Bob Eby
By Bob Eby
Friday, June 20
This week, I experienced great joy and significant sadness. The joy was being with my daughter and son-in-law as she birthed our first grandchild and we brought her home from the hospital in California. It was because I was with them during this joyous time that I missed last Monday night’s City Council meeting, but I did watch it live through Internet streaming (technology is great!). It was during that time that I felt sadness and disappointment. I realized that this wonderful community I have known for 50 years now balances on a tipping point, to fall on a downward spiral or gradually move forward with a great and dedicated effort toward prosperity. Why do I say this?
Last year, the Board of Education hired a new superintendent who brought with him much energy and a vision to re-establish the Oak Ridge Schools to its premier status as not only the number one school district in the State of Tennessee but also the premier district in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in the country. The Board fully supported the vision, though we were recommending a three-year roll-out, which we felt was more realistic and would allow opportunity to adjust the implementation as we and the staff worked together to achieve our goals.
With their recent action, the City Council not only chose not to support this vision, but they very likely have failed to provide our teachers and associated staff the recognition they so deserve with any funding for their first raise (2 percent) in four years. City Council does plan to provide city-employeed staff with a raise. I think it is only right that all employees of our community receive a raise. All school staff and city employees are equally deserving of this recognition of their value to Oak Ridge.
I have served on the Board for three different elected terms covering four different decades. Previous to this current 5.5-year term, I felt both governing bodies recognized that the primary drawing card to bring young families to Oak Ridge was our schools. While the City Council and Board did not always agree on budgets, I always felt that each elected body respected the other, listened and worked with a common goal.
Unfortunately, I do not believe that situation has continued to exist with the current City Council. I believe that some members of Council made up their mind prior to hearing the proposed budget from the Schools and were unwilling to consider any option. Please know I do not believe all of the Council members feel this way, but when it only takes four votes to reject a motion (and only three if any one member of council is absent), preconceived notions are not beneficial to anyone. Council members need to approach such important decisions with an open mind, and I think it is wrong for any elected official whether a Board member or a Council member to announce their position before hearing the motion and discussing it fully. By stating your position “a priori,†it is then very difficult to publically change it, even if you wanted to.
This year’s failure to provide any additional funds was particularly tough for me to comprehend. For the first time in my elected history, the Chamber of Commerce became vocally involved in a specific school issue and provided their Chamber Board’s wholehearted support of the technology initiative. Thank you Chamber leadership and Chamber Board members for your support of this innovative plan. The Chamber recognized that the city needs to produce technology-savvy people if we hope to draw new business into the city
But again, it appears the majority of Council members were not willing to listen to what the major business community of the city is saying. Most Council members continue to insist high taxes would drive businesses away while the representatives of the business community said otherwise. Chamber leadership said they had never heard of a new business failing to locate in a city because of high taxes. The City Council partners with the Chamber on economic development. Why should our Council not listen to what they have to say?
I thank councilmen Chuck Hope and Charlie Hensley for their recognition that something needed to be done and voting against the budget proposal submitted by the city manager, which had zero increase for the schools. It is clear to me that both of these gentlemen were willing to speak favorably for the need for a change. I also agree with Councilman Hensley that the Board and city should get together early on to discuss needs. The superintendent and city manager did have numerous discussions talking about the needs of our schools. I believe that the city manager utilizes general direction from Council members in making budget recommendations.
As I said at the outset of this letter, I believe that Oak Ridge teeters on a balance. It can continue to go down a path that has shown little, if any, growth over the past 15 years of belt-tightening, or it can recognize the importance of the schools, take positive and bold action, and begin publicly supporting Oak Ridge’s schools and its staff. Show young families a dynamic and enthusiastic community to move to!
Do we need to address housing issues? Sure! But how many major housing decisions are made on $200 per year of tax-deductible expense amounting to approximately $15 per month? That is what we are talking about for a $190,000 house in Oak Ridge.
