On Thursday, the morning after the Board's Special Session where they voted to close Lynwood as an elementary school and asked for a list of 50 - 60 teachers to lay off, Stinson sat at his computer and typed out the message below and had it sent to all employees in the District. Does he commiserate with the employee's fear of loosing their jobs in this tough economy? No. Does he lay out any framework for pulling together as a team to survive the chaotic times? No. Does he begin to express how near the District is to the bottom of the mess and how some tiny ray of hope can be seen that the childrens' education will remain unscathed? No.
Here is Superintendent Don Stinson's message to all employees at this horrid time in the District's history:
February 25, 2010
Decatur Staff,
Last night at the school board meeting, a portion of the enrollment management recommendation was approved by the board. We will immediately begin preparing to move the ECC to the Lynwood building and create five 1-6 elementary schools at Blue, Gold, Stephen Decatur, Valley Mills, and West Newton. In the very near future, you will receive information about the school designs that were recommended by the Enrollment Management Design Team. Although we will not be implementing the school designs next year, implementation is anticipated to take place over the next two to three years.
Listed below are the elementary schools, the principal assigned to the school and the school design.SCHOOL --------------- PRINCIPAL ------------- SCHOOL DESIGN
Blue Academy ---------- Matt Prusiecki ---------- STEM/Creative Arts
Early Childhood Center-- Susan Bryant------------ Kindergarten
Gold Academy---------- Nan Wiseman------------ School of Inquiry – Global Studies/ Creative Arts
Stephen Decatur-------- Robert Kehrein ----------Expeditionary -Balanced Calendar
Valley Mills------------- To Be Posted------------- Project-based Learning
West Newton---------- Janet Larch ----------------Creative Arts
He is actually setting up themes of instruction for each school while the transportation budget is being cut in half. These types of open schools require huge expenditures in transportation as any child in the District can attend any school in the district. He offers no solace. He offers no details of how the next steps will be taken. He offers no leadership. He offers themes to take effect before the community can put in a new majority on the School Board.
The current School Board needs to get Don Stinson to leave. He made this huge financial mess. He has chosen to lay off teachers, force bus drivers to take a big cut in salary or leave entirely, and raise class size - while protecting administrators and their new digs at the Southwest Pavilion. AND if that weren't enough reason to ask him to leave. He has no leadership skills with which to combat the dismal morale his actions have caused. And, he does not have the continued support of the community. He is taking actions that he may see as securing his legacy - but they are NOT in the best interest of Decatur or Decatur's children.
Posts
63 comments:
Thank you for getting these facts to us. The memo regarding principal assignments causes many questions. They said that they were reducing 4 building level administrators - Sharon Downing, Jeff Harvey, Doug Opel, and Jill Meerman. Did they move Kellie McWilliams to AD and not replace her position? Why are they posting an elementary principal position? to replace Jeff Harvey? This memo is a factual piece of information - not rumor.
Superintendent Stinson has been saying to teachers that the "cheese is moving." Well, it looks like the central office big rats and little mice will get hungry but only if they are caught in the traps. So far it looks like the teachers are being bullied by such irrational decisions as paying Susan Adams more money.
Many school districts have had to freeze salaries and reduce the number of administrators. Your memo is hard evidence that neither is occurring in Decatur Township. Are they expecting some kind special treatment from the state???
Can't figure it out why would you let Harvey go cause he can't get along with others. But you keep Larch that's been on probation for many things and just came back and still can't do her job. she must be a yes person like the school board. Looking at the schools and what their going to do in 2 to 3 yrs means change AGAIN the next year when is this going to stop? when are our children not going to be treated like guinea pigs.
I hope Stinson is not allowed to retire....he should be made to continue working so he can be a part of the mess. Try reading endteacherabuse.org many interesting perspectives. Why is Valley Mills getting a new principal? Jeff Harvey should be moved there. What is the REAL reason he was let go. They are moving other administrators around why not him? Seems everything is a lie and a shuffle. Teachers the admin. wants to get rid of will be moved to Gold Academy since N. Wiseman already has a reputation of AXING teachers....note how many Linwood teachers have been "encouraged" to retire. This is just a very sad state of affairs.
What is Susan Adam's new post going to be?
Is Rosie in charge of the bus garage safe?
Susan Adams is team leader of operations. We heard they gave her a bonus for taking the job. Now we have team leaders ,they invent new positions to keep their friends making the big bucks too.
Anonymous said...
What is Susan Adam's new post going to be?
Is Rosie in charge of the bus garage safe?
Susan Adams will be Rosie's new boss just the same as when Dave was the boss then it was Jeff,
the only problem is that Dave was always around when he was needed, bus problems he was there, bus fights he was there, bus wrecks he was there, bus details he was there, always willing to help and yes some times he was in the way BUT he was there. Now Jeff you never see him or hear for him, he's the boss would works out of Central Office never out and about to see what is going on, does not anserw his township cell phone after he leaves work for the day, knows everything but does nothing, the next great person Adams!!! knows everything no matter what , is the be all to end all, the only time anyone see her is when she is driving around over the speed limit on school property in her township pickup, and she also does not anserw her township cell phone unless its some one from the central office and only if she wants to talk. Susan has a way about her, she is the kind of person who will make people mad just by being herself. I know I feel sorry for the bus drivers and for security if in fact she is going to be the NEW boss, maybe Don is doing this so most of the drivers and security will walk off the job instead of putting up with a Susan Adams around them.
Its going to be fun around Decatur Township real soon with the new nuts incharge
I heard Susan Adams got a $15,000 raise with her promotion and that her old position still exists and has been filled (wanna bet they found a way to pay him less?). Maybe they'll put her whole name on the website now LOL. It's too bad Perry Twp doesn't distract her as much now - although I wouldn't wish her on anyone!
Doesn't it seem strange to anyone else that the person taking Baers' place came from Perry Twp? That Susan Adams was President of the School Board in Perry? Why is this new asst. super. going to have less responsibilities by passing the transportation dept, security, and maintenance to Susan? Could this promotion be a payback for recommending him for the job? Maybe the promotion was just a case of Jeff Baer taking care of his "Close friend Susan " before he leaves.I hear Susans buddy Aron in maintenance will be promoted to being in charge of the custodians. No, I don't think Rosies' job is safe either. Rumor is that she will be offered a buy-out to leave when she gets back from vacation.This will not be voluntary because Rosie has often stated she was not going to retire for a couple of more years. Where are all of the admin. cuts? There are none. They just keep creating more positions with more pay for all of their "Yes Man' Buddies.
This is very "strange." There are no false accusations with malicious intent being writeen. Rather, there is a desire for public and perhaps written answers to a lot of questions. How can any ADMINISTRATOR, including Susan Adams, receive a raise at a time when others are losing jobs????? What exactly were the administrator positions that were reduced??? There are so many questions. Has the teacher's association taken these questions to required discussion (Public Law 217)???
I think its time Decatur Twp. took a stand. Stick together as one. All the people who(Work) for a living. Pay check to pay check. All the people they are talking about cutting. How bout we all stick together. And, make a strong stand. That we will not take this kind of treatment. We are scared to even move at the moment. Scared that it will be our job on the line. If we do one thing wrong. We feel we are being (prayed) upon. All eyes are on the small employees. To save the jobs of the top employees salary. Whats up with that? Its not right. Having to be worried what will be next year for us. We need to somehow take a stand. And, we need the Twp residents behind us. Lets do something while we still can.
