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Neill McNeill's Blog

by Neill_McNeill from WGHP-TV FOX 8

Last Post 6 days, 4 hours Ago


PRIMARY REFLECTIONS
May 7, 2008 | 10:59 AM
Category: News
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My thoughts on some of the major races/referendums after the May 6th North Carolina Primary:

PRESIDENT/DEMOCRATS

Barack Obama winning wasn’t as much of a surprise as the size of his victory. I really thought Hillary Clinton would put up a bigger challenge. The polls reflected that late in the campaign. The governor endorsed her. She, her husband, and daughter made countless stops in North Carolina—especially in the eastern and western parts of the state. Her crowds were strong and enthusiastic. Obviously Barack Obama had the money and the resources to produce a stronger “connection” with the voters (especially African Americans, the wealthy, and the young people). The Reverend Wright and Hillary’s gas tax proposal didn’t appear to hurt or help the candidates respectively.

NC GOVERNOR/DEMOCRATS

No surprise here. Richard Moore’s campaign appeared to crumble right before our eyes over the last week. Bev Perdue looking voters right in the eyes in her campaign ads and telling them she was going “positive” worked. So did Andy Griffith. Moore’s radio and television ads that many described as “race-baiting” failed miserably. I personally think it’s sad two members of the same party and the governor’s council of state had to go this “negative” in the first place.

NC GOVERNOR/REPUBLICANS

This was a nice victory for Guilford County’s own Pat McCrory. Everyone thought this would be really tight last night. It wasn’t. McCrory had the resources to produce and air more television ads than State Senator Fred Smith, and it worked. (I just wish McCrory would have looked the voters in the eyes instead of staring off to the side.) McCrory will have his hands full with Bev Perdue who, I must say, looked very “gubernatorial” last night.

US SENATE/DEMOCRATS

Kay Hagan reached out on television. Jim Neal didn’t. That was the difference. Everyone agrees Hagan will have a much tougher job with Elizabeth Dole who (according to the last poll I saw) has at least a 7 point lead. I doubt we’ll see Dole agree to debate Hagan. So, expect a heavy barrage of TV ads. Dole will go after Hagan’s inexperience. Hagan will go after Dole being seemingly “out of touch” with North Carolina voters. A key for Hagan will be emotionally connecting on television—looking them in the eyes and saying, “I’m Kay Hagan. This is who I am and what I stand for.” That worked for John Edwards when he went up against Lauch Faircloth in 1998. It could work for her.

GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOL BONDS

This was the way to run an effective campaign for this large a bond package: be open, answer questions, refute criticism, show the need, do television, do internet, hold meetings, appear organized. The opponents lost (in my opinion) because none offered up true solutions to the problems (crowded facilities where students are eating lunch on the hallway floors, more than 1000 new students entering the school system every year…among others). I heard a lot of whining and moaning about higher taxes, a fiscally- inept school board, and minority contractors. None of that criticism was “solution oriented” in the traditional sense. It's one thing to say, "this school board doesn't know how to spend money." It's another to say, "this school board doesn't know how to spend money, but here's how we solve our overcrowding problem...."

GUILFORD COUNTY JAIL BONDS

Convincing voters to spend money on space to house inmates is tough. But I think Guilford County voters finally “got it” that if they didn’t build the new jail this way, the state and/or federal governments would force them to. This package also rolled the tide of what appears to be an increasing crime rate locally. The “our house or your house” campaign line worked.

Now---on to November.

 

 

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Member Comments Total Comments: 11
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catamount read my blog
May 12, 2008 | 2:58 PM

After reading your blog Neill, I am reminded why I watch Fox-8 almost exclusively. I must admit to watching another station if I miss the 10:00 news. I'd say your analysis is right on.

One slight differing opinion, Easley's endoresement of Hillary may have hurt her more than it helped. His approval rating sin't too good right now...just my opinion.

Between now and November, things may get the ugliest (especially in the Presidential campaigning) we have seen in quite some time.
HankHill read my blog
May 13, 2008 | 9:45 AM

With regards to your school bond opinion

"I heard a lot of whining and moaning about higher taxes, a fiscally- inept school board, and minority contractors. None of that criticism was “solution oriented” in the traditional sense. It's one thing to say, "this school board doesn't know how to spend money." It's another to say, "this school board doesn't know how to spend money, but here's how we solve our overcrowding problem...."

