text:
Quilted Studded Stretch Belt
Style # 222240
AVAILABILITY: Unavailable for immediate shipment.
Define your silhouette with this bebe stretch belt, featuring glossy faux leather paneling and a buckle accent. Heavy stretch band keeps it in place and cinches the waist.
- 60% polyurethane, 28% polyester, 12% spandex
- Snap bottom closures
- Imported
Rated 5 out of 5�by 1 reviewer.
Rated 5 out of 5�by Josie Quilted accent belt! this quilted accent waist belt is fabulous. Quilted is the fun new trend for this Fall/winter, this piece will be essential for my Fall/Winter wardrobe. It has tiny nailheads that create a subtle texture. Great for a little pop! I highly recommend this belt. October 7, 2013
1-1 of 1


text:
Please enter your email address to reset your password. An email will be sent with instructions to create a new password. If you do not receive an email, please check your spam folder.
Forgot password?
Don't have an account?
Are you a subscriber but don't have an online account?
Register for full online access.
Note to existing JLC Subscribers:
If you choose to use your Social Network, please ensure that the email address associated with your Social Network matches the email associated with your JLC Subscription.
Thank you for creating your JLC Online account! Your JLC subscription purchase has begun in a new window.
If you see this message, make sure your popup blockers are disabled and click here to relaunch the subscription window.
Congratulations! Please check your e-mail for confirmation to gain full access to JLC Online's free features.
Please create a nickname to post in the forums.
New k&b products continue their upscale climb at this year's industry show. JLC contributor Pat Galvin looks at the pick of the glitter.
The conventional wisdom says that a business suffers if water-saving devices are mandated. This resort developer disagrees and has five years of success to prove his point.
Beware fancy faucets.
Our K&B editor surveys the marketplace and finds upgraded materials and fancier features for the year ahead.
By Patrick J. Galvin. New materials and products from the functional and elegant to the downright bizarre. Electronic bathtubs, anyone?
Copyright ©
2014 Hanley Wood Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Haven't we been here before with Clayton County? (And other counties as well, including several in rural Georgia.)
Did we learn anything from Clayton's earlier woes or does the latest friction point to the larger problem of having citizens run school systems?
The AJC has a news story about the Clayton County school board chair suggesting that the governor intervene and remove some school board members to save the school system from losing accreditation again.
"We've had troubles on the board. We've had troubles for a long time," Chairwoman Pamela Adamson told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Wednesday.
Jacob Vigdor, a Duke public policy and economics professor whose writings I have run on the blog, issued a statement yesterday on the antics of the Wake County, N.C., school board, which fired its superintendent.
I thought Vigdor's comment applied here:
When contemplating the ongoing soap opera that is the Wake County School Board, it is important to bear in mind that Wake is one of the 20 largest school districts in the United States. There are more than 17,000 districts across the country, the vast majority of them much smaller than Wake County. If the nation's largest districts, those we might think of as having the best shot at professional management, can't take care of themselves, how can we expect anything of the thousands of tiny districts across the country?
The United States delegates important education policy choices to over 17,000 local school boards and administrators. The overwhelming majority of these officials have minimal expertise in policy analysis — and clearly some have penchants for political vendettas that trump policy analysis. This has to be considered one of the key reasons American students lag behind those in other developed countries.
It's time for a discussion of whether school boards work any more, given the complexity, costs and consequences of education today.
Consider the Clayton saga: In 2008, Gov. Sonny Perdue intervened after Clayton lost its accreditation and ordered the removal of four school board members. The district got a new board and a new school chief and regained accreditation.
But now, Superintendent Edmond Heatley departs tomorrow, and the district is again on shaky ground with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools for school board governance issues that could jeopardize accreditation. The issues include board member conflicts and attacks by some members on the school system and its personnel, wrote Mark Elgart, president and CEO of AdvancED, the parent company of SACS, in a letter.
Adamson said a majority of the school board members are working diligently to help the school system, which regained accreditation in 2011. But "certain board members have caused trouble almost since Day 1," she said. Adamson declined to identify the school board members, but said one board member sent about 1,000 emails to Heatley in a 20-month period.
"He was so inundated he couldn't do his job," Adamson said, adding that a majority of the school board voted to change its protocol for how board members should communicate with the superintendent.
The board also has issued reprimands and imposed sanctions on individual members. Board member Jessie Goree was barred from serving as board chair or vice chair for two years and from collecting expense money for conferences and other travel, according to information on the school system's website.
Goree was rebuked twice by the board — once for making derogatory remarks about board members and the superintendent and once based on a complaint by Heatley about her conduct at a meeting with parents, according to news reports. Goree acknowledged some friction on the board. "It's normal stuff that happens when you have nine people trying to have a discussion," she said. "There's no perfection here."
New SACS scrutiny comes just as Clayton is losing its superintendent. Heatley leaves the school system Friday after three years. He was in his office Wednesday but did not respond to requests for interviews.
Asked whether his departure is related to conflicts with some board members, Adamson said: "I wouldn't be surprised. I know he has endured constant attacks since he's been here."
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
September 27th, 2012
1:36 pm
Now, that is a question worthy of considerable discussion (i.e. more than the 10 minutes allowed for committee hearings) in the General Assembly.
September 27th, 2012
1:36 pm
Does Clayton mess reveal a larger truth: School boards don't work any more?
As much as anything, it reveals SACS is more than willing to play politics with the lives of children.
Aren't these are the same guys who praised APS when it was actively covering up the largest cheating scandal in United States educational history, and if THIS paper is to be believed actually try to strong arm the APS board into keeping in power the board member who worked hardest to coverup the cheating!
And even as foolish as the citizens of ClayCo have shown themselves to be, we are supposed to trust this report?
"There are reports that individual board members are operating independent of the school system and under the influence of outside agents," Elgart's letter said.
And of course he can't name them; is it the Illuminati?
September 27th, 2012
1:37 pm
I'll go with that, but what's the alternative?
September 27th, 2012
1:45 pm
"The AJC has a news story about the Clayton County school board chair suggesting that the governor intervene and remove some school board members to save the school system from losing accreditation again."
Gee, a school board member wants to work with an organization long known to place petty partisan politics over what's best for children in order to strike back at a political opponent?
Yep, perhaps citizens CAN'T be trusted to run school boards.
September 27th, 2012
1:59 pm
"Did we learn anything from Clayton's earlier woes or does the latest friction point to the larger problem of having citizens run school systems?"
Well, ASTUTE people learned. They learned that not a SINGLE child is in the REMOTEST danger of leaving Clayton County schools with an unaccredited diploma.
Now they may not be able to read what's written on the diploma, but it WILL be accredited.
September 27th, 2012
2:00 pm
school boards do not work in certain areas and clayton county is one of them.the govornor should take over dekalb clayton and fulton counties for obvious reasons. until the electorate is considered capable of electing people in powerer they should not be given the opportunity to elect school board members. the problem with districts with a majority electorate of low income families is that they elect crooks and hacks based on race and not on compitence. the black officials voted into office are incapapble of doing th e job then they proceed to steal from the county and hire friends and family members to jobs they are not qualified for.
September 27th, 2012
2:12 pm
"School boards don't work anymore?" That is far too easy. Teachers work. Custodians work. Principals work. But no, school boards don't work. They sit around and make bad decisions which have a negative impact on those of us who do "work."
September 27th, 2012
2:16 pm
Dear Just A Teacher,
You said it all, the posting can stop at his point!
September 27th, 2012
2:17 pm
LOL…nice try. Clayton County is a wreck and the citizenry just re-elected Victor Hill as their sheriff. Thats all one needs to know.
September 27th, 2012
2:20 pm
Don't get mad, get busy.
September 27th, 2012
2:24 pm
Do I sense a PhD dissertation in this topic? Taxpayers could save a bundle by eliminating entire school boards and their associated staffs, with the functions assumed by the State. Hmmm, but what about local control, what do we lose in surrendering local control to the State? Come on PhD candidates, collect the necessary data, analyse, and report!
September 27th, 2012
2:42 pm
This is typical of so many education issues. We ignore the successful districts where school boards are working. We lump everyone together with the dysfunctional boards and throw them over the cliff in an effort to "fix" everything.
Just because a few school boards are bungling idiots, we should not dissolve all local school boards.
Besides….what is the alternative? Hand over more control to the state and/or federal government?
September 27th, 2012
2:59 pm
Actually under the SACS/AdvancED standards both the school boards and the local governing councils have an obligation to defer to the super or principals in case of a dispute. In Georgia the supers have close to dictatorial powers as long as they are doing what SACS wants them to do.
http://www.invisibleserfscollar.com/who-is-really-in-charge-the-school-board-the-super-the-accreditors-or-unesco/ is a post I wrote back in June after attending the training session for prospective school board members or state legislators put on by GPEE and GSBA. (Yes I do get out and away from reading reports for action research). Jessie Goree sat at my table and asked me some questions about what was really going on in American and global education.
And honestly Professor if you are not aware of the real causes of the declines in American education we should talk. What a stupid statement given the facts.
September 27th, 2012
3:01 pm
Why is noone talking about the damage done by Heatly??
September 27th, 2012
3:09 pm
I think most school boards do work. You can look at the areas with high achieving schools…..see the SAT list. It is when uneducated voters go to the polls and make decisions based on no real knowledge of the people running you get this mess. Clayton Co. In general is a mess. One of the ladies governor Perdue removed from the school board is a state representative. I. Annot imagine who would vote for her. The county commissioners may be improving. Hopefully some new blood on the school board will improve things.
September 27th, 2012
3:15 pm
SACS bears most of the blame for this. The accreditation process and audits are not rigorous.
School board training, although well intended, is inadequate. The legislature passed a law requiring training, but it is inadequate as well.
There are many very good school systems with very good school boards. I hate the alternatives to a local school board. Those that have difficulty are salvageable. A mandatory board mentoring program would be a good start. Mentoring would include guidance on the role and limitations of the school board, how to conduct meetings, how to conduct board business, how to hire a qualified superintendent, and how to effectively evaluate the superintendent's performance.
September 27th, 2012
3:16 pm
School boards are far from perfect – like everything else in the universe.
Yet they are necessary and for the overwhelming majority of districts – they get the job done.
The more relevant question is:
Does Clayton mess reveal a larger truth: Clayton County don't work any more?
Time for North Fulton to become Milton (SSprings, Ros, JCreek, Milton, and Dunwoody) followed by South Fulton and Clayton Merging with hopefully? a broader brain pool to pick from for both County and School government.
September 27th, 2012
3:17 pm
Clayton's board only proves that any idiot who knows enough people can get elected. I've seen elections where only a few hundred votes total were cast in a Clayton BOE district. Boards work where's there higher voter participation in elections and in smaller systems where the board members are well known in the community. In larger systems with lower total voter participation, they tend to become dysfunctional groups of selfish people on power trips.
September 27th, 2012
3:31 pm
But I still don't understand what the alternative could be. The governor (oh gawd forbid)? The federal DoE? I don't see what could be done different. Clayton Co is run by idiots elected by bigger idiots, but that doesn't seem to be the case everywhere.
September 27th, 2012
3:31 pm
I think many boards get too caught up in the politics and forget they're there to serve the children. The reason there is a charter school amendment on the ballot in November is because most of the school boards in Georgia will not even consider allowing one of these schools of choice to exist….even with the proven community support for such a school. Charter school petitioners need a place to appeal (just in case their school board didn't giving them a fair shake).
September 27th, 2012
3:52 pm
Can someone tell me what school boards do? In my own experience, they mostly instill fear in people, in workers. I know there is a component where school board members can exploit commercial real estate in the building of a new school. This is what I know of them. They are like some outside entity that meddle and intimidate. Considering the work load, lack or resources, and responsibility that teachers have today, I have little humor for it. School boards seem to fit the mode of deeply, and I mean deeply, entrenched local person who are prone to meddle and toy with people, the real working professionals. They develop real estate and every once in a while feel compelled to make a public humiliation of someone with their private "school board court." That, and they feed the local newspaper in a sort of circular systems where the two work together to support each other, because most local newspaper both thrive on gossip and are pretty close to obsolete with the advent of the internet.
If anyone knows what a school board does that is productive, I would not mind to be enlightened. What I've seen are very arrogant deeply rooted local people who do a lot of favors for their own and sometimes are profoundly abusive to education professionals. It usually the good education professionals who have planned, and gone places, and done things, and gone into debt to get a professional education, meanwhile most of these local power persons have gone nowhere, do not put themselves out there on the line, tend to be far less educated than the professionals they sometimes harass. Invariably, these local persons have done one thing: stayed home in the town/city where they were born and made unbreakable networking and bonds with their friends, and obviously this quality of friendship is reserved for the few, the local who must "do something" to set a marker and make their power.
September 27th, 2012
4:25 pm
What have we all learned from this isuue? I think that I've learned not to EVER move to Clayton County, it seems that every school board member has their own personal agenda. Instead of doing what's best for the children they are finding ways to move their own political future forward.
September 27th, 2012
4:33 pm
So, the board is supposed to just allow the superintendent to do whatever he wants and not correct him when he is wrong? I thought the board was supposed to represent the people who elected them – the parents and students of the county. I also thought the superintendent is an employee of the board who is hired and fired at its will.
It's interesting to me that Elgart chooses to step in now when Heatley has lost his new job. He had no interest in CCPS when Heatley was filling all of the principal and administrator positions with his fraternity brothers. It was well known that if you were not a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, you were not getting promoted and no help would be given to you.
The insinuation that black people cannot govern themselves is ridiculous and ignorant. Elections are open to the public and they can cast their vote for any reason they want. Bush was President for two terms, right? There you go.
September 27th, 2012
5:18 pm
The real problem is with these huge districts. Wake is number 17, too big. The ones in Metro Georgia are too big. I grew up, up North in the high performing districts, where a large district consisted of 2 high schools, with 1,500 students each and their feeder school. The board are not paid, but elected. The problem is with is when people think they can make being a board member their primary job. They then are a "Power Broker" they use their paid position for shake downs for Real Estate deals, book deals, software deals, family and friends deals.
