Today and tomorrow, Rattler Nation will take a look back at the Holmes years at FAMU’s Developmental Research School (DRS).December 31, 2007
The FAMU Board of Trustees votes to approve a three-year contract for Ronald Holmes, the newly hired DRS superintendent and brother of Trustee R.B. Holmes, Jr. Ronald’s salary is $110,000, annually.
Many Rattlers openly question whether President James H. Ammons actually had a choice when it came to the hiring decision. There was no doubt that as one of the seven critical votes that Ammons needed to become FAMU’s president, R.B. had the power to twist Ammons’ arm and make personal demands during the selection process.
Ronald had no experience as the chief administrator of any K-12 school.
July 15, 2008
A FAMU press release announces that the DRS school grade has improved from an “F” in 2006-2007 to a “C” in 2007-2008.
June 19, 2009
Rattler Nation reports that the DRS school grade has dropped from a “C” in 2007-2008 to a “D” in 2008-2009. This comes after Ronald’s first full year as superintendent.
December 1, 2009
An editorial on Rattler Nation states that Ronald is taking DRS backwards. It follows Ronald’s announcement of his intention to lay off nine teachers in order to make up for a budget shortfall.
Ronald’s poor performance as a recruiter is a major factor behind the budget crunch. Enrollment only reached 544 after Ronald projected 600. The new DRS building is designed for 764 students.
December 10, 2009
Provost Cynthia Hughes-Harris swoops in to fix the budget mess at DRS. She states that FAMU has found enough money to keep all nine of the teaching positions that Ronald planned to lay off.
January 12, 2009
DRS budget troubles make headlines again. Ronald sends out a letter to DRS stakeholders informing them that the school needs $175,000 by March 31st.
January 29, 2010
The FAMU BOT votes to use $425,802 from the FAMU DRS Trust Fund to cover projected deficits at the K-12 school. The bailout is needed to fill the monetary hole created in large part by Ronald’s failure to recruit and enroll enough students to cover the budget.
March 1, 2010
Rattler Nation reports that faculty, student, and parent morale is plummeting at DRS.
Tomorrow: “DRS supporters rally to rescue school, 2010-2011.”
A FAMU press release announces that the DRS school grade has improved from an “F” in 2006-2007 to a “C” in 2007-2008.
June 19, 2009
Rattler Nation reports that the DRS school grade has dropped from a “C” in 2007-2008 to a “D” in 2008-2009. This comes after Ronald’s first full year as superintendent.
December 1, 2009
An editorial on Rattler Nation states that Ronald is taking DRS backwards. It follows Ronald’s announcement of his intention to lay off nine teachers in order to make up for a budget shortfall.
Ronald’s poor performance as a recruiter is a major factor behind the budget crunch. Enrollment only reached 544 after Ronald projected 600. The new DRS building is designed for 764 students.
December 10, 2009
Provost Cynthia Hughes-Harris swoops in to fix the budget mess at DRS. She states that FAMU has found enough money to keep all nine of the teaching positions that Ronald planned to lay off.
January 12, 2009
DRS budget troubles make headlines again. Ronald sends out a letter to DRS stakeholders informing them that the school needs $175,000 by March 31st.
January 29, 2010
The FAMU BOT votes to use $425,802 from the FAMU DRS Trust Fund to cover projected deficits at the K-12 school. The bailout is needed to fill the monetary hole created in large part by Ronald’s failure to recruit and enroll enough students to cover the budget.
March 1, 2010
Rattler Nation reports that faculty, student, and parent morale is plummeting at DRS.
Tomorrow: “DRS supporters rally to rescue school, 2010-2011.”