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BOARD TO DECIDE ISON'S FUTURE

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Vivian Moon View Drop Down
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    Posted: Jan 23 2015 at 5:03pm

Posted: 4:31 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, 2015

Board to decide Ison’s future Monday

Middletown superintendent wants to retire and be rehired by district

By Rick McCrabb

Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN 

Dom Williams, president of the Middletown Teachers’ Association, expects a “strong presence” of union members at Monday’s board meeting when the future of the superintendent will be decided.

During a public hearing earlier this month, when board members discussed the possible retirement and rehire of Superintendent Sam Ison, more than 100 of the 400 union members packed City Council chambers, and five people, including the union president, voiced their displeasure with the district’s leadership and direction. In the three weeks since, Williams said union members have had additional conversations with the board members and presented them specific reasons the union believes the district needs to improve its climate.

“We need for that to change for the sake of our kids,” Williams said. “We can’t do our best work unless we have an environment conducive to learning.”

When asked about his confidence in Ison and his leadership ability, Williams said: “More important than the decision who’s in that job is to address the issues we talked about. That has to change. We want to be successful.”

In a short survey, 328 unions answered the district performed poorly in promoting a healthy, positive and productive environment, and 70 percent said they don’t see the working climate improving over the next two years if the district continues on its path. Williams said the district is losing too many quality educators, who are upset by the leadership. He said 66 teachers left after the 2013-14 school year, and so far this school year, 26 have announced plans to leave.

Ison, who has been with the district for two years, told the Journal-News he feels confident in his vision for Middletown schools and its 6,200 students. The board is expected to vote at Monday’s meeting whether Ison, 58, who wants to retire, will be rehired for three more years, with the possibility of a fourth. He has agreed to return for $120,000 a year and eliminate his 5 percent bonus, moves that would save the district about $12,000 a year, said Marcia Andrew, board president. Ison’s 2014 salary was $123,791.

Ison has said he wants to remain superintendent because he’s seeing improvements in the district’s academics and residents recently passed a bond issue and improvement levy that will fund the building of a new middle school and renovating Middletown High School.

Ison has said he understands some of the teachers’ frustrations, and he’s seeking ways to improve relations in the district.

“We have more work to do, more communication to do,” he said. “I need to look at different directions how I want to get to the ultimate goal: students’ success.”

To prepare for Monday’s meeting, the school board met in executive session for about 45 minutes Thursday night, partly to discuss Ison and his future with the district. No action followed the meeting, members said.

On Friday, Andrew called the possibility of rehiring Ison “an important and tough decision” for the board. She didn’t want to predict how the board will vote, but said the members want what’s best for the district and its students.

The last board meeting and the sequential talks with teachers and staff, she said, illustrated one point that needs to be addressed regardless of who’s superintendent: the district, its leadership and teachers need to improve communications.

Williams said he was surprised to learn that board members said they weren’t aware of some of the complaints from teachers and staff until they were brought forward at the last board meeting.

The Rev. Greg Tyus, board vice president, said on Friday morning he was “still weighing everything, figuring out what needs to go on and who needs to lead that.” He described the executive session as “informative” and said all the board members talked freely about Ison. Tyus said he probably won’t decide how he will vote until sometime Monday.

Longtime board member Katie McNeil said she never discloses what was discussed in executive session and wouldn’t explain her vote until after it was cast.

 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote VietVet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 23 2015 at 6:16pm
No doubt almost EVERYTHING must change, not just in the leadership/worker bee relationship.

Direction is now "steady as she goes" as they navigate the icebergs.

Max effort on how to achieve end result performance rather than having a nice new school to go to. New schools are not important. WHAT IS TAUGHT in the schools is important. It would appear they are more interested in building new schools rather than showing real signs of upward trends. Now, we will start getting lousy results in new buildings rather than the ones that are "crumbling". Other than that, nothing will change. The new elementaries have shown us that.

Method of instruction....if how you are teaching isn't producing decent results, and you've been teaching that way for years, don't you think it's about time to change the way kids are taught?

