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Read comments (27)The naming of Shelbyville's new elementary school and a discussion of gang activity in Bedford County also highlighted the meeting attended by about 40 members of the public.
"Whether you want to admit it or not, there's gang activity in Bedford County," said Deputy Corey Ewing of the Bedford County Sheriff's Department, who serves as resource officer at Shelbyville Central High School. "From 3 to 6 p.m. there's a big majority of latchkey kids that are going to get with the people they think look cool."
Ewing spoke about gang flags and other signs to indicate an individual might be involved in gang activity. He also relayed his opinion in how to stop gang activity before it gets worse.
"Corey, what can we do [about gangs in Bedford County]?" asked board member Amy Martin. "Have we waited too long?"
Ewing said the most important thing parents and school officials can do is keep their eyes open, stay on the kids they suspect may be involved and document any and all gang related incidents.
Barry Cooper, chairman of the school board, suggested a forum be planned for parents to hear Ewing's presentation on the matter and have an opportunity to ask questions.
Learning Way Elementary was chosen by a 5-4 vote as the name of Shelbyville's new elementary school. The name reflects the name of the street on which the school, informally referred to throughout planning stages as "Central Elementary," is located.
Cooper said once grades K-5 are aligned those facilities will become "elementary" schools, dropping the term "primary."
Other action items on the agenda included a building program update and the recognition of Bedford County students selected to participate in Student Congress on Policies in Education (SCOPE).
A motion to accept an $11.4 million bid for the construction of Learning Way Elementary was passed unanimously. This bid was down approximately $1.2 million from a previous bid, which the board deemed too high.
"This is the guaranteed maximum price of the new school," said Ed Gray, school superintendent. "It's [$1.2 million] down from our last bid without compromising the structure or any content in it."
The school is expected to be ready in Fall 2009 and Tom Grott, with American Constructors, said work on the school will begin immediately.
The board also spoke with Grott and Steven Curtis of Davis Stokes Collaborative, the school system's architectural firm, about what needs to be done to start the new Community School project. They have a fall 2009 goal for that school as well, with ground breaking hopefully set for April, they said.
Bryan Hayes and Fatima Murrillo, representing Cascade, will be among 500 students across the state involved in SCOPE March 7 at Tennessee State University, joining Chelsea Moon and Kelci Haman of Community and Lacey Landers and Nathan Mangrum of Central.
Rebel rose, Iwill agree with you that Mr. Looper is a fine man. But you need to wake up, if you really think that their are kids that do not use drugs at your school. Just because they bring drug dogs to school does not mean there are kids using drugs. As i said before, I do think the majority of the problem is at Central. Then again look at there size compared to community and cascade. I do not like the dress code, I do believe in spankings, and i do believe in parent involvement. I realize that after my children reached a certain age that a spanking does not work. I can't imagine this 5'7 mom spanking her 6'3 son. Wouldn't make a difference, but would be rather comical. I have good kids, but like all kids they make mistakes and it is up to us as parents to correct and guide us. I went to central and graduated in 92 and let me tell you, they smoked pot on the busses then. I can only imagine what it is like now. I stay involved with my child and I try to give them all the information to make good positive choices,pray constantly too. JMO a dress code is not going to fix these problems. what I find amusing is now that there has been so much controversy over it, that the administrators are now trying to enforce the code we have in place. My child came home Friday and said that they sent about 10 people to the office for infractions.
Response to Posted by CHARLENE DARLIN on Sat, Mar 1, 2008, at 3:31 PM
When we had to wear dresses to school, we also had to cater to men hand and foot. Do you believe that should still be the rule? Rules evolve with society and I would hate to think that we are evolving backwards.
The issues (primarily gangs from my understanding) for which the dress code was passed should have been addressed a different way--ISS,OSS, in school programs, after school programs, juvenile court if they are breaking the law…
My kids are honor students(that is one of the reasons I do not give my name)and do not break the rules. The dress code will not improve their academic performance nor improve their respect for the rules. I do not want my kids to dress or act like everyone else. Actually, this dress code will decrease the amount of responsibility for decision making for all the kids. It will teach them to follow the crowd and we all know that is not always for their own good.
I guess I thought the power I gave the school board was for making decisions regarding education issues involving finances and curriculum--not for how my kids look.
