Statesman Article - WISD

Austin American-Statesman
Wimberley superintendent at center of controversy
Critics are 'a small group of very negative people,' Strauss says


By Molly Bloom
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, March 22, 2007


WIMBERLEY - With two failed school bond elections behind them, some Wimberley residents have focused their ire on school district superintendent Marian Strauss.
Several hundred Wimberley residents, unhappy with the management of the schools, have signed a petition seeking to remove Strauss from her post, said petition organizer Charles Peterson, 63. The signers have pledged to vote against any future bond proposals "until the current superintendent is relieved of her position . . . and the district is again set on a course that will best serve the interests of schools and the community as a whole."


Some residents have accused Wimberley schools of spending on athletics to the neglect of academics. A tribute to Wimberley High's 2005 state championship team stands outside the football stadium.
Critics point to what they call the superintendent's emphasis on athletics over academics, missteps in past bond elections and land deals, unwillingness to listen to those with different points of view, and low teacher salaries.
Petition organizers, none of whom have children in Wimberley schools, plan to present the document to the school board at their April meeting, Peterson said.


Wimberley in 2005-06 was named a "recognized" district, the second-highest level in state accountability rankings. The district had a graduation rate of 96 percent in 2005, and mean SAT scores were well above state and regional averages, according to the Texas Education Agency.


"We've got great students, great teachers and great administrators," Strauss, 52, said. "We've got so much to be proud of."
But some residents say the schools are heading downhill and blame the superintendent, who has four years left on her five-year contract. Clint Frankmann, 67, said, "There's a lot of distrust in the community."




Among the facts behind some of the criticisms:


*Texas Education Agency data show Wimberley spent more than eight times as much per student on athletics as on gifted and talented programs in the 2005-06 school year; $269 per student was spent on athletics compared with $32 on gifted programs. Statewide, schools spend an average of 1 1/2 times as much per student on athletics as on gifted and talented programs — $129 on athletics vs. $83 on gifted programs.


About 8 to 10 percent of Wimberley's 1,950 students participate in gifted and talented programs, and about 50 percent of boys and 30 percent of girls take part in in athletics, board vice president Gary Pigg said.
The gifted program figures don't reflect money spent on AP classes or dual-credit courses, Strauss said.


Districts similar to Wimberley in size, such as Liberty Hill and Llano, spend about 10 times more on athletics than gifted programs and Bandera four times as much, according to state data. Llano, with 1,889 students, spent $27 per student on gifted programs compared with $265 on athletics; in 2,049-student Liberty Hill the gifted-to-athletic spending ratio was $22 to $251.


* Monday night, the school board unanimously approved a plan to increase coaching stipends - paid in addition to the coaches' regular salaries - by $1,500 to $5,500, making Wimberley's coaches among the best paid in the region, board vice president Gary Pigg said. In February, the board unanimously agreed to increase stipends for department heads, academic coaches and some teachers by up to $2,500 for teachers with advanced degrees and a bonus of 5 percent of their salaries for department heads.


Coaches and teachers need to be fairly compensated for the many hours they work with students, Pigg said.


* Wimberley's average teacher salary is $40,545, the second-lowest in Hays County, according to state data.


Wimberley also has the largest gap between central office administrators' salaries and teachers' salaries in the county. The average Wimberley central office administrator's salary is about $56,000 more than average teacher's salary, according to the Texas Education Agency.


In districts close to Wimberley in size and that have a similar number of administrators, such as Bandera, Liberty Hill, Llano and Hutto, the gap between central-office and classroom salaries averages about $26,000, according to state data.


* About 85 percent of teachers say they are proud to work for the district, according to a January 2007 study commissioned by the school board. But about a quarter of teachers, principals and assistant principals said they were unhappy with the level of support they received from the superintendent's office and that communication between the central office and schools was ineffective. These complaints aren't new, and many predate Strauss' 1999 start in Wimberley. The state Comptroller's office collected similar criticisms during a 1998 school performance review. And while campaigning for office last year, trustee Jim Van Overschelde collected similar comments, which were hotly debated after Strauss forwarded them to two district employees and a former board member.


The district detractors, many of them retirees, are "a small group of very negative people that you are giving exactly what they want, and that is attention," Strauss said. "There's absolutely no reason for me to leave."


