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November 13th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Since there are no grounds for dismissal, they have become a group in search of one; and they will not stop until she is no longer here.
You nailed it, Mimi…this isn’t about progress in our schools, our kids, or anything. This is about resenting an outsider coming in and making decisions that are based on something other than a good ol’ boy mentality. It’s another harmful witch hunt.
And our kids will suffer for it.
November 13th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
FYI - how many teachers in a single school system want to move up to VP and principal positions?? THAT is what I want to know. If I were a teacher, I’d want nothing to do with becoming part of the administration…different skill sets, different job descriptions, even often different schooling backgrounds.
It would be stupid to force teachers to go into jobs they might not want, doncha think?
It doesn’t seem, by the numbers, that there’s anything stopping any teacher or employee in the system from moving up if they so desire. In fact, they’ve been cherry picked over outsiders in almost every case where one has applied. But really, how realistic is it to expect that many teachers to want to move into admin? Honestly, this is much ado about less than nothing, so far as I’ve been able to gleam.
November 13th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Have to disagree here. Depending on the salary benefits of such a promotion, I’d think that a decent number of teachers wouldn’t mind the promotion at all, whether or not it is a good application of their skill set or less fulfilling. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if pay lured a certain percentage of teachers away from direct involvement in the classroom. Whether or not such a move is the best thing for the kids or the administration is, of course, a different question.
November 13th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
I would talk to teachers first before coming to these conclusions. I know a lot of teachers in Lowell (both fairly new and teachers that have been in the school sytem for a long time)and they all say morale is at an all time low. And a lot of it has to do w/ the superintendent. I know one instance (I will not name names) where she demoted a high up admin person who was extremely well liked by students, teachers and parents. The school was doing well and there were never any incidents (unlike with some of the people brought in). There is a lot more going on in the schools than we are all told. I realize I don’t know all sides of the story but I don’t believe a blanket statement that disproval of the superintendent is all about resenting outsiders can be made.
November 13th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Sarah:
Are you suggesting that those who do not want Karla here know information that will reflect poorly on her performance and are holding it back? I do not believe that. She has some powerful detractors who know how to leak information. This woman’s every move are being scrutinized.
Frankly, can we talk about a little bit more about the children rather than keeping talking about the teachers. They have a union president who has no problems getting access to the media to plead their case. And does a very good job, I might add.
November 13th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
No I wasn’t implying that. Nothing is being held back (that I know of), but not everything is known or reported to the public. Some moves get more attention than others, and the Sun (even w/ the union’s president) is not pro-teacher by anymeans.
And you can’t talk about the children without discussing the teachers. Teachers are vital to the schools.
November 13th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Don’t forget, the Sun is completely in favor of the elimination of an elected school committee over the installation of an appointed board.
Much easiler to impose their will on folks who are appointed to their terms *and probably a decent salary and bennies* than someone who has to answer to the few voters that bother for their actions.
So much for the democratic process as long as it gives Wallace and Campy control then we don’t need no stinkin democratic process!
As for demoting popular administrators, I will draw an analogy with the Patriots. Pete Carroll was well liked by his players…couldn’t win but was well liked.
November 13th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
People at the High School do not apply for admin positions because Bill, Wendy, etc. are so awful to work with/for. There are open admin positions now that nobody applied for.
November 13th, 2007 at 5:27 pm
LHS: Do you know this because you are or know teachers in the High School? Would you say that it is a fair assessment that the morale problem might improve were Superintendent to retire? If he were to retire, is the remaining administration still a cause for low morale?
November 13th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Who’s Wendy?
November 13th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Presumably Dr. Wendy Jack, Director of Curriculum & Instruction.
November 13th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
Eleanor, you don’t know Jack?
November 13th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
Jack who? I double dog dare you!
November 14th, 2007 at 9:04 am
Mimi.. this is unfair:
I have met and talked with many members of the school committee over the years, and find that every one of them is interested in what they think is best for the education of the kids.
That is their agenda.
If, in their opinion, that means supporting one teacher/coach/principal/administrator over another.. that’s still fulfilling their agenda.
When it comes to a school committee, nobody is in it for themselves.. its always for the program.
Just because their opinion does not match yours does not mean that they are wrong or you are right… it means you disagree. We can do that without implying false motive.
Judge them on their actions and results, not on perception of motive.
November 14th, 2007 at 9:41 am
Shawn:
Where does it say anything about the School Committee in that sentence? Also, to this day, I do not know what KBB has done to deserve getting shoved out the door. All I hear is that she does not communicate well and she does not want to extend the contract of the High School Headmaster for another year.
What are her failures? Are those two issues cause for dismissal?
Forgive me, but I find it ironic that you are trying to lecture me on my views of my city’s school committee. If I am not mistaken, you had some strong opinions on the actions of your town’s school committee.
November 14th, 2007 at 11:42 am
Wasn’t the former city manager’s “lack of communication” the first step in getting him out the door? I think we need to be fair and wait for the facts to come out. I think the results of the Teacher Survey will be a crucial piece of information to utilize…..
November 14th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Confused:
Slight difference. The lack of communication on the part of the previous CM was with the City Council; are you suggesting that the majority of School Committee members find her and her staff not communicating with them? I understand that there is a minority opinion that believes that and now it looks like it will turn into the majority opinion with the new School Committee but I do not believe that the majority of the current School Committee, including the Chair, believes that.
KBB lack of communication criticism was based on the observation by some that she is not in the community enough to satisfy them. And I agree with that observation to a certain degree; but is it an offense worth dismissing your Superintendent? We did not hire her to schmooze in the community; we hired her to manage the education of 14,000 children.
Back in October 2006, I wrote a tongue-in-cheek advise column to Karla about “being more active in the community.”
http://www.leftinlowell.com/2006/10/24/the-other-superintendent/
Is this what these people want?