County and school officials have touted a renewed, unified push to make millions of dollars worth of repairs to public school buildings, but discord remains.
We left Transylvania county, prior to our son entering middle school. After relocating to Westchester county, New York, we discovered our son was two years behind the children in our new school district. The Katonah Lewisboro School District, where we now live, pays teachers over six figures. Our annual budget is 120 million dollars, for a school is just under 1,000 students. Upon arrival, our son was swarmed with professional educators, who worked tirelessly to bring him up to the standard of our new school system. After school programs include coding, robotics, art and stem programs. Our athletic teams are well funded and our facilities are well maintained and state of the art. And it shows in academic performance. We have an almost 0 drop out rate. 98% of our kids go on to higher education, with the majority attending and graduating from top tier schools. We seen absolutely no fentanyl abuse, no methamphetamine abuse, bullying and teen pregnancy are rare. I currently coach at our school, and while interacting with the kids, they are hopeful and striving. These kids are not genetically superior to the kids in Transylvania county, but are fullly supported. Teachers are paid a living wage, with the senior most educators retiring at salary that is double the senior most educators in Transylvania county. Of course, are taxes are higher, but the results are demonstrative and positive. Our own son, who when we arrived in New York, was two years behind his peers, is not taking four AP classes and applying to top tier colleges. A large percentage of his peer group are applying to Ivy League universities, and being accepted.
When I read this article about the state of Transylvania county schools, and seeing the results of a school district, where we now live, that invests in education, we are confident (without a doubt) that we made the right choice to leave North Carolina.
Just prior to moving from TC, I was shouted at by local county official that “if you did it so much better up north, go back.” We did. And here in our current school district, they do it far better. Teachers aren’t seen at second jobs, bagging groceries to make ends meet. They are respected professional educators who nurture and develop the next generation of leaders.
What is happening here, in school districts like the Katonah Lewisboro school district, should be the norm across the country.
Sadly, the county commissioners of TC are still fomenting an education system that ill-prepares their students for the changing economy and standards of the larger world. Stop undervaluing your kids, TC.
The difference between what is available in TC, and what is available in better funded school districts is stark. You are not preparing your kids for factory jobs. THe world has changed, and so must you.
Quality of place infrastructure brings outside investment, and attracts educated industry leaders to the area. Six figure incomes for teachers is sustainable in areas like Westchester County, where average household income is 190,000 per year. It is not sustainable in rural American where people are struggling to survive. Everything boils down to economics. Janitors make a decent living, in areas where the median household income is high, and where there is an abundance of high paying jobs. And well paid professionals do not want to relocate to areas with abysmal school systems. If they do, they’ll send their kids to private schools and the public schools will continue to suffer. It’s a catch 22. The changes to TC, currently derived from investments in quality of place infrastructure, and investment in education, are the only way to rebuild the overall economy. Alas, with county government that suffers from backward notions rooted in a previous factory economy, it may be too late. The 42 million dollar grant takes no money from the school system. Revitalizing the area with young families, remote workers, and technology based industry is their only hope. Things like the Ecusta trail will only revitalize the area, bringing outside investment, young families, and professionals who rely on a very different economic paradigm than what existed in the past. When you base your economy on cigarette paper (that contributes to the death of your customer base) and outmoded technology, like X-ray film, your economy is doomed. I hope TC can catch up. Outdoor gear manufacturers are your best new hope. Hopefully TC is also putting in ubiquitous 5G Wi-Fi, so remote workers can function in the new economy. I say, build more trails. Attract outside investment. The County should have gotten started on this long before the factories closed.
I apologize for my poor grammar, in my comment. I was so outraged by this article and the ineptitude and negligence of the county commissioners, that I wrote with passion, and not an editor’s eye. TC government officials are their own worst enemies, and have hobbled the children of the area. It is shameful, but I fear the powers that be have no shame. Pay your teachers. Fund your schools. Give your kids a bright future. Children should be contemplating their bright futures, not suicide. Oh, and though cannabis is now legal in New York State, the kids shun it. They are striving and don’t want to be slowed down by addictions. Kids thank teachers and bus drivers and coaches, at the end of interactions, whether leaving class, practice or just getting off the bus. The difference is stark. A teacher should not need a second job to survive.
