The state of Indiana could be moving to takeover several I.P.S. schools next year. Anyone want to speculate which ones will be, or should be, taken over?
Hell, the entire system. If an outside auditor were to look at the books, he'd probably have a heart attack to see what is approved. Clothing budgets, travel expenses to foreign countries, car leases, cell phone and blackberry bills, extravegant catering costs. All of these things seem a far cry from our first cultural imperative of children coming first. The system is corrupt, as are the people at the top.
Well, that would make Dr. White look like a failure, so I am guessing that the "Bobble-headed Board" will have to vote him a raise for saving money by having the DOE taking over the schools. God, what will happen to all of the administrators at Arlington, John Marshall, and Northwest?
What about Elementary Schools? School 15 is horrible under the "leadership" of Dr. (HAHA- Nova Degree) Hunter. His girlfriend Miriam House runs the show and isn't doing a hot job at it.
Trust me you don't want to lose White. The next one could really be bad. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. All the state will do is make them charter schools and then they won't have to meet the requirements of public schools. Bennett is the one who needs to go.
IPS can't even figure out how much to pay us and when. I have always been opposed to state takeover..but with the ineptness of White and his lesiban mafia...let the state take us over and see what they can do....they pay 50,000 employees on a regular basis with the correct amount and by direct deposit. Too bad the IEA president is in bed with Eugene....otherwise a good union would hang the board out to dry for continuing payroll screwups.
Dr. White needs to go and so do all of his little cronies! The next superintendent couldn't be any worst than he is!!! He hasn't done one good thing for the betterment of IPS. I welcome the State of Indiana to come in and take over this pathetic district called IPS!!! Bennett's take over would be the change we need.........and this would leave Dr. White to say "THIS IS IT"!
This Teacher's Union(IEA) is USELESS. Are they the union representing teachers or do they represent the elite that work at the JMFC? Teachers are being screwed by this so called Union.
You guys are fools. Are you guys at all informed about what OTHER superintendents are doing to turn around performance in the worst districts? A new superintendent would likely gradually convert all of the schools in IPS into charter schools, which means your seniority and union contract would be meaningless. Some of you are so busy cursing the evolution of education that you aren't really looking at the situation objectively. We could do MUCH worse than White.
I think breaking IPS into four or five smaller school districts wouldn't be such a bad idea. There would be a lot more community input, and control. Less of the giant administration.
I think they should consolidate all of the school systems in Marion County, including IPS, into the Indianapolis Metropolitan School District. Elimininate the overpaid superintendents, and useless higher-ups from each district.
Charter conversions are happening all over the country, so it obviously CAN happen. It's just a matter of taking the proper steps. Dr. White has not done so. Another superintendent almost certainly would. Again, it's all fun to theorize about solutions, but look at what is actually happening with other superintendents in districts similar to IPS. They're not consolidating into the townships. They're not breaking down into smaller districts. They're either pushing option programs (magnets, alternative schools, etc.) and strong accountability measures to effect change within the current system, or they are converting to separate charter schools.
They also do not share Eugene White's practices of nepotism, promoting incompetents and constantly berating and belittling his teaching staff. They have school boards who hold the superintendent accountable. The IPS school board is a bunch of do nothing, know nothing, spineless cowards starting with Mary Busch.
Okay, I'll bite. Which school boards are you referring to, and what are those school boards doing differently than the IPS school board. I'm afraid I haven't read or heard much about these model schools. But I'm certainly intrigued to learn more.
It's likely that when Dr. White goes, a lot of people will go with him. Johnson won't stay around, she'll follow her boyfriend wherever he goes. If Giles is still around by then, he'll likely retire before he gets fired by someone who isn't impressed by all the ass-kissing. Ajabu won't stick around with her imcompetence, and with all of her personal baggage, she won't get picked up by anywhere else. This is the first round...then the second round will trickle down to the next level, and the Directors, Bridgewater, Harrell, Callahan, etc, will likely go because who else would put up with them and their evil ways? It only takes one pulled block from this whole Jenga formation, and the whole thing will come crashing down.
I bet the farm that the entire secorndary education division will be removed by June 30, 2010. Kendrick will return to Ohio to continue her career as a Carpet Muncher. Dr. Greenwood will retire and head straight to the dentist and Bridgewaters will go straight to hell for being dumbest person ever been employed by IPS.
