Wednesday, March 28, 2007
It's All About The Benjamin's
Joyce proved that her intention was very clear when coming to Marshall. The vision that she saw was not about excellence in education. It was not about keeping kids first. Her vision was $$$$$$$. Her vision was to collect a Michigan pension along with her Indiana pension. And what did we do? We bought into it! We didn't win anything. We lost! In a major way. She will be leaving here at the end of her contract and feel like she turned this District around. Well she did, she turned this District into the ground. The sad thing is - she won't care. She doesn't care that she drove off some very good employees in this District. She will be traveling the world - she is an international Super Star! - she is going to spread her vision world-wide. To the Marshall School Board: You let us down! 3.8 out of 5? When this bond doesn't pass - I hope you as a Board aren't surprised. Let's wait a couple years when we have a real Superintendent, and maybe a School Board with a spine - and then lets talk about a Bond Issue.
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128 comments:
The school bond is dead!!! Vote "NO" this May to send a message to the school board and Joyce! We will not trust or support them any longer! We have all been lied to and scammed for too long. We need new leadership first.
I am voting "No" on the bond. Are write in candidates allowed to run against Potter and Darling?
Where are her supporters? Are they afraid to come forward?
Mrs. Phillips wants to get paid fairly as comparable Superintendents in other districts do. Then she should make at least the average of (1) small-town (2) class B school district Superintendents (3) THAT SUCK!
Let's see, Superintendents in that category would average... well "zero" because they would BE FIRED!!!
Now what is the problem in the Marshall Schools? Why can't we be more like other school districts?
The MTA should accept nothing less than a 3 percent, or lets say 9 percent pay increase in the next contract. If the board and JP balk, who care? What else is there to lose? They are the ones who will look bad if there is no contract. They are counting on the MTA to kowtow to whatever they say or threaten. Let the contract expire, let the school district get some bad publicity, the board and JP deserve it! Cooperation, kindness and sacrificing for the district have failed miserably! JP and her supporters are making laughingstocks out of the MTA. Maybe a new and harsher survey is in order? Why should we keep taking this abuse? Look what they have done to our colleagues? Do you know that one nearly died due to one of her many her shady and unfair investigations? Yes, it is that serious now! Extreme evil has been committed against several of our own. We have every right to be angry and to demand fairness, cooperation and justice! While Phillips drools for revenge, Marshall teachers and their families are suffering in a big way.
I see the school board is so proud of their support for Sup. Phillips that they announced it on the eve of spring break. What a strnage year it has been...remember when they moved the Foreman tenure vote from June to August in a similarly sinister manner? Oh yeah, the charges were dropped he is innocent, let's charge him anyway! What insurance screwup, hey Bob Lyng you are not supposed to talk aboout that, you are supposed to cover it up! Vic, can you get me flowers to feel better and deliver them to me the day the teachers give you their surveys... oh yeah, the views of 300 MPS professionals,,, by directive do ignore, start smear campaigns against critics... I do not like these letters in the paper, get a lawyer and threaten a lawsuit-the MTA, community members, others? Is Brian back from MSU? I let him off from work last year to go full-time, oh yeah and we pay everything for him and his salary while he is gone...Amy thanks for the good review (wink wink), my columns- can someone find some leadership mumbo jumbo for me again this week...my future plans, well after I get my second retirement and fire more people I will serve the planet, maybe in Indiana...Where's my raise, isn't it 9% per year... fix that Vic, Janice...the bond will not raise your taxes, 9 million will appear out of nowhere, Excellence, what's that?
Prediction: 2007-2009 will be very bad years for the Marshall Public Schools.
There is no fixing this awful superintendent, a lame duck at that! Dear Marshall School Board: you really let us all down this time! Now it hurts, real bad, as if we all fell for an elaborate con job.
Why would Ali ask for fact based lies to be delivered to her and explained but yet not one person received a phone call from her. I had hope that someone on the board would do something. Rear view vision you say joyce - well you lied to the prosecutor's office, you put gag orders on virtually everyone that speaks out, you lie to the board and sneer behind their back, you abuse good employees daily - personnally I feel sadness for the international world if you are about to venture out. I am guessing that besides Tom Duffey selling the entire staff at MPS out the board thinks enough was done to satisfy the community with the news of the good doctor 'will only stay until June 30, 2009'. Shame on the Marshall School Board. I hope you get a raspberry article from the BC Enquirer for selling out the people that elected you. Have you totally forgotten your oathe to the code of ethics? Why would you sell out to the people you share life with here in Marshall? Did you not understand why the administrator's gave jp the 4.6 - it is called intimidation. Do you not know about thumbs down? Do you understand what can cause you to be recalled? You can do no more harm so possibly you should just start doing NOTHING....BUT THEN THAT IS ALREADY WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING-NOTHING FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ELECTED YOU! Talk is cheap so you know what that makes the person talking
As a proud MPS staff member I feel let down and betrayed by the school board. We are schocked and saddened at the events of this week. We do not deserve to be used and treated so poorly by a school board that clearly has put the interests of a failed superintendent ahead of its kids, ints parents, its comunity and its own professional staff. The price will be high to the schools for this great mistake.
As one of the teachers who had a positive attitude toward the school board, encouraged others to work with the school board and believed that I could trust the school board, I now feel that not only was I very wrong, but I feel used and betrayed by their actions. Those who did not trust the board were right! We should not trust them, they will support "the good doctor" no matter what, and there must be more to what is happening because it makes no sense if they truly did care about the Marshall schools.
Wait until you read the article on the front page of the Enquirer today! It will make you sick.
Potter said the board also spent significant time discussing the category of staff and personnel relationships.
"We believe that this is an area where we need to work with Dr. Phillips," he said.
How nice that Mrs. Phillips does have some goals to work on for her last two years--buidling better relationships with staff. At least that explains why she is going to make several visits to the HS to have lunch with, and get to know the staff!
"No real agendas at this lunch meetings, just a time to chat." I am sure she will make some life-long friends at these pleasant little lunches.
Possible resons for the actions by our ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS - maybe the answer is they were afraid of being sued by jp. Or possibly the fact that it would take too much time to prove all her corruptions. Or maybe the possibility of litigation of buying out her 2 years that they so carelessly extended her to in the spring of 06. Have they ever thought how much damage she will do to our district in her remaining 784 days. Yes, we are counting already. Are we waiting for her to put more spins on the Foreman ordeal she has caused. I am still trying to absorb how she is allowed to proceed but the prosecutor's office (the professionals) did not have enough evidence to proceed forward. But didn't she already discredit the prosecutor's office by lying to them about her sending the school employees out to work on a property being rented by her friend linda b.
As far as informal lunches: Haven't we all come full circle now? We met informally when she arrived here and all that came from that is she used everything she learned to harm our staff. Why would I want to meet and try to digest my lunch with her in the room. I can hardly sit through a meeting with her present. The theory of 'chats' scares the life out of me. Will we all be given more 'magic markers' and be asked to draw the bullseyes on our own foreheads or will we do them for each other?
