Here's a key section from Harold J. Adams's C-J coverage of last evening's cynical school corporation exercise in fiscal and ideological blame shifting:
Board members Rebecca Gardenour and LeeAnn Wiseheart tried unsuccessfully to get separate votes on the decisions to eliminate those positions and the decision to close the schools.Not all the cynicism is flowing from the top down. Some of it bubbles up from below in the form of the tactical manipulation of foregone conclusions. It is important that we remember this later, when the Palinesque blather from Team Wiseheart will paint a rosy picture of courageous "no" votes as she seeks employment further up the political food chain at a place where much of the current problem originated.
In the end, the board voted to approve Hibbard's plan as a package with only Gardenour and Wiseheart in opposition.
Someone elsewhere here said Hibbard mentioned that he'd met with the Chamber of Commerce about the school closings and they'd liked the proposal. I don't know that anyone saw it, but I asked if this would potentially be actionable given the board's code of ethics prevents them from meeting with people in closed door sessions or on the street about board business. That sounds like a closed door meeting, and I fail to see why the school board superintendent would need to meet with that group.
ReplyDeleteI also find it interesting that the Tribune article points out that Hibbard has three children in the school system but doesn't bother to mention that the "brave" Wiseheart sends her kids to private school.
It was enlightening, from a rhetorical point of view, to listen to two people argue vehemently in favor of keeping a diversity director without saying hardly anything about the value of diversity or what constitutes it.
ReplyDeleteIt was about procedure, contracts, lawsuits, etc. Their argument was that the proper notification procedure for getting rid of the director hadn't been followed so they should wait a year.
Re: objectionable meetings: I'm not sure the superintendent is precluded from seeking opinion about policy. It certainly says a lot about Hibbard's mind set that he would rank getting the chamber's endorsement above communicating with parents and the rest of the community, but I can't say that it's illegal.
Unfortunately, given their long-standing sprawl loving proclivities, it's not surprising that the chamber would sign off on devaluing urban neighborhoods.
Jeff,
ReplyDeleteIs it possible that the two people were using a procedural measure in a last second attempt to gain time to make the case of value? Sometimes you can tell by "tone" and body language and since I was not there...
It's not like some of us haven't used or advocated similar measures, at times.
An Oscar winning performance!
ReplyDeleteLast year, members of the Resources for Results (RFR) Committee reported that Wiseheart and Gardenour were always in favor of closing Silver Street Elementary. When last year's numbers showed that Fairmont Elementary had achieved "Exemplary" status and that Silver Street had not (last year they transferred a teacher and a special-education aide to other schools), those two board members paraded those results with giddy glee to certain committee members as an "in-your-face" gesture.
I almost came unglued when I heard Gardenour say she supports Silver Street, because she did not support it during the RFR meetings. However, I do believe Gardenour wanted to keep Childrens Academy open. After all, she "likes to think she represents all the children of Floyd County."
And when Wiseheart said she is in support of keeping schools open, she was telling the truth, but wasn't saying which schools she wanted to keep open. Wednesday evening Wiseheart met with Galena parents and told them she would do everything she can to keep Galena open. Funny, Wiseheart never promised the same to the Save Silver Street organization, and other Silver Street supporters, etc., during the YEAR of fighting to keep Silver Street open.
And a little known fact is that over three years ago, Galena was on the RFR committee's list of schools to be considered for closing, but was quickly removed due to its high performance rating and to keep Floyds Knobs parents happy.
When my husband and I were Silver Street's co-PTO presidents, we met with former school superintendent Dr. Dennis Brooks on several occasions to discuss school closure issues. During one of those meetings, Dr. Brooks stated that parents on the "hill" bought homes, such as those in the very affluent Woods of Lafayette, so their children could go to hill schools, and would be very upset if schools were closed there. We explained to Dr. Brooks that parents in downtown New Albany purchase homes in areas with walkable, neighborhood schools, and we reminded him that not everyone wants to live in a subdivision.
So you see, Dr. Brooks protected the "hill" schools by creating school closure criteria that included high performance standards. This would exclude "hill" schools from even being considered for closure. To expect diversely populated Title I schools to achieve ISTEP scores equal to schools comprised of a mostly affluent white mono-culture is unrealistic and unfair, yet the RFR committee's criteria was craftily orchestrated to do just that.
