Decision to drop football at 3 Indianapolis high schools standsIPS chief said he'd quit if board intervened
by
Andy Gammill
Indianapolis Star
The Indianapolis Public School Board narrowly avoided having to see whether the superintendent would follow through on a threat Tuesday to quit over the district's football programs.
Board members split 4-3 against taking a board vote on Eugene White's plan to cancel football at three schools, instead choosing to leave that authority with the superintendent. A vote by the full board would have been the last appeal for supporters of the programs at Manual, Marshall and Washington high schools.
During Tuesday's debate, White said he would quit if the board insisted on getting involved in management decisions at that level.
In a rare show of division on the board, Kelly E. Bentley and two other members questioned the superintendent's decision and said the board should be the one to make the call.
White disagreed and in a heated exchange told Bentley that the final decision would rest with him.
"If you're not going to let me run this district," he said, "please let me know, and I'll just go elsewhere."
After the meeting, White said he would have resigned had the board vote gone the other way.
Bentley responded to White's ultimatum by suggesting that he respond to her more politely and reminding him that he was not an elected official. She suggested other board members were scared to vote publicly and said the board's decision was "an insult to the democratic process."
Board member W. Diane Arnold said the board should vote on the issue and said the superintendent's process had alienated community groups.
"When we continue to not listen to community partners," she said, "we're not putting children first."
But four board members backed the superintendent, saying that they had hired White to make tough management decisions and that the issue of football teams did not rise to the level of a matter the board should consider.
Board member Mary E. Busch, the longest-serving member and an education professor, said the board must not interfere with the superintendent's program changes.
"I think what we're doing now as a board is micromanaging," she said, "micromanaging of the worst kind."
Marianna Zaphiriou said a School Board policy already had given the superintendent authority to make changes in high school athletics and it wouldn't be fair or right for the board to step in.
"This is a change in a program and falls under the purview of the superintendent as an administrator," she said. "We hired the superintendent to do a job."
White outlined several reasons for his decision to cancel football, including that participation had dropped too low. Five years ago, White warned the district's sports teams that if they didn't have certain levels of participation, they would be disbanded.
He said he was following through on that proposal, which was approved by the board.
For a school to continue to have a football team, those guidelines said, they must have 45 players in the program. Arlington, Manual, Marshall, Northwest and Washington high schools did not, but White said two of those programs would be spared.
He said IPS losses last season were humiliating to students and that dropping the programs at three schools would allow resources to go to other schools.
A loud crowd of alumni and parents, mostly from Washington, occasionally jeered at the superintendent and the majority of the board.
After the meeting, two police officers blocked access to the hallway where those board members had retired.
As the board prepared to vote, one member of the audience called out, "Wait for Election Day."
Washington alumnus Bob Zink said he was disappointed in government processes if the board could avoid a vote on such a hot-button topic.
"All that did was say to the superintendent he's got an open board," he said. "If he wants to leave, let him leave. What they're saying is he's a czar."Additional Facts
How they voted
Voting for the superintendent to decide on football cuts: Michael D. Brown, Mary E. Busch, Elizabeth M. Gore and Marianna R. Zaphiriou.
Voting for the board to decide on football cuts: Kelly E. Bentley, Michael R. Cohen and W. Diane Arnold.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
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If one of my students pouted and threw a fit like Eugene White did, it would be time for a serious parent conference. What can this district do to rid itself of that simple minded parasite, Mary Busch?
ReplyDeleteLong time reader; first time commenter; former IPS teacher. I can't believe EW threatened to quit over this. I was under the impression that a school board's job was to provide a system of checks and balances over a district so that one person cannot wield unfair, dictatorial power. Clearly IPS leaders have little interest in the democratic process.
ReplyDeleteEgo-driven power struggles and childish "fits" have no place in a district that needs community support if it expects to survive the next five years.
I wonder how Eugene would take it if one of his principals said, "You hired me to run this building. If you're not going to let me, then I'll go elsewhere."
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah! One of his principals DID say that, last year! Where is Jeff White these days?
"What they're saying is he's a czar."
ReplyDeleteWell, that pretty much says it all.
Kelly E. Bentley, Michael R. Cohen and W. Diane Arnold - you all deserve a gold medal for your guts and integrity.
Concerning the Most High and Seriously Exalted Grand Poobah of IPS - Like the Pope, he thinks he's infallible.
Gene White did not give John Marshall five years. Only two years.
ReplyDeleteSince the board back down to the little boys threat. The question arrises how many other items has he pushed through with such tactics? As both an employee, parent of a child in the district, and voter. I hope they remember backing down at election time when they fail to get my vote.