Some might like to read questions from the DEA to the administration at decatur.schoolfusion.us/modules/cms/...?pageid=116971.
where is this link? It says does not exist.
This should be the information from the prior comment (anon 11:59) --interesting stuff if for some reason the link does not work then you would need to go to the msd decatur website, rollover the Staff heading, click on DEA Information, then scroll down until you see the blue and red question and answers.
http://decatur.schoolfusion.us/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=116971&sessionid=2b33cd9f66e38e19b201f6a12c201012&sessionid=2b33cd9f66e38e19b201f6a12c201012
According to the answers from the teachers association, Stinson is taking a $45,ooo paycut. Mathematically, $45,000 would be 15% of $300,000. So-o-o he will receive more than $250,000 in salary/benefits from Decatur. We'll wait for the next contract to be revealed by the Indianapolis Star!
Little bit surprising that with the lack of leadership as well described earlier and resulting lack of student achievement that we would continue on this road to nowhere.
It is totally confusing as to whether they are eliminating positions or eliminating people in those positions. There is a big difference. It looks like they added a new position for Susan Adams???? Do all students in Grades 1-6 now have a choice of which elementary they will attend? Do teachers have a choice of which elementary they will teach? Oh, the little secrets.
I think Mr. Stinson should get on here and start answering some questions. I think as bad as things are with our township right now he should stop trying to reinvent the wheel and go back to the basics and just let the teachers do their jobs.
I think Mr. Stinson will not put any answers in writing because then he would have to say "I said that." Don't think board members will put answers in writing either. They would prefer to accuse others of spreading rumors rather than address the facts. What exactly have they said to teachers is the retirement/severance package they are offering??
The information posted on the DEA link under staff on the homepage is interesting. I think I better understand why the legislature has been hesitant to make changes in the rules regarding transfer of funds to the general fund. Decatur is already spending money from the capital projects fund on Susan Adams and spending more from the transportation fund on Jeff Baer. I can see paying Rosie and Brenda from this fund because they actually work in transportation. Baer does not. Susan Adams - I don't know what she does?
Central Office administrators do NOT WORK 260 days per year. They get 13 paid holidays and 20 paid vacation days. Since the average teacher salary reported by the state department is $57,428 per year the teachers average daily rate is #310. Jeff Baer's reported salary of $136,027 would $599 per day which almost twice the daily teacher rate.
These are facts not rumors.
Fact from website): Mrs. Preda (the high school principal's wife) is paid $16.50/hour from Title I. Are there no other secretaries who could do this?? How can we put people out of work and pay her??
This kind of thing can stop right now. We factually know this district has BIG money problems. Whoever (regular employee) is assigned to do this can be paid for doing this from Title I (just like Mrs. Preda).
This is the kind of waste that makes teachers so angry and frustrated.
The very well paid administrators should be expected to do paperwork at night just like the teachers do.
Come on - ????????
I definitely agree that the MSD of Decatur Township needs a NEW SUPERINTENDENT! In my opinion, Don Stinson is ONLY concerned with taking care of administrators and members of the School Board. It is RIDICULOUS how much money Don Stinson and his administrator friends are paid, especially when we are talking about budget cuts. I truly believe Don Stinson (as well as many administrators) are missing the big picture in all of this. The most important piece to this puzzle, by far, is the teachers and the students. Without our OUTSTANDING teachers, our students would be unable to get a quality education. Let's try to not lose sight of this!!!
Agree, agree. But if Stinson is able to eliminate some 50 teachers and blame the teachers because they cost too much money then the remaining teachers and students won't have a chance to succeed. Teachers must stand firm and the administration and board need to look elsewhere for reinvention. Right now, under this leadership, everyone is in the stone ages.
They are going to do what they want unless parents start doing something immediately this township is in alot of trouble. They have to protect their salaries heaven forbid do anything that makes sense.They keep putting our children on the back burner
The Decatur teacher contract has the following statement: "Within the Semi-Permanent and Non-Permanent employment status groups, nonrenewal of contracts shall be determined on the basis of seniority in the system... except in cases whre application of this provision is determined detrimental to the total school program." This may be why they say New Tech teachers won't be rifed - nothing to do with grant regulations.
anon 9:57 - The Gates Foundation grant might stipulate certain staffing requirements, but it cannot require that specific people be employed. I should think that the RIFs will begin with the newly employed and then shuffling of remaining personnel would fill in any required positions.
I do think the 0-3 teachers are all very worried and for good reason.
Let's not forget election time, it is time for CHANGE! It might take a while but little steps at a time. And changing 2 seats on the school board are a start.
the admin is finally following the law....."a teacher must be notified 30 days before the board votes on an action to reduce their position" Teachers who will be reduced will be notified on March 12, next board meeting April 13th. Teachers were notified on Tuesday afternoon about the March 12 notification. I'm sure they will RIF 60 or more just to start some hysteria.
In Defense of Don Stinson and the School Board of Decatur Township Schools
Part 1
What is wrong with Decatur Township Schools? This seems to be the question that is being asked by many people in our community. When I read the blogs or listen to the conversations among my friends and acquaintances, I am struck with amount of blame that is put on Don Stinson , the Superintendent of Decatur Township Schools, and his administrative team. Everywhere you read or listen the public schools are under attack. This is not a good time to be an educational leader in any community let alone Decatur Township. The divisiveness that is causing Senators like Evan Bayh to not run for another term in the United States Senate is alive and well in most of the communities in America including our own. In the minds of some very caring and intelligent people the leaders of our institutions can’t do anything right. We are a nation of people who seem to look for the bad or the cynical rather than giving someone the benefit of the doubt. I am extremely proud to say that I have taught in Decatur Township Schools for over 40 years. Over those 40 plus years I have seen many Decatur Central High School students who have gone on to distinguish themselves in many different professions. The teachers that I have taught with are intelligent, hard working professionals , committed to helping students learn. But the person who had brought about the most positive significant change in Decatur Township Schools is Don Stinson.
Don Stinson was hired by our elected representatives to be the educational leader of our schools. He came here from Mill Creek School Corporation with a passion for our schools and our community because he grew up here and was educated here. He assembled around him an educational team that created a goal of educational excellence for all of our students. That is what an educational leader does. That is what he was hired to do. It is what we expect of not only our educational leaders but of the chief executive officers of government and business throughout our nation. With the courage of his convictions he set out to do just that. Don Stinson, with the support of many of the current school board members , attempted to improve schools by modernizing our school buildings and changing the way we learn. This journey towards excellence was designed to create centers of learning that would prepare the young people of Decatur Township for a 21st century world.
This current administration can proudly point to an improved West Newton Elementary School Building where the faculty and students have garnered many awards for excellence in education . They also made significant improvements to Stephen Decatur Elementary School where every day excellent educational achievement is going on. Under Don Stinson’s tenure Valley Mills and Lynwood Elementary Schools have seen improvements in their building that were badly needed. During the time Don Stinson has been Superintendent , he and the school board , built the Decatur Intermediate School that bears the name of Richard Lugar. This building is helping students transition from elementary school to middle school in a facility where the students take pride in their accomplishments.
The newest step taken by Don Stinson and the school board on the journey towards excellence was to modernize an old and antiquated Decatur Central High School. This is one beautiful building. The facilities given to the students in this new building are the best in the state. The students, faculty and the what is virtually the New Decatur Central High School. This new center for learning has everything that might be needed for students to learn while entering the new era of the 21st century.