Greenwood needs to get rid of her mustache before she goes to the dentist! Between that mustache and her thick eyebrows, I can't tell if she is wearing a Groucho Marx Halloween Mask or if she just has a lot of male testerone.
O.K., I can see where one might questions the actions of people; but really...what is the purpose of denigrating people in this way? I mean, where is the "do unto others...." in all of this. It is so petty and juvenile. There is not one person among us who looks perfect (unless it is a photo-shopped picture)and can you imagine how hurtful these comments would be to yourself? And, no, I am not from "downtown" but I do try to teach my students that we are responsible for our words...these sound like the comments teenagers used to write in "slam books" - where is the professionalism here?
With one exception I have never worked with anyone in IPS who didn't believe they were trying to do what is in the best interest of students. I've met with just about everyone mentioned on this blog and haven't agreed with many of the things they do, or the way they do it, however in their hearts and minds they believe they are doing the right thing.
Sadly the problem seems to be that the upper administration seems to believe that they can bully or harass people into going along with their plans. They never seek to reach consensus. They seek very little input from stakeholders. And when things don't work out as they believe they should they blame teachers and students as opposed to exploring why their plan isn't working. Dr. White's letter explaining that teachers who tolerate being cursed at shouldn't be a part of the new IPS, is so far disconnected from the reality we face every day, it is a prime example of this problem.
White's letter to the editor was an insult to every teacher in IPS. It is HIS administrative Discipline Deans who do not enforce the rules and who permit students to get away with the outrageous disprespect. Tech is the worst and his SON is a discipline dean there.
October 17, 2009 No room in our schools for verbal violence I commend Star columnist Matthew Tully for his work on "The Manual Project." He has spent many hours in the school observing and talking to teachers, support staff, students and others. What he writes is not always easy to accept or to understand, but it is some of the reality occurring in that high school. However, I must respond to his piece on "If the violence is verbal, they let it pass," Oct. 11. My response is in the sad truth of the matter. The truth is, I have met with all IPS administrators, teachers and support staff and told them not to accept this inappropriate behavior. Faculty and staff have been told this for the past five years at the beginning of each school year. We have created 21 alternative option programs in order to accommodate students we remove from schools for inappropriate behavior. Why would my teachers and/or administrators put up with this kind of misbehavior and overt disrespect? One of the four District Values is "Respect." Some teachers and administrators are failing to live up to the District Value of "Courage." They must have the courage to confront and eliminate this behavior. Tully's observation that staff feels "hamstrung by district suspension guidelines" is troubling. I will not tolerate this kind of verbal violence and disrespect -- and I certainly don't expect any employee to accept it. We have a Six-Step Discipline Plan that ranges from verbal reprimand to expulsion or change of school assignment. Suspension is the automatic response to offenses involving threat of violence, touching or hitting a teacher, cursing out other students or school employees, fighting, drugs and weapons. Employees, from principals and teachers to custodians and secretaries, must have the courage to end this nightmare. To me, there is no such thing as profanity against a teacher. If a teacher accepts being called a b----, she shouldn't be working in the new IPS. Why? Because by accepting the profanity she is hurting students and setting them up for failure. If a dean accepts a threat on her life and does not suspend and place the student up for expulsion, she is enabling the student to prepare for failure, jail or some other sad reality. We can change Manual; we must care enough to stop the madness. It takes courage and true love to get it done.
If you really want to make an enemy staple it to the next discipline referral you write for a kid who calls you a M-F'in Bitch or Bastard and give it to the discipline dean.
I don't want to down the union. Please list what IEA has done to make sure that teachers are paid in a timely manner, by direct deposit and the correct amount. They have been completely invisible and silent on this issue. When you call the IEA office about the matter, they tell you to call payroll. A real union should not do that.
I can't pinpoint a specific school that should be taken over by the State, but perhaps the State would like to 'take over' the entire Over/Under Program. Or, at the least, ensure that all the O/U students are in ONE building rather than sprinkled throughout the district.
"I don't want to down the union. Please list what IEA has done to make sure that teachers are paid in a timely manner, by direct deposit and the correct amount. They have been completely invisible and silent on this issue. When you call the IEA office about the matter, they tell you to call payroll. A real union should not do that."