There is none or very limited when it is volunter positions and you only have 1 high school and their feeder school districts. There are no big contracts to let. Their are no Family and Friends posititions to hid in administration.
September 27th, 2012
5:37 pm
Football Widow,
You've got it, you tell it well. "board was supposed to represent the people who elected them" and "the superintendent is an employee of the board who is hired and fired at its will."
In a professional work environment, you have just described … agitators and trouble makers.
What exactly is to be "represented?" I'm genuinely curious. Do you want to work somewhere where your boss is hired and fired at "will?" What does that mean, the super serves at "the pleasure" of "the board." It sounds perverse, but even more so, dysfunctional. And you do this "in the name of the children." Sounds like a crazy-house to me that leads to systematic "child abuse."
Wow, this is sick. If I had a say in the matter, I would vote that the school board system of management is not the best way. The economist from Duke is right. And mainly, I think if you look at international comparative education, as the principal from the high performing school in Finland stated, "I run this school. No politician tells me what to do." Well, his country makes the Nokia phone (that I use), meanwhile in the U. S. A., Motorola is pretty much out of business.
Schoolboards – bad. Please keep up the good work on this weblog.
And Football Widow, have a good day and it wouldn't hurt you to look up some books or internet video on international comparative education. My alma mater is 175 years undefeated in football. That's because they don't have a football team. They have a research hospital instead. What are your priorities? I know what mine are.
September 27th, 2012
5:39 pm
Sounds like Clayton County doesn't work. Shut it down and fold it into Fulton. And then you automatically expand MARTA as well.
September 27th, 2012
5:53 pm
Many (most?) district school boards operate jobs programs for adults and call them "schools."
September 27th, 2012
5:54 pm
If school board members "use their paid position for shake downs for Real Estate deals, book deals, software deals, family and friends deals" and a superintendent is "filling all of the principal and administrator positions with his fraternity brothers," then these are ethics violations that should be defined and addressed through rule of law and real courts, just like any other type of graft. Maybe a weakness of the "school board system" is that it does not adequately define legal code or enforce same in an ethical manner.
Reminds me a person who works in government public health care and "does so much good," meanwhile the U. S. A. stills does not have universal health care, is the only modern country without universal health care, and people still get $1900./month insurance bills, $3000. co-pays, $20,000. invoice for 2 days in the hospital uninsured, and some hospitals in Georgia seize people's homes and sell them if they are unable or unwilling to pay the medical invoice. Treatment is withheld until the paper work is signed to enable home / property to be seized. But my friend, "does a lot of good." In context, I don't think so. Just an opinion, but when you see it done differently outside the U. S. A., it grinds a little.
September 27th, 2012
5:54 pm
I blame SACS to a large extent for many of the problems. In our area, the board is scared witless that it might transgress, so it does little to "lead" and "direct" the superintendent.
September 27th, 2012
6:00 pm
If you have to "lead" and "direct" a superintendent, then you are incapable of hiring / choosing a professional to do their job, or are unwilling to allow the person to do their work without harassment. At this point, it should be clear the level of amateur hour antics has no place in a productive environment. How about "lead and direct" UPS or Delta Airlines? Any capable manager will not appreciate this type of interference and if they're any good, will be unwilling to work in such an environment.
September 27th, 2012
6:12 pm
I think its not so much that school boards can't work, ours choose not to.
obviously the minimum criteria for service needs evaluation and updating, and we desperately need some kind of watchdog group to help keep school boards and regents in line.
its an unpopular thing to say, but I stand by it. until the citizens of a system stop voting their skin color, gender, political affiliation, and vote instead for qualified canidates…..same crap, different day
September 27th, 2012
6:14 pm
oh, and they desperately need guidelines to keep them in line. too many are far too focused on getting their "rewards" and social engineering than to do any real work
September 27th, 2012
6:38 pm
Private Citizen-I don't want to hear about high performing schools in Finland. Coincidentally I just finished reading a John Hattie interview of Pasi Sahlberg. I guess because it was in Australia Pasi was pretty honest about how different the schools are in Finland in terms of goals than what any taxpayer or parent thinks they should be getting from schools.
Plus I know a lot about PISA is actually measuring.
And honestly most supers insist on being addressed as Doctor to obscure their ignorance. Classic Appeal to Authority Fallacy. Too many are parasites without enough knowledge to know the policies and practices they are mandating to get their next promotion will kill the host. And then where will they be?
The world is just full of alternative possibilities for the erudition of an Ed Leadership degree.
September 27th, 2012
6:41 pm
You cannot take a scatter-shot approach to this. I think it is a poorly worded headline. Clayton County is a mess, I know an excellent, highly lauded teacher who has worked there for decades who, when given the opportunity, fled to greener pastures at the start of this school year. He cited the administrative mess as a primary reason for his decision.
If you believe representation is a reflection of the electorate, just look at whom the electorate has put into power recently in that county. I'm glad I do not live there, I'd have to move, take a loss on the house & everything. The county, as a whole, seems to act as if it is dysfunctional, or, at least, certain sections of the county. So why would we expect some of their elected officials to act any differently?
But Clayton is an outlier, I have not seen any hard numbers on what percentage of boards are considered to be operating poorly, either statewide or nationally. The outliers get the headlines, the seeming majority, who are doing the job to which they were elected, do not make the news.
As I remember, were not many superintendents in this state elected in the past? Perhaps this is still part of a learning phase for some communities who switched late in the game away from supt. elections. I don't know, just throwing it out there.
I would not want to make a blanket statement about elected Boards of Ed based on a few schizophrenic examples that seem to repeatedly make headlines.
September 27th, 2012
6:49 pm
How about Cobb's board? Anyone remember the calendar fiasco? The board votes to change the calendar to "balanced" calendar for three years ostensibly to collect data on whether it would improve student achievement. Citizens get upset elect four new board members who promise to change the calendar back before we even get through a year of it.
To the credit of the board (this may have been the idea of the remaining three board members) they decide to send out a survey to gauge the public's sentiment towards changing the calendar back. Eighty two percent (in the de-rigged poll) are in favor of keeping the balanced calendar and what does the board do? They vote to return to a "traditional" calendar. On top of that when a board member brings it up at a board meeting the next year the four board members immediately vote to table the discussion for that year.
Talk about an establishment that has outlived its usefulness. Why don't we just leave education up to the professionals?
September 27th, 2012
6:49 pm
Bad cases make bad law, so they say.
School boards have their drawbacks but I'll still take that over some appointed state or federal person running things. The people can always vote them out and if they don't…….well, they get what they deserve, don't they?
September 27th, 2012
6:52 pm
The world I know does not use "leadership" degrees. Leadership is a quality, not a content area. You do not get degrees in human qualities unless you are a propagandist. How about a Kindness degree? Or a degree is Courage?
I say run for your life from anyone with a "leadership" degree.
Are you telling me that a Master's of Public Administration is not the correct credential for government management position? Are their any good MPA programs? I think I know of two, one at the Kennedy school at Harvard, and the other at the LBJ school at UT/Austin. Now, with the national condition of higher education, I am neither recommending or endorsing Harvard or UTA, and methinks I would prone to avoid either, but is there not a correct path of credentialing for those who manage government work, be it the Highway Department (that makes roads) or the Social Security Administration (that looks after the infirmed and disabled)? Why should someone be embarrassed about their job and why do you insist on the concept of harassing them? For not caring about education in Finland, you sure seem to know a lot about it. I'm having trouble interpreting your post, what is sarcasm and what is serious. To reduce, do you support politicizing education management? I suggest that it is counter productive.
September 27th, 2012
6:54 pm
(post addressed to: Attentive Parent/Invisible Serfs Collar,)
September 27th, 2012
6:59 pm
As foolish and ignorant as members of the Clayton County School board have been, you are talking about an organization, SACS who according to THIS VERY PAPER (Maureen can correct if this is in error) tried to strong arm the APS school board to keep as board chair a person who tried to cover up cheating.
How can you take seriously the ETHICS of an organization who, (again, according to this very paper) ACTIVELY tried to keep cheating enablers in power?
Yes, I know this doesn't fit the "narrative" of this story, that the ClayCo school board is foolish and ignorant.
But we already knew THAT; heck what do you expect from people who voted Walking Small back?
It still leaves the question, who holds accountable the organization that, at least indirectly, was complicit in trying to whitewash the nation's largest cheating scandal?
September 27th, 2012
7:05 pm
Hillbilly D, What do school boards do? What is there function? They certainly do not protect anyone from having to go along with the "state or federal person running things." In fact, it is local school boards who act as the enforcement to make local persons go along with the state and federal mandates, as you say. This is part of the problem. By signing on to "Race to the Top," the school systems who have done this have just exempted themselves from any management competence other than to act as the enforcement portion of the national mandate complete with its various payout provisions for for-profit testing companies. This is "big money" going to these testing companies and the local school boards are co-opted to force the local workers to follow these mandates to a "T" whether it takes 10 instructional days out of the school calendar or 40. It is the local school boards that are co-opted to enforce on teachers this bizarre Mao Tse Tung era official "self criticism or you will be sent off to be re-educated." This is right out of communist China circa 1954. The local school boards certainly do not protect the communities from state and national political mandates the directly instruct this intrusion into local education.
And I hope everyone know that in the recent Chicago teacher union strikes there was a conflict of interest because the parent company of FoxNews owns the testing company that is in use by Chicago Public Schools. So go figure that out, any specialists in corporate mono-culture.
September 27th, 2012
7:13 pm
"Crankee, Atlanta, Randolph, Warren, Coffee. Montgomery and Appling were on accreditation probation last year."
When the school board was marching in lockstep to cover up cheating they were "award winning"
When a majority finally got fed up and, in an action a judge ruled perfectly LEGAL, made changes to expose the cheating, SACS put them on probation.
What's the greater crime against children, the antics of the ClayCoClowns, or the schemes of SACS?
September 27th, 2012
7:23 pm
Maureen was I in error to state that your paper reported that SACS and Mark Elgart tried to strong arm the APS school board into keeping as board chairman a person who again, this very paper DOCUMENTED, actively conspired to cover up cheating? (By deleting the Porter report.)
Is this an erroneous conclusion to draw about your paper in this particular matter? And if not, what does that say about Mark Elgart and SACS?
September 27th, 2012
7:28 pm
I don't think that the Clayco Mess de Jour proves anything about school boards. It might though, indicate something about schools systems in general. As the rough congruence of values and aspirations of parents in our communities has broken down, its increasingly difficult to educate the children. Some level of social consensus is needed for schools to function effectively. When this underlying congruence is gone, it's impossible to make and sustain the priority decisions needed for education.
This is one reason that the age of public education in the US is drawing to a close. One size no longer fits all. Not even poorly.
September 27th, 2012
7:30 pm
Attentive Parent/Invisible Serf's Collar,
"The world is just full of alternative possibilities for the erudition of an Ed Leadership degree."
Okay, I get it now. You are saying that persons in management who are credentialed with this degree are basically in the business of promoting and advantaging themselves. It does seem like there is a weird pattern of many education management positions being a brief stop on the turnstile. With the crashed economy, there may be less of this, less places to go for the "up up and away" "in my beautiful, my beautiful balloon." Collar, are you saying that a "leadship degree" is actually a metaphor for "My beautiful, my beautiful balloon?"
What ever happened to the days when a regular capable person was one principal at a school for a long long time? And one capable nice people-manager person was a superintendent for a long long time until they retired and then after they died, someone named a building after them? What I have seen from local "school boards" is that they move principals around like they are playing checkers and every time there is a good team accomplishing something, the team gets split up and reassigned to meet some "need" or "concept" usually from a principal who has been there for no longer than a year or two. The degree or instability is frightening. Corporate spouses of teachers are shocked at what they are told are some of the management moves and modes. As if… the manager says to themselves…. "Well, if I can't get moved up the ladder to even more power or pay… I'll just move everyone else around me."
September 27th, 2012
7:32 pm
Private Citizen-Education Leadership is the "coursework" that is the basis for many an administrator insisting they are a Doctor. I find education management a misnomer because it is not your money and there is no real downside.
Of course I know what is going on in Finland. Heck, I know what is going on most places in ed but it gets held out as the model. Plus Maureen and I had an ever so much fun game of link to the sources in a debate over Finland.
I know some wonderful supers who care deeply about each student. But I also know the model and a fair number are essentially Fifth Columnists with a political agenda they are not being honest with the public about. I don't say that lightly or without a tremendous amount of documentation.
I am merely pointing out that in this day with the various unappreciated incentives in place trusting a Principal or Super to be guided by doing right by the kids and taxpayers is a dangerous thing.
We have a Transformational game afoot and ed is merely a tool.
September 27th, 2012
7:34 pm
PC-the term is Gypsy Principals and Gypsy Supers. And yes I did invent it and I did it to draw attention to an expensive destructive pattern that hurts kids. Especially ones without recourse from home.
September 27th, 2012
7:36 pm
Oh, well. "Clayco Clowns" is a very appropriate name for Clayton County. I do not see it MERGING with Fulton to help with (as someone above stated it) "brain power." All Boards of Education are directly proportional to it electorate. Society has created its own mess with education and government; in fact, government is why education is in its horrendous state now. I say: let Clayton County's Board be run with no more than five (5) retired teachers, each with 25 years or more of classroom teaching experience. Wild? Yes. At least someone knows the needs of both the classroom and students.
September 27th, 2012
7:38 pm
grammar problem: sorry "proportional to ITS…"
September 27th, 2012
7:40 pm
"Beverly," I think you're going after the wrong scapegoats. Saturation testing may be the problem and it may due to a very smoothly orchestrated political control that sends a lot of money to certain companies. This same sort of thing is happening in the lesser universities, except that it is one or two publishers and "a single textbook" from them for each course. Yes, there are added readings and internet discussion activities, but the single book publisher sets both the tone and content of the university course and it tends to be the same publisher or two over many many courses. For public K-12 schooling, you might look into who are the testing companies, how much are they walking away with, so to speak, per student or per school district. I suggest this is the cause of many of the things that you are concerned with and upon examination, you may find a pretty full scale marauding is taking place involving very few "players."


