In The Marshall Chronicle this week, Shelly Sulser did numerous Cheers and Jeers in her Editorial Column. The following is one of her jeers:
Jeers to the Marshall School Board for purposely refusing to keep written records of its recent evaluation of Dr. Joyce Phillips. President Vic Potter reported that no board members filled out their individual evaluation form. And, when the summary form was released, there were no board member comments included. The board leans toward secrecy too often by waiting until the day before major meetings such as two recent school board retreats and all other meeting to publicly post the sessions planned at least a month in advance in most cases.
Educators who expect students to do more than the minimum are setting a bad example when it sticks only to the minimum required of them by the state's public access laws.
Minimum meeting notices combined with rigid copying fees for every document - including $20 to $30 per month for the board packet - does nothing to HELP your local paper get the accurate information to you in a timely manner and to get it right.
It only creates another hurdle to surmount in our continued struggle to get to the truth.
An air of secrecy breeds suspicion - and sometimes critical bloggers - even when you have nothing to hide.
So cheers to the City of Marshall for always working with us - not against us - in our efforts to keep you - the real boss of both entities - informed so you can keep them held accountable.
Thanks Shelly for speaking what so many of us are thinking. So we here at MPS Kids First Cheer you! Wake up Board Members! Your secrecy doesn't help getting this Bond passed for the new "Lame Duck Superintendent."
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153 comments:
Thanks to Shelly and all she tries to do to get the facts out there for Marshall citizens to read. Unfortunately, the secrecy is nothing new. Remember the BB gun incident, how about the air conditioner (no one could talk about it - GAG order - go see phillips if you have any questions)... this has been the phillips regime practice... if that doesn't work - try to stir things up between groups, or individuals, you know - pit one against the otherr - (easier to manage weak feuding groups).... bosses running downtown with company gossip/info... There are actually less than a dozen employees who love to do phillips bid and call...makes you wonder what they will do to survive when SHE GOES INTERNATIONAL!
Thanks, Shelly!!!! As I've told you before,keep digging..there's more out there!!!
It makes sense that Joyce, Vic and the gang try to hide things, be sneaky, make threats and coverup what they are really doing. If it all got out there would be outrage and people would be very mad at them. Oh yeah, that has already begun to happen. There are hundreds, maybe thousands, that have lost trust and faith in them. Are write-in candidates allowed for the upcoming school board election? If no one is publicly interested, I say write-in Lou, Sam or Bob. If they actually won I bet they might just consider it. If not, it still would be a good protest.
What do they have to hide? A lot! I have never seen things so bad in the Marshall schools. I used to think Lou was bad and shady, but Joyce, Vic, Amy, Brian and this group have him beat by a long shot! By comparison Lou Giannunzio looks quite honest, cooperative and excellent!
Let's do it! Let's start a write-in campaign. Lou Giannunzio, Sam Ramon and/or Bob Lyng would all be good choices. Imagine if Vic and Janice lost in a write-in campaign against people that did not even publicly run.
If write-ins are allowed, I will gladly vote for almost anyone instead of Potter and Darling. Sam and Bob for me!
Shelly is absolutely right! So many things have gone wrong under the failed leadership of Dr. Joyce Phillips. I hope the Chronicle quits printing her fictional "leadership" articles. I am calling on the school board to ask for her resignation. If that does not work then I am sure it would not be difficult to fire her.
The school board could care less what the MPS staff, parents and students think. They have decided to back Joyce Phillips and to keep propping up her regime for two more years against all reason or logic. Yes, something stinks badly and nothing has been done to make it any better. What an ugly mess! No wonder JP and the board are so uncooperative and hostile towards the Chronicle! Just like they are with everyone else.
The MTA and the the MPS staff have been way too nice and cooperative with Mrs. Phillips, Brian Metcalf and Amy Jones and their board supporters. What have we received in return? Nothing but disrespect, contempt, hostility, lack of cooperation, ridicule, dishonesty, abuse of staff and Principals, threats, intimidation and overall very bad management.
Why has the Marshall School Board (at least 3-4 members) been so hostile towards the Marshall teachers, Principals and support staff and so supportive of a dishonest and bad Superintendent? We need change at the top and we need it now! Mrs. Phillips is an embarrassment and a huge liability to the entire Marshall schools and community.
Big thanks to Shelly for all you are trying to do - get the truth out to the people of Marshall. I had quit purchasing the Chronicle due to all the Supt. Corners - and knowing the untruths, and misinformation that phillips is writing. Employees have even brought some of her inaccuracies to her attention - which cannot be conducive to long term employment. I do not appreciate her articles at all. They are total nonesense lacking facts to back them up. My favorite was the Early Mornings....we have been using diesel additive at the MPS bus garage for 20+ years....HELLO JP! I had hoped to see just one comment like: Leadership is about having a circle of wonderful, caring, ethical employees to help to make you look like a good leader- did I miss reading anything like 'thanking the employees of MPS' - NO - I ONLY READ ABOUT HOW SHE ACCOMPLISHES EVERYTHING! It takes a whole village to raise one child!