Could we ask the U.S. Department of Energy for higher payment in lieu of taxes (PILT ) funds? Yes—let’s explore these issues together.
Instead of arguments and accusations, let us remember and broadcast what a wonderful community asset we have in our schools and staff. Without a reason to live in Oak Ridge, young families will have little motivation to not choose west Knoxville and Maryville to locate when they are faced with a choice. We want and need young families to live in our community. Let us give them the best reason: the future of their children.
How many of us have $15 per month of money each month for dinners out, lottery tickets, or other things we could give up to grow this city? It all gets down to choice—the choice of what is important for each person. I was a product of the Oak Ridge Schools as was my wife and two children. I no longer have children in Oak Ridge, and my wife no longer teaches in the Oak Ridge Schools; however, I will gladly pay it forward and pay my share to provide other young families the same benefits I and my family enjoyed over the past 50 years.
It is important to support our older population by preserving their home values, net wealth, and many historical neighborhoods. By attracting younger families to our city, we will. They will broaden our tax base and allow our city to grow.
Criticism continues to come that we have the highest per-capita spending for our students as compared to any other school system in the state. We are constantly compared to other schools. When doing so, it is very important to be sure we are comparing apples to apples. Please know cities have vast differences in demographics, in how school funds are accounted, in the way administrators are counted, and in what services each system offers. Larger school systems have a bigger base to spread fixed and administrative costs and affluent neighborhoods that provide extras to their individual schools. Oak Ridge prides itself in providing services to gifted and challenged students. But that’s not all. Oak Ridge Schools has a history of providing wonderful opportunities and support to all its students and their families. The Superintendent’s seven keys to success is a program in which every student is valued and tracked through their academic progress in our schools. Each student will have the goal of one of three paths forward when they graduate high school. Please study the facts before making broad unjustifiable statements.
People who say we do not need 1:1 in the school system do not realize the ramifications of their words. How many of them have their own smart phones or computers or enjoy the benefits of cable TV, high efficiency heat pumps, airplanes, etc. These are all products of technology. The technology initiative is not a question of “IF†we will do it. No, it is a question of “WHEN†we will do it. We can wait and let Lenoir City, Knox County, and Blount County beat us there and capture potential young families to our community. Each of these systems is already implementing a 1:1 initiative. I hope not, but it may be too late to be the leader. At this point, we do not want, nor can we afford, to fall further behind. The city as a whole, just like the Chamber, needs to get behind this initiative even if it costs each of us a few extra dollars per month.
2014 is an election year nationally, but more importantly for us, it is a local election too. I feel strongly that it is wrong for an election to be based on a single issue; however, I see the upcoming November election largely becoming a referendum on the future of Oak Ridge with support of schools being a major emphasis. With four City Council and three Board of Education seats up for election, the majority of both bodies will be elected. I think it is important for the residents of the city to understand all the issues and state the direction they want our city to go via the vote. I also believe it is important that those seeking office need to clearly state their position and, if elected, to carry out the positions they ran on. Claiming to support schools or any issue and voting otherwise is disingenuous. I do plan to run again for the Oak Ridge Board of Education. Win or lose, I will abide and support the residents’ vote in the city that I love and hope to call home for as long as God gives me on this earth. Please let your position be heard through our election process and encourage others around you to do the same. Our city future does hang in the balance.
Bob Eby is vice chair of the Oak Ridge Board of Education.
Angi Agle says
Well said.
bill bradley says
Yes, it is. It may have been more effective months ago. Thank you for your service, sir. I for one hope it continues. I can only hope that in the future, if the BOE has a 35 page document outlining the differences in your schools vs others, you will distribute it to the citizenry in an effort to educate voters and council members. Months ago certain members had made it clear their intentions. The amount of misinformation is staggering, yet it gets repeated daily. That usually means both groups are at fault. Best of luck.
Lauren Tebay Barber says
Thank you for writing this. My children are just entering our school system and I am concerned.