Relationship of admin to teacher and teacher to admin must not be adversarial. It appears that it is at this time. Does management really think they will acquire and keep top notch teachers if they are perceived by those teachers as uncooperative and uncaring? Poor management skills and guaranteed to bring down an organization over time. The old "floggings will stop when the morale improves" management theme is alive and well here.

Must change the game on hiring a super. Think out of the box for a change and stop hiring the Ison's and Price's of the world. They are dividers, not uniters. Rather, hire someone who is strong enough to break the failing trends of this district and who is not afraid to try bold dynamic new procedures to lead the district away from the same old failures. This district is stuck in neutral as to progress. Has been for decades. Same goes for the type of people manning the school board chairs the last few decades. They are in neutral also. Need a totally different make-up of school board members. Tyus, McNeil, other long timers need to be replaced or we all get the same old same old and continue to be mired in mediocrity. They have had their time in the sun. They are merely taking a seat with little to no new ideas to change things.

If the people of Middletown want to see absolutely no change in direction, no upward trends of hope, no image and reputation building, no hope of ever seeing this district return to it's former successful self, then they need to keep voting for the same old returnees, who will hire their cookie-cutter super, who will run the district in the same manner that has failed for decades. Alot of promises have been made by this district over the years. Little has been delivered toward those promises.

If you want to increase the chances for success here, the people must reject complacency and insist on the elimination of the "way it's always been", elect a totally different type of board member, who, collectively, will insist on a totally different type of super, who will then start the new era toward getting this district off the bottom and moving in the right direction by showing improved indicator numbers, proficiency test results and better operational capabilities.

Until then, the schools will keep nose-diving in image, performance and worth until, eventually, the state takes over sometime down the road. Probably should have happened long ago. It certainly isn't going anywhere positive in it's current situation.    

I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote acclaro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 23 2015 at 6:58pm
Ison will easily be rehired.

My God, they had one candidate standing in Rasmussen.

They aren't about to make life harder by hiring another, after maybe finding 1-2 candidates. Done deal.

Nice pr piece on Marcia Andrew's son heading to Penn. One of the perk's of being a board member is saving $250,000 on collegiate education per child. Once had a neighbor who was a board member in another state. Asked why hassle with it. It got his son in Yale.

Congrats to Ison for passing levy and "earning" his 2x dip deal. Done deal. No hard decision. But....there's always a but right MP, we appreciate the "boldness" of teachers. 

Hamilton is eating Middletown's lunch, and its because of those in leadership.

No drama, deal done. 4 year gig.

 
'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote spiderjohn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 23 2015 at 8:51pm
I have no issue with Mr.Ison being retained--he hasn't been on the job that long. imo he is a continuation of what Mr.Rasmussen started, and I see it as heading in the right direction.

I find him to be open, friendly, and easy with whom to communicate.I see no need to start another expensive search that no one would be pleased with and would probably not lead to any improvement.

If we have a group of unhappy teachers that want to leave, then let them leave. Satify them now, and they will probably be unhappy about something else soon. It's not like we are breaking any academic records currently. Bring in new, fresh faces at a lower rate of pay. and hope that they are up to the task. That being said, I have also been impressed by the dedication of the teachers that I have met. So I really don't know what is the issue. Maybe it will surface in spades Monday night.

Our problems run very deep in this community and within the school system. We can only play the cards that we have been dealt, and our hand doesn't seem very strong. It's not like our system is flourishing, and constant upheaval is seldom a real solution.

jmo
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote chmoore1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 23 2015 at 9:09pm
See how this plays out: Ison retires and is expected to be rehired. By state laws, a school employee who does this is mandated to be out of that position for 60 days. So, Ison retires effective June 30, but cannot be rehired (returned to the job) for 60 days (I don't know if that is calendar days, or work days). Guess who slips in as the "interim" superintendent!! Libby Lolli! But, if Ison isn't rehired, do we still get the pleasure of having Mrs. Lolli as a "fill-in" or even permanent superintendent. Part of this whole mess revolves around her; get rid of her and improve the relationship with the union. just 1chmoore, sittin' on the sideline, watchin' the parade.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote acclaro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 23 2015 at 9:32pm
I'm with sj. There isn't a cookie cutter Sup in Ohio that alter the performance in Middletown. The district pays well, and those that don't want to be in the zoo leave quickly, driven mainly be discipline problems, or the lack thereof.

