By AMOS BROWN III Published: Thursday, February 4, 2010 11:38 AM EST The Indianapolis Board of School Commissioners voted last week to accept Superintendent Dr. Eugene White’s recommendation granting raises to four highly paid IPS administrators.
The School Board also voted to grant the superintendent a three percent raise.
Both actions by the IPS School Board were wrong.
The Indianapolis Public Schools aren’t Microsoft, Wal-Mart or Warren Buffett’s company. IPS, like nearly every school district in Indiana and many nationwide, and like many non-profits and for-profit entities, is facing severe economic pressures and stresses.
Indiana property tax caps are negatively impacting IPS’ transportation and maintenance budgets. And IPS’ loss of thousands of students in recent years, plus the Great Recession’s impact on state government revenues, has IPS facing between $20-$30 million in funding shortfalls.
IPS dodged scores of teacher layoffs this school year because of the one-time injection of federal stimulus money. This coming school year, IPS won’t be as fortunate.
IPS’ layoffs impact newer, younger teachers – many with the thrill and desire to teach using techniques and methods that engage today’s MTV/BET, Facebook, Wii-oriented, texting-tested students.
White said the four veteran IPS administrators deserved raises, pushing their salaries around $100,000 because they were taking on more responsibility.
Speaking Monday on WTLC-AM1310’s “Afternoons with Amos,” IPS Board President Michael Brown said the four administrators didn’t receive “raises.” Instead they were moving to “a different job responsibility with a different (higher) authorized salary.”
That may be true, but its semantics are not relevant to today’s economic realities.
How many of you reading this took on more responsibility at your job? Did you get a raise for that? If you’re like me and most Americans and Hoosiers, the answer is no.
When times were good, raises like those OK’d by IPS were fine. When times are hard, they’re an insult!
Board President Brown and White say that the other school districts pay their administrators more money. That keeping up with the Jones’ mentality doesn’t fly in these tough economic times.
In his State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama called out the nation’s colleges and universities, urging them to show restraint in their tuition and costs.
Our public schools should show the same restraint. In this era of tight school budgets, school administrations and school boards should show leadership and freeze administrative salaries and if the budget woes are tough, roll some of those salaries back until the fiscal crisis passes.
The media industry, including the media I work for, have had salaries and raises frozen, even rolled back to weather the economic storm. If we in media can do it, so can those in education.
By AMOS BROWN III Published: Thursday, February 4, 2010 11:38 AM EST The Indianapolis Board of School Commissioners voted last week to accept Superintendent Dr. Eugene White’s recommendation granting raises to four highly paid IPS administrators.
The School Board also voted to grant the superintendent a three percent raise.
Both actions by the IPS School Board were wrong.
The Indianapolis Public Schools aren’t Microsoft, Wal-Mart or Warren Buffett’s company. IPS, like nearly every school district in Indiana and many nationwide, and like many non-profits and for-profit entities, is facing severe economic pressures and stresses.
Indiana property tax caps are negatively impacting IPS’ transportation and maintenance budgets. And IPS’ loss of thousands of students in recent years, plus the Great Recession’s impact on state government revenues, has IPS facing between $20-$30 million in funding shortfalls.
IPS dodged scores of teacher layoffs this school year because of the one-time injection of federal stimulus money. This coming school year, IPS won’t be as fortunate.
IPS’ layoffs impact newer, younger teachers – many with the thrill and desire to teach using techniques and methods that engage today’s MTV/BET, Facebook, Wii-oriented, texting-tested students.
White said the four veteran IPS administrators deserved raises, pushing their salaries around $100,000 because they were taking on more responsibility.
Speaking Monday on WTLC-AM1310’s “Afternoons with Amos,” IPS Board President Michael Brown said the four administrators didn’t receive “raises.” Instead they were moving to “a different job responsibility with a different (higher) authorized salary.”
That may be true, but its semantics are not relevant to today’s economic realities.
How many of you reading this took on more responsibility at your job? Did you get a raise for that? If you’re like me and most Americans and Hoosiers, the answer is no.
When times were good, raises like those OK’d by IPS were fine. When times are hard, they’re an insult!
Board President Brown and White say that the other school districts pay their administrators more money. That keeping up with the Jones’ mentality doesn’t fly in these tough economic times.
In his State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama called out the nation’s colleges and universities, urging them to show restraint in their tuition and costs.
Our public schools should show the same restraint. In this era of tight school budgets, school administrations and school boards should show leadership and freeze administrative salaries and if the budget woes are tough, roll some of those salaries back until the fiscal crisis passes.
