Why The Guilford County School Closings? Updated

Today we learn from PTA President at Gateway Education Center, Dania Mavor Ermentrout that Gateway Education Center in Greensboro is to be closed.

Add to that the recent report from the Rhino that Bessemer Elementary located next door is also recommended to be closed along with 9 other Guilford County Schools.

"At a three-hour Thursday afternoon, Jan. 31 meeting of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education, the consultants stated that, based on population trends, facility conditions and efficiency considerations, there are 10 schools that need to be closed.  At the meeting, the language the consultants used was that these schools should be “repurposed.” There was some confusion over that word at first, however, the definition they gave soon revealed that “repurposed” meant “closed.”  Some buildings could be used for other purposes the consultants said, but the buildings shouldn’t be used as places where students attend school and the 10 schools should not be replaced."

While Erwin located just around the corner was destroyed by the tornado and Guilford County Schools has announced no plans to rebuild despite overcrowded classrooms County wide. That's 3 schools located within 1/2 of a mile of one another.

Have the Guilford County Schools run into money problems since the hiring of Superintendent Sharon L. Contreras? Or are the money problems the result of years of chronic under investment? Is the closing and eventual selling off of school properties the solution? Really?

Bessemer and Gatewood are located on the corner of East Wendover Ave and Huffine Mill Road. The combined properties are part of a much larger piece of property that was first purchased by the county in 1859 for $1140 and have enormous values as commercial properties for shopping centers and office parks. And County owned properties are usually sold for pennies on the dollar.

Is this a plan to enrich developers at the cost of taxpayers?

And what about the 9 other schools recommended for closing county wide? Is Gateway just the first?

Update: 3:10 PM

Current and projected enrollment.



Capacity per facilities report:

No changes recommended:

Guilford County Schools Continue To Supress Public Information

This morning I was forwarded the following e-mail:

As you can see by clicking the links, Attorney Jill Wilson and Anita Sharpe have a previous history of hiding public information.

So I decided to forward the e-mail along with my reply to a number of people including several elected leaders. I guess you could say I took a shot at Jill Wilson and Anita Sharpe:

Turns out my aim was straight and true as pointed out by Guilford County School Board Member Deena Hayes-Greene:

Bullseye!

Now why is it that we continually are being given the run around by Jill Wilson, Anita Sharpe and the Guilford County Schools?

Delete Anita Sharpe: Updated

A recent e-mail intercepted from Guilford County School Board Commissioner that shows she knowingly intended and directed others to break North Carolina public records laws. This and what will follow in the coming days should be enough to bring about a State level investigation into the activities of Attorney Jill R Wilson and Say Yes Guilford.

Should the rest of the Guilford County School Board and Guilford County Commissioners not be willing to immediately call for such an investigation they will be considered complicit. Click to view full size.

Update: Anita Sharpe Replies:

Update 2: Allow me to begin this second update with the definition of Public Records as per § 132-1.  "Public records" defined. Please note the emphasis added.

§ 132-1.  "Public records" defined.

(a)        "Public record" or "public records" shall mean all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, films, sound recordings, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data-processing records, artifacts, or other documentary material, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance in connection with the transaction of public business by any agency of North Carolina government or its subdivisions. Agency of North Carolina government or its subdivisions shall mean and include every public office, public officer or official (State or local, elected or appointed), institution, board, commission, bureau, council, department, authority or other unit of government of the State or of any county, unit, special district or other political subdivision of government.

(b)        The public records and public information compiled by the agencies of North Carolina government or its subdivisions are the property of the people. Therefore, it is the policy of this State that the people may obtain copies of their public records and public information free or at minimal cost unless otherwise specifically provided by law. As used herein, "minimal cost" shall mean the actual cost of reproducing the public record or public information. (1935, c. 265, s. 1; 1975, c. 787, s. 1; 1995, c. 388, s. 1.)

Do you see any exceptions for e-mail written into State Public Records laws? All is a tiny word but its meaning is very big, very inclusive, right? All is as big as everything.

Now, do you see any exceptions for Facebook-- a form of electronic records retention-- written into North Carolina state law? What's the difference between communications via Facebook and any other form of electronic communication? The differences would be like trying to argue the differences between Gmail and Yahoo-- all are forms of electronic communications.

I bring this up because as I posted in What's The Relationship Between Jill R Wilson And Anita Wilson Sharpe? Ms Sharpe previously deleted her comments on my facebook page.
.