Heather Hartman says
Very good column. I, too, applaud Hope and Hensley for seeking a compromise…a way to fund something additional, when it was obvious the full funding for the 1:1 tablet initiative wasn’t going to happen. Sure, the Board should present a budget sooner, and it’s possible that there hasn’t been sufficient planning and testing to go for this large an implementation. But, I agree with Bob that this technology is coming… Well, it’s really already here.
There’s no reason our Oak Ridge Schools shouldn’t remain on the cutting edge. At this point, perhaps this next year is a year of preparation for implementation, searching for a grant that might help fund the initiative and working with teachers to help them learn the technology and how to best use it for instruction in their classes (and when it will be best NOT to use it). Remember that it’s not about the tablet… It’s the tablet’s contribution to the learning process that’s important. No one can deny that having textbooks and resources that are updated electronically is far superior to printed textbooks that will go out of date as soon as they’re printed, let alone distributed to students. The books that aren’t available electronically will be… It’s just a matter of time.
Maybe this year, our schools can conduct a pilot for 1:1 implementation on a smaller scale to prove its effectiveness as an instructional tool (one class per grade level?). Then, come back to the City Council and propose the initiative, again, with possible outside funding, the successful pilot data and all that has been learned by teachers and administrators in a year of studying the technology.
A successful postponed implementation of a tablet initiative will be better than an unsuccessful rushed one.
Joseph Lee says
Well said Bob.
Thank you.
Raj Jain says
Something is seriously wrong with this picture.
According to TN Dept of Education 2013 Report Card the numbers for Oak Ridge City Schools are the following:
Administrators 31
Teachers 336
Students 4,469
Dollars spent per student: $12,075.
Average pay per teacher is $58,775 adding 30% benefits it is $76,408
Thus amount spent on teachers salary: $25,672,920 or about $25.68 million.
Divide that over 4,469 students the money spent on teachers is $5,744
That is 47.5% of $12,075. We spend the rest i.e. 52.5% ($6,330) on things that are not directly related to the classroom. Think about this.
Raj Jain says
Something is seriously wrong with this picture.
According to TN Dept of Education 2013 Report Card the numbers for Oak Ridge City Schools are the following:
Administrators 31
Teachers 336
Students 4,469
Dollars spent per student: $12,075.
Average pay per teacher is $58,775 adding 30% benefits it is $76,408
Thus amount spent on teachers salary: $25,672,920 or about $25.68 million.
Divide that over 4,469 students the money spent on teachers is $5,744
That is 47.5% of $12,075. We spend the rest i.e. 52.5% ($6,330) on things that are not directly related to the classroom teaching. Think about this.
bill bradley says
You seem to have two very intelligent sons. Congratulations. I would bet that both were likely part of National Honor Society. (I think they still have that program). There’s an expense associated with that, I would bet. And, it probably looked very impressive on their resume and college application. Is this one thing you would like for people to consider cutting? How about cutting more advanced AP classes (I assume OR still has those). Did they take those? Was there an expense to offer those? Did it cost more to educate the teachers to teach those special classes that benefited your children?
How about sports? Did they play? Is there an expense related to that? Or band? Perhaps strings? Choir? One of your sons earned a college scholarship from a company and no doubt he worked very hard to earn it. It helped on his college expenses. I notice that he acknowledged two teachers who helped him greatly. Do you think they ever went for additional training, and perhaps that training was paid for by the schools. Or maybe a gov’t grant that didn’t come out of the OR budget, or affect your taxes. Did you complain about that at that time? Maybe you did.