The media industry, including the media I work for, have had salaries and raises frozen, even rolled back to weather the economic storm. If we in media can do it, so can those in education.
according to the Star's voter Guide (www.indystar.com/voterguide), Dr. Batts earned a BS from the Indiana Institute of Technology and a Divinity Degree from United Theological Seminary. Both are online programs. A Google search finds that he is a Financial Coach/Income Specialist for Oasis Christian Community Development Corporation, Indianapolis, IN. whatever that means.
Most troubling is the fact that he lists no source of income. Is the School Board going to be his career?
He also indicates he has raised $500 for his campaign, but according to the Marion County Election Board, he has failed to file a statement of organization and failed to file his campaign finance reports.
This is a violation of the law.
Check out who has filed their reports and who hasn't-- http://www.indy.gov/eGov/County/Clerk/Election/Candidate_Info/MCEBCampaignFinanceArchive/Offices/schbd-msdips.html
Definition of a Candidate: An individual may become a candidate for other election law purposes by acting to qualify under Indiana law for listing on the ballot at an election or to become a write-in candidate by publicly announcing or declaring candidacy for an elected office; or otherwise by seeking nomination for an election to an elected office.
These announcements do not automatically make the individual a candidate for purposes of the Indiana Campaign Finance Act. (IC 3-9)
For campaign finance purposes, an individual becomes a “candidate” when the individual, the candidate’s committee, or a person acting with the consent of the individual:
1. receives more than $100 in contributions; or 2. makes more than $100 in expenditures. (IC 3-5-2-6)
Each candidate, when filing a declaration of candidacy or similar document, is required to separately sign a statement indicating that the candidate is aware of requirements of the Act and agrees to comply with them. (IC 3-8-2-7)
A forum was held last night at the Ed Center, put on by an active, involved parent who thought ALL the candidates voices needed to be heard. This meeting will be aired tonight. Channel 16 at 7:00pm IPS School Board Candidate Forum (taped 4/29/10)
Poster above - The other district three candidates heard that Dominic Coleman is not campaigning. I don't know if it was a mistake or not, but to our knowledge this person is not interested in being elected.
why haven't all the candidates filed their reports? Ramon Batts hasn't filed a campaign finance report. I see his yard signs in empty lots and public right-of-way so I'm sure he's spent more than $100.
And what about the other candidates who haven't filed their reports--Chequrita Booker, Josephine Coleman, Ronald Hampton, William Jackson, Samantha Adair-White, Dominic Coleman, and Glen Sandifer?
Do these people think they are above the law? Do they have something to hide?
No, these people likely don't have anything to hide. I am convinced they're just too ignorant and uninformed to follow the guidelines. If that's the case, then would we want any one of them as a school board member?
I wont vote for Ramon Batts. Any candidate who won't reveal his educational statua or his employment does not deserve to be on the board. Where does his children attend school??
Is Brown's education from an online source too? Where is Positive Force Ministries? He went to Catholic schools and a college in Iowa but only listed his supposedly "doctorate"
Roy Schroeder is the most qualified candidate. He was actively involved with the SBDM committee at Broad Ripple. He has met with teachers from many schools in the district to listen to their concerns. He has attended several recent school board meetings to address the board on financial issues. He is in the investment business and understands the complexity of school funding and budgeting. He has a real college degree ! Need I say more ?
i don't think attending school board meetings is what qualifies you to be a school board member. We have several people who have been ON the school board for years who are not qualified. [M.B] Is the IPS School board becoming an employment program for people with fake doctorates who wont divulge their educational background or their place of employement. Schroeder has sent his children to private schools and Batts wont tell where his children attend school.
I heard Leroy Robinson speak. After several minutes of hearing him talk about how intelligent and well educated Dr. white is and how many wonderful programs that Dr. White started, I decided he was just another headbobbing puppet for Eugene White. I cannot vote for him.
IPS has wonderful elementary magnet programs, yet Schroeder's children attended a private K-8 school!
And his youngest child still attends a private school.
Did he even look at the options available in IPS. Does he know anything about Center for Inquiry at School #2 and #84? The Performing Arts Academy at School #70? Merle Sidner Gifted Academy? What about the three Montessori schools? The Key School? The Spanish Immersion School?
And does he know any IPS parents? Has he reached out to them? Does he know anything about the concerns parents have and how they feel about their schools and the district?
I'm an active parent and he hasn't reached out to me. I've heard him at the forums and on the radio, and all he ever talks about is the Broad Ripple School Based Decision Making Committee. I have friends with children at the school and they say that committee is full of useless people.
I am supporting Chequrita Booker and Samantha Adair-White. Both received the endorsement of classified labor union and or united because the have an axe to grind. I rather have two people who are totally against Dr. White instead of two people who are ready to kiss Dr. White's ass. "Dr." Batts is another "Dr." Brown and Leroy Robinson showed his weakness at today's concerned clergy meeting.
