Wednesday, May 8, 2013

"KNOCK KNOCK KOCKIN ON HEAVENS DOOR" bob dylan

TAKE THE TIME AND VISIT THE PAINESVILLE CITY SCHOOL SITE
Mr. John Shepard has been named our new Superintendent timing is everything?
Isn't it Board President Costell?

This email I received today was a letter sent out by a well known and respected Painesville teacher.
I left their name off of it for numerous reasons. One being it could  and should have been written by a number of Painesville teacher's.

Both yesterday & today I spoke with a community member? friend whose two children graduated from Harvey. She & her husband have remained involved, have attended some BOE meetings, & attended the community focus group for the superintendent search. Although she was unable to attend the Saturday candidate interview sessions two weeks ago, she did google  each of the candidates & did hear firsthand from several people, both residents & teachers alike, that Mr. McWreath was clearly the frontrunner.

Yesterday she e-mailed Steve Costell inquiring about the delay in choosing a superintendent, her reluctance to support  another levy & request for community input that seems to then be ignored. He responded that the timing of the levy & superintendent choice was purely coincidental & that the BOE values & welcomes community input & used said info in making their decision.

As a long-time resident of Painesville & strong supporter of PCLS, she asked if PCTA had endorsed Mr. McWreath, I told I was not aware that they had. As educators, we frequently receive candidate/ endorsement from the OEA. As teachers whose future evaluations will be tied to student achievement, can/will PCTA take a stand  & endorse a candidate, who clearly turned Harvey around from day one, who has returned the focus to academics, who consistently enforces the rules, who has increased accountability among both students & staff, and who deals with the transparency we so desperately need & crave?

Attendance at Monday's BOE meeting is surely to be increased. Several residents are intending to speak. Can/will PCTA take a stand  & demand their voices be heard? Can they afford to not do so?
Thanks,
**********************************************************************************

Now as a community we have been ask to do our part. We pass levies when others districts do not. In the end will our elected official's listen to us ? Or we knocking on a door that doesn't want to answer us or feel no need too?

27 Comments:

At May 8, 2013 at 7:18 AM , Anonymous Vote ? said...

Interesting comment, but lets review some facts how many registered voters are there in Painesville?
Yet at the same time a million dollar levy was voted on by 672 voters. Of that only 395 even voted yes and 277 voted against.
You and this teacher really believe people here care about our schools?

 
At May 8, 2013 at 7:43 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

You expect the teachers to take a stand? Good luck with that one.

 
At May 8, 2013 at 5:40 PM , Anonymous TERM>> said...

We should all know who the new superintendent should be be announced at Mondays Board Meeting. I expect to be disappointed.
Also we will find out the faith of the Heritage track coach at that meeting. The findings have been turned over to the Painesville Police Department. This coach wasn't a teacher in the system but a supplemental employee.

 
At May 8, 2013 at 5:49 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

The teachers and staff are wonderful and will bond together. Spend a day with us before criticizing us.

 
At May 8, 2013 at 6:46 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

The question of endorsement choice by PCTA has been asked by several community people. When we had Mr. Mucciarone appointed as the Superintendent we as teachers wrote letters of support to the Board Members as well as called each of them to voice our opinion as to why he was the best choice. I was told that our present PCTA members were afraid to do this for fear of what would be done to them IF the one not supported by PCTA was appointed. We also had Board Members that listened, respected, and responded to us as teachers. I do not feel that we have this today. Yes some of these Board Members were elected and they were elected to be our voice(not happening). Those that were appointed do not feel any need to responded to the public because we did not elect these members. We are in a huge mess in the PCLS system. I am so sorry for those staff members that are trying to do their job among all the junk going on-Electing two new leaders and 2 new principals (if not more) and then filling all the positions that will be vacant! HUGE MESS!
By Monday the appointment will become public. This new superintendent has already stopped the hiring of a new principal stating he was bringing in his own selections. Best of Luck to all!

 
At May 9, 2013 at 5:31 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Instead of one Kim Martin we are about to have many!

 
At May 9, 2013 at 4:08 PM , Anonymous Why Wait said...

If this is at the top of your blog...why do we have to wait until the board meeting?
Mr. John Shepard has been named our new Superintendent timing is everything?

 
At May 9, 2013 at 5:22 PM , Anonymous TERM>> said...