text:
Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (1517 votes).
In short: Very emotional to see all these people raising money for charityIn full: Got to the race start really early and spent 2.5hrs looking at people's costumes. Was overwhelmed by the size of the who thing. Really good atmosphere. For once there were plenty of toilets (which is not the case at some other races I have been to) and even some loo paper! Very emotional to see everyone was running for charity and in some cases in memory of someone. Didn't manage a PB and I was surprised by the hilliness of the terrain. Was mumbling under by breath during the last 2 miles (they were killers) and only managed the last 800m by sheer gritting of teeth. Pity about the weather and especially the rain at the end. Wasn't much fun for those waiting at the finish line. Hope to be back next year and in costume!Date of review: September 25, 2010
In short: Fantastic atmosphere made 13.1 mile go very quickly enjoyable instead of painfullIn full: My first time at this event and i would love to become a regular. From the start i felt part of something special from showing great respect to Troops in wheel of stell race which was very emotional to joining in the race warm up. The run seemed to go very quickly which was mainly down to the spectators cheering you on and the cheering zones and constant music playing. Even on quiet parts of the run we passed the time with choruses of "hoggy hoggy hoggy" "oi oi oi".I was very pleased with my time of 2 hours 11 mins just 4 mins outside my personal best.The only downside i can think off was that i took me longer to get from the finish line to the ferry and on the ferry than it did to run the race.I can appreciate this though considering the amount of people there but it was hard to take for my wife who came to watch. We stayed in Whitley Bay and had a great weekend travelling about on Metro so did not need the car once we were at digs. Overall i had a fantastic time and would return every year if i get the chance.Date of review: September 24, 2010
In short: Fab, well worth entering a great first trip up north, just about worth the 9hr car journey up and the 11hr car journey back!In full: Loved the whole experience of the GNR , the people, the organisation the brilliant pre-and post massage service (the therapists were just fab). Only complaint was the mix of runners in the 1.45-2hr group some runners had clearly over estimated there speed potentaial! I can accept walking at 10 miles but 2miles! and there were more than a few!. Felt it slowed me down, hard to get a pace up especialy at the end. I was realistic not expecting a P.B at such a busy half but felt I was slowed down a bit!. However the whole experience was great. Never realised how stunning South Shields is.Date of review: September 24, 2010
In short: super duper!In full: this was my third time participating in the GNR, and it remains to be my favourite road race. Date of review: September 24, 2010
In short: Loved it again :)In full: Did the GNR in 2009 to "celebrate" my 40th birthday. Miles 10 to 12 are murder for us plodders - could have slapped myself at times for putting myself through it again. And of course, when I fell over the finish line after two and a half hours I swore blind that I'd never do it again. But the GNR is like giving birth - painful and hard but OH so worth it and I just know I'll be back again next year.PS There are no friendlier people in the country than the ones who turn out to support that race - just makes the whole thing.Date of review: September 24, 2010
In short: Always a fabulous experience, but must be experienced at least once.In full: Another great day; perfect conditions for fast times (early on)and as always a fab Geordie crowd to cheer everyone along. Zone B was crammed with 1.45-2.00 chancers, so a LOT of slower runners to run through, round etc. It certainly paid to be at the front of Zone B for a clear run. First time for me running with a team of mixed ability, so had to wait around at the finish. Did not enjoy the subsequent epic queue for Shields Metro. That said, when I finally made it onto the East Coast Train to head back south, I was able to share it with Nell McAndrew - every cloud etc!!!Date of review: September 23, 2010
In short: great atmosphere. a special race. well organised. wish they could do something about miles 1o-12 thoughDate of review: September 23, 2010
In short: A busy course well organisedIn full: This was my first half marathon and it lived upto my expectations. The crowed played a huge part in me getting around. Giving me ice pops, oranges and thanks to the man on the bus stop with the hose pipe. It's a busy course so if u r after a pb this may not be for you but being part of this run was amazing. I will b backDate of review: September 23, 2010
In short: An undulating run on moptorways and duel carridgeways.In full: Looking at the course elevation profile gave mne the impression there were only a couple of gentle inclines, but instead I found it was up and down the whole way which meant I didn't achieve my target time (PB though).Water bottles didn't open very well which meant I didn't get much water. Trying to drink from a half opened water bottle at 5:20 pace saps a lot of your energy.The crowd support was ok, but not spectacular. I assume that was due to the horrible weather though.It was a hell of a long way to the Metro station at the finish and queueing for 30 mins in rain just to get on and then taking another 40 minutes to get to central station wasn't great.My girlfriend wanted to watch me on the route but found that the Metro stations were so far away from the route, she couldn't get there in time!Last point is that baggage buses were ok, but why not use the same system as the London Marathon instead of random bags on random buses.Date of review: September 23, 2010
In short: Done it once - never againIn full: Much talked about and promoted, but I must say I wasn't impressed.The things that disappointed me:1. Bag drop was timed to close at 10.10, but at 10.00 we were told that the buses had to move and that no bags could go on - rediculous.2. The enclosures were full so we were told to move to the back behind slower runners! What's the point of registering a time then!3. Too crowded so couldn't race. I know it's a charity do - however it's still a race, but there are so many I couldn't move on.4. At the end waiting an hour and a half in the rain for the metro was not a great way to top it off.5. The outragiously inflated hotel prices for the weekend.The good things:As always the helpers at the start, the drinks stations and the finish were brilliant, so many thanks to you all.Date of review: September 23, 2010
Visit the official Runner's World page
Follow Runner's World on Twitter
Click here
Other Natmag-Rodale Sites
Run For Charity
Injury Clinics
About Runner's World