Some Wimberley parents say that Strauss is a strong leader who has students' best interests at heart. More than 200 parents signed a document in support of the district earlier this year, said athletic booster club president Chris Scudder. Byron Marburger, 46, who has a son in Wimberley schools, said criticisms of the district have gotten out of line. "We're certainly not a perfect district, but people like us don't see the things that they're claiming are going on."


School board members declined to comment on Strauss's $106,347 contract, which is typically renegotiated every year.

Comments on the STATESMAN article 3/22/07

Hope you all have had a chance to READ the article by Molly Bloom who interviewed a few people of the SILENT MAJORITY. IF you would like to READ it, please email me. Some of the people COULD NOT come forward to talk to Molly for FEAR of RETRIBUTION by the SUPER or WISD to their JOB or to their BUSINESS here in town. Molly DID TALK with a FIRED teacher (TDT on the blog) "off the RECORD" and certainly gave her an ear full of the Senior High Principal. You really have to WONDER what OUR SCHOOL BOARD HAS BEEN DOING in the cases of some of these teachers, especially Linda Cottle. I have an ANSWER for that - most have been "ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE" - much like a senator we ALL know. I THOUGHT WE LIVED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, folks!!

We feel that Molly did a pretty good job and really did her home work on the facts of the district. She did mix up some of the stipends information according to Dr. Jim that brought attention on KLBJ the other morning!! It seems that many reporters and those in the media like to report what they think they heard with their bias from the subconscious INSTEAD of relying on their RECORDER. Sounds like the VIEW at times, right. You can tell by the SUPER's remarks that she was really PO at "US" (nice, "United States" citizens) and also at the STATESMAN for "you are giving exactly what they want, and that is attention". Nowhere did she indicate that our group was called the SILENT MAJORITY, did she??? YEP, we certainly are representative of people from ALL the community NOT this "small group of very negative people" that again Maid Marian says. IF she ONLY knew what some of the COMMUNITIES ELITE people think of her and are saying to US. These are people who are SO UNHAPPY with the way TEACHERS have been treated, the loss of programs in the Arts, Music and Language, the "Land Deal", Hiring of relatives etc. RIGHT, DR. Strauss, we are JUST a LITTLE GROUP of DISGRUNTLED people. IS that WHY, WE WON: 57% to 43% a year ago Feb.??? You BEST GET REAL - YOU MUST BE LIVING IN SOME KIND OF A DREAM WARP!!!

And for her to TALK about us being NEGATIVE. WHO WHERE THE NEGATIVE PEOPLE in the last BOND ISSUE?? I thought that I ADDRESSED that pretty well in my very FIRST article on the BLOG and when I spoke before the School Board that evening. It had to be US who CALLED the Sheriff's Dept. the day of the VOTE BECAUSE one of your young'uns there verbally accosted a couple of our NO VOTE people. HE picked on the WRONG person - a retired Chicago Police Officer of over 30 years. NOW, he could handle the kid in a snap, but when he went home to get something, he called the SD and THAT IS WHY THERE WAS A DEPUTY THERE. THAT COOLED YOUR JETS, didn't it??? Of course, you continued to PULL PETTY things like blocking Clint's car, STANDING (You in particular) in FRONT OF OUR NO VOTE SIGN - REMEMBER THAT, Maid Marian??? AND, to USE KIDS FOR YOUR OWN SELFISH PURPOSES AGAINST people who just felt they were doing the RIGHT THING. WE AS CITIZENS HAVE THAT RIGHT!! And, to USE the LORD'S name in the way you did - SHAME ON YOU, HE KNOWS what is in OUR HEARTS!! BUT NO, the WORST thing that your group did and it was probably that same young'un that went up to the door of a 75 year old lady in town WHO JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE A NO VOTE SIGN in HER YARD. When she answered, HE berated her UP and DOWN for having that SIGN. NOW, HOW would any of you all like to have some 35 year old DO THAT TO YOUR MOM??? THAT, my folks, CROSSES the LINE of CIVIL DECENCY - at least in my thinking process!! You COULD HAVE HEARD A PIN DROP IN THE LIBRARY that Feb. evening!!!

