Trouble in Paradise

Factguy, Phil Salm posted that on the Journal website. He was not encouraged to post. He lives in Florida and stays in touch with this town via the Journal. His statements were from his heart.

Mr Nagy, I respect your opinions and findings. Does it not smell when Mrs Cotter is required to observer Gene Lolli at Fairborn? Mrs Lolli's Husband? It stinks to me.

There is not a public entity in the state, nor private business, that would tolerate a leader within management creating a situation of "us versus them." Ms. Cotter was observed as written in her own evaluation, to have created such a relationship. This is unhealthy and unproductive, whether you work for Nestle Corporation, a school district, or a public position of any sort. Ask Rick Perry in Texas if these problems can arise (his was a drunk prosecutor). Ms. Cotter was instructed in her written evaluation to observe and discuss with officials within education in Hamilton and Fairborn, what tactics were successfully used to improve scores in districts similar to MCSD. It was not to have a formal review of another school system's leadership of her, nor to place Ms. Cotter in an embarrassing situation. She was to have direct communication to gain ideas to implement. Let it play out. Either she gets her performance up, and has a contract renewed, or the Journal prints continued articles, including Letters to Editor, and high school students and parents march to the school administration building sometime in May.    

come on, factguy--u r twisting subjects here to make your point
Citizens didn't bring on the Section 8 explosion--it all came from within the bunker, quietly created and endorsed by Commission, admin, landlords and their cronies. Citizens were kept in the dark for as long as possible. The BOE, thru Dr.Price, tried to advantage the situation also--you know that. MUSA members want the reduction with the least damage and cost possible.

If these kids haven't shown improvement prior to hs, then slim chance that it will happen there, regardless of who is their principal. If you look at the graphs/figs, then many other principals should be on the list. Some of the #s provided show improvement.

If only our city Admin/Council were held to a similar standard of accomplishment...

I like Mr.Ison, the BOE members and Ms.Cotter--I have no real dog in this fight other than wanting our kids to grow up educated with hope and encouragement to have a real future. I like Doug A also, and want the same standard for results within his control.

Might be a good idea to drop Fairborn from the visits schedule though?

While it is nice that Cotter has a lot of support within her building, the fact is that sometimes the popularity of a leader can be an impediment to results. Like football coaches, sometimes the best coaches are the ones you can't stand. Staff in any organization loves someone who lets them wallow in old habits and excuses. While Cotter may be a wonderful person, the picture seems to be of a dedicated and caring principal who does not push hard enough and may not be cut out for that role. True leadership doesn't have to include being liked.

Factguy just keeps missing the facts........Doug Adkins DID NOT reduce ANY vouchers . When a voucher became available he did not fill it that's what he called "reducing" the vouchers. Total fabrication. What do think brought HUD to town! Violations of civil rights! He completely lied to council and the people of Middletown and that's how you get to be city manager. Pathetic !

Factguy,
 The city of Detroit (many times the size of Middletown)  went into bankruptcy and turned the entire city around in 16 months. You want to give certain people an abnormal amount of time to turn things around. You are like the evolutionists who say things have changed over millions of years and will change over millions of more years. Well, you sit and wait for ilions of years for the changes..The rest of us only have a few years for the changes and they can be made in just a few years. So, it is, with our city leaders.
Paul nagy

Once again, what "professional self-improvement" would be expected of Mrs. Cotter, beyond earning her Superintendent's license? It seems that that is a worthwhile professional goal for a HS principal? To me, this is an indication of Dr. Lolli's bias on her evaluation. just 1chmoore.

"Dr. Price had only 7 years for his personality to shape the school district? He should have been given at least 10 or 15, and maybe the performance would have improved. "

Factguy, your trying to play both sides of the fence. Should it be now, 7yrs or 15? The total situation is equal to the sum of its parts. What are the merits of a person's performance and character?  Someone has an ulterior motive here and you know  it. There is good reason Ms. Cotter has the support and encouragement of so many. You have the wrong person on trial here.
Paul Nagy

Not cool to use surrogates to save a job or carry water for a promotion. Sent to Fairborn to learn how school district raised its performance and get total buy in, while discarding excuses, "it can't be done." 

Maybe we just need better students! All this talk about "improving performance" seems to leave out the very element where the "improvement" must happen. Not only is this little drama distracting, it doesn't for a moment focus on where the real problem occurs: between the ears of the students! How about creating a better atmosphere for the people who actually are being measured for success or failure in the district? I'm sick to death at all the finger-pointing at adults who don't take the tests and don't work in the classrooms. Get over your egos and fix the problems!!!

OK---seems that our community is polarized(as always) o ver this situation.
My take towards the BOE and city admin;
Make all of the changes that you like as long as:
You rid the system of non-producers and failures, to be replaced by new outside individuals with proven track records of similar success.
If results do not improve quickly and dramatically, keep on replacing, but adding another upper layer to the change.
Replace the "replacers" who have also not made things improve.
Either it all gets better or everyone goes.
It is past time for this to happen--we have fallen far enough.

Dean: I stand by my statement that this is a "witch hunt" by LL. She is a poison in our system and never should have been allowed to worm her way into her position, i.e. as a "consultant" through Butler County and---magically---she's hired by MCSD. Many, many teachers know of her tactics; she runs the district with Ison standing in the background. Mrs. Cotter has improved the atmosphere at the HS to the highest level in the last 10 years. just 1(mr.)chmoore.