text:
Industry Focus:Architecture, Engineering & Construction, General - Applicable to All, Professional Services
- Company Website: http://www.assistancesoftware.com
About Assistance Software
Assistance Software is a leading IT innovator that makes work in the professional services industry easier, more organized and transparent. Founded in 1990, Assistance Software first introduced its innovative IT solutions in the architecture and engineering sector, where they established a solid position as a national market leader in the Netherlands. Since its inception Assistance Software has broadened its market to include all professional services companies on a global scale. Assistance Software is a Certified Microsoft Gold Partner and ISV. Assistance Software products are sold through a worldwide network of Certified Partners. Assistance Software has a large installed base with more than 12,000 users and 800 clients in the professional services industry.
Assistance Software has not been reviewed by any customers.
The views and opinions submitted and expressed here are not those of Microsoft.
Applications from this company
Competencies & Certifications
- Microsoft Partner
- Gold Customer Relationship Management
- Silver Midmarket Solution Provider


text:
dr. michelle golland
Fighting with the Mom of Your Kid's BFF
Have you experienced a tiff with the mom of one of your kid's best friends? I have -- and here is my professional opinion on what you can do to mend the rift or leave the friendship altogether.
Dual Incomes Can Mean Dueling Partners
Religion Actually Makes You Happier?!
The Wrapping-Paper War
Back when I decided to convert to Judaism, I knew that the transition would be difficult for my family. But I had no idea that the real war would begin over holiday gifts.
'Dear God: Can I Please Have a Christmas Tree?'
We were driving down the road in my black minivan. My son, Asher, was quietly sitting, staring out the window. Through my rearview mirror, I saw him shut his eyes and say it! It was an arrow through my heart.
Dealing with Annoying Relatives on Thanksgiving
Divorce Undo: How to Get Back Together
Sometimes divorce just doesn't stick. Take Jamie and Lynne Spears (Britney's parents), who just announced they've gotten back together after being divorced for eight years. Is there a right way to reconcile? And is there a right way to tell your kids? Read on for advice from our expert, Dr. Michelle Golland.
Charlie Sheen: The Next Phil Spector?
Whilte reading about Charlie Sheen's latest drunken, violent episode, I couldn't help but think of Phil Spector, who was convicted of murdering Lana Clarkson in a drunken haze ....


text:
Was £69.00
Now £34.50
50% Off
Save a total of £34.50
Aubrey Knitted Blazer
Item No.54510_401339351
Exclusively from Phase Eight
- Material: 55%Acrylic 20%Wool 15%Alpaca 10%Viscose
- Delicate Machine Wash or Dry Clean
- Delicate Machine Wash or Dry Clean
Debenhams is happy to exchange or refund your purchase within 28 days providing the goods are in a fully resaleable condition (including tags) and not within the exclusion policy*. This policy does not affect your statutory rights. You can return unwanted items either by visiting your local store (the fastest way to get a refund), by arranging a courier collection or returning by post. Exclusions apply to selected products. For instructions on how to return products and information on Debenhams refund policy visit the returns and refunds section of the website.


text:
when narcotics officers from the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department raided a reported marijuana growing operation on the 11700 block of West Larch Road.
Working off a tip, officers of the Metro Narcotics Task Force found 205 mature marijuana plants in a fenced area behind a Larch Road house, according to sheriff's Lt. Todd Wright.
He said officers went in at about 11 a.m. and found that the alleged growing area was disguised as a cornfield, with cornstalks around the perimeter of the field.
Also uncovered at the house, Wright said, were a setup that would allegedly allow drying of harvested marijuana and about 80 pounds of processed pot.
According to a media release from sheriff's spokesman Les Garcia, several suspects tried to flee the scene on foot. It was not clear whether all nine people were arrested at the scene.
The people arrested in connection to the raid were Gabriel Ochoa Valdavinos, 30; Jose Ochoa Valdavinos, 31; Antonio Diaz, 22; Jose Magallon, 35; Juan Ochoa, 25; Miguel Ochoa, 27; Jaime Alvarez-Magallon, 24; Zeferino Valencia, 49; and Alfredo Zavala, 48.
They were charged with planting and cultivating marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale and conspiracy to commit a crime.
All except Valencia and Zavala were also charged with resisting arrest, according to Garcia.
According to the sheriff's website, still in custody in the San Joaquin County Jail on Thursday were Alvarez, Diaz, Magallon, Gabriel Ochoa Valdovinos and Jose Valdovinos. All of them were being held without bail, except for Jose Valdovinos, who was listed with $132,000 bail.
All defendants are scheduled for arraignment in San Joaquin County Superior Court in Stockton at 1:30 p.m. in Department 35 on Friday, Sept. 28.
Wright said the investigation is ongoing. He did not disclose the nature of the tip that alerted law enforcement to the alleged grow house.
Sheriff's officials did not confirm whether the address where the marijuana was reportedly discovered growing was the same place three people were shot during a Sweet 16 birthday party on Sept. 8, but that house was also on the 11700 block of West Larch Road, and a fenced-in cornfield was visible behind the main residence.