Middletown had the failure of Price and two Sups after. They'll put something in place to facilitate 'better communication." Really don't understand how there is a communication issue when Middletown, like every public district, is standardized with no deviation, no variance.

Contract given, no change. Needless union drama, when they all have email, all have ease of communication, with a guaranteed outcome.

Amazing district hires Monroe leaders when Monroe wanted out of district to form their own. Ison got levy passed, he gets contract as reward. No dissent, every board member a yes vote.        
'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote VietVet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 25 2015 at 8:02am
acclaro, spiderjohn and others...

You can be of the opinion that Ison is decent. Ison is "making improvements". Ison deserves or doesn't deserve the double dip. You could say that there is really no need to change the super because there is no one else out there to choose from. End result for me......

NOTHING has changed in the scholastic category. NOTHING has changed in the indicators. NOTHING has changed in the discipline arena. NOTHING has changed with this "build us new buildings" concept. NOTHING has changed in the way the board is operating. None of us, including the school people, if one wants to be truthful with themselves, is happy with the performance of this district. IMO, those who choose to turn a blind eye and believe this district is making progress is not being honest with themselves. It is what the periodic state test reports say it is. There is nothing to read into this but complacency for years.

To judge and reward Ison because he got a dam levy passed is totally misfocused IMO. The judging/rewarding for a Super is based on test score improvements, continuity of district operations, a positive relationship between management and worker and the community satisfaction that they have a quality system and are getting their money's worth from the taxes paid.

Currently, and for many years, I don't feel as if any of these criteria have been met by Ison, nor his predecessors.

What will it take for me to raise and eyebrow?

Take the district higher than Continuous Improvement. Stop being the cellar dweller on all proficiency testing. Get the indicator numbers beyond the 6 to 10 range and score at least 20 of 23. You people have had plenty of time to have better numbers than this. Better relationships between management and worker. Inclusion of the city, rather than a "protect at all costs" attitude toward new ideas offered and modes of operation tried. A little change is in order here. Has been for a long time. You all can see what "business as usual" has gotten us can't you?

I'm not satisfied with the message from this school district as they try to appease the people with empty talk but produce literally no concrete improvements. It is all passification with no content. They have been stalling with rhetoric as opposed to actually accomplishing anything for a long time. The state results tell us that. I don't know why the people of this city tolerate it. IMO, wholesale changes are in order.
I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote spiderjohn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 25 2015 at 9:18am
good morning vet!

why do "we tolerate it"?
we live with it because it is what is is--a current reality
are we happy with it?--what do you think?

it is in the hands of the few constant citizens who are willing to work with the situation. Honestly no one else wants the job. Example--last election one other candidate won a BOE position, and immediately withdrew upon winning. No one else stepped up to apply.

Our demographics are not very good, with no probable upswing on the horizon. We are a low-end community, with the low seeming to be willing to drop as low as allowed as long as they remain subsidized. Few of their children are mentored properly at home, have little chance for higher education or employment, and see the easy but costly/long-term future of a life under govt(taxpayer) care. eg..a step above being in jail.

If many thought that saviors for BOE, BOE admin and educators were out there willing to perform here, don't you think that we/they would pursue them?

You and I are proof(5000 musa posts--2000 musa posts) that talking about it here changes little other than occasionally provide interesting discussion.

Charter schools are working well in many states, however in Middietown and Ohio, they are mostly below public education while at a much higher per pupil cost. Why? Because the state has failed to monitor properly? Because our charters are more for students who are at their last stop before total failure?

We still have a community image problem, magnified nightly, weekly, monthly by bad news incidents on the area news options. Upper end families with upper end children valuing their education are passing on locating here. A scary cycle.

So--some of us choose to support those we see trying to work within it all, whom we have a level of confidence and hope. We need to volunteer to tutor and mentor in school subjects and constructive life choice issues. We need to be the best role models that we can be--leading by example.