They have negotiated a contract that spells out exactly how and when we are to be paid, I haven't seen the new contract but I would just bet IPS is in breach of contract. However what good does it do to file an unfair labor practice complaint? We are still fighting the one about the extended school year at John Marshall, and we won, but they appealed, and have ended the program. These legal battles cost us money, and can't undo what has already been done or not done. It is true you can sue anyone for anything, but it doesn't mean you'll win, and even if you do it doesn't mean you can collect any money. We are between a rock and a hard place on this one. What we can do is let the public know how incompetent the administration of IPS is, and how it is time for a change in direction.
Then why doesn't IEA get the message out about the incompetence of IPS Human Resources and Payroll. Everyone can identify with not getting checks or getting incorrect checks. Instead the IEA stays silent. They don't even communicate with their members about it. Perhaps the IEA president is too close to Eugene White.
IEA staff is meeting with the staff attorney to correct the horrible pay problems on the 18th of November. That is what they are doing, make sure if you have a pay problem your AR send the infomration to Ann or Ben, now.
Ann has a desk waiting for her downtown. For the past 8 years no IEA president has let any change in the contract because the district will not discuss. Lets leave it to Ann to make Whites changes. She is a waste to the union. I am a union member and I can not get any help. Heck, I am an AR and with every issue she only comments, "it went to discussion." That must be the place where White says, "I want" and Ann says, "You Get" Talk about selling the union down the river.
1. Arlington
ReplyDelete2. John Marshall
3. Harshman
Unless someone cleans up Tech, it could be one. I would think Northwest would be ripe for takeover.
ReplyDeleteHell, the entire system. If an outside auditor were to look at the books, he'd probably have a heart attack to see what is approved. Clothing budgets, travel expenses to foreign countries, car leases, cell phone and blackberry bills, extravegant catering costs. All of these things seem a far cry from our first cultural imperative of children coming first. The system is corrupt, as are the people at the top.
ReplyDeleteEugene White and his ring of "girls" all need to go!!!!
ReplyDeleteLet's start with one department.....payroll. (didn't you love scrambling to race to your bank to ensure your autopayments didn't bounce?)
ReplyDeleteThen, of course, human resources.
Oh, wait! In professional sports, as well as in business, if failure is evident, the coach/CEO/president is replaced.
How about we just write all staff names on slips of paper, throw them into the air, and assign each staff member where ever the papers fall?
Well, that would make Dr. White look like a failure, so I am guessing that the "Bobble-headed Board" will have to vote him a raise for saving money by having the DOE taking over the schools. God, what will happen to all of the administrators at Arlington, John Marshall, and Northwest?
ReplyDeleteWhat about Elementary Schools? School 15 is horrible under the "leadership" of Dr. (HAHA- Nova Degree) Hunter. His girlfriend Miriam House runs the show and isn't doing a hot job at it.
ReplyDeleteTrust me you don't want to lose White. The next one could really be bad. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. All the state will do is make them charter schools and then they won't have to meet the requirements of public schools. Bennett is the one who needs to go.
ReplyDeleteI want..DEMAND...the interest on MY money that IPS is using!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIPS can't even figure out how much to pay us and when. I have always been opposed to state takeover..but with the ineptness of White and his lesiban mafia...let the state take us over and see what they can do....they pay 50,000 employees on a regular basis with the correct amount and by direct deposit. Too bad the IEA president is in bed with Eugene....otherwise a good union would hang the board out to dry for continuing payroll screwups.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the UNION. Wish we had last years leader back. Who voted this woman in?
ReplyDeleteDr. White needs to go and so do all of his little cronies! The next superintendent couldn't be any worst than he is!!! He hasn't done one good thing for the betterment of IPS. I welcome the State of Indiana to come in and take over this pathetic district called IPS!!! Bennett's take over would be the change we need.........and this would leave Dr. White to say "THIS IS IT"!
ReplyDeleteThis Teacher's Union(IEA) is USELESS. Are they the union representing teachers or do they represent the elite that work at the JMFC? Teachers are being screwed by this so called Union.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are fools. Are you guys at all informed about what OTHER superintendents are doing to turn around performance in the worst districts? A new superintendent would likely gradually convert all of the schools in IPS into charter schools, which means your seniority and union contract would be meaningless. Some of you are so busy cursing the evolution of education that you aren't really looking at the situation objectively. We could do MUCH worse than White.
ReplyDeleteI think breaking IPS into four or five smaller school districts wouldn't be such a bad idea. There would be a lot more community input, and control. Less of the giant administration.