text:
An excellent view of the challenges we face from a man who has been a comic and inspirational force. For those who choose not to read the full article, here is a summary of trends he sees:
- Hope will fuel a mini "euphoria" for the first few months of the Obama Presidency, then reality will set in. He expects the Dow Industrial Stock Average to end up at 4000 sometime in 2009.
- Thousands of companies will fail and millions of jobs will be lost. Downsizing will occur at all levels of society: government, business and family.
- A new "servant class" will be created as domestic workers will start moving in with their employers.
- A massive return to home gardening: "Gardening is the new Golf"
- Oil and gas prices will rise and there may be spot shortages
- The U.S. dollar will be 40% of it's current value by the end of 2009
- An end of robust globalism – the world is round after all, Tom Friedman.
Via: Clusterfuck Nation
There are two realities "out there" now competing for verification among those who think about national affairs and make things happen. The dominant one (let's call it the Status Quo) is that our problems of finance and economy will self-correct and allow the project of a "consumer" economy to resume in "growth" mode. This view includes the idea that technology will rescue us from our fossil fuel predicament — through "innovation," through the discovery of new techno rescue remedy fuels, and via "drill, baby, drill" policy. This view assumes an orderly transition through the current "rough patch" into a vibrant re-energized era of "green" Happy Motoring and resumed Blue Light Special shopping.
The minority reality (let's call it The Long Emergency) says that it is necessary to make radically new arrangements for daily life and rather soon. It says that a campaign to sustain the unsustainable will amount to a tragic squandering of our dwindling resources. It says that the "consumer" era of economics is over, that suburbia will lose its value, that the automobile will be a diminishing presence in daily life, that the major systems we've come to rely on will founder, and that the transition between where we are now and where we are going is apt to be tumultuous.
My own view is obviously the one called The Long Emergency.
Since the change it proposes is so severe, it naturally generates exactly the kind of cognitive dissonance that paradoxically reinforces the Status Quo view, especially the deep wishes associated with saving all the familiar, comfortable trappings of life as we have known it. The dialectic between the two realities can't be sorted out between the stupid and the bright, or even the altruistic and the selfish. The various tech industries are full of MIT-certified, high-achiever Status Quo techno-triumphalists who are convinced that electric cars or diesel-flavored algae excreta will save suburbia, the three thousand mile Caesar salad, and the theme park vacation. The environmental movement, especially at the elite levels found in places like Aspen, is full of Harvard graduates who believe that all the drive-in espresso stations in America can be run on a combination of solar and wind power. I quarrel with these people incessantly. It seems especially tragic to me that some of the brightest people I meet are bent on mounting the tragic campaign to sustain the unsustainable in one way or another. But I have long maintained that life is essentially tragic in the sense that history won't care if we succeed or fail at carrying on the project of civilization.


text:
Kathryn Wicks Google+
Kathryn Wicks is the chief of staff of Senior Writers, Investigations and Community at The Sydney Morning Herald. She is a former deputy sports editor and chief subeditor. She is the co-author of the second edition of the Australian Autism Handbook.
Hesterine de Reus says Matildas can win World Cup but she's still looking for answers
Kathryn Wicks The Matildas can win an Olympic gold medal and a world cup if they appoint another world class coach, says the woman who was sacked from the position.
Matildas playing a game in which no one wins
Kathryn Wicks Why the Matildas' revolt over coach Hesterine de Reus is a bad idea.
Pregnant Barbieri says Walsh should captain Matildas
Kathryn Wicks Melissa Barbieri has anointed Sarah Walsh as Matildas captain while she takes a break from football after announcing she is pregnant.
Blue skies for Sydney FC as finals beckon
Kathryn Wicks Sydney FC scrape into W-League finals with 3-2 win over crosstown rivals.
Women coaches, dare to dream
Kathryn Wicks It should not surprise anyone to see a female coach of an A-League team in our lifetimes, FIFA executive committee candidate Moya Dodd says.
Levelling the playing field
Kathryn Wicks Moya Dodd stands to be the first Australian elected to the FIFA executive committee this week.
First Australian on FIFA
Kathryn Wicks Australia has its first representative on football's world governing body, FIFA, with Moya Dodd co-opted to its executive committee on Friday at its annual congress in Mauritius.
The wheels fell off: Barbieri slams efforts of teammates
Kathryn Wicks MATILDAS captain Melissa Barbieri has revealed her hurt at Australia's failure to qualify for the London Olympics - and blamed some of her teammates' attitudes for a poor showing in qualifying.
Kathryn Wicks
A small price to pay for World Cup triumph
Kathryn Wicks Should A-League club owners decide to axe their W-League sides to save a few dollars, it could cost Australia their chance to win the Women's World Cup.


text:
Narrow your search
Two new Dacor Renaissance Induction Cooktops offers smart styling. The induction cooktops offer energy efficient use for everyday cooking.
The Thermador Freedom Induction Cooktop offers intuitive control with maximum flexibility. Cookware of any shape can be placed anywhere on the cooking surface.
The Bertazzoni Design Series PM36 1 IGX Segmented Cooktop combines three popular options. The three segments include a gas burner, an electric griddle and a dual-zone induction area.
The Fagor Portable Double Induction Cooktop provides an elegant approach to table-side cooking. The induction cooktop offers convenience and accessibility useful for a variety of situations.
A new technology on some Bosch electric and induction cooktops eliminates much of the guesswork in cooking and promises perfect results in the kitchen.
These cooking plates use various existing technologies to create a futuristic kitchen idea.
The Frigidaire Professional 30-inch and 36-inch Induction Hybrid Cooktops feature a combination of induction zones and electric elements.
The Jenn-Air Designer Line Gas Downdraft Cooktop offers a designer cooktop with top of the line ventilation that fits any kitchen layout.
Thermador's line of Masterpiece Cooktops incorporate new technology, such as infrared sensors, to better prepare your food.
Electrolux's new Aurora cooktop has a low profile that can blend with any kitchen design.


text:
Follow us on Twitter
Tell your friend
Subscribe RSS
News provided by
Go to mobile version
Today: Tuesday, 30 September, 2014
Search from site
News hint
About us
In English
News archive
Theme of the Month archive
Point of View
Investment News
articles from
June 2009
Mon, 29 Jun, 2009:
Roaming in EU more affordable from July onwards
Making and receiving mobile phone calls, sending SMSs and using data services will become cheaper within the European Union. The new EU roaming decree will take effect in the beginning of July. According to the new price ceiling, the Eurotariff, the maximum charge for roaming within the EU is 0,5246 Euros per minute for phone calls made....
Read more
'Housegame' helps Germans to budget for house building
Heinze, affiliate of the German building branch media giant DOCUgroup, has signed a contract with the Tampere-based company Visual Computing Oy. According to the contract the German company will introduce the Finnish 'Housegame' in its portals in Germany, reports Kauppalehti magazine. The builder can use the programme to familiarize himself...
Read more
Fri, 26 Jun, 2009:
Goodnews specifies: Smart Map developed by Red Solutions Finland
The Smart Map designed primarily to provide tourists a fuller and more convenient experience of the south-eastern Finnish town of Lappeenranta has been developed by Red Solutions Finland Oy, the developer of the software Jayden M Khakurel points out. A previously published article Smart map guides tourists in lappeenranta may have given an...
Read more
Thu, 25 Jun, 2009:
Aalto attracts
Aalto University, which will start in the autumn of 2009, is looking to put itself both on the world map and at the top of the international tree. The new university will function in areas where Finland is strong and which are important in global competition. Aalto University is a combination of Helsinki University of Technology, Helsinki...
Read more
Basware believes in e-invoicing breakthrough
Basware, the leading provider of purchase to pay solutions, expects electronic invoicing to develop extensively this year. A research carried out by the company in May and June revealed that electronic invoicing is on the brink of a breakthrough. The number of organisations sending and receiving e-invoices has increased significantly between...
Read more
KONE to install 46 elevators on two brand new cruise ships
The luxury cruise company Celebrity Cruises has signed a significant contract with KONE. The Finnish company has been assigned to design, supply and install a total of 46 brand new, customised elevators on the Celebrity Cruises' two new "Solstice Class" cruise ships. Both of the cruise ships will be 317 meters long and over 36 meters wide,...
Read more
See You in Kenya –collection helps people to see
Over 20 000 spectacles and sunglasses have already been collected for the See You in Kenya-collection in Finland. The collection will continue through the summer. The greatest demand is on sunglasses and reading glasses. The fruits of the collection will be taken to Kenya's Meibeki region in August and handed over to those in need. It will be...
Read more
Wed, 24 Jun, 2009:
Napa on top of the world
Up to 95 per cent of the world's shipbuilding uses software produced by the Finnish Napa companies. The company's customers are all the world's biggest shipyards, design offices, classification institutions and shipbuilding companies. The Napa Group, which was established in 1989 and specializes in developing software for the design and...
Read more
More and more immigrants choose the countryside
Immigrants, who have traditionally remained in the capital city region and other larger cities in Finland, move ever more frequently to the countryside. The location of domicile has surprisingly little significance in the social integration process of the immigrant. The level of activeness within the local population and employment...
Read more
Pirates Ahoy! Mauri Kunnas releases four books in China
The beloved Finnish author and illustrator, Mauri Kunnas has made a contract with a Chinese publisher. His books will be published as a series. The first four books, Pirates Ahoy! , One Spooky Night And Other Scary Stories , Good Night Mr Clutterbuck and The Vikings Are Coming! will be released in China in November. The first print run for...
Read more
Benecol proven safe and effective also in larger usage
A recent international research reveals that using Benecol-products containing the cholesterol-lowering ingredient, plant stanol ester, is completely safe also when consumed in quantities several times above the recommended daily amount. It has been shown that the cholesterol-lowering effect is boosted with larger doses of plant stanol. These...
Read more
Mon, 22 Jun, 2009:
Finland the Guest of Honour at 2014 Frankfurt Book Fair
Finland has been invited to be the guest of honour at the 2014 Frankfurt Book Fair. The Director Jürgen Boos, representing the Frankfurt Book Fair, the Finnish Literature Society and the Ministry of Education signed the agreements on the project on Tuesday. Minister of Culture and Sport in Finland, Stefan Wallin sees the situation as...
Read more
Smart Map guides tourists in Lappeenranta
A programme developed by a student of Lappeenranta University of Technology gives tourists current information on the city's services, sights and weather in several languages, reports the Finnish Broadcasting Company's regional service for South Karelia. Tourists visiting the beautiful south-eastern Finnish city Lappeenranta will enjoy a very...
Read more
Wed, 17 Jun, 2009:
ICT-sector positive about future
Companies in the ICT sector have a relatively positive view onto the current economic situation compared to many other business sectors. Expectations of large companies with over 250 employees are much less promising. The information was retrieved from the ICT-barometre which was accomplished by Finnish Chambers of Commerce. - In such...
Read more
Business speeds up for Ekovilla
Work continues, order volumes increase and product range widens in the former UPM factory workshop, despite the recession. Ekovilla, a Finnish company manufacturing thermal insulation from recycled newspaper, will launch a new range of soft insulation boards made of wood fibre next year. Ekovilla's blown wood fibre insulation has been detected...
Read more
articles from
June 2009
September 2014 (63)
August 2014 (60)
July 2014 (64)
June 2014 (71)
May 2014 (75)
April 2014 (64)
March 2014 (63)
February 2014 (60)
January 2014 (62)
December 2013 (52)
November 2013 (56)
October 2013 (66)
September 2013 (62)
August 2013 (60)
July 2013 (63)
June 2013 (58)
May 2013 (67)
April 2013 (63)
March 2013 (58)
February 2013 (58)
January 2013 (65)
December 2012 (51)
November 2012 (65)
October 2012 (67)
September 2012 (61)
August 2012 (68)
July 2012 (64)
June 2012 (54)
May 2012 (64)
April 2012 (57)
March 2012 (63)
February 2012 (58)
January 2012 (58)
December 2011 (59)
November 2011 (69)
October 2011 (65)
September 2011 (72)
August 2011 (76)
July 2011 (58)
June 2011 (58)
May 2011 (65)
April 2011 (54)
March 2011 (60)
February 2011 (51)
January 2011 (47)
December 2010 (46)
November 2010 (70)
October 2010 (54)
September 2010 (55)
August 2010 (52)
July 2010 (58)
June 2010 (49)
May 2010 (47)
April 2010 (42)
March 2010 (53)
February 2010 (47)
January 2010 (39)
December 2009 (40)
November 2009 (42)
October 2009 (44)
September 2009 (47)
August 2009 (36)
July 2009 (42)
June 2009 (53)
May 2009 (51)
April 2009 (21)
August 1970 (2)
Finnfacts is an independent media service unit that operates between international media and Finnish industry and business.
Copyright © 2014 Finnfacts. All rights reserved.
Follow us
on Twitter
Join Us on Facebook
Get your weekly Good News
to your email!
Give Us Feedback


