Now, citizens are letting Jerry Stone know how they feel about his relative lack of engagement with those he claims to represent. A meme is circulating that makes the point quite clear:
Showing posts with label County Commissioner Jerry Stone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label County Commissioner Jerry Stone. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
The Response to Jerry Stone's "Citizen Engagement"
So, County Commissioner Jerry Stone has made it clear he doesn't like it when his own constituents express their concerns or disagreements on his campaign Facebook page.
Now, citizens are letting Jerry Stone know how they feel about his relative lack of engagement with those he claims to represent. A meme is circulating that makes the point quite clear:
Now, citizens are letting Jerry Stone know how they feel about his relative lack of engagement with those he claims to represent. A meme is circulating that makes the point quite clear:
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Stonewalled!
It seems incumbent County Commissioner Jerry Stone is not please with dialogue about how best to improve schools. Here's his recent Facebook status:
I have removed and blocked several posts from SS members. They are not interested in facts. They have an agenda and they stick to it. They blocked me from their site several months ago, I will unblock them when they unblock me.
The claim Stone makes about being blocked is false, by the way. The group posted a list of currently blocked individuals, containing 7 people. Jerry Stone is not on that list and leaders of the organization insist he's never been blocked.
This issue apparently arose because after Stone posted false claims about parent-led advocacy group Strong Schools on his page, several members of that organization took the time to respond. When presented with facts about the schools and with pleas from members of Strong Schools to stop making gross generalizations, Stone's son, Nathan, began responding and was joined by SURG supporters Donna DeSopo and Kurt Riley.
Commissioner Stone's only response has been to post that he's blocking those who disagree with him or who attempt to engage him in dialogue about schools.
SURG claims that Stone is the only current County Commissioner who is a member of their organization. And their leadership is standing behind Stone in the 2014 elections.
This is the same Jerry Stone who opposed a proposal to use funds from the Sumner County's nearly $30 million in reserves to help bridge the gap in the 2012 school system proposed budget. This would have prevented a tax increase and allowed time for discussion of alternatives.
Just a few months later, though, Stone supported using reserve funds to bailout the County's mismanaged insurance trust.
More recently, Stone has come out in favor of a property tax increase to support the addition of a new judge in Sumner County. Why does he support this tax? Because the position is needed due to growth. No word on whether SURG leaders are taking Stone to task because of his support for higher taxes.
It's early in election season, but Jerry Stone's Facebook page is certainly proving to be interesting reading. That is, if you enjoy reading Jerry's complaints about how his constituents want to engage in dialogue but all he wants to see is people who agree with his point of view.
The claim Stone makes about being blocked is false, by the way. The group posted a list of currently blocked individuals, containing 7 people. Jerry Stone is not on that list and leaders of the organization insist he's never been blocked.
This issue apparently arose because after Stone posted false claims about parent-led advocacy group Strong Schools on his page, several members of that organization took the time to respond. When presented with facts about the schools and with pleas from members of Strong Schools to stop making gross generalizations, Stone's son, Nathan, began responding and was joined by SURG supporters Donna DeSopo and Kurt Riley.
Commissioner Stone's only response has been to post that he's blocking those who disagree with him or who attempt to engage him in dialogue about schools.
SURG claims that Stone is the only current County Commissioner who is a member of their organization. And their leadership is standing behind Stone in the 2014 elections.
This is the same Jerry Stone who opposed a proposal to use funds from the Sumner County's nearly $30 million in reserves to help bridge the gap in the 2012 school system proposed budget. This would have prevented a tax increase and allowed time for discussion of alternatives.
Just a few months later, though, Stone supported using reserve funds to bailout the County's mismanaged insurance trust.
More recently, Stone has come out in favor of a property tax increase to support the addition of a new judge in Sumner County. Why does he support this tax? Because the position is needed due to growth. No word on whether SURG leaders are taking Stone to task because of his support for higher taxes.
It's early in election season, but Jerry Stone's Facebook page is certainly proving to be interesting reading. That is, if you enjoy reading Jerry's complaints about how his constituents want to engage in dialogue but all he wants to see is people who agree with his point of view.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
That's one way to put it ...
County Commissioner Jim Vaughn is "applauding" the wisdom of Schools Director Del Phillips because Phillips is not asking for more funds for schools in this year's budget.
In short, Vaughn is gloating that after two budget cycles, Phillips has gotten the clear message that the County Commission (at least in its current form) won't be funding excellent schools. They seem content with portable farms, low faculty and staff salaries, and supplies funded by PTOs and fundraising drives and supplemented by teachers.
So, Phillips has taken better than expected numbers from the BEP and some county revenue growth and made the most of it, utilizing funds in a way that keeps schools going without asking for a start on the investment necessary for truly excellent schools. The alternative was yet another fight with the County Commission that likely would have seen that body ignore the will of the public and continue to under-fund schools. Layoffs mid-year would have likely followed.
Also, to say the budgets for all departments are passing early is a strange way of speaking. The fiscal year begins on July 1st and budgets should (and can) be passed by that date. In other words, this is the first time in a long time the County Commission has managed its business well enough to get their job done on time. I'm sure if Jim Vaughn had an employee who completed work on time once very six years, he'd keep him on -- or even give him a raise?
In short, Vaughn is gloating that after two budget cycles, Phillips has gotten the clear message that the County Commission (at least in its current form) won't be funding excellent schools. They seem content with portable farms, low faculty and staff salaries, and supplies funded by PTOs and fundraising drives and supplemented by teachers.
So, Phillips has taken better than expected numbers from the BEP and some county revenue growth and made the most of it, utilizing funds in a way that keeps schools going without asking for a start on the investment necessary for truly excellent schools. The alternative was yet another fight with the County Commission that likely would have seen that body ignore the will of the public and continue to under-fund schools. Layoffs mid-year would have likely followed.
Also, to say the budgets for all departments are passing early is a strange way of speaking. The fiscal year begins on July 1st and budgets should (and can) be passed by that date. In other words, this is the first time in a long time the County Commission has managed its business well enough to get their job done on time. I'm sure if Jim Vaughn had an employee who completed work on time once very six years, he'd keep him on -- or even give him a raise?
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