Molly goofed when she said "none of whom have children in Wimberley schools". I NEVER SAID THAT. The FIRED TEACHER does and so do others!! I do believe that Mike at wimberleyneedsacademics.blogspot.com (Mike has some great new stuff on his site)has two kids. And, as we have said to these parents of children in the WISD, IF you SEE or HEAR of anything being different against YOUR CHILD by someone in WISD, PLEASE LET US KNOW, and WE WILL HAVE some LAWYERS on their rear ends BIG TIME!! UNFORTUNATELY, this should HAVE BEEN DONE SOONER by some parents with their run ins with the PRINCIPAL or the SUPER - BUT there was that FEAR by intimidation. THEY HAVE HELD THIS TOWN HOSTAGE LONG ENOUGH - controlling the School Board etc. They must THINK that since they have this BIG JOCK STRAP GROUP helping them - they must feel ALL POWERFUL!!

WE KNOW, we HAVE GREAT STUDENTS, most of the TEACHERS are great (just a couple NEED TO BE OUSTED that cause problems in the WISD). We do believe Randy Rau is doing a fine job as Dr. Jim's "perceptions article" mentioned. We do think there NEEDS TO BE SOME HOUSE CLEANING in the Administration area and those "fat salaries" she has given them.

WE do NOT feel that we need to be at the Public Forum coming up. This BLOG works well to get OUR WORD out to the community among LIKE MINDED FRIENDS. IF you would LIKE TO VOTE "NO" against the SUPER, just SEND ME AN EMAIL. IF you would like YOUR NAME in OUR LOCK BOX, please indicate. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP - IT IS "YOUR WISD" - NOT THEIR own DOMAIN to OPERATE AS THEY WISH. WE got our people out for the Gibson report. Anybody SEE that man with the CIRCLE on HIS SHIRT with a STRIKE through it at the Gibson Comments and the name Mariam Strauss inside it. THAT ABOUT TELLS IT ALL, folks!! IF we SHOW UP at the April meeting fine, WE can PRESENT IT WHEN WE ARE READY. THE "NO VOTE" is there Dr. Strauss!!

ELECTION SEASON IS HERE AGAIN!!

EVERYBODY running for a position on the CITY COUNCIL had to turn in their applications by 5 PM. on March 12. OH, YES, a FEW SURPRISES - probably on both sides!! MORE LATER, but FIRST.

WOW, they must have stayed up LATE down at the VIEW to make it in TODAY's paper - AND, it was ONLINE as EARLY as 2:50 PM. yesterday. Of course, you all NOTED that for the fourth or, is it, the FIFTH edition (THEY will probably TAKE THE FIFTH on this, ha) THERE ARE NO LETTERS TO THE EDITOR!! THIS must SET A NEW RECORD, folks. ARE you NOT doing your CIVIC DUTY, folks OR ARE THEY NOT PRINTING ANY ONCE MORE?? I would SUGGEST that you call the VIEW.

In their ABSENCE, WHY NOT make this BLOG your site to send your letters. I believe that 95% of YOUR LETTERS WILL BE PRINTED right here. Let's have some dialogue!!

NOW, for the upcoming May 12th ELECTION: WELL, for a change I do know each one, some better than others. IF you all remember I PREDICTED in MY LETTER TO THE EDITOR that Steve Thurber would probably run!! Did NOT figure on Bill entering the race - MUST be some "strange thinking" going on over on THE OTHER SIDE. Charles Roccaforte, my friend and neighbor, is CERTAINLY MY PICK. Like Charles has said, he has been around here in the community since "dirt". That ALMOST makes him an Angel!! He definitely WANTS to KEEP Wimberley in the IMAGE it was before incorporation when VOLUNTEERISM made this community what it was - NOT DIVIDED and GREAT!! Charles had some VERY unpleasant visits with the FIRST City Admin. when it came to building within the city limits of Wimberley. Charles came out ON TOP most of the time but feels that much of the RULES & REGULATIONS for a town like Wimberley can be TOSSED in the garbage can!! Hallelujah to that!! HE will BE A GREAT ASSET to us all on the City Council!!

