Last week Channel 14 WFIE†treated†its viewers to a “Taking a Stand†segment featuring EVSC Superintendent of Schools, Dr. David Smith in that segment.  Superintendent Smith performed quite an unusual “trick†of twisting and spinning while standing stone-still. He delivered news that half of all EVSC schools now receive grades of A or B, although his alleged good news is not yet approved by the State Board of Education to be released publicly. That leads us to wonder why he didn’t wait until the grades are made official by the State. It appears to the City-County Observer that the premature announcement is just one more piece of Dr. Smiths “feel good fluff†he gives to the mainstream media to pass out to the public,  just in time to try to influence the election of four members of the EVSC Board of Trustees.
It is important to note that all of the recent media praise for the “improvements†in our schools carefully tiptoes around the fact that we have schools that are failing consistently, and the School Board is where the responsibility for that lies. Recently, we read of a curiously timed visit by a group dedicated to studying ways to successfully turn failing schools around. The group offered the public a lot of superficial reassurances after only a one day visit. A committee member from Gary, Indiana was quoted as saying “There is nothing about this school that supports it being an ‘F’ school,†in reference to Glenwood. We beg to differ with that assessment, but we believe the school’s history of consistent “F†grades is more indicative of the achievements there than his impression formed on this one day visit.
The City-County Observer stands firmly by its belief that one failing school is one more than should be accepted by the taxpayers of Vanderburgh County. We cannot and must not fail the young people of Evansville-Vanderburgh County if we expect this community to prosper in the future.
We believe that the feel-good propaganda crafted by Dr. Smiths well paid Communication Director is aimed at calming public discontent with the current direction of our public schools. We view this media blitz on behalf of the status quo in our public schools as a blatant attempt to continue the stagnant attitudes of our present school board. Dr. Smith has everything to gain by helping to retain the “rubber stamp†board that seems so willing to hand over their responsibilities that they hold to the taxpayers and students to their highest paid employee and his cadre of extremely well-paid administrators. It is clear that politics have invaded the part of the public sector that was to be kept out of back room political patronage, nepotism and political power games, and we are sorely disappointed that the current school board has allowed this to happen.
We are again emphasizing the importance of every CCO reader’s vote in the upcoming November 4, 2014 General election and urge you to vote for a basic change in the current make-up of the EVSC School Board. We do not believe the public interest is served by the continued lack of innovative leadership provided by the current school board who seem to be content with approving whatever the Superintendent asks for and avoiding transparency in their transactions. We ask that you give careful consideration to adding new board members who bring a more community-centered point of view to the direction of our schools.
In closing, Â its time that the EVSC Superintendent of Schools focus on improving our failing schools and stop playing back room political public relations games. Â We also hope that that our newly elected school board plots a new direction for our school system by setting achievable policies and goals for the Superintendent to follow. Â Our students and teachers should expect nothing less!
How does the CCO feel the students of Glenwood would be better served? Criticism is easy when you don’t offer solutions.
It is the EVSC Board and their “hired hand”, the superintendent, to find ways. Criticism IS the job of the media, and our local outlets aren’t doing their jobs. Solutions are up to the highly-paid professionals, and if they don’t deliver they need to be fired.
It’s evident you haven’t a solution, either. In the Glenwood school district, what is the one single most disadvantageous reality that manifests itself greater than in any other EVSC district?
It’s not my place to have a solution. That is up to successful professionals. Your “argument” is kind of childish. Even “Marsha” agreed that it is up to the pros to offer the solutions.
I really don’t know what you are talking about with your reference to “disadvantageous reality” as it applies to Glenwood. I don’t image that whatever you’re referring to is any more true there than it is at the other failing schools. Glenwood just happened to be the example the committee member who was quoted cited.
We have something in common. Neither of us know what you’re talking about.
“dis”;
If you will check the agenda and official minutes of the EVSC School Board Board meetings since June 1, 2014 you will become aware of the exodus of experienced teachers from all our schools. If they can get out, they are running for the exits.
You will also find on the attachment labeled “Personnel Report” lists of those retiring and resigning as well as an abundance of NEW hires. These NEW hires are really NEW, are paid the least, have ZERO years of teaching experience and MOST ARE are assigned to Glenwood or another school in non-attainment. The teachers hired who have experience are sent to
schools like Scott or Oak Hill, not the Title I schools which are those that have consistently
been on the failing list.
There are motives behind having failing schools.
1. FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS (Cash Cow)
These dollars are supposed to be in addition to state and local funding, but
often are used to replace regular funding. In turn the administration finds
other uses in the corporation.
2. STATE TAX DOLLARS (Cash Cow)
Glenwood received $2 mil. per year for 3 yrs. due to being one of the lowest
achieving schools in Indiana. Delaware and another Title I school were awarded
the same amount the following year. All are still on the non-achievement list.)
