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 Robert Allison is seen with his wife Nicole, sons Jones and Nick, and daughters Anna and Helen. (Submitted photo) [Click to enlarge] |
Allison grew up on a farm near Bell Buckle. After attending Cascade Elementary School from 1976 until 1983, he graduated from The Webb School in 1989, the University of Virginia in 1992 and Georgetown University Law School in 1997.
He and his wife Nicole currently reside in Bell Buckle with their four children, who range in age from 1 to 7. The school-age children attend Cascade Elementary School.
Allison has practiced corporate law for the last 10 years and now operates a family real estate business with his wife, who also is an attorney.
"I would be honored to represent the citizens of Bedford County's District 1 on the School Board," Allison said. "My education in Bedford County and beyond has allowed me opportunities that I never dreamed possible. I want to work hard to make sure that my children, and all of the other students in Bedford County have a similar opportunity for the best education. We live in a global economy now. I want our children to be at the top. With qualified leadership and hard work, we can provide that."
"Bedford County and its schools are facing some tough economic challenges right now. Soon enough, we will hear calls for tax increases or large cuts in education funding. I am strongly opposed to both of these. As a businessman, I believe that there is always a way to save money by cutting waste. This is especially true in government. I believe that tax dollars should be spent on teachers, books and athletics rather than on policy makers and paper-pushers. If elected, I pledge to work tirelessly to do everything in my power to make sure every single tax dollar you pay is spent on educating our children rather than on pursuing unimportant and distracting initiatives such as standardized school attire (SSA)."
My apologies, Sunshine. I must have misinterpreted your comments. But I wasn't saying that you were berating anyone. I was actually referring to the comments of Justunjust regarding Mr. Allison.
I do, however, think that you're dead-wrong, Sunshine, when it comes to the school board not having anything to do with tax increases. The "powers that be" wouldn't arbitrarily raise taxes for "educational purposes" if the school board would take responsibility for their budget and not keep asking for more funding. And it's usually the "it's for the kids" specter that's raised every time they want to raise taxes. I honestly can't speak for the Bedford County Commissioners since I am pretty new to the area, but I have seen this exact thing in several other areas that I've lived.
"Rather than using the comment section for this article to berate a candidate, how about addressing some serious questions to the candidate in hopes that they might answer your questions?"
Well, Thom, first of all, merely stating the truth and a fact that school board members do not have anything to do with property tax increases because it is the county commissioners who regulate property tax rates is not berating anyone. Secondly, rental property expenses could include:
advertising for tenants,bank charges,body corporate fees,borrowing expenses,council rates,decline in value of depreciating assets,gardening and lawn mowing,insurance,land tax,pest control,property agent fees or commissions,repairs and maintenance,stationery,telephone,water charges, and travel undertaken to inspect the property or to collect the rent.
A lot of people who own property and rental property are currently either downsizing or completely selling these assets due to the slowing economy and increase of costs in all of the above aspects. Sorry, Thom, but the fact of the matter is that the school board members cannot help us out on our property tax rates. The county commissioners make that call, which is simply my point.
Being a native of Bedford County, I have witnessed the uncontrollable growth and changes largely due to the influx of immigrants (who are contributing very little if any to our community fund)& new residents who are escaping loss of homes and/or jobs due to an increase of costs of living in other more depressed states. Our rural town has grown more complexed, and the infrastructure is deteriorating in many ways. The present board is using our funds to make way for this expansion while also preparing for the internal changes that come along with it; therefore, my question would be:
Mr. Allison, how do you propose to help our Bedford County Education Department maintain or improve the infrastructure of our schools any better than what the current board has in progress all ready?
This is not a question to Allison, (Just an Idea should he become a future school board member) It is something that I am noticing alot with the schools not doing. I would like for the Schools to send a note home to parents, when ever their is a "Bomb Threat", "Child/Teacher bringing Gun/Knife to school" or any dangerous event that took place at my childs school "That Day". Instead of waiting to hear about it in the newspaper the next day.
I feel parents need to be informed on what is going on in the school their child attends. That might could have helped with the inappropriate dressing if the school was sending notes home to parents complaining that some of the new clothes styles are getting out of hand and it is not allowed. I could tell this to the school board myself, But I have also noticed the school board does not always listen to parents concerns, or issues, sometimes they just say "Well you need to talk to ___Such & such____? and then "Such & such" will tell you to talk to ___Go fly a Kite___? and so on. "So it goes know where". And Good Luck to Allison too.
Posted by Sunshine42 "Being that Mr. Allison owns a large amount of property in Bedford County, I can see why he is so strongly opposed to an increase in property taxes which also strongly supports our education funds; however, school board members have nothing to do with tax rates. Maybe he should run for county commissioner instead."