Am so VERY HAPPY that Jeri Xiques decided to run. What a very nice and intelligent lady who would add much to this City Council with her presence and depth of knowledge. The Xiques have lived here for many years and Jeri is also acquainted very well with the local IMAGE of Wimberley. She is certainly my pick and deserves your backing.

When Carroll decided NOT to run again, especially with his new position as the new Hays County Fire Chief, we couldn't have been HAPPIER when Dick Larson stepped up to the plate. Dick brings such a GREAT background and knowledge of the community. He will certainly tell you LIKE IT IS - NO punches pulled with Dick, just like Carroll.

FOR right NOW, CIRCLE the 12th of MAY, and the early voting times should be known soon. HEY, IF you WANT a SIGN for your yard or business for Jeri, Charles or Dick LET US KNOW. Thanks much!!

The Super's Husband (Big Jim) Goes Fishing!!!

The following story will have some of you LAUGHING until your stomach hurts and some of you will probably be ANGRY. You will probably THINK, NO this could NOT happen right here in RIVER CITY - you made the story up!! NO my friend, IT IS ALL TRUE as best remembered by CW - I DID NOT RECORD IT.

March 5, as you all remember was another one of those gorgeous hill country days (blue skies like Idaho has most of the year), our SILENT MAJORITY Statement had gone out in the "Ridge Runner" paper to over 400 households in the North Woodcreek Subdivision. We had two cell phone numbers mentioned to call for additional information.

I received a call in the early afternoon from a person, Tim, inquiring about the article - I would like to ask you some questions about the article. Fine, I replied. His questions were such that he sounded like a VERY UNINFORMED VOTER in the Valley as many are when it comes to the School Board and the Village of Wimberley. I know, I WAS AT ONE TIME. By UNINFORMED, I asked him: Do you NOT read the VIEW? Do you NOT know of the Linda Cottle scandal? Do you NOT know of the lies in the "land deal"? He said that he was a grandparent of two children in the school system. Do YOU have any children in the school system?? No, I replied BUT this is much more about the actions of the Superintendent and the School Board. Finally, concerned taxpayers in 4 - 5 groups of the district have come together to form the Silent Majority and this is the ACTION that we would take. He said that we were very angry people and revengeful by doing this. I told him that YES, there are a few who ARE VERY ANGRY at her and some of the School Board members for the way they have treated Dr. Jim's "Perception of the Community" paper and what has taken place in this community AGAINST the NO BOND GROUP. And, maybe a few that have REVENGE in mind - could NOT blame them. I informed Tim that I was a Christian conservative, did NOT hate her nor am I LOOKING for revenge BUT do think that she needs to RESIGN for the best of the Community due to her DISHONESTY and many other actions against PEOPLE and BUSINESSES in my opinion. He was most polite in his conversation with me. After about 8 minutes of this, I told him that it would be best for him to go to our site: http://www.wimberleytaxpayer.blogspot.com and I ended the phone call BUT, I had his cell number!!! I reported this to the group and said that this person was just "fishing - a serial caller" from the other side probably.

The following morning I was getting ready to leave for San Antonio on business and Tim called about 9 am. Tim, you know my name, you said your last name is Bitten, I believe? Yes, he said. Tim said that he had gone to the site, took notes, and than called the Superintendent's office and talked to Dr. Strauss. HE thought she had ANSWERED his QUESTIONS to his SATISFACTION!! He said that Dr. Strauss would like to MEET with me and that HE had an APPOINTMENT to discuss the matter more. Well, I will have to bring this back to the rest of the group and think about this proposal, I said. Oh, could you GIVE ME the NAMES or PHONE numbers of a couple to call?? NO, I DON'T THINK SO!!! He also questioned me - WHY, it was necessary to call her MAID MARIAN?? This is a term that one of the group members brought up and WE LIKE IT, I replied. I have CHECKED HER credentials and find them HIGHLY accurate, Tim said. Well, I am sure that is the case, my PHD. is from the EIB INSTITUE, I replied. Oh, I have NEVER heard of that place. I would SUGGEST you go ONLINE, put it in and you will see WHERE IT IS AT!! I told Tim that I would get back to him after talking to about 5 or 6 people.