Those of us in the business community are very concerned of the unresolved problems and issues. I have talked to many teachers and some administrators and it is obvious that Dr. Phillips needs to be replaced. She is bad for the Marshall schools and therefore bad for Marshall businesses.
Great job Shelly - there are many issues that have been covered up, tried to gag order, lied about and simply done in the middle of the night while we are all sleeping. School business should not be shady, secretive or deceitful. Marshall deserves much better than a misguided board and an unqualified superintendent!
Maybe the Chronicle should suspend Phillips' fictional columns until there is honesty and cooperation from her and the school board. Since that is not likely to happen, then the columns should be dropped permanently.
I think an investigation by the Chronicle and others is needed into the very bizarre and shady way the school board just finished Joyce Phillips evaluation. No records or comments were kept as to what each school board member said or how they evaluated Phillips. We have no idea how or why they arrived at the evaluation they gave her!
This is outrageous and looks very corrupt. I think they need to redo her evaluation properly and we need transparency to know what the school board is doing and why. The only reason they would have for doing it the way they did is to cover up and hide what they are up to. There is so much mistrust and anger at the school board right now, I think a recall may be needed. Until they regain my trust, I will be voting NO on all school bonds as a protest! The corruption, sleazy practices, dishonesty, unprofessional behavior and disrespect towards the teachers and the community should not be tolerated any longer!
The current Marshall school board has been highly secretive, deceitful, and highly controversial. They wonder why they get so much criticism but they keep doing foolish or bad things. Why is this? They are suspected of pushing hidden agendas, their alleged reason for supporting such a weak and ineffective Superintendent (anyone who loses the complete trust, support and respect of their staff is weak and ineffective). Majoe changes are needed very soon to avert further disaster. The Marshall schools are at risk of falling further behind.
After all that has happened, I cannot support the school bond. Other changes need to be made first to re-establish trust and support.
After all that has happened, I cannot support the school bond. Other changes need to be made first to re-establish trust and support.
How much worse are we going to let things get at MPS?
The latest: The unknown doctor sends out to all school email users and board members her response to 2 different rumors that have recently surfaced. So, because she has given what she calls facts - everyone is now supposed to believe her email. Whatever! If it were not for rumors we would HEAR NOTHING!!!! How is that for secrecy? Thanks jp - thought you would have more to do in the superintendent's office than squelch 2 rumors!!!!!
I'm now curious about the one rumor she did not address of recent times. What did happen at that unrecorded evaluation? What %%%% of raise did the board give jp this time? And, my top pick of rumors....how did the board justify ANY KIND OF RAISE FOR MPS'S WORSE SUPERINTENDENT EVER????? Please Joyce - will you address this rumor for us - but let's be honest and factual!!!
Knowing that things were rapidly going downhill the school board took preemptive action LAST year to shield and protect Joyce Phillips in a very corrupt and dishonest manner. LAST year they extended her contract until 2009 (no matter how bad her performance is) so they could gurantee her a Michigan retirement (yes, we will pay tens of thousands for decades if she is not removed before 2009). They also passed a 9 percent per year pay increase that covers this year also, so they would not have to vote on this again (as the Chronicle has reported). Why would they do something so outrageous and against the interests of the Marshall Public Schools? This was engineered by Paul, Vic and Janice, maybe Dan and Chris too. Ali and John were not on the board then, and Sam and Bob spoke out against it but were rudely treated by the other board members. This year they were just as sleazy with their secretive and "no records" evaluation that still shielded and supported Phillips bad behavior and bad perfromance. Is this payback for Joyce carrying out their sleazy hidden agendas? Most likely-yes! Is this in the interest of the Marshall schools and the kids-no, just the opposite! This is a typical extreme example of their "Joyce First" mentality which is anti-Kids First. There is a mountain of evidence to support firing Joyce Phillips as any good school district would have done. Marshall is good at the lower levels but very bad at the top. What a mess, what an embarrassment, and what a scandal!
With all of the antics being pulled by the school board and Dr. Phillips, there is no way I can vote for any school bonds until these problems are cleaned up. The Marshall schools have to seriously get their act in order for the community to support any more tax increases. I do not trust those currently in power.
The community needs to start taking action to send a message to the school board about unhappy we are over the mess covered on this web site. I plan to start by voting "No" on the school bond and as someone said write in other candidates for the school board instead of Potter and Darling. Maybe write in Sam Ramon and Bob Lyng? That will send a message!
Unfortunately, Bob and Sam do not want that headache anymore...who could blame them?
Is there anyone else we can write in? Anyone but Vic and Janice! Even if they say "No" it would be great if two other people won the election. Maybe Lou? They would love that! ;-)
At the very least I will vote on the bond issue and then deliberately NOT vote for either Vic or Janice. If 1200 people vote that day and a thousand of them choose not to vote for them that sends a message that they are not wanted. Doesnt really mean much but does say something negative about them.