Very obviously - even the most adult of us will vote NO on a bond. This very elementary action may be what the seven board members can understand. Change is due at the top before trust can be re-established in this school district. I was not raised to believe that you buy a persons trust. This character is EARNED. In the next 2 years joyce will have no reason whatsoever to try to earn the trust of anyone, even those with money. Has our school board looked at that code of ethics established for school board members and school administrators lately? Are they not, by school policy, to reaffirm that each July? Can we BEG the board to have anyone but Vic as President?
I hope the school board members enjoy spring break and spend their thirty pieces of silver wisely! We will not forget what you did to the Marshall Schools. What's that slogan again "Joyce First"?
In response to 2 posts above:
All teachers should boycott any lunches, coffees, etc with Joyce or board members who support her. It would serve only as propaganda for Joyce and be used against the schools. All of the board members who vote to support Joyce are guilty of either cruely knowing what they are doing or being too cowardly to take a stand against her. If any come out against keeping her I will gladly buy them dinner at Schulers!
As far as the board President goes, Vic is the worst but the others would probably not be much better. Even if John were selected most of the others would pressure him to remain silent or do bad things for Joyce. Besides John, I do not think I can trust any of the others. Hidden agendas, revenge and sleazy politics are certianly playing a big part in their support for JP. Yes, it is that bad! These are the darkest days I can ever remember in the Marshall schools. Wear black after spring break!
The Marshall School Board seems to have cowardly allowed Mrs. Phillips to go to the Enquirer, dictate what SHE wanted, then rubber stamp a good evaluation as the town prepares for Spring break, announce the results and now they will likely hightail it out of Marshall. Can it get any worse?
Phillips has made them all look like fools after her decision to usurp them by going to the newspaper (or was this a plot they were in on- even worse!). ! The price they have paid is a complete loss of trust, confidence, respect and support. I am one of those that will send them a message when I vote "No" on their "propaganda bond." If they truly cared about the Marshall schools they would not have done what they did this week. We need new leadership first. That may take a recall after this fiasco.
After reading the BC Enquirer this morning (Thurs 3-29), it is obvious that Paul Beardslee, Vic Potter, Janice Darling and other board Joyce supporters could care less about the truth of Phillips performance and will publicly back her and shove her down our throats no matter how bad it is for the Marshall Schools.
The board overall have learned nothing and have ignored the input of hundreds of staff and parents who shared the numerous reasons why Phillips is bad for the Marshall schools.
The evidence that has been provided to them has been overwhelming. This year they know exactly what they are doing and it is very very bad for Marshall! They are very arrogant in their public support support for Phillips and act as if they are threatening the people of Marshall. They basically are saying, "Phillips is here for two more years whether anyone likes it or not, even if it is bad for Marshall, we don't care."
At least Beardslee, Potter and Darling need to be recalled. They have done nothing good for the Marshall schools, all they care about is serving Joyce. We have a very bad two years to look forward to. The attitudes and intentions of Phillips and her few supporters are clearly very bad for "the kids"!
Well said! Everyone have a great Spring Break (despite the vote). We can address these issues and plan a course of action when we all return.
The school board will have to step in and severely restrict what Dr. Phillips can and cannot do for the rest of her reign. She has burned so many bridges and have done so much harm, there is little she can do that will change any opinions about her. It is kind of like a criminal getting out of jail asking for forgiveness. Now "forgiveness" would be a good start. Maybe Dr. Phillips should try something new. A speech to the staff exhibiting humility (not arrogance), honesty (not dishonesty) and asking forgiveness for her past actions would be a step in the right direction.
Now that would be a great start!
I think that this is truly a puthetic thing that the school board has done!! She will have sucked a million out of this school by the time she leavs. I think that the school needs to pay her off and get her out! As soon as she is gone her little minions will follow her and they will be out of here right a way. So when we get one gone they all go as a group because they cant stay alive with out the other one.
How big is Phillips' pay increase this time? Does she get another 9%? Who voted to extend her contract to 2009 in 2006, after it was known by the board that there were many problems with her leadership? Something smells real bad in Marshall.
I am sure that Phillips is out of town celebrating another coup against the Marshall teachers. She set them up and then kicked the hope out from underneath them. When she returns after Spring Break she will likely unsheath her hit list and go on the prowl in the buildings for new victims. Two years of lame duck leadership with NO accountability! What fun she is going to have at the expense of the people of Marshall.
Her two more years of (1) underserved big pay and raises (and perks)and then (2) a nice undeserved Michigan Retirement to add to her Indiana retirement will be win-win, for her and Larry!
It will be Lose-lose-lose-lose-lose for the Marshall teachers-support staff-kids-Principals-and taxpayers.
Any other school district would have terminated Supt. Phillips contract and moved on to a new Superintendent under the circumstances that currently exist in the Marshall schools. I had hope after talking to board members that they cared, understood the depth of the problems and would do the right thing. I feel sad and depressed that we are now probably stuck with two more years of the same problems and divisions.
Imagine going to work each day knowing that almost nobody likes you and they all wish you had been fired?
Imagine living in a town where the locals can't stand your presense and wish you would leave their state for all of the bad things you did to their colleagues, friends, parents and neighbors?
I would guess that unless you were a sociopath you would probably resign and leave.
Is the board waiting until all the school employees leave on spring break to have the Chronicle say jp once again gets a 3% pay increase with 7% of her salary ($106,000 last year) going into a pre-tax retirement savings plan? Do they think everyone will just not care when they return from one week of vacation? Teachers have already been told there is no money for raises this next year.
Who is responsible for jp having a 3 year contract last April 2006? Paul, Janice, Dan, Chris, and Vic. Sam and Bob voted against it saying there was no reason to back us into a corner with giving her a 3 year contract. Sam and Bob said no to such a huge raise with Sam saying "why wouldn't all the other groups want the same raises - we can't afford this".
So my question is this: Was it fiscally responsible for Vic, Janice, Dan, Chris and Paul to lock us into a three year that obviously we cannot afford to buy her out of. This action is what really gave joyce the clout to continue with her bad behavior. Perhaps this would be a reason for recall of the five whose votes last year has put us in this situation.