ReplyDeleteFor now I will join the chorus (until election time) in saying, "All Hail Eugene!"
When I will vote for officials who remember Dr. White is an employee of the school board, NOT the other way around. Will vote for those with backbone unlike those in office now.
Hopefully Eugene will be gone by election time and then we can rid the system of the old lady with the 1960's hairdo who just can't say no to Eugene.
ReplyDeleteSomeone needs to check the eligibility of all the players who are planning to transfer because their school is losing football.
ReplyDeleteIf the football teams are eliminated, then it appears that marching band would also be eliminated. Has this been discussed or mentioned or touched upon?
ReplyDeleteDr. White has FINALLY showed his true, childish, selfish, and dictator-esque colors in the spotlight.
ReplyDeleteThanks to those of you on the Board who decided to stand up for what was right.
Mary Busch, you are a clueless, spineless idiot. "Micromanaging"?!?!?! Did you forget that you are Dr. White's boss?
Kelly Bentley, I commend you!
For all of those people who say that getting rid of Eugene White would not be a good thing, because we could get some one worse than him as our Superintendent. Last nights immature and egotistical behavior by Eugene White proves that he is not fit to be the Superintendent of any school district. He must have a Doctorate in BULLSH_T!!!!!!!!! He is so pathetic and so are the school board members who voted with him(nothing but his puppets). The IPS Parents need to band together and get rid of him like the parents did in Washington Township. When the Parents and the School Board in Washington Township were finished with Eugene White he was eating humble pie and then he quit! We need to make that happen at IPS!!!! For everyones sake!
ReplyDeleteWe need to make sure that the board members with the courage to stand up to him get re-elected, the the "bobble-heads" don't.
ReplyDeleteEspecially the "bobble-head" with the bubble hair. LOL
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping Dr. White's theme of "This Is It," that he chose for the year, is prophetic, and this truly is it for him. He pulled this same crap in Washington Township, where he purposefully creates a controversy so he can get into a public snit and leave. It'll just be a matter of time before he pulls a bigger stunt and the Board votes 4-3 against him.
ReplyDeleteSo, if White leaves, where do you think he'll go? Into retirement? Into politics? Into educational consulting? Into another Superintendent's position?
ReplyDeleteWho cares?
ReplyDeleteI am not sure that IPS is just too big not to fail. In order for a superintendent to be able to make changes, he or she needs to have huge staff...and then we get to the many layers of decision making which leads to top-heaviness and communication breakdowns. Maybe the system needs to just be broken up into smaller districts where there can be real site-based management, buy-in on the part of all working together, more hands-on leadership and support. I often wonder how it would be if everyone employed was required to spend some time responsible for classrooms and day to day operations - more like neighborhood community schools. Maybe that is a dream but what if there was shared resources; co-ops, etc. --- has there ever been a superintendent who was able to do much with a district this size?
ReplyDeleteI'm a taxpayer, not a teacher,
ReplyDeleteI've said that IPS needs to be broken down into smaller districts for many years. In fact, years ago a columnist for The Indy Star wrote that this would probably be a good idea.
IPS is a huge bureaucracy and in many ways a heartless and soul-less big bureaucracy.
Still, I think a new superintendent who wants to "rally the troops" rather than "browbeat the troops" could make improvements in IPS as it is.
As its head, IPS needs administrative people who are competent, visionary AND compassionate and not just looking out for their own inflated paychecks.
For a quarter of a million a year salary, I would think the school board could find a new super who would rally the troops and provide more reasoned leadership. And, who would be humble, not an egomaniac.
Well said, poster above.
ReplyDeleteMany of us within IPS have talked the benefits of being broken into smaller districts for years.
one other thing...in the effort to push the idea that all kids need to go to a traditional college, we have marginalized many students. Algebra, as a gate-keeping course, is keeping many students from getting an educational that is practical and that will allow them to seek other non-traditional forms of post-high school training. We don't offer consumer math, many technology courses, home and famiy living, industrial arts, etc. Perhaps the rason more kids don't come to school ready to learn is that so much of what we teach is not relevant to their needs. We need to teach kids how to learn and then they will be able to learn about the things that relate to them and thier interests. I see the need for practical math...and ways to use algebra concepts but too many kids are failing those courses...(thus unable to compete in sports...is it no surprise that we don't have more football players?) Meanwhile, Math teachers are being beaten up by poor scores while they try to meet benchmarks, scrimmages, etc.
ReplyDeleteoops.... should read "reason" and "their" -- as the veteran teacher who was slammed for poor grammar in an earlier post, I am trying to proof-read.---LOL.