For those who are NOT strong supporters of Supt. Phillips, Vic and Janice, I would say either leave the ballot blank for school board or if allowed write in Sam, Lou or Bob. They may say no if elected but I like that idea that has been proposed and is being passed around in e-mails. Also many of us are not planning to vote for any school bonds until Phillips is replaced. That would be a way to share our displeasure with the board supporting her for two more years. Argh!!!
I wish Bob Lyng, Sam Ramon or Lou Gianunzio were really running on the ballot. Are write-ins allowed? I suppose picking two of these three would be better than the two choices on the ballot.
I have also received an e-mail from friends urging me to vote for a write-in candidate. Since none are announced as running it said to pick Sam, Bob or Lou as write-ins. It did say they may not actually want to serve if elected but it is better to have them decline than to have Potter or Darling claim victory. If anyone does announce as a write-in please post it here so we know our options for voting. Wouldn't it be great to have Sam and Bob back? Lou would be good to have on the board too, which I thought I would never say a few years ago.
Those are three with solid "Pro-Kids" credentials and are not "Pro-Joyce."
Phillips' pamphlet about the upcoming school millage vote falsely states that it will cost the taxpayers nothing! It has a little chart that shows that it will cost "0" at each level of home value. Now how could they get almost $9,000,000 out of the Marshall taxpayers without us paying more taxes? Of course this is another of Phillips' many lies. And another reason to vote against the millage/bond until we get a new Superintendent who is honest, trustworthy, respected and support by the staff and the community.
If people are wanting to vote down the bond until jp is gone, or write in Sam, Bob or Lou - then it is very important to get people to the polls. You know the board/jp are pushing the pro-bond voters to get out and vote. This makes it very important to get all registered voters out to cast their votes. Most school elections have very low voters numbers. Get out and vote. It is a very important way to send your message regarding how you feel about the conditions at MPS.
That must be the plan of Phillips and the school board, keep a low profile and hope a coalition of their few radical supporters, naive do-gooders, and people who may not like the board and Phillips but feel it necessary to support the bond, to get a majority. They are also lying and saying the $9 million will cost the voters nothing.
Yes, we all would like to support the bond if things were normal. But in the true longterm interests of the kids, staff, parents and the community we need to send a strong message to the board. A "No" vote on the bond may be the tipping point they need to dump Phillips. This would be awesome for the schools if this happened and we can start healing and move forward. Another bond vote can quickly be scheduled after Phillips is gone. Also we need two people to replace Potter and Darling, two of Phillips biggest supporters. Until their is a better idea, I plan to write in Sam Ramon and Bob Lyng. If elected I would hope they would consider returning for the sake of the schools. I know they both care about the Marshall schools and the kids very much!
I keep hearing around town that Vic Potter had been arrested for domestic assault. If true, does anyone know when this occurred? One friend thought it was in the 90s. I guess the charges were dropped so there would not likely be an arrest record.
The attempts by Dr. Phillips and at least some board members (Potter, Darling, Beardslee, etc) to stifle all criticism through fear, intimidation, lies and threats of legal action have failed. Fortunately this blog, e-mail and private conversations have prevailed at spreading the truth about the serious problems in the Marshall schools that are caused by Dr. Phillips and her school board supporters. As has been predicted on this blog for months, Mr. Behrenwald has been forced out by Phillips. On the positive side the pressure from speaking out has exposed their plots and may have disrupted some of them. Many of us Marshall teachers want to support the bond but at this time feel it is more important to do what we can to expose the truth about what is happening in the schools. Dr. Phillips needs to be replaced ASAP, it is as simple as that! This is not about money, most teachers would even take a pay cut (as we have after inflation for years now) if it was needed to remove Dr. Phillips and fix the damage that she has done. Enough is enough! We will not tolerate any more bad leadership, hostility and abuse! Ron being forced out was the last straw for many of us!
I am not finding much enthusiasm for the upcoming school millage extension for $9 mil. and certainly not for keeping Potter or Darling on the school board. I feel sorry for Mr. Holcomb as he is a nice guy but most likely does not know about all of the controversies with Phillips. She is using him and his good name. Someone needs to tell him why almost everyone wants Phillips fired first, and how this is hurting the support for the millage at this time.
The school millage is in serious trouble. Almost everyone I know, including many teachers, plan to vote against it. There is no trust in the current administration and most people want to see Dr. Phillips fired. Our schools currently have some big big problems that need to be fixed.
Has anyone checked with the county clerk's office to see if you can write in a candidate who has not declared to be a write-in candidate? The deadline for filing as a write-in is the Friday before the election (April 27). Can you still write someone in (more as a protest than a valid vote) if they have not declared to be a write-in candidate?
Was Joyce planning to replace the orchestra teacher adn now has backed down due to public pressure? Or was orchestra threatened with cuts to pay for her financial blunders and pay raises? Will Joyce form a committee to hire a new MHS Principal only to overrule their decision and pick someone else, like she has done in most other hiring situations? Is this blog and other public pressure helping to keep Joyce in check somewhat, as her schemes keep getting exposed?