4:08 Yesterday I was visited by a board member. You can guess who it was. The question came up was where and why I was posting bad information on this blog..
He also questioned my statement of not voting yes for the levy if the BOE hadn't named it's choice.
Now the reason I explained the reason for voting for the levy the way I did was that this same person announced at the Saturday "Meet the Candidates" the "we will know who OUR now superintendent would be by the end of the month?
He claim to mean the BOE would know but not the general public. I apologized that I thought OUR meant all of us.
The BOE has to act in a professional way. That said he told me the new superintendent would only be announced at Mondays BOE meeting. If you check the school site. That's not really true is it. I guess even the wild accusation that were not posted on this blog. due to peoples names being used without verification might be true. Time will tell.
Thinking about it I'm no longer feeling bad about voting NO!

 
At May 10, 2013 at 2:23 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm in a professional group that meets and discusses educational issues. Before the end of each meeting we each leave comments about the meeting. The comments are then compiled and emailed to everyone in the group. The comments are all anonymous. I would like to see all the comments that were made at the Saturday meet & greet for the Superintendent candidates. I find it really hard to believe that Mr. McWreath was the communities third choice. Once again the BOE makes us feel like we had a voice. But clearly they did whatever the hell they wanted.

 
At May 10, 2013 at 3:13 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Will he be working from home at this job to?

 
At May 10, 2013 at 5:20 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Let me get this straight. There's a Saturday 'Meet the Candidate' get together. ONE HUNDRED community/staff give up three hours of the their time to meet/greet/interview the candidates. Mr McWreath is the only VIABLE one. We are again tricked into believing our opinion means something. The BOE members play games for two weeks, offer it to Richmond Heights, he turns it down, then they offer it to the candidate from Northridge. I can't wait to see him with some of our parent! The BOE says it will be announced at Mondays meeting? It's on the PCLS website today. Time to wipe the B**LS**T from around those lips, BOE!

 
At May 10, 2013 at 7:01 AM , Anonymous TERM>> said...

I have to ask this did the Painesville City Teachers Association ever interview the three finalists? If not why not?
If they did could they have given a recommendation.

We always hear how these organizations help mold our children's future it appears to me someone might have dropped the ball.

What exactly are the goals of the PCTA?

It appears your membership will get exactly what they deserve.

Please don't make Mr. Shepard work from home. The BOE might feel obligated to pay his mortgage.

Will someone ask to see a copy of the contract the BOE signed with Dr. Hanlon in an executive session March 14, 2013? I am sure we will hear a reasonable explanation.

 
At May 10, 2013 at 7:20 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I knew there would be groups of people who would not be happy about the BOE decision no matter who they picked. Every candidate had a group that liked them. Just because they didn't pick the candidate you wanted doesn't mean they didn't listen.

Maybe we can stop the negativity and start to move forward in our district? Hopefully, everyone will give this guy a chance.








 
At May 10, 2013 at 7:25 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

My spouse and I went to the Saturday Meet and Greet candidates meeting. We filled out the 3x5 comments cards. We believe the majority favored candidate Van McWreath, but we don't know for certain. I suggested that I fill out a Freedom of Information request for the info on the comment cards. My spouse said "don't you dare, we have family and friends that attend PCLS and work for the schools and the Administration has punished people for causing waves in the past." I find this hard to believe but others have told me this is true. Anyways...I have a request. There is a Concern Citizens group that meets at the Library, perhaps they could formally request this data. I believe we are intilted to this information.

 
At May 10, 2013 at 7:33 AM , Anonymous TERM>> said...

Groups? Were you at any of the meetings? It was very obvious who the clear choice was.
What a cop out.
Who created all this negativity ?
Move forward in who's direction? Hopefully this guy gives us a better chance than he did Northridge School System. That said I believe he will be eaten alive by some parents in the district.

Please, why all the song and dance when in the end the BOE did not what we asked but went the way they wanted?

I am really starting to understand the low turnouts at community meetings. All show and no go.

 
At May 10, 2013 at 9:53 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Here's the thing, anyone coming in after Ms. Martin would look like a godsend. Mr. McWreath came to Harvey HIGH school to do a job as principal, a job that he hasn't even been in for a year yet. He has done a good job turning things around. I was at the candadite meeting and listened to all three. My choice was between McWreath and Shepard. Shepard got it, both were qualified. Just because Mr. McWreath is good at being a HIGH SCHOOL principal doesn't mean he would be good at being superintendent, at least not at this stage.
So I'm moving on. I'm going to do everything I can to help Mr. Shepard be a good superintendent for my two children's sake.
Sometimes I think misery loves company on this site. Remember, don't be a part of the problem, be a part of the solution.

 
At May 10, 2013 at 1:09 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Someone should address this lie that is on the PCLS website.
"Current Superintendent Dr. Michael P. Hanlon will be leaving the district at the end of this school year after 18 years of service." From what I hear he is working until December. (for a pretty penny too!!!) Will this extension boost his retirement package? Why don't we name a few more rooms after him while were at it. He's clearly done so much for our district.