Most of the board members are not stupid. I think last year they knew there were major problems with Joyce and they knew this year would be much harder to give her a big raise or extend her contract. So before the "you know what" hit the fan they voted the big 2-year pay increase and extended her contract until 2009 in one of the shadiest moves that has ever been committed in the history of the Marshall schools. Paul was smart to engineer himself stepping back so when everything fell apart and one bad thing after another was exposed, Vic got shoved into the limelight. Vic tried to play dumb as if he had no idea any of these things were happening in the schools. Vic did in fact know what was going on and was a big part of the attempts to shield and protect Joyce. The board members who support Joyce clearly have personal reasons for doing so. Many suspect it has to do with people they would like to see fired or forced out and that since Joyce enthusiastically accepts such assignmetns, they promise to back her for doing their dirty work. Now the school board is dealing with a lot of heat which is fully justified and will certainly get much worse in the coming months. They tried to set up the first school bond as a supposedly "no tax increase" bond (its really an extension so it will increase taxes $8.7 mil. over many years) so they can claim a propaganda victory if it passes. They have Joyce running phony columns in the Chronicle in a vain attempt to try to make Joyce look kind, caring, warm and humane. All things that Joyce in fact is NOT! What now? The people of Marshall, as they come to a realization of the magnistude of the major problems that have been caused by Dr. Joyce Phillips, are increasingly angry, outraged and are demanding change! The school bond will likely be voted down to protest the board and Joyce and to send a message. Change needs to happen at the top first! We need a new Superintendent NOW, not in two years. A recall is being talked about and would likely succeed if someone starts one. There is no more trust between the school board and the teaching staff. Excellent staff like Ron Behrenwald are leaving because of abuse and bad leadership from the top. The Marshall schools have become a joke in the county due to the numerous scandals and embarrassments caused by Dr. Phillips and her board supporters. Enough is enough!
I couldn't have said this better myself! I will certainly vote "no" on the bond in May. That will send a strong message that we are not happy with the decision to keep Mrs. Phillips around another two years. We have no other options!
After spring break there will be a peaceful and relatively quiet campaign to discuss ways that Phillips can be removed. As long as JP is the Superintendent things will not be good in the Marshall schools. Dear School Board, we hope you are working on something behind the scenes. If you need evidence to fire her, please let us know! A buyout may be expensive but it is a far better option that keeping her around. Yes, we want her gone that bad.
What is the pro-bond campaign going to be like:
"We Joyce has done great harm to many fine Marshall teachers and administrators. We know she is a terrible Superintendent. We know almost everyone would like to see her fired. We know many of you are angry at Joyce and us for doing all of these terrible things. But lets make bygones bygones and vote for the no tax increase bond!"
No bond for Joyce! That is step 1 toward pressuring her departure! If the Marshall School Board does not want her around, as seems true, then they need to work harder for her removal much much sooner rather than later.
The school bonds will be a very tough sell now that the school board has decided to keep Dr. Phillips for two more years. Everyone I know wanted to see her replaced. I doubt I can vote for any school bond either until their is new leadership at the top.
To MHS01 way up above:
That is hilarious and very true! :-)
How can the Marshall schools function properly with a Superintendent that is almost universally despised, mistrusted, not respected, lacks support, and is seen is causing trouble and problems at all levels? The evidence shows that Supt. Phillips is a failed leader who is very hostile to most of the staff and has caused so much hurt and anger that it seems near improssible for the situation to turn around within two years.
At the high school the "get to know you lunches" will mean nothing unless she (1) first apologises for running Mr. Behrenwald out fo town, (2) back off from harrassing Mr. Hulkow and many other fine people on staff and (3) reinstates Mr. Foreman NOW who, in her zeal to fire him, she has violated his rights, blocked evidence, ignored the truth, and then tried to cover it all up with phony tenure charges (he is innocent, the charges fell apart and were dropped, she is trying to make an example out of hiim by destroying him and his family- this is unforgiveable).
This has not been forgotten or forgiven! These people are suffering NOW due to her immoral, dishonest and enethical actions. Until these wrongs are reversed as much as is possible, Supt. Phillips is NOT welcome at MHS and the staff are all opposed to her even keeping her employment. We think she should be investigated and maybe even prosecuted for her actions?
Joyce will be dining alone if she comes up to the high school. I'm tired of everyone attempting to be hospitable and kind to her. It's like an abusive relationship. She keeps beating us up, and we keep asking for more. Grow some balls. Do what we can to get out of this disfunctional relationship. Admit there is a problem and lock the doors. Do not let this wife beater back in our house. If we choose to engage in civil lunches, coffees, whatever....what kind of example are we setting for our students? Allow your employer to abuse you and deny that anything is wrong at MPS. Just keep going about business as usual. Who else will we lose to Joyce? People are asking for letters of recommendation to persue employment elsewhere. What will MPS look like in 2009?
Dear Dr. Phillips:
Please resign! Go enjoy your retirement and your "international opportunties." We wish you well!
From, the MPS Staff and Parents
If we vote no on the bond no one will know why. If we spoil our ballots and vote both no and yes the press can report that number.
Any other ideas?
How is Joyce's handpicked "citizens committee for the bond" doing? Of course she is doing this as just a "concerned citizen" who is "off the clock." Who else did she handpick to be on it besides maybe Brian, Amy, Vic, Janice and Paul? Oh yeah, is it Mr. Holcomb she put out to make it look like an actual citizens committee?
I think 95+ percent of the people in Marshall who follow school issues will not be fooled. This is "Joyce's Committee to Support the Propaganda Bond" that Joyce wants to make Joyce look good. Most people I know say "No bond for Joyce" and have no intention on voting in favor of any school bonds until there is a new Superintendent. Anyone who truly cares about the Marshall Public Schools needs to do whatever they can to push for positive changes! We cannot tolerate two more years of Joyce Phillips' bad leadership. Too many people are suffering badly and unjustly because of her! This must stop first!
Jp's lame attemtps at forming a citizens committee is a joke. A real citizens committee would not need her to appoint its members or its leader. How stupid does she think the people of Marshall are? Does this type of deception work in Indiana?
Many of us who were involved in the planning for the building improvements are torn about the bonds. We were hoping that the school board would find a way to replace Dr. Phillips, so that huge obstacle would be removed from the process. We knew passing a bond with her still in charge would be very difficult. She is a known liability to the Marshall schools. I have no idea why the school board decided to keep her.
In a response to four posts up... If you spoil your vote it will not count as a "no" vote. The bond could still pass.
Phillips and the school board are dangling the school bond vote as a "vote for this you suppport us" or if you do not vote for this, then the schools suffer.
Some people I know want Phillips replaced but may vote for the bond anyway. Most others feel it is a package deal, we need good leadership we can trust first, then we will gladly support the school bonds.
Personally I am planning to vote against the school bond to send a message. We are not happy, Phillips should have been fired for poor perfromance and bad leadership, and this needs to be fixed first.
If you suggest write-ins why didn't you step forward when you had the chance? Potter and Darling are running unopposed. Why is that? Don't mention the intimidation and fear tactics JP employs, etc. Maybe for the 99 % of those who don't drive by the school at midnight to see if the meeting is still on and obsess what negative things they can write, maybe, just maybe they are happy with what's going on. You people will never be happy. Even after she's gone, you'll still gripe about something. It's easy to gripe and not take action in your small little worlds.
Since there seems to be some debate as to how many people support or oppose keeping Supt. Phillips, then lets do a test.
Everyone who supports Supt. Phillips, and thought it was a great idea to keep her, vote FOR the upcoming school bond.
If you think that it was a bad idea to keep Supt. Phillips and that the school board should have replaced her, then vote AGAINST the upcoming school bond.