text:
Home > > > Yellow-and-Black-Daisies-Stationery
Yellow And Black Daisies Folded Notecard
Yellow and black daisies stand in the green grass as a bumble bee buzzes by on this folded note stationery.
Your satisfaction is guaranteed.
artist: Amy Adele
style: folded note card
size: 5" x 3.5" (W x H)
paper type: medium
finish: matte (non-glossy)
recycled: 100% post consumer paper
printing method: high chroma digital
printing method: high chroma digital
font shown: Jelly Bean
font color shown: black
item code: sf585
envelopes: included (BLANK)
(see matching items below for return address printing)
Quantity Price
16 $24.64
24 $29.76
32 $36.48
40 $45.60
48 $49.92
56 $52.64
64 $60.16
72 $67.68
80 $75.20
88 $82.72
96 $86.40
104 $93.60
128 $115.20
152 $136.80
176 $158.40
200 $180.00
240 $216.00
280 $252.00
320 $288.00
360 $324.00
400 $360.00
440 $396.00
480 $432.00
520 $468.00
Matching Items
Personalized Stationery Envelopes
5.2 x 3.6 envelope
Yellow Daisy Stationery
5 x 3.5 folded note
Bunch of Red Daisies Stationery
5 x 3.5 folded note
Yellow Daisies Bag Tag
4.25 x 2.5 bag tag
Yellow and Black Daisies Address Label
2.5 x 1 label
Yellow and Black Daisies Waterproof Label
2.5 x 1 label
Customer Reviews
By: Mom of all trades
from New Orleans, LA
Great quality [...]
PROS: Vibrant colors, Pretty design, Good print quality, Shipped quickly
Comments about Yellow And Black Daisies Folded Notecard:
We bought these as an end-of-the year gift for our daughter's pre-k teachers. The printing quality is fantastic. The colors are vibrant and the paper itself is thick and firm. Great product.
BOTTOM LINE Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.
By: Mommom
from Wolcott, CT
The Cutest Personalized Notecards!
Comments about Yellow And Black Daisies Folded Notecard:
Personalized notecards are great training tools so that while growing up children get into the habit of writing thank you notes. Delivery was quick and they were packaged in a sheer bag tied with a ribbon. Also included was a personalized thank you note from Amy. Doesn't get much better!
BOTTOM LINE Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.


text:
Coming Up
Contact Us
About Us
Search Archives
Crossword Answers
BHS Sports Schedule
Community Links
The Lighthouse Blog
Edythe Elizabeth Gallinger Sipes
Published on Tue, Dec 31, 2013
Read More
Edythe Elizabeth Gallinger Sipes, 80, of Birch Bay, WA passed away on Saturday, December 14, 2013 at Stafholt Good Samaritan Society in Blaine of complications from several strokes.
Edythe was born in Seattle, WA on April 2, 1933 to LeRoy and Jackie Gallinger, both of whom have preceded her in death.
She was an only child. She graduated from Washington State University in May of 1954 with a BA degree in English. She met her future husband, Ray Dell Sipes, during her senior year at WSU, and they were married on September 11, 1954 in Seattle, WA.
Edythe enjoyed playing cards (Bridge and Pinochle), bowling, working crossword puzzles, reading, watching the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Mariners, playing piano, walking on the beach, and Happy Hour with her friends and family.
She is survived by her husband, Ray Dell Sipes, and her children: John Sipes (Debi), Raylene Sipes Houck (Jeff), and Jodi Sipes. She is also survived by six grandchildren: Crystal Anderton (Josh), Tim Burns (Jess), Melanie Hartl (Philippe), Stephanie Pasceri (Brent), Matthew Sipes (Mary), and Elizabeth Otten (Jake); along with twelve great-grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place, and a memorial Happy Hour was held in her honor. A Celebration of Life for all of her family and friends will be held at a future date in 2014. Memorial contributions can be made to the American Lung Association.


text:
Building Brands
Partnering with Herbalife International in growing their global online presence
Revealing True Beauty
Teaming up with beauty industry giant NYX Cosmetics to revamp their online presence
Creativity Flow
Our unique processes and attention to details have helped brands like Minx Nails shine
Enhancing Music Experiences
Charting the path with Yamaha Entertainment Group to launch their new record label
Revitalize Your Brand
Re-launching the legendary Jazzercise fitness brand
Find Your Voice
Taylor & Pond is working with multi-platinum Grammy award winning artist Sarah McLachlan
Our expertise in web and social media helped Jillian Michael's launch her most successful speaking tour yet.
Communicating Complex Concepts
Working with life science clients to communicate successes and increase collaboration
Taylor & Pond is a leading full service digital marketing agency in San Diego, Los Angeles, Vancouver and Guadalajara. Learn More


text:
Advantage® Trunk Rack 3 - Bike Carrier
Item # WX2-200576
- Google+
This item is shipped directly from the factory. To see the expected shipping date, please add to your Shopping Cart. Sorry, no express shipping available. We are unable to ship factory direct items to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico or APO or FPO addresses.
- Details & Specs
Advantage® Trunk Rack 3 - Bike Carrier, GREAT PRICE!
Easy to install. More aerodynamic and fuel-efficient than roof carriers. Super-secure anti-sway saddles that eliminate wobble. Padded anti-scratch frame. There's lots of reasons to roll with Advantage® on your next adventure, but the best of all might be the low price!First-class transport:
- Padded frame prevents scratching your vehicle
- Patented Anti-Sway saddle eliminates play while driving
- 6-way securing straps.
- Reviews
Customer ReviewsNo reviews exist for this item....
You May Also Like
Swagman® 2 - Bike Ball - Hitch Mount CarrierBuyer's Club $62.99 Non-Members $69.99
Larin® 4-bike Hitch RackBuyer's Club $53.99 Non-Members $59.99
Swagman® 4 - Bike Tow - Down Folding CarrierBuyer's Club $161.99 Non-Members $179.99


text:
One new study shows for the first time since World War II fewer people in the country are driving.
In Atlanta, per-person driving miles are down nearly 12% since 2005. More people now take transit or even bike to work.
The group looked at 100 cities across the nation and found Atlanta has the 4th highest drop in driving rates. Leaders say, since the end of World War II, driving has been increasing and increasing and now we're starting to see the reversal of that trend. The report looks at census and traffic numbers, along with surveys. It shows more people are saving money and putting fewer miles on their vehicles. More people telecommuting, with the increase in technology more people can work from home. People are increasingly taking their bicycle to work, taking transit and rail. On the surface it may seem like another effect of the poor economy, but experts say the numbers started changing three years before the recession. Some groups believe numbers like these mean Atlanta needs to invest more in making the city more bike and transit friendly and less money on new roads.
WTTG FOX 5 & myfoxdc5151 Wisconsin Ave. NWWashington, DC 20016Main Number: (202) 244-5151Newsroom: (202) firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Republic® All Purpose Bowl by Lenox
A special side dish or the freshest vegetables are served grandly in this versatile bowl that will serve you well on the table or sideboard. Crafted in the popular Republic design, it features a stylish herringbone banded pattern embellished with a handsome scroll-and-leaf motif. Reflecting the finest tradition of Lenox craftsmanship, it is an essential part of your formal dinner service.
- Crafted of Lenox ivory fine china accented with 24 karat gold
- Dishwasher-safe
- Made in USA
- Diameter: 6"
- Capacity: 16 oz.
$79.00 $55.95
Other products we think you'll love.
Shopping made easy with Lenox EasyPay. Order today and take up to 8 months to pay - interest free!Learn About EasyPay
Break something?
Lenox Breakage Replacement is one of the best customer satisfaction plans anywhere. So don't worry, you're covered. read more
Need Help?


