Today’s Mt. Express published a letter written by Barbara and Spence Browning, which outlines BCSD Superintendent Lonnie Barber’s compensation package. The letter goes on to question such a generous compensation package while SAT scores have been solidly average while district spending has been 2 to 3 times what other districts spend. Continue reading
Author Archives: Ellen Mandeville
Guthrie and Bates’ Seats up for Election May 21st
In today’s Idaho Mountain Express, Terry Smith reports:
“Two Blaine County School District board of trustee seats now held by Chair Steve Guthrie and Trustee Paul Bates will be up for election in May.
“Both Guthrie and Bates confirmed this week that they plan to seek re-election.
“The School District announced Monday that it is accepting ‘declarations of candidacy’ and that the candidate-filing deadline is Friday, March 22, at 5 p.m.”
For the full article: School trustee seats are up for election
This election will be held in conjunction with the state primary election to be held May 21st.
Barber’s Contract Extended by Unanimous Vote
Last night, the BCSD Board of Trustees unanimously voted to extend Dr. Lonnie Barber’s contract, a package worth around $200,000/yr, for another year. This decision came after much public comment noting consistently mediocre BCSD SAT scores in spite of yearly spending approximately $20,000/student/year. The public comment also questioned the quality of the administration’s oversight of the McKinstry construction work; disagreements about this work has led to the current lawsuit between the BCSD administration and McKinstry. Continue reading
Filed under News
No On Barber Campaign
updated 3/12/2013 at 3:39pm
Holmes Lundt, Barbara Browning and others yesterday formed the No On Barber Campaign. A letter written by them is making its way around the Wood River Valley. Some people report receiving the email letter several times. The letter states:
“Blaine County School District Board of Trustees will meet Tuesday, March 12 to vote on extending Superintendent Lonnie Barber’s lucrative contract from July 2015 to July 2016. Before they do this, they need to hear from the voters of Blaine County.
“For those who may not be aware, Dr. Barber’s tenure has included:
- $18 million lawsuit that has resulted from $26 million construction work awarded to McKinstry Corp. by Superintendent Dr. Lonnie Barber on a no-bid basis. The McKinstry contract could now cost taxpayers $26 million PLUS hundreds of thousands of dollars–and potentially millions– in lawyers fees.
- SAT scores and graduation rates that are significantly lower than the best districts in Idaho, despite an average per pupil funding rate of over $20,000 per year, among the highest per pupil funding rates not just in Idaho, but in the US.
- Hundreds of students opting out of BCSD to attend local independent schools (including two that opened in the past few years, despite the poor economy).
“Despite this record, Dr. Barber is the highest paid superintendent in Idaho (higher even than the Boise superintendent, who oversees 8 times more students), with a salary is in excess of $158,000. Continue reading
Filed under News
Pi or Tau? Which do you choose… and what flavor?
Policy change.
Pi now equals Tau/2.
Parents of Blaine County Students 