Aren't those goals just part of his job? Why can't I have a job that pays me extra to do what I'm supposed to do. I should have been a super.
The Richmond County school board Thursday reinstated ambulance service for football games, while also setting financial incentives for the superintendent.
Board members approved providing ambulance service at high school football games for the remainder of the season.
The board also gave Superintendent Dana Bedden the flexibility to hire emergency medical technicians to be at games instead of an ambulance service, if they are available.
The ambulance service was cut out of the budget this summer with other items, but school board members didn't realize it at the time.
Before being able to address the board about the ambulances, Richmond County Athletic Director George Bailey was called away suddenly because a football player dislocated his shoulder. Director of Public Safety Julia Porter-Stein said the player's mother chose to have him transported to the hospital. It took an ambulance 15-20 minutes to arrive.
The board was saving $50,000 by not having ambulances at games.
Dr. Bedden said the services could be funded from savings realized from vacant senior administrative positions.
Board member Jack Padgett cast the only "no" vote, saying that the board is in a tough financial crunch and times are getting worse.
To avoid a similar budget surprise, the board requested Dr. Bedden clearly spell out line items that may have similar impact in the future.
The board also approved the superintendent's performance-based goals for the year, which include a $5,000 bonus for preparing and presenting a draft of the budget in April so that the board has more time to address financial issues.
Dr. Bedden will also earn $2,500 for completing the first phase of "rightsizing" and another $2,500 for reorganizing, consolidating programs and reducing expenses for vacant school property.
On the academic side, the superintendent can earn $1,000 for each of the following achievements: Increasing the number of schools making adequate yearly progress from 29 to 40; increasing the number of pupils meeting and exceeding English/language arts standards by 15 percent; increasing the number of pupils meeting and exceeding math standards by 15 percent; increasing the graduation rate by decreasing the number of certificates of completion by 15 percent; and increasing the number of AYP standards met by high schools from 77 percent to 80 percent.
Dr. Bedden's contract allows him to earn up to $15,000 for meeting incentive-based goals established by the school board.
Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
Aren't those goals just part of his job? Why can't I have a job that pays me extra to do what I'm supposed to do. I should have been a super.
A total waste of money. Every school in richmond county, according to yesterday's article, has an EMA station with ambulances and trained personnel within two miles. AGAIN A TOTAL WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY BY THE RCBOE!
“To avoid a similar budget surprise, the board requested Dr. Bedden clearly spell out line items that may have similar impact in the future.”
There you go, problem solved! If the board embarrasses itself again it will be Bedden’s fault.
I am glad to see specific goals put in place, instead of subjective standards. It would be nice to have the current 'benchmark' figures rather than just percentage changes. Did this school year start with 29 schools making AYP, what is the current number of pupils meeting and exceeding English/language arts standards, what is the current number pupils meeting and exceeding math standards, what is the current number of number of certificates of completion given, and what is the current number of AYP standards met by high schools? However, like NEone said, these goals still seem to be part of his overall job and "a $5,000 bonus for preparing and presenting a draft of the budget in April" seems ridiculous.
I feel these goals should be part of his job. If they keep on they will be paying Dr. Bedden a bonus if he comes to work everyday! These type extra costs are why our property taxes are so high.
gee...that was quick finding the 50,000 in one day, the lack of ambulance services at the football games must have made "someone" very upset. its amazing that most of the schools outside of davison/johnson, cant even meet ayp, and don't give me that crap they are chosen, it is my understanding they must take and pass tests to get in, and why are they chosen, well lets see could it be because they are willing to work hard and their parents believe academics are more important and will be more beneficial to thier children than sports. until RCBOE realizes the trouble they are in and decided that EDUCATION is more important then it will continue to fade and eventually wind up in the same situation as clayton county, with no accredidation and then what benefit will sports have when the high school diploma's won't be worth the paper they are printed on and the ink and paper to print the diploma will carry more weight than what it signifies
I'm still scratching my head over those standards. They waste money on everything else, so if the RCBOE doesn't know how to write proper standards why didn't the hire an outside expert?
Get rid of school sports, and focus on EDUCATION. Way too much emphasis put on sports in this country, and a slap in the face when a "coach" makes 3-4 times the salary of other teachers. Look at college sports. No wonder athletes make outrageous pay, at the same time yappin' about pay raises. Use the ambulance elsewhere.
I’d like to know what “vacant senior positions” Dr. Bedden is referring to?! All he has done is move those 4 employees out of those positions & put them in another position – and they are still earning the SAME 6 FIGURE SALARY! AND he’s going to hire 2 more people to fill their vacated spots – so you tell me, where exactly is he saving money? HE’S NOT – but it sure sounds good to the public, doesn’t it?!
Let's see, the Board trustees ordered school administrators to cut the budget. When they did (and they had a perfectly good reason to cut the ambulances parked at the football games), the trustees ordered the cuts rescinded. We'll never get a handle on school expenditures this way.
why aren't the bonuses being given to the teachers who are busting their butts to get the students to meet those standards? They are the ones in the trenches everyday dealing with these kids....not the superindentent. What good is there to have EMTs at the game without an actual ambulance? As mentioned before, there are already certified athletic trainers at the games and if emergency services are needed, it's for transport....so the EMTs would have to call to dispatch one just the same. As far as the athlete with the dislocated shoulder, there was an athletic trainer on the sideline that attended to this athlete and informed the coaches and parent that transport by ambulance was not necessary.
