Job Hopes Flat, Man Fulfills Dream

The loss of a job opportunity in Cobb County lead business partners Doug Cardoza and Patrick Kincaid to fulfill Cardoza's dream of opening a yarn store.

When Patrick Kincaid received a verbal offer for a teaching job in Cobb County, he and Doug Cardoza moved from King City, CA, to Marietta. Then, Kincaid’s job offer fell through due to budget cuts and neither former teacher was able to get even a job interview in the area. When Cardoza cashed out his retirement savings for living expenses, he realized this was the time to try out his dream of opening a yarn shop. “I figured since I’m using my retirement for living expenses, I might as well follow my dream,” Cardoza said. In April, the pair opened The King’s Knit-Wit in downtown Cartersville. Kincaid put his life savings into the store with one caveat – that a section be set up in the back where spouses of knitters can browse a selection of…

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School Systems Save Teacher Jobs

No full-time teachers will lose their jobs next year in the Cartersville and Bartow County school systems.

No certified teachers in either local school system will lose their jobs for the upcoming school year due to attrition. The Bartow County Board of Education approved a slate of personnel recommendations on Monday night, and Superintendent John Harper said that 100 percent of the school system’s certified teachers who were expected to lose their jobs because of a reduction in force due to budget cuts have been placed for the 2012-2013 school year. “One hundred percent of the teachers that were (part of the reduction in force) that wanted to continue to work in the Bartow County School System, in other words those who aren’t retiring or who don’t want to stay home, will have a position with us next year,” Harper said. In addition, four …

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22 Parapros on the Chopping Block

Cartersville City Schools Superintendent Howard Hinesley said he'll recommend a reduction in force and the privatization of some employee health insurance to save the system money amid continuing funding cuts.

County School Board Seat Opens in July Special Election

BartowPolitics.com yesterday questioned the validity of Bartow Schools' appointment of Anna Sullivan, but officials say the board was within its rights.

A special election in conjunction with the July primary will decide the District 5 representative on the Bartow County Board of Education. Following questions on the validity of the recent appointment of Anna Sullivan, Elections Supervisor Joseph Kirk said yesterday officials will call for the July 31 special election in about two weeks. Following Larry Parker's Dec. 31 resignation, the board appointed Sullivan to fill the seat through the end of the year. Cartersville Patch reported from the Feb. 6 swearing in and board meeting that Sullivan, to keep the post, would have to qualify for and run in the July primary and, if elected, run in the November general election. But during last week's board meeting, a member of the community …

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3 Public Hearings on Millage Rate Hike, No Budget Yet

Bartow County Schools have recommended a 1.5 mill increase, and haven't released many details or board retreat minutes to which one member objected, citing procedural and communication problems.

City Schools May Face $2 Million in Cuts

In addition to efficiencies in transportation, which could affect field trips, a schedule change for teachers at the Cartersville High School is possible

GOP Calls on Schools to Void Tax Hike

Bartow County's Republican party is asking opponents of an approved 1.5 mill property tax increase to speak out at the next school board meeting.

Bartow's GOP opposes a measure approved by the county school board in a plan to save the system more than $3 million amid dwindling state and local funding. In a Monday called meeting, the school board voted to increase the millage rate from 17.90 mills to 19.40 mills, which Superintendent John Harper said will equate to an additional $60 a year on a $100,000 home. In a press release, Bartow County Republican Party Chairman Louis DeBroux, on behalf of the group's executive committee, encourages local citizens and taxpayers to speak out against the tax hike at the Bartow County Board of Eduction meeting set for Monday at 6 p.m. Leaders of the party are calling on the board to rescind the decision to raise property taxes; release a detailed…

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Howard Johnson

10:49 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012

'As Republicans, we believe in personal responsibility, in honest and frugal management of the taxpayer dollar, and in maximum freedom for each of us as individuals', and, of course, the forcible entry of a state-authorized probe before a woman can terminate an unwanted pregnancy. And giving employers and insurers the right to deny women insurance coverage for contraceptives, that would also …   more ›

Layoffs, More Furloughs OK'd in Budget Cut Plan

The Bartow County Board of Education approved the plan Monday night that also will reduce the number of instructional days.

The Bartow County Board of Education on Monday night approved a budget reduction plan that would increase the number of furlough days for all employees, reduce some high school course offerings and result in the termination of 25 to 30 employees. "It disheartens me greatly that we're looking at people and saying, 'You don't have a position with us any longer,'" Superintendent John Harper said. The revenues attained from the reductions total $3.15 million. Among the top money savers are cutting $672,052 in expenses by mandating that all workers except 236-day employees take seven furlough days; the elimination of S.T.A.R.S. Pre-K for $342,872.92; cutting $297,152.84 by eliminating media center clerks; and saving $299,873 by furloughing 236-…

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Bartow Schools' Budget Reduction Plan Draws Full House

Superintendent John Harper is expected to detail a $2.1 million cost-cutting plan, which includes eliminating some middle and high school programs.

Bartow Schools leaders are holding a special called meeting to decide on a proposed 2013 budget reduction plan that includes layoffs, program cuts and a shortened school year. See Bartow Schools Eye Layoffs, Cuts for the details.

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