This blog has exposed and predicted many ugly truths about the regime of Supt. Phillips. The latest is the ouster of MHS Principal Ron Behrenwald, whom Phillips has been trying to force out since she arrived. He obviously was on the "hit list" that was either devised by her predecessor or added by her. The secretive and suspicous way the school board has handled Phillips' performance reviews, her huge undeserved pay raises, and her long contract extension (and second MI retirement) is not only outrageous, unethical and unprofessional but may need to be investigated for wrongdoing.
Almost everyone is opposed to Phillips and the current school board. This blog and other efforts has forced them to back off a little and to at least make some cosmetic changes to at least look as if there is a small measure of accountability at the top. But the MTA, parents and the community need to immediately take a much harder line, step up and put an end to this failed regime. How much more should we tolerate? The Marshall schools and community have been damaged enough!
Isnt there a correct procedure for a write in vote to have any validity? Does anyone know for sure because many of us are looking for a way to show our displeasure with the top leaders of MPS. At the very least I will not cast a vote for either of the two current members running. They have let us down in a big way.
To make it official and actually get elected, I am quite sure any write-in candidates have to declare and register. Someone else said this is due by April 29th. I will call in the morning and find out.
Please encourage some non-Pro Joyce candidates to run! They have a good shot at winning!
If you want to really feel depressed, read today's Enquirer, page 3A, the article about Cindy Ruble. She gets an outstanding evaluation from the board, and shares the credit with the wonderful staff of people she works with. Of course, that is just the point that the Marshall Board and JP does not get. She respects the other employees of the Lakeview schools and views them as collegues, not subordinates. She understands that "leadership is about"... motivating people to do the best job they can because they know their efforts are respected and appreciated. Her leadership style is totally the opposite from JP and that is why she is so much more liked, admired, respected and successful in her job.
It sounds like she is the opposite of JP from everything I have heard.
I read the article about Cindy Ruble and I have many friends in Lakeview and I can only envy what it would be like to live in a district with a good Superintendent and a school board that have the support and respect of their own staff and community. We have only gloom, conflict, problems and morale problems to look forward to for at least two more years.
I hope we get two good announced write-in candidates for the school board election on May 8th. That would be a ray of hope. I am tired of being embarrassed for living in Marshall.
Information to be an official write-in candidate for the Marshall School Board election on May 8th:
- p/u a "Declaration of Intent" form at the County Clerks office in Marshall, ph. 781-0988.
- return this form by 4 pm on Friday April 27, 2007.
- the office is open from 8-5 pm on Mon-Fri
It would be awesome if two good candidates were willing to run who would be willing to put the best interests of the kids and the school district ahead of the interests of the current Superintendent. Almost anyone who would run should have a good shot at winning.
There have been some potential good candidates giving it thought. Let's ask around and encourage those who may be willing to serve our schools.
I am very frightened for this district. The dishonesty is out of control. I would like to know - what raise is joyce getting after her 3.8 evaluation? I want to have this answer before I go to the polls in May. I deserve to know without having to FOIA that information. If I have to FOIA it I believe I may have to actually pay for an ad so this community has correct information. What a shame! I think this board not only deserves 'raspberries' but they deserve the entire 'raspberry patch'.
Please stop the secrecy. What raise is joyce getting? I would like to know in light of all the budget cuts she is trying to make that will affect our staff and students. Already there are positions being eliminated. We are hiring - not based on experience in the classroom - but based on $$$$. If you don't think this affects the students then what does? Why not let us know what raise joyce is getting? Will this information cause people to rethink how they will vote for the bond? How about some honesty here.
Simple question: What % raise is the board giving joyce?
The Chronicle reported 9 percent per year for this year and next year. They reported this on at least two different occasions that I have read. At the time they voted in this ridiculously large raise and contract extention last year, Janice gushed about how they had to "show their appreciation" so they do not "lose her." How absurd, as Phillips was already known as a huge liability, she was going nowhere, and this is believed to be a payoff for carrying out one or more hidden agenda. Why does the school board keep propping up and lavishing money on such a failed regime? If you are angry and willing to take action, please read a few posts up and sign up as a write-in candidate for the school board.
Phillips is working with the MPS staff to move forward. She is planning many long and drawn out meeting to discuss "goals" and "action plans" and stuff like that. She is assigning the MPS staff "homework" and sending them out to find out mostly what THEY can do to improve THEIR morale. Of course Metcalf and a few board supporters are there with her when she does this. This process should take the better part of the next two years. Is this meant as a process towards real improvement or just a "propaganda ploy" and punishment for the MPS staffers in the meetings?
What is Phillips doing to improve? I think the staff would overwhelmingly support one action plan for Phillips- resign and leave. Now that would solve the problems and greatly improve staff morale and community support! ;-)
Sounds like more "smoke and mirrors" and foot-dragging than substance. I think an updated confidential survey from the staff would be a great start, this month! Then a committee of staff, building Principals, parents and school board members can evaluate the findings and see if the major problems and failures of Mrs. Phillips leadership are reasonably fixable or if it would be better to replace her by next fall. If the school millage fails or barely passes it will be a very strong sign that the problems are very big (as most people believe) and the only good solution would be a removal of the Superintendent. When there are huge problems, the buck stops at the Superintendent! She needs to admit and take responsibility for her actions and quit blaming the teachers and parents for her blunders.