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In Defense of Don stinson Part 3
I guess when things are not going well it is in the finest tradition of American Culture and American History that we try to find a scape goat to blame for all of our problems . This seems particularly true when you read in some of the blogs that Don Stinson is responsible for all of our financial problems. Recently one particular blogger called for Don Stinson to resign or be fired. However if we did the research on the causes of the financial mess we are in all the evidence would probably tells us that we would be wrong to place the blame at the feet of Don Stinson and the school board . If you watch or read the news , you would see that Decatur Township Schools are not the only school corporations facing a budget with very large deficits. Almost every school in Indiana is having this problem to some degree . We must understand that all public school budgets are reviewed and approved by the Government of the State of Indiana. The revenue to fund those budgets is based on projected income that will come in over the next year. No superintendent or school board knows for sure how much money they will have when they set the budget for the upcoming year. If the state legislature does not receive the projected income from taxes they are going to have to make cuts in the state budget. In order to balance the state budget the legislature and the governor , among other things, reduced school funding. As a result of the action taken by the state legislature and the Governor of the State of Indiana the money given the local school board and superintendent was reduced . This reduction in revenue could not have been anticipated by the superintendent and the board. The action of the state legislature and governor left the superintendent and the school board with a decrease in income from the state that caused deficits in our budget and to some degree part of our financial problems .
The solution to the problem is not to cut programs, lay off teachers , lay off coaches and ask people to take pay cuts. Yes we need to reduce spending wherever we can but not at the expense of the students of Decatur Township. We need to give this generation of young people the same educational opportunity as their older brothers and sisters received in the past. Instead of dividing into blame factories we need to work together . Don Stinson did not cause these economic problems in our school corporation . These are our schools and we need to support what he and his administrative team are doing to get our children ready for the 21 century. We need to trust his leadership skills and help him as much as we can. By reducing spending in areas that will not impact the education of our young people and by reaching into our pockets and raising money through a small increase in our property tax we can cover the shortfall created by a faltering economy. I support a referendum to increase property taxes to help get us over the hump. We should be optimistic towards the future. This economy is going to turn around soon. I know that the people of Decatur Township care greatly about their children and their children’s education. The amount of increase in property tax would be about a dollar a day and we could hold on to our teachers and programs that are making a difference in our children’s lives.
In Defense of Don Stinson Part 2
Don Stinson and the school board have not only built first class schools, that are the envy of many other schools in the state and around the nation, but they have also changed the way we educate based on sound educational research. The development of the small learning communities at the high school is still in its infancy and the results will not be forth coming anytime soon. I have every confidence that it is a sound model for the future. Don Stinson has encouraged the development of more advanced classes in the high school. Recently the Middle School and the elementary schools have made significant changes in the way they prepare students for the future.
What else do you want from your education leader? We should expect that he will lead and he has. Throughout his tenure he has constantly asked for the communities input. The Superintendent and the school board have on many occasions asked for the community to attend meetings and give their input. They have done this at meeting after meeting with disappointing attendance . The school board meets once a month. At the beginning of each meeting the school board president gives any resident of Decatur Township the opportunity to address the board with what the Board calls patron remarks. Most of the time, when the school board meets, there are very few people in attendance. Each and every time that construction has taken place the Superintendent has asked for community input. When these meetings were called very few people attended. Recently the Blog called Had Enough Indy.com encouraged citizens of Decatur Township to run for the school board. Only two people stepped forward to run. Citizen participation in our schools is for the most part non-existent. Now that the economic times have grown tough and all schools both public and private are faced with deficits in their budgets everyone now thinks they are experts in the field of education . Many people have openly second guessed our educational leaders. Whatever happened to the old adage “ we are with you through thick or thin.”
I think that it is important to remember that Don Stinson and the school board did not cause these economic hard times. It was not Don Stinson that bought up much of the land in West Camby and took the purchased homes off the tax rolls causing the schools to lose valuable income . If memory serves me correctly it was the Airport Authority that now holds the deed for these properties and they pay no taxes to Decatur Township Schools .
It was not Don Stinson who created a TIF district and gave Holiday Corporation tax abatement incentives for a extended period of time. Ameriplex is a Corporation that develops businesses and warehouses in Decatur Township but they pay no or little income into the treasury of Decatur Township Schools. If my memory serves me correctly it was the City of Indianapolis that granted the tax abatement to entice this new development.
It was not Don Stinson who caused a turn down in the economy that produced diminishing sale tax revenues. As a result of this the amount of money given to the schools by the state stayed the same or was reduced causing deficits in already established budgets . If memory serves me correctly it was the Indiana General Assembly that reduced or at least did not increase the funding of Indiana public schools.
It was not Don Stinson who told Indiana schools to reduce their budgets by 300 million dollars causing schools to cut their budgets to meet the shortfall. If memory serves me correctly it was Mitch Daniels the Governor of the State of Indiana who recently announced that schools need to do this so the state could remain solvent.
Wow...just wow. You know. I don't have time to answer the coach's diatribe on a point by point basis. But I remember not so long ago when the superintendent was hot after the coach's job. I guess coach has been drinking Stinson kool-aid...or perhaps eating some of that catered-in cake?
Wow is right! I think the coach is still on that wakky-bakky from the 60s'.Yes,we have new and improved buildings which were needed but these buildings have done nothing to raise grades and test scores.All but two of our schools are on academic probation from the government.Do I blame the teachers? NO! I blame the man at the top and the schoolboard who approved all of the programs that have not worked.They just keep trying everything different and nothing is working.Our kids are not learning.How can they learn when teachers spend most of their time trying to keep disipline in the classroom.Kids talk during class, cuss, and show no respect for anyone, not all of them but monkey see monkey do. God forbid a teacher writes too many referrals on these kids because then they want to know what is wrong with the teacher. Then if they have an out of control child instead of kicking him out of school they send him over to DEC.Which is a joke.I overheard one of the students from DEC say they were going to graduate in March because they had been getting two credits a week in their classes.What can they be learning this way?My opinion is that they need to really crack down on these out of control kids so that teachers at the High School and Middle School can teach the ones that want to learn.Get back to basics ' Reading , Writing ,And Arithmetic. Most of these kids don't even write a complete sentence to answer a question but they keep passing them.They are allowed to take a test over until they pass it in many instances. Yes, I blame the man at the top who has had 10 years to improve our learning and test scores.
I blame the man at the top and the school board for all of the outrageous salaries and perks the administration has recieved. There is no way a school district as small as ours should make the second highest salary in the state!
I for one will never vote for a referendum to raise taxes in this Township. We had the highest tax rate in the county next to Franklin Township.I certainly wouldn't vote to raise taxes to support greedy Admin. who have came in and raped this township when they don't even live in this township or pay taxes in this township. All new admin. should be required to live in this township.
Let me see ,what do you have to gain by supporting Stinson? Maybe now you can illegally park your truck on the sidewalk like you did today? Maybe you can continue to use the pavillion for your baseball clinics charging high fees and pocketing the money? Maybe you are just trying to get promoted to the Admin. so you can get in on all of the perks and big salaries?
Another person pointed out that test scores have risen every year in the school system Stinson left to come here. Test scores here haven't and we are on academic probation since Stinson came. Coincidence? I think not!!
After reading your recent post it seems to me that you want Don Sinson removed as our school leader because of lagging low test scores, high administrative salaries and high property taxes in Decatur Township.
