What would you like to see in a new High School Principal?

Do we need to replace the Assistant Superintendent and Dean of Students or would the money be better spent in some other way?

Why has the district lost so many administrators and teachers to other opportunities in recent years and what if anything can be done to shut what appears to be a revolving door of educational opportunism?

Your thoughts?

Please feel free to express comments below and respond to the poll.

Derby’s Public Schools - Report Card

Start Date: July 15, 2008 @ 9:00 am
End Date: September 15, 2008 @ 9:00 am

On the heels of this action Rick Dunne chose this time to resign his position on the commission and as a result its chairmanship, citing conflicts of interest with his position as the Executive Director for the Valley Council of Governments. This means the commission will need someone to take the reigns and guide the process from here on.

Your thoughts?

This is the first time I have ever heard or read comments from the developer admitting that the current PDA, negotiated by the previous administration, is working against the city’s best interests and that they are willing to address that impropriety.

Your reaction?

At this point eminent domain is a tool the city CAN use to acquire private property for public use. The purpose of eminent domain is to not allow a private property owner from impeding the public  purposes of government by refusing to sell their property. Redevelopment has traditionally been found to be a valid public purpose of government in the courts.

The 5th amendment to the U.S. Constitution requires “just compensation” be paid to the land owner. The 14th amendment extended that clause to local and state governments.  Under eminent domain, the owner must be given “fair market value” and any “consequential damages”.  The “fair market value” is the current value of land and improvements, based on what price the property would bring if the owner did not have to sell and the buyer did not have to buy.  The purpose of these amendments was to ensure fair compensation to the property owner for the loss of their property.

The usual process is a resolution by the acquiring agency, followed by an appraisal, offer and negotiations. If the two parties cannot agree upon a sale price the government initiates the legal process of eminent domain by condemning the property in the courts. 

In court, the government must prove they carried out “good faith” negotiations and they must prove the taking of the property is for a “public purpose.” If this is found to be so by the courts the process moves on to the next phase of determining “just compensation” which involves interviews with the parties, hearings, etc. at which point an “award value” is established. Once the government deposits with the court the value of the award it is given ownership to the property. The private individual at that point can ask for a trial  by a jury to determine the “award value” but they cannot retain ownership of the property.

What do you think of the Redevelopment Agencies actions?

 I will not allow comments regarding negotiations or the actions of the parties involved to be published unless it is from one of the parties involved i. e. a property owner or a city official and they clearly identify themselves as such in their comments and provide a method for follow up independent verification.

Our outgoing Superintendent, who is done at the end of the calendar year, as one of her final recommendations to the board recommends doing background checks on volunteers in the district.

 Your thoughts?