The Croal Dude Report 2.0

Do Something About ItBy:

November 4, 2014

Part 1◦ Robert Pittenger’s real estate development efforts

have compromised our educational system Part 2

◦ The distraction of unnecessary redistricting has consumed energy that is needed for under-privileged children and under-performing schools

Part 3◦ Mike Croal’s solution ideas for the United States of

America

Contents

District 9 includes◦ Western Union County ◦ South Charlotte ◦ Huntersville◦ Caldwell, Hopewell◦ Cornelius, Davidson◦ Lake Norman◦ Mooresville◦ Troutman

Please share and discuss

Cook PVI scale of political

leaning

NC District 9 = R+10

Round One◦ Timeline of Lawson neighborhood land deals◦ Timeline of Cuthbertson High/Middle School land deals◦ Effect of redistricting to increase profits for Round One

Round Two◦ Timeline of Old Waxhaw-Monroe Rd land deals

Part 1-Pittenger’s Land Deals

2002

Robert Pittenger acquires 558 acres that will become Lawson

In the beginning

1991

Robert Pittenger sells 342 acres to Pace-Dowd Properties

Lawson

Future home of

Fury unleashed

2002-03

Remainder of Lawson N/S deeded to Pace Dowd

Lawson begins

8/15/2005

Buy & Hold

1991

http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2003/Bills/House/PDF/H705v4.pdf

State Senator Pittenger votes for HB705 allowing Waxhaw to annex Lawson

6/24/2003

Dec 2000: Lewis Family Limited Partnership formed by Evelyn Lewis, owns the land for Cuthbertson HS/MS, 215.2 acres

2003: Now State Senator Pittenger introduces House Bill June 2006: Land appraises for $70,000 / acre 7/5/06: Lewis Family LP converted to West Fork Farm LLC, with

William J. Lewis organizing 7/18/06: Cuthbertson Farm LLC organized by William J. Lewis

◦ Deemed not in compliance 3/13/2010◦ Administratively dissolved 9/2/2010 for failure to file an annual report◦ Never did file one. Ever.

7/18/06: West Fork Farm LLC (William J Lewis) deeds the land to Cuthbertson Farm LLC (William J Lewis)

10/23/06: Asking price now $80,000 / acre approved by BOE 1/5/07: Cuthbertson Farm LLC grants deed to Union County BOE

for $17million plus $200,000 in Land Broker fee

Juicing the System

Timeline View

2002-03

$174 million dollars to spend on “new schools” and “additions and renovations”

Lawson N/S

Aug 2005Katrina

2006 School Bond Referendum Passes

2006 November

Cuthbertson

Land Bought

Buy & Hold

1991

Annexed

Location, Location, Location

Year Built High School State line or Closest County line

Closest High School when Built

1960 Forest Hills 11.3 6.31960 Monroe 10.7 6.3 1960 Piedmont 4.9 8.71960 Sun Valley 10.8 8.41962 Parkwood 5.6 7.92000 Weddington 5.3 5.42005 Porter Ridge 7.6 4.42006 Marvin Ridge 0.9 4.42009 Cuthbertson 3.6 2.0

Distances in Miles

Temporary Access

2002-03

55 Neighborhoods Redistricted TO Cuthbertson

Lawson

2005

KatrinaSchool Bond

2006 Apr 2008

Source: UCPS document “MS/HS ‘C’ Affected Subdivisions 4/15/2008

Aug2009

Cuthbertson HS/MS opens

Crash2008

Buy & Hold

1991

These 55 subdivisions were pulled into the initial opening of Cuthbertson HS & MS.

Redistrict into Cuthbertson

Get Back to Where you Once Belonged

2002-03

Lawson

2005

KatrinaSchool Bond

2006 2008Redistrict Into

Source: UCPS Redistricting Maps, Jan 2014

Aug2009Cuth opens

Crash2008

BOE / BOCCFight over money

Nov2013 Jan2014

Buy & Hold

1991

Redistrict out of Cuthbertson

40 months later they were asked to leave.