REBELROSE...TAKE OFF YOUR ROSE COLORED GLASSES...IF THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM...THIS DRESS CODE WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY...ALSO I REMEMBER HAVING TO WEAR DRESSES TO SCHOOL EVERYDAY...IT WAS A DRESS CODE WE FOLLOWED..AND I GOT SPANKINGS WHEN I DID WRONG...AND I TURNED OUT FINE...AND I DO BELEIVE THE BIBLE SAYS "SPARE THE ROD SPOIL THE CHILD"... THESE ARE RULES TO FOLLOW...JUST LIKE WE ARE TO FOLLOW THE WORD OF GOD..RULES...FOLLOW THEM
THEY DO CHECK SCHOOLS FOR DRUGS AND THEY DO HAVE A DRUG DOG GO THRU THE SCHOOLS. AND IF YOU TAKE THE TIME TO SPEND WITH YOUR CHILD THEN YOU WOULD KNOW IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH DRUGS OR ANYTHING ELSE WITH YOUR CHILD.THERE IS NO GANGS IN THE CASCADE HIGH SCHOOL AND THERE IS NO DRUGS IN CASCADE HIGH SCHOOL.MAYBE IT IS BECAUSE CASCADE HIGH SCHOOL HAS ALWAYS HAD THE MOTHER'S AND FATHER'S INVOLVED WITH WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE SCHOOLS AND THE TEACHER'S AT THE SCHOOL CARE ABOUT THE STUDENTS. IT IS LIKE A FAMILY THERE.THAT WAS A VERY STUPID THING THAT SOMEONE SAID THAT THE ADMINISTRATONS WAS SCARED OF THE STUDENT'S.I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE PRINCIPAL'S AT THE OTHER SCHOOLS BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT MR.LOOPER WE HAD AT CASCADE HIGH FOR MANY YEARS TOOK CARE OF WHAT EVER PROBLEM WE HAD AT THE SCHOOL AND THIS YEAR MRS. EDWARDS IS DOING A WONDERFUL JOB ALSO.I DO NOT THINK PROBLEMS STARTED WHEN THE SPANKING A CHILD LEFT THE SCHOOL. IT ALL STARTED A LONG TIME AGO WHEN THE PRAYER LEFT THE SCHOOLS.ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT KEEP TALKING ABOUT GANGS WELL I DO NOT KNOW WHERE YOU HANG OUT BUT I DO NOT SEE GANG'S IN OUR SCHOOL. AND EVERYONE GET OFF OF GIVING OUR CHILDREN GOOD OLE BUTT BEATINGS.I AM SICK OF READING THAT. MAYBE YOU ARE THE ONES THAT NEED IT AND NOT OUR CHILDREN.
STOP POINTING FINGERS AT OTHER PEOPLE..YOU SOUND LIKE A BUNCH OF YOUNG CHILDREN.
"Farmerman you and most of the people on this blog worry more about hiding behind your blogs to say your peace. You and everyone else sits here in judgement and how many of you actually attended the meetings and fought to change the board's mind? I was at a few of the meetings..."-- Posted by MINIME on Thu, Feb 28, 2008, at 9:35 AM
I also was at the meetings and I gave my input. I think more people are starting to question the validity of having people on the school board who do not have kids enrolled in Bedford County Schools. (generic statement) I don't think the district I live in will have a seat open this time around.
Also, I have a question about the 'latchkey' kids. If this is the problem and SACP is not the a solution, then why can't the school system provide more after-school activities?
Is it because of the cost?
When I enter the schools these children are dressed inappropriately, but wonder how many people in Columbine, CO wished they had a dress code after those boys walked in in their baggy pants and jackets to murder all those children. Posted by MINIME
Well don't hide behind your blog either and why are you entering the schools? I seriously doubt the people of Columbine are concerned about a dress code. I'm sure they are more concerned that no one noticed those boys had problems before the incident took place!
I agree farmerman. A good ole butt blistering gets immediate and lasting results. Ask Michael Fay.
If we have drugs being sold "At School", do they have their sniffing dogs going threw the schools. Are parents being informed that their child seems to be having ties to drugs or gang activity.
Parents can not be with these children 24/7. If a child is doing something wrong they are going to keep it hidden from their parents. Now if this child is at school doing these things then it becomes the schools responsibility to inform the parents that this is what their child is doing "IN SCHOOL". "Where is the communication between parent and school"?????
