our race, though our prejudices would say it is. It is not about our state’s ranking in education, but our competitiveness would say it is. It is not about our nation, but our patriotism would say it is. It is about a few simple things.

It is about coming together as a community with a common focus. It is about  helping our children to become the best educated they can be and establishing a learning culture. It is about improving who we are and how we are perceived locally, in the state, and in the world.

Americans are a minority in this world and we will not receive a handout if we fall. That goes equally for  white, black, Hispanic, Asian, and all Americans.

We must come together with a focus to become the best. If you believe this is best done in two schools then vote “No”. If in one, then vote “Yes”. But no matter which way you vote, be sure you understand that to become the best will take hard work. Make sure your view of the future is who we want to be and the perception we want to project.



Clinton Beeland is a Valdosta resident.

Looking forward to the holiday season

At this time of year, as the sun journeys to its farthest point away from the Earth and then starts to return, let us know that it is a gift to us of renewal and repetition. This eternal return of the sun calls us to profound acceptance of continuity; of that which celebrates birth, death, and rebirth of all existence – of matter continually being formed and re-formed; of that which affirms that nothing is ever lost. Truly, this cosmological happening is a reality not circumscribed by any culture or epoch.

The dying to the old and the birthing into the new is illustrated throughout the world’s religions: Christians confess their sins, the ancient Hebrews and Babylonians were relieved of their faults by driving a “scapegoat” into the desert, Hindus cleanse their spirits by bathing in the Ganges, Moslems make a pilgrimage to Mecca. It is ritual we make at the closing of the year – biding the old adieu, greeting the new – in whatever way we participate in this seasonal event: Solstice, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Divali, or Christmas. Such is this wintry event of the sun’s journey, an event that unites us with all who ever lived or shall live.

Our various traditions celebrate this, stating that we are not orphans in a cold, unfeeling universe, but that we are connected to those who went before us and will add our own measure of uniqueness before returning to the elements that created us. This then is the peace and the joy of the season. Now that the holidays are upon us.  I would like to say to each and very reader and their families a "beautiful and happy holidays" and that each household will be blessed with the spirit of goodness and health.



Lynn Cooper

White Springs,  Fla.

A big thank-you

We would like to express our thanks to all who supported KID'S DIG IT for 4-H.

The response was extraordinary.

4-H could not make it without our volunteer and support.

Thank you.



Larry and Hazel Downing

Valdosta