ReplyDeletewhoops..that should read "reason" and "their" - as the veteran teacher who was slammed for poor grammar, I am trying to remember to proof-read...LOL
ReplyDeleteTo the above poster, you're on the mark with your comments. We're selling the kids a bill of goods that is false.
ReplyDeleteNot all students will attend a four-year college nor is it necessary for all students to do so. IPS has nothing in place for the student who is not college bound. Whether we like it or not, there are countless IPS students who have no desire to attend college. And, there are students who lack the academic prowess to be successful in a university setting. They become disenchanted and disengaged in Algebra classes and then drop out, either literally or figuratively (i.e., the kids with their heads down during class).
In our occasionally misguided effort to be equitable, we've created a subgroup of students who must feel there's something terribly wrong with them because they're unable to grasp algebraic concepts. They eventually tune out, become behavior problems to get some attention (negative attention is better than no attention), and then just stop showing up. These students need to know it's OK not to be headed to college; that other skills are within their grasps and are honorable skills.
Question: When a bunch of schools did not meet standards of the IPS athletic policy. Why is Dr. White eliminating these schools? What made them stand out against the other?
ReplyDelete1. Marshall had not even (if at all) reached JV level and was not given time to actually develope there program.
2. When other schools did not meet criteria. Why these two schools? Could it be that it was because these are the only two high schools that does NOT have a predominately african american school population.
Washington is very balanced in having aproximately 1/3 latino, 1/3 african american, and 1/3 white.
Manual has a mojority white population.
So, was this considered. When places with similar team turnout but a different population make-up were able to keep teams. Then the only two football playing high schools that were not african american population dominated get there's cut. Was this considered? Sounds like and equal rights issue.
But hey I am only a parent! I know Dr. White does not care about us.
I am on though who is considering writing a equal rights organization on this issue. Seems a little one sided when looked like this. BTW, I am african american before racial hate groups/people start posting. I am one does not see equality in this issue. Yes, my kid is effected.
Marshall JV Football Team was 7-1. Wins against Heritage Christian, Luther, Tri-West, Broad Ripple, Tech, and Howe. I beleived they shocked alot of people this year. However, it is what it is. Change..............
ReplyDeleteWere is Marhall's Head coach going? Does anyone know who he is?
ReplyDeleteMarshall's football coach is John Leavell. He's a paraprofessional who runs the GLC program at Marshall. No idea if he's staying at Marshall or moving on next year.
ReplyDeleteI am beginning to believe that Dr. White has something against John Marshall. It seems that every time that school shows some promise of getting better (either academically, student behavior, or sports teams), he finds a way to knock them back down yet again. What gives with this? Right now the school is better organized and more structured than it's been in a while. The achievement levels are improving by proof from district testing, and the sports teams were just beginning to emerge.
ReplyDeleteInteresting point!
ReplyDeleteHad not even thought about the racial factor here the parent above has brought up.
Only schools with predominantly african american populations got to keep football (I checked the DOE on this and found it to be true.). The only two football playing schools that did not meet this racial profile are having their teams become history!
When almost all the football schools did not meet the IPS athletic policy why were these two chosen?
How did Dr. White come to the conclusions these two were the ones he was going to cancel? Were there other factors that were not mentioned?
You know, like one has a principal who we want at are flag ship school coaching football!
Or, or the other is garnering to much headlines already right now. We need to show them for letting our dirty laundry out in public.
Or maybe they had 7-1 JV squad and those kids would better off at our flagship school helping build that program. Rather than give them a chance to become a dominant team in the face of our superintendent contention that we only really need one team. Better head them off at the pass before they hit varsity level.
If places like Union County, Paoli, etc. all can play football with low numbers and provide a good educational experience. Why can't we do it at ALL our high schools?
Is it because our leaders on Walnut really value trophies (so they can feel equal with our township bretheran) over educational oportunities to all. Have they forgotten there are schools in this state that have never won a state title or sectional title in any sport. Are those small communities not still educating and giving their kids a well rounded education.
Trophies are not the end all be all of sports and education Dr. White!
Now, what factors caused these programs to disolve over the others? Was race a factor? We need to know!
We cannot consider race in the classroom so if used in this case. Why is it OK in programing?
Sorry about the spelling and gram. Black friday has me tired and its only 7 in the a.m.
ReplyDeleteSounds like it is only a matter of time until Manual, Washington, and Marshall will be closed as schools. Rather than a sudden, quick death, the School Board will hack away programs until each school dies a slow, painful, ugly death.
ReplyDeleteLook, the situation stinks and it is now what it is. I personally hope the GW community can make lemonade. They could have a tremendous soccer team over there if their community ever got on board. I wonder, though, if the neighborhood can rise out of the social, cultural, and political muck.
ReplyDelete