The meeting did not go very well. No one thinks Joyce is sincere. She is just going through the motions and instead of humility she is being very arrogant. You would think she had two more guaranteed year with nothing to lose! ;-)
Joyce is just putting on a show for the school board. After three years we know very well who she really is and it is very dark and mean-spirited. She can put on a good act for the board, smile, charm them but it will not fool the teachers. I do not think she wants to make any real changes at all. As the saying goes, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks."
Actually you can teach an old dog new tricks, but we are talking about teaching ethics to someone who has none!
It seems the "Phillips effect" is having a big negative impact on support for the upcoming school millage. Normally a millage renewal with no increase in the rate would be a given to pass. With so many upset about Phillips and the school board's support of her, it could be at risk of not passing this time around.
Information to be an official write-in candidate for the Marshall School Board election on May 8th:
- p/u a "Declaration of Intent" form at the County Clerks office in Marshall, ph. 781-0988.
- return this form by 4 pm on Friday April 27, 2007.
- the office is open from 8-5 pm on Mon-Fri
It would be awesome if two good candidates were willing to run who would be willing to put the best interests of the kids and the school district ahead of the interests of the current Superintendent. Almost anyone who would run should have a good shot at winning.
Joyce Phillips is staking her reputation and future on passing the bond/millage on May 8th. So far she has:
- "invited" and handpicked those who did the planning and put the "multiple phases" plan together
- decided to call some sinking fund-paid improvements (bathrooms, etc) this summer "Phase 1" in a deceptive way to make it look like the projects are already underway.
- made the first millage/bond on May 8th a so-called "no tax increase" millage so she assumes people will not look at the facts and see that it is a big extension of a millage due to run out, so it is in fact a tax increase- duh!
- and now Phillips has started her own "citizens committee" and appointed its leader Mr. Holcomb to promote the millage/bonds.
The excitement and enthusissm that normally would be a big part of big school improvements is largely absent due to the strong staff, parent and public opposition to Phillips.
What if the bond/millage on May 8th fails? Phillips and her board supporters will look very bad. It would be a huge blow to them and could even lead to Phillips removal as everyone would recognize (what the staff and many parents already know)how truly bad Phillips is for the Marshall schools and community.
Phillips and the board would sure have a lot of explaining to do if the millage fails. People voting against the millage are really voting against Phillips failed leadership and all the bad things she has done.
If the bond fails, the school board will only have Joyce to blame.
I was surprised that there have only been 2-3 letters to the editor, one by John Coulter and one by Mr. Holcomb so far about the bond. In the past when the Marshall schools were preparing a major bond and vote there was far more support and enthusiasm. I would expect a dozen or more letters each week in support, and maybe a few against. The big problems with the board and the Superintendent seem to have put a damper on the support. Most people I know are saying they will likely vote "no" until they get their act together.
Paychecks last week had the bond proposal brochure with check inside sealed envelopes. Is this propaganda or what? Employees are possibly the only citizens who know how they intend to vote. Perhaps the board should have done something for the schools that really meant something - like remove phillips. Employees are the best tool in passing bonds - poorly treated employees are the worst enemy of bond passage. Why not fix the top before you try to shovel the fertilizer at the employees. Was this a waste of money?
Phillips' "no tax increase" bond/millage (is this true?) will cost someone who has a $200,000 house about $445 per year (the BC Enquirer reports $222 per $100,000). The current millage it would replace is ending this summer, that is why it is called a "no tax increase" which is deceptive. This bond will go until 2020 and is the first of several bonds that may be asked for.
Can we trust the current Superintendent and her school board supporters to properly manage the project and to be honest with the community each step of the way? Will they claim a huge propaganda victory if the bond passes and claim (falsely) that the community supports Phillips?
Joyce Phillips cannot be trusted! I am voting NO! We need new leadership first. Too much money has been squandered already.
I have a few questions about the bond planning process.
Why were only certain people "invited" and given a lot of clout, while the teachers and support staff (who know the needs best!) were largely ignored throughout the process?
Who chose who to invite, Phillips?
Why was the "Citizens Committee" started by Phillips? Why was its leader handpicked by Phillips? Aren't "Citizens committees" supposed to be independent and separate from the school administration?
Why was so much routine maintenance ignored until now. The MHS bathrooms should have been fixed two years ago. Why did Phillips let things get so bad, so it would help pass the bond?
What about the ongoing problems of mistrust and dishonesty at the top levels of leadership (Phillips, Jones, Metcalf) in the MPS? Why should we trust this group that has wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars on their own huge pay and perks increases and on their numerous screwups?
I thought the process was quite elitist and snobby. It smells of what has become bad Marshall politics.