Where did Batts get his Doctorate degree and what is his job? He must make good money as he drives a very expensive car. Batts is another puppet for Eugene White......
Batts works as a Substitute Teacher at Harshman Middle School, Middle School Basketball Coach at Harshman, and drools at the mouth on Sunday when they are passing the collection plate around. "Dr." Brown Jr.....
Samantha Adair's husband currently works for the GEO Foundation--an anti-public school/pro voucher organization.
Chequrita Booker sounded clueless at the forums and on radio.
Come on IPS--can't we elect some exceptional people to the Board? People with REAL degrees, from REAL universities, who bring SOMETHING to the table. People with some knowledge of education policy and what public service is all about?
Re: Samantha Adair's husband currently works for the GEO Foundation--an anti-public school/pro voucher organization.
Yeah. His name is Jeff White. He is one of the only ones who had the guts to go against Dr. White. He was pushed out because he put his foot down. He was not anti-public school. He just knew something needed to change. Isn't that what we need now in IPS?
The GEO foundation is a charter school organization. Charter schools are no less public than traditional schools run by districts. And I agree that Jeff White was/is one of the good ones. How people can be anti-White and also be against the organizations and people that challenge White, his cronies, and their mentality is baffling to me.
In the last couple of days, IPS has been sued for restraining a child with special needs (this even made news on msnbc) and a 9 year old student tragically lost his life. Time for a new blog.
The collection plate must be pretty loaded for him to drive the expensive upscale car he drives.....Praise the Lord and pass the collection plate....I have a car payment due.........We don't need more Eugene White puppets on this board.
GEO Foundation has always been a strong proponent of tax supported tuition vouchers to religious and private schools. They have pushed tax credits for families paying tuition, further eroding the funds available for traditional public education.
We need board members who will govern. We don't need board members who will destroy.
In my opinion of the leaders of the GEO foundation (and/or those who govern manage like them) were leading IPS, then we probably wouldn't even need charter schools, would we?
Why doesn't the "active parent" reach out to Schroeder ? If all the parents who truly care about the district would work together there might be some real progress. Where a parent chooses to send their child to school is a very personal matter. Roy does have one child in IPS, has been a "very active parent" and now is willing to spend even more time representing those parents in the district who don't have the time or resources to fight for what is best for all the students. Instead of listening to second- hand reports why don't you just contact him and hear what he stands for?
Again, if you want two ass kissers, vote for Batts and Robinson. If you want someone to challenge authority, vote for Adair-White, Beyer, or Booker. I'd rather have the ass kickers instead of the ass kissers, Batts and Robinson have ran for IPS School Board before and lost. Go figure.
What should happening to a Principal and Teacher who are engaging in adulterous affair and their foolishness is becoming a major disruption to the learning environment? Your thoughts!!!
I question why the school board allows a principal to have an affair with one of his teachers and when there is a break up, the teacher is punished by being transferred to another school and nothing happens to the principal? This will be in the papers soon and I wonder what answer Eugene White and his puppets on the school board will have.
Electing Leroy Robinson and Ramon Batts will be putting two more members on the board who worship White and will never ask for accountability and answers from him.
Schroeder joined the BRHS SBDM when only one other parent volunteered, he has held forums to meet and greet parents and teachers. He has tried to get a "Dad's Club" up and running at BRHS, and run into opposition from an administration that clearly doesn't want any meaningful parental involvement participation. He will talk to anyone about IPS and what is going on.
He maybe a "hot head" but really doesn't IPS need a few good hot head. This district is falling apart at the seams. There is a complete break down of effective leadership. It is a mess. Every single parent, IPS tax payer and stakeholder should be a hot head. What is happening in IPS is not in the best interest of students and their successful futures.
And before you tote out the fabulous programs at 91 and CFI, remember these programs are deemed untouchable by the administration, what about the other schools, the schools where everyone else's child attends. Every child in IPS deserves a quality education.
Take another look at those Cambridge reports, because after looking at them if you are not angry about what is reported you are a fool.
"I have friends with children at the school and they say that committee is full of useless people"
And you know this how? From an parent who has chosen not to be involved. Last summer a senior administrator disbanded BRHS's legitimate SBDM, when Schroder brought this point up Dr. White called him a liar in public. When he returned with the evidence Dr. White wasn't even there, and the board skipped over it like they do so many wrongs in IPS. Right now there are people who are very nervous that Schroder might win and shine some light on the dark corners of IPS, and their wrongdoings.
What principal, what teacher and what school? That's the problem here. People leave little tidbits of info, and then never finish it. They're like little spoilers, or teasers, and it's annoying.
I'm voting for Justin Forkner also.......He is not afraid to ask the hard questions. I now which school is being discussed above but I won't reveal the name. Wait until the article is in the papers and you will know which high school/community school.
