Excellence In Marshall

We are SO lucky to live in a community where people truly and deeply care about our school district. This blog is proof of that. We, like every school district in America, has problems. Everyone who has posted on this blog cares about this district. WE ALL want to see the Marshall Public School be the best WE can be. Sometimes the GOOD of the district gets lost in the bad of the district. Lets take some time and realize what some of the good has been recently --

• Sue Boley our District Wide Nurse was awarded Michigan's 2007 School Nurse of the Year.
• We just had a successful all-elementary school carnival. Thanks to all the parent volunteers for all your hard work!
• Sue Townsend - Principal of Walters Elementary was awarded a Principal of the Year Award.
• The MHS Boys Golf Team recently placed 3rd in the State.
• The MHS Marching Band recently received a "ONE" rating during the District 11 Marching Band Festival.
• A group of Marshall Citizens spent many weeks investigating our Districts Facility Needs - and reported their findings to the Board. Thanks to them for spending some of their free time (which seems to be so hard to find) to figure out how to improve our facilities to keep us competitive with other districts.

These are some of the things that make us a District with Excellence! Please feel free to add other good thing that has happened recently in OUR District.

You Learn Something New Everyday!

Taken From www.marshall.k12.mi.us/district/index.html#belief

Belief Statement

• Every individual has worth and dignity, is unique and learns in relation to that uniqueness, and has the right to educational opportunity in order to reach his or her potential.
• Students have the right to acquire the greatest possible understanding of themselves and the right to gain an appreciation of their worth.
• The mastery of essential skills is the primary focus of its educational program.
• Learning is a lifelong process, and therefore, the school district must provide the opportunities for all students to develop in the physical, cognitive, affective, and creative domains.
• The preservation of a free society depends upon the ability of its citizens to protect individual liberty; thus, schools must promote the democratic ideal, promote social justice, and develop an appreciation of America's heritage.
  

Family Feud?

- AND THE SURVEY SAYS -
Below are the numerical results to the Unionized Staff Survey Results that were presented to the Marshall Board of Education during the October Board Meeting. The results are arranged in alphabetical order.
1 = POOR
2 = BELOW AVERAGE
3 = AVERAGE
4 = ADEQUATE
5 = SUPERIOR

NEEDLESS TO SAY - TALK AMONGST YOURSELVES!

Was This Necessary?

A few weeks back the rock at Marshall High School was painted. On one side it said "Fire Phillips - Metcalf - Jones" - On the other side it said "Students For A Better School". Has a student group formed? Will they start speaking out about their issues? I guess they only know. So go ahead - - - Talk Amongst Yourselves!

A few housekeeping notes. Maybe you have noticed the new poll on the sidebar of this blog. There will be a poll every week, on different issues. The results will be posted at the conclusion of the poll - of course it is a non-scientific poll. Also at the end of every week the stats from this blog will be released - how many visitors, how many page views, etc. So thank you - "MarshallMom", "Marshall Taxpayer", "Carol", "Dr.M", "MpsParent", "The Grinch", "T Dawg", and all other "Anonymous" bloggers! Thank you for not only visiting this blog, but POSTING with your thoughts. Lets ALL keep this dialogue going. It is so very important!

Under Pressure - Talk Amongst Yourselves

Published October 28, 2006
The Marshall Chronicle
by John Jacobs, J-Ad President/CEO

Despite the disappointment by certain groups that the Chronicle puts too much emphasis on negative news, we're going to continue to tell the truth, fairly, accurately, without pressure from any group requesting us to "join the team!" We strive to do it responsibly, carefully, with much thought and concern for how it will affect those involved. We receive numerous news tips which we welcome. We take them all seriously, investigate and make judgments about their news value on a regular basis. Some become stories, some don't. Please don't presume that we will be reckless with the information. I think we've proven that we won't. We're not joiners - we're informers of facts. We're not going to tell you how to think, how to vote, but we will offer KNOWLEDGE so you can make your own choices and become more aware of the actions of the public entities in your hometown, the community we ALL love and want to prosper and grow. In regard to the Marshall Teachers Association and other unionized staff survey presented to the Board of Education two weeks ago, we believe before the community can be asked to approve the investment of $51.6 million on physical properties, the school board, as a group, needs to address the reported low morale of the teachers. The teachers and support staff represents our most important educational resource! Their combined talent and experience must be available to the students without impairment. When they report to be uncomfortable with the attitude and environment in which they perform their services, it could affect the education of our young people. We can't allow that to occur. Reaction is required by those in charge, namely, the Board of Education, to fix the problem and go forward! Despite the pressure, the Chronicle will continue to be unbiased, fact finding, fact reporting and dedicated to sharing every and anything positive (or otherwise). Marshall is a truly great community with a strong future.

Both Sides Welcomed

This blog was created so there can be open dialogue between "both sides". No matter what "side" you are on - please use this tool to discuss your displeasures, ideas to make positive forward movement, etc. Remember - - - open dialogue about topics is useful, you may not agree with what people have to say, but as long as we are talking about it - that is a good thing!

Talk Amongst Yourselves.......

Quoted from The Marshall Chronicle
October 23, 2006

"Fact is, since I've been here, I'm told I'm the most visible superintendent Marshall's ever had. I attend more student events, more sporting events, more of the arts performances and more community events than any other superintendent. I take that as a compliment. Because I care about Marshall."
-Joyce Phillips, Superintendent MPS

Discussion Of Topics

If you would like to discuss any of the topics listed in this blog please click on the comments link below the post and type your comment. To read comments (if there are any comments left about the topic) click the comment link to read them.