I’ve read your thoughts extensively. You’re a sharp man. And you do love to stir the pot a bit! I don’t fault that at all. Yep, OR needs housing. It needs a lot. It has a lot more to offer. I’m surprised that you seem to have taken advantage of so much while your children were part of “the problem” and now you seem unwilling to be part of the solution. A guy with your intelligence could probably help a lot of kids who need tutoring. Some of your friends criticize the schools as being “geared towards the upper end”. But I don’t see you responding to that. Why not, if I may be so bold to ask? And why shouldn’t OR schools be geared to that? Average students might try to do better. Why “dumb it down”? And God forbid, maybe their parents would at last get involved and demand more of their kids, help them more, and quit griping about the schools and finally take some responsibility for their kids’ lack of better results. Or maybe, just maybe, you could repay the city, the schools, and those teachers who supported your children by helping other kids out.
Expect more and you’ll get it. It’s easy to complain. But sir, I just don’t understand your timing. Where was the indignation years ago?
Raj Jain says
The numbers over the past 4 years do not paint a pretty picture and somebody has to expose the fallacy, may one characterize it as steering the pot.
My opinions with matters of our school system are firmly based on TN Dept of Education 2013 Report Card and USNews data.
Yes my boys benefited from the school system. Schools were one of the factors among many others for their success. The most important being their drive to succeed.
I am concerned about our schools and I have been supportive of it and will continue to be. I have shown my support by being one of the largest individual donor for the new high school project and will continue to financially support the cause of our children.
Bill join me in debunking the “we are great” spin the school administration is selling to us
bill bradley says
First, congrats on instilling a will to work, learn, and succeed in your children. Of course there are concerns, but I have yet to be convinced that there have been a large number of hires in the administrative area vs. a change in counting procedures. But I am saddened that the administration has been horribly slow to publicly present their side of this situation. It’s difficult to join you when you printed a teaser that said something like “guess who went to Vegas at your expense” and then, when it became apparent it wasn’t at local taxpayers expense, the argument changed to “how are they spending the funds”? (aka stirring the pot). If the BOE was more PR savvy, they’d have already had one of those teachers write up an article on what they learned and how it applies, aka “how I spent my summer”!! In the absence of light, darkness prevails.
I haven’t spent the time to refute your TN DOE and USNews beliefs, except to reiterate that someone out there thinks ORHS is the 6th best HS in the state and that’s significant. I continue to wait for that “once and for all” response from the schools that is long overdue. I do doubt that many students who were fortunate enough to graduate from ORHS wish that their diploma read Maryville City Schools, or Farragut, or Lawrence Co. Schools. Though I don’t have one, those that do tell me there’s a richness that accompanies it that reaches beyond the classroom to the community and I, for one, believe that that is alive and well. And yes, it could likely be better. It won’t be if the council continues to choke OR’s best resource. The lack of a more positive relationship in all this is the responsibility of one councilwoman, who has tainted city politics long enough. Sports people talk about a positive attitude. I’m convinced her long range goal is to make OR like Farragut and give OR schools to the county. It’s time to dump multiple members of council on both sides, if not for a backbone, then a lack of civility and truthfulness.
I asked you a lot of questions above that you chose not to address. What would you cut, and who would you fire?
bill bradley says
I really cannot believe what I just read that you posted on facebook sir. You stated that you had established a “tip line” and you get a lot of info on what’s going on in the school system. That’s just wrong. I’m reminded of Johnny Majors comments about talk radio when he claimed it was for “the legions of the miserable”. What possible “positive” reason can you claim for doing this? You recently said you were “trying to determine the problem”….I think I just have. This is so far over the line it’s shocking. You are trolling for half truths and innuendos. This doesn’t help anyone but you. Talk about a loss of credibility.
Andrew Howe says
Tip lines have their place – and sometimes they’re the only place some people feel comfortable exposing what they see.
Sure, tip lines bring in half-truths and worse, but they can also bring in hidden truths and better. I personally trust Raj to discern one from the other.
With the advent of the internet and the downfall of the economy, watchdogs like Raj are becoming more common. And it’s pretty obvious watchdogging is needed in today’s world. Anyone who knows how economy drives corruption also should recognize that the worse a situation gets the worse the people behave.
It might be best to consider watchdogs just an extension of the press, only they aren’t doing it for profit or career, but usually to help reach a specific goal, which is often as simple as creating an open and honest governing body.