Don Stinson is not responsible for the low test scores. you need to focus on all of the good things that our graduates have done. Yes we have
"Kids talk during class, cuss, and show no respect for anyone, not all of them but monkey see monkey do."
We also graduate kids that get Ph.d's , graduate from law school and medical schools. We have students who are awarded National Merit Scholarships. We have students who start and maintain their own business and employ other people. We have electricians and plumbers and finished carpenters. Our successes are great. I am sure you are aware that our test scores are made up of the results of all of our students. We are a very diverse school with a diverse popualtion. Don Stinson and the faculty of all of the schools do the best we can to serve all of our students. those who turn out to be college graduates and those who come to school not having had anything to eat. those who are on medication for a variety of illnesses. We have students who are medicated for ADHD or are given an individual learning plan because of some other learning Disability. We have some that are escaping drama at home that takes their attention away from learning. We are not dealing with a machine that can be easily fixed with a new part or a piece of wood that can be replaced or nailed into place. We are dealing with delicate children that need nurtured and cared for. All of them are included in those test scores that on paper call us a failing school. But we are not failing we are caring and in most cases succeeding.
When you compare Don Stinsons salary and the salaries of his adminstrative staff to the rest of the schools in Marion County they are comparable. If you want to get good qualified people to run your schools you will have to compete on a global market. That is the way it is in the Corporate world and in the world of sports.
Last but not least the state legislature removed schools from receiving property tax income. If your property tax rate is high maybe you should blame the people that I pointed out in my first post that have caused the schools to lose income and have caused your property tax to be one of the highest in Marion County.
It is easy to blame a stay dog for all of your problems but maybe you are just barking up the wrong tree. If we work together we can solve the problems facing our schools and our community.We need people who want to be part of the solution to the problem.
Now about my truck being illegally parked on the side walk. I was unloading some heavy equipment and forget to move it. I am sorry and I will hope to never let that happen again.
Yes I would like to be part of the adminisration. I have forty years of experience and I believe that I could help solve many of the eduacational problems facing our community. I do live in Decatur Township and my daughter is a graduated of Decatur Township Schools. I care for this community and its schools. I wrote this defense of Don Stinson because I think you and others are wrong when you think that the blame for what we are temporarily going through is Don Stinsons fault. I would write a defense for you if I thought you were being wronged.
Now as far as your accusation about my baseball clinics and my lining my pockets with profit why don't you call me and we can discuss it. My number is 833-0322 I would discuss it with in this post but it has nothing to do with whether Don Stinson should be blamed for the financial crisis we find ourselves in at this time. to me it was a cheap shot and has nothing to do with what we have been discussing
After reading Webster's post and throwing up in the back of my throat, I can smell a suck-up a mile away. The Superintendent IS responsible for our school system. As President/CEO of a multi-million dollar corporation, he would have been fired a long time ago. School board the same way. It's time for accountability from the top down. They all have to go. As far as Webster is concerned, you've sucked money out of the townships pockets for years, lining your own pockets for profit. You say you're such a devoted and dedicated township resident, how about doing all the things you've done throuout the years for FREE and not for profit? I'm still gagging in my throat after reading your suck-up post. I thought you were a better man than that. Enough of the butt kissing; you're retired and it's over for you. Move on. I personally can't wait fot the NEXT board election so people like myself from district 2 can run and get rid of Huffman next. Time for change...hope and change we can REALLY believe in. Enough is enough.
What are you so angry about. I have attempted to show you why the FINANCIAL PROBLEMS were not caused by Don Stinson or the school board. I would welcome you to challenge my facts or to write what you think Don Stinson and the board did to bring on these financial problems. When I read your remarks all you do is call people names, insult the character of people, or give me advice to move on.I am not sucking up to anyone. I am defending people that will not defend themselves. They are a progessive adminstrative team that has attempted to give their teachers and coaches the best facilities they could provide to promote success for our young people. They have done this within the budget restraints provided by law. Before you fire someone don't you believe that you should tell the fired employee what they did wrong? Instead of calling them names why not tell us what they did wrong.
The last lines of your recent post indicates that if you could you would replace the entire board with people who would bring about hope and change that we could all believe in. What are these changes that you and your friends would bring to our school corporation. Sharing ideas will help us make the right decisions. I welcome your ideas on how to improve our schools and if we work together all of our kids will benefit.
As I said in my original post I would like for the community to pull together and consider a small increase in their property tax. We need to hold on to what we have. Lets not lay off teachers or reduce or eliminate programs. This is not the kids fault. The financial situation is temporary and good times are just around the corner. We have telethons to save the children of Haiti and Chile but we do nothing to save the educational benefits of our own children. Lets cut what we can without cutting needed teachers or eliminating programs and look for money to keep our schools on a journey toward excellence .
Now about my sucking money out of the township for many years and lining my pockets with profits.You asked that if I am so dedicated and devoted to the township why don't I do it for free. I would love to talk to you about your accusations. Please call me so we can discuss this. My number is 833-0322. I would discuss this with you now in this post but I do not know what it has to with solving the financial problems we are facing in our schools.
Webster, you started it so...: (Part 1)
1.There was absolutely no need to build this taj-mahal construction at the high school. In my opinion, this is where the mistrust of this administration started. Overnight, the campus was bulldozed and raped with absolutely no input from anyone other than a hand picked committee of yes men. This construction is nothing more than a legacy to ex Decatur graduates on the board and administration. We had one of the most beautiful campuses in the country and overnight it was destroyed. $80,000,000 later we have some of the lowest test scores in the state. In retrospect, the DILC was probably the beginning of mistrust. Again, no input from others in the community except a hand picked few. Phil, how many committees did you serve on? Did you know about any of these adhoc committees? Wheres the sign up sheet? I'd like to serve. Don't say “oh you have to call to be on a committee”. Read the hundreds of comments on here and see how closed lipped this administration is! If our kids are fortunate enough to go to school in Decatur Township K-12 they go to 5 different buildings!
2.Going back to the mistrust, ask a question. Seriously, ask any question. You will NOT get an answer. I'm saying this from personal experience. At the classroom level you will get an answer but you won't from there up. I don't care what kind of question you ask; ask the administration what color the sky is or what color the grass is and you'll be referred to Gary Pelico. Again, I know this first hand and I know factually that this is what they do to the media. What are they hiding? Why do they do this? Just try to call them to ask them how their day is! I bet you even money they won't answer the phone......
3.Get back to basics. Sorry, all this politically correct stuff is a drain. Yep I'll offend some but hey all this NEST and other academies and challenger center and all of these things are a waste.
4.I heard we spent a $1,000,000 on a FOOTBALL field for Gods sake? Again, if this isn't true, why can't someone in administration say “this isn't true”? Yep I asked and to this day haven't gotten an answer. You ask why the school board and superintendent needs replaced? OK lets say that this isn't the MSD Decatur school system. Lets say it's the Decatur Township Widget Corporation. It's ran by a president and CEO and managed by a board of directors. Rumors are running rampet in the corporation. Profits are down and the trend is spiraling downward. No money in the bank and the shareholders are asking questions. Hey CEO and hey board, answer my questions! What? You won't respond? You won't even respond to the media? Guess what. YOU'RE FIRED and YOU'RE REPLACED. And guess where I was first exposed to that? In high school government class taught by yourself. Whenever there's an air of secrecy or an air of superiority, mistrust and skepticism is the norm. This administration and board has built that bubble of secrecy around themselves and it has to be changed from the top down. I dare you; ask a question. Don't tell them you're “Phil Webster” either. Try to call them. I dare you. Try to call a school board member. I dare you. Just looking at the posts on this blog shows you the absolute number 1 problem with this administration and board! They will not communicate.