Annexed Redistricting buzz

2013

Nov 6 UCPS talks reassignment

Nov 15

Robert Pittenger Co signs but does not file Deed for large swath of land in Waxhaw

2014

Jan 14 UC BOE approves reassignment plan

Mar 4 BOE votes for Reassignment

Jun 16 BOCC reads 1st draft of tax increase, “counts” votes

Jun 25 R.P. Co files Deed

Jun 30 FY15 begins w/ 15.4% tax

The Rest of the Story

20052006

20072008

20092010

20112012

2013

-30%-20%-10%

0%10%20%30%40%50%

Education50%

-35%

120%

Union County Year-over-Year Expense Growth by Program

20052006

20072008

20092010

20112012

2013

-30%-20%-10%

0%10%20%30%40%50%

Human Services

20052006

20072008

20092010

20112012

2013

-30%-20%-10%

0%10%20%30%40%50%

Public Safety

20052006

20072008

20092010

20112012

2013

-30%-20%-10%

0%10%20%30%40%50%

57%Interest/fees on debt

20052006

20072008

20092010

20112012

2013

-30%-20%-10%

0%10%20%30%40%50%

General Govt

20052006

20072008

20092010

20112012

2013

-30%-20%-10%

0%10%20%30%40%50%

Cultural&Recreation

Waxhaw Current Zoning

Lawson

Millbridge

Cuthbertson H.S. / M.S.

What’s hiding behind those 3 potential park sites down south?

Besides Medium-Density Residential.

Lawson

Millbridge

H.S. / M.S.

Source: http://www.waxhaw.com/DocumentCenter/View/771

Round Two

Nov 2003, 30 acres rezoned for School use

http://www.pittengercompany.com/customers/106010412104118/filemanager/Highway_75_LLC.pdf

Facilities are insufficient Minority and low-income students can’t be

taught English Awards given as political cover Board of Education allowing this on their watch

Part 2-A Failed Education System

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0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

ALL Proficiency % EDS % LEP

Elementary School Proficiency

UCPS Average

26 months Dr. Ellis on the job 8 scheduled Curriculum Committee meetings 4 with posted minutes 36 Board of Education meetings 40+ Opportunities to talk about 3 elementary

schools where less than 20% of children are proficient◦ Benton Heights ◦ East◦ Walter Bickett

2 times discussed improving learning

By the numbers

10 mentions because meeting’s were held there◦ 1 for a NC Dept. of Instruction visit when scores

jumped from 54% to 72% 17 awards and recognitions

◦ 3 awards or mentions were athletics at Monroe HS 1 for teacher’s residence purchase 1 for being awarded a Title 1 school

designation 3 for being recognized for outstanding

performance with scores of 46%, 44%, 59%

Expanded by the numbers

Meeting Topic

3/5/13

Attended curriculum conference at PinehurstBudget cuts to all Title I programsCreating marketing brochures to compete with charter schoolsThere will be 4-5 CNA academies and Teacher Prep in all HSs

4/19/13Announces freeze on teacher assistant positionsDiscussed with superintendents of other large systems about a NC House Bill concerning growth

5/7/13 Guest speaker at Union County Republican Women’s ClubAttended legislature reception “to talk about several things”

6/4/13

Will have to cut 13 Early College teachers and 15 EC assistantsMay have to cut 65 to 85 teacher assistantsSpeaker at the League of Women VotersInvited to the Governor’s Mansion

7/2/13 Meeting with supers of the other large school districts to “gather information for their agenda”

What does Dr. Ellis talk about?

Meeting Topic

8/6/13Going to Washington D.C. to talk about MSLsRaised Driver’s Education fee 22% to $55Produced 27,000 pages of documents for County Commission

9/3/13 Since Aug 13 the majority of my time has been spent in court“Every child should receive a sound basic education”

11/12/13

Spoke at Sardis Elementary about leadershipMet with Dr. Ed DavisInvited to speak at legislatures retreatTest scores are 2nd highest in the state

12/10/13Need 28 teachers but PowerSchool issues keeping class sizes too largeProposes 1% salary increase to non-certified staff

What else does Dr. Ellis talk about?