text:
These Restaurant Chains Have the Right Stuff
Robert is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
As employment levels rise and discretionary incomes increase, Americans are hitting the restaurant scene with greater frequency. However, the majority of people still want value prices and diverse menu choices, as well as healthier food options. The best operators in the casual dining segment stick with a consistent operating theme and build off of a niche customer base. So, which chains are leading in the current marketplace?
Cracker Barrel (NASDAQ: CBRL)
The Tennessee-based chain of dual-purpose outlets has been winning customers over to its old-fashioned cooking and antique-style retail stores since 1969. While total revenues have been fairly flat over the past five years, the company's profitability has been slowly improving, due to better inventory management and small annual menu price increases. In addition, Cracker Barrel has been trying to improve efficiency to fend off the hostile actions of major shareholder Biglari Holdings, which has been trying to gain control of the company's board for a number of years.
In FY2013, Cracker Barrel has delivered pretty solid results, with increases in revenues and operating income of 4.6% and 11.5%, respectively, versus the prior-year period. The company's sales growth was paced by a 3.1% gain in comparable store sales, with gains in both the restaurant and retail segments. Despite a continuation of commodity cost inflation, Cracker Barrel was able to offset cost increases with slightly higher menu prices and greater productivity from its restaurant staff.
Cracker Barrel has historically positioned its restaurants on well-trafficked highways for travelers who are looking for a decent, home-cooked meal. The company has also successfully integrated its restaurant/retail combination, with its retail stores averaging $411 in sales per square foot that rivals some of the nation's best malls. Looking ahead, Cracker Barrel will be looking to expand its store model into off-highway markets that have large traveling populations, like tourist destinations. With 12 new stores slated to open in 2013, this old-fashioned operator looks positioned for continued success.
Bloomin' Brands (NASDAQ: BLMN)
The Florida-based restaurant chain returned to the public markets last fall after a six-year hiatus. Bloomin' Brands is the operator of a diverse group of restaurant chains, including Outback Steakhouse, Carabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, and Fleming's. With 975 restaurants, though, the Australian-inspired Outback Steakhouse concept is the company's primary focus.
In FY2012, Bloomin' Brands reported much improved financial results, with increases in revenues and adjusted operating income of 3.8% and 20.1%, respectively, compared to the prior year. The company's sales benefited from an additional 28 restaurants in operation, as well as rising comparable store sales across its restaurant concepts. Bloomin' Brands' Outback and Carabba units also gained from expanded hours into the busy weekday lunch timeslots.
Even after 25 years, customers continue to gravitate toward Outback's steaks, appetizers, and Australian theme. However, management has wisely diversified into other concepts, just in case fickle customers decide to change their love for a beef-heavy menu. Based on current expectations, though, Bloomin' Brands is expecting a further 5% increase in sales in 2013 as the company opens an additional 45 to 55 restaurants system-wide. This diversified operator looks ready for the future.
Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ: BWLD)
Founded in 1982 on Ohio State University's campus, Buffalo Wild Wings has taken chicken wings to the next level, with almost 900 restaurants in the U.S. and Canada. The company's goal is to create a neighborhood gathering spot for watching television events with an open layout, full bar, and a phalanx of flat screen TVs. Buffalo Wild Wings has also tied itself closely to the nation's sports leagues, including its recent licensing deal with the NCAA for exclusive marketing tied to March Madness.
In FY2012, Buffalo Wild Wings continued its solid revenue growth, although its profitability was somewhat hamstrung by a 63% rise in the average price of chicken wings. For the year, the company reported increases in revenues and operating income of 34.4% and 13.5%, respectively, versus the prior year. Buffalo Wild Wings' restaurants remained as popular as ever, with a strong 6.6% increase in comparable store sales. Looking ahead, management is forecasting another year of growth in 2013 as the company opens 100 additional restaurants on its way to an eventual target of 1,700 domestic stores.
The bottom line
With thousands of casual dining options to choose from, diners generally choose establishments with great customer service and a theme that they can resonate with. These three chains have built loyal followings to their value-priced menus over the past decade and belong on every investor's watchlist.
rghanley owns shares of Buffalo Wild Wings. The Motley Fool recommends Buffalo Wild Wings and Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. The Motley Fool owns shares of Buffalo Wild Wings. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is this post wrong? Click here. Think you can do better? Join us and write your own!


text:
by Alexis Marcou
Stationery Cards
Set of folded stationery cards printed on bright white, smooth card stock to bring your personal artistic style to everyday correspondence. Each card is blank on the inside and includes a soft white, European fold envelope for mailing.
Metropolis. A minimal illustration of the Empire State building. Watercolor, pencil and ink.
- 250Promote


text:
Range Rover Evoque
A compact Luxury SUV true to Range Rover
|Range Rover Evoque
|Range Rover Evoque Coupé
|Bold and compact, Range Rover Evoque in five door form offers contemporary kinetic design with added practicality, superb accessibility and extraordinary versatility.
|An entirely fresh, contemporary interpretation of classic Range Rover deisgn cues with its prepared-for-anything coupé look.
Freelander 2
Adventure Awaits
|Freelander 2 TD4
|Freelander 2 SE
|Freelander 2 HSE
|Stylish on the outside, comfort on the inside and practical in its entirety.
|More sophistication and refinement with added styling and optional leather interior.
|Reaching the highest levels of luxury and craftsmanship with a contemporary flair and design.
Jaguar Land Rover Limited: Registered Office: Abbey Road, Whitley, Coventry CV3 4LF Registered in England No: 1672070


text:
The Big P
This is Peter Mahovlich. During his NHL career he was an odd duck. In the 1966-67 season the Detroit Red Wings wanted to send him down but he couldn't go to the AHL without being exposed to waivers. In one of many ridiculous rule changes for "need" over the years, the NHL simply (with approval from Toronto who also needed to option out a player) changed the rule to state that Mahovlich could not return for that season or he would be exposed to waivers.
Always fun to play a game where you can change the rules at will. The NHL still does this all the time. It's Mickey Mouse.
Mahovlich as a player took quite some time to develop. His first season pro saw a lot of time on the bench in Detroit (34 games, 1 goal before being sent down in the "historic" transaction mentioned above) but he scored 20 in 42 games in the minors at age 21 to give some indication about his future. Called up during that season, Mahovlich scored 6-4-10 in 15 games.
Detroit sent him down one more time at age 22 (68-69) and he was traded to Montreal with Bart Crashley for Garry Monahan and Doug Piper – June 6, 1969.
In my youth watching the Montreal Canadiens procure talent was an awesome yet terrible thing, like a Regina thunderstorm in summer or a photo of Geddy Lee. They always had 10 draft picks in the top 30 and because of it almost all of their talent was homegrown. Their are 20 names that appear for the Habs 75-76 Stanley Cup team and 19 of them played in the Montreal system before NHL arrival.
The one exception was Peter Mahovlich. He was a big man, the biggest actual player in the NHL during his career (Phil Esposito was big, but was 4 inches shorter than Mahovlich) but he had all kinds of skills associated with smaller players. Peter Mahovlich could pass the puck very well, stick handle through traffic, skated pretty well and developed a patented move where he split the D and managed to get a (very good) shot on goal. This move combined tremendous reach, brute strength and dogged determination. It did not involve surprise (which I've read from time to time when discussions of this particular move come up) since he did it fairly often and was known during his career for being effective with it.
I'm a big fan of comps. Comparables. It is a really good way to find the "outer marker" for a specific player. Among the comps we've talked about on this blog over the years are Ales Hemsky (Rick Middleton), Rob Schremp (Ron Chipperfield and Robert Nilsson), Sam Gagner (I prefer Vincent Damphousse but others have suggested Doug Gilmour), JF Jacques (Mike Bloom), Andrew Cogliano (Butch Goring), Kyle Brodziak (Jarret Stoll), Riley Nash (Chris Higgins), Marc Pouliot (Jarret Stoll).
I have (twice) discussed comps for Dustin Penner. They are here and here. In the Matheson post I said "we should be thinking in terms of a Pete Mahovlich "one in several hundred" comp as opposed to a clear connection between Bertuzzi, LeClair and Dustin Penner. "
I think that's exactly right. Because he didn't come up through the usual channels we had a hard time marking him early and because he put up numbers upon NHL arrival (at an older age) there aren't too many obvioius comps there either. He took a different route and it makes comparing him troublesome.
Here are the numbers for each player at the end of their 25-year old seasons:
- Dustin Penner 183gp, 56-43-99 .541ppg
- Pete Mahovlich 274gp, 88-76-164 .599ppg
Mahovlich is superior in each category but we need to factor in the quality of team, etc. It seems to me that describing Dustin Penner as "Mahovlich-lite" is just about the best comparison available to us at this time.