Webster, you started it so...: (Part 2)
5 .Stop this stupid trendy stuff in education! Remember OBE of the 80's? Who ever heard of an “intermediate school”. What's up with these stupid “academies”? How many small schools do we have now and how many principals do we have?! More administration! Don't quote me facts and figures on how wonderful these small schools and intermediate schools are. You can have all the data you want. Reading writing and arithmetic works too; the data goes back on that one to the beginning of time. I hear we don't have teachers anymore in some of these small schools; I understand they're called “facilitators”? They don't use text books they use projects? UGH! Busy work for a lazy teacher if you ask me! Stop the stupid trends, get back to K-12 education and quit blowing money on administrators!
6. Communicate communicate communicate! This is so bad, that we have to start from scratch. When we do start over, go from outside. The perception in the township is the “good ole boy” network is here. Is it? Is it not? Again, you decide. From reading these posts and talking to people of the township, there's something funny going on and it needs to change. For some reason, people that work in the schools are afraid to say anything or speak up. Why? There has to be something behind that! I'm not saying that black helicopters with no tail markings are flying around the MSD of Decatur Township. All I'm saying is that there has to be some kind of truth behind the rumor!
7. Since I'm on a roll, lets talk about teachers. Before I say what I'm about to say, a majority of our teaching staff is superb. Now; about the ones that aren't. We have some of the highest paid teachers in the state of Indiana. We should expect the best right? We don't have the best. Again, test scores prove that. Stop being politically correct and FIRE the bad ones. Teachers unions be damned; get rid of them. Remember the Decatur Township Widget Corporation? An employee of mine is not going to the required Monday afternoon meeting; he (or she) is using this time to leave an hour early every day. Gosh, as a shareholder I asked for a sign up sheet to see who was coming to this meeting or who was leaving early and the CEO and Board of Directors haven't answered me. Know what I'd do to this employee? I'd FIRE them on the spot. I'd have security escort them to their desk, clean it out, and walk them to their car. Get rid of the bad teachers! Know how many young new teachers there are out there that would be willing to work for half of these bloated wages? Imagine that. 2-1 and replace the bad ones.....what a novel idea; there's one way to drop the student/teacher ratio!
Webster, you started it so...: (Part 3)
8. Quit spending money like drunken sailors! We aren't in the real estate market. Yea go on and quote me figures about future expansion etc. In these times of recession, we need to become fiscally responsible! There will be time to buy land in the future.
9. What the heck is up with Susan Adams!? Does she REALLY make that much money? If we're cutting administration, why don't we CUT administration? Don't move them around just cut them! Fire them! Get rid of them! Do more with less. Remember the Decatur Township Widget Corporation? Guess what folks, we're not in a recession we're in a depression! It's bad out there! Anyone reading the papers? Anyone lose their job because of cutbacks and scaling back? Yep! Get rid of administrators and not just shuffle them around!
10. As far as property tax is concerned, raising the taxes would be ignorant. We already pay enough. If this administration can't do with what we have then too bad. You won't get another dime from me until I see some changes. I'm not getting my money's worth for what I'm paying; why would I pay more for the same? Isn't that the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results? It isn't Mitch Daniels fault (or even George Bush's) that we're in the shape we're in. OK; so we have less money. Do more with less! Get rid of administration! Pay cut across the board!
Notice how I'm not sucking up to anyone here? I'm factual and these are my opinions. I don't need to suck up to anyone or anything. Just stating the facts. Two of the three board seats will go in May. Next election when district 2 can have a candidate, Huffman will go. Then we can start over and get things back on track in Decatur Township.
Phil Webster said: "...they have also changed the way we educate based on sound educational research."
Sound educational research is wht the 5th and 6th graders were put in there own school. But 5th years later, no more intermediate level.
Sound educational research says that teenagers should not get up early in the morning. But god forbid we should interfere with the athletic program and follow that research.
Time and again this district decides what they want to do and finds research to support it while disregarding any research against it.
The teachers and parents and taxpayers have been misdirected or flat out lied to so many times, they won't believe the truth when it is grudgingly revealed.
As far as leadership, it's interesting that as soon as Stinson got his big compensation package, he got fancier suits. Well, it could be just one suit - after all, we only see him in person once a year when he wants money for United Way.
BRAVO to the person giving it to Webster. Everything is so true. A building of bricks and mortar does not make a school. The DILC is very poorly constructed. The walls are so thin you can hear the teacher next door as if there were no walls. The roof has leaked from the very first year, even some classrooms on the first floor have water leaks. Some rooms are so hot it is like a sauna and others so cold kids and teachers wear their coats. There is one restroom for an entire floor, approximately 150 students. So Mr. Webster these new buildings are not really a good legacy for Mr. Stinson.
Additionally, teachers hands are tied when it comes to students not performing. We are not allowed to keep them in from recess,(they need exercise) put a list of "no homework" names on the board, (it would humuliate them), retain non achieving students, (it hurts their self esteem), write discipline referrels, (too many would make the school/district look bad), refer them for testing, (the CARE process can take 2-3 years), by then they are really behind, on and on and on.
As far as current issues within the district, there has been NO COMMUNICATION with DEA. Do not blame our current presidents, they cannot make the admin office talk to them. My understanding is that they were informed of the initial recommendations just 2 days before given to the board. They were not asked for input, just handed the recommendations.
And what is the REAL story for the release of Jeff Harvey? Obviously the admin was not honest with him. If they had been then he would not have asked to apply for the Valley job. Central office has been very unkind by not being up front with him.
It really boils down to, they are not nice, not mature, not honest, no integrity, no character, they are self serving and making sure THEY have a good retirement package. Give to those eligible the same package and MANY at the top of the scale would opt in.
I agree that the TV stations need to do some investigation as to the real truths at the Administrative Offices.
Phil Webster is full of it! He feels he owes Stinson for allowing him to continue with the township a few years ago. If his daughter applied at any university and was an average student at Decatur, he knows there are prereqs that are required prior to admission that are not required of all high school grads. Parents of current
8th graders can vouch for this. Not many of the kids got their 1st choice going into the Taj. How is this going to improve test scores when the kids are built up to be let down before they even get there? They get 1 chance in 4 years to try again to get where they originally wanted to be. Yes, Don Stinson and his school board are to blame! Their vision clearly does not lend to creating a good learning atmosphere for all. If he was so indebted to his alma mater, he would be living in Decatur Township!
Part1
I am very impressed with your passion and logic. I assume that you were a student in my government class and I am proud to say that you put forth a logical and persuasive arguement for your thesis. It is hard to take your arguments and refute them because ,as you point out, I maybe treated differently than the average person when it comes to communication. I would agree that the communication could get better and I hope our administration will take this criticism to heart and improve the communication throughout the community. I think this blog is an important contributor to helping people communicate and I hope that change for the better will come from it.
I would agree that the communication needs to improvement. It is something that the adminstration needs to improve on but It should not be the reason to dismiss everyone. Lets give them the benefit of the doubt and hope they improve.