And this one:

And along with deleting her comments she never replied to my follow-up question:

No big deal, you say? Not so fast. According to G.S. 132-3 Destruction of records regulated the State of North Carolina thinks it is a big deal:

"§ 132-3.  Destruction of records regulated.
(a)Prohibition.–No public official may destroy, sell, loan, or otherwise dispose of any public record, except in accordance with G.S. 121-5 and G.S. 130A-99, without the consent of the  Department  of  Natural  and  Cultural  Resources.  Whoever  unlawfully  removes  a  public record from the office where it is usually kept, or alters, defaces, mutilates or destroys it shall be  guilty  of  a  Class  3  misdemeanor  and  upon  conviction  only  fined  not  less  than  ten  dollars ($10.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00)."

Communications with public officials concerning public records is always public record no matter what the medium. No exceptions are written into the law.

Okay, so maybe $10 or even $500 isn't that big a deal but that's for just one offense. How many times has Anita Sharpe violated North Carolina public records laws?

Now that I have established that Guilford County School Board Member Anita has a PROVEN history of violating state records laws will our school board and county commissioners call for an independent state level investigation concerning Say Yes Guilford, Superintendent Sharon Contreras, and Attorney Jill R Wilson? Or will they simply let it all ride?


Update 3: And finally, as was sent to me:

"***SO MY SUGGESTION TO PUBLIC IS TO CONSIDER:

If you want to read the emails from Anita Sharpe to submit a public information request by email or calling (370-2300) Nora Carr (carrN@gcsnc.com) or any staff member in District Relations at Guilford County Schools.

Request (Any/all emails from Anita Sharpe to the superintendent or board between September 22, 2017 to current) keywords graduation, evaluations or firing)

Many educational stakeholders spoke during the September 28th board meeting to uplifting concerns with the boards motion during September 7th board meeting to overrule operational decision by superintendent (to change a graduation date to accommodate vacation schedules.  Speakers also addressed the unethical behavior of Anita Sharpe's communications.

http://www.gcsnc.com/pages/gcsnc/District/Board_of_Education_-_Group/Meeting_Materials/2017_Meeting_Materials_and_Min

Several organizations leaders have considered recommendations to ask the SBI to  investigate the many correspondence from Anita Sharpe regarding violating the law and numerous concerns that board legal counsel is pulling emails and documents from public information request that are NOT student or personnel related and violating citizens rights to access information.

There are plans for a upcoming community meeting to address the "School Board Watch" concerns and to develop next steps in supporting Guilford County Schools students, staff and educational improvement needs.

STAY TUNED!!!"

Update 4: October 6, 2017, Jordan Green of Triad City Beat writes School board members must respect public records law Hopefully he'll pick up on the rest of the story as well.

On Guilford County School's Sharon Contreras and the Say Yes to Education Scam

New Guilford County Schools Superintendent Sharon Contreras' = Say Yes to Education, Say Yes Guilford and Say Yes Syracuse = Say Yes now owns Guilford County Schools

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/06/new-guilford-county-schools.html

John Hammer on new Guilford County Schools Superintendent Sharon Contreras and Say Yes to Education

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/06/john-hammer-on-new-guilford-county.html

Alan Duncan and Amos Quick; "Through Say Yes to Education in Syracuse, Contreras has worked with her community..."

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/07/alan-duncan-and-amos-quick-through-say.html

"City of Greensboro, mayor sued over access to public records" by Roch Smith Jr.

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/08/city-of-greensboro-mayor-sued-over.html

Ponzi needs a new town; Jul 25, 2016 4:59 AM; "Say Yes to Education" program could mean free college for Louisville students"

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/07/ponzi-needs-new-town-jul-25-2016-459-am.html

Just in case any of those involved with Say Yes to Education want to say they didn't know

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/11/just-in-case-any-of-those-involved-with.html

"Council for Say Yes will hold public meeting Monday"

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/11/friday-november-11-2016-740-pm-council.html

"Newcomers join Greensboro school board this month" and Say Yes Guilford

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/12/newcomers-join-greensboro-school-board.html

Dear Donnie Turlington and Mary Vigue; Please explain why Say Yes to Education's money is in Central America

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/02/dear-donnie-turlington-and-mary-vigue.html

An email sent to Say Yes to Education folks this morning;

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/11/an-email-sent-to-say-yes-to-education.html

John Hammer at the Rhino Times is starting to get the fcukedupness of Say Yes to Education

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2017/03/john-hammer-at-rhino-times-is-starting.html