Board evaluation of Phillips not accurate

Letter to the Editor:

How many people would not read a survey conducted, regarding them directly, immediately? Joyce Phillips stated that after receiving the survey at the Monday board meeting, she had not had the time to read them as of print day, Thursday. How likely is that? Especially since, according to her ‘guest column’ in which she was running damage control she is trying to blame the MPS employees of being afraid of change. Quite the contrary. Change is welcome when it is in the best interest of our students, community and staff. Marshall deserves a superintendent with a better overall rating than 1.7%. This is still an overall rating of poor. Read the guest article again - apparently Joyce had read the survey. When 218 surveys are sent out and 153 returned, that shows a great desire for change. Why are you trying to make this seem so insignificant? Are you afraid of change? Maybe that is the real problem here. What was Joyce’s overall rating on the survey? On a one to five did she receive an overall of 2, 3, 4 or 5? No, her overall rating was 1.7%. With 218 being sent out, 110 returned them on Joyce. The other personnel had no dealing or knowledge of what the superintendent does or what that position entails. This was a return on Joyce of 50%. Does that not show a need for change? It would seem to me that if any other school employee received all overall 1’s (poor), they would be dismissed. The survey scale was as follows: 5=superior, 4=adequate, 3=average, 2=below average and 1=poor. Does Marshall deserve a “poor superintendent” running our schools? I would hope each and every one reading this would say ‘no’. This is going to require a lot of change on Joyce’s part. Talk of doing a survey began in late March through early April. Staff, after reading the board’s yearly evaluation of the superintendent (Marshall Chronicle, May 15, 2006) began talking about letting their opinion be heard through the survey tool. It was decided to do the survey during the summer months when attention could be given to it. The MPS staff did not feel the board was accurate in their opinion of Joyce Phillips’ performance. According to Vic Potter, saying, he “thinks employees would be happy we believe in our leader.” Is it not important for approximately 300-plus MPS employees to believe in their leader or just seven school board members? Are seven school board members not elected to represent the whole community? According to the Oct. 9, 2006 Chronicle, Vic Potter is quoted as saying, “they say there are no names on it (the survey). Give me some people to talk to. The board has always been open to anybody to talk. No one has called me. With no names, I won’t know what to think. I guess I have to see what the contents are. Are they upset because she is making some people do their jobs and they don’t want to?” Answer: How often do you take part in a survey and are asked to submit your name? Vic, you could begin by talking to any school employee regarding the concerns evident in the survey. MPS employees have been told for years that they are not to take concerns to the boar - they are to speak to the superintendent first. As far as employees not wanting to be made to do their jobs, over 300 employees have been and will continue to do the excellent jobs they were hired to do before Joyce Phillips came to Marshall and for decades after she leave this area.

Lynn Griffin, Marshall
Published 10/23/2006
The Marshall Chronicle

Superintendent's Corner

by Dr. Joyce Phillips, Superintendent, MPS
Published October 23, 2006
The Marshall Chronicle

Vision is a powerful tool. It sets the course to the future, gives us direction, and allows us to focus on purpose and strategic direction. Without vision, we are always looking in the rear view mirror. Looking in the rear view mirror of your car will get you out of the driveway. Once you get out of the driveway though, you are stuck until you look ahead. It is only by looking forward through the windshield at the road that you can get anywhere. That's not to say that checking the backward view from time to time isn't important. It is. However, by constantly looking backward, you cannot move ahead. A leader is the keeper of the vision. A leader keeps the main thing, the main thing. Here is my vision for Marshall Public Schools:
My vision includes high student achievement. In my vision, the achievement of Marshall's students is highly regarded throughout the county, region, and state. Elementary, middle and high school students have opportunities for enrichment, advanced study or remediation. After high school graduation, students are successful in their next choices, whether that is a 4 year or 2 year college or university; the workforce; the military; or other technical training. Failure is not acceptable. My vision includes highly qualified staff. Each position in the district, from support staff, to teaching staff, to administrative staff is filled by the highest qualified, most competent person for that position. My vision includes a school board that sets strategic direction for the district and develops policy. The board sets goals and then holds all of us accountable for those goals. My vision includes a school environment which supports quality teaching and learning. School space that is well maintained and up-to-date meets students' needs and learning styles. The buildings are clean and in good repair. The well-kept grounds make a statement that we care from the outside to the inside, and that everything we do is important. My vision includes a transportation system that holds students' safety in the highest regard and a food service system that provides healthy choices and quality foods. My vision includes opportunities for quality professional development and training. All staffs eagerly engage in these opportunities to continue learning new techniques and strategies that will increase their effectiveness in their position. Continuous improvement is valued and expected. My vision includes a community partnership that is dedicated to the success of out students and programs. My vision also includes awareness for fiscal responsibility. The success of my vision depends on the financial health of the district. We cannot overspend our limits or none of the vision becomes reality. After reading this, you have a pretty good idea about my ideas for Marshall Public Schools. Over the course of these last three years, you have seen this vision spark into life and begin to take shpae. As the vision continues to unfold and drive our work, I make you a promise: I will continue to keep Our Kids First.

Lets Hear What You Have To Say

Unless you have been hiding under a rock here in Marshall, you know that there is some controversy brewing (or has already brewed and people are just finding out about it) with our top administration of the Marshall Public Schools, mainly Joyce Phillips. The common theme coming out now from Joyce Phillips and Board President Vic Potter is that communication is good. So, what better communication tool than a Blog. Feel free to post any comments that you have about this topic.