Yes, Please give us the name of the Principal and the Teacher or at least the name of the school. Dr. White will do nothing about this after all supposedly he has committed adultery with a well known asian lady who works at the JMC downtown(whose office is right next door to his). I thought everyone knew in order to be promoted at IPS you have to committ some sort of sexual deviant act! LMAO
Yes, the bed hopping in the IPS administrative ranks has been embarrassing during the Eugene White administration. That is why the principal carrying on with one of his teachers only resulted in action against the teacher and the principal got away with no action. The teacher was a hard working teacher who had been at the school for six years and initiated many student oriented activities. She will be missed at our school but Broad Ripple has gained a dynamic new teacher.
Ramon Batts and Leroy Robinson are little more than modern day 'step and fetch its'. They embarrass us as serious educators. If elected, Batts and Robinson will always follow Massa Eugene's orders without question. The IPS School Board is about two short of becoming Uncle Eugene's Cabin.
Letter to the Editor / Indy Star _____________________________________________
The relish trays are safe for Big Public Education
Posted: May 3, 2010
So, our IPS School Board voted on budget cuts last week, and teachers, police, janitors and other staff positions have been eliminated. Not surprising at all until you hear what the "sacred cows" were when it came to making cuts in the budget.
Superintendent and board travel and expenses, association memberships, tickets to events, and the food budget were items to be spared in their vote. Board member Marianna Zaphiriou said it was not appropriate to vote on those items with two new board members coming in July. I'm glad the two outgoing members were deemed responsible enough by her and Mary Busch to vote on the petty little teachers and their jobs. Their relish trays are safe.
If this were an oil company or Wall Street, it would be more believable. Maybe we should start looking at the executive and board level of "Big Public Education."
I do not understand how a group so ignorant of employee and public perception, or so arrogant and condescending, can be entrusted to run a school system with any aptitude.
Their standards of living seem higher than their expectations of themselves.
I will mention Josefa Beyer, only because she is a candidate as well. And although I can not vote for her, she has my support as well. We have gotten to know one another during this process, and I have a lot of respect for her. It’s been a lot of work, and a lot of fun, a great learning experience, but I am glad it’s almost over. The election itself is so much, that I can barely think about the board. Maybe that’s a good thing. I really can see myself as a board member. But when I picture this, I am not sitting at the meeting behind a laptop. I am at schools, meeting teachers, reading to students, eating lunch with them, listening to concerns of the support staff, going to musicals, and maybe even a football game.
I'm unable to vote for IPS School Board members; however, I do work in IPS and am keenly interested in seeing Annie Roof and Josefa Beyer being elected.
problem is the best we can hope for is still being at a 4-3 "everything gene wants" outcome... the only people who gave white any sort of resistance are both leaving, so even if Roof and Beyer get in (which i hope they do) its still a puppet board which will always fall in whites favor on the big stuff...
unfortunately for these 2 candidates i think the end is very near for IPS as a district and i doubt we will get an opportunity to remove the other "yes anything you say dr white, may i get you a glass of water or rub your feet" board members before the state comes in and does it for us.
While we won't have the votes, we need someone who will speak up and ask the tough questions and then expect some real answers. Justin Forkner is one of those who is not afraid.
Roy Schroeder is also NOT afraid. Forkner, yes. Schroeder, yes. Let's get this board to the point at which it is representative of the people within the district!
Ramon Batts.
ReplyDeleteRescind, eradicate, roll back the IPS raises
ReplyDeleteBy AMOS BROWN III
Published: Thursday, February 4, 2010 11:38 AM EST
The Indianapolis Board of School Commissioners voted last week to accept Superintendent Dr. Eugene White’s recommendation granting raises to four highly paid IPS administrators.
The School Board also voted to grant the superintendent a three percent raise.
Both actions by the IPS School Board were wrong.
The Indianapolis Public Schools aren’t Microsoft, Wal-Mart or Warren Buffett’s company. IPS, like nearly every school district in Indiana and many nationwide, and like many non-profits and for-profit entities, is facing severe economic pressures and stresses.
Indiana property tax caps are negatively impacting IPS’ transportation and maintenance budgets. And IPS’ loss of thousands of students in recent years, plus the Great Recession’s impact on state government revenues, has IPS facing between $20-$30 million in funding shortfalls.
IPS dodged scores of teacher layoffs this school year because of the one-time injection of federal stimulus money. This coming school year, IPS won’t be as fortunate.
IPS’ layoffs impact newer, younger teachers – many with the thrill and desire to teach using techniques and methods that engage today’s MTV/BET, Facebook, Wii-oriented, texting-tested students.
White said the four veteran IPS administrators deserved raises, pushing their salaries around $100,000 because they were taking on more responsibility.