On March 12, I finished putting the 3 parts of Dr. Jim's "Perceptions by the Community" on the Blog. I decided to call Tim and notify him to check this out as they have NOT been fully printed to the public. I called his number, getting a recording: this is Jim Evers, I am not available.....etc. I did NOT leave a message. I THAN REALIZED, I do BELIEVE that this is the HUSBAND of the SUPERINTENDENT!!! I emailed my associates with this information to check IF I was possibly CORRECT. About that time, Tim called aka Jim. Mr. Peterson, I am returning your phone call. Yes, I just wanted to let you know that I have added some posts to the BLOG that you will probably find VERY INTERESTING. Oh, by the way, you ARE the HUSBAND of the SUPERINTENDENT, CORRECTY? YES, I AM. I really DO NOT THINK that we have ANYTHING FURTHER TO DISCUSS - GOODBYE!!

Thus ENDS the MYSTERY MAN - Jim Evers aka. Tim, aka. ??, aka. ??? So, folks, BEWARE of WHO is on the OTHER END OF THE LINE. When in DOUBT: "Is this Jim Evers calling??"

TALK about DOING HARM to your WIFE, dah!!

Dr. Strauss did contact the other person's phone number regarding the Statement published in the "Ridge Runner" and they did meet last Friday BUT it was reported as being UNEVENTFUL.

Of course, this is NOT the FIRST time that Mr. Evers has resorted to his trickery policy - DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL POLICY. In the last School Board Meeting, Jim pulled my friend Ed aside after he had finished his talk of the "land deal" during the COMMENT TIME and engaged him in conversation. When Ed came out into the hall, we asked him. HOW did you like talking to the Super's husband?? I did NOT know that I was TALKING TO HIM.

IF Mr. Evers would like to POST his reply to this with his side of the story, that would be fine with me.

BOND-related Perceptions (June-Nov. 2006)

Part 3 of 3

DISCLAIMER: This is a summary of the perceptions of over 300 people that I talked with in our community. Perceptions are: "personally meaningful interpretations of sensations" and they can be relatively accurate, somewhat biased and distorted, or mostly/wholly inaccurate.

1. MOST people say they WILL NOT SUPPORT A BOND for a NEW HIGH SCHOOL. Much of the NEGATIVE opinion comes from PRIOR HS "disaster", fear of a NEW STADIUM expense, and overall cost of a NEW HS. ONLY ONE person said we absolutely needed a NEW HS.

2. They are generally supportive of a NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - they recognize the POOR CONDITION of BOWEN.

3. Many comments about NOT building a "TAJ MAHAL".

4. People hearing conflicting stories about the OVERCROWDING in the HS.

5. CURRENT High School was built by GOOD-OLE BOY NETWORK, CORRUPT and POOR QUALITY with NO or INCOMPETENT OVERSIGHT by WISD. POOR site selection. ABYSMAL planning (incompetence) - NO SEWER, delayed OPENING by 1 year. Hurt TRUST and INCREASED view of INCOMPETENCE.

6. Several thougth 6th grade should BE MOVED out of JH and that 9th should be MOVED to JH.

7. MY impression: BASIL and LAUREL are PSYCHOLOGICALLY LINKED to the CURRENT High School's CONSTRUCTION PROBLEMS.

8. There is a VERY STRONG BELIEF that WISD wants a NEW, EXPENSIVE STADIUM.

9. People DON'T KNOW ASTROTURF was PAID FOR WITH A GRANT - THEY THOUGHT they PAID for it with TAX $.

10. Many people said that when teachers are BETTER PAID and EDUCATION is AGAIN the PRIMARY FOCUS, then THEY will be MUCH MORE WILLING to SUPPORT a BOND for facilities.

