From a reader, passed on without comment:The precedent of questionable action was set long before this board or this action. Past boards seemed to rubber stamp Mr. Robinson's illegal actions of contracting out custodians, used every possible procedural action to keep from considering an overwhelming and informative 'vote of no confidence', ignored OSHA violations etc., and generally made what many considered to be poor decisions regarding district finances (hiring at central office while laying off teachers
If you were to simply look at Robinson's scores on 'Communications & Community Relations' where he earned a .8 out of a possible 4 - mathematically the board must have rated some version of: 2 members gave him 2's, 3 gave him zeros..; 1-3, 1-1, 3-0's; 4-1's, 1-0... anyway you parse it- a low score. And, based on close observation of a number of Superintendents over many years, this seems a inflated score. In spite of LT's claims that JR is out and about in the community a lot, my experience would not confirm this. In fact, his public presence is, at best, minimal. Especially considering that Lebanon is a small school district with one high school (basically...:) In many ways he has hidden, and not taken an active public leadership role in the media, and on the ground. Perhaps this is because he senses that many people (students included) are not drawn to him, or trusting of him...
Anyhow, if you really believe that the 'process' has been so bad (and I would NOT characterize it as good from any angle) on this latest effort to change district leadership, perhaps you should really study the 'process' under past boards which many stakeholders perceived as simply Jim Robinson's puppets...
Thursday, March 6, 2008
[LCSD] Someone Submits!
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6 comments:
This post confirms that the problems within the Lebanon School District are NOT going to be solved by booting out the Superintendent.
Subjective processes and policies (based on feelings, whims, popular opinions--which CHANGE ALL the time--) will not serve well over the long haul.
NO ONE can make EVERYONE happy ALL the time. It is impossible.
"In spite of LT's claims that JR is out and about in the community a lot, my experience would not confirm this. In fact, his public presence is, at best, minimal. Especially considering that Lebanon is a small school district with one high school (basically...:) In many ways he has hidden, and not taken an active public leadership role in the media, and on the ground. Perhaps this is because he senses that many people (students included) are not drawn to him, or trusting of him..."
I would say it is MUCH MORE LIKELY that he is "hidden" because he likes to let others shine, AND because he has been so attacked by a very verbal group of angry people who do not like change.
WHO likes to be in a situation where you are darned if you do and darned if you don't?
What WOULD make you happy?
Do YOU even know?
What SPECIFICALLY would your IDEAL Superintendent be like?
I happened to be in town and went to a school board meeting with a close friend. She had informed me that what was happening with the school board and the city council was quite sad, and she hoped that for the sake of things to come, it would calm down so that Lebanon could move on to bigger and better things.
She has had the pleasure of speaking to several young teachers in the district, as well as some more established teachers. All of them, with no exception, were quite concerned about speaking out on their own concerning their view of leadersip and how moral was low due to fear of loosing their jobs, or being in some form or another held accountable.
She quietly and politely approached the chair during audience comments, and respectfully explained the respect she has for the teaching staff your town has, and the fear of loosing good teachers because of their dis-satisfaction of current leadership.
She quietly returned to her set with several people, mainly unknown to her "mouthing" thank you, and just as many glares.
We sat up and spoke quiet late that night, and she said there was going to absolutely be people speaking out on a website because of her stance that night. That website was called "Lebanon for Truth and Reconciliation".
Of course, she was right. In it she was accused of bringing up the teacher's vote of no confidence....which, amazingly meant so little the person heading this website.
Then it went on to state that she had ran against Tom McHill in 2002. I asked her about it. She stated she had not. Years before that, no one had stepped up to run for a seat in her district, so she signed on, on the last day of filing, Mr.McHill filed. She had the utmost repect for Mr. McHill and did not set about a campaign against him.
I asked her about her being friends with Rick Alexander. She has spoken to Mr. Alexander twice. Both those times were in the parking lot of Chris Fisher's Insurance office. She said bluntly that she truly felt that Mr. Alexander would probably not want to call her a friend.
She has always ended opinions about those she does not know with "But, he sure knows how to shake things up and keep us on our toes, doesn't he...."
I am angry, I suppose....more angry than she seems to be, because of the fact that with all her dedication to children that are less fortunate. For everything she has risked (I've known this woman since she was 18 yrs old), to keep other peoples children safe, and I can name you multiple times.
Given the fact that before the age of 28 she had over 34 letters of commendations and recommendations from everyone from FBI Agents, Judges, fellow employees, Sheriffs, she treasures most the letters she received from children thanking her.