The beginning of the middle of the eventual end of Say Yes to Education in Guilford County

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-beginning-of-middle-of-eventual-end.html

Former City of Greensboro Assistant Manager Mary Vigue used her position to personally profit via Say Yes to Education and Say Yes Guilford

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/09/former-city-of-greensboro-assistant.html

Guilford school board seeks more information from Say Yes

http://www.greensboro.com/news/schools/guilford-school-board-seeks-more-information-from-say-yes/article_dcde8eee-fcdb-5c3a-99d7-1447ae62d009.html

Interim executive director named for Say Yes to Education Guilford

http://www.greensboro.com/news/local_news/interim-executive-director-named-for-say-yes-to-education-guilford/article_1e112125-23c7-5b2d-86a5-882da9b1e1e9.html

I handed out about 100 fliers of this at the meeting; "Say Yes to Education and Say Yes Guilford Unanswered Questions"

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/11/i-handed-out-about-100-fliers-of-this.html

It's been about a month since the News and Record hasn't reported Say Yes Guilford has less than $11 million, and charter schools have to pay 100%

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/12/its-been-5-days-and-news-and-record.html

A comment awaiting moderation at Triad City Beat's "Say Yes says maybe to undocumented Guilford students"

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/11/a-comment-awaiting-moderation-at-triad.html

Say Yes to Education and Say Yes Guilford questions for Monday night at 6 pm

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/11/say-yes-to-education-and-say-yes.html

Say Yes to Education Red Flag; Mary Vigue; She is about to be in charge of more than $25 million for a 'non-profit' after shafting City of Greensboro employees out of investment fee cuts

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/10/say-yes-to-education-red-flag-mary.html

Mary Anne Schmitt-Carey; President at Say Yes to Education, Inc.; Professional Fundraising Organization

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/10/mary-anne-schmitt-carey-president-at.html

Say Yes to Education Independent Contractor Compensation the News and Record's Susan Ladd failed to report

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/10/say-yes-to-education-independent.html

Say Yes to Education, Inc. (Say Yes), and Say Yes Guilford appears to be a legal Ponzi scheme and/or a Racket

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/11/say-yes-to-education-inc-say-yes-and.html

How the Triad Business Journal got played for chumps by Say Yes to Education and Say Yes Guilford

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/11/how-triad-business-journals-reporter.html

On October 3, 2015, Guilford County's Board of Education was shown a "Full Tuition Scholarship Incentive" plan, for every GCS graduate who goes to college

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/11/on-october-3-2015-guilford-countys.html

Monday, November 16, 2015, I crashed the Say Yes to Education and Say Yes Guilford meeting at Smith High School and passed out fliers asking the following questions;

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/11/i-crashed-say-yes-to-education-and-say.html

"Guilford commissioners hear update on Say Yes"

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/02/guilford-commissioners-hear-update-on.html

Say Yes Guilford Questions for Guilford County Commissioner and School Board Candidates

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/02/say-yes-guilford-questions-for-guilford.html

Ponzi? From Say Yes to Education's 7/1/2014 to 6/30/2015 IRS 990 tax form

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/10/from-say-yes-to-educations-712014-to.html

Gag order and censorship for Guilford County teachers by Say Yes to Education and Angela Jackson of Guilford County's Association of Educators

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/07/gag-order-and-censorship-for-guilford.html

George Weiss doesn't mind using massive leverage and illegal tax avoidance

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/08/george-weiss-doesnt-mind-using-massive.html

One Dollar; "Resolution Requesting Approval of Lease Agreement with Say Yes to Education"; Tuesday, November 17, 2015

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/08/one-dollar-resolution-requesting.html

George 'Say Yes to Education' Weiss and Associates;"...the hedge fund portfolio reportedly returned more than 50% per year on an annual basis", except for when it didn't

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/09/george-say-yes-to-education-weiss-and.html

Susan Ladd's oldest daughter appears to be in line for a Say Yes to Education scholarship

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/08/susan-ladds-oldest-daughter-appears-to.html

If Say Yes Guilford has $35 million,...

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/07/if-say-yes-guilford-has-35-million.html

$832,000 Payoff; "Buffalo Public Schools award the contract to Say Yes for community program"

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/07/832000-payoff-buffalo-public-schools.html

Richard (Skip) Moore's misleading statements; "8 Things to Know About "Say Yes To Education"

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/07/richard-skip-moores-misleading.html

Why did the Hartford Chapter of Say Yes close in June 2005?