Galena and Childrens Academy were added to the mix under Dr. Hibbard’s “new” school closure criteria, which only looked at school building conditions and the inability to expand. Suddenly, no one on the school board wants to see schools close, but if it had just been Silver Street and Pine View, I doubt there would have been as much emotion and fervor over school closure from a school board predominantly made up of people who don't live in New Albany.
It's possible, IAH, but given their near complete 180 concerning urban schools, I think it highly doubtful. And like I said, they didn't really argue in favor of keeping the diversity director over the long haul for any intended purpose- mostly just to avoid a suit.
ReplyDeleteThe public safety officer (who serves under the same type of contract) was in question, too. The importance of public safety "in times like these" (or something to that effect) was brought up, no problem.
They weren't exactly arguing for save haven for gay and lesbian students.
Waging an inner conflict over "Hill families" versus "City families" loses sight of the fact that its an issue of mismanagement of the system as a whole. If historical biases played a role, then certainly, its relevant, but if we slap labels on kids, parents and board members as to where they reside, rather than where their true interests reside, its politics as usual once again, and as always, the kids suffer.
ReplyDeleteThe reason I bring up the RFR issues of last year is that Wiseheart and Gardenour used last night's meeting to appear as if they are our "champions."
ReplyDeleteWiseheart met with Galena parents at Hob Knob cafe Wednesday night and promised them she would do everything she could to keep Galena open. This is a FACT.
At no time did they EVER meet with Save Silver Street as a group and PROMISE to do all they could to save Silver Street. And Gardenour represents the Silver Street district. Last night's performance was a political masterpiece in looking like the only two school board members who CARE about keeping schools open. They care about Childrens Academy and Galena, which is fine, but be honest about it! Had this vote taken place last year, Wiseheart and Gardenour would have voted to close Silver Street and Pine View, hands down. Several school board members, including these two, were disappointed that "we" (Save Silver Street) had thwarted the process resulting in no recommendation from Dr. Brooks. It is obvious where their politics lie.
It is unfortunate that it does become a "hill" versus "valley" issue. Nonetheless, this is a blow to the entire county, and it is the children who suffer.
What does it say about the character of someone who cares nothing of the the effect of moving pre-pubescent 5th graders into a school predominantly occupied by rampant hormonal kids (may work some places, but proven not everywhere), closes schools, destroying the neighborhoods in which those schools once thrived, then move-on to another town to do it all over again?
ReplyDeleteNccondra - understood and appreciated. Thanks for the clarification. Wonder if she was courting her republican constituency for the upcoming election?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, lawguy, those historic biases have been front and center in all of this. Since consolidation, services in the city have steadily decreased while they've been increased in the county. City residents pay just as much as they always have but keep getting less and less in return.
ReplyDeleteThink about what Don Sakel said last night: We've built such prime facilities in the Knobs that we can't afford to leave them empty. As I mentioned the other day, implementing this plan will mean that five valley schools will have been closed in about thirty years while overall countywide population actually increased.
It's been a long process of resource transfer up the hill. There's really no way to avoid that conversation in being honest about how we got where we are.
"We've built such prime facilities in the Knobs that we can't afford to leave them empty."
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure anything made me any angrier.
Of all of the things we watched being expanded and renovated and improved and on and on and on ... yet there sat our little school, persevering through it all, pumping out great kids with great educations, great behaviors, etc. being told there just wasn't enough money to do anything and in fact, they'd have to close it.
I REALIZE VERY WELL that bonds are from a completely different source - but if you can get a bond for one school, you should be renovating in order of need, and necessity, at ALL schools, in an ordered list - - no single school should get renovations one right after another while another one sits in need. They [try to] justify what they do, but we all see through it! They do what they WANT and that's it. It's 100% IRRESPONSIBLE and beyond short-sighted, not to mention, plain WRONG. Blatant misappropriation.
FURTHER!!! Silver Street's "cost" to them per year - - $25,000!!! The LEAST in the corporation.
ReplyDeleteThe only way to make changes is support candidates that hold these same principles.