Speaking Monday on WTLC-AM1310’s “Afternoons with Amos,” IPS Board President Michael Brown said the four administrators didn’t receive “raises.” Instead they were moving to “a different job responsibility with a different (higher) authorized salary.”
That may be true, but its semantics are not relevant to today’s economic realities.
How many of you reading this took on more responsibility at your job? Did you get a raise for that? If you’re like me and most Americans and Hoosiers, the answer is no.
When times were good, raises like those OK’d by IPS were fine. When times are hard, they’re an insult!
Board President Brown and White say that the other school districts pay their administrators more money. That keeping up with the Jones’ mentality doesn’t fly in these tough economic times.
In his State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama called out the nation’s colleges and universities, urging them to show restraint in their tuition and costs.
Our public schools should show the same restraint. In this era of tight school budgets, school administrations and school boards should show leadership and freeze administrative salaries and if the budget woes are tough, roll some of those salaries back until the fiscal crisis passes.
The media industry, including the media I work for, have had salaries and raises frozen, even rolled back to weather the economic storm. If we in media can do it, so can those in education.
IPS must roll back the raises, immediately!
Rescind, eradicate, roll back the IPS raises
ReplyDeleteBy AMOS BROWN III
Published: Thursday, February 4, 2010 11:38 AM EST
The Indianapolis Board of School Commissioners voted last week to accept Superintendent Dr. Eugene White’s recommendation granting raises to four highly paid IPS administrators.
The School Board also voted to grant the superintendent a three percent raise.
Both actions by the IPS School Board were wrong.
The Indianapolis Public Schools aren’t Microsoft, Wal-Mart or Warren Buffett’s company. IPS, like nearly every school district in Indiana and many nationwide, and like many non-profits and for-profit entities, is facing severe economic pressures and stresses.
Indiana property tax caps are negatively impacting IPS’ transportation and maintenance budgets. And IPS’ loss of thousands of students in recent years, plus the Great Recession’s impact on state government revenues, has IPS facing between $20-$30 million in funding shortfalls.
IPS dodged scores of teacher layoffs this school year because of the one-time injection of federal stimulus money. This coming school year, IPS won’t be as fortunate.
IPS’ layoffs impact newer, younger teachers – many with the thrill and desire to teach using techniques and methods that engage today’s MTV/BET, Facebook, Wii-oriented, texting-tested students.
White said the four veteran IPS administrators deserved raises, pushing their salaries around $100,000 because they were taking on more responsibility.
Speaking Monday on WTLC-AM1310’s “Afternoons with Amos,” IPS Board President Michael Brown said the four administrators didn’t receive “raises.” Instead they were moving to “a different job responsibility with a different (higher) authorized salary.”
That may be true, but its semantics are not relevant to today’s economic realities.
How many of you reading this took on more responsibility at your job? Did you get a raise for that? If you’re like me and most Americans and Hoosiers, the answer is no.
When times were good, raises like those OK’d by IPS were fine. When times are hard, they’re an insult!
Board President Brown and White say that the other school districts pay their administrators more money. That keeping up with the Jones’ mentality doesn’t fly in these tough economic times.
In his State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama called out the nation’s colleges and universities, urging them to show restraint in their tuition and costs.
Our public schools should show the same restraint. In this era of tight school budgets, school administrations and school boards should show leadership and freeze administrative salaries and if the budget woes are tough, roll some of those salaries back until the fiscal crisis passes.
The media industry, including the media I work for, have had salaries and raises frozen, even rolled back to weather the economic storm. If we in media can do it, so can those in education.
IPS must roll back the raises, immediately!
according to the Star's voter Guide (www.indystar.com/voterguide), Dr. Batts earned a BS from the Indiana Institute of Technology and a Divinity Degree from United Theological Seminary. Both are online programs. A Google search finds that he is a Financial Coach/Income Specialist for Oasis Christian Community Development Corporation, Indianapolis, IN. whatever that means.
ReplyDeleteMost troubling is the fact that he lists no source of income. Is the School Board going to be his career?
He also indicates he has raised $500 for his campaign, but according to the Marion County Election Board, he has failed to file a statement of organization and failed to file his campaign finance reports.
This is a violation of the law.
Check out who has filed their reports and who hasn't--
http://www.indy.gov/eGov/County/Clerk/Election/Candidate_Info/MCEBCampaignFinanceArchive/Offices/schbd-msdips.html
From the 2010 Indiana Campaign Finance Manual--
ReplyDeleteDefinition of a Candidate: An individual may become a candidate for other election law purposes by acting to qualify under Indiana law for listing on the ballot at an election or to become a write-in candidate by publicly announcing or declaring candidacy for an elected office; or otherwise by seeking nomination for an election to an elected office.