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/07/why-did-hartford-chapter-of-say-yes.html

Thursday, June 30, 2016; Say Yes to Education's amazing, quite unbelievable investment performance; This is a George Weiss special

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/06/say-yes-to-educations-amazing-quite.html

Fire Sharon L Contreras?

That's the press release I opened this morning. Click to view full size.

Are White Kids At Risk Too?

Child murdered at Erwin Montessori School 3012 East Bessemer Ave. Now maybe some of you white people on the west side will take interest: https://greensboro101.com/news-release-teen-shooting-victim-succumbs-to-wounds-170821/

And be sure to notice the official police document left off the name of the school.

Are We Being Robbed By Jill Wilson And Brooks Pierce?

For some time now people have been wondering about the arrangements between the Guilford County Schools and the law firm Brooks Pierce LLC. who "represents" our schools as well as several other local public school systems throughout North Carolina. This morning I opened my inbox to find the following information had been forwarded to me:

"Attached please find the records we have that are responsive to your request on July 24, 2017. GCS uses an engagement letter instead of contract. The letter and related attachments defines our agreement and terms with Brooks Pierce LLC. We do not have separate engagement letters with other attorneys; however, Brooks Pierce may use other attorneys on our behalf.

Sincerely,

Nora Shoptaw

Thank you for choosing Guilford County Schools!

Nora ShoptawProgram Administrator - Communications
Guilford County Schools
Department of District Relations
712 North Eugene Street
Greensboro, NC 27401-0880
336-370-8386 (phone)
336-574-3863 (fax)
shoptan@gcsnc.com 
http://www.gcsnc.com

Striving. Achieving. Excelling.

Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn"

And here are the attachments as sent.

Engagement Letter

Rates Raised

Rates Raised Again

It would indeed be interesting to know how much money is actually paid Jill Wilson and Brooks Pierce LLC but to date no one is talking. In the meantime, the City of Greensboro, Greensboro Police Department, City of High Point, High Point Police Department, Guilford County, and Guilford County sheriff's Department all keep these costs in check by employing their own in-house legal departments.

According to a quote I got from Greensboro City Attorney Thomas Carruthers concerning information I asked for on the Robert v City of Greensboro suit, the City of Greensboro figures $40 an hour for reading through public records-- the same services Brooks Pierce is now billing Guilford County schools $150 to $225 per hour. Get it? It appears Jill R Wilson could afford to fund Tools For Schools out of her pocket.

Related Articles:

How Much Is Jill R Wilson Of Brooks Pierce Law Being Paid BY GCS?

What's The Relationship Between Jill R Wilson And Anita Wilson Sharpe?

The Real Reason Guilford County Schools Is Adding A Charge For Public Information Requests

Jill R Wilson Of Brooks Pierce Law Hiding Public Information?

What's The Relationship Between Jill R Wilson And Anita Wilson Sharpe?

Jill R Wilson is an attorney for the law firm, Brooks Pierce Law.

Anita Wilson Sharpe is District 2 Representative for the Guilford County School Board.

They do kinda favor, don't they?

How do I know Ms Sharpe's maiden name is Wilson? Because she used it when she commented and later deleted her comments on my facebook page. You see, Ms Sharpe, there is this thing called a screen grab that is better than lie detectors at catching people telling fibs.

And this one:

And along with deleting her comments she never replied to my follow-up question:

Anyone notice any resemblance between Jill R Wilson and Anita Wilson Sharpe? Is there any other evidence that might connect the two. According to the Guilford County Schools, Ms Sharpe lives at 5521 Drake Road.

According to the Guilford County Register of Deeds a lot of folks with the last name of Sharpe live along Drake Road. No less than 9 Sharpe families are listed as property owners. There are 3 Wilson families who own property on Drake Road. What does that prove? Nothing.

The only Jill Wilson I could find who owns property in Guilford County didn't appear to be who we're after. I suspect we might find a whole bunch of Wilsons just south of Drake Road in Randolph County but I didn't check.

But Guilford County Schools are still trying to justify charging "production fees" for public information requests at the direction of Attorney Jill R Wilson while failing to tell us How Much Is Jill R Wilson Of Brooks Pierce Law Being Paid BY GCS?

Considering that Jill R Wilson is the person who is looking through the public information requests to determine which ones the public is to be allowed to see, it only seems fair that her fees be made public too.

As a matter of fact: it's the law.

How Much Is Jill R Wilson Of Brooks Pierce Law Being Paid BY GCS?