Since there are no planned third party surveys and since no one ever seems to complain to the school board about Supt. Phillips, then this will be one way to measure her support. Since many people will vote for the bond who may oppose her and hardly anyone would vote against the bond who support her, I would expect the bond would have to pass with at least 80 percent of the vote to be consider a pro-Phillips bond. Anything less than that woud indicate an anti-Phillips majority.
Should those who are opposed to keeping Phillips and are mad at the school board look into sending our children to other school districts too? Since we "gripe" about Phillips bad performance maybe we should just shut up and send our kids elsewhere and give up on the Marshall schools altogether? Is that what the Phillips supporters (what few exist, I rarely have met any) want?
I would gauge the MPS Staff support at whatever percentage that Brian, Amy and Mike make up. I would not even count Linda Bennink anymore. As far as parents go, the vast majority woud be happy to see Sup. Phillips gone! As far as the rest of the community. Those who follow the schools and actually talk to MPS staff are almost 100 percent against Phillips. I am sure there are a few here and there that are mad at a teacher or hostile toward the schools that thinks that Phillips must be good because nobody likes her. A few gullible souls may believe JPs columns or Vic's comments in the paper saying "that all Joyce is trying to do is to get people to do their jobs" and stuff like that. Utter nonsense! No column this week? ;-)
Here are the upcoming columns:
"Leadership is keeping your job even though everybody wants you fired"
"Leadership is your school board keeping you because it is too expensive to buy you out."
"Leadership is getting your best people to start looking for other jobs and leaving your school district."
"Leadership is getting away with all kinds of bad stuff and still having your school board back you."
"Leadership is getting caught telling one lie after another and still keeping your job."
"Leadership is driving staff morale downwards and getting compliments for your efforts."
"Leadership is telling people you support excellence, when in fact you do the opposite."
This should make for some good reading in the coming weeks!
Of course these topics will not get covered, because they are true. The articles that have appeared so far are all a work of fiction.
I have not heard much from Phillips "citizens" group for the bond. Are they doing anything? Does anyone care any more whether there even is a school bond?
I think they even know that the bond is dead now! Phillips is bad news and bad luck for Marshall.
Voting No for the bond proposal does nothing but hurt the Marshall school district and its students. Please consider what turning down the bond will mean for the students versus what 'message' it will send to the superintendent. The students of 2007-2009 school years deserve better. If we truly are here for the students then let's step up to the plate and vote YES for the bond.
It is hard to be enthusiastic for the school bond when we have such a bad Superintendent in office that has been backed by the school board. Joyce Phillips has not just been a bad leader, but she has purposely used dishonest, unjust and unethical methods to cause great harm to many good people in the Marshall schools.
The Marshall school board is well aware of what she has done and have supported her in these efforts. Many believe that some of the school board members had hidden agendas when Joyce arrived and she is carrying out their dirty work. Either way these has been many sleazy and shady things going on at the top. Many of us are so angry at Phillips and the school board that there is no way we can vote for any school bonds until there are changes. The school board knew that healing could not even begin until Phillips is gone, yes she is that awful and despised! The students are already being harmed by Phillips and the school board. The Latest casualty is MHS Principal Ron Behrenwald. This is a big unecessary loss for the Marshall schools. The school board was well aware of the bad treatment he had been receiving from Phillips for the last few years. Many think this was done with the urging of at least four board members who had personal vendettas against anyone they perceived as being close to Lou or Hulkow.
This outrageous behavior by Phillips and at least a few school board members should not be tolerated! It is anti-kids all the way! We need change at the top first or things will keep getting worse!
I think the current school board did have a hidden agenda for Dr. Phillips when she arrived and she has been carrying it out for them. First they wanted Jeff Cable gone and then Behrenwald and others. Mr. Hulkow is also opposed by some key board members for personal reasons. It is a big ugly mess! Now the same school board that supported Phillips is trying to back off and let her be their fall guy. She may enjoy the dirty work but she could not have done it alone. I am not referring to John or Ali, as they were not on the school board when most of the worse things occurred. Most of the current school board does not deserve our trust and respect. And that includes support for a school bond that they will use for propaganda value.
As much as I think we need certain things done at MPS - I still do not like having to trust jp, amy or brian with where the money gets spent. When the board believes that this district deserves a much better superintendent and takes the action needed to get us one, when they give the deserving credibility to the 300 employees at MPS, then I will vote yes to almost any bond issue that is requested. Why would anyone trust those top administrators to do anything that they say they will do. Let's put kids first - we need a leader that doesn't just talk about being one but is one!
I cannot vote for a bond supported with the current administration. This is the first way to really send a message that we do not support her. It is unfortunate that the kids will not benefit immediately, but the ultimate goal of changing the administration will in the end benefit the kids more than simply passing a bond now. Phillips is an outrage.
I need some help sorting this out. I have to discount the anger over the Foreman charges. The Foreman supporters seem too emotional to evaluate JP's overall performance.
So what percentage of the anger is related to Foreman?
Next, I infer that somehow people believe that Paul, Dan and Janice had a hit list of administrators. Why? What was their motivation?
JP is supposed to have harrassed building principals. How did she do that? How do I separate her right to evaluate and manage them from some type of bad behavior.
I give everyone the fact that she's abrasive, insecure and domineering. But, we need a list of bad acts if we are to convince the general public.
Vic and JP continue their mantra of blaming a small group of slacking malcontents. Some people will buy that instead of vague accusations.
To Anonymous Above:
Many people did just that and spelled out, point by point, to board members exactly the nature of her transgressions. If you wish to hear specifics talk to Ron Behrenwald, Bill Armstrong, Bob Vaught, Tom Hanson, Rich Hulkow, Sam Ramon, Bob Lyng, Sue Townsend, Candy Putnam and Sue Boley...now do your homework before you dismiss her as merely abraisive and trying to do a tough job.
Her job wasn't that difficult until she made it that way. These people do not have any Foreman agenda at all. Every one of these people can speak of their very own experiences without hearsay.She has repeatedly lied or harassed every one of these people and the fact that she only got a 3.8 on an evaluation shows that some board members actually believe what people shared with them.
These are credible people with spotless careers who work hard every day for MPS.This woman micromanages everything; even yesterday she personally handed out paychecks to support staff (even though other people were in the office to do so)and made them wait around beyond their scheduled work day to pick them up. Talk about intimidation! What's next, planning the lunch menu or shopping for office supplies?
Building level administrators are trained professionals who have the knowledge and ability to run their own buildings.Joyce has systematicaly undermined each one to the point that many are looking elsewhere. Ron Bherenwald did not just leave to be closer to his family, he left because, and only because, of Joyce Phillips and her poor excuse for leadership.
Thanks Facts, I will do some calling.
I am somewhat confused how people can possibly still not be in total understanding of the type of person that is superintendent and how that type of personality is systematically undermining administrators each day. I really hope you do contact Ron Behrenwald and ask him your direct questions.