11. Most recent Bond:

a. Perceived as "GIVE US $42 MILLION and TRUST US to SPEND it WISELY". Their answer, "YEAH, RIGHT".

b. NO real DETAILS given for HOW the MONEY was to be SPENT.

c. Marian DID NOT answer SEVERAL GROUPS who WROTE with comments/opinions. Perception that she HAS NOT RESPECT, DOESN'T CARE what community THINKS, F-U ATTITUDE, leading to HURT FEELINGS. Some groups BELIEVE they were LIED to about LAND selection.

d. Marian SIGNED LAND CONTRACT - she TOLD people BASIL SIGNED THE CONTRACT.

e. TOTAL COST of LAND would have been much HIGHER than community WAS TOLD - ISSUE of SEWER LINE HIDDEN in CONTRACT - ANOTHER EXAMPLE of DISHONESTY/HIDDEN AGENDAS. Tried to HIDE DETAILS in CONTRACT - Marian WENT TO ATTORNEY GENERAL to KEEP IT OUT OF PUBLIC DOMAIN.

f. "GIFT" of LAND for ELEMENTARY SCHOOL was NEGATIVELY VIEWED - ESPECIALLY because it backed to SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT. 3 land road THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD seemed EXTRAVAGANT.

g. BIG question in people's minds: HOW to GUARANTEE that NEW CONSTRUCTION will be MANAGED properly when LAST BUILDING was SO POORLY DONE.

h. BOND related BRIBERY and THREATS. Groups told that IF THEY get a BOND PASSED then THEY will get FUNDING FOR THEIR PROGRAM. And, a COACH told students IF the BOND DOESN'T PASS than WE WON'T be able to have THIS SPORT NEXT YEAR. Marian's HUSBAND threatened or VERBALLY ATTACKED PEOPLE. (ed. by CW: He BROKE my friends Eddie Bauer CHAIR at the Library location and he left messages on my other friend's recorder that they brought it to JP Andy Cable for documentation).

12. MY Perception: IF Marian is perceived as DRIVING/HEADING ANY BOND "DECISION" (e.g., Land, Contractors, etc - ANYTHING TO DO WITH $) THEN the basis of the DECISION WILL BE QUESTIONED. Since SIGNING of O-R CONTRACT I have numerous emails that SUPPORT THIS perception.

Teacher/Education-related Perceptions(June-Nov. 2006)

Part 2 of 3.

DISCLAIMER: This is a summary of the perceptions of over 300 people that I talked with in our community. Perceptions are: "personally meaningful interpretations of sensations" and they can be relatively accurate, somewhat biased and distorted, or mostly/wholly inaccurate.

ALMOST EVERYONE believes that the MAJORITY OF THE TEACHERS are GOOD, DEDICATED people who care about EDUCATION, and that we have many smart, hard working kids in or schools. HOWEVER, right now, ATHLETICS and TAKS results are viewed as the DISTRICT'S PRIORITIES - IN THAT ORDER. WHY do they hold this perception?

1. HIGH # of PART-TIME teachers, FULL-TIME COACHES at HS is seen as a MAJOR NEGATIVE.

2. HIGH cost of ATHLETICS, but LACK OF FUNDING for EDUCATIONAL programs(e.g., DECREASE in CLASSROOM FUNDS, DROPPING ARTS/MUSIC/etc).

3. SB's ONLY stated EDUCATIONAL GOAL is "EXEMPLARY on TAKS".

4. GRADE BOOK configured so as to NOT give grades UNDER 50.

5. Students given REPEATED attempts TO PASS - NOT made to be RESPONSIBLE FOR WORK. Students who score OVER 70 NOT given same repeated chances to IMPROVE GRADES.

6. REMOVAL of ARTS, MUSIC, etc OUT OF THE DISTRICT - THIS DISTRICT was FOUNDED as an ARTS-FOCUSED educational district.

7. School cut short on days when FOOTBALL GAME is away - BECAUSE so many COACHES leave that there ARE NOT enough teacher TO TEACH, and BECAUSE PRIORITY is ATHLETICS. SAME is NOT DONE for UIL.

8. ATHLETES RECEIVE SPECIAL TREATMENT

a. Grade CHANGES

b. ATHLETES and related folk given SPECIAL PRIVILEGE (e.g., DON'T HAVE TO
FOLLOW DRESS CODE).

c. DRUG TESTING NOT pushed BECAUSE many ATHLETES ARE USERS.

9. DECREASE in number of QUALITY EDUCATION CLASSES - MORE indep study now.

10. AP CLASSES made easier so DISTRICT looks BETTER ON PAPER, but AP teachers NOT GIVEN sufficient training to teach AP courses.