ReplyDeletePeople can talk about it all day long but unless action is taken nothing will change.
The Save Silver Street group was proof to this. Completly alone they prevented a hostile school board from closing down the school for years but their efforts were not enough they need more support if they haven't given up.
I question the integreity of the boards vote... Although it would not have changed the outcome.. One board member should have excused himself since his wife is an administrator at a school that would directly benefit from the closing of Galena. I for one will not be allowing my childs safety at risk by putting him on a school bus that has middle schoolers, High schoolers, and lets not forget this will also include the alternative school kids that many of them have already displayed they don't follow the rules. I see a lawsuit in the making when a child gets assulted. Children don't get the sleep they need as it is and now we are asking them to get up earlier and perform more.... when do kids get to be kids. At what point do we say enough is enough?
ReplyDeleteWe all know this is what happens when you "shrink government enough to drown it in the bathtub."
ReplyDeleteClosing public schools, primarily in inner cities; eliminating minority representation, reducing public transportation; refusing to raise fees and taxes to adequately support needed services,etc.,etc. This is going on all over the country. Note that Kansas City, MO just voted to close HALF of it's public schools!
Seeing as "more cuts will be needed", no doubt they won't be satisfied until the only public schools left will be in the wealthy exurbs - if they don't do away with them altogether in favor of charter and private schools. (I have heard a Texan Congresswoman say that public education is not a "right".)
It's disgusting. Please follow through with your intentions to run for the school board - and other public offices - next time around. Pity they unveiled this monstrosity after the filing deadline for the May primary.
I've been able to secure commitments from 5 of the at-large candidates for school board for a meet and greet at Destinations for Tuesday, April 19th at 6pm. This will be a really good chance to ask some questions and get to know the candidates that are running. Still have 3 other candidates that I'm waiting to hear back from.
ReplyDeleteTwo things that Wiseheart brought up last night that I do agree with:
ReplyDelete1. The community should have been brought into this planning early on, not given just two weeks to respond and then ultimately be told the way it would be. I hope Dr. Hibbard has learned he needs to work with the community for the next round of cuts.
2. The reason they are in this mess is not just the state’s fault, but also the fault of the school board’s overspending.
The Save Silver Street group attended school board meetings for over a year. These meetings are just as compelling as watching paint dry. The one consistent trend that emerged was the board repeatedly approved change orders mostly for work and renovations at Floyd Central High School, but also some at New Albany HS and Highland Hills. Wiseheart was usually the only one questioning these expenses, and if she didn’t understand them she wouldn’t vote for them. And this is not a love-fest comment for Wiseheart, but it is the truth. The board, which resembled sheep following their shepherd, Dr. Brooks, would rubber stamp whatever he brought forth, especially with spending. As a result, the capital fund is greatly depleted, so if they get the approval to transfer funds to the general fund, there’s not much there to use.
Smart on Norma!
ReplyDeleteExcept Hibbard didn't learn anything, we did. I'm sure this was all part of his master plan and I wouldn't be surprised if the board didn't have guiding input. We need to call his former town and find out how well-informed the community was there and if they accepted his plan because they had input. We need to take a look at how the schools are doing ... although it may not have been long enough to see test scores, I don't know ... as well as checking into possible enrollment decline and if there was property value decline, as well.
The CPF is $10,000,000 ... the allowable 10% would only be $1,000,000.
I just can't wrap my head around the math.
RFR said closing a school would equate to $350,000. Essentially, they will still have overhead and such at the Galena and CANA properties, so that puts us at $700,000 savings plus maybe a tiny bit. But moving all of the children around and having to bus children now that weren't bussed before - - that's $30,000 a bus. I wonder how many buses we need to times that number by to accommodate the new system? Even if we just say two for each of the walkable schools, that will cost $120,000 ... however I feel confident it would be more Then we have the route system they're talking about, separating the younger from the older, so that may add more gas and hours paid to drivers and likely more maintenance. But what I'm getting at is that their savings by doing this seems to ultimately be less than $580,000.
There is absolutely NO doubt that they were rubber stamping this because they DIDN'T review outside input AT ALL! I'm pretty confident the, "let's table this" and "delay that" was all for show.
"...although it may not have been long enough to see test scores..."