These announcements do not automatically make the individual a candidate for purposes of the Indiana Campaign Finance Act. (IC 3-9)
For campaign finance purposes, an individual becomes a “candidate” when the individual, the candidate’s committee, or a person acting with the consent of the individual:
1. receives more than $100 in contributions; or
2. makes more than $100 in expenditures. (IC 3-5-2-6)
Each candidate, when filing a declaration of candidacy or similar document, is required to separately sign a statement indicating that the candidate is aware of requirements of the Act and agrees to comply with them. (IC 3-8-2-7)
The fining deadline for the pre-primary was April 16th. Here is a lst of the candidates who filed their reports--
ReplyDeleteDistrict 3 (6 candidates* and only 2 have filed reports)-
Josefa Beyer
William Schoeder (filed late)
At Large (7 candidates, only 3 have filed reports)
Justin Forkner (got a $1,000 from Al Hubbard)
Leroy Robinson (gave Ramon Batts money)
Annie Roof
Who is Dominic Coleman? According to the Election Board, he is a declared candidate for IPS District 3, but he isn't listed in the voters' guide.
ReplyDeleteA forum was held last night at the Ed Center, put on by an active, involved parent who thought ALL the candidates voices needed to be heard. This meeting will be aired tonight. Channel 16 at 7:00pm IPS School Board Candidate Forum (taped 4/29/10)
ReplyDeletePoster above - The other district three candidates heard that Dominic Coleman is not campaigning. I don't know if it was a mistake or not, but to our knowledge this person is not interested in being elected.
why haven't all the candidates filed their reports? Ramon Batts hasn't filed a campaign finance report. I see his yard signs in empty lots and public right-of-way so I'm sure he's spent more than $100.
ReplyDeleteAnd what about the other candidates who haven't filed their reports--Chequrita Booker, Josephine Coleman, Ronald Hampton, William Jackson, Samantha Adair-White, Dominic Coleman, and Glen Sandifer?
Do these people think they are above the law? Do they have something to hide?
No, these people likely don't have anything to hide. I am convinced they're just too ignorant and uninformed to follow the guidelines. If that's the case, then would we want any one of them as a school board member?
ReplyDeleteI checked the list of candidates, and Dominic Coleman is candidate according to the Marion COunty Election Board.
ReplyDeleteHow pathetic would it be if a guy who isn't interested in winning wins.
I wont vote for Ramon Batts. Any candidate who won't reveal his educational statua or his employment does not deserve to be on the board. Where does his children attend school??
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of education does Brown have? First grade?
ReplyDeleteIs Brown's education from an online source too? Where is Positive Force Ministries? He went to Catholic schools and a college in Iowa but only listed his supposedly "doctorate"
ReplyDeleteRoy Schroeder is the most qualified candidate. He was actively involved with the SBDM committee at Broad Ripple. He has met with teachers from many schools in the district to listen to their concerns. He has attended several recent school board meetings to address the board on financial issues. He is in the investment business and understands the complexity of school funding
ReplyDeleteand budgeting.
He has a real college degree ! Need I say more ?
i don't think attending school board meetings is what qualifies you to be a school board member. We have several people who have been ON the school board for years who are not qualified. [M.B] Is the IPS School board becoming an employment program for people with fake doctorates who wont divulge their educational background or their place of employement. Schroeder has sent his children to private schools and Batts wont tell where his children attend school.
ReplyDeleteI'm not voting for an education expert. I'm voting for the candidate that I feel best represents my concerns as a parent.
ReplyDeleteI heard Leroy Robinson speak. After several minutes of hearing him talk about how intelligent and well educated Dr. white is and how many wonderful programs that Dr. White started, I decided he was just another headbobbing puppet for Eugene White. I cannot vote for him.
ReplyDeleteIPS has wonderful elementary magnet programs, yet Schroeder's children attended a private K-8 school!
ReplyDeleteAnd his youngest child still attends a private school.
Did he even look at the options available in IPS. Does he know anything about Center for Inquiry at School #2 and #84? The Performing Arts Academy at School #70? Merle Sidner Gifted Academy? What about the three Montessori schools? The Key School? The Spanish Immersion School?
And does he know any IPS parents? Has he reached out to them? Does he know anything about the concerns parents have and how they feel about their schools and the district?
I'm an active parent and he hasn't reached out to me. I've heard him at the forums and on the radio, and all he ever talks about is the Broad Ripple School Based Decision Making Committee. I have friends with children at the school and they say that committee is full of useless people.
I am supporting Chequrita Booker and Samantha Adair-White. Both received the endorsement of classified labor union and or united because the have an axe to grind. I rather have two people who are totally against Dr. White instead of two people who are ready to kiss Dr. White's ass. "Dr." Batts is another "Dr." Brown and Leroy Robinson showed his weakness at today's concerned clergy meeting.