Phillips treats the community almost as badly as she treats her building principals, teachers, support staff and many parents. I bet she is looking forward to getting her big pay increases, her second Michigan retirement, and then getting back to Hoosierland leaving a big mess of problems and the bill for the Marshall schools to pick up.
Just a reminder, official write-in candidates for the Marshall School Board have to get their "intent" forms in by Friday April 27th at 4 pm to the County Clerks office.
Nobody is going to run again Potter and Darling. Nobody is going to stand up publicly to Sup. Phillips or the Marshall school board (except the bold John Bedient). Most teachers and parents are very apathetic when it comes to solving the problems of the schools. Apathy and fear are the two main reasons Phillips is still the Superintendent, no matter how awful she is for Marshall.
After years of battle and problems in Marshall schools and city politics, I think many people have given up or are burned out. That is another reason support for the bond is sinking. People have given up on our current school leaders.
My feeling is that the bond is dead until we get some big changes in school leadership. Phillips is dragging the school district reputation down. I hope she resigns or is fired soon.
Phillips is reported to have confided in some board members that if the heat on her continues from the staff, parents and the community that she will consider resigning. Did the board pull the rug out form under her in their own way? Do they desire for her to leave way ahead of her contracted two more years? Apparently there would is surprise that some of her former board supporters are going around town saying they would like to see her gone, the sooner the better. They claim what they did was a "first step" and that they are not done pressuring her out.
She is apparently very worried about the bond because if it does not pass, everyone will know that she is to blame. It must be hard for her to try to work and live in Marshall with so many people hoping she will leave or get fired. She is certainly reaping the ill will that she has sown for three years! She has done so much damage to so many good people that it is impossible for things to ever be "normal" again until there is a new Superintendent.
Have no illusions, Joyce will do as much damage as she can until the day she is gone from the Marshall schools. She has few allies left and a long list of enemies to wreak havoc on. She thinks she has the school board in her pocket and is protected no matter what she does. Look out for many more conficts in the future. She has no intentions of admitting fault, exhibiting humility, truly cooperating with the teachers, or apologizing for her many faults and bad behaviors.
Greetings MPS staff, parents and citizens:
Here is the new web site for the school bond:
www.marshallbond.org
Many of us who are supporting the school bond also want to see Joyce Phillips replaced ASAP. I agree she has been a disaster for the Marshall Public Schools. She is making our efforts that much more difficult, but we feel it is important to start meeting the building needs of the district sooner rather than later. Please consider supporting the bond now, and we can work together towards getting a new Superintendent too.
Why does that web site mentioned above say that the bond will cost you "zero" for the 29 years of its duration? That's not true! It is about $500-$600 per year for an average Marshall house. I noticed that if you want more information you contact-who else- Joyce Phillips! And the address to send donations is of course to Joyce's good friend- Marsha Haring. Something smells fishy!
Why a 29-year millage for a mere $8.7 million? That would be like the average person getting a 29-year car loan! The technology improvements will last maybe 5-10 years, and we will be still paying for them two decades later. What will the interest be over 29 years? Why is it so important that the administration offices at MHS be moved to the first floor? This does not sound like a very good plan, but more of a PR stunt by Phillips. Why has MHS been so poorly maintained over the years. I am embarrassed when I go up there with garbage strewn about, weeds growing everywhere, etc. How do we know that money will not be squandered and little real improvement will be done for our money. I do not have any faith in Phillips. I plan to wait at least until we get a new Superintendent that is trusted and respected, as do most others I know around town.
The maintenance problems across the district are a result of bad management at the Superintendent and Business manager level. Funds have been cut to pay for other things (Metcalfs tuition, Jones' mistakes, Phillips raises, Foreman tenure charges, etc). Also Amy micromanages maintenance and does not provide the resources for the very stretched-thin staff. Also the neglect may be a vain attempt to build support for the bond.
It is obvious there is a crisis in the Marshall Public Schools and it seems not much is being done about it. Are things getting better or worse? I keep hearing about all of the problems. I hope something is being done about it. A new superintendent may be a good start.
So far it looks like things will be getting worse. You may have heard the Marshall School Board decided to keep Dr. Phillips for two more years against all logic and reason. The staff are furious! MHS Principal Ron Behrenwald was forced out by Phillips. The shool bond is in jeopardy. Shall I go on?
Most MHS teachers are boycotting a lunch invitation with Sup. Joyce Phillips. Since everyone knows that it was Sup. Phillips who forced out our excellent MHS Principal Ron Behrenwald, why should we reward her bad behavior with a PR lunch gathering? MHS has been hurt by her poor leadership in many other ways too. We tried to work with Sup. Phillips and she refused to show us the proper respect and cooperation that we deserve. She has been rude, arrogant and uncooperative ever since she arrived in Marshall. She does not deserve our support or respect.
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?
Iam not sure what it is going to cost for attorney, but have heard mant times lou took 10,000.00 for neg. contracts when he was here.
