THUMBS DOWN: To the newly-hired Clayton County Schools Superintendent, John Thompson, for squandering $80,000 in system funds to reprint 3,000 high school diplomas because they did not bear his name. Though diplomas were ordered in December, six months before Thompson took his position as the head of the system, high school graduates received blank sheets of paper on their big day. Hired to pull the system out of the black hole of possible loss of accreditation, Thompson needs to focus his energy on things with greater value to the 52,800 students and community he vowed to serve.
THUMBS UP: To the city of Valdosta for unveiling their Transportation Management Plan and making every effort to solicit community opinion and involvement in the process. The $201 million plan, which has taken the efforts of all city departments and a professional consulting firm more than 12 months to design, addresses concerns and offer conceptual ideas for managing the flow of vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle traffic around and through the city. This complex list of over 90 projects will need to be tailored to the needs of our city and citizens should continue to voice their constructive opinions. Whether or not citizens agree with every aspect of the plan as presented for the first time Tuesday, having such a plan puts the city of Valdosta ahead of the curve as the cities of Atlanta and Tallahassee are in the beginning stages of developing their first traffic management plans.
THUMBS UP: To 17-year-old John Ellis who has undertaken a huge challenge in order to raise money and awareness for a disease he was diagnosed with nearly two years ago. At 16, Ellis learned that he had an infection in his liver and was later diagnosed with Hepatitis B. Shortly after the diagnosis, the journey he is now on began to develop. Ellis and his friend Jamaal Warren started Monday riding their bikes on a journey that will take them 1,100 miles from their home town of Pensacola, Fla. to Philladelphia. The 2008 Believe in the Cure Cycling Tour has already raised $6,000 for the Hepatitis B Foundation. Instead of being discouraged by his diagnosis, Ellis turned the news into an opportunity to raise awareness about the seriousness of Hepatitis B and to share a message of hope. For more information, or to donate to the cause visit www.hepb.org.
What We Think
OUR OPINION: Thumbs up, thumbs down
- What We Think
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Grading policy: A second chance?
In clarifying the Lowndes County Schools’ controversial grading policy, Superintendent Dr. Steve Smith spoke of second chances.
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Be up to any weather challenge
Georgia’s Severe Weather Awareness Week starts today and runs through Friday. The idea behind the week is to prepare Georgians for weather emergencies and how to keep these situations from becoming tragedies.
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Parents and schools
There is a lot of talk lately about school systems and grading policies, and how all of a child's problems come back to a lack of parenting. But is it really that simple? Can it be a case where the school systems are so focused on the problem few that the majority of students are ignored?
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Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To Brooks County High School engineering and technology teacher Don Morgan and his students. They recently received national attention for their work with biodiesel fuel. They collect used cooking oil from area fast-food restaurants then process this oil into biodiesel. Morgan hopes to next interest the Brooks County school buses into running on the fuel created in his class. This classroom not only prepares students for the future but may prepare all of us for an alternative energy source.
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Take me out to the ball park
The Valdosta State baseball season begins today. The Blazers host Lindenwood at 2:30 p.m. Nothing beats quality baseball played in warm weather with a great venue like Billy Grant Field.
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What We Think: Signing Day
Wednesday was National Signing Day, the day when high school athletes across the country make official announcements about what school they’ve chosen to sign with.
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School policy fails expectations
Lowndes County Schools recently implemented new grading guidelines for students. These guidelines have left many parents upset ...
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Just the facts, please
The Times has taken some hits this weekend following the reporting of the Rev. Floyd Rose’ rally on Saturday concerning the car which drove into a home, killing an infant on New Year’s, and an incident at Pinevale Learning Center. Some police officers think the VDT is not being fair, and Rose accused the VDT of not printing the facts, but the facts are as follows:
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Fathers teaching daughters
It began as a small gathering for fathers and daughters. It has become one of Valdosta’s most popular social events of the year.
Several years ago, Jeff Stewart co-founded the event with his wife, Becky, as a way for him to give a special night to his two daughters. Other fathers of First Presbyterian Church liked the idea and the Father-Daughter Valentine Dance was born. -
Sports tourneys: They will come
More than 20 years after its release, “Field of Dreams’” mantra, “If you build it, they will come,” has possibly become one of the most overused lines from any movie. Yet, it seems all too fitting for what’s been happening lately within the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority.
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Grading policy: A second chance?
