Opinions...

Comments to the Tallassee Times

Superintendent's Salary (5-19-09)

Dr. Jeffers received the approval for a raise from the board of Tallassee City Schools. While I’m not “knocking” anyone in the job force for receiving a raise, I work and enjoy the raises I receive from my job, but I think the raise that Dr. Jeffers received is a bit much. First off, I will admit, I don’t know all the facts and contributing factors that are included in determining a school superintendent's raise, and I don’t know all the achievements Jeffers has accomplished and the achievements the school system has accomplished under his direction. So my comment is coming strictly from the article I read concerning his raise and me just using a little common sense. So here it goes, his raise was approved 5-2. His salary went from $119,508 to $149,358 annually. That is an increase of roughly a $30,000 a year.

Now, I am firm believer in doing all that we can for our school systems. Education and safety in the schools is a crucial asset that we have to have here in Tallassee. The children and students in Tallassee school system need to receive the highest education possible in the safest environment possible. So accomplishing that is something I believe all residents of Tallassee, whether you have children in the schools or not, need to help out with. According to the article, as of April 30, 2009 the school system had $2,774,600.44 cash in the bank. And Jeffers said that the school system is financially sound. “President Pitchford presented a long list of achievements under Jeffers' tenure including upgrades on all campuses, budget surplus increase from $400,000 to $2.5 million, about $40,000 received per quarter for processing the state's Medicaid Administration claims, the addition of a full-time choral department, and several other achievements. Pitchford then pointed out that Jeffers' salary is lower than superintendents of other city systems of comparable size.”

So Jeffers upgraded the campuses, increased the budget surplus from $400,000 to $2.5 million, $40,000 for processing Medicaid Admin claims, a full time choral dept, and other achievements. Would it be wrong of me to ask, aren’t those things he should be doing in his job? Accomplishing all those achievements for the school system is what the superintendant is supposed to do, right? I mean, achieving all goals that the school system, board, and community would like to see accomplished is kind of one of the “jobs” of the superintendent, right? So, he is accomplishing all these goals, which is great, I think that if he is doing this, he is doing his job and should be praised for it. But here is the real kicker to me, there are some funds that are not going to be awarded, yet he got a $30,000 a year raise and Jeffers' salary is lower than other superintendents of other city systems of comparable size. So, we have to keep Jeffers’ salary up with the “Jones”. You know the old saying, everybody tries to keep up with the “Jones”. So just because other city system superintendents are making more than Jeffers, we have to give him a $30,000 a year raise?

In my job, as well as millions of other jobs in the country, there are people in the same job positions that make more than you, but do we just get paid according to the rate of comparable job positions? It’s kind of like when Nick Saban was hired as the head coach of Alabama, because of his high pay other colleges were raising the pay of their coaches, but did they have to, no. Do the Tallassee City School system have to keep up with pay, or “Jones’ salary” of other superintendents of comparable systems, no. When they compared them, what was comparable? Number of students enrolled, number of student activities, number of teachers, revenue and deficits, what? Do these other comparable systems have a higher revenue, higher income, lower deficits, more grants, more donations, less grants, ………???? What was comparable? In one section of the article it says that there will no longer be “funding for Student Materials, Technology, Library Enhancement, Professional Development, and Common Purchase.” So the school system has cut funds that drastically help our students and teachers, but our superintendent has to be paid in comparison with other superintendents?

Well here is my whole point of writing this long, drawn out comment to this article and what I have been on a soap box about, there are a lot of student materials, technology, library enhancements, professional development, and common purchases that could be made with a $30,000 a year raise. Or at least a good start on it. That $30,000 a year that is going to Jeffers could do a lot and help out a lot for classrooms and teachers. Like I said previously, I believe in raises and awarding someone for a job well done, but I do believe in the Tallassee City School system, $119,508 dollars a year is a great salary to live on! Let’s use that $30,000 to put something back in the classrooms, to help a teacher buy something for her class, like pencils, paper, paper towels, hand sanitizer, etc. use that to buy a couple of new or updated computers, buy new things for the library that students can use for research, any type of common purchase. That’s just my common sense of how I see it - Jeffrey Dennis

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I can understand rewarding someone for a job well done BUT 25% reward is above and beyond what should be given in my humble opinion. I have been in jobs where I have had the threat of exposure to diseases and radiation and the most I ever received was 3%, so please tell me why would 25% be justified!!?? We have a need for additional teachers and supplies but by all means pay $30,000 more to an official who has an income that most of us dream of. How much is enough? How much is too much? How many supplies would $30,000 buy for my daughter’s first and third grade classes? I am all for making a living but this is a 25% increase and we cannot and should not compare ourselves with other city systems because who is to say they are doing things correctly; why can’t we be the trend setters, do the job that is expected, do it well, get paid a decent salary and be happy with that? I might be happy and approve of a 5% raise, which by the way is almost $6,000 a year, but I think in these economic times a more prudent approach would be to give a pat on the back, a you’re doing a great job, and yes we will let you keep your job for a little longer. There are a lot of people that would just love to hear that last part. I do not have any hard feelings toward any involved parties I only want success and prosperity for Tallassee and the school system. Bring back teachers that can discipline the children when they do wrong and bring back parents who will be parents instead of excuse makers for their kids - Stephen Osborne

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With the state of the economy being as it is, I personally think it is a slap in the face to all the people who can't even find work or draw unemployment, to give that much of a raise. Some people aren't even getting a cost of living raise this year much less that ridiculus amount - Art Ballard