Attorney fees for negotiating a contract can easily run $10,000 and up. You would think after two huge raises that Joyce could at least negotiate the contract without hring out someone else to do it for more huge expenses.
What a travesty. Supposedly the board felt poor JKP took so much grief over the last negotiations they didnt have the heart to put her through it again. WHAT THE HECK IS HER JOB THEN???? What area of the budget does the high powered high paid lawyer get paid from. This whole KIDS FIRST spin from her and the board is no more factual in reality than the whole MISSION ACCOMPLISHED spin from GWB on the aircraft carrier a few yrs back. In fact there are a lot of comparisons between our top leaders and the top leaders in Washington. Spin spin spin with no basis in reality or fact. We deserve so much better.
Please don't equate Joyce to George, he is at least still respeccted by some of us. Leave the national politics out of this one.
You're doing a heck of a job Joycie!
I found a couple of comments funny:
"Why has MHS been so poorly maintained over the years. I am embarrassed when I go up there with garbage strewn about, weeds growing everywhere, etc."
This is what most in the community see when they go to the schools and they are embarrassed to. That's why you need to let JP do her job and get some action in the buidling and grounds department. They are not getting the job done. She is pressing them, is this why she is hated? I respect her for trying to turn it around.
"Supposedly the board felt poor JKP took so much grief over the last negotiations they didnt have the heart to put her through it again. WHAT THE HECK IS HER JOB THEN????"
First a person complains that Lou took money to do it, then another says the attorney gets as much, then almost funny at how hypocritical this group is, the third poster posts this. Sounds like a bunch of poor/sore loser union members. Personally, I want the lawyers bargaining with you. Maybe they can shrink the union cost to my pocketbooks. Your union is killing our state. I think the school distrcts should do what they did up North and cut pay. What do you want. Golden benefits, or pay increases. You can't have them both, especially when the cost of your benefits goes up by a huge amount annually. Also, why is it that the MEA's own MESSA insurance is reapling huge spikes in revenue in the hundreds of millions of dollars of excess for their bank accounts? Hmmmm, maybe its that whole notion that a monopoly controls this aspect of benefits. Get rid of them. I wish the BOE had the spine to do what is needed to be done. Cut pay and benefits now.
The Marshall teachers want JP removed for bad leadership, it has nothing to do with money or benefits. The MTA (teacher's union) has worked with the school board to lower costs during the last decade and the Marshall teachers have made many concessions. Most pay increases this past decade have been way-below the inflation rate to offset medical insurance increases. We have also moved to cheaper "Choices" medical insurance.
The problem with Joyce Phillips is that from the beginning she has been nothing but rude, arrogant, uncooperative, hostile, disrespetful and dishonest in her overall role as our school district's top leader. She has rebuffed time and again attempts to work with her by a who's who of prominent staff and building Principals. She keeps her distance from the classroom other than PR visits on rare occasions. She does not care that she treats the staff so poorly or that she has terrible relations with just about everyone in the Marshall schools. She has lost all support and respect from the staff, which was caused by three years of bad management. This has nothing to do with her trying to get people (as Vic said) "to do their jobs." The biggest failure of people to "do their jobs" has been at the top with Joyce Phillips, Brian Metcalf and Amy Jones. They have reaped big pay raises (undeserved), big benefits (ex. Brian-year off w/pay for college plus tuition), and have engaged in very poor performance. The problems caused by Joyce Phillips are very bad and getting worse.
Funny, I just read where the MTA supports both bond proposals. Good thing there leadership isn't as bitter as some of you. It sickening to read that a good number of you won't vote for the bond. What is wrong with you? Don't you have some pride in your schools? Quit looking for a scapegoat for your anger, deal with her and pass this bond. It is needed.
I am the MTA member who wrote the post two above and I did not mention any opposition to the bond. You may re-read it if you like!
In fact I am in favor of the bond despite my strong opposition to Joyce Phillips. Most or all of the MTA members, former Principals, and others in the new Chronicle (4-28) endorsing the bond are also strongly supportive of firing or replacing Phillips NOW, not in two years. Those who feel that Phillips has failed miserably (the overwhelming majority!) are divided between those who will vote for the bond anyway, and those who do not trust Phillips leadership enough to support any bond until she is replaced.
I am guessing most of those who post on this web site who are against the bond are not MTA members. If the Bond fails, it will mostly be because of the failed leadership of Joyce Phillips. Most parents and community leaders I talk to want to see her replaced too, she is very bad for the entire community. Under a good Superintendent the bond would easily pass with about 80-90+ percent support.
I think there will be many "protest" votes on May 8th that will need to be interpertted as being against the very bad decision by the school board to keep Phillips two more years and give her a whopping 9 percent pay increase (again) in these tight times and with her known bad performance. Either way the MTA is encouraging citizens to vote for the bond, but everyone would be far more enthusiastic if we can also get a new and much better Superintendent at the same time.