Earlier today, after I wrote The Real Reason Guilford County Schools Is Adding A Charge For Public Information Requests, I posted a link to Facebook along with the question:

"What are they hiding?"

As you can see by the screengrab below it didn't take long before Guilford County School Board Member, Anita Wilson Sharpe took it on her own to offer explain what was going on.

With no more prodding on my part she took it on her own to tell me the following:

Well apparently Ms Sharpe hasn't been around the block as many times as she'd like us to think as I already had my follow-up question ready before she answered:

Is it rude to ask follow-up questions? Why did Ms Sharpe never reply to my second question?

Then just as I expected her to do, Anita Sharpe deleted her comments from my Facebook post.

How much is Jill R Wilson of Brooks Pierce Law being paid by Guilford County Schools, why did Board Member Anita Sharpe delete her reply, and what are the Guilford County Schools hiding?

Related: Jill R Wilson Of Brooks Pierce Law Hiding Public Information?

The Real Reason Guilford County Schools Is Adding A Charge For Public Information Requests

If you ever had any doubt as to the motives as to why the Guilford County Public Schools are seeking to charge fees for Public Information Requests you only need read this letter from Chief of Staff, Nora Carr to Guilford County Board of Education Vice Chair, Darlene Garrett: Click to enlarge.

That's right, 136 requests in one year is supposedly overwhelming their system whereas the City of Greensboro handles thousands of PIRTs per year.

Can you say, cover-up in the making?

Guilford County Schools Can't Manage 4 Person Board

Earlier today I posted Guilford County Schools Seeks To Restrict Access To Public Records. 

That meeting has since been cancelled.


Minutes ago I received the following e-mail addressed to Guilford County School Board Chairman, Alan W. Duncan. I'm posting it in our Letters to the Editor section without further comment.


"I am writing to uplift a concern regarding the lack of public notice for Board Meetings and Board Committee meetings.+

My hope is the chair you will support better transparency with the public as it relates to public notice.

As you know the June Policy Committee Agenda included the July 13th meeting date however NO staff member nor board member has communicated with the public regarding the fact that the meeting has been cancelled or a notice was not sent out.

http://www.gcsnc.com/dynimg/_eNAAA_/docid/0x0B2907DF0D743964/10/Policy%2BCommittee%2BAgenda%2B06-14-17.pdf

While I understand that confirm schedules can be challenging with such a small committee 4 board members but being more transparent to allow public an opportunity to attend open meetings for constituents should be considered and timely notice should be done.

As you know policies in our district are very important and we must not allow policies to be created or updated without valid supportive evidence that would warrant implementation of any charges or policies.

My hope that as the chair you will strongly consider improving this important communication and public notice expectation as a public body.  

Thank you,

DeMuriel 

Jamestown, NC"

Guilford County Schools Seeks To Restrict Access To Public Records

Guilford County Board of Education Policy Committee 2:30pm today in Board Conference room. They will be talking about charging for Public Information Requests.



Update: 10:36 am Meeting Cancelled

Do Cameras Prevent Violence?

I've intervened to stop children from hurting other children.

I've watched as parents intervened to stop children from hurting other children.

I've watched as teachers intervened to stop children from hurting other children.

I've watched as police officers intervened to stop children from hurting other children.

I've watched as neighbors intervened to stop children from hurting other children.

I've watched as strangers intervened to stop children from hurting other children.

But never in my 61 years on this Earth have I ever seen a camera-- even the most high tech cameras-- stop one child from hurting another child. Not once.

So why am I reading a letter entitled, Security Camera System Installation and Upgrades by none other than Sharon L. Contreras, Superintendent of Guilford County Schools in which Ms Contreras advocates spending $10.3 Million Dollars of the money that should be used to educate your children to install cameras in Guilford County Schools?

"We are providing the Board of Education with an updated priority list for installing and upgrading security camera systems throughout the district.

  

The School Safety and Technology teams have developed a prioritized and phased plan to have all schools in the district on a common platform. The priorities encompassed on a number of factors, including the school level (with high schools ranking first, middle schools second, and elementary schools third); current camera system infrastructure; rate of reported incidents, both during and after hours; and, the current security system infrastructure and environmental controls available at each school.

  

This project will bring Guilford County Schools in line with similar districts by adding technology to schools currently lacking camera systems, and by replacing outdated, unserviceable systems. The number of cameras per school provides for standardized coverage of entrances and exits, stairwells, corridors, cafeterias, lobbies, courtyards, parking areas and other areas not readily observed by staff.

