"Will the current School Board have the courage?" by newsie

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Will the current School Board have the courage?

Paul Dorathy is the single best thing to ever happen to USD 348. Do you think the current School Board will have the guts to renew Paul Dorathy's contract before the new Board members take office? I can guarantee you the crazy country school folks want to get rid of him, but if the existing Board acts on the courage of their convictions then Paul's contract can be locked in and there's nothing that the new Board members can do about it.

By newsie

April 25, 2011

newsie

anonymousmom 2 years ago

"Crazy country school folks"? You're a piece of work!

sportsfan 2 years ago

Considering the immature behaviors of many of the “country folk,” “crazy” is a mild description. Some of them have spoken and written slanderous and libelous comments about the current board members and in-town teachers. They also have influenced their children to do the same. “Shameful” is a more apt descriptor. Of course, not everyone has participated in the smear campaign, but those who have are seriously small-minded.

anonymousmom 2 years ago

I am not a "country folk", but I would certainly never put labels like that on groups of people. Don't you think that all of us parents just want what is best for our kids? Aren't we all just trying to accomplish the same goal? Why make it more difficult by labeling people and calling them names? How immature. I know PLENTY of "country folk" and not one of them has acted in the ways that you are suggesting.

sportsfan 2 years ago

"I know PLENTY of "country folk" and not one of them has acted in the ways that you are suggesting."

So do I and they certainly have.

GreatGazoo 2 years ago

While I disagree that Mr Dorathy is the single best thing to ever happen to USD 348, he has been put in one of the toughest spots any administrator has ever been through.

There is no need to put labels on the "country school folks" newsie. Most of us are just hard working people who want the best for our kids, our community and our world.

It would go a long way towards reconciliation of hard feelings if the superintendent would take a cut in pay. The "general administration" section of the budget keeps increasing every year.

BigCat 2 years ago

He has already received a 2 year contract extension on Monday March 7th at the BOE meeting. It was approved 7-0. So any discussion of this is a moot point.

BigCat 2 years ago

Wrong newsie. Just like any contract, there are things that can cause termination of said contract. So nothing is ever set in stone, and who are these "crazy country school folks" that you talk about? Your neighbors and fellow taxpayers! Besides, it really sounds like you have issues.

BigCat 2 years ago

I believe that I am the realist here who takes the time to look at the facts before spouting off. The new board does not take seat until July. This is after the teacher contracts have been finalized. This alone make it ALMOST impossible to re-open them this year. And how is this "my plan"? All I did was tell you facts (one that supported your original delusional comment). And you keep talking about "crazy country folk" and "activist board members", yet never answered my question as to who are these people. Like Chic says below, I seriously doubt that you have spoken to even half of the newly elected members, let alone all of them. So how can you say some are "activist"? Try doing a little homework.

Chicramblings 2 years ago

Gotta love the determination of the "conspiracy theory" folks. They just don't give up, do they? And there is no limit to the reach of individuals involved in this conspiracy. Kevin Bacon is going to turn up somewhere, I just know it!

I'm just curious, Newsie have you talked with all four of the newly elected board members to know their "agenda"? Or are you just basing this on who supported what candidate and assuming you then know the individual and their agenda?

Furthermore, there is more upon which to evaluate the Superintendent than what is revealed or seen by the public. A well-rounded evaluation rests on much more than whether or not one agrees with one of many items recommended to the Board of Education by the Superintendent. Items like leadership skills, communication, vision, development of administrators, etc. are base factors. I give the current BofE the benefit of doubt that they considered and based their decision on such factors and what was best for the district, not on some heresay or fear of future plots.

Finally, regardless of where you stand on Superintendent Dorathy, the name calling and dividing of our community needs to cease. For our community and school district to be successful in the times ahead, we are going to have to pull together. It needs to start here and continue on the streets, in the coffee shops, at the bars, etc. - have respectful, fact based discussions and then, if necessary, agree to disagree and move on.

Sandy_Chapman 2 years ago

Newsie,

I do post under my own name.

Thanks.

sportsfan 2 years ago

"the name calling and dividing of our community needs to cease"

And that goes for the kids, too. They learn what to say from their parents. You should remember that.

anonymousmom 2 years ago

Aren't you the one who is calling "country folk" crazy in the above posts?? Maybe you are the one that should remember this!

tomfoolery 2 years ago

I am from Ottawa and recent talks down here have been about consolidating the Baldwin schools with Ottawa. But we don't want small town snobs from Baldwin in Ottawa.

Goldie 2 years ago

Would you consider taking " newsie " ? I would be willing to bet both country and city folks would be happy to pony up for his tuition and activity fees.

Goldie 2 years ago

Would you consider taking " newsie " ? I would be willing to bet both country and city folks would be happy to pony up for his tuition and activity fees.

anonymousmom 2 years ago

I'll vote for that!

Torch 2 years ago

Couple of points:

Dorathy supported keeping the rural schools open when the first 'serious' round of discussions about this happened roughly five years ago. After the study was done he said that it would 'only' save $200k a year to close the schools and felt it was worth it to keep them open for that. So any rural person who thinks he was against them is wrong. He was forced to support this plan because there is no money for luxuries right now. Frankly, this should have been done 5 years ago - that's $1,000,000 that could have been better spent.
Those of you who think the name-calling and back-biting are going to stop any time soon are living in a dream. After being around this town for some time I can tell you that there are people here who will never speak to each other again because of this...and if they have children in school together there will be name-calling and bullying there as well. It's just the way this town is - a big bunch school children ranging in age from 4 to 104, stomping their feet and fighting.

clang 2 years ago

newsie- GET OVER YOURSELF, I am sure you are NEW to Baldwin given your blog name! Us "country folk" as you call us are the ones who have kept this area going during the bad times. It must have been good enough for you NEW folks to want to come to Baldwin and live. WE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF NEWBIE'S COMING IN AND TAKING OVER TELLING WHAT WE WERE DOING IS WRONG AND YOU KNOW BETTER. We "COUNTRY FOLK" as you call us must have been doing something right with the small town living to include smaller country schools instead of large troubled schools for your children.Students having more one on one assistance with there education. Those of us who have lived here for generations have a problem with some one like you who come to Baldwin acting like you are better than us. I am sure small minded people like you are going to find something wrong with this post, spelling, etc... So I will say ahead of time I am pissed about your blog and really do not care if I have made some mistakes in this post.

We are so tired of reading posts or hearing put downs about this town and how things were done in the past. Why did someone like you and others move here anyway if it was so wrong, we have had enough of your put downs!