They can't give up football, how else would the future NFL stars be recognized, if they didn't get a seat to waste at college???They also need the Ambulance there to treat people for the fight injuries that seem all to common.
for all you people that are so concerned that ambulance services "parked at football games" are a waste of money, you must not have ever been an athlete or have ever been to a game where an actual emergency occurred that required the use of an ambulance...think if it was your child laying there either unconscious, complaining of paraylsis in their legs, or suffering from complete full body cramps where any little moment causes severe pain and the only way to relieve the pain is by IV fluids that are administered immediately on the sideline. Think of what the athlete is experiencing, not only pain, but also fear. I am an athletic trainer with years of experience, yet I am limited in helping these athletes because I still have to have an ambulance spine board and transport these athletes. Having the bus available on the sidelines only helps to increase the chances that these athletes have a full recovery. Why shouldn't these kids be given that chance in life? NO, an emergency doesn't occur every friday night, but I don't think you would want your loved one to be the one in need of an ambulance and because it took "15-20 minutes" for one to arrive, they suffer long term effects/death.
For those of you critics, there are and have been many high school athletes who have gone on to successful college careers in both the classroom and athletic arena. Many more high school athletes never play a college minute, and still move on to college and professional careers in something other than athletics. But what does this have to do with providing the kids who are playing with the appropriate medical care should a catastrophic injury occur? The issue at hand with having an ambulance crew present at games is the amount of time that it takes to transport in this type of situatuion. Merely providing EMT's at games without the ambulance falls short of tackling that issue. I hope that Dr Bedden recognizes this fact.
Increasing the number of schools making adequate yearly progress from 29 to 40 - Number of Schools: 57, Schools Meeting AYP: 29 (50.9%), Schools Not Meeting AYP: 28 (49.1%). 2007-2008 NCLB/AYP Annual Report, GaDOE Data Reporting. http://www.gadoe.org/findaschool.aspx?RPT=AYP&RID=103&RL=SYS&CountyID=72... - COMMENT: Excellent goal, if the number of schools remains the same.
Increasing the number of pupils meeting and exceeding English/language arts standards by 15 percent - CRCT English Language Arts: 12425.5 tested, 10335 meets + exceeds = 83.2%. 2007-2008 NCLB/AYP Annual Report, GaDOE Data Reporting. http://www.gadoe.org/findaschool.aspx?RPT=AYP&RID=103&RL=SYS&CountyID=72... - COMMENT: Is the goal 98.2%?
Increasing the number of pupils meeting and exceeding math standards by 15 percent - CRCT Mathematics: 12426 tested, 7126 meets + exceeds = 57.3%. 2007-2008 NCLB/AYP Annual Report, GaDOE Data Reporting. http://www.gadoe.org/findaschool.aspx?RPT=AYP&RID=103&RL=SYS&CountyID=72... - COMMENT: Is the goal 72.3%?
Increasing the graduation rate by decreasing the number of certificates of completion by 15 percent - Graduation Class Size 2136, Graduates (Regular Diplomas) 1326, Graduation Rate 62.1%. Have not been able to find out the number of certificates of completion. 2007-2008 NCLB/AYP Annual Report, GaDOE Data Reporting. http://www.gadoe.org/findaschool.aspx?RPT=AYP&RID=103&RL=SYS&CountyID=72... - COMMENT: Does this mean the graduation rate has to go up to 77.1% or does it mean that the unknown number of certificates of completion have to go down by 15%?
Increasing the number of AYP standards met by high schools from 77 percent to 80 percent - However, Enhanced GHSGT English Language: 1642 tested, 1394 meets + exceeds = 84.9% and Enhanced GHSGT Mathematics: 1644 tested, 11066 meets + exceeds = 64.8%. I guess you use the average = 74.85%. 2007-2008 NCLB/AYP Annual Report, GaDOE Data Reporting. http://www.gadoe.org/findaschool.aspx?RPT=AYP&RID=103&RL=SYS&CountyID=72... - COMMENT: Is the goal a 3 percent increase from 77 percent as written or from the actual figure of 74.85%?
Wouldn't preparing the draft budget be a responsibility of the RCBOE Director of Finance and Accounting?
Since the RCBOE has a Public Safety Division already, wouldn't it make sense to have the BOE Police Officers trained as EMTs? Better day-to-day school safety, and a guaranteed presence at sporting events. Many public safety organizations cross train to give the taxpayer better service. Additionally, local EMS operators might just volunteer to station ambulances at football games for the PR received. If this doesn't meet the RCBOE expectations, just pay the EMS providers from the gate receipts. STOP dumping everything on the taxpayer!
One of Dr Beddens's 5k goals: Walk and talk at the same time---can he meet/exceed?????? We will know next year!
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