I almost never hear employees speaking about the Foreman case. He is a very good teacher - (taught both my kids) but unlike some people at Marshall Schools the majority of employees do not feel it is their job to pass judgement on Jody. Besides, if the prosecutor didn't have enough evidence - why should someone have to go through all he is? The discontent towards phillips is the direct reciprocation of her bad doings. She has brought her own trouble on herself. What a shame our board gave her a 3 year contract - if they had been smarter last spring we wouldn't even have to have these postings....SHE WOULD BE HISTORY AS SUPT. IN MARSHALL! Hopefully she will make this happen sooner than later.
The school board members were not dumb last year when they gave Joyce a big raise and a long three year-contract under Board President Paul Beardslee. Paul is very bright and knew exactly what he was doing, along with the other board members. What was so bad was the fact that they are smart (most of the board) and knew that Joyce was awful and doing many bad things. They were well-aware of the criticisms and problems more than a year ago, and they still did what they did! Yes, I am very upset with Paul, Vic, Janice, Dan, and Chris for doing what they did. If I simply thought they were naive, stupid or duped I could forgive them. They fully knew things were bad and went ahead and did what they did anyway! A massive pay increase and a long contract extension, most likely in anticipation that things would be much worse this year (as has turned out to be true). To add insult to injury NO Principal got a raise last year, they got a big zero! In other words they let Joyce treat the Principals badly, give them bad reviews and then rub it in their face what she got! How outrageous! Are you angry yet? I sure am! The only logical reason why they did this was Joyce was carrying out their hidden agendas. I have no trust in them whatsoever and will not vote for any school bond until they get rid of Joyce.
To Facts:
the spin doctor did Not hand me my check, she was seen in the hallway but she did not hand me my check. I don't know about after I left but when I was there along with alot of other employees, I only saw her in the hallway and then she was gone.
I saw the March 12 school board meeting on TV and Hulkow was talking about the bad condition of the track and how it never got fixed, even though he brought this to Dr. Phillips attention and the school board last August. The school district has plenty of money to fix things, Amy admitted that at the same board meeting. Also since they had $250,000+ to pursue unjust tenure charges against Mr. Foreman after the charges were dropped and the evidence turned strongly in his favor, then I do not even think they need a bond. Plus they just forced out Mr. Behrenwald so they can hire a lesser experienced MHS Principal for much less money, and they gave Phillips a big raise and plan to pay her second Michigan retirement for decades to come, and they did not think it was a big deal when Amy blew $20,000-$40,000 on an insurance screwup, so it appears there is a lot of money in the MPS budget. They just don't like to waste it on trivial things like track fixes so the track season doesn't have to be canceled. Who is truly kids first? How much is the school district kicking in toward the tennis courts? If you vote no on the school bond but want to help out, then send a donation towards the tennis courts renovations.
I believe the upcoming contract talks with the two unionized groups have already been told there is no money for raises. I for one am getting very tired of being told 'no money for the hard working people'. This will be year 6 (I believe this is correct) that employee groups have been told to hang in there and the district will be financially sound. Listen MPS administration: (ie-joyce, amy, brian and board) You can't keep talking out of both sides of your face. Either there is money or there is not money. There can't just be money for raises for joyce and her friend amy, mike, dave & brian and no one else. This is incredibly stupid management. How is someone supposed to believe you will know HOW TO MANAGE BOND MONEY?
This is very smart and evil management! Lie to and cheat the good employees and reward handsomely the bad employees. This group is smart to help each other and to use scare tactics and threats against the MTA and others to get what they want. It is time to fight back! Enough is enough! How much longer will the Principals, teachers and support staff allow such abuse, bad treatment, lies and inimidation? That is why they gave Joyce such a big raise and allow her to get away with so many terrible things. To some anti-MPS extremists, Joyce is their hero! Now it is time to use all legal, honest and moral means to fight back! Start with voting "no" on the school bonds. Write-in Sam, Bob or Lou in place of Vic and Janice for the school board election, refuse bad contracts and start informational picketing, quit being so nice to people who do such bad things to the staff, boycott businesses that support Joyce, etc etc. That will wake up the school board that the disrespect has to stop.
So far not many people have been courageous enough to stand up to Supt. Phillips and her board supporters. This group got rid of Jeff Cable, at least one MTA President and now Ron Behrewald and maybe Mrs. Townsend and Mr. Hulkow. After trying to frame Mr. Foreman for charges that were not true, Phillips and her supporters pushed for tenure charges even though the charges were dropped and proven false. The supporters of Mr. Foreman, including many former students and parents, were bold enough to speak out publicly so Phillips decided to make an example out of Mr. Foreman by making his life a living h*ll. When the union did a survey because things had gotten so bad, Vic Potter bought Phillips flowers the day it was delivered as a huge insult towards the MTA. Then Phillips got a lawyer and threatened to sue the teachers. These outrageous behaviors and actions cannot be tolerated any longer! Inform your friends and neighbors, contact school board members, write letters to the editor, post on this blog, start a recall if you want to, vote "No" on the bond to send a message (it can be passed later), and boycott pro-Phillips businesses. These are a few things you can do if you care about the Marshall Public Schools!
Here is my issue: I was hired to do a job in education. I should not have had to try to get the board to reign in the superintendent. I should not have to spend energy to try to repair a system that has been one of EXCELLENCE FOR DECADES. Our children are losing out when our system does not run smoothly - which it certainly did prior to phillips and her puppets. When this many issues have been brought to the attention of the board, the community, the county....and they all stem from the Uni-doctor - please someone tell me why our board cannot seem to figure their way out of this paper bag situation? If any other employee were directly affecting the MPS system like the uni-doctor is they would have been discharged months ago. BOARD PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO HELP US MOVE FORWARD AGAIN.
The school board has acted very wimpy in their dealings with Mrs. Phillips. As Bob Lyng once said just before he went off the board, that Joyce treated the board members as if they worked for her. She is obviously very disrespectful towards them and has greatly harmed the reputations of those who have supported her. Beardslee, Darling, Potter and Stulburg have all had their reputations go into freefall for supporting her against the staff and the community. Now they wimped out again and decided to keep her around another two years when they clearly should have fired her. Why are they so weak?
Its not weakness, its corruption!
The school board knows exactly what they are doing. They have no excuses. They are well-informed. That is what makes so many people so angry at them. If they were simply stupid or naive that could be excused or forgiven.
If the school bond gets less than 70% then you know the people are very unhappy with Phillips and the board. A bond like that is designed to pass with about a 90% vote, as it would likely do if we had a good Supt. and a good school board. If the bond fails outright, Phillips should resign or be fired immediately.
The outlook on the upcoming school millage-bond is not looking good. Traditional school bond supporters have lost trust in the current leadership, the teachers have been treated very badly with no repurcussions for far too long, and there is a belief that the school board need a "wake up" call. The millage may not pass and then the community and the school board will have no one to blame but Phillips.
The board’s goal setting is a good thing, but it’s sad that it’s taken so long for them to get around to it. It’s sad the superintendent didn’t lead the board to this point (Leadership is……).
Also, they have to implement any improvements while they have their superintendent on a short lease (I hope). Point is, they’ve bought themselves two years of trying to get something done while having one hand tied behind their backs.