Meeting Topic

1/7/14Reports that NC DPI 3rd grade reading goals are unreasonableReceived letter from SVHS Principal concerning leaking roofsAsked to speak with the NC General Assembly

2/4/14

Hosted NC DPI and UCPS principalsSpoke to legislators on amount of end of year testingTalked to State rep about 20 academies in UCPSWorking on master’s degrees for teachers in hard to fill spotsRecommend using 3rd grade reading assessment different than NC DPI

More Dr. Ellis talk

Meeting Type Topic

3/5/13 Board Adopt resolution to keep property and facilities out of county’s hands

8/6/13 Board Savage gives up her seat on the Facilities Committee to John CollinsStewart commented he has never been prouder.

11/12/13 Board

Dr. Webb reports on caps at Kensington, Marvin Ridge MS, Porter Ridge MSMcKibben report due in DecemberStewart motions to cap-Hodge/Savage oppose, 7-2Board reminded to complete Dr. Ellis’s evaluations

11/25/13 Facility No discussion on reassignment, just waiting

12/10/13 Board

Stewart requests info on available seats and capacity optionsMotion to extend Dr. Ellis contract-Collins/Stewart, 7-0Motion to extend all senior staff contracts, including adding 4 years to money man Dan K’s contract-Collins/Stewart 7-0

12/19/13 Curriculum Dr. Ellis reported that the SPLASH program would be put on hold until “after redistricting is complete”

1/6/14 Facilities No bubble after this 5 year bubble

1/7/14 Board 4 of 6 speakers speak out against redistricting1 of the other 2 is Gary Sides announcing his candidacy for BOE

1/14/14 Facilities Releases first round of redistricting maps

BOE Redistricting Talk

Meeting Type Topic

2/18/14 BOE Work

Rejects BOCC $3MM for trailers instead of redistrictingStewart directs Ellis to develop a strategic plan to account for growth and renovations. And have it ready in a week for 2/25 Facilities mtg.

2/25/14 Facilities13 minute open meetingNo mention of the plan assigned to Ellis the week priorNo discussion of redistricting

2/27/14 Hearing At Monroe HS, 3 hours of 3 minute speakers with 95% against reassignment

3/3/14 Hearing At Parkwood HS, 3 hours of 3 minute speakers with 95% against reassignment

3/4/14 Facilities Discuss spending jury award and Public-Private partnerships

3/4/14 Board Redistricting approved, 7-2 Savage/Hodge oppose

9/2/14 Board

Dr. Ellis gets $12,000 raise for going along Dr. Webb gets $10,000 raise for going alongAttorney Morris gets $10,000 raise for going alongShelton Jefferies gets $7,500 raise for going along

BOE Redistricting Talk

Empty Elementary Schools

Source: UCPS 2014 20th Day Statistics

-27

Empty Middle Schools

Healthcare◦ Govt spot citizens healthcare dollars at life milestones◦ Citizens pay back with payroll tax◦ End ACA, Medicaid and Medicare and the overhead

Border Security◦ Patrol non-border crossing areas with drones◦ Non-lethally turn back anyone that tries to cross

Illegal Aliens◦ Exchange probation for documentation for illegals with no

other criminal activity except entering the USA illegally Energy

◦ Convert 18-wheelers from diesel to natural gas

Part 3-Mike Croal Solutions

2nd Amendment◦ Whatever you can carry without needing wheels◦ 3x penalties for crimes committed with guns◦ Hold gun owners responsible for gun control

Privacy◦ Heavy fines when data is not encrypted

Benefits◦ Require periodic reenrollment ◦ Means test, make the successful whole, cease

Part 3-Mike Croal Solutions

Equal Pay◦ Let unions handle it where they exist◦ Require it for government jobs◦ Government regulations are not the answer for private

sector equal pay◦ Government can provide more data for private jobs and

let citizens make choices of careers and companies to work for

Abortion◦ Life begins at conception and ends at natural death◦ There can never be a law tight enough to end all abortions◦ Provide an environment of hope and the pursuit of

happiness

Part 3-Mike Croal Solutions

Same Sex Unions◦ Clearly homosexual unions

are not the same as heterosexual unions

◦ It is something different than Marriage

◦ There should be a legal framework for same sex couples but defaulting to calling it Marriage is the politically expedient solution to a complex problem

Part 3-Mike Croal Solutions

• Eliminate marriage tax benefit• Create legal framework to

allow• Medical info sharing• Asset transition• Other “equality”

Before or on November 4, 2014