ReplyDeleteConversion of schools takes sixty percent of the union vote and board approval. Thats not going to happen folks. Take over is the only viable option.
ReplyDeleteI think they should consolidate all of the school systems in Marion County, including IPS, into the Indianapolis Metropolitan School District. Elimininate the overpaid superintendents, and useless higher-ups from each district.
ReplyDeleteCharter conversions are happening all over the country, so it obviously CAN happen. It's just a matter of taking the proper steps. Dr. White has not done so. Another superintendent almost certainly would. Again, it's all fun to theorize about solutions, but look at what is actually happening with other superintendents in districts similar to IPS. They're not consolidating into the townships. They're not breaking down into smaller districts. They're either pushing option programs (magnets, alternative schools, etc.) and strong accountability measures to effect change within the current system, or they are converting to separate charter schools.
ReplyDeleteThey also do not share Eugene White's practices of nepotism, promoting incompetents and constantly berating and belittling his teaching staff. They have school boards who hold the superintendent accountable. The IPS school board is a bunch of do nothing, know nothing, spineless cowards starting with Mary Busch.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I'll bite. Which school boards are you referring to, and what are those school boards doing differently than the IPS school board. I'm afraid I haven't read or heard much about these model schools. But I'm certainly intrigued to learn more.
ReplyDeleteDr. White is the worse superintendent!!!! It can't get much worse than this.
ReplyDeleteIt's likely that when Dr. White goes, a lot of people will go with him. Johnson won't stay around, she'll follow her boyfriend wherever he goes. If Giles is still around by then, he'll likely retire before he gets fired by someone who isn't impressed by all the ass-kissing. Ajabu won't stick around with her imcompetence, and with all of her personal baggage, she won't get picked up by anywhere else. This is the first round...then the second round will trickle down to the next level, and the Directors, Bridgewater, Harrell, Callahan, etc, will likely go because who else would put up with them and their evil ways? It only takes one pulled block from this whole Jenga formation, and the whole thing will come crashing down.
ReplyDeleteI have not read much about Harshman on this blog; however, the first post listed it as a candidate for state takeover - why?
ReplyDeleteI bet the farm that the entire secorndary education division will be removed by June 30, 2010. Kendrick will return to Ohio to continue her career as a Carpet Muncher. Dr. Greenwood will retire and head straight to the dentist and Bridgewaters will go straight to hell for being dumbest person ever been employed by IPS.
ReplyDeleteHopefully Greenwood won't go to Carole Craig's dentist. He obviously couldn't help her. LOL
ReplyDeleteGreenwood needs to get rid of her mustache before she goes to the dentist! Between that mustache and her thick eyebrows, I can't tell if she is wearing a Groucho Marx Halloween Mask or if she just has a lot of male testerone.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the last post. LOL !!!
ReplyDeleteThe truth comes out!!
ReplyDeleteO.K., I can see where one might questions the actions of people; but really...what is the purpose of denigrating people in this way? I mean, where is the "do unto others...." in all of this. It is so petty and juvenile. There is not one person among us who looks perfect (unless it is a photo-shopped picture)and can you imagine how hurtful these comments would be to yourself? And, no, I am not from "downtown" but I do try to teach my students that we are responsible for our words...these sound like the comments teenagers used to write in "slam books" - where is the professionalism here?
ReplyDeleteThe reason Harshman is on the list--Robert Guffin and his incompetence will take them down.
ReplyDeleteWith one exception I have never worked with anyone in IPS who didn't believe they were trying to do what is in the best interest of students. I've met with just about everyone mentioned on this blog and haven't agreed with many of the things they do, or the way they do it, however in their hearts and minds they believe they are doing the right thing.
ReplyDeleteSadly the problem seems to be that the upper administration seems to believe that they can bully or harass people into going along with their plans. They never seek to reach consensus. They seek very little input from stakeholders. And when things don't work out as they believe they should they blame teachers and students as opposed to exploring why their plan isn't working. Dr. White's letter explaining that teachers who tolerate being cursed at shouldn't be a part of the new IPS, is so far disconnected from the reality we face every day, it is a prime example of this problem.
White's letter to the editor was an insult to every teacher in IPS. It is HIS administrative Discipline Deans who do not enforce the rules and who permit students to get away with the outrageous disprespect. Tech is the worst and his SON is a discipline dean there.
ReplyDeleteWhen was the letter to the editor published? The Discipline Deans do nothing, just send the students back to the classroom ASAP.