  

The total cost of the project will cost approximately $10.8 million, based on the current pricing of system components and associated labor costs. The team anticipates needing approximately $1.2 million per year in capital funds to upgrade 89 sites in 9 years and to create a 12-year replacement cycle plan for security cameras, which would be in line with current industry standards.

  

Recommendation: Administration recommends the approval of the attached priority list for the installation of school safety cameras and related technologies, and directs the Superintendent to set aside $1.2 million annually for this purpose."

As many as 125 cameras at each high school. 80 cameras at each middle school, and 40 cameras at each elementary school, all with the sole purpose of telling us what happened after the fact.

Some of these schools have never recorded a single incident.

Is anyone going to be watching all these thousands of cameras?

Does knowing the bully that beat your kid up is going to be given a head start to a life of crime make you feel like your child is any safer at school?

Do you think that children are thinking far enough into the future to be concerned that they are being recorded? How many times have they misbehaved right in front of you, Mom and Dad?

Has Superintendent Sharon L. Contreras ever seen a child?

And then there is the problem of camera policy. Basically the Guilford County Schools has no established camera policy except that in violation of Federal law, no one, including the parents of children caught on school cameras, is allowed to see the video. From The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act:  

“Law enforcement unit records” (i.e., records created by the law enforcement unit, created for a law enforcement purpose, and maintained by the law enforcement unit) are not “education records” subject to the privacy protections of FERPA.  As such, the law enforcement unit may refuse to provide a parent with an opportunity to inspect and review law enforcement unit records, and it may disclose law enforcement unit records to third parties without the parent’s prior written consent.  However, education records, or personally identifiable information from education records, which the school shares with the law enforcement unit do not lose their protected status as education records because they are shared with the law enforcement unit."

That's right, it may not say video but if it is a record owned by the school then it is a protected record. As a matter of fact: Guilford County Schools are making the claim that because other children appear in the video, parents don't have the right to view videos of their own children. You can't have it both ways.

Already Guilford County Schools are denying parents access to videos of their own children and the plan is to spend $10.3 Million more Dollars on cameras to deny information from its rightful owners?

That, Dear Readers, is not a camera policy. That is a plan to turn our schools into prisons and deny the rights of parents and children.

Jill R Wilson Of Brooks Pierce Law Hiding Public Information?

I snagged the screen grab above from the Brooks Pierce Law Firm where Ms Wilson works.

I found it interesting to learn that unlike the City of Greensboro or Guilford County, Guilford County Schools does not employ their own in-house attorney. Instead, Guilford County Schools, like Rockingham County Schools, Davidson County Schools and 3 other North Carolina public school systems, employ the Brooks Pierce Law Firm and Jill R Wilson for all their legal needs.

Some people believe Ms Wilson charges hundreds of dollars, possibly thousands of dollars, for each and every meeting she attends. And when you throw in all the school board meetings, planning meetings, meetings with school officials, time in court, staff time... Well now you know why Greensboro and Guilford County as well as the Greensboro Police Department and Guilford County Sheriff's department all employ their own in-house salaried attorneys.

Anyway, parents and teachers here in Guilford County and other counties got to wondering just exactly how much money Jill Wilson and Brooks Pierce Law are raking in each year. So those same parents and teachers started submitting public information requests.

But so far, under the direction of Jill R Wilson, the school boards ain't talking.

As a matter of fact: at the request of Jill R Wilson herself, there's a meeting going on later today in which the folks in charge will discuss charging fees for public information requests.

Interesting, don't you think?

I mean, if I were running the Guilford County Schools and everything were on the up and up, all the accounting records including payments to Jill R Wilson and Brooks Pierce would already be online for everyone to see.

After all, taking a screen grab of any kind of accounting page is no more difficult than taking a screen grab of a web page. And if an old guy with a fake high school diploma from Greensboro's James B Dudley Sr High School can figure it out all on his own, surely those college educated folks working in the Guilford County Schools can be taught to do the same.

