Once again, Dayton Public Schools believes rose colored glasses will
somehow solve their public relations fails. In an epic 4 hour meeting, first we
handed out awards for showing up to bus drivers, awards for janitors for
cleaning and a real award from the State for Teacher of the Year to a Stivers
teacher, Rachael Murdock.
Then it was into a presentation first by Dr. Sheila Burton and then
Dr. Elizabeth Lolli about how there was some good in the state test scores-
which put us as the second worst district in the State (behind Trotwood). While
this kind of information is great, it’s not really useful as “good news.” It’s
like saying “we got shutout, but, at least we didn’t fumble the football” (and
by the way, the score was 654-0).
It also shouldn’t be presented by administrators.
The proper way to present this, by a competent PR staff, would be a
presentation outlining the steps we’re taking over the next 3 years, in order
to remedy the issues. What best practices have we implemented that caused
things to move up, how we compared to the State in areas we didn’t move up, and
what are the performance goals for the future.
While identifying that Horace Mann got 5 “A”s is nice – without
knowing what the “A’s” were in, or why, or how- is useless information and a
waste of our time. How are we going to replicate those “A’s” across all the
other schools is more important. It’s not what grade you got, but what you
learned- and how you will improve that counts.
This set up the first fireworks. After Burton and Lolli finished,
Baguirov had to blather on about schools getting “A’s” and how we’re not all
failing. It was a ramble- unchecked. Joe Lacy had a totally illegible slide to
show his analysis- and was promptly cut off by Walker. Rudely. Joe, stormed off
the dais. When he returned to vote on an unscheduled Exec session midway
through the meeting- he asked if he was allowed to vote now- after he’d been
cut off.
The discussion in executive was obviously about the upcoming decision
to replace Pete Pullen with Chuck Taylor as the head boys basketball coach at
Dunbar. The public comments were dominated by people singing Pete’s praises.
The only one to not talk about Pete, was the poor girl who was a DECA student
who had cheered for Dunbar for her entire high school career- only to be told
she couldn’t finish her senior year for her school, with her friends- and was
risking her chance at a scholarship.
Sheila Taylor took a roundabout way of explaining how this was all the
Ohio High School Athletic Associations fault and sorry. “We tried to appeal”
was Taylor’s line- nevermind the fact that had she not given district athletic
director Mark Baker a 2 year contract- this probably wouldn’t have happened.
The fireworks finale was the vote on Taylor/Pullen for the coaching
job, but slipped in-between was the board voting not to pay Huffmaster on the
contract they signed for Strike Prep. $35,766.78 will be cited in the lawsuit
Huffmaster files- and then throw in fees, and penalties and this will cost even
more.
The board should be held personally liable for the breech of contract.
The superintendent as well, since she didn’t bother explaining that this wasn’t
an optional payment.
The Taylor vote had a lot of BS attached. First and foremost, Baguirov
announced he’d abstain. Why, not sure. Reality- dereliction of duty. He did
this after Lacey actually made a competent case for why the board should reject
the recommendations to not rehire the legend for a rookie coach.
He cited 20 years experience, the winning record, the loyalty, and the
scoring system which seemed more subjective than objective- especially when you
are talking a coaching legend with a record that’s unmatched- compared to a
rookie with zero high school coaching experience. But his most damning point
was that only 2 people applied to be head coach at one of the states premier
programs.
There could only be one reason- insider information and bias. Why
wouldn’t we have more applicants? Probably because no one that knows anything
about the program and Pete’s legacy would apply until Pete resigned- what idiot
would think they’d get picked over a coaching god?
And there lies your problem- only a system run by idiots would toss
away one of the best coaches in the State- and possibly in the country – and
that’s what we have. Only Chuck Taylor had the inside line on the plan, and
here we are.
Lacey walked off to talk to the Dunbar parents, former players,
coaches and of course the media- because he’s running for reelection, and because,
he’d already been disrespected by the board that evening. This one vote isn’t a
good reason to keep him, but, for the first time in a long time- Joe was
actually right on the money. That should scare us all.
Until next meeting of the circus clowns, stay sane, and send your kids
to CJ or the Miami Valley School. No signs of intelligent life emanate from the
puzzle palace on Ludlow.
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