Raj, shine on, you crazy diamond!
bill bradley says
I don’t disagree entirely with you. But it seems difficult to create “an open and honest governing body” with “half truth and worse” information. The burden then belongs to the person who collects that supposed information, how they interpret it, and how they choose to spin it.
In fact, he took the Vegas trip and spun it like Meadowlark Lemmon with a basketball on his finger … completely misrepresenting the Vegas trip by initially claiming it was paid for by local school funds and then trying to change the discussion to something else. I find it hard to trust info from a “tip line” that likely produces very few positive comments, as that’s NOT their purpose.
His children have taken advantage of the full efforts & resources of the school system – and at least one received a substantial amount of money for a college scholarship. Yet those folks are now apparently unworthy to manage the school system.
You give the teachers no money for a raise and beat up their employers publicly every day. That doesn’t sound like a positive formula to me. I choose to trust the BOE but I also remain disappointed in their PR efforts to publicly dispute his incorrect assertions and educate the community.
Dave Smith says
Speaking of “half truth and worse†information, about a week ago you posted a comment on the advocacy letter submitted by Mike Mahathy et al.
http://oakridgetoday.com/2014/06/14/letter-urge-city-council-residents-invest-schools/
You wrote, “Just a few years ago a million dollars was spent on some software package [by the school system] that never came to use, and those inside who spoke out against the waste were fired for being vocally upset about it…And my bottom line…is that I’ve lost trust, not in our school leaders’ intentions, but in their abilities to achieve their goals with reduced fiscal waste.â€
I’d really like to know to which software package you are referring and who it was that was fired for being “vocally upset†about unused software. I suppose there’s a glint of a fact or two in there somewhere (every organization buys things from time to time that they end up not using or not fully implementing, and there are the inevitable recriminations over how the money could have been spent) but it’s got the ring of “I heard from someone that….”
I fear that this might be representative of the quality of the information promulgated through the agency of an anonymous tip line. A serious problem with half-truths is that they frequently undermine the aspirations and work of those dedicated to serving the community, whether intentionally so or otherwise.
Raj Jain says
What are we getting for our money and how does it compare to other school systems. Does more money mean better schools? I have difficulty buying the school systems narrative. Here is a sampling:
Data pulled this from 2013 TN DOE Report Card and US News Best High Schools
Oak Ridge City Schools
Number of Schools 7
Administrators 31
Teachers 336
Students 4,469
$12,075 / Student
Economically Disadvantaged. Students 47%
Grad. Rate 85.4%
Economically Disadvantaged. Grad. Rate 78.4%
English Proficiency 72%
Algebra Proficiency 65%
Lawrence County Schools
Number of Schools 13
Administrators 42
Teachers 468
Students 6,851
$7,951 / Student
Economically Disadvantaged. Students 59%
Grad. Rate 93.9%
Economically Disadvantaged. Grad. Rate 90.0%
English Proficiency 74%
Algebra Proficiency 70%
Anderson County Schools
Number of Schools 17
Administrators 46
Teachers 561
Students 6,855
$10,085 / Student
Economically Disadvantaged. Students 57%
Grad. Rate 91.3%
Economically Disadvantaged. Grad. Rate 86.9%
English Proficiency 72%
Algebra Proficiency 64%
Jason Allison says
Man, the city has been in a downward spiral since the 90s. Everyone who has lived here for any length of time can tell you that. City council has had their hands on the flush valve for 30 years.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
Blaming the city has to stop. City Council hasn’t put the debt acquired by failing and cancelled previous projects and programs by the schools that Raj’s numbers half-heartedly reveal about our schools. I read part of Mr. Eby’s letter as a plea to citizens that ORSD doesn’t want Charter Schools or the expanding ASD (Achievement School District) in TN. Coming from a state with Charter Schools, they do pay teachers more at first, but that quickly changes once they are implanted into our urban school district. Mr. Eby is bringing his lesson to prevent the schools from competing with other schooling options being presented to urban areas, but he and others need to do their homework before turning in their work to the citizens of Oak Ridge.