Life is a journey with many ups and downs. We have learned a lot about ourselves over the years. We know that we can't change our past, but we can definitely control our future to be the best, most productive people that we can be accenting our differences instead of making them a confrontation. We all need to lift up as many others as we can--what else are we here to do?

jmo
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote VietVet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 25 2015 at 6:48pm
Good evening spider !

spider:

"it is in the hands of the few constant citizens who are willing to work with the situation. Honestly no one else wants the job. Example--last election one other candidate won a BOE position, and immediately withdrew upon winning. No one else stepped up to apply."

I believe you are referring to the physician who resigned soon after being elected. We will never know but perhaps he was driven off because he wanted to change some things that never worked and became frustrated by the lack of effort to change by the others on the school board. I could see that happening with the board and council too. The ones who run for board or council, and are successful, are the ones who offer the same old same old with the same old block of voter support which outnumbers the vote for candidates for change. The city political climate won't allow new ideas and a change of venue. The city wouldn't have the "few constant citizens who are willing to work with the situation" if the groups elected would have an open mind and be willing to accept ideas from those "outside the click". If more ideas, different in nature from the same old doctrine, were considered, perhaps more people would offer themselves as candidates. I would imagine that potential candidates are turned off by the "reject new people/new ideas" philosophy from the same old recycled faces and feel they have no chance of winning. The inner click is hoping it stays this way as it keeps the redundant, no change ball rolling.

Still, perhaps other good potential candidates own a business and have little time to participate. Others who wish to run couldn't attend the daytime meetings/retreats as their employers wouldn't allow them to leave work in the middle of the day. Still others may not have the money for the signs and other costs associated with elections. Perhaps family needs take a greater priority in their lives as well. City residents who have lived here a long time know that it is almost impossible to change the mindset of these habitual recycled board and council members and don't want the hassle to going to battle with them to see that things head in the right direction. Laubach is a prime example of one who wished to change things and was cast aside for his thinking. Scott-Jones started out with that mindset but in the last few years has either given up or, worse yet, has actually bought into the town destroying mode run by the rest of them. It may be easier to get elected than to change the council/board thinking. That is an impossible task.

spider:

"You and I are proof(5000 musa posts--2000 musa posts) that talking about it here changes little other than occasionally provide interesting discussion."

Yep. We are both smart enough to know that this forum will not change anything unless a majority of the city population read it, get mad enough about the city situation, register to vote, and actually show up at the polls to vote out the current officeholders and their ideas. We both know that won't happen. So, it becomes a place to go to vent your frustration, expecting absolutely no action on the discussions. If there are no expectations as to action, it makes it easier to accept that it is just a place to visit and discuss things.

spider:

"So--some of us choose to support those we see trying to work within it all, whom we have a level of confidence and hope."

But if you are supporting those currently running the ship, and you know that the ones you support are constantly running the ship into the rocks, I see no reason to offer support for people who are always taking the city/schools down the wrong path. The condition of the city and the schools tell us that the people you are supporting are a losing proposition. My question is.....what have they done to gain your confidence and hope? I see nothing from the city/schools as to hope and their very actions do not lend to any confidence. The city/schools spend alot of money but they produce little to nothing as to value for the money spent. How many years do the schools/city have to flounder before we label them as failures?

I'm not Motel 6 and I won't keep the light on for them.

spider:

"Life is a journey with many ups and down"

True, and right now, for me until the end, more down's than up's.

spider:

"We know that we can't change our past, but we can definitely control our future to be the best, most productive people that we can be accenting our differences instead of making them a confrontation"

Personally, don't want to change our past here. IMO, they were the best of times in this city, certainly better than the present. I would like to see us get back to the past as to quality of city leadership. The current crop of leaders doesn't come close to the past leadership IMO. Unfortunately, the current city situation lends itself to confrontation. The leaders are the catalyst for this. Because they refuse to acknowledge new ideas and differences in city direction, they are the poster children for non tolerance toward differences.

spider:

"We all need to lift up as many others as we can--what else are we here to do?"

I guess we need to ask the city leaders the same question. So, when are they going to start?
I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote acclaro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 25 2015 at 11:09pm
The site is cathartic only; it doesn't alter minds nor opinions.

