Monday, July 12, 2010
The Purpose of this Blog
This is my first ever blog so bear with me as I get the hang of it. I've started the blog in order to comment on events and processes in the Central 13J School District. I've lived in this community for 20 years and have come to love it. It pains me greatly to see the tension and anxiety in our district. When I joined the school board five years ago I guess I was pretty naive about the ways things worked. Although I thought I could make a difference, I was swiftly disabused of that notion. Serving on that board has been the single most disillusioning experience of my life (and, no, I've not been that sheltered). I have come to the conclusion that the only thing that will make a difference is concerted community involvement. To that end, I invite you to join me in discussing the issues we confront. Let's get the conversation started!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I personally like Dr. Hunter, and believe he does have a passion for the children of CSD13j, as other administrators. But they have a feeling of "entitlement" - and do not follow the same rules as the rest of the employees.
ReplyDeleteSo true, so true.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the other psts. I have watched oAminisstratrs come up the ranks from teacher to administrator. As teachers they are critical of administrative decisions, but once they become administrators they feel entitled to the very thing they were critial about. Claiming to work long hours, I'd challenge any of them if hour per hour was as productive as my hours. They sit in meetings, they flit around to conferences, while their support staff deals with the daily grind without the compensation their bosses are receiving. Ever walk into the District Office and count Administrators present (not counting the meeting room) - walk in there sometime, and pick a Friday and Administators seem to have a meeting out of the district somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI think we do have hard-working administrators in our district. Many of them share the frustrations being discussed on this blog but, like the rest of us, feel powerless to effect real change. At the same time, I certainly don't think they necessarily work harder than teachers. Most teachers I know put in many extra hours and purchase supplies and equipment out of their own salaries. The real business of any school district takes place in classrooms and involves actual interaction with students. Administrators are essentially support staff whose efforts are supposed to facilitate and enhance teaching. Yet we have an educational system (not just in our district but nationwide) that glorifies and rewards administrators as if they were the true educators. While it is by no means true of all adminstrators, I have seen too many who become administrators because they did not particularly like kids or teaching. Or their primary motivation is the money. In my experience, the best administrators are the ones who were great teachers, who loved the classroom, and who become administrators somewhat reluctantly because their colleagues want them in a leadership/support role. In my opinion, creating "administration" as a profession unto itself is a big mistake that has resulted in the upside-down priorities we are confronting in our district right now.
ReplyDeleteI feel we have some wonderful administrators, too. And that Dr. Hunter could be wonderful as well, but he is caught up in this illusion that sitting in a meeting with his "cabinet" will improve test scores. I am so tired of all the focus on test scores. We are teaching the test, not overall knowledge. It's sad. The Dept. of Ed should be ashamed of itself, we are failing our childen. If Dr. Hunter came to work everyday, and made an effort to step out in the community and get to know them (and bring his family). He shelters himself from the staff, the community. He feels entitled to a healthy salary and benefits, taking time off when he feels, fattening his wallet with personal expenses, twice paid mileage stipends, lunches with his "cabinet" - maybe it's all just a small piece of a big picture, but when we are cutting, cutting, cutting, and he gives up nothing? And the Bond Manager, the building is about complete, was he awarded a year long contract? I hope not. And why have a Bond Manager, we built Ash Creek without one.
ReplyDeleteIs it because he is Dr. Hunter's friend?
Why is the board so in awe of Dr. Hunter?
ReplyDeleteAs I understand it, this blog is not about personalities but about communication that will lead to open discussions that will eventually solve some of the problems we are facing. Negative or sarcastic comments directed personally at Dr. Hunter, will not serve the purpose of this blog and could cloud the issues making it more difficult for those of Hunter's supporters to be willing to hear challenging information. Focusing on facts, asking sincere, relevant questions and expecting clear complete answers that cut through implications seems a prudent strategy.
ReplyDeleteI feel that comments on Dr. Hunter's personality is about communication. His personality relates to how he communicates with his staff and the students and public. If anyone feels he is being attacked personally it is because he is reaping benefits "personally" while others are losing their jobs, or the remaining staff having more pressures and larger work loads. All we ask is that he work as well. It appears that many of his staff don't feel he is pulling his weight, and it starts at the top, and that is where he resides. Dr. Hunter is not the first, nor will he be the last, supt to receive outlandish benefits. A Supt can work for us for maybe 5 years, but then retire and get a stipand and FULL insurance benefits until he is 65!!! That could be as long as 8 to 10 years! Administrators can also retire at 55 or 58, and receive a small stipend and FULL INSURANCE benefits (for self and spouse) until they are 65. Recently a married couple retired, both administrators, so they both received stipends, full insurance, and one took the monies instead of the insurance, which probably cost the the district over $35,000 per year for several years (and they bragged about it). Talk about a golden parachute. Teachers get early retiree options, but nothing close to the administrators. My problem with the administrators is that they don't have to work for the district as an administrator that long before qualifying for this benefit. Example, because an administrator at age 53, retire early at 58, get full PERS benefits, and insurance for their spouse and self for 7 years!!!!!!!!! I would be interested in how many past administrators are still on the payroll.
ReplyDelete