tor,
Kudo's to Mr. Morton although I would have liked to have seen a bit more persistance in his objection as I think a few were napping. You must have been one of the other 4 parents (after subtracting teachers and school administrators) that attended the meeting last night. Such an pitiful parent turnout doesn't indicate any concern for the way the schools are run or what's being done with their tax $$$$$. Not what I expected considering all the complaining I hear whenever two or more parents get together. WHERE WERE THE CONCERNED? Based on the parent turnout last night, the School Administration and Board have no reason to change a thing as the parents appear satisfied and have given carte blanche. Truely a sad, sad night for those that can't represent themselves (the children).

Think that's bad, attend a County Commission meeting in Pembroke. Lack of participation and attendance at county commission meetings is the reason that you and everyone else in South Bryan will travel the already over crowded Highway 144 to the Ft. McAllister area to pay your taxes, buy your tags, deal with P&Z, get your flu shots, the reason that the SPLOST PARK was constructed near a trash dump and that grant money from the state was used to purchase land around the dump and SPLOST PARK IN Murbertsville. (Area in and around Spur 144 and Highway 144)

One thing we can thank Mrs. Brewer, and the School Board for, is sending a representative to the county commission meetings. Good idea.

Those of us who regularly attend county commission meetings need all of the help we can get to keep track of the various self-serving conspirators who would like for the citizens of Bryan County to think they are doing what is in the best of the county.

Hope I see you at the next meeting on November 6, 2007.

Way to go, Jeff Morton! Those of you in District 4 should thank the Lord every day that you have someone on the school board who will not kow-tow to the old guard. What I'd like to know is, why didn't the Bryan County News report Mr. Morton's comment in their write-up of the meeting? A responsible journalist would have followed up on that comment with Mr. Morton and the board members who weren't "napping" when it came up. The out-of-state travel issue is more than just a hot button. It represents just one more embarrassing failing perpetrated upon OUR children by this school administration, led by Sallie Brewer. Keep it up, Jeff! And while you're at it, could you go ahead and announce Sallie's retirement so a search committee can begin looking for her replacement? Then we can get serious about education in Bryan County!

JMcCray

FYI

The reporter who covered the meeting does a fine job of juggling multiple beats (she deals with everything from the county commission to schools and growth to picking up and typing in police reports) and is a responsible journalist. She's also still learning, just like all of us.

What's more, she was unaware of last year's band trip controversy (she just got here a few months ago) and thought the comment from Morton was a result of a personal issue between he and Warnell, since she's seen the two "disagree" at past meetings.

In any case, her recollection of the meeting is that Morton said he was honored by the invite but had concerns about sending Warnell. The reporter recalls no mention from Morton of why he had the concerns, thought it was one more instance of a personal issue between the two board members and let it go unreported.

Under those circumstances, I might have done the same.

What people who don't work in this business may not realize is occasionally you may be limited by a lack of prior knowledge, but often you are handicapped by time constraints, space limitations and there are times you have to make judgement calls based on what you feel is most newsworthy at any given moment - particularly when putting together a meeting story.

Do we make the right call every time? Probably not. We certainly try to.

Please feel free to call me at 756-2793 if you would like to discuss this further. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are best because I'm not under the deadline gun, though I'm also here on Saturdays quite a bit and will gladly listen to your concerns.

Thanks for your input, by the way. Our goal is to be the best paper we can and feedback like this helps us move in that direction.

Jeff Whitten

Thanks for your response, Jeff. As a working journalist myself, I understand the limitations Jessica was working under. But what about now? Now that you are aware of the comment, why not follow up with the superintendent and board attorney. Find out what the insurance concerns are for board members when they travel. Do they assume the risks themselves, or does the board's insurance policy cover them? If so, why can't it cover our kids when they travel on school-related business? That's the story that the Bryan County News needs to report. You've stepped out on a limb before by reporting on school issues the old guard would love to keep quiet. But you've also failed to provide balanced coverage on those issues (i.e., traffic concerns around the schools during the first few days of school -- we only got the officials' "glowing" reports, none of the parents' comments as they sat in traffic). Don't get me wrong -- I'm glad you are there reporting something. But I hope this helps you move toward more in-depth reporting on ALL the issues. Thanks!

Justine McCray
Richmond Hill

Justine

Thanks for the input. You raise some interesting points and I appreciate the advice.

Jeff Whitten