Bruce Johnson's Notebook

City Boy

Brucejohnson — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:29:00 GMT

This is why I'm a City boy...never been to Maine...photo from Vince Morris...

Talking Trash

Brucejohnson — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:32:00 GMT

I did it again, put the trash out Sunday night, forgetting Monday is a holiday with no DC pickup. This time I refuse to drag my supercan into the rear back yard again. My neighbors always seem to know, maybe its because they have Columbus Day off and I don't.

Exclusive! DC School Chancellor Fires Her Own Principal.

Brucejohnson — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:03:00 GMT

DC School Chancelor Michelle Rhee

I've been able to confirm that on Friday DC School Chancellor Michelle Rhee called the new Principal of Shepherd Elementary school down to the main office where she was fired. The reason, according to sources, was insubordination, although no one has come forward with specifics.

It's more than interesting because Doctor Galeet BenZion was installed as the new Principal of Shepherd Elementary by Rhee at the beginning of the school year.

Here's the letter that the school Chancellor sent out to parents in the Shepherd Park neighborhood.

Dear ,

Many of you engaged in the principal selection process for Shepherd by examining the candidates and making a recommendation to me last year, and I am grateful for the commitment you showed to our students throughout the process. Thank you.

Knowing how hard this work was, it is difficult for me to tell you that Galeet BenZion will no longer be the principal of Shepherd. I know it can be a challenge for a school to receive a new principal after the school year has begun. In order to ease the transition for parents, students and teachers, and to make sure that a strong replacement principal is in place to support you immediately, I have appointed Jamie Miles as principal of Shepherd. I look forward to seeing her succeed for your children.

Ms. Miles comes to this position with valuable experience in DC Public Schools. I was impressed by her work as a school improvement specialist and a principal coach. During the next few weeks, I expect a smooth transition by a skilled leader who understands how to move student achievement foreword even during a transition period. Of course, Ms. Miles has the full support of the Cluster II Office, specifically Clara Canty, Instructional Superintendent, Dr. Margaret Scott, Principal Coach, and Mr. Rodney Carter, Program Specialist. We will work as a team, focused on supporting school staff to motivate, challenge and encourage your children.

Thank you for supporting our school community, and for welcoming Principal Miles as the new leader of Shepherd Elementary School.

Sincerely,

Michelle Rhee

Are You Kidding Me?

Brucejohnson — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:38:00 GMT

What a work of art? I want to meet the barber who is responcible for this cut? In case you can't figure it out , the barber has cut an image of Barack Obama on the back of the young man's head..

I've been ripped off!

Brucejohnson — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:17:00 GMT

I'm going to remain calm and professional about this; but you should know that I was ripped off for nearly two years by a local cable company. I'll with hold the name because they have agreed to refund my money; but here's what happened. Since December of 2006 a local cable company has been charging me a monthly fee for high speed internet service. Problem is, I have never signed up for, nor used their internet service. I have a totally different service from a different company for which I have also been paying. The amount of my loss is no small piece of change; nearly a thousand dollars. I have been assured a refund check is now on the way.

I discovered the mistake or rip-off this week when I phoned the cable company to inquire about the cost of their services. The idea was to compare Comcast, Verizon and Directv fees to determine if I could reduce my overall cable TV, Internet and telephone costs which have been steadily climbing, like yours. Needless to say I am not doing additional business with the firm that had been ripping me off--

This debacle did cause me to check with all three providers and inquire as to how many of my monthly bills could be reduced. Turns out they were all reduced immediately by agents over the telephone.

There is tremendous competition out there in the market. These providers are fighting for every dollar and refusing to easily let go of existing customers. I strongly urge all of you to call them, stay on the line, tolerate the automatic recorded messages, get a live body on the phone, then insist that your fees be reduced, that you be given every promotional discount available to new customers. Finally, check your monthly bills. If you pay on line like I do, its easy to miss their mistakes.