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I listened to interview (on WTLS) with Wayne Pitchford. It was very good and very informative to general public. Very positive! It is my opinion I agree totally with Wayne Pitchford and the board's decision to raise his pay. He deserves it and has done a tremendous job in several categories with his leadership and his pay WAS well behind other comparable superintendents' pay scales of same size. Just my two cents worth. Hire the best people you can hire, and then you got to pay to keep them and should give folks incentives to stay and reward them when they do well - Charlie Winchester

Rundown Buildings (5-19-09)

I have been passing buildings on my way home that are an eyesore for years and am curious to know if the owners have been contacted about cleanup. These buildings are the old Show and Shine building, the garage/shop right across the street from previously named building, and numerous other buildings that are vacant along Hwy 14 up to the Senior Center. People are continuing to hold Tallassee back when this city could prosper and grow. I am also curious to know why the duplex on James Street where the movie Big Fish was filmed is still vacant. If there are any answers to these questions I would like to know. Thank you - Stephen Osborne

Gene Chizik (5-19-09)

Comments about the “Where Does Chizik Rank” editorial - How about a take on how lucky Bama was to win like they did last year only to get the real proof on how good they really were in the Sugar Bowl against the mighty Utes…. How about an editorial on that - Steve Stokes

Morris Purcell Recognition (5-19-09)

You know I read in the board block that Ingram commented that something should be done to honor Jimmy Durden for his years of service for THS athletics. I agree with that and thought about that myself before reading this. I mention that to say this, why did the Morris Purcell recommendation to honor him in some capacity just go away? - Miles Hathcock

The Tallapoosa River Rapids (5-12-09)

Ok, this is the second year in a row I have sent this e-mail. No one respects that area of the river. And if you are boating as a hobby you ALWAYS wear a life vest - ALWAYS. If you are going to run the falls, you should first scout them. They should have logically determined - IT ISN'T A GOOD IDEA. If you are going to be daring, at least have someone standing above you with a throw rope. Dang. Some of this was just ignorance on their part. But I sure hate to see it - Matt Totty

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I think that all boaters who venture on the Tallapoosa below Thurlow dam should be required to check in with the Tallassee Police Department before putting crafts in the water. At the check in, boaters would register type of boat, driver-license identifications or some other acceptable photo-identification, communications numbers and contact names and numbers. They would be told of the dangers on the river and advised that life jackets must be worn at all times. Then they would be given a code. When they leave the river safely, someone would be obligated to call the police department, give the code identification and say that all (or a single, if that is the case) are safely off the river. To make sure that the police department is notified, a money deposit that is refundable, either by mail or to the boaters in person, could be required.

How to prevent boaters' bypassing the police department and going directly to the river could present a problem. However, there should be enough websites and publications read by boaters that word of the requirements for boarding the river at Tallassee could be easily spread. If a boating party is spotted on the river without a code word, that party could be fined. Notification of all these requirements could be posted prominently at the boat ramp where most boaters put in below the dam.

All of this may sound a little picky just to get a boat in the water, but I'll lay you 20 to 1 that the parents of the drowned student wouldn't think so - W. C. Bryant

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The first thing we can do is to correct the websites. All persons should be warned with signs that safety gear is required on the river.
The really big thing I dream about for Tallassee is that of river recreation. I have always felt that we let our rivers and lakes sit and we should utilize them, instead;

1. Kayak stations: supervised, fees charged, safety gear rented and returned. Pick up and drop off.
2. Supervised river rafting. (Rhett Dennis and Will Tosch would be great.)
3. River boat rides: Between the dams. What a site and a great ride. Maybe even down river where it flattens out.
4. Fishing piers below the eddy and between the dams
5. River walk trails where we feature nature, the natural mountain laurels, etc.
6. Public beach for swimming.

This would mean lodging and food places, more entertainment for evening time, ergo movies, putt putt golf, etc.
Tallassee needs to dream. Might as well dream big! - Ida Turner

King Street Parking Lot (5-5-09)

In recent years many Tallassee High School students, Tallassee residents, and visitors to the school have had to contend with the school parking issue. The school board on many occasions has expressed a desire to convert the vacant lots on historic King Street into a parking lot. There are many problems associated with converting these vacant lots into a parking lot. The residents of King Street have been opposed to a parking lot on this site, because of the limited number of parking spots which would be available versus the current number of student cars parked on King and North Dubois streets.

The figures stated by the Central Alabama Planning Commission survey results reflect that this lot would provide only 52 parking spots to accommodate the cars. On the day I surveyed the street I counted 65 student cars currently using these streets. This parking lot will not remove all cars parking on King Street as often mentioned every time someone raises the parking lot issue.

At the Tallassee Planning Commission on April 6, 2009, Pastor Jay Woodall made mention that he would provide soil to extend the land in back of the school to build a parking lot. The school board and the city own the land upon which the parking lot can be built. This would expand the area for all school and trade day events. This land is currently an unused gully, which is located behind the school and McDonald’s and extends to Knox and Ann streets. This is a win – win opportunity by creating a solution to the problems and eliminating the parking situation. This would provide all Tallassee residents and other parties with a secure workable solution to meet everyone’s needs and desires.

I urge you to contact your school and City council representative saying you are in support of the parking area being built behind the school and extend the use of the unused gully. For everyone who has parked on King Street for numerous events held at the high school, this would be the premier way to say thanks, and also to the King Street residents for the inconvenience that they have endured through years - Darrell Wilson

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