Peter Scheffler says
I find this an interesting post. Thanks. I’d like to see more information to support your propositions.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
You’re welcome. Well, Prop 1 is this budget fiasco is like a punch in the face event. I don’t see city council affording that kind of environment for long. Let the county have the schools and start working with unaffiliated and the new State Charter program, Achievement School District (ASD). Ultimately, it is their call to dissolve the school board if agreements are not made or meant, not the other way around. No links here, just go there and soak in everything that isn’t seen on tv.
Prop 2, my experience after the schools go to Charters, in a few years the teacher isn’t so much the focus of the classroom and instead an email to the parents is all you have for teacher, parent, counselor contact, notice I listed three components to a TN student guidance plan: (TN version of Charter/Alternative Education)
http://achievementschooldistrict.org/
It is my opinion that ORS can be the better choice in the long run. If not the teachers, then the community. Again my experience, Homeschool unaffiliated program will yield the same results without worrying about transportation when the state expands on the ASD. The leaders of these school districts will only be seeing increases above 5% for elementary and secondary public schools for decades:
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator_cgc.asp
If someone else can come in and teach students cheaper than ORS, it may be our only option to afford relief to an overworked school board. The 5 year high school student has become a large component for the City of Oak Ridge, and I see this as strictly an urban problem. Will our city ask Nashville for the ASD assistance since the 85% graduation rate in classes 9-12 could be the norm around here, low income families moving in and out, and many other events which are hard to follow by our TCAP?
Prop 3, Bob could not reflect on what kind of public education is around his new family member? Maybe not, but look at what many of CA municipalities have done to their school districts just to tackle the single component of budgeting. I’ve always said CA residents all need to take a business mathematics course or two. Oh well, they have Hollywood, we have Dollywood. We will call it a draw. Bob may choose to be silent of what problems exist on his board and why his budget proposal failed.
Surely, I could have read something better just by picking up my phone.
M Mannske says
Thank you City Council for voting down this silly request from the School Board. It looks like the city may finally be tipping toward the positive. I just wish these agencies would stop coming with their hand out, like it is free money that they deserve. Wouldn’t it be refreshing instead to hear “Oh, look, we have extra money that we didn’t need. Would you like it back?”
Dave Smith says
It’s not often we have a celebrity posting here on ORT. I guess word gets out.
I recognize your Disqus avatar from the cover artwork of your novel, “Foreign and Domestic: Campaign II–Battle for the Middle States,” a “sweeping epic” about a war between the U.S. and the United Nations and a president who’s a “domestic terrorist.” Wow! Classic “us” versus “them.” I’ll have to see if the OR Library has a copy for my summer reading.
And by the way, just where are the “Middle States?”
Tell Jesse Ventura I said, “Hey.”
M Mannske says
The book is in the library system, though they may have to order it for you. Then you’ll find out where the Middle States are.
Jesse has escaped America and is now living in Mexico where the drones can’t find him.
Raj Jain says
Through interesting change in policies the school system sent good senior teachers into retirement or seek jobs elsewhere. Those jobs were replaced by junior teachers who did not get paid as much. What happen to the money saved?
bill bradley says
oh please, must we revisit this again? They retire, some get pregnant, move to coach elsewhere, move and teach closer to family, burn out, etc. For a year I tried to get our beloved councilwoman to explain this situation and she could / would not. It’s obvious she fabricated the story and presented it as fact and bullied the media into printing it. Are you gonna nickel and dime the system to death over a few who left? I asked her 2 simple questions: Name ten of the “droves” who left and talked to her. How could the average salary be over $58K and all those new teachers be hired? Her silence was deafening. Never named the first one. Not even the retired ones who were unhappy enough to quit. Pick another topic. Even she said let it go…cause that’s what you do when you’re busted.