11. Some COACHES who teach ARE NOT GOOD TEACHERS - even when teaching SPORTS (e.g., a TENNIS INSTRUCTOR sat under tree talking on cell phone and NEVER taught students).

12. COACH who "HIT ON STUDENTS" given HAND SLAP.

13. Classes created or allowed to teach NON-REQUIRED COURSES so COACHES have something to TEACH.

PERSONNEL-related Perceptions (June-Nov. 2006)

Part 1 of 3:

FREEDOM DAY for those TEACHERS who have been under the stranglehold of this WISD Administration. ALSO, for the STUDENTS and THEIR PARENTS who have gone up AGAINST the administration. As you know, back in December the VIEW published PART of the PERCEPTIONS BY THE COMMUNITY. NOW, finally, you will be able to read the ENTIRE REPORT by Dr. Jim Van Overschelde as sent by email to the School Board and the Superintendent for "THEIR EYES ONLY" as authorized by the President of the School Board, Melissa Young.

First off, a little background on the report. Dr. Jim was just living his life here in town when he heard of a "school bond" meeting at City Hall hosted by than Mayor Steve Klepfer. The only thing is that ONLY the Mayor's friends had been notified - ASK him WHY??? The WORD got out though (doesn't the TRUTH always come out)in the community and there was a FULL HOUSE. Jim came away from the meeting wondering WHY so many people were NOT satisfied with this WISD Administration as regarding a BOND ISSUE. So, he started his in depth study to find out. When completed he shared it with Board Member Dave Williams who told Jim that this needs to get out into the community and you NEED TO RUN for a Board position. Jim decided to run and we all know that his was a BIG VICTORY over Basil Lombardo, who was President of the Board.
(ed. by CW)

DISCLAIMER: This is a summary of the perceptions of over 300 people that I talked with in our community. Perceptions are: "personally meaningful interpretations of sensations" and they can be relatively accurate, somewhat biased and distorted, or mostly/wholly inaccurate. (ed. by CW: I truly believe that when Gibson finshes its gathering of comments from the community it will show Dr. Jim to be VERY ACCURATE).

Board and Senior Administrators:

1. Marian - people in the community generally believe Marian is DISHONEST and SELF- SERVING now. I say now because many believe she did NOT start out this way - "She was a breath of fresh air when she first came here". Many people now "don't believe a word she says" because she is seen as having too many hidden agendas. She is thought to be self-serving in large part because of the NEPOTISM issue; which includes creating jobs for her "unqualified" and "uncertified" family members. She is also seen as "shooting the messenger". She doesn't want or won't allow OUR COMMUNITY to HELP. Some feel she has NO overall understanding of the curriculum and programs being taught in the district. People are concerned that Jan is a carbon-copy of Marian, also should NOT be trusted. The fact that Jan had NOT met with teachers on several campuses supported this view in some minds. Randall is MOST HIGHLY regarded CO member.

2. SCHOOL BOARD (SB) - in general, the SB is perceived as a "Yes, Ma'am" board. NO dissent or disagreement, NO going against Marian. Marian IS ALLOWED to set district goals, HIRE family, misdirect SB, and hide facts and the BOARD doesn't CHALLENGE this. Basil was seen as directly SUPPORTING this BEHAVIOR and most of the rest of SB were seen as GOOD intentioned BUT UNAWARE of what's GOING ON or INCOMPETENT. BOARD members rarely VISIT classrooms, teachers and don't ASK TEACHERS about THEIR NEEDS. David Junkin is MOST widely RESPECTED, followed by Dave Williams.

3. PRINCIPALS - People LOVE Tuck and Dee and think they are both HIGHLY QUALIFIED and DOING A GREAT JOB. People know almost nothing about Linda. MOST COMPLAINTS were about Dwain. People think Dwain is NOT QUALIFIED to be principal (eg.,asst principal contract NOT RENEWED but THAN HIRED as principal when NO ONE else was available at short notice). He has MORE interest in ATHLETICS than EDUCATION (eg., he changes grades for ATHLETES, ALLOWS double standards for ATHLETES and CHEERLEADERS). Teachers were IMPLICITLY or EXPLICITLY TOLD by him NOT to come to Linda Cottle's HEARING. (ED. by CW: I was told this by a good HONORABLE friend who is a teacher, has been in Dwain's office, than sent up to Dr. Strauss, STIPENDS TAKEN AWAY for NO particular reason. The action taken AGAINST Linda Cottle by the Superintendent and OK'ed by the BOARD was "MOST SHAMEFUL" for OUR COMMUNITY). His BASIC THEME is: DO AS I SAY OR YOU'RE OUT. Some teachers do feel supported by him, but many are STILL ANGRY about the Cottle situation - this indicates he doesn't SUPPORT HIS teachers ESPECIALLY if THEY CHALLENGE him. And, he WON'T HIRE TEACHRS that may CHALLENGE HIM.