They’d be better off paying her to go away.
The cold war in the schools is getting icier. Phillips knows this and she is getting the cold shoulder left and right by staff, as she has done to us (or worse) for three years. She roams the hall giving cold stairs towards the staff members as if she can't stand us. We know she has no love for the teachers or the kids. There has been no real action by the school board to solve problem. Everything is getting worse each day and the outlook is gloomy if Phillips hangs around unwanted another two years. I cannot even think about supporting the school millage until something is done about removing Phillips.
When is the board going to announce the raise they gave joyce. When Dan was asked - his response only took one page - and he never did answer the simple question. What percentage of a raise did this board give joyce?
Is the board keeping this silent also? Are they planning to keep it a secret until after the bond issue vote in May? Or are they planning to wait until all the budget cuts are made - then while we sleep - they will quietly submit that information?
I hate this secrecy! It is wrong! What raise is she getting? The public deserves to know before they go to the polls and cast their vote for a bond or NO BOND.
Come on - let's try something new here Board. Let's try being up front and honest with this community. Why do we have to read the entire expenditure budget in order to figure it out? What is the Foreman charges costing this district? Shouldn't that be public knowledge also?
It should not be too difficult to find out what is in JP's financial package. Any citizen can FOIA a copy of her contract I believe. It will give her salary; plus any other fringe benefits. That's where you need to look. Does she get a clothing allowance (I heard that rumor when she first came); how about a car allowance; how much does she get a year IF she elects not to take heath insurance from the district. (In a neighboring district, administrators who elect to use their spouses medical insurance get nearly $12,000 more a year.) Quite frankly, the actual percentage is irrelevent because there are many ways to compensate someone beyond base salary.
Another way to find out is to FOIA a copy of the proposed budget. Administrative cost are pretty easy to find there also.
If the public knew everything about how Joyce is compensated, how she is protected by the school board and who is really pulling the strongs in the school district, they would be abhorred as to how our schools have been hijacked by a small clique with their own hidden agenda. The Chronicle reported that Joyce is getting 9 percent raise per year for this year and next year, plus a long list of other monies and perks. It would not surprise me if her overall compenasation was anywhere from $130,000-$150,000. She is being paid off for carrying out other peoples wishes. She did not make her hit list all by herself.
The very political Mr. Foreman false-charges (remember the real false charges were dropped!) are costing the Marshall schools at least $200,000 and may cost upwards of $300,000! Remember how Joyce moved the vote back because Sam and Bob were asking too many questions, so she moved it to avoid them voting on it and planned to use John and Ali to get a 7-0 vote. They should have abstained, as they knew little to nothing about the case. Besides being unfair, shady and unjust, think of all the better things this money can be spent on for "the kids." Again the hidden agenda is at work! He is being made an example of as part of an overall anti-teacher strategy. It is all about a massive power-trip that is anti-teacher, anti-kids and anti-parents.
Vote "NO" on the millage on May 8th! We can pass one after JP is gone and we get some honesty and accountability at the top!
The bond is in big trouble. Almost everyone I talk to say they are planning to vote against it. Maybe the school board should be listening to the commuinty and the teachers and not just JP.
Has anyone found out where the money came from to pay for the December depositions for the Foreman tenure charges? I think this should be looked in to.
Where else, the school budget! Obviously the Marshall schools have a lot of money to burn. Amy screws up costing $20,000+, oops who cares! The Foreman charges are dropped, lets make an example and drop $300,000 on bogus tenure charges! Remember that Phillips built up the fund equity when the MTA accepted bad contracts where their pay increase was much less than inflation and they had to pay a lot towards their medical insurance, in effect a big pay cut! Phillips must have a big slush fund now that covers all of these frivoulous spending sprees and her big pay raise. Also Phillips has neglected much maintenance to save money for her "other interests" (see above) and to "justify" her big bond tax increase to fix toilets, etc that should have been fixed long ago.
I could be wrong here but isn't the school sinking fund supposed to be used to maintain the facilities? Where oh where has the sinking fund gone? Oh where oh where can it be? I bet you can't guess? How about a FOIA to find out exactly what Amy and Joyce have been doing with this fund designated and regulated for use in maintenance of buildings.
It is obvious that the Marshall schools have a lot more money they they want known to the MTA. The next contract should be much better than the last contract. Look what the school board did after the MTA made major concessions to the school district last time, they turned around and slapped the teachers in the face with a big pay raise for Joyce and a big contract extension! They also slapped the building Principals in the face last year with NO raise! No wonder Behrenwald is leaving and others are looking to leave.
Joyce, Janice, Vic and Paul are very hardline on the upcoming teacher negotiations. Having blown hundreds of thousands on JP screwups, raises and scandals (lawsuits next?), they want big concessions again from the Marshall teachers. Look for a big fight unless the MTA caves again and gives them what they want.
If we are in such dire straights for finances, how are we paying for an attorney to represent Joyce in our contract negotiations? Let's see, the lawyers fees must be close to $250 per hour and it sounds like this is going to be a long negotiation. I hope that she is using her own money to pay for the services and not taking money away that could be used to put "our kids first". I was under the understanding that this is one of the reasons that she'd been hired in the first place, she'd had experience in negotiating contracts in her previous job. Seems to me that she's been negotiating, on her own, for her first 3 years at MPS. Doesn't the BOE trust her anymore? Is the waste of this money keeping "the main thing the main thing?
With pending cuts to programs and from the state aid of projected $125 per pupil how does the board and jp justify her raise again this year? Other groups are already being told there is no money for raises. So - if I understand this right - how do you 'put kids first' when you are cutting their programs, not replacing teaching positions,etc. but the superintendent still gets this huge raise due to the lack of financial responsibility by members (Janice, Vic, Paul, Dan and Chris) who all voted last year to give her a 3 year contract. Did they have a crystal ball that predicts the financial state of affairs in Michigan which let them vote 5-2 (yes bob and sam did not think it was responsible to give her a 3 year contract and such a huge raise). Now programs and other salaries will be cut - with the exception of joyce. Sounds to me like she is still keeping the main thing the main thing and that appears to be herself.
JP will welcome any state aid cuts. It will give her license to fire more people. She could care less about the kids, the staff or the community. She will be long gone and enjoying her second Michigan retirement (at Marshall taxpayer expense) in two years back to Indiana or Coldwater Lake "serving the world." The Marshall taxpayers will also likely be spending huge amounts of money on one or more expected lawsuits caused by her bad leadership.
And these people really think there is support for this bond? As long as our schools are being run by such self-serving, arrogant, manipulative and dishonest top admin and board members it will be a big NO vote from me. As soon as we get rid of the scoundrels I will gladly work hard for what our schools need. I also dont buy into the "Joyce will be gone in two years so dont punish the kids by voting no" argument. We all have been punished by the inept leadership of the past three years and as long as they are allowed to keep going on their merry way I can not support anything they want. Will be interesting to hear how they interpret the results of the May 8 vote.