And what is the schools definition of a gang? A group of kids that hang out together for skate-boarding? A group of kids that hang out together and play basketball? A group of kids that hangs together to play video games? A group of kids that wear baggie pants? Or a group of kids that are stealing, selling drugs, beating up others, being territorial, or being racists, "Criminal groups and Violent groups"?
What is a "Gang"?:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/4111/nog...
Since we are putting so much money into building new schools and adding on, and new school attires; are we going to get new "METAL DETECTERS" too? Because even if the child is not wearing "BAGGY PANTS & JACKETS" they can "STILL" bring in drugs or weapons in their "PURSES" or "SCHOOL BAGS".
I am glad that the school board has loosen the school attire some. There is still a color issue that seems unneccessary, especially since they are using the colors that gangs use....????
Farmerman you and most of the people on this blog worry more about hiding behind your blogs to say your peace. You and everyone else sits here in judgement and how many of you actually attended the meetings and fought to change the board's mind? I was at a few of the meetings and watched as people stood up and spoke thier peace. The last meeting was at Harris and it was well led and well said for both sides. Where were you and this awful accusations that you and so many more are putting on here? Do I agree with the school board, not entirely, but I can stand up and speak my peace without hiding here. Shame on you for bringing a child/grandchild on here, who cares what anyone is doing, that is your problem you need to worry about yourself and your slander and gossip than to worry with what a board members child/grandchild is doing. If it is a grandchild then what say does he/she have with the parents?
People of this community where were you on election day? Where are you when it comes to curriculum? You are around when it comes to dress code....what a joke!! What is the dress code hurting any of you?? When I enter the schools these children are dressed inappropriately, but wonder how many people in Columbine, CO wished they had a dress code after those boys walked in in their baggy pants and jackets to murder all those children.
This community needs to realize what we are fighting for and what we fight everyday, dress should be the least of your worries!
Keep your blogs to the real issues, keep the children and individuals out of it, there is more than 3 board members and three can not make the decision for the whole.
So for you farmerman, go farm, because you are malicious and have no point to argue, but to slander/gossip about certain people and thier families.
For all your Christians on this blog, you REMEMBER Slander / Gossip is a sin, check the good Book, our only History book - THE BIBLE!
Times Gazette, it is a shame that you let people like this make personal attacks on individuals, and especially children.......Farmerman's blog needs to be destroyed, this is not his right, this is just someone who is a big COWARD
It is my understanding that the SRO's are on constant alert for activity which appears gang related at each school. Officer Ewing usually confronts and removes identifers from suspected gang members and the information is documented. I have also heard there will be a presentation by the school system and the SRO's to the community on what is going on and signs that parents need to be alerted too.
The dress code does not bother me what so ever, after all, alot of us adults have to wear unifroms and certain type of shoes to work for our employer. What does concern me is, if they are admitting that there are "gangs" and "drugs" in our schools. How come they are not placing that as priority number one, in correcting the problem, if they (board members) were focused on gangs, and drugs in school, like they are focused on changing the dress code. I believe we would have a better learning and safe enviroment for our students of Bedford County than we do now. Stop telling me there is a drug, gang problem in our schools. Start telling me what your plans are to correct it.
I read in one of these blogs that someone said there was no drug or gang problem at Cascade. I find that hard to believe. Maybe there is not gang activity there yet but I could almost guarentee there is drugs. I from unionville and was shocked to here from my son that he was offered pot in 7th grade. He is a jr. now and I am trying to be a parent that watches for everything. I do feel like that unfortunately that the majority of the problem is at Central, but am not naive enough to believe that the problem is widespread. I always used to hate that my parents snooped in my stuff and my buisness, but as a parent now boy do I understand it. Very thankful now too that they taught me how to be a watchful parent. I am not going to leave it to the school board, administrators or anyone else to protect my kids because they are apparently are not going to do the job. People also need to realize it is not just illegal drugs, alcohol and prerscription drugs are a MAJOR issue. I urge parents to take charge because all it seems is the board is worried about is what the dress code!