There is no question that the old high school needed to be renovated or replaced with a structure that was more modern and up to date. Before the construction was to begin there were definite questions that needed to be answered .Questions like How much money needed to be spent, what should the new building look like, and how it was going to be used. these questions were the focus of numerous community meetings called by Don Stinson and the school board and very few people came out to share their ideas. The public was invited to speak. I do not know if you attended those meetings or not but everyone had an opportunity to speak and offer their insight. I think it would be unfair to accuse Don Stinson of closed door construction. he is constantly asking for the communities imput. Granted not many show up. Now that it is built the critics seem to come out of the darkness claiming that they did not know of the meetings or If I had known I would have been there. If I am not mistaken there was a referendum on the money spent on the West Newton and Stephen Decatur improvements and the remostration was defeated.
Even though we look for the cure for low test scored I want to re-emphsis all that is good about our schools. We have graduated successful articulate and intelligent people like yourself who are now engaged in successful employment and participating fully in what we call the American way of life.
I love how you compared our schools to a fictious company that was having problems similar to ours. Would't you agree that firing everyone is the last resort not the first one. Working together to solve a common problem is a better strategy than lets fire them all and let god sort out the good ones. We can work together to solve the problems that weaken us. Come to the school board meetings, attend the public meetings , continue to share ideas on these blogs but lets work for the common good. Stop the name calling. I am not writing this to suck up. If you were in my class I would have thought you knew me better that that. I believe in Public Education. We need to pull together against those forces that will drive us apart. This is temporary and if we can infuse some cash into the system and work together to solve the problems you so passionately point out about our schools we will all be better for it.If you call a town hall meeting or a tea party meeting and tell me where the time and location I will be there to help solve the problems that we face. Will you call the meeting or not. If you want I will call the meeting and let you know the time and location will you come
Part 2
Even though we look for the cure for low test scored I want to re-emphasis all that is good about our schools. We have graduated successful articulate and intelligent people like yourself who are now engaged in successful employment and participating fully in what we call the American way of life.
I love how you compared our schools to a factious company that was having problems similar to ours. Wouldn’t you agree that firing everyone is the last resort not the first one. Working together to solve a common problem is a better strategy than lets fire them all and let god sort out the good ones. We can work together to solve the problems that weaken us. Come to the school board meetings, attend the public meetings , continue to share ideas on these blogs but lets work for the common good. Stop the name calling. I am not writing this to suck up. If you were in my class I would have thought you knew me better that that. I believe in Public Education. We need to pull together against those forces that will drive us apart. This is temporary and if we can infuse some cash into the system and work together to solve the problems you so passionately point out about our schools we will all be better for it. If you call a town hall meeting or a tea party meeting and tell me where the time and location I will be there to help solve the problems that we face. Will you call the meeting or not. If you want I will call the meeting and let you know the time and location will you come
Even though we look for the cure for low test scored I want to re-emphasis all that is good about our schools. We have graduated successful articulate and intelligent people like yourself who are now engaged in successful employment and participating fully in what we call the American way of life.
I love how you compared our schools to a factious company that was having problems similar to ours. Wouldn’t you agree that firing everyone is the last resort not the first one. Working together to solve a common problem is a better strategy than lets fire them all and let god sort out the good ones. We can work together to solve the problems that weaken us. Come to the school board meetings, attend the public meetings , continue to share ideas on these blogs but lets work for the common good. Stop the name calling. I am not writing this to suck up. If you were in my class I would have thought you knew me better that that. I believe in Public Education. We need to pull together against those forces that will drive us apart. This is temporary and if we can infuse some cash into the system and work together to solve the problems you so passionately point out about our schools we will all be better for it. If you call a town hall meeting or a tea party meeting and tell me where the time and location I will be there to help solve the problems that we face. Will you call the meeting or not. If you want I will call the meeting and let you know the time and location will you come
This may seem a bit flippant....But after reading the contributions from P. Webster...I gotta ask him...Are you sure you don't have a gig proselytizing for Scientology on the side?
Heh...
Obidiah & His Possibles
Phil Webster stated that the super and school board encourage attendance and participation in board meetings and committees. I've lived in Decatur Township over 20 years and not once have I heard or read anything about community participation in board meetings or special committees. It has always been a secret society, by invitation only. I understand if you want to say anything at a meeting, you first have to call the super's sec. and ask permission to be put on the agenda. You sign in at the meeting then have 5 minutes. Questions are not answered directly and the board members are clearly not even paying attention as you talk. I've talked to several people who have submitted ideas to the super, to not even receive acknowledgement. Why doesn't he give answers instead of having Phil Webster try to take the heat off? By the way, I can help with the telethon.
If Phil W. is speaking for the administration then I think we all agree that firing everyone - including beginning teachers - is not the answer to our problems. That is not the same as saying that people don't have to be moved around on the bus when the iceberg melts (two of the popular reads that everybody on the team (including the board?)has read. When Stinson proudly said that the community voted against Pat, Herb, and Dave for the board he must have thought this meant everything would pass as it has. The next board election could mean that things will change (the iceberg is melting). Is Stinson going to get involved in this election? Is this board willing to wait until after the election to get rid of any teachers? So many questions.
Phil, thanks for explaining your employment situation. Does this mean that no social studies teachers will be riffed and there will not be separate consulting agreements to teach classes??
I have to laugh to hear coach webster trying to make us believe that our troubles will evaporate somewhow if we only shout "rah-rah-rah-sis-boom-bah" and "get behind" our quarterback Don Stinson. As if we were all small children too stupid to know that Stinson's mission is running a golden parachute retirement home for administrators on the tail end of their failing careers. Do you think we're so stupid we don't see that? Stinson is well known for hiring and promoting failures from other districts and making administrators out of teachers who couldn't make it in front of a class full of kids.
My gag reflex starts to kick when webster tries to scold everyone for not working with Stinson and the school board. I've been to school board meetings, coach, so don't insult my intelligence with that drivel.
Anyone who goes to a school board meeting wishing to ask questions and get answers from our elected and appointed officials, gets greeted with "sign up if you want to speak" --- "we don't answer questions here, but if you want to speak you have FIVE MINUTES" --- tick, tick, tick...your time's up, siddown and shut up...NEXT". Throughout all this the fire-chief and his fellow board members scowl at us, and Stinson sits there with his mouth open dozing off to sleep. You can feel the contempt of Stinson and the board members, as they disdainfully wait for the meeting to be over so they no longer have to listen to "input" from the unwashed masses who pay the taxes they give to each other in raises and perks. When the meeting is ended they scurry away to avoid waiting TV news reporters if possible, or like Mrs. Wiseman, jeer because someone's public concerns might cause her "homework".
Right, coach. It's OUR failure to get behind Stinson and the board, and to mindlessly fall in lockstep with Stinson as he, Baer and their cronies throw contracts to pals and loot school operating funds to pay off loans they had the gall to take out to fully fund their ballooned up retirement packages. Who you trying to kid?
I dunno what you're expecting to get by being Stinson's cheerleader. Perhaps a fat-cat job for yourself at C.O., or just to show you're grateful that Stinson finally let up on trying to fire you to free up your position? You know...sort of like Huffman's grandson needing a head coach's job...so former coach Able had to get axed. You think we've all forgotten that? Did you agree that Huffman's grandson needed the splendor of a million dollor Astro-turf field when everyboy knows we're broke?
Coach, you remind me of that old Wizard of Oz movie when you try to shout down our questions of why the superintendent and the board won't answer our concerns. You know...like when Dorothy's little dog was poking around behing the curtain? "PAY NO ATTENTION TO THAT MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN! I AM OZ...THE GREAT AND POWERFUL!"
