I have much on my plate today, so I will be brief.
I just wanted to say how proud I am of my fellow Decaturites for the high commitment to factual information everyone shows in their posted comments. That helps keep this blog on firm footing as a place to exchange the latest news so all of our community can know as much of what is happening as possible.
This is a big week coming up - student conferences today, School Board meeting tomorrow, and the spaghetti dinner on Saturday. I am hopeful to have information from the state on a document search they are doing for me. And, there is always St. Patrick's Day smack dab in the middle !
Keep up the great communications. And, again, thank you for the caliber of your posts.
Posts
The Pollyanna Approach
13 hours ago
28 comments:
I agree. I think it's funny that those who say this blog is filled with nothing but slander, rumors and finger-pointing don't want to take responsibility or defend their position line by line with data. More like a small child covering their ears saying, "I can't hear you!"
I feel sorry for the teachers who have to try and answer questions at conferences today without getting into trouble. I pray this mess gets straightened out quickly for the sake of the kids.
Many questions from parents. It put teachers in a bad situation, most were not sure how much information to share. Then again should we have shared more. There still remains an air of fear.
Decatur is going to have a real problem when their funds go even lower becuase of the enrollment numbers that are going to decrease. That is what I am hearing ALOT of. Kids are going to pay to go to other schools for the better education and a school that cares about their kids and their education! It is time to WAKE UP DECATUR!!!!!!!!!!!
I looked up the minutes from the board meeting in January. On page 2, the first full page it states that the board requests the cuts not impact the classroom. Cutting 62 teachers impacts the classroom!!
THINK PINK!
Tried to respond to Phil Webster's most recent post under the 62 teacher's riffed blog but my computer sends me a message that would indicate a possibility that my response will be read by someone who would know my personal identity???? When I open "Thank You and Keep Posting" I do not get that message so I will try again!
Phil W.
Thank you for being candid and forthright in your responses. You are a wonderful teacher and this is an example of using technology to communicate in this century. Some of us are not looking for anyone to blame and do not believe that you suck up. Communication is important whenever there is a problem to solve that involves human beings. That is what makes us different from other animals.
Abraham Lincoln challenged people to step up and speak out. Many people on this blog have done just that.
There is plenty of blame to be spread around in this local, state, and national financial crisis. I think, just an opinion, that the most important point is that we must live within our means - personally and in our public schools. Most people make personal budgets that reflect what they value. Some people eat out and others only cook in at home. Some go to movies and some watch movies on TV. Some take their kids to the public library for entertainment and some go to Chucky Cheese. The list goes on and on.
Some school districts have made decisions to change the salary and benefits of administrators (check out New Palestine) and others like Decatur are reducing teaching positions. Some districts are considering things like pay to play and the reduction of the number of coaching positions. Statewide, there may be the elimination of gymnastics in school sports programs.
Decatur citizens writing on this blog have looked at administrator benefits that might have been affordable a couple of years ago but now are not. You have suggested a Community Task Force. Tonight, the Board could vote to end the $12,000 vehicle allowance for the superintendent contract. Tonight the Board could vote not to hire another administrator in this district. There are many other decisions that could be made tonight - March 16, 2010 - before we form another committee. This is not blame placing - it is reality.
Teachers who got pink slips - come to the board meeting so they can see a face that represents families with lost income and students with high class sizes.
Everyone else - you don't have to talk - just be a witness and supporting presence.
Anon 11:24
Agree. They need to physically see people. Everyone who can might bring 3 0r 4 people with them. The more people the louder the message.
Fact: The Decatur Township website states that agendas for board meetings will be posted there 2 working days prior to the scheduled boar meeting. We are within hours of th scheduled board meeting and the agenda is not posted. The agenda would include the time and place of the meeting.
Again, we must be firm that we expect agendas to be posted. At least they won't be able to say that they didn't know people cared. The fact is that people do care. Phil - please take note that this is another example of why people feel that they are put down and second class citizens. Abe L. encouraged us to speak up. They don't like it when we insist that we are going to sit in the front of the bus.
Hope the teachers will take a front seat even though they are afraid.
A question was left in a previous post that I'll answer here as well -- There is no information on the District website indicating that they will move the location of the meeting. I am not sure if they can do that without putting up a notice of that fact 48 hours in advance of the meeting. But, if they can - look at the door to either the Central Office or the door to the Board Room inside the Central Office for a written notice stating the new location.
It may be that they will restrict the number in the room due to fire codes and not, in fact, move the meeting location.
Pat,
A thousand people should show up. Let them decide what to do with the thousand. Better than people not coming and then they say they knew there were only a few people that object to what they are doing!