I agree with most of the opinions that have been discussed here. One issue that concerns me is what shape the schools will be in, in a few more years? Another concern of mine is why do some schools mix 6th graders with the high schools? Honestly, I feel this is unnecessary. Kids at 12 are still immature and should not be allowed to mingle with older kids. I believe we are asking for more trouble in this area. As for the corporal punishment, when I was growing up if I got into trouble at school, I got even more punishment at home.I think that corporal punishment should be allowed in schools providing it is done properly and there is more than one authority figure in the room perhaps even the parent. Nowadays, our kids are taught that if the parent "spanks" them then it is child abuse, I believe that is what's wrong with the kids today. We as parents can have these kids but cannot make them mind without facing some kind of questioning from DCS or law enforcement. Children can be diciplined without being abused. Oh, and where are the parents when these kids are involved in gangs and drug use? It is our jobs as parents to know where our kids are and to know what they are doing....Just my thoughts..
Any parent that thinks that they are sending their child off to school that has no drug problems or gang activity in Bedford County is living in a dream world. WAKE UP Parents! Get involved with not only your own child, but everyone else as well. It takes a community to raise a child to its best ability.
I have seen so much that has changed in the past 20 yrs, since I have graduated. Society as a whole has taken a major turn for the worse. I wish I could put my finger on the 1 problem, but there are just so many equal factors. I suppose there is one category that would take the majority of the fault, and that would be GOVERMENT. It seems for the most part, they vote for anything the "in crowd" votes for. That just goes to prove ,peer pressure is not confined to children. What ever happened to people standing up for what's right?? The world seems to revolve around telling people what they want to hear, because you don't want to be persecuted for it. True, none of us are perfect. But, there is a difference in being perfect and doing what is right.
As far government officials, they do have a difficult task. But when they allow their decisions' to be based on what their constituents' say, rather than listening to the people they represent, THAT IS JUST WRONG!!! Even at that, officials are not going to stand for anything unless it "directly" affects them, and that's even iffy. The last time I heard, [one school board member's grandchild] has gone to several different schools in Bedford County, Marshall County, and now in Murfreesboro. Apparently our schools are not good enough for her own family, So, how can she sit there and decide how the parents in Bedford County are to dress their children??
I mean just look at Major League Baseball. How many dollars of tax money has been spent just to prove what players have been using steroids. WHO CARES?? They are grown men. If they want to throw their lives away, then let them. Yes I know they are role models for the children, but would children even known about it, if it had not been plastered all over the news media? Nothing can be quietly resolved.
As for the subject of drugs and gangs, there have been so many surveys done concerning school violence and drug use. But, there is 1 survey that I have never seen or heard of. Has anyone noticed in the past 25 years, when we started taking corporal punishment out of the schools and away from the parents, the incidents of school violence and drug use in schools increased?? What ever happened to the days of a good ole' "butt busting"? I mean there were fights in schools and there was some drug use, but nothing to the level it is now. I remember, back in the day, when I feared what would happen if I did something wrong in school. I knew there would be a paddling by either the Principal or Teacher, and as if that was not bad enough, it was going to be a lot worse when I got home. Fear is a great teacher!
I suppose we all are to blame, and we have probably came to far now to turn back. There is not going to be a clear cut answer.
We as parents don't have the god given sense to dress our kids appropriately! That's what I'm hearing LOUD and CLEAR. Our kids dress is more important than gangs and drug use? I'm not one to sugar coat my opinion! As for our BOARD, Ha! Look at your own kids, nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters! Expose and change some of your own families' immoral, unacceptable (group) behaviors! But then again I guess what some do behind closed doors is OK as long as you keep it quiet and dress accordingly. There are lots of things going on in our community that need to change and they're more important than a dress code!
The only way to change anything the board does is to put in new members. This means we need new people to step up to the plate. I guess we need to know how and when we need to sign up to run. I would consider it if I knew what I needed to do to run. People get to comfortable when then have been in charge for years. Maybe we need more parents on it.
Maybe this is not the right comment to make, but do some of the problems seen in our schools today go back to when it became difficult or impossible to spank a child. Of course every parent knows that their child doesn't need corporal punishment, because they don't get it at home. But it is always some other parent's child that started the problem. Maybe the school administrators aren't afraid of the students as much as they don't won't the hassle of dealing with parents that know that their child could not be the problem or the parents' threat of a lawsuit if their child is punished.
Amy Martin needs to be put out the next time that she runs, but someone needs to run against her. I would never vote for her!!
I think the reason the old dress code and the gang activity hasn't been delt with in the schools is that the administrators that we have today are frightened of the students. Until they get ahold of authority nothing is going to change. There will be some at each school who abuse the dress code like they always have and get away with it, because the principal just doesn't want to deal with them.