3. UNDESIRABLE ASSIGNMENTS
A place to threaten to transfer teachers who are not “toeing” the Superintendent’s
official line. Yes, this does happen. Ask a few retirees, Bill Weist, for one.
When the Federal Government decided to give out millions of dollars after the economy
the fell apart in 2008, the EVSC received $12 mil. to be used in the underachieving schools.
The EVSC/Bertram, hired a lot of aides and installed new programs that were supposed to be of great educational benefit for the kids. Glenwood got their share.
When the Stimulus Money ran out, at the same time the new EVSC Central Office Building held it’s Grand Opening/School Board Meeting, all those aide positions were eliminated. Amid the big PR flimflam, no one noticed the termination of all those aides listed on the Personnel Report . No one but me, I guess.
It was interesting that the artificial turf installed at the football fields cost right at , you guessed it, $12,000,000.00 !!!!!!
One additional note: Vince Bertram is still on the Indiana State School Board (ISSB) in Indianapolis. This is the group that oversees the “Grading of the Schools” and may be Smith’s source of unreleased information. The ISSB also approves the ISTEP cut-off levels, making sure a certain percentage of our students fail every year. For manychildren who struggle to raise their ISTEP scores, they find they still fall a few points short due to the raising of the pass bar.
Sorry to go on so long, but I get tired of people who won’t even go to a School Board Meeting or read the agenda, minutes personnel or financial reports.
Parents of the students do not care at all
Totally agree. If the “highly-paid” professionals are not getting the job done, they do need to go. But check this out: http://www.edlinesites.net/pages/EVSC/News/EVSC_Seeing_Unprecedented_Impr
They are getting it done!
Thanks for the link to the kind of “twisting and spinning” that the editorial refers to, Marsha!
Here’s the exchange that took place between us on the other featured article:
Marsha
Nov 3, 2014 at 8:56 am
The EVSC Superintendent’s contract is posted on the EVSC website and has been for years. There was no need to file a Freedom of Information Act request for this – but the EVSC was happy to comply.
In regard to administrative costs – you should be aware that for every $1 spent in 2006 out of Central Office, the EVSC now spends 48 cents. (This is based on information gathered in the MGT study many years ago) Quite a reduction. Many positions where individuals have left, have gone unfilled. You should not be trying to make a negative story where there is none.
Reply
elkaybee
Nov 3, 2014 at 12:24 pm
I don’t think the Superintendent’s contract is what the publisher filed a FOIA request for. It was for salary information. I really wonder why there is such hesitancy to share the information about how the taxpayers’ money is spent with them. I also know that the news of your own nearly very generous – $90,000 – salary was very difficult to find. That is pretty good for writing news releases. I doubt the young reporters at the local news outlets do that well.
I know for a fact that recently I called and asked for some information and was given answers that proved to be wrong. Distribution of erroneous information is even worse than just refusing to give any information, in my opinion. You’re right about not making a negative story where there is none, but I believe there is a negative story here that is being buried by a very highly paid “good news only†PR person.
If everything is so transparent, where are the 2015 salaries, Ms. Jackson?
The information that was requested was actually 2015 salaries. The City County Observer was informed of this – but chose not to put that in any of their stories, according to individuals that I spoke with at our office.
The proof is in the pudding, not in a press release put out by a paid spokesperson.
This post was removed by the CCO publisher because it is unacceptable and insulting. Any more similar posts and you will be removed from the site.
Nice Frankie.
What about the jokers in the school board. They are puppets to the administrator. Even if you check their political money contributions. One of them made $1000 donation to a parochial school.
Yes, he sure did.
$1000 of his campaign contributions went to Memorial High School.
Don’t worry, he donated $195 to the Public Education Foundation.
Money talks, doesn’t it? Disgusting.
This is yet ANOTHER reason to get rid of him by voting for his opponent – Jan Stricklin!
#92 #92 #92
Marsha, Marsha, Marsha. Looks like your earning your $90,000+ answering people on CCO today. Have fun.
Poor, kids.
IMHO:
Marsha’s comment Nov 3, 2014 at 3:09 pm is as unacceptable, by ANY measure or standard.
A removal and/or banning is in order. …
You’ve gotta ask yourself why our grossly overpaid and underperforming school corporation, ostemsibly charged with educating our children, would need a $90,000/yr. flack to speak to the public on their behalf.
NoMoDoh brings more facts, especially on school related matters, to these forums than anyone else. Calling out hypocrisy is a good thing to do.
Brian J at 7:44 pm on Nov. 3 said what the liberals can’t comprehend nor admit because it doesn’t fit into their government should do everything mentality. Does it, Laura? Now, do you know what I was talking about, although, of course, you really knew when you said you didn’t.
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