If the school board really wanted Supt. Phillips gone, she would be gone NOW! She has lied so many times with a ton of evidence of wrongdoing that they have just cause to fire her any day of the week. Their "we did the best we can" or "we are pushing her out in two years" is a load of you-know-what. The fact is she is a huge liability and embarrassment for the Marshall schools, the board knows it, and they choose to support her anyway! I am also voting NO on the bond! We need a new Superintendent and maybe even some new school board members first.
I feel the BOE thinks a move by them to oust the good doctor would be intrepretted by the taxpayers as a 'no confidence' in the bond. I wonder what they will do if the bond doe snfot pass. Will they then decide to do what they were elected to do and work the the people that voted for them? Joyce is not good for Marshall. We all know "Leadership is about change". What is the hold up here? Let's make a leadership change and then move Marshall forward with taxpayers money. Let's keep the main thing - the main thing - and put kids first. Change the top leadership and move Marshall back to excellence in education!
The letters to the editor about the bond saying there is "no tax increase" are a lie. How do people expect they will raise $8.7 million with no tax increase? The current millage is running out and they want a new one to replace it (or as they say, extend it). A typical $250,000 house will pay about $500-$600 more per year if the bond/millage passes. Then this will go on for 29 years! In typical Phillips fashion this whole mess was micromanaged by Phillips, even to the point of her picking the head of the "citizens" committee. The goal is simply PR for Phillips and to divert attention away from all the huge problems from her failed leadership. We will be better off to vote down the bond, get Phillips fired, and then pass a better plan as soon as Phillips is gone.
If only people in this town knew the details of the small in comparison details that other employees of MPS has been discharged over. They would have a virtual uprising on their hands. People getting 10 days off without pay because someone thought they saw an employee smoking a cigarette in a school truck. But Amy Jones can cost this district over 20,000 in a settlement where she was found to have 'forgotten' to cancel the MESSA insurance of administrators. Is this insane or am I the crazy one. New leadership - then bond money!
There is a lot of evidence of a pattern or lying and corruption at the top. It involves top administrators AND their board supporters.
I'm glad to see that someone is
memtioning that Amy Jones is not faultless in our administration.
she need to get hers too.
Micheal Walbeck has taken well organized department and flushed it down the toilet. What can we do to get rid of them too.
Amy does NOT posess the experience to handle the business that is required to get this district out of the financial stress they are in. It takes more than talk. And, Walbeck, the bus supervisor....what a piece of work he is. He has found it better to let Jones make all the decisions at the bus garage. Seems he is too busy to even run emergency bus evacuations? This district needs to stop all the payment to go to workshops so Jones and Walbeck can stay in the district and actually do some school work!
Why Phillips, Metcalf, Jones and Walbeck still employed by the Marshall schools? I thought this school board wanted to return to "excellence" and "fix" what is "broken," as they keep telling everyone. What is broken the most are these four! They are causing great harm and embarrassment to the Marshall schools on a weekly basis. I will never vote for a school bond with these four in power.
I know that many of those claiming to "endorse" the bond are in fact against it or at least wavering because they would prefer to see new leadership first. Some even admitted to me that they think the bond will fail because of Joyce. Since it was written as a "no brainer" to pass (false claims of no tax increase, etc), a failure of the bond will point all fingers in one direction- at Joyce!
There is no doubt that if the bond fails that Joyce is the cause.
It is nice of Amy and Joyce to allow the new piano at the high school to be used for a concert. Maybe next year they will do the same. Of course you can't trust the MHS Principal or music teacher to be in charge of the key to use the piano. ;-)
What concert? Was there a piano concert?
Alan Stulberg has been rehearsing all week and had a recital there this Sunday. The grand piano was tuned twice for this event. Of course - it was moved in and out of the locked box, across the rickety stage, in and out of the controlled environment box...Too bad no students were allowed in the auditorium during these moves all week. It would have been nice for the students to see this wonderful, beautiful instrument.
Was a concert given for the students during the school day? Why does central office insist on control of a musical instrument at MHS? It sounds like we have idiots at central office.
Phillips, Metcalf and Jones- what an awful combination. To paraphrase an old western "The mean, the lazy and the clueless."
Well, with the Uni-doctor, the undoctor - and "Jones it up" in office what the heck do you expect? Amy Jones cannot even figure out how to sign a 'roll over contract' without trying to slip in a bunch of her nonesense to it. A roll over contract is what? When a group decides to agree to just take the salary increase of 1% 1% that every other employee received for the 0607 year and ask for a simple $15 increase in insurance costs (this is approx. $405 per month to cover 27 insured members). The Big Jones has tried to tie in anything but the obviously broken sink in the MHS bathroom to it. Couldn't she just be happy that this group had tried to save the district $5000 in contract settlement (legal) fees and alot of time. I am wondering if someone has told these top three to make sure NOTHING IS SIMPLE, ACCURATE AND GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY. If so - the top three are certainly doing a great job of it. If not - don't give any of them a paper bag because I am not sure they would know how to open or close it back up.
If the bond passes expect many blunders, waste and fraud coming from Phillips and her regime. Joyce has taken mismanagement and poor leadership to new heights! Is Marshall cursed?
With JPs contract renewed and extended two more years, no on running against Potter and Darling for the school board, and the bond passing, expect the top leaders to be out for revenge now. After much political pressure to back off a little, JP will be on the prowl for more victims. Farewell Behrenwalds, JP forced you out and everyone knows it! Janice bragged in the Chronicle about her unquestioning support for JP and how she could care less what anyone else thinks. Look out MTA, JP and her board supporters have their foot on your throat and through threats and intimidation will force another bad contract on you. JP, Jones and Metcalf will have a good ole time squandering much of the school bond money as their "personal little piggy bank." Expect bad decisions, waste and dirty politics for two more years.
The board has held JP back a little in the time leading up to the bond vote. Now JP will likely be given free reign to go after Hulkow, Townsend, Hanson, and many other excellent people in the Marshall schools. She can now cross Ron Behrenwald off her hit list! Thanks Marshall school board for your ongoing support for Joyce Phillips at the expense of the kids.
Can someone tell me why Hulk is not in on all the interviews for the selection of Behrenwald's replacement? I know joyce hates Hulk - or is it Stulberg that is behind this decision - or is it Marsha Haring/Franke that is behind this.
All I know is it is not "Keeping Kids First" nor is it the 'main thing being the main thing'.
It makes no sense at all that the people downtown that appear to be clueless about how the high school building operates will be sitting in on the succession of interviews instead of the administrator at the high school that has been there over 2 decades.
The new MHS Principal should be picked by trusted and highly competent committee. Rich Hulkow should be one of the main leaders of this committee. Several veteran MHS teachers, maybe one or two trusted parents, and Andrea Nessel who has been successful at being a good asst. Principal while still keeping her distance from Joyce. Other building admins should NOT be on the committee. JP should NOT be allowed to overule the committee because everytime she does that, which is often, in the past she makes a worse choice.
You can be sure that JP will do the opposite of this! And if she did allow a good and respected committee to choose the best candidate, she would not choose the best candidate. She never does!