Over 3,033 Guilford County Children Go Hungry, Over 51,000 State Wide

From the governor of North Carolina: "Senate Republicans quietly inserted a provision in their budget to cut SNAP food assistance benefits for 133,000 North Carolinians last week, including 51,000 children. The cuts were not debated or mentioned by Republican leaders, and would not save the state any money, as the food assistance program is 100% federally funded. The cuts are also expected to cause many students from low-income families to lose free and reduced lunch eligibility." NC Gov. Cooper: Senate GOP Cut Food Assistance for Families and Children NC Gov. Cooper: Senate GOP Cut Food Assistance for Families and Children Senate Republicans quietly inserted a provision in their budget to cut SNAP food assistance benefits for 133,000... "Dear Guilford County Schools: Parents Supporting Parents would like to make a public information request of how much of a financial impact of loosing 3,033 eligible Free & Reduced students would  have on Guilford County School district.  We do not recall hearing during our last Board of Education meeting the negative financial impact it will have on Guildford County Schools if there are 3,000 plus students who qualify for Free & Reduced and what those proposed Federal fund amounts could be for eligible students under the Title I criteria. Has the district Finance or Title I department done any type of estimated figures or documentation if so please share this information?  Considering the link attached is from the Governor Coopers press release on May 17, 2017 our hope is that there will be some type of press release alerting our county of the potential financial impact this could have on our district. As a community and educational stakeholders it is vital that we are looking out for families and our Guilford County School students negatively impacted by poverty.  In addition, as a community when we advocate to the state leaders, county and locally for our district and the youth in Guilford County. In addition, as a community we will identify which members of the North Carolina Legislative Assembly and/or Guilford Delegation are supporting cutting funds and stripping the food from tables in Guilford County and all over our state. Parents Supporting Parents will be increasing our collaboration with other partnering organizations and stakeholders statewide as we address this and many other attempts to create negative barriers for families and students in Guilford County and statewide to have a Sound Basic Education!! Our hope is that other organizations will include this in their announcements and meeting agendas!!"

Going to be hard to teach hungry children, harder perhaps to keep them in school without food to entice them yo go. The war against the poor continues.

Say Yes To Education Is Publicly Funded

It's time to put the rumor to rest and tell the taxpayers the truth about Say Yes To Education: Say Yes To Education is publicly funded.

Yes, it is true there are millions in private donations as well but supporters for Say Yes don't want you to know about the public tax dollars that are being sunk into Say Yes around the nation.

For example: In an article in the Finger Lakes Times they write:

"Re-elected to the Common Council in 2005, Miner championed — and helped pass — legislation that gave

$1 million in initial funding to “Say Yes to Education,” a program that provides support services for Syracuse City School District students and promises free or reduced tuition to students who graduate from city high schools."

And from NPR station WRPO we learn that just 7 years later Syracuse is still waiting on $20 Million Dollars in state funding to keep the program afloat.

"And he said there are some signs of progress, including a $20 million contract for Say Yes to Education, which provides college tuition to Syracuse school graduates.

“The only thing standing between that money being in a central New York bank account from where it is today is sign off from the office of the state comptroller,” Simpson said."

This comes at a time when David Friedfel, Director of State Studies at the Citizens Budget Commission, says that Syracuse schools are short $83 Million Dollars for the coming school year. What's the point in promising free college when you're not going to educate them in the first place?

Here's are the claims made by Say Yes Syracuse in 2011 as published in the Toledo Blade:

"The program is expensive. Say Yes estimates that it costs annually about $3,500 per student, and that's not counting the college scholarships. Right now, the district covers only about half of the $30 million to run the program but must pay for it on its own by the end of the 2013-2014 school year."

But as we now know Syracuse is waiting on a $20 Million Dollar bailout from the State of New York in 2017. And where is the State of New York hoping to get that $20 Million? Legal settlements from banks. In other words, the State of New York doesn't have the money yet either.

Ever heard of counting your chickens before they hatch?

And check this out. From the article Syracuse kids get free tuition through plan to spur economy using fines on banks:

"The endowment is the last remaining piece of the work Say Yes did in Syracuse to be taken over by local authorities.

Aside from the scholarships, Say Yes set up after-school programs, legal and mental health services in Syracuse. Those programs, and funding for them, have all been absorbed by a partnership between the city, school district and county.

The only Say Yes staff that remains in Syracuse works on college eligibility and financial aid. Say Yes also continues to offer free tuition to Syracuse students at 103 participating private colleges.

Say Yes to Education President Mary Anne Schmitt-Carey said she would take the lessons learned here to other regions of the country."

Have you ever seen a city, county, school board partnership that wasn't taxpayer supported? The people who run Say Yes have already cut a trail and run, leaving Syracuse to fend for itself.

Meanwhile, over at Say Yes Buffalo.

From the Business Journal: $10 million state grant a big lift to Say Yes to Education Buffalo fundraising:

"A $10 million state grant would be the largest-ever gift to Say Yes to Education Buffalo and have a dramatic impact on the organization's ongoing fundraising activities."