Middletown is stuck in the past. It makes heroes out of very mediocre people and has a proclivity to name awards and recognition for those simply doing their job.

McClure left the BOE after being elected because he thought the levy would not pass. It indicated Obamacare kept him so pre-occupied, he did not have the time to serve. If course, his choice, but that brought back Tyus.

Doug Adkins says heroin is the number one issue confronting both he and the city for 2015. To sj's point, Middletown self destructs in its pr efforts. To state heroin is the number 1 issue in the city just runs businesses and residents away. You don't have the city manager of Upper Arlington, Oakwood, Indian Hills, West Chester, or Springboro stating heroin is the most pressing issue in a community. Middletown does. 

To add insult to injury, he uses flawed and silly economics that if the city did not spend $1.5 Mm on police, fire, etc., they'd surface 6 miles of roads. Those expenses are generally fixed, not variable. The roads could be resurfaced if the city manager and council wanted to dedicate funds. It certainly has nothing to do with heroin, but everyone knows that anyway.

The city and BOE think by building the middle school at the central site, more prominent families will move in. That was the basis for selling the developer of the apartment complex out by Walmart, build it, and they will come, because of the school system consolidation. They haven't done their due diligence, nor researched the tax rates of 1.75 and 2.0 % in Hamilton, and who moves into an area based upon where they work. Same with the other thread on Lake Middletown. City thinks with $ Mm grant from state, high rise apartments come, cash and upscale residents with it.

Bottom line is heroin epidemic, poverty, leadership, and so many problems overwhelm all the spin being thrown about regarding the epic turn around of Middletown. Facts and realism come to front when city mgr states heroin is the culprit in city. Granted, its a problem in many cities, but in Middletown, its one of many extraordinary problems which just are not being won.

Paradise was Lost in Middletown about 45-50 years ago.              
'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote VietVet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 26 2015 at 7:31am
I had forgotten about McClure being elected and then resigning for the reasons stated by acclaro. Correct me here if wrong but wasn't there another physician. Kabathi (sp?) who was elected to the school board and resigned shortly after?
I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Marcia Andrew Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 26 2015 at 12:54pm
Acclaro, you have reached a new low, revealing both your ignorance and mean spirit in your following comment:
 
"Nice pr piece on Marcia Andrew's son heading to Penn. One of the perk's of being a board member is saving $250,000 on collegiate education per child. Once had a neighbor who was a board member in another state. Asked why hassle with it. It got his son in Yale."
 
Ignorant, because you clearly don't know how the admissions process at highly selective universities works.  The idea that the admissions office of any selective college cares one hoot about a local school board member is preposterous. If they even know (the information was not on my son's application).  Further, if you knew as much as you claim to, you would know that the Ivy League schools do not give athletic or merit scholarships, only scholarships based on financial need, so no one will be helping my husband and I with the $250,000 cost of our son's degree from UPenn. We saved for this and are happy to pay it.
 
Mean-spirited, because you imply that my son could not get into UPenn (or be worthy of recognition from Middletown High School) without the supposedly powerful influence of my school board position.  The kid does not need any improper influence; he was admitted on his own merit.  I will try to avoid biased adjectives, and just state the facts: He is #1 in his class with a 4.2 CGPA; scored 34 out of 36 on the ACT; scored a perfect 5 on 5 out of 6 AP exams; and sits 1st chair cello. The UPenn swim coach recruited him and lobbied for his admission because he is a nationally-ranked swimmer who has already qualified for the US Olympic Trials in 2016. On Saturday he broke the last Middletown High swimming record that he did not already hold; he now holds every single individual Middie swim record (13) -- all strokes, all distances, an unprecedented accomplishment.  Only a first-class jerk would deny a 17-year old credit for these achievements.  Should MHS not recognize their top student and top athlete, just because his mom is on the school board? 
 
I will not be responding to any more comments from you.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote acclaro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 26 2015 at 1:28pm
Ms. Andrew, having attended a highly selective institution(s) and scoring very high, I get the requirements of an Ivy. I was accepted at Wharton and Tuck but did not attend. 