One problem is Joyce has changed so much school policy to accomodate her management. She now has the last say in every hire. Why, you ask did we just hire a HR person? Good question since she is really a glorified human resource clerk....and shows up on the secretarial senority list printed May 07. Joyce wants yet one more person to blame in the event someone complains about her style. The new HR person had only been on the job one week and joyce decided to start the blame game....and the new HR person probably does not even know what she is supposed to have completed by summer 07. We used to call this game 'monkey in the middle'. Just one new vision for joyce at MPS.
In a normal school district the Superintendent does have the final say but will back the candidate chosen by the appropriate committee/administrator unless there is some extremely good reason not to. With Phillips she likes to let the committee do the work then she chooses someone else just to piss them off. So advice to committees. put your best candidate(s) last on your list and the chance that Phillips selects them will be much better. As a parent who was on a committee that was overruled by Phillips, I am still angry about that!
Unless you are Dave Turner - then you just get promoted after less than one year as Asst. Princ....even though the interim says you are no where near being ready to be Principal...she just does it....now ask any teachers at the middle school what a mess Turner has made of that building!!!! He can't make a decision without running across the hall and asking jp what she thinks....but that is what she likes...MICROMANAGEMENT!!!!!
Dave is no fan of JP but he has to watch his back if he wants to keep his job.
Turner is walking a tightrope at MMS. Holbrook does not even have the guts to walk the tightrope, he is simply not very good at anything and knows he was a far lesser candidate for his job, which who owes to Joyce who most likely did it as a political favor to Mike Kinter. On his own, he would not cut it anywhere else. Portland was not unhappy to see him go.
Mr. Holbrook is a nice guy. As an MMS parent who is active in the school I would hope that Mr. Holbrook would break away from being too close to JP. His dependence on her has caused him to lose respect from the staff and community. All of the best administrators in the district maintain their independence as much as possible from JP. She has proven herself a poor leader. Mr. Behrenwald was second to none and he will be leaving with an excellent reputation, his dignity and a huge amount of respect. Mr. Holbrook should aspire to his level of excellence and professionalism. If he can do this, he can shake his reputation as a lesser candidate chosen for political reasons to be a JP loyalist.
Holbrook is in way over his head. I doubt he will ever earn the respect of the MMS staff. He would be wise to find another job elsewhere. A better candidate should have had his job in the first place.
That's an understatement! Also Turner needs to keep more distance from Phillips. I know he is in a tough situation and he seems to try hard, but his closeness to Phillips is damaging his reputation.
He may be a nice guy - I don't know any different. I would guess he was a pretty good teacher. I do not see any greatness in him as a building principal. But then, when I compare him to some of our awesome building principals....the bar just may be too high for him. I do think he is misled too often by joyce puppets and this causes Mr. Turner to make grave errors. Sometimes - he may realize it - but cannot change it. Any administrator with any common sense would distance themselves from Amy, Brian and Joyce. I would say Mike - but I understand he doesn't seem to know how to fight his way out of a broken out paper bag!
Ron Behrenwald has set the bar very high. I am hoping we have someone that can get close to his excellence. Congrats to the Behr! He is one of the best! I am already missing him and his honesty.
All of us at MHS will miss Mr. Behrenwald very much! We could never figure out why Joyce had it in for him from the day she arrived. She rarely visited our building, she was mostly just close to Amy's friend the home ec teacher. Did one of the board members dislike Mr. Behrenwald and sick Joyce on him from the get go? Some say it was Dan over the basketball coaching issue. Some say it is Vic, Paul, Janice and Marsha (Franke) Haring? Either way it was clearly political, as Mr. Behrenwald always did an excellent job! He will be greatly missed! This injustice will not be forgotten or forgiven by the MHS staff! Now we are losing Dan Luciani too! More excellence out the door!
What a sad way to end the year at MHS. My daughter is graduating and she is heartborken at the though to losing Mr. Behrenwald and "Loosh." What a loss for the kids!
We are simply losing the best, with more likely to come!
At graduation, feel free to boo, cough, sneeze, clear your throat, put your head down, etc when Phillips or one of her lackeys gets up to speak. It is time for civil protest against the outrageous actions of Joyce Phillips and the school board. Also give Ron Behrenwald a standing ovation for a job well done! Spread the word! This could be the start of a peaceful uprising to take back our school for the good of the kids!
Sounds like a great idea! Will Phillips threaten to sue the teachers and parents for coughing? ;-)
The MHS students should bow their heads when Phillips and other JP lackeys are speaking. This can be done in memory of her victims.
There are others turning in resignations this week also. One of which is huge as she is one on one with students that struggle. What a gain for Battle Creek and HUGE loss for MMS and MHS. What a shame when the board obviously is not aware of the extent of the problems. I am very sure if they were aware they would stop this immediately. How many teachers are purposely being cut to 1/2 time so benefits do not have to be extended. I believe today, June 1, is "D" day for alot of people at MPS. I have pretty much given up on this community stepping in and taking their school system back. Now, without the state making the $122 cuts in state aid...and joyce getting yet another 3% salary increase (approx. $18,000) with buffing up of many perks....how do you justify cutting anything that relates to student programs. Do people now understand why there was resistance to supporting the bond. Clearly - they got our money - but are going to cut the student programs, local jobs, while giving raises to the top...just how they want to.
The Marshall School Board are very aware of the huge problems relating to the bad leaders at the top. They have been told many times by many prominent people what is going on and how Phillips needs to be fired. For some non-public reasons (many opinions about the true motives) a clear board majority supports Phillips no matter what. Only Chris, John and maybe Ali have reached out even a little to the staff. Staff and parent expectations of Dan have declined since last fall. There is little to no hope that Vic, Janice or Paul will do anything but give absolute loyalty to Phillips. Many have given up on the school board and a recall is needed if any changes are going to be made.
There have been mixed messages coming from the school board all year. Some say they are angry with JP and would like to see her gone. Others say it is all a charade and they really like JP and use her to carry out some sort of "hit list" or "evil agenda" against the teachers and others. Which is it?
If actions speak louder than words then it looks like the support JP and are using her to carry out their bad plans. Or is JP doing the bad plans on her own and bossing them around?
The school board has been a big mess for at least the last year or so. I have never seen such poor leadership of what could be an excellent school district.
I talked to an administrator in Olivet and he said they are picking up students from Marshall! Marshall is definately in decline in some major areas, such as leadership in the central office.
Marshall is losing students to Marshall Academy, Lakeview, Harper Creek and Homer too!
Marshall is losing quality employees also. The only thing Marshall seems to be keeping are the sub standard administrators that are willing to randomly attack any employee that joyce wants attacked. Without the student numbers going up. Without the quality employees. What will Marshall Schools be by the time the board allows the unidoctor to stay 2 more years? This madness has to stop.
If you need any questions answered talk to a ESP support member!
AND PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE CUSTODIAL STAFF AND COME TO THE JULY 9 BOARD MEETING. We need people in the seats!!!
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