But alas, the article continues...

"The grant was announced Monday as part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's "Buffalo Billion 2" plan and still must be approved in the state budget."

What's the deal? Why is the State of New York taking so long? Could it be they suspect something about Say Yes To Education that Greensboro, High Point, and Guilford County leaders would rather you and I not know?

And that Buffalo Billion program with which they hope to fund Say Yes Buffalo? Well as it turns out it has a few money problems of its own:

"But the management of the Buffalo Billion by the Cuomo administration has raised eyebrows — and concerns — in some quarters."

It only gets worse...


And just in case you are wondering, Say Yes Guilford has received funding from Guilford County, the Guilford County Schools, the City of Greensboro and the City of High Point.

Seriously? Seriously?

Some of you reading this will be happy to know that I have been diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis, a fatal lung disease, after several years of symptoms.

Will I die tomorrow? Probably not, I might last for years but eventually it will kill me.

But in the meantime I'd like to point something out to you: Billy Jones and Abner Doon of EzGreensboro.com were right all along. We never lied to you. Despite the fact that local politicians, their supporters, and their cronies continually tried to paint us as insane, and to this day the local media outlets refuse to acknowledge our very existence for fear they'll be ignored and you'll know the truth. Collectively, we and others on our team, have braved death threats, law suits, hackers, threats to our livelihoods, and even whisper campaigns to bring you the truth hours, days, weeks and sometimes years before it was reported by your "trusted" local media outlets.

Take for instance, Say Yes To Education, a nationwide Ponzi scheme promising free college educations to high school students. Say Yes works by signing up school system after school system with the money from each new school system going to pay the tuitions for the students of a previous school system. You know, the very definition of a Ponzi scheme. I post, after post, after post, this being the 59th post tagged Say Yes To Education, we have pointed out the many problems with Say Yes, actually going so far as to have people go to meetings, contact elected leaders, and meet with the media... Only to have our questions pushed aside.

Here's a screen grab from Fox8 just yesterday:

And the following statement from Lisa Harris taken from the same Fox8 story. I promise you every word of it is true. I have been communicating with Ms Harris since the beginning to work to uncover this scam:

“I wasn’t surprised because of the outcomes of what we’ve heard already about Say Yes, however, we are disappointed,” said Lissa Harris, with the group Parents Supporting Parents. “From day one we've been trying to have access to the scholarship committee and gain more information on how they were making their eligibility criteria."

And do you not find it to be of concern that no one from Say Yes is able to tell you how much money they have on hand. School Board member Deena Hayes-Greene has been asking that same question. So has newly elected school board member Byron Gladden, but so far no one from Say Yes is answering.

Do you not find it strange that Say Yes banks off shore in the Caribbean and in South America in countries that refuse to report to the USA or return the money should Say Yes be found to be doing something illegal?

How many times must we report the same things over and over again?

Then there's Say Yes founder George Weiss's claims that he has continually out performed the stock markets by  many times over.

Well how about this?

Yesterday, Fox8 reported Say Yes as saying:

" it is clear that the current model is not sustainable,"


Well it just so happens that if you go to the tiny search box at the top left of this website and type in Say Yes Not Sustainable you will find the following results:


August 28, 2016: "Some parents find it hard to believe their child is now eligible for free college tuition simply because they’re graduating from a public school in Guilford County."


June 29, 2016: New Guilford County Schools Superintendent Sharon Contreras' = Say Yes to Education, Say Yes Guilford and Say Yes Syracuse = Say Yes now owns Guilford County Schools

June 1, 2016: What did Brian Cleary and Eric Ginsburg tell Joanna Rutter before she wrote' "Say Yes mobilizes for next phase of educational support"?


August 22, 2016: There hasn't been a news story out of Louisville on Say Yes to Education since; Boris hasn't called with questions yet

November 1, 2016: The News and Record's Jessie Pounds; "Guilford County Schools' seniors can sign up for Say Yes scholarships"


August 5, 2016: More on what Say Yes to Education promised Guilford County students and parents


September 22, 2016: Say Yes Guilford; "The donation will put the Say Yes total at $41 million of its required $71 million."

In every one of those posts and in others, the question of sustainability came up and yet your local leaders took the bait hook, line and sinker.


Or did they know all along and figure they could always bail it out using the new bonds?


And here's the thing. As scandal after scandal breaks in the months and years ahead, just use that tiny search box at the top left of this website and odds are good you'll find we broke the story here first. Even after I'm gone.