ReplyDeleteWhere did Batts get his Doctorate degree and what is his job? He must make good money as he drives a very expensive car. Batts is another puppet for Eugene White......
ReplyDeleteBatts works as a Substitute Teacher at Harshman Middle School, Middle School Basketball Coach at Harshman, and drools at the mouth on Sunday when they are passing the collection plate around. "Dr." Brown Jr.....
ReplyDeleteSamantha Adair's husband currently works for the GEO Foundation--an anti-public school/pro voucher organization.
ReplyDeleteChequrita Booker sounded clueless at the forums and on radio.
Come on IPS--can't we elect some exceptional people to the Board? People with REAL degrees, from REAL universities, who bring SOMETHING to the table. People with some knowledge of education policy and what public service is all about?
Re: Samantha Adair's husband currently works for the GEO Foundation--an anti-public school/pro voucher organization.
ReplyDeleteYeah. His name is Jeff White. He is one of the only ones who had the guts to go against Dr. White. He was pushed out because he put his foot down. He was not anti-public school. He just knew something needed to change. Isn't that what we need now in IPS?
The GEO foundation is a charter school organization. Charter schools are no less public than traditional schools run by districts. And I agree that Jeff White was/is one of the good ones. How people can be anti-White and also be against the organizations and people that challenge White, his cronies, and their mentality is baffling to me.
ReplyDeleteIn the last couple of days, IPS has been sued for restraining a child with special needs (this even made news on msnbc) and a 9 year old student tragically lost his life. Time for a new blog.
ReplyDeleteThe collection plate must be pretty loaded for him to drive the expensive upscale car he drives.....Praise the Lord and pass the collection plate....I have a car payment due.........We don't need more Eugene White puppets on this board.
ReplyDeleteGEO Foundation has always been a strong proponent of tax supported tuition vouchers to religious and private schools. They have pushed tax credits for families paying tuition, further eroding the funds available for traditional public education.
ReplyDeleteWe need board members who will govern. We don't need board members who will destroy.
In my opinion of the leaders of the GEO foundation (and/or those who govern manage like them) were leading IPS, then we probably wouldn't even need charter schools, would we?
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't the "active parent" reach out to Schroeder ? If all the parents who truly care about the district would work together there might be some real progress. Where a parent chooses to send their child to school is a very personal matter. Roy does have one child in IPS,
ReplyDeletehas been a "very active parent" and now is willing to spend even more time representing those parents in the district who don't have the time or resources to fight for what is best for
all the students. Instead of listening to second- hand reports why don't you just contact him and hear what he stands for?
Again, if you want two ass kissers, vote for Batts and Robinson. If you want someone to challenge authority, vote for Adair-White, Beyer, or Booker. I'd rather have the ass kickers instead of the ass kissers, Batts and Robinson have ran for IPS School Board before and lost. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteA New Question:
ReplyDeleteWhat should happening to a Principal and Teacher who are engaging in adulterous affair and their foolishness is becoming a major disruption to the learning environment? Your thoughts!!!
I question why the school board allows a principal to have an affair with one of his teachers and when there is a break up, the teacher is punished by being transferred to another school and nothing happens to the principal? This will be in the papers soon and I wonder what answer Eugene White and his puppets on the school board will have.
ReplyDeleteElecting Leroy Robinson and Ramon Batts will be putting two more members on the board who worship White and will never ask for accountability and answers from him.
Schroeder joined the BRHS SBDM when only one other parent volunteered, he has held forums to meet and greet parents and teachers. He has tried to get a "Dad's Club" up and running at BRHS, and run into opposition from an administration that clearly doesn't want any meaningful parental involvement participation. He will talk to anyone about IPS and what is going on.
ReplyDeleteHe maybe a "hot head" but really doesn't IPS need a few good hot head. This district is falling apart at the seams. There is a complete break down of effective leadership. It is a mess. Every single parent, IPS tax payer and stakeholder should be a hot head. What is happening in IPS is not in the best interest of students and their successful futures.
And before you tote out the fabulous programs at 91 and CFI, remember these programs are deemed untouchable by the administration, what about the other schools, the schools where everyone else's child attends. Every child in IPS deserves a quality education.
Take another look at those Cambridge reports, because after looking at them if you are not angry about what is reported you are a fool.
"I have friends with children at the school and they say that committee is full of useless people"
ReplyDeleteAnd you know this how? From an parent who has chosen not to be involved. Last summer a senior administrator disbanded BRHS's legitimate SBDM, when Schroder brought this point up Dr. White called him a liar in public. When he returned with the evidence Dr. White wasn't even there, and the board skipped over it like they do so many wrongs in IPS. Right now there are people who are very nervous that Schroder might win and shine some light on the dark corners of IPS, and their wrongdoings.