Dress warm. Bring lawn chairs. That might finally get the newspaper and tv attention. Go early. Maybe Natalie and Bobbi can use this time to meet people. Would bet that Webster, the Baers, and others are there greeting people.
Pat,
You have been so helpful and given such good advice and suggestions. Do you have other ideas?
anon 12:39 -- You all are coming up with the great ideas !! Just look at anon 12:37's "bring lawn chairs" -- indeed !
Pressure needs to be on the School Board to move this juggernaut in a different direction. And all of these efforts - wearing pink, attending school board meetings, leaving your comments and ideas for others here -- it all keeps the pressure up.
Ultimately we have to elect Board members who will bring oversight to the District; oversight the law and the public expect them to bring.
The meeting agenda for tonight is now posted on the website.
Glad they posted the agenda within a short time of Anon 12:22 post. Don't know if this is ironic or if they are reading the posts. Makes it more important that attendance tonight be very large. Bring friends and neighbors.
I am coming and bringing 3 other parents, but what are the odds when all the crowd shows up they'll block us out due to "fire code"? What a cowardly cop-out that would be. Let us ALL IN!!!
I have heard that Decatur is accepting applications and participating in job fairs. Can anybody help me double check this information out.
Anon 5:14
It was reported in the Indianapolis Star that Decatur is participating in a minority candidate job on April 8 (think that was the date. The job fair is to be held at the Mariott East Hotel. You might want to call the Mariott and check the date.
The administration has turned lose a lot of moles. The moles were told that they would be taken care of. Don't think they were counting on the number of pink cats that are attending the board meeting tonight. Meow.
As a decatur graduate and parent of 3 children in school here and now reconsidering moving my children elsewhere. How can one teacher give the much needed attention to our children with the possiblity of 35 kids per classroom. It is hard enough to give it now with only 25. I have 2 children who need that extra attention and what now they wont get it because we want to cut out teachers... After living in this township for almost 20 yrs I am considering moving... My kids love it here but now with all the mess thats going on I dont believe it would be best to stay here..... What can I do help all the my kids teachers have been awesome and would hate to see any of them leave...
Yesterday's conferences were difficult to say the least. Trying to explain this budget fiasco was so hard - and in my opinion, it is largely due to our 'slash' governor and the legislature. Unfortunately, several of my students' parents (especially outstanding families with high achieving children)are truly considering sending their children to either Hendricks or Morgan county schools. Wow...talk about brain drain! Those that can't afford to do so because of whatever reasons will have to stay and 'make do.'
I've taught in this district for many years, and I have NEVER seen such demoralizing issues confront us. I do appreciate the efforts of our DEA and the administration. Do I agree with everything the administration does? Absolutely not. But I truly feel they are doing their best with a horrible situation. Trust me. My Man Mitch could care less about public education. This should not be an issue against our school board and superintendent - instead, it should be a public outcry against our governor and legislature!
Sorry but i have been riding with Mitch many times and you are so wrong about him not caring about education.We are ones that may send out stright A students else where.Mitch has not spent the money here in decatur but we ALL know who has just not on what.Most people in other schools that know Stinson are not surprized at all by what is going on here in fact they all knew it would happpen just not when.
Hey Guys, for those of you who are able to go to school board meeting tonight, let us know what goes on as soon as you can. Would be great to have some imfo while it is going on.
Agree that Mitch did NOT cause the problem in Decatur. The Decatur problem is worse than almost all of the other schools because of the amount of misspending that was done. When the economy, state and national, became sour then Decatur was in a disaster. You are correct about this superintendent's reputation.
Folks, I didn't say education - I said PUBLIC education. Where do you think his kids went to school?
I know let's ask Mitch if we can turn 465 into a toll road. It will look better soon. Then he could sell it to a foreign company and our education funding would be solved-in Decatur Township as well as the state. How about we sell the Govenor's mansion( it's not a gated community up north)? This might help as well. What about the RV he rode around in? Is it still parked in the drive way? Wonder what his neighbors think? Is there a covenant against this? Decatur residents: his national nickname is 'the blade.' Do you really think he cares about YOU?
Mitch has the wallet.
Stinson has the change purse.
They're both to blame.
Anon 10/16 10:33 said "Tried to respond to Phil Webster's most recent post under the 62 teacher's riffed blog but my computer sends me a message that would indicate a possibility that my response will be read by someone who would know my personal identity???? When I open "Thank You and Keep Posting" I do not get that message so I will try again!"
If it was a pop-up that says something about secure and unsecure data, I think it popped up because someone has a picture on their profile.
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