Neill you will have to define "traditional sense". I never heard anyone say the school board did not know how to spend money, though your business is certainly the news and I may have missed it. If so I stand corrected. The spending of money in my mind by the GCSB and System has never been a problem. They know how to spend it. The arguments I have made are they do not know how to spend it wisely or as they have advertised,” for the children”.

Our schools are over crowded no doubt, but that is not the only problem.

As I have stated on a previous blog:
1>GCSS has facilities that sit empty and unused. I know Braxton Craven School for sure is not being used. Seems to me using this facility would assist in the over crowding problem. No, maybe not. Maybe it is better to have it sit unused, deteriorating, collecting graffiti, while some people say we have overcrowding in our schools and continuously vote more bond packages in. How many other GCSS Buildings are available yet not used?
2>GCSS underinsured Eastern Guilford High School. How is this a responsible action by those we trust to do the right thing and make good decisions not only for

HankHill read my blog
May 13, 2008 | 9:46 AM

not only for the kids but the citizens of Guilford County? When they say, “vote yes for the kids” I question their intent because of their previous actions or lack of. How many other buildings has the GCSB allowed underinsured?
3>New schools are constantly drawn and redrawn by architects. How is this spending money wisely? Some architects are not even from Guilford County. Choose a workable footprint for a high school, middle school and elementary school and stay with it. Of course the lay of the land will dictate some changes, but constantly spending money to redraw floor plans for our schools is not very smart and very wasteful. Some of the ceilings in these new structures are very high. How is this intelligent with regards to dealing with over crowding, educating our students, the high cost of energy to heat and cool these buildings, the high cost of maintenance and so on? Could not the money saved be used in better ways for the kids?
4>GCSB needs to hire a Superintendent from within our system. We have very capable people. They know the schools, know the people and will be familiar with the needs of our school system. They will even be well ahead of the learning curve as to the wishes and desires of those on our school board.

You said it best
“This was the way to run an effective campaign for this large a bond package: be open, answer questions, refute criticism, show the need, do television, do internet, hold meetings, appear organized. “

You failed to mention what a good job they did placing highly visible banners at the schools receiving some benefit
HankHill read my blog
May 13, 2008 | 9:47 AM

some benefits from these bonds. They did appear organized and it is certainly easier to win a when you have the funds to push your desires. The funds, where did they come from?

I disagree with you as to why we opponents to these bonds lost. Funds and lack of organization is why our efforts failed. Many true solutions to the problems faced were there.

I respect your opinion, I just happen to disagree with you concerning the school bonds, though it is certainly a moot point now.

Let me share a few additional thoughts as to other problems I see that face our schools.
1>All SRO’s should receive respect from the GCS Administration, parents, students, and even the PD and they should be treated as officers of the law and respected with the utmost support. These men and women attempt to perform difficult jobs and they do this because they want too. They should be asked to be involved in lock down drills to prepare all at the schools for the worst and tragic possible events.
2>Gangs, drugs, and alcohol problems need to be addressed as our schools are infested with these issues.
3>Black school board members brought up problems that black students faced in learning and minority contractors faced in obtaining work on these bond projects. I did not agree with them on many points, but one thing is true by what they said and by what I know to be fact. With regards to students at Grimsley HS, if a typical student or less can not teach themselves and can not afford an outside tutor for math, there is a good chance he/she will fail and or be required additional class work in

HankHill read my blog
May 13, 2008 | 9:48 AM

he/she will fail and or be required additional class work in order to pass. A very large percentage of these students are taught by tutors outside the school system and not just for math. Is this a school or school system that is doing right by its students? I do not know how tutoring relates to students in other schools, but I expect you would find some similar teaching and tutoring situations.

I am one of those people you referred to as a whiner and moaner. I also fall into the class of P, B and Moaner.

Many problems face our schools and many have not been stated, but the spending of money and over crowding is only part of it

All my opinion…and I do realize I am beating a dead horse.
Neill_McNeill read my blog view my photos
May 13, 2008 | 10:29 AM

Good Morning, HankHill--

Believe it or not, I don't think you and I are that far apart on this. But I will address some of your arguments:

I thought I explained "traditional sense" when it comes to "solution oriented" suggestions. It's simply combining the concerns with possible solutions--not just stating the concerns. I still feel this is a MAJOR reason the opponents of the school bond lost.