We left Transylvania county, prior to our son entering middle school. After relocating to Westchester county, New York, we discovered our son was two years behind the children in our new school district. The Katonah Lewisboro School District, where we now live, pays teachers over six figures. Our annual budget is 120 million dollars, for a school is just under 1,000 students. Upon arrival, our son was swarmed with professional educators, who worked tirelessly to bring him up to the standard of our new school system. After school programs include coding, robotics, art and stem programs. Our athletic teams are well funded and our facilities are well maintained and state of the art. And it shows in academic performance. We have an almost 0 drop out rate. 98% of our kids go on to higher education, with the majority attending and graduating from top tier schools. We seen absolutely no fentanyl abuse, no methamphetamine abuse, bullying and teen pregnancy are rare. I currently coach at our school, and while interacting with the kids, they are hopeful and striving. These kids are not genetically superior to the kids in Transylvania county, but are fullly supported. Teachers are paid a living wage, with the senior most educators retiring at salary that is double the senior most educators in Transylvania county. Of course, are taxes are higher, but the results are demonstrative and positive. Our own son, who when we arrived in New York, was two years behind his peers, is not taking four AP classes and applying to top tier colleges. A large percentage of his peer group are applying to Ivy League universities, and being accepted.
When I read this article about the state of Transylvania county schools, and seeing the results of a school district, where we now live, that invests in education, we are confident (without a doubt) that we made the right choice to leave North Carolina.
Just prior to moving from TC, I was shouted at by local county official that “if you did it so much better up north, go back.” We did. And here in our current school district, they do it far better. Teachers aren’t seen at second jobs, bagging groceries to make ends meet. They are respected professional educators who nurture and develop the next generation of leaders.
What is happening here, in school districts like the Katonah Lewisboro school district, should be the norm across the country.
Sadly, the county commissioners of TC are still fomenting an education system that ill-prepares their students for the changing economy and standards of the larger world. Stop undervaluing your kids, TC.
The difference between what is available in TC, and what is available in better funded school districts is stark. You are not preparing your kids for factory jobs. THe world has changed, and so must you.
Quality of place infrastructure brings outside investment, and attracts educated industry leaders to the area. Six figure incomes for teachers is sustainable in areas like Westchester County, where average household income is 190,000 per year. It is not sustainable in rural American where people are struggling to survive. Everything boils down to economics. Janitors make a decent living, in areas where the median household income is high, and where there is an abundance of high paying jobs. And well paid professionals do not want to relocate to areas with abysmal school systems. If they do, they’ll send their kids to private schools and the public schools will continue to suffer. It’s a catch 22. The changes to TC, currently derived from investments in quality of place infrastructure, and investment in education, are the only way to rebuild the overall economy. Alas, with county government that suffers from backward notions rooted in a previous factory economy, it may be too late. The 42 million dollar grant takes no money from the school system. Revitalizing the area with young families, remote workers, and technology based industry is their only hope. Things like the Ecusta trail will only revitalize the area, bringing outside investment, young families, and professionals who rely on a very different economic paradigm than what existed in the past. When you base your economy on cigarette paper (that contributes to the death of your customer base) and outmoded technology, like X-ray film, your economy is doomed. I hope TC can catch up. Outdoor gear manufacturers are your best new hope. Hopefully TC is also putting in ubiquitous 5G Wi-Fi, so remote workers can function in the new economy. I say, build more trails. Attract outside investment. The County should have gotten started on this long before the factories closed.
These photos show an alarming lack of routine maintenance! Maintenance that should have been done decades ago!
I’m wondering if a civil law suit against those responsible for this dereliction is not in order.
I apologize for my poor grammar, in my comment. I was so outraged by this article and the ineptitude and negligence of the county commissioners, that I wrote with passion, and not an editor’s eye. TC government officials are their own worst enemies, and have hobbled the children of the area. It is shameful, but I fear the powers that be have no shame. Pay your teachers. Fund your schools. Give your kids a bright future. Children should be contemplating their bright futures, not suicide. Oh, and though cannabis is now legal in New York State, the kids shun it. They are striving and don’t want to be slowed down by addictions. Kids thank teachers and bus drivers and coaches, at the end of interactions, whether leaving class, practice or just getting off the bus. The difference is stark. A teacher should not need a second job to survive.