Sorry, coach. For one, I intend to keep trying to find out what's going on behind the curtain there at Central Office. The school board, Stinson, Susan Adams and Pellico give us little more than contempt. That's why people come here.
Hope you keep turning a buck with your baseball clinics at the Pavilion.
Anon 3:45 said...
Coach, you remind me of that old Wizard of Oz movie when you try to shout down our questions of why the superintendent and the board won't answer our concerns. You know...like when Dorothy's little dog was poking around behing the curtain? "PAY NO ATTENTION TO THAT MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN! I AM OZ...THE GREAT AND POWERFUL!"
Ha ha ha. Perfect analogy!!!
I, for one, appreciate Phil's postings. I respect him as a teacher and understand his love for the Township. I believe most of you have been unfairly targeting him and have made inappropriate comments toward him (name calling, accusations, etc). This is a posting about the superintendent, not Phil's "motives".
I do agree the community needs to pull together. Unfortunately for this to work the administration needs to communicate and not simply forgo answering questions. Speaking to a wall only angers people, it does nothing to pacify them.
Overall, the district is moving in the right direction. Several townships have it worse, Perry and Franklin in particular. All are cutting teachers. Whether it's right is another story. The fact is most, if not all, districts are cutting teachers.
Regarding the test scores, I agree with Phil.
Contrary to popular thought I am not involved with the decisions that are made by our administrative staff. I do not talk to Don Stinson or members of the school board on a daily basis. I am not attempting to suck up (oh how I hate that phrase)to anyone. I do not know how they are going to reduce the force. I do not know if they are going to contract out work to people they have laid off. It has been my purpose to enter this blog and attempt to convince my fellow citizens of Decatur Township to reach into their pockets and share the burden of paying off this temporary debt through some type of property tax. I do not know how much it would cost us but I would think less that a dollar a day. This would be in my view a better solution than laying off teachers and doing away with or weakening programs that benefit our young people. If things do not change many good young teachers will be out of the profession they love and with very little hope of employment. The young people that are graduating from college with teaching degrees will have no chance of gaining employment with schools who are laying off teachers. Class size will surely increase and teachers will need to prepare for and teach 6 classes a day with very little prep time. They maybe teaching 3 or 4 different subjects and preparing for 3 or 4 different subjects is stressful and time consuming. When will they grade papers and correct essays. When will they have time to inter-act with their students. Besides the teachers who will be laid off and their families who stands to lose the most from this tragic decision to settle this debt problem by cutting teachers and eliminating programs. Its our young people. Was it the teachers fault that we are in debt. Is it the children’s fault we are in debt. I think we can agree that the answer to that question is no. We can sit around and blame who ever we want. The truth is that this is our township and these are our children going to our schools and we hold the key to the solution to the problem in our pockets. When this debt problem is solved we can talk about who is to blame and how we can avoid this from happening again. Although I do not talk or see Don Stinson on a day to day basis I know he is not the monster that some of your bloggers think he is. I know he has a good heart and I truly believe he puts the children and their education first. I am sorry he chose not to ask you for a tax to bail us out of this crisis. I guess he did not think you would go for this type of solution so he decided to cut payroll and programs. Please , Please fill up this blog with your ideas of how we can retire this debt and go on with our journey towards excellence. I will call someone to try to see if we can put this on a referendum in the May election. That gives us time to save our schools. People will be notified this Friday that unless people retire or teachers take a cut in pay they will lose their job. I hope we can find a way to convince you and others that a small temporary tax could be collected to get us over the hump. I am sure that the economy is getting stronger. I am optimistic about the future and sometime down the road we will look back and say that we did the right thing to save our schools and preserve the
Hey Anonymous March 8, 2010 7:45 PM. You want little Billy to pitch? You want little Timmy to play 3rd base? Saying you appreciate phils comments won't get little billy or timmy prime PT.....you have to suck harder. Isn't that the way he runs his baseball program? Pushy sucking up parents? He loves that. Anyway. Anonymous March 7, 2010 10:40 AM responding to suck up webster hit the nail on the head. time for political correctness to go away. enough IS enough when it comes to this administration.
No I do not run the baseball program like that. Yes I do like suppportive parents that help in the development of our program. If it were not for those parents we would not be as successful as we have been.Thank you supportive parents
Would you join me in attempting to
get the administration to seek a referendum on the May election ballot for a tax to raise the necessary money to get us over our temporary debt so we do not have to lay off teachers and cut programs
Have you lost your mind coach? Are you not reading any of these comments except your own self serving baloney? No, we do not want teachers or anyone else fired. What we want is for those educated fools in administration to fire half of those overpaid buddies of theirs. What we want is for them to sell all of the real estate they have purchased with taxpayer money. What we want is Stinson to quit shuffling people around instead of firing .What we want is for our children to have a quality education and be able to attend the college of their choice without having to take remedial courses when they get there to catch up because they didn't learn the things they should have in MSD of Decatur. My own son graduated from DCHS after taking the hardest courses they offered. When he got to college he said he was not prepared like he should have been.Stop all of these stupid programs that do not work!!
NO coach, We are no way , at any time going to vote for a referendum to raise taxes one penny to pay high wages to a bunch of overpaid leeches. Example: Why was Stinson given $40,000 a year in his new contract to buy an annuity of his choice? If he was so concerned about our financial situation why didn't he turn this money down? Why did Susan Adams get a $15,000 raise? We are so hard up that all of the pay raises for lowly employees have been frozen, but not for administration.
They just keep spending, spending and spending!!!!
P. Webster:"Would you join me in attempting to
get the administration to seek a referendum on the May election ballot for a tax to raise the necessary money to get us over our temporary debt so we do not have to lay off teachers and cut programs"
Let me ask this of you....Are you willing for a one year period to forgo all remuneration for the services you currently are sub-contracted for? Are you willing to volunteer for a year for those very same services?
Hey Phil Webster I see you posted today March 9, 2010 7:54 AM.
Student Hours: 7:50 a.m. - 2:20 p.m. (Mondays)
8:00 a.m.- 3:15 p.m. (Tuesday through Friday)
So were you "at work" when you made this post? Did you use school computers to make it?
It was made 6 minutes before the kids start class.
I heard the site was blocked at school, can you tell us how you did it so others can post & read?
Why do you call my remarks self serving baloney. I have read each and every one of the post. I am attempting to convince you and others to join together to retire this temporary debt so that teachers will not be laid off and programs will not be reduced or eliminated. You say you do not want to see teachers fired but approximately 70 teachere will be notified this Friday that they will not be re-employed next year. Each one of the sports at the high school and middle school will lose a coach. Don't you think that the lose of 70 teachers and one coach per sport will have a negative effect on our childrens education. I am not privy to financial arragements the school board gives to the superintendent or who gets raises from the board. If they were given I hope there was a good reason for the raises. That does not change the fact that we are in debt and the cost of retiring that debt on the backs of laid off teachers and reduction of programs in counter productive to betterment of our childrens education. These are our schools and our children and we need to take care of this debt by raising money through the approval of some type of tax so that we can keep our schools moving forward. You can change the superintendent and you can replace the board but the debt will still be there. I have attempted through a number of post to show why I believe that superintendent and the board are not responsible for this debt. If we do our due diligence and see to it that the debt is retired we can move forward to improve educational benefits for our children.
