It's dirty pool here, but I'm gonna tease our Sunday Insight section by not teasing our Sunday Insight section.
A local high school student spent a few days with The Star's editorial department this summer. (How nerdy, right?) Anyway, she had a passion about a certain subject, so we gave her an assignment to write us a long-form essay -- and it rocks.
(Plus, Tosha Jupiter, one of our design whizzes, brainstormed a really cool-looking page. Much better than I would have done.)
Trust me here. You'll like it. Even if you're not a teenager from Saks.
More on this later.
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
Friday, August 10, 2007
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Tuesday's top online reads
Buckner Center could soon be put up for sale by Dan Whisenhunt
It was followed closely by letters to the editor and a Star editorial, New captain for Anniston’s schools: It’s time for Felton to go
It was followed closely by letters to the editor and a Star editorial, New captain for Anniston’s schools: It’s time for Felton to go
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday's best online reads
5 new principals prepare for school by Steve Ivey
Hart's Ferry steeped in memories for residents by Matt Kasper
Storm knocks out service for 2,400 Alabama Power customers in Calhoun and Cleburne by Andy Johns
Two editorial pages items attracted readers
Monday's letters to the editor and The Star's editorial decrying the conduct of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales -- Growing tired of obfuscation.
Hart's Ferry steeped in memories for residents by Matt Kasper
Storm knocks out service for 2,400 Alabama Power customers in Calhoun and Cleburne by Andy Johns
Two editorial pages items attracted readers
Monday's letters to the editor and The Star's editorial decrying the conduct of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales -- Growing tired of obfuscation.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Two meetings, one topic: Felton's future
Covering one meeting on deadline can be hectic enough. Keeping tabs on a simultaneous meeting 75 miles away complicates things.
The Midfield Board of Education, southwest of Birmingham, convened at 5 p.m. Thursday to discuss five finalists for their superintendent post, including Anniston Superintendent Sammy Lee Felton.
An hour later, Felton was center stage here in Anniston for the latest in a series of tense, at times combative, meetings about an assistant principal at the high school and, by the end of the night, his future with this school system.
Since learning of Felton's candidacy in Midfield, I've been in close contact with their school board president Nathaniel Hutton by cell phone. By about 5:45, it was time to leave for Anniston's meeting, and no word on the Midfield vote had come.
The Anniston board met for about 90 minutes, beginning with the back-and-forth over whether to reinstate former AHS assistant principal Charles Gregory and ending with board member Nathaniel Davis asking to begin the process of terminating Felton's contract. The move failed by a 2-2 vote, but it was the first public call for his ouster by any elected official.
Earlier in the day, we had planned for two stories: One about the board meeting, where we expected Gregory's post to come up but had not planned for Davis' call to remove Felton, and another about the Midfield job. I reached Midfield board member Shirley Troulias, whom I had met when I sat in on Felton's interview there, by just after 8 p.m. She told me they had chosen another candidate.
Hearing that, we decided to weave it all together into one comprehensive accounting of one night for the embattled Felton. Check it out in today's edition of The Star.
The Midfield Board of Education, southwest of Birmingham, convened at 5 p.m. Thursday to discuss five finalists for their superintendent post, including Anniston Superintendent Sammy Lee Felton.
An hour later, Felton was center stage here in Anniston for the latest in a series of tense, at times combative, meetings about an assistant principal at the high school and, by the end of the night, his future with this school system.
Since learning of Felton's candidacy in Midfield, I've been in close contact with their school board president Nathaniel Hutton by cell phone. By about 5:45, it was time to leave for Anniston's meeting, and no word on the Midfield vote had come.
The Anniston board met for about 90 minutes, beginning with the back-and-forth over whether to reinstate former AHS assistant principal Charles Gregory and ending with board member Nathaniel Davis asking to begin the process of terminating Felton's contract. The move failed by a 2-2 vote, but it was the first public call for his ouster by any elected official.
Earlier in the day, we had planned for two stories: One about the board meeting, where we expected Gregory's post to come up but had not planned for Davis' call to remove Felton, and another about the Midfield job. I reached Midfield board member Shirley Troulias, whom I had met when I sat in on Felton's interview there, by just after 8 p.m. She told me they had chosen another candidate.
Hearing that, we decided to weave it all together into one comprehensive accounting of one night for the embattled Felton. Check it out in today's edition of The Star.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Coming Friday
I managed to stay awake after downing two brats at lunch. Long enough at least to check in with our reporters who are working on a slew of good stories:
- Before the night is out we'll know if Midfield City Schools wants to hire Superintendent Sammy Lee Felton away from Anniston. As soon as we know the result of the vote by Midfield's board of education, we'll post it here, with more details coming in tomorrow's paper. Meanwhile, the Anniston BOE is meeting tonight, and Felton is expected to recommend an assistant principal for Anniston High School. Education beat writer Steve Ivey will be following both those stories tonight.
- We checked in today with law enforcement experts in the area on Oxford Mayor Leon Smith's plan for a public safety director to oversee the police and fire departments in his city. The City of Huntsville recently added a similar position, and they told Oxford beat writer Todd South a bit about how and why they did it.
- Then there's Heflin resident Annie B. Phillips, who walks everywhere she goes and makes sure any litter along her path is picked up. The City Council there recognized her this week for her lifelong efforts at beautifying the city as a model of good citizenship. Intern Christina Smith has a great profile of Mrs. Phillips, along with stellar images from staff photographer Steven Gross.
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