 
At May 10, 2013 at 1:43 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I feel so s-p-e-c-i-a-l. Yesterday (Thursday, May 9)at 3:22 our dear superintendent sent out a letter for Staff Appreciation Day which WAS Tuesday, May 7th. Coincidentally, that was also election day when he and the BOE boys were hoodwinking the community about the levy and speaking with forked tongue about the new superintendent. No wonder he forgot about us. We are so valued.

 
At May 10, 2013 at 1:56 PM , Anonymous TERM? said...

9:53 Or we can all look at it as 'continuing the problem'
Misery loves company a new moniker
That is PCLS.
1:09 Can't wait to hear the math lesson we will all get Monday night.
1:43 You are special. They didn't have a "Superintendent Appreciation Day?'
Then again we will all probably end up paying for that special night?

 
At May 10, 2013 at 2:21 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

It appears a few of your good friend disappointed you this week?

 
At May 10, 2013 at 3:54 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Clearly Van McWreath should have been appointed our new Superintendent. Take a look at all he has done at the High School: kids are out of the hallways and in their classrooms; the staff is treated with dignity and respect by the Administration; the students are learning to respect others; the Administrators are all on the same page and work well together; SRO Ponder works side by side with the Administrators which seems to be much better than in the past. These are all great things; there is still much to be done. Things are going in the right direction. It didn't take Van McWreath long to get a handle on this. Why wouldn't or couldn't the Board Members see that???
Kim Martin is in the past. The staff is better off without her and so are the students. You cannot be a student's friend. You need to be someone who can teach them their academics, teach them what the real world and prospective employers are looking for, someone whom they look up to as a mentor, a person who can show them compassion, understanding and strength. This administration has done just that and it is through the leadership of Van McWreath.
Shame on the BOE for not letting the PCLS staff be heard. Mrs. Coffee, in a recent Board meeting, asked for Dr. Hanlon's resignation. Maybe someone should ask this Board for their resignation. Let the people be heard.

 
At May 10, 2013 at 4:07 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

The boys at the BOE will be in the hot seat Monday night. Can't wait.

 
At May 10, 2013 at 4:13 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ironic? Mr Shepherd is fluent in Spanish yet there were NO Hispanics at the meet & greet a few Saturdays ago. I firmly believe Mr. Shepherds Spanish background and education was the reason he was chosen.I for one am sick and tired of all the preferential treatment for the illegals.
The BOE should be ashamed of themselves. There was a timeI thought highly of Mr. Costell and Powers.

 
At May 10, 2013 at 5:14 PM , Anonymous TERM>> said...

2:21 Not the first time . I guess you just shouldn't believe everything people tell you?
Then again it's not the end of the world.
4:07 Can't wait to hear what they have to say. BOE math will be interesting.
4:13 Mr. Shepherd has a lot to learn in Spanish as well as English.

 
At May 11, 2013 at 4:48 PM , Anonymous Truth Please said...

1:09 PM. It is a known fact Dr. Hanlon will be going to Chardon. What I don't understand is how is he going to stay on for PCLS too?
Besides 1:09, I've heard he will be sitting around answering phones. Is this because he is bound by contract until December? Shouldn't be as he voluntarily retired. He wasn't forced out therefore he shouldn't be entitled to being paid till his contract is up. Please get to the bottom of this. We taxpayers should know the truth since we've just paid for 2 levys.

 
At May 11, 2013 at 5:06 PM , Anonymous TERM>> said...

4:48 Go to Monday nights BOE You will learn all about the 'new math' when it comes to Dr. Hanlon leaving.
The whys and a how's . After you hear it all ask yourself why didn't I know all this before Tuesday?

If this was such a great deal & idea why were we left in the dark?
Executive Session Meeting 03/14/13.

Don't let them even suggest Dr. Moore didn't turn them down. Ask for all correspondence between him and the board. emails included.

 
At May 14, 2013 at 7:51 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Poor, poor Mr. Shepard.
He is the new Superintendent, but it's obvious that he was not the Board's first choice or the Community's popular choice. He's our "Plan B".
On top of that, the Board has asked the good Dr. Hanlon to stick around and keep an eye on things. That's not much of a vote of confidence for the new super. Why would the BOE value the opinion of someone who doesn't want to be here??? I thought only Bankers and Wall Street Fatcats received 'Golden Parachutes' when they left their jobs, now we can add 'Doc Handout' to the list of those receiving 'sweetheart deals'.
Poor, poor Mr. Shepard.
President Costell and the Board has "scattered the flock" so to speak. Good Luck trying to unify The Administration, Community, Staff and Students. I'll say a prayer for you.

 

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