So now how are we to tell the bad guys from the good guys when they should all be dressed alike? We won't.
Perhaps this is another opportunity for us to "take back" what the destructive elements might steal from us.
What would our youth be seeking from inappropriate groups and activities?
Relief from boredom? A sense of belonging? A way of asserting themselves as maturing individuals?
(O.k. how about a way of making money or getting back at the Powers-That-Be?)
Why can't we look to providing fulfillment of those needs before our kids turn to the wrong sources to fill those voids?
Why can't the "peer pressure" extend from confident,ambitious,level-headed and caring youngsters to the ones running on empty?
There was a time when groups of children with free time were not a threat.
Yes,there were disturbed and ill-behaved kids then and there has always been a need for positive activities,mentoring and healthy family environments.
But we didn't always concentrate on the negative.
We let children be children and we also let them be "apprentice adults" who used the life lessons they'd already had to take on responsibility in keeping with their development.
We didn't have the luxury of keeping children as pets and then tossing them into the grown up world.
Today,we seem to be creating bands of jaded,burned-out and feral youth along with middle-aged adolescents who haven't quite grasped the concepts of civic-mindedness or self-discipline.
We need to believe in our children.
We need to give them the tools and the incentive to be participants in our world.
We need them to be able to work and PLAY in a way that nurtures them,encourages them and prepares them to succeed us as leaders and productive citizens.
Scouting,Junior ROTC,sports,hobbies and special interests aren't meant to be ways of filling every empty second in a child's life.
Nor are jobs,school,religious instruction,t.v.,electronic games,the Net or family responsibilities.
They may serve as part of a child's finding out who they are and building upon their resources.
We need to ask what our children require and give them a version they can thrive on before they are defrauded by a harmful lifestyle.
Give them real power and an authentic means of earning respect and they won't need the counterfeit.
If each generation can learn,grow and rely on one another to achieve their goals,then we can lift the other persons up instead of panicking at the idea that they'll swarm and drag us under with them.
One factor that made the Great Generation so remarkable was the certainty that no hardship-not war or disease or poverty or natural disasters could overcome the will of people who were determined to make their lives better.
If we can work to restore that spirit,we can stand on the foundation they built and accomplish even more.
If we let fear,resignation and resentment take over,we won't need outside forces to damage us.
We'll have defeated ourselves.
If their is actually "Gang" and "Drug Dealers" in the "SCHOOLS" then How Come we have "NEVER" seen anything in the News Papers about children being arrested for "Drug Activity" and "Gang related Problems". We ARE talking about "WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR SCHOOLS, RIGHT" and not what is going on in the "STREETS"? What happens in the streets should not be reasons for "OUR CHILDRENS" school clothes to be modified.
And if it is "WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR SCHOOLS" What is their definition of a GANG, I am very curious to know? Drug dealers would definately have to be selling drugs. But I would really like to know what are they calling a GANG! "This WOULD have to be of VIOLENT nature No Doubt." ??????
Coincidence, I think not... Fabricated B/S Absolutely!
hmmmm I am curious as to why the "gang" situation comes out just in time to coincide with the dress code and somehow justify it...strange to anyone else?
Having lived for several years in the coastal regions of Texas near Brownsville, I've seen first hand the negative results of gangs in a city. With gang-related drive by shootings daily, the mayor boldly declared, "We do not have a gang problem here in Corpus Christi". Many of our elected officials seem to live in denial or don't want to rock the boat. By refusing to deal with issues related to illegal immigration, what can we expect? I love Shelbyville and have suspected over the past years that gangs were influencing our area. Gang activity will change the face of Shelbyville and Bedford County in ways that will result in premature death to many of our family members and neighbors. Our future generations will suffer needlessly if we don't support our law enforcement and demand that our local elected officials take actions now to address this challenge.
I don't know how many times people tried to tell her and the other board members that that was what needed to be addressed--not passing a NEW dress code when the old one just needed to be enforced. (No skin from knees to neck(not chest) and no sagging). I really don't think gang members are going to mind following the new dress code; they'll just present another way.
"Corey, what can we do [about gangs in Bedford County]?" asked board member Amy Martin. "Have we waited too long?"
Have we waited too long? Hum... Stopping gang activity should have taken priority over a dress code, use some common logic please.