UNUSED SPACE--You may know of some unused space at Braxton Craven---but I've also been in several Guilford County Schools (including, most recently, Southeast High School) and I didn't see ANY unused space. And even if there is a large amount of unused space (as you imply) is that enough to handle the 1000+ NEW students that come into the Guilford County School System each year. I don't think so.

UNDERINSURED EASTERN GUILFORD--- Again, this does nothing to fix the current challenge. The bottom line---Eastern Guilford needs to be re-built and that work has got to be funded.

HIGH CEILINGS-- I'm not qualified to address this issue. (I'm not a general contractor.) But I would have to assume that since the current head of school operations IS a licensed general contractor (in addition to being an attorney)I have reason to be confident these estimates are about as accurate as anyone can compose.

SUPERINTENDENT--I don't disagree with you here. However, I find it kind of ironic that a critic of how this school system's spent and is spending money would suggest this considering that certainly some of the qualified candidates within the system have participated in these decisi
Neill_McNeill read my blog view my photos
May 13, 2008 | 10:33 AM

CONTINUING---

decisions.

(SROs, GANGS, TUTORS): On SROS and gangs--I don't disagree with you. However, I'm not following you at all on the "tutors" discussion. Even so---what--if anything---does this have to do with the passage or failure of the most recent bond package?

And yes, there are other problems within the school system. But overcrowding and not having enough space is the most URGENT concern right now when it comes to facilities---and that was and is the major focus of this bond package.

The challenge now is the fact this bond package still doesn't address all the system's CURRENT needs. It's just a band-aid, so to speak. It'll be interesting to see when the school board sends another package to voters.

Thanks again for commenting, HankHill.
catamount read my blog
May 13, 2008 | 11:40 AM

This is my 4th year as working as an SRO in GCS, 2 in a middle school, and 2 in a high school. In my humble opinion, the school system goes WAY overboard to try and get kids to graduate. For example, there is PLATO (which is a computer session to get kids caught up), SATURN (which is after-school PLATO), before & after-school tutoring, Saturday School, one-on-one's, etc...

If a student fails in this system, they truly are trying to.
HankHill read my blog
May 13, 2008 | 11:49 AM

Thanks Neill McNeill
and as a quick response.

There is no doubt in my mind there will be another bond issue upcoming. Reported prior to the voting, maybe on FOX 8, the COO of GCSS stated this was only half of the funds the system actually required.
I agree with you as no solutions provided.
Do not get me wrong. I just want the system to be more responsible. I am not against the kids.
I am not referring to just space at Braxton Craven I am saying the entire building is unused and I questioning how many more buildings GCSS has just sitting unused.
Yes, the use of this building and others like it, if any, would have a direct impact on over crowding.
Of course this would require an effort on the part GCSS.
Many of the problems come back to acting responsibly or not.
Ironic as it may seem many things in place were already paced. No matter who steps to the new superintendent slot they will certainly have to cut their own path.
I agree with you, we are not that far apart on this and I believe we both want what is best for all students.

Thanks for your response
HankHill read my blog
May 13, 2008 | 12:00 PM

catamount with the math requirements now by GCSS, and I do not think it is state required, a high school student has to pass four years of Math, though I do think changes maybe in place that would allow some middle school math credits to be applied. There are arguments on both sides of that also. For now though a student can not afford to fail one year of math in high school. I have known students taking a double math to graduate.
I also believe and if you talk with many educators the "no child left behind" is way over due for removal and should be left behind.
You live it and certainly you understand much more about many of the happenings than I do.
catamount read my blog
May 13, 2008 | 3:32 PM

Hank, you're right NCLB looks good on paper, but it isn't working. As far as the math goes, there are many "easier" math classes to meet that requirement.

And I am no math genius. :)
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Neill_McNeill

Yes, that's my real name. It's actually a common and historic Scottish name. (Try "google-ing" it and see how many results you get.) In fact, it's my understanding the first McNeill to arrive in North Carolina from Scotland was a "Neill McNeill." I'm a native Tar Heel who's spent the last 20+ years "growing up" at the same television station. I'll try to use this blog to fill you in on some of the inner-workings of local tv news. Here we go----

Member Since: 7/14/2006


 

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