Justin Forkner is who I'm voting for.
ReplyDeleteWhat principal, what teacher and what school? That's the problem here. People leave little tidbits of info, and then never finish it. They're like little spoilers, or teasers, and it's annoying.
ReplyDeleteI'm voting for Justin Forkner also.......He is not afraid to ask the hard questions. I now which school is being discussed above but I won't reveal the name. Wait until the article is in the papers and you will know which high school/community school.
ReplyDeleteYes, Please give us the name of the Principal and the Teacher or at least the name of the school. Dr. White will do nothing about this after all supposedly he has committed adultery with a well known asian lady who works at the JMC downtown(whose office is right next door to his). I thought everyone knew in order to be promoted at IPS you have to committ some sort of sexual deviant act! LMAO
ReplyDeleteAll fossils in the system remember the cat fight in the Ed Center's lobby. Anybody have a pillow?
ReplyDeleteRIP, James Adams.
What's the point in giving the names? Nothing will happen. It's been discussed on here repeatedly, so why beat a dead horse?
ReplyDeleteYes, the bed hopping in the IPS administrative ranks has been embarrassing during the Eugene White administration. That is why the principal carrying on with one of his teachers only resulted in action against the teacher and the principal got away with no action. The teacher was a hard working teacher who had been at the school for six years and initiated many student oriented activities. She will be missed at our school but Broad Ripple has gained a dynamic new teacher.
ReplyDeleteThe school has a principal that looks like "Hey Kool-Aid." Kool-Aid should be removed.
ReplyDeleteI'm voting for Josefa Beyer and Annie Roof.
ReplyDeleteAnybody but Ramon Batts and Leroy Robinson.
ReplyDeleteRamon Batts and Leroy Robinson are little more than modern day 'step and fetch its'. They embarrass us as serious educators. If elected, Batts and Robinson will always follow Massa Eugene's orders without question. The IPS School Board is about two short of becoming Uncle Eugene's Cabin.
ReplyDeleteMaster White our house on fire.
ReplyDeleteLetter to the Editor / Indy Star
ReplyDelete_____________________________________________
The relish trays are
safe for Big Public
Education
Posted: May 3, 2010
So, our IPS School Board voted on budget
cuts last week, and teachers, police,
janitors and other staff positions have
been eliminated. Not surprising at all
until you hear what the "sacred cows"
were when it came to making cuts in the
budget.
Superintendent and board travel and
expenses, association memberships,
tickets to events, and the food budget
were items to be spared in their vote.
Board member Marianna Zaphiriou said it
was not appropriate to vote on those
items with two new board members
coming in July. I'm glad the two outgoing
members were deemed responsible
enough by her and Mary Busch to vote on
the petty little teachers and their jobs.
Their relish trays are safe.
If this were an oil company or Wall Street,
it would be more believable. Maybe we
should start looking at the executive and
board level of "Big Public Education."
I do not understand how a group so
ignorant of employee and public
perception, or so arrogant and
condescending, can be entrusted to run a
school system with any aptitude.
Their standards of living seem higher
than their expectations of themselves.
http://annieforschoolboard.com/
ReplyDeleteI will mention Josefa Beyer, only because she is a candidate as well. And although I can not vote for her, she has my support as well. We have gotten to know one another during this process, and I have a lot of respect for her.
It’s been a lot of work, and a lot of fun, a great learning experience, but I am glad it’s almost over. The election itself is so much, that I can barely think about the board. Maybe that’s a good thing. I really can see myself as a board member. But when I picture this, I am not sitting at the meeting behind a laptop. I am at schools, meeting teachers, reading to students, eating lunch with them, listening to concerns of the support staff, going to musicals, and maybe even a football game.
I'm unable to vote for IPS School Board members; however, I do work in IPS and am keenly interested in seeing Annie Roof and Josefa Beyer being elected.
ReplyDeleteproblem is the best we can hope for is still being at a 4-3 "everything gene wants" outcome... the only people who gave white any sort of resistance are both leaving, so even if Roof and Beyer get in (which i hope they do) its still a puppet board which will always fall in whites favor on the big stuff...
ReplyDeleteunfortunately for these 2 candidates i think the end is very near for IPS as a district and i doubt we will get an opportunity to remove the other "yes anything you say dr white, may i get you a glass of water or rub your feet" board members before the state comes in and does it for us.
While we won't have the votes, we need someone who will speak up and ask the tough questions and then expect some real answers. Justin Forkner is one of those who is not afraid.
ReplyDeleteRoy Schroeder is also NOT afraid. Forkner, yes. Schroeder, yes. Let's get this board to the point at which it is representative of the people within the district!
ReplyDeleteForkner has my vote.
ReplyDelete