I would hope that none of our students would have to take remedial classes after being accepted to college. This is something that we need to improve about our preparation for college bound students. We are attempting to do this with the inclusion of more advanced placement classes and other college preparatory classes that are now available to students. If we cut out 70 or more teachers these type of classes are in danger of not being taught. We are a good school attempting to get better. With your support and the help of others we can solve this problem and not hurt the educational opportunities of our children. Please join us in an effort to move our schools forward instead of taking steps backwards
obidiah
I really do not understand why you would ask me to teach for free. I go to Decatur Central High School and teach 3 Law Education class with approxiamately 30 students in each class. I attempt to create lesson plans that the students find interesting and informative. I am a professional educator who cares about the success of my students. I signed a contract to do my job for monitary compensation and I expect to be paid. I also live in Decatur Township and I would be willing to pay a tax to help retire the debt so our children can have a quality education without cutting teachers and programs.
To the person who wondered how I could post a message at 7:45 in the morning let me say that I am a part time teacher and I do not start my day until 10:30 in the morning. I posted my message from home before I left for work. I hope that answers your question. You are correct the school does block this site like it does all blogs. I do not agree with the blocking of blogs but you might understand why some of these blogs should not accessible to our students
GREAT summary post Anon 12:29!!!
Too bad Stinson says he doesn't read the blog.
P.Webster"I really do not understand why you would ask me to teach for free. I go to Decatur Central High School and teach 3 Law Education class with approxiamately 30 students in each class. I attempt to create lesson plans that the students find interesting and informative. I am a professional educator who cares about the success of my students. I signed a contract to do my job for monitary compensation and I expect to be paid.
Au Contraire....There's a reason I ask, and you've set the precedent.
I can remember when you would regale the classroom of your tales of how you spent time on the front lines in the 1960's for civil rights.And against the Viet Nam war.
Many former students--not just yours truly-- can attest to the veracity of the above memory.
If those tales are true,your efforts were/are admirable.
But today,there's a new cause celebre...
So, what has happened during the interim? Did you join the zietgiest at the onset of the 1980's and have since reconciled yourself to its dogmatic dictum of "I got mine and to hell with everyone else?"
You've spent quite an inordinate amount of time and words on this very forum describing your "love" for the township's school system...But your unwillingness to offer a small effort on your part (in this time of your life) to temper the burden on the township's finances,seems to belie those words.
Moreover,many,many professionals offer their services to institutions,schools,charities,etalfor free.
I'm sorry to read you're above such efforts to help the school system...But I admit,I'm not surprised by your tepid response.A school system you've described in your own words,"has given you so much."
We're only in it for the money is an apt description of your response. I was correct in my first post to this blog by using that sentence. I thought the idea of giving up your monitary (sic) compensation would be a good resolve for everyone involved. A small effort and gesture on your part, and a genuine show of commitment to the system that has given you so much.
I guess it's easier to ask others for a monetary commitment to correct the mistakes of your contemporaries.Contemporaries you've chosen to continue to support. But,we do live in a country where ineptitude is now considered a virtue.I will never understand your inability to put aside your exaggerated sense of self for a few months on behalf of the school,and ultimately, the kids.
Your compensation comes first....Before anything and anyone else. As Cindy Lauper has been known to sing....Money Changes Everything.
W.V.M. a.k.a.Obidiah.
ouenObidiah.
I hope you enjoy making value judgments on the lives of others. I will tell you that I do care for our school and I am amazed that you can judge my loyalty and caring on whether I will work for nothing. I have volunteer many hours to our school and to our students over my career and I will continue to do so. As a member of the Decatur Community I am willing to pay a tax to raise money to retire the debt that threatens the future of our schools. Are you willing to help. Are you willing to contribute to an effort to prevent 70 teachers for being laid of and programs being cut that will prevent students from reaching their greatest potential. From your writings you seem to have received a very good education from DCHS and I am sure that Diana Laybold and Henrietta Kirkham would be proud. Please help us provide a similar education for those who will come after you.
Obidiah.
I hope you enjoy making value judgments on the lives of others. I will tell you that I do care for our school and I am amazed that you can judge my loyalty and caring on whether I will work for nothing. I have volunteer many hours to our school and to our students over my career and I will continue to do so. As a member of the Decatur Community I am willing to pay a tax to raise money to retire the debt that threatens the future of our school. Are you willing to help. Are you willing to contribute to an effort to prevent 70 teachers for being laid of and programs being cut that will prevent students from reaching their greatest potential.From your writings you seem to have received a very good education from DCHS and I am sure that Diana Laybold and Henrietta Kirkham would be proud. Please help us provide a similar education for those who will come after you.
I think it's unfair to ask Phil Webster to work for free. He is teaching at Decatur; we'd have to pay someone so why not him. Although I don't agree with him and his sucking up to the Administration, asking him to work for free isn't cool. Using big words to prove how smart you are isn't cool either. Anyway. Sorry Phil, no new taxes! Typical liberal mentality; throw more money at the problem and the problem goes away. Sure, Mitch pulled the rug out from under us with school funding. However, do with what we have! Look at the trend of spending in our township and how we've built our administration to what it is today. We do NOT have to lay off teachers! Get rid of administration and do NOT shuffle them around or give them a bonus! Stinson has to go; no doubt about it. To whoever manages this blog: Please make a posting as to how we can get in touch with the new school board candidates. We need to get behind them with yard signs and contributions and poll workers. I would like to help them! Also, when is the next election and who is up for election? I undersand there isn't anything we can do about Henson this time is that correct? The other two will go because they're worthless. We need to get rid of Don Huffman next. With a majority of non-butt kissers we can get this school system back to what it needs to be! Thanks!
I, too, agree that asking Phil to work for free is simply absurd. I wouldn't ask any other teacher or assistant to do the same, and Phil is no exception.
I would support a tax increase. It does not fix the systemic problem but it buys us time in hopes we may eventually fix the problem. Not doing anything means we loose teachers, support staff, and overall the the value of our education diminishes. Indeed, the administration next year will be the same as this year. So nothing changes, except we loose.
Let's win one for the students.
Do I enjoy making value judgments? No. But we're all guilty of making them. Your first sentence accusing me of such, contains a value judgment,heh. I don't think asking you (only as a retired individual) to offer your services for a temporary length of time is any more unfair than asking the residents of the township to pay a one time tax to bail out the school system. I agree with those asking to cut the number of administrators from the system. And even though the administrators set themselves up and have it coming,is it more or less unfair to give those individuals the axe, than to ask for the volunteer services from our retired teachers before anyone at all is cut? I don't think the failures within the school system lie with any one group. I think some (not all)teachers have an entitlement mentality. It's certainly not exclusive to teachers.Compound that issue with an ever so often unreasonably demanding group of parents (some folks ya just can't please,they'll even criticize intelligent speech),and one group of administrators (borne out of the aforementioned entitlement mentality to which I allude) that seemingly believe the residents of the township to be nothing more than a group of simpletons (and in some cases they might just be right). Oh,have I mentioned a board consisting of milksops? What's left is a maelstrom.
In another thread,I stated that I would support the one time tax....Under certain conditions. I'm willing to compromise. I sense no compromise beyond the one time tax from yourself. I guess I expected more,and I was wrong. We'll have to agree to disagree as to whether my suggestion was reasonable or not.
As to the bozo (even though I agree with the gist of your post, Mr or Mrs Bozo)unhappy with the vernacular used in my previous post. There's not one "big" Ivy League word in said post. Heh,ya can't please everyone!
Phil Webster. If Diane Laybold and Henrietta Kirkham are still among the living---and provided you're still in touch with them,give them my best.
Using small words doesn't make you one of the little people.
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