Teachers:

1. Internal and external opinion.

2. Teachers LIED to - FIX SALARIES of incoming teachers THIS YEAR and MORE experienced teachers NEXT YEAR. (ed. by CW: I was told my teacher friend that this was done). This is not done. Several years ago teachers were told that they needed to give up 8 planning periods per semester, BUT ONLY for that year. It is several years later and they STILL ARE REQUIRED to do so. (ed. by CW: Kind of makes you THINK of WHO is WATCHING THE HEN HOUSE - that being THE SCHOOL BOARD)

3. ALL emails MONITORED - ATMOSPHERE of DISTRUST of teachers by Marian. (ed. by CW: Well, I guess IF the CEO at HP can get away with it BUT SHE was CAUGHT).

4. Teachers ASKED to CHANGE student's grades - CHARGED with INSUBORDINATION when THEY won't. Linda Cottle situation REALLY ANGERED a lot of people (eg., grade change, teachers TOLD NOT to go to HEARING; BOARD, NOT supporting TEACHER)!!!

5. LOSS of Doc Richards often cited too AS EVIDENCE that teachers ARE NOT SUPPORTED.

6. Teachers that might CHALLENGE Dwain ARE NOT HIRED in favor of new, inexperienced (pliable)teachers.

7. Teachers AFRAID to SPEAK NEGATIVELY, (or even OFFER CONSTRUCTIVE INPUT) for FEAR of LOSS OF JOB, RETALIATION AGAINST their CHILDREN in the DISTRICT, ect. MESSENGER SHOT. (ed. by CW: Are WE really sure this is the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and NOT CUBA).

8. People FIRED/CONTRACT NOT RENEWED if THEY CHALLENGE Marian or Dwain.

9. NOT paid WELL - LOWEST, or 2nd lowest in surrounding area.

10. $ for CLASSROOM SUPPLIES drastically CUT (was $350/class at Bowen, now fraction of that) and NOW teachers have to ASK PTOs or PAY OUT OF POCKET for BASIC SUPPLIES, BUT ATHLETES get a NEW TRACK and $250,000 in STIPENDS.

ll. MINIMAL ACADEMIC STIPENDS - especially compared to ATHLETICS. (ed. by CW: I believe in the last SB meeting it did show that Academic stipends were FINALLY ahead of athletics. Board Member Junkin was working on this).

12. MINIMAL PROFESSIONAL development $ But Marian can JET to RESORTS for CONFERENCES.
(ed. by CW: As I have told some SB members that she is ONLY THE CEO, YOU the SB is HER BOSS and SHE REPORTS TO YOU NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND).

13. FULL-TIME teachers in HS and JH NEGATIVELY affected by HIGH # of part-time teachers/FULL-TIME COACHES (more "other" assignments, covering missed classes, et). Feel they are UNFAIRLY TREATED by comparison. PAID LESS than COACHES even though THEY have 1/2 as many classes/students. (ed. by CW: And, the nerve of this "JOCK STRAP" group at the one meeting giving Dr. Jim a HARD TIME - WHO NEEDS TO APOLOGIZE TO WHOM).

14. DON'T PAY teachers for RESIDUAL VACATION when THEY LEAVE.

15. Teachers ARE ONLY given 1-YEAR CONTRACT, while ADMIN gets MULTI-YEAR CONTRACTS.
(ed. by CW: SWEET DEAL if you can get it pass the SB, which HAS BEEN DONE).

16. FULL-TIME teachers have LESS PLANNING TIME than Teacher/COACHES. (ed. by CW: WHY?)



4.