If you had read the piece, I stated a neighbor in another state indicated one of the benefits of sitting on a BOE, was it aided his son getting into Yale, associated with added teacher prep for testing et al.

You swam in college, I played tennis. Your son trained, achieved, and a 34 would get a student in Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Stanford, Columbia, Williams, UVa, Brown, others.

You are stating a false narrative.   
'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Marcia Andrew Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 26 2015 at 2:17pm
Classy. Instead of apologizing, Acclaro, you add further insulting innuendo ("added teacher prep for testing et al.") which was not included in your original post. My son did not receive any "added teacher prep for testing et al"--whatever that means-- by virtue of my position on the school board. Nor have I received any $250,000 "perk."
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote spiderjohn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 26 2015 at 2:42pm
Acclaro pal--u r 2 smart 2 take a shot at a proud mother's son and his credible accomplishments lol.
We can't help u here--u r on yer own!

Actually I was thinking how cool this young man must be, and how proud the family must be to see their years of combined effort play out so well.

Besides, Ms.A might be somewhat stressed over 2nite's bored(far from it!) meeting

Bad subject--worse timing imo

Vet--u might b wise 2 sit this 1 out
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote acclaro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 26 2015 at 2:46pm
Ms. Andrew, apparently, the concerns associated with Mr. Ison are weighing heavily on you and are a distraction which you are projecting hostility.

I know what a ob/gyn physician makes annually and an attorney at a top tier midwest firm. Undoubtedly, you have the means to pay for tuition at any institution in the country.

I am certain many board members have reasons they pursue serving on a Board. You are projecting on a passing opinion made regarding a board member in another state as to the benefit he gained by sitting on a board.  

I learned long ago to not make assumptions. You are making an assumption I am insinuating a 4.2 GPA, high achievement in sports, and top 1% testing on its own merit, would not get a student into a top tier school. The assumption is completely wrong and not worthy of further debate.   

An A average with excellent testing and added extra-curriculum activities would get a student into any number of excellent institutions.

  
'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote VietVet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 26 2015 at 3:51pm
spider:

"Vet--u might b wise 2 sit this 1 out"

Not going to touch this spider. The discussion between the two party's is well beyond my pay grade. Not even close to the level of education being discussed. Best my family can do is MUM, Sinclair or Wright State.

I will say that I'm impressed by Ms. Andrew's son's accomplishments both in the classroom and in sports. Something to be very proud of Ms. Andrew. You and your husband did a great job in helping chart your son's life course.
I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote acclaro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 26 2015 at 4:04pm
Completely agree and never disagreed.

At the end of the day, would not 99.99% of residents state if there were more students in the system like the two students highlighted on the pamplet the district sent out, MCSD would be EXCELLENT rated, and property values soaring?

Princeton has been a powerhouse in swimming for years. Its an enormous accomplishment to hold so many awards and records, including academic and the parents and district should be proud..    
'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote VietVet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 26 2015 at 9:36pm
Well, the school board just rehired Ison as a double dipper. Was there any doubt? Rubber stamping at it's finest. Done deal before the announcement I would imagine. Gonna save $12,000. Also gonna keep the Super versus teachers conflict alive and well. Teachers jumping ship left and right under his command. Apparently, he doesn't work and play well with others.....but that doesn't seem to matter to the board. Apparently, saving 12 grand is more important than any internal harmony between management and worker and the school board thinks that is just fine.

He claims he loves this district and wants to see it succeed. Also claims he has made improvements on performance. I don't see this in the data to date. Don't see it in the new schools built either. Where is the proof to your claims Ison? However, to his credit, he has accomplished his main objective given to him by the board.....he got the bond levy passed, albeit by a slim margin. Then again, isn't that why they hire any super in this district.....to get levies passed.

The internal strife will continue. Ison will continue to deny the fact that the numbers don't reflect what he is saying under his guidance. The school board will continue to make decisions that defy logic. The district will continue to operate in the bottom tier, the teachers will continue to be unhappy with a constant revolving door of those leaving and those unaware of the working environment coming in. The district will continue to embellish the surface rhetoric knowing most in this town won't delve into the specifics and all will be right in the world of the Middletown educational world as they continue their journey into the abyss. Isn't that an iceberg ahead?
I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote processor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 27 2015 at 10:49am
I personally am very thankful and appreciative of the selfless dedication of our school board. They are not there for the money, for power or for prestige. I can't think of any "perks" that they receive. Their objective is the betterment of MCSD. You can disagree with their approach and their decisions, but don't think that they aren't spending a lot of time and effort working to improve our schools.