ReplyDeletePlease don't down the union....divided we fall
ReplyDeletehere is the letter to the editor
ReplyDeleteDr. White’s letter to the editor
October 17, 2009
No room in our schools for verbal violence
I commend Star columnist Matthew Tully for his work on "The Manual Project." He has spent many hours in the school observing and talking to teachers, support staff, students and others. What he writes is not always easy to accept or to understand, but it is some of the reality occurring in that high school.
However, I must respond to his piece on "If the violence is verbal, they let it pass," Oct. 11. My response is in the sad truth of the matter. The truth is, I have met with all IPS administrators, teachers and support staff and told them not to accept this inappropriate behavior. Faculty and staff have been told this for the past five years at the beginning of each school year. We have created 21 alternative option programs in order to accommodate students we remove from schools for inappropriate behavior.
Why would my teachers and/or administrators put up with this kind of misbehavior and overt disrespect? One of the four District Values is "Respect." Some teachers and administrators are failing to live up to the District Value of "Courage." They must have the courage to confront and eliminate this behavior.
Tully's observation that staff feels "hamstrung by district suspension guidelines" is troubling. I will not tolerate this kind of verbal violence and disrespect -- and I certainly don't expect any employee to accept it. We have a Six-Step Discipline Plan that ranges from verbal reprimand to expulsion or change of school assignment. Suspension is the automatic response to offenses involving threat of violence, touching or hitting a teacher, cursing out other students or school employees, fighting, drugs and weapons.
Employees, from principals and teachers to custodians and secretaries, must have the courage to end this nightmare. To me, there is no such thing as profanity against a teacher. If a teacher accepts being called a b----, she shouldn't be working in the new IPS. Why? Because by accepting the profanity she is hurting students and setting them up for failure. If a dean accepts a threat on her life and does not suspend and place the student up for expulsion, she is enabling the student to prepare for failure, jail or some other sad reality.
We can change Manual; we must care enough to stop the madness. It takes courage and true love to get it done.
If you really want to make an enemy staple it to the next discipline referral you write for a kid who calls you a M-F'in Bitch or Bastard and give it to the discipline dean.
I don't want to down the union. Please list what IEA has done to make sure that teachers are paid in a timely manner, by direct deposit and the correct amount. They have been completely invisible and silent on this issue. When you call the IEA office about the matter, they tell you to call payroll. A real union should not do that.
ReplyDeleteI can't pinpoint a specific school that should be taken over by the State, but perhaps the State would like to 'take over' the entire Over/Under Program. Or, at the least, ensure that all the O/U students are in ONE building rather than sprinkled throughout the district.
ReplyDelete"I don't want to down the union. Please list what IEA has done to make sure that teachers are paid in a timely manner, by direct deposit and the correct amount. They have been completely invisible and silent on this issue. When you call the IEA office about the matter, they tell you to call payroll. A real union should not do that."
ReplyDeleteThey have negotiated a contract that spells out exactly how and when we are to be paid, I haven't seen the new contract but I would just bet IPS is in breach of contract. However what good does it do to file an unfair labor practice complaint? We are still fighting the one about the extended school year at John Marshall, and we won, but they appealed, and have ended the program. These legal battles cost us money, and can't undo what has already been done or not done. It is true you can sue anyone for anything, but it doesn't mean you'll win, and even if you do it doesn't mean you can collect any money. We are between a rock and a hard place on this one. What we can do is let the public know how incompetent the administration of IPS is, and how it is time for a change in direction.
Then why doesn't IEA get the message out about the incompetence of IPS Human Resources and Payroll. Everyone can identify with not getting checks or getting incorrect checks. Instead the IEA stays silent. They don't even communicate with their members about it. Perhaps the IEA president is too close to Eugene White.
ReplyDeleteIEA staff is meeting with the staff attorney to correct the horrible pay problems on the 18th of November. That is what they are doing, make sure if you have a pay problem your AR send the infomration to Ann or Ben, now.
ReplyDeletePlease,
ReplyDeleteAnn has a desk waiting for her downtown. For the past 8 years no IEA president has let any change in the contract because the district will not discuss. Lets leave it to Ann to make Whites changes. She is a waste to the union. I am a union member and I can not get any help. Heck, I am an AR and with every issue she only comments, "it went to discussion." That must be the place where White says, "I want" and Ann says, "You Get" Talk about selling the union down the river.