Yet, people dealing with children have just two memories, and both of them false. That she ran against Tom McHill in 2002, and she is friends with someone you hate, and she barely knows....Mr. Alexander.
How very sad that someone has that much power (or chicken shite) in nature, that they might anonymously state lies and call themselves "Truth and Reconciliation". Can you be more narrow minded?
Kate,
I don't know why you posted on RW instead of on LT's site, but you missed something very important.
Lebanon Truth(LT) did NOT say the following.
"The woman is Susan Wright. Same lady that ran against Tom McHill I believe in 2002. One of Rick's friends."
This was a response from a commenter.
What LT did say was they wished people would stop bringing up old (2004) issues.
Another point:
You said,"All of them (Teachers), with no exception, (Really--ALL of them?) were quite concerned about speaking out on their own concerning their view of leadership and how moral was low due to fear of loosing their jobs, or being in some form or another held accountable."
1st- being 'held accountable' is not a bad thing.
2nd- if they (current Teachers) wanted to call for a current Teacher Vote of Confidence/No Confidence they have certainly been welcome to do so.
3rd- given the subjective "get him (and indeed anyone who does not agree with us) at all costs and in any way possible" climate of some on the School Board many people (not just Teachers) are concerned about their jobs.
4th- The 'low moral' is a great deal about the frustration at the 'district focus on testing' (which is STATE and FEDERALLY necessary), and also about some disagreements on Special Ed issues which also involves some State and Federal guidelines, and not just about 'fear of losing jobs'.
Something else you may not know is that in the Sept. 18th 2007 Special Board Meeting during the Audience Comments, your friend spoke on these same lines.
At that time she, 'indicated her concerns were around the Teacher's Union and the vote of no confidence'. (Please note that vote was taken in 2004, had much to do with the changes in the retirement plans, and should have been part of THAT year's Evaluation.)
Your friend went on to say in that Sept. meeting that, 'she truly believes the Superintendent is the cause of funding being lost. She states this went all the way back to Superintendent Harvey Hazen.'
(Harvey Hazen served 1995-1998--so obviously the problems are NOT just about Jim R.)
[Note, if she was mostly talking about the funding from E3/Gates Foundation being 'lost' that was because of 'fragmented leadership' (meaning some on the Board and in the Union were very vocal about their disagreement with the Superintendent and the previous School Board majority--who voted the Academies in--).
If she was talking about all the legal fees being accrued, a great deal of that is laid at the doorstep of those same Board members who repeatedly refuse to accept legal advice, have said things in the meetings like, "Lawyers are only right 50% of the time...." and have been in trouble for over-stepping their authority on a regular basis.
I would recommend that before you get upset enough on your friends behalf, (understandable if not objective), to write on a blog, that you do some additional research.
And just for the record we don't hate Rick, we just really really dislike and disagree with most of his behaviors as a School Board member.
Kate said, "She has had the pleasure of speaking to several young teachers in the district, as well as some more established teachers. All of them, with no exception, were quite concerned about speaking out on their own concerning their view of leadership and how moral was low due to fear of loosing their jobs, or being in some form or another held accountable."
Thank you Kate for your comments. What I find sad is Kim Fandino is the one that made the teachers feel this way. She practically brainwashes them into thinking Jim is some sort of monster. The teachers that work closely with him don't feel that way at all. Ask your friend to speak directly with some of them before she draws her final conclusions. Then ask her to talk with teachers that work directly with Kim and see if they feel free to express themselves to her concerning her leadership.
Your friend may very well have something different to say next time and unlike most, she obviously has the guts to say it. I also hope she runs for School Board again. We need people that are dedicated to children on our board.
In closing, there was only one comment that referenced your friend to Mr. McHill and Rick Alexander on the other blog and it wasn't from LT. You should point out to them their facts are wrong as you did here.
I appreciate LT and Dennis giving us all a place to discuss current events and encourage people such as yourself to point out incorrect statements. Again, thank you!
We must have some really bad teachers in Lebanon!
Anonymous (March 8, 2008 8:56 PM)
"What I find sad is Kim Fandino is the one that made the teachers feel this way. She practically brainwashes them into thinking Jim is some sort of monster"
Maybe we need to find teachers who can resist Kim's amazing powers of brainwashing. Right. She can't brainwash crap. Most teachers can make up their own minds. So, either they agree with you or they are brainwashed. Nice.
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