August 23rd, 2006 by Atomictumor
We here at the ‘Tumor have been pontificating for many moons (well, a few moons) about how Oak Ridge needs to get its act together and make the school system a top priority issue, bigger than a Town Center, or a residential subdivision, because its the jewel of the crown around here.
Well, to that end we’re working on another project, the Atomic City Education Society, which is starting up a bumper sticker campaign in the hopes of raising awareness that our school system isn’t getting the backing it has enjoyed in years past.
Yeah, a lot of people see the school system as a money pit. I see it as one of the best systems in America, and a lot of people agree. Thats a huge, HUGE calling card. The problem is, if we leave it to the politicians to fix, it won’t happen.
We need an organized, grassroots movement in town of people who understand that a declining school system is a city in decline, and if we don’t shore it up we’re going to drop into mediocrity, and thats not going to fill those 4000 houses out west up.
So, hook up with a bumper sticker, and be part of the cool crowd.
August 23rd, 2006 at 10:27 am
I just recently got home from the preschool. Dr. Phillips pulled me aside and asked if I had a few minutes to talk. We discussed what ACES is doing/planning and what other people in town are doing about the funding (or lack thereof).
She made some copies of maps showing school zones and also a sheaf of papers that has every street in Oak Ridge and which school that street “belongs” to. I’m not sure how, if at all, this information may come in handy, but it’s good to have it nonetheless.
Dr. Phillips also put up the supportoakridgeschools.com address on the dry erase board that parents see when they enter the preschool/administration lobby.
And finally, Dr. Phillips put in an order for $40 bumper stickers. She is personally purchasing one for every staff person at the preschool.
Looks like we’re going to need to order more soon!
August 23rd, 2006 at 10:32 am
DUDE!! I love Dr. Phillips. She is truly an asset to the pre-school and the system itself.
That’s great!
August 23rd, 2006 at 10:34 am
Heh, not $40 bumper stickers, just 40 bumper stickers. But she is donating the $1 per sticker.
Dur. It’s been a busy morning.
August 23rd, 2006 at 10:34 am
Wow…
August 23rd, 2006 at 10:53 am
This is great! Now if all the other principals and admin staff step up to the plate like Dr. Phillips has done.
August 23rd, 2006 at 2:35 pm
Without question, Marian Phillips is among the best of the best.
August 23rd, 2006 at 2:40 pm
Netmom, and other Oak Ridgers:
If you support what we’re doing, please consider putting a link to the supportoakridgeschools.com site on your website. It would be greatly appreciated.
August 23rd, 2006 at 2:45 pm
Has anyone thought about settiing up a booth at the ORHS flea market to sell bumper stickers?
How about asking someone in the know…ahem netmom…to find out if it would be proper to send literature home with OR school kids to their parents soliciting donations for bumperstickers?
BTW the check is in the mail guys. You should receive my request for a sticker and a donation by tomorrow.
August 23rd, 2006 at 3:05 pm
Thanks, Daco!
That’s a great idea about the flea market, and something that we have been considering. We’d like to make some visual aids, charts, etc to have handy, so once those are in place, I hope that’s something we can do.
We’re also in contact with a couple of school officials to find out more info about getting the word out…hopefully we’ll hear back soon.
August 24th, 2006 at 8:32 am
I dropped off the 40 stickers this morning, so hopefully we’ll start seeing some cars tooling around the city sportin ‘em soon.
August 24th, 2006 at 3:19 pm
AT … bring me two on Monday.
I up and moved from Knoxville to Oak Ridge two weeks ago so that my daughter could continue at ORHS after she came to live with me full-time. This has not been without great sacrifice, stress and effort. I graduated from ORHS … I believe in the school system and it pains me to see these changes that push it further down the priority list.
Speaking of sacrifices … my monetary sitch is tighter than J-Lo’s britches. But … have Photoshop, can create logo! (And I will buck up eventually) I’ll snitch the dino graphic and see what I can come up with in the way of web site buttons and banners. Send ideas and other graphics to my email … lissakay-at-gmail-dot-com
August 24th, 2006 at 6:48 pm
Button and banner design would be very appreciated, Lissa. I’ll pack AT’s lunch box with two stickers Monday. :)
August 24th, 2006 at 10:32 pm
I already spotted a sticker out there! One of ya’ll drive a Honda Odyssey? I was behind you at the light at Turnpike and N.Tulane around 6:30 …
August 25th, 2006 at 1:11 am
http://www.lissakay.com/aces.zip
August 25th, 2006 at 7:40 am
Thanks Lissa. Yeah, that might have been Eaves you saw in the van.
August 25th, 2006 at 8:36 am
Yep, that’s me!
August 25th, 2006 at 8:40 am
The banners look great - thanks Lissa!
May 23rd, 2007 at 10:43 pm
[…] the parking garage at the Sheraton, a blue SUV two cars ahead of me in the checkout line had an ACES bumper sticker just like mine — the one with the little red dinosaur, like the picture under […]