I doubt very seriously that Mr. Allison is more concerned about property taxes than the education system. Sure, he may own more land in Bedford County than some people but, seeing as how he rents out these properties, his tenants most likely cover the taxes that he pays. Personally, I think someone in government (in ANY position) that is against higher taxes is a good thing. Sure, you can say that new or higher taxes will go to education, but isn't "education" the usual suspect when someone wants to raise taxes? Then they conveniently divert those funds from "education" to other projects so that they have to go through the whole "We need more taxes for education" thing again just after the next election cycle. I also find it rather interesting that you never hear of anyone that wants to raise taxed just before an election.
Rather than using the comment section for this article to berate a candidate, how about addressing some serious questions to the candidate in hopes that they might answer your questions?
I want someone on the school board to address the fact that kids who are going to school "out of their zone" are going to be forced back into their districts. I take my children back and forth to school and it is my fuel that is being spent. I don't want my children to have to change schools just because there is a new school being built. They think everyone is going to want to go to the new school but we still want to go to the same one we're at now. I've found out over the past few weeks that we're not the only ones who think this way.
"Allison has practiced corporate law...and now operates a family real estate business with his wife, who also is an attorney. Soon enough, we will hear calls for tax increases or large cuts in education funding. I am strongly opposed to both of these." Being that Mr. Allison owns a large amount of property in Bedford County, I can see why he is so strongly opposed to an increase in property taxes which also strongly supports our education funds; however, school board members have nothing to do with tax rates. Maybe he should run for county commissioner instead.
BB resident,
Um, What point are you trying to make? There is a board member that has children in Webb also, Dixie has kin that is a teacher also.
I want to know when is the school board going to tell us what color shirts they can wear. My child doesn't have a single shirt that he can wear next year. All his polo's have stripes. I didn't get him any clothes for Christmas last year because I didn't know what to buy. It is four months later and I still don't know. I don't just buy clothes the week before school starts. I buy a few all year long when he needs them.
hahaha
Gotta love this community!
Best of luck to him!
and bless each one of you: the yas' and the nas'
ds
Whether he went to Webb or not and wore a uniform is besides the point. Yes if you want to go there and pay for your child to go there, then you wear their uniform. But when a GOVERNMENT school has to tell me what to send my kids to school in AND it's my TAX dollars paying for them to make that decision, then I have a problem with it. And with today's economy, people are going to have a problem with buying the clothes. Are my tax dollars going to be returned/cut so that I can afford to buy "special" clothes? I don't buy new clothes at the begining of each school year, because it's usually so warm and the kids are still wearing shorts. (Clothes that are allowed under the current dress code.)
Justunjust...Where did you get your rant? I don't see where he blames a dress code for anything? He wore a uniform/strict dress code and now he's a lawyer. Sounds like he's successful to me.
I don't see that having kids in a school makes a hill of beans difference about being on a school board. Everyone in a community has a stake in the school that educates citizens.
So what if he's related to a teacher? That might give him an insight to what's really going on inside a school. I've always believed it very unfair that teachers have no representation on the school board.
I don't live in District 1, but I see this becoming a messy fight. People are already slinging mud.
Question - How long has Dixie Parker served on the school board?
I live in Bell Buckle and have for years. My children have always gone to Cascade and loved it. Allison and all his family have gone to Webb. Yes, his children go to Cascade Elementary but ask him where they are going to Jr. High and High School. If he is a good lawyer then he should not need to be on the school board. Dixie Parker is from Bell Buckle, lived her forever and one of the 1st people I met when I moved here. You that are against her and others for the dress code, realize Allison went to Web and they have a stricter code than Bedford County and you have to wear their clothes. The bottom line is I believe in being able to wear what we choose. But you need to realize that some ruin it for all and it has been that way forever. I may not change your mind. Also realize that Allison is kin to the teacher - John Anderson.
I would like to hear Mr. Allison, the CORPORATE LAWYER, explain how Standardized School Attire adversely effected his life. Every Webb student I know wears a uniform. This must have been devastating to him as a young child not being able to express himself freely in what he wore to school. It appears its really held him back in life. What a shame. Just think of what this guy could have been. If only he was able to wear what he wanted to school. BOO HOO Hoo!
Mr. Allison, the Smith family will be voting you also.
And we will be happy to place a sign in our yard.
You have my vote can you propose to reverse the school attire? Maybe they could try enforcing the rules now before they pass new ones. Stop letting the kids run the school if they are dressed wrong send them home everyday if you have to don't pick on everyone.
who in the h**l is allison.
You have my vote as well. It would be refreshing to see someone with your education and progressive viewpoints elected to the school board. Best of luck
You certainly have my vote!