ReplyDeleteAnd we need to question the entire testing system, how effective it is, what unwanted changes it has caused, and whether it's expense is even necessary or helpful.
Is there any possibility that with a more favorable school board can any of this be reversed or can the school board only act on what the super offers?
ReplyDeleteCan they unilaterally open a school after they voted to close it?
Jeff - I agree and have a very controversial book on order by ... What's her name Randy? Diane Ravich? HOWEVER - all we have to go on TODAY is the scores of the system we're currently using.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to search online and see if I can find newspaper stuff from what he did before he came.
Jameson - I don't know ... we need *ahem* A LAWYER *ahem* to chime in for us. To me, a lot of this seems almost illegal from the "appointed committee," lack of community knowledge, involvement, etc., no attempt at alternative options, and questionable numbers manipulation, not to mention what we learned from that January 29, 1999 article.
Kathy
ReplyDeleteI want to read it myself she was featured on the Diane Rehms show Thursday. I didn't get to listen to the whole segment but I caught most of it.
The book is
The Death and Life of the Great American School System
I learned about her and the book from NPR. Lots of controversial comments afterward.
ReplyDeleteYou guys have to see this...
ReplyDeletehttp://ourworldgus.blogspot.com/2010/03/four-elementary-schools-in-new-albany.html#comments
I can't link as I'm computer illiterate.
bayern, I read it and I was "a gasp."
ReplyDeleteCheck his profile:
Favorite Books
I don't read books
Daft!!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all ...
it's "aghast" - not "a gasp" and "don," not "dawn."
You have got to be KIDDING me! Does he not receive the benefit of a nice neighborhood because people move INTO neighborhoods with nice schools? Or did he quit watching the news video he actually linked before the end?
Is he implying that everyone who lives in "the valley" is on government assistance? Newsflash! We pay full price for everything! Further, I have spent HOURS volunteering at that school for NOTHING - all to benefit my children and others.
I notice he's a nurse. Didn't I just hear of a lot of lay-offs at a couple of hospitals? Gee Gus, be careful of karma, buddy.
Free-flowing money never made it to Silver Street's steps.
There are currently no teacher lay-offs and I am unaware of any teachers teaching half-full rooms. Was I the only one who heard Hibbard rave about this "plan" creating SMALLER class sizes??
Then MOVE?!? It's KIND OF HARD to sell your home in a neighborhood where every other home is for sale because the school just closed! And it's not fun losing equity because your property just took a 25% cut in value, either.
Ol' Gus is unaware that President Bush chose Silver Street, not the other way around. Further, the school corporation tried to persuade Bush to visit one of our other schools (probably embarrassed by the lack of attention they'd given the school over the years), and he insisted on visiting Silver Street.
I guess he's not a product of public education - or any other, as he is clearly lacking.
I wonder just how happy he's going to be when he learns his property value just dropped 25%? Oh - he'll probably be happy his property taxes went down. Stupid me. I wonder if the neighborhood he lives in, which was gentrifying but will now do 180 will upset him at all? He's probably too blind to notice. I guess he's also not a proponent of our children today receiving a quality education to hopefully build a better future for everyone rather than the current world in which we live?
Clearly, what these daft types don't understand is that we weren't whining to keep our schools and retain debt - - we found alternative cuts that protected the schools, programs, and 5th grade, and students, yet they were never even considered.
Oh but of course, he bought into their song and dance routine that those were the ONLY three possible options. Sheeple always believe what the Goebbels of the world tell them.
I saw that Bookseller, I also saw this part in his profile...
ReplyDelete"I sometimes don't believe the thought process."
'Nuff said.
He also thinks the internet is his own personal repository of free stock photography. I suggested he may want to remove the picture he ganked from the Tribune before they send a Cease and Desist letter to him...
ReplyDeleteI was initially inclined to post on his blog but remembered that you cannot idiot proof the internet, so what's the use.
ReplyDeleteWell - it is my hope that someone who shares his views may be slightly more open-minded and, from reading intelligent responses, understand why his views are so askew and see the forest, not just a few trees. I don't condone the tone of my own response (here or at SSS blog), but it was knee-jerk, salt-in-wound reaction.
ReplyDelete