I have yet to see any specific recommendations come from this group. It doesn't take much effort to whine about the test scores and complain that the district spends too much money. Specifically what would YOU change to improve things?

If you disagree so much then get off your rear end and run yourself. It's not like people are lining up to be on the board. We're lucky to have the people we have on the board. My guess is that if you get on the ballot you'll win a seat.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote acclaro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 27 2015 at 11:27am
It doesn't take much effort for a leader or leadership to say no than yes.

On occasion, the Journal has a few readers who post excellent and insightful opinions. In the matter on the district and the meeting, what I read had a few major themes, these were:

1)  The district's lack of discipline has been long standing and creating an environment which is disruptive and hindering performance gains.

2) Complacency. Good teachers are giving up, leaving, and taking positions in districts which instills discipline, so they can excel and teach. 

To Ms. Moon's view no one else see's what she sees, from what I read, many teachers are looking through the same lens as she.

Tony Blair from Britain had an excellent quote. It takes leadership to say no, when the easier decision is to say yes.

Now....let's give credit where due. Mr. Ison has written, or at least as stated, the BOE has a termination provision without cause with 90 days notice. No improvement, teachers bolting, termination remedy available.

I have no problem with the decision on the rehire, other than a disdain for Ohio's double dip addiction.

The problem is too many yes's, when it should be no's.
'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote VietVet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 27 2015 at 12:06pm
Originally posted by processor processor wrote:

I personally am very thankful and appreciative of the selfless dedication of our school board. They are not there for the money, for power or for prestige. I can't think of any "perks" that they receive. Their objective is the betterment of MCSD. You can disagree with their approach and their decisions, but don't think that they aren't spending a lot of time and effort working to improve our schools.

I have yet to see any specific recommendations come from this group. It doesn't take much effort to whine about the test scores and complain that the district spends too much money. Specifically what would YOU change to improve things?

If you disagree so much then get off your rear end and run yourself. It's not like people are lining up to be on the board. We're lucky to have the people we have on the board. My guess is that if you get on the ballot you'll win a seat.
\\

processor:

There have been recommendations on how to do things differently posted on this forum. You need to find those recommendations if you are interested.

Before my wife became ill and I only had to work a full time job I did run for school board. (now, running for office is out of the question as I have to take care of her as soon as I walk in the door from work) At the time, there were three seats available. As soon as I announced my intention to run, and I told the Journal I wanted to start by examining the financial books of the district, I was quickly met with two others from the inner circle influence that ultimately diluted the vote and, with that, a chance to offer something different on the school board. With me, it's not like I haven't tried to enact my ideas while in office as I have on this forum.

The above comment ties into your comment "My guess is that if you get on the ballot you'll win a seat.

Actually, a very small chance of that happening. Only if you agree with the current, never-changing thinking now present on the school board. They will tolerate no new ideas nor a different path. They want people who agree with them. New people, foreign to the inner sanctum of accepted officeholders are kept from ever being on a committee, board or on council. They will find out who you are, what you stand for, and if your ideas aren't their ideas, they will enter their little stable of candidates and dilute your impact on being elected. This is why we never see any exciting, new, directions for the schools nor the city. The same cookie-cutter candidates, thinking the same old way, with no thinking outside what is permitted, produces the same old stale, stagnant non-progress we all have seen for years. The schools and the city are both locked into a retarded growth pattern.
I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bumper Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 27 2015 at 12:29pm
http://youtu.be/vhv1w3M9sgI   this sure sounds like there is a huge problem with MSD, with this many teachers against this guy!! and to piss off the ones you have left to teach in this screwed up city!! is not a good thing IMO don't think any good teachers that are good at what they can do, want to fool with a school that stinks has bad as the city!!  A brand new fancy will not bring them too middletown!!
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