text:
What does NOYB stand for?
What does NOYB mean? This page is about the various possible meanings of the acronym, abbreviation, shorthand or slang term: NOYB.
We've found a total of 1 definition for NOYB:
Sort by:PopularityAlphabeticallyCategory Filter by:
Still can't find the acronym definition you were looking for? Use our Power Search technology to look for more unique definitions from across the web!
"NOYB." Abbreviations.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2014. Web. 2 Oct. 2014. <http://www.abbreviations.com/NOYB>.


text:
Can I order a On Demand or PPV program on one TV and watch it on another TV?
If you order a On Demand or PPV from your Set-Top Box (STB) and then want to watch the program from another STB in your home, you can order it again if necessary on the TV where you want to watch it. You will not be double charged for the program providing it is the exact program in the same video format.
The HD version and SD version of a On Demand or PPV program are considered two different programming offers. If you order the HD and SD version of a On Demand or PPV you will be charged twice.
I incorrectly ordered a On Demand or PPV program in the wrong video format
If you have mistakenly ordered the HD version of a VOD or PPV program when you meant to purchase the SD version (or vice versa), you can correct your order by following the appropriate instructions below.
Verizon's partnership with DIRECTV® lets us offer you DIRECTV® service wherever FiOS TV is not yet available.
Get online support from the DIRECTV® support site.
Looking for Residential?
Looking for Wireless?


text:
Shoshanah Starr Collins
Instructor of Special Education
Email: email@example.com
Phone: 617-978-2184
Office: Brookline Campus Room 102
Educational Degrees
BS, Elementary Education, University of Vermont
MA, Special Education, American University
Shoshannah Starr Collins (Shoshy) spent 13 years in the elementary classroom in both special and regular education settings. She has been at Wheelock as an adjunct for six years. She is also an educational consultant focusing on math, literacy, and special education.
She has taught Understanding Reading Difficulties, Elementary Math, Math for Diverse Learners, Curriculum Development, and Practicum Seminar. She enjoys learning and teaching about how students come to understand, what circumstances need to be in place for this to happen, what supports they need, and what can get in the way of developing an understanding.


text:
Latest news from the Media website
Sign up for email updates
Sign Up
New Zealand's tourism industry will be on show to the world next week at TRENZ – Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand – in the southern resort town of Queenstown.
Astronauts who are more used to viewing New Zealand from space will conduct a voyage of discovery with a difference this week when they step onto Kiwi soil as part of an 'inner space' mission.
Air New Zealand's revolutionary 'Skycouch' – the economy seating that folds down into a bed - has won the Aviation category of Condé Nast Traveller's 2011 Innovation and Design Awards.
Glow worms, great food, black water rafting and bungy jumping have left US pop star Katy Perry raving, and in love with New Zealand after her first visit.
A super-sized Māori haka, staged simultaneously in New Zealand's four main cities, will unite Kiwis in sending a powerful message of strength and support for the people of Christchurch.
Auckland is on 'Cloud' nine, Wellington's launching a waka, Nelson's taking a long Italian lunch, Bluff's reserving the juiciest oysters, Westland's celebrating whitebait, and wineries all over New Zealand are dusting off their vintage best.
Top international snow and ice sports athletes are due to descend on New Zealand's Southern Alps this winter, for 16 days of cool action in the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games.
Mouths are watering in anticipation of the annual Bluff Oyster & Food Festival celebrating the seasonal harvest of the succulent shellfish that have made New Zealand's most southern town world famous.
Matariki, the unique cultural festival celebrating the dawning of Māori New Year, will start early this year with the Pleiades star formation due to first appear over New Zealand on 4 June.
Tourism operators in New Zealand's Canterbury region, hard hit by publicity around the recent earthquakes, are banding together for a special event this weekend (30.4.11) to reinforce their "Christchurch is open" message.


text:
Order line 0844 880 5851
Recently added item(s)
You have no items in your shopping basket.
CHOOSE A FREE EBOOK when you join our mailing list |Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed| FREE UK DELIVERY FOR ORDERS OVER £25
803306 (sku)
Be the first to review this product
Availability: In stock
Night Owl Purse Project download
Stitch this sweet owl purse for the perfect place to keep your make-up, coins, key or other essential handbag items. Tiny yoyos add dimension to this project.
You will receive this project as a full-colour download. Taken from Stitch It for Spring by Lynette Anderson.
Standard UK delivery is now just £2.99 and it's FREE if you spend £25.00 or more!
We now offer delivery of all of our products all over the world!
Standard Delivery
Europe plus Russia, USA and Canada
Rest of the World
Plus Standard Delivery is FREE for International orders worth over £50 and above!
Delivery times
UK: Standard Delivery 2-5 days from receipt of order.
Rest ofEurope
North America
Africaand Asia
Far EastandAustralasia
6-8 days
7-9 days
10-14 days
14-21 days
All times are delivery aims in working days and set out the estimated number of days for mail to arrive at its destination from the date when such mail leaves us.
*COUNTRIES IN REIMS International Delivery Zone:
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
There is no delivery charge for ebook or project downloads.
For more information see our delivery details. Orders are subject to our standard terms and conditions.
Our returns policy is simple - If you're not happy with a product, return it to us in its original packaging and we'll replace or refund it, this is part of our 100% Guarantee to you.
This does not affect your statutory rights. For full details see our terms and conditions.
Email to a Friend
Stitch Craft Create Customer Services
Brunel House
Newton Abbot Devon TQ12 4PU
Tel: 0344 880 5852 (UK only)
Tel: +44 1626 880939 (International)
To email us: Click here
© 2014 F+W All rights reserved.


text:
The new year may be a done deal as far as flipping the calendar goes, but the countdown to the July 1 start of the Harford County government's budget year is once again accompanied by a fanfare all its own, courtesy of the leadership of the local teachers union and other school funding advocates.
Speaking earlier this week at a regular session of the Joppa-Joppatowne Community Council Monday, Ryan Burbey, president of the Harford County Education Association, outlined the teachers union's push this year for increased county funding for the school system with a priority to giving teachers raises. Burbey made a similar pitch the following night at the Harford County Council's legislative session.
Stakes are high in the school budget process this time of year, as the Harford Board of Education moves toward passage of its next operating budget and transmits it to the county executive and county council for approval of the county's share of funding.
The $442.9 million operating budget Superintendent Robert Tomback has proposed for the 2014 fiscal year requests a $15.1 million increase and will rely on the county for most of the additional money. The additional funding includes some money for salary increases for teachers and the school system's other employees, more than 5,200 in all, with the raises subject to union negotiations which are taking place.
Meanwhile, the public review process of the budget at the school board level continues next week. The board is scheduled to hold more hearings on the budget at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14, and 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, at school system headquarters in the A.A. Roberty Building at 102 Hickory Ave. in Bel Air. The board, whose previous hearings on the budget have been sparsely attended, will likely take a final vote on the budget in early February.
Urging participation
During the Joppa Community Council's meeting Monday at the Sheriff's Office Southern Precinct, both Burbey and school board member Robert Frisch talked about the new school budget with the community council members and about a dozen other people who attended.
Burbey's presentation started by urging that community members turn out at 6 p.m. Jan. 28 at Aberdeen High School for a budget planning session organized by Harford County Executive David R. Craig.
"We're trying to organize communities to come out and support the idea that schools are your priority," Burbey said.
To that end, he encouraged people to turn out in support of a $15.1 million requested increase in the school system operating budget, which Burbey noted includes increases of $6.3 million to cover staff raises and another $6.6 million to cover increased costs associated with providing school system staff with medical and other benefits. The balance of the proposed $15.1 million increase requested, $2.2 million, would cover a range of increased costs associated with operating the school system.
Burbey said the raises proposed for teachers and staff would be the first substantial raises since a salary freeze went into effect three years ago, though teachers were given a 1 percent raise in this fiscal year.
He went on to say teacher salaries in Harford County have not kept pace with those in surrounding jurisdictions, noting the starting salary for a first-year teacher is $41,000 in Harford County, which he said is third from the bottom among Maryland's 24 public school systems.
"It can't go on at the rate it has," he said of Harford County's public school teacher salary structure.
Though teachers received a substantial round of salary increases prior to the salary freeze that coincided with the economic downturn, Harford County has not kept pace with other jurisdictions in Maryland when it comes to maintaining any gains made in teacher pay ranking in the state since then, Burbey said.
This sentiment echoed comments made in December when the pay increases were proposed by Superintendent Robert Tomback. At the time he said: "We know we've fallen behind from our neighboring counties in Baltimore and Cecil."
Burbey reiterated the oft-stated argument that teachers from Harford County end up leaving the local school system once they have a few years of experience for higher pay in neighboring counties. This, however, hasn't been supported by the school system's annual report on teacher retention. In 2012, the teacher retention rate for Harford County Public Schools for the previous academic year was 93.7 percent, among the highest in the Baltimore metropolitan area. Also, 34.8 percent of the 210 teachers who left during that period were retirees.
The teachers union president also outlined why he believes teacher salaries and generally funding for the school can be increased without raising taxes in Harford County.
"I don't think it's necessary to increase taxes to better fund schools," he said.
He went on to say last year the county government allocation for public works "pay go" projects totaled $39 million. Though once allocated for construction, so called "pay go" money cannot be allocated for general operating expenses like salaries, but if that money is allocated for the school system rather than construction, it can be spent in the school system's general fund budget.Differing views
The issue of capital projects, specifically school construction, is one where Burbey and school board member Frisch had differing views.