Well said. I am a retired school employee who, as much as I detest what the top leadership and board have done to a once great district these past three years, will support the bond. It is a shame that those of us who truly put kids first have to begrudgingly vote yes because of our distrust of these people who only pretend to put kids first. Please do not paint all of us who are on this blog as no voters who dont care about the kids and please dont think we will quit being truthful about our disgust with the top leaders. We deserve better.
I met Joyce days after she started because I'd written a letter to the editor critical of the budget situation. (As an aside, note that we are still having budget problems, yet she is praised by the board for her work?)
Anyway, I told my wife that very day that Joyce had an abrasive personality that would not allow her to survive for long.
Even if the board has a coherent agenda to make some people or some programs straighted up and fly right, I believe she is a lost cause.
I'm not sure we need a sheriff, but if we do, it can't be Joyce.
I'm probably voting yes, but will remain on the board's case to straighten things out.
John Bedient
To several posts above regarding 'garbage strewn all about, and poor maintenance to the MHS site. Besides Amy Jones not allowing the sinking fund to be spent of maintenance of buildings - you must realize that we have 2 grounds employees and approx 900 students. How would you like to keep the grounds picked up when you have that many students throwing their garbage out each day. Until parents teach their children to show respect for their schools, community, etc. we will face this problem. I am wondering if you also blame the school employees for the cracked parking lot that has grass growing between the cracks, and how about the leaking roof? Are we to blame the 2 maintenance persons that maintain 6 public school buildings for that too? People can not do their jobs without monetary support. Joyce has nothing to do with any of this. People have been doing their jobs with great pride for decades before joyce came to Marshall. It is not a case of 'them not getting their jobs done and her pressing them'. This is just about the most ludicrice thing I have heard on this blog so far. So, you add Walters Ele. and do not eliminate the Shearman Ele. and yet - ADD NO EMPLOYEES - and expect them to keep picking up after your children throw garbage out daily!!!! Huh? Is this how you operate in your homes. Just wait for the family to mess it up and never ask them to take care of things properly?
On the note of MESSA insurance. The choices II with the 10/20 drug card that most of us have has only gone up 3.66% this year. Yet, our salaries have a 1% increase. Now, equate that to JPs 9% salary increase and $1300 per month in lieu of insurance and I'll be waiting for your apology on you attacking the insurance of school employees (ie - about 1/3 do not even get insurance) Just an FYI for you to make brighter statements regarding an obvious topic you have no knowledge over!
With pending cuts from the State, and groups being told no money for raises, cuts in teaching positions, no money to order class room teaching supplies - WHY DO WE HAVE MONEY TO GIVE THE SUPT A HUGE RAISE AGAIN? Isn't this alittle corrupt? Aren't there enough reasons to not give her the money this year? Especially when you have to affect so many area family financial well beings - just to pad the pocket of phillips?
JP has been given good performance reviews for NOT doing what needs to be done. She has not provided nearly enough personnel or money for proper maintenance, she has not cooperated with her staff on solving problems, she has not used any positive motivational techniques, she has not been an effective curricuum leader, she has not been a good role model for "excellence," she has not been open and honest with anyone, and she has not cared at all that her big raises are ridiculous with all of the pending cuts, previous cuts and her overall bad performance. Why did the school board extend JP's contract until 2009? Why was she given a raise for such poor performance? The top leadership is broken and needs to be fixed. We need a good Superintendent now!
The talk around town is that the bond is in trouble because of Ms. Phillips failed leadership. If the bond fails, I would guess the school board would have little choice but to remove her for the good of the Marshall schools.
The list of people supporting the bond is getting larger. Anyone curious as to whether or not some of those people were coerced into signing? I wonder if all of those people will actually vote yes when they actually get into the voting booth?
I wish I could trust the administration at Marshall with using the money they are requesting the way it is supposed to be used. If they get the bond and the repairs and changes do not all take place what could possibly be done about it then? Nothing? Trust is a major factor that is missing in this bond request. I have read the brochure. I am not sure why moving the high school offices is a priority. They say for school safety. Who is going to stop students from opening outsides door anytime they see someone knocking and trying to get in. Just because the offices are moved to the lower level will not insure 'safety for the students'. Upgrade of technology is great but by the time this bond is paid off 'at no expense to the taxpayers' (I have yet to see how that is supposed to happen) the technology will be obsolete by time of payoff....and of course you will have been asked to pass at least 2-3 more bonds by then which will in fact raise your taxes. I don't like some of the items included in each Phase. It is only the opinion of the 'selected group' that did the study what the priorities are. Let's assume no one knows about the mold in the music wing. Let's assume that the sound system in the auditorium is at best 'acceptable'. This is kind of like assuming the 'donated grand piano' which no one but Amy Jones can get to because she holds the only key to the locked box that would not have been needed if Amy waited for the spec sheet and found out all the grand piano needed was a dehumidifier/humidifier attached to it and the expense of the huge locked box was not needed- let's go ahead and assume that it was donated to be used by students, to heighten their music appreciation....when what it looks like through the micro-management of the doctor and Amy that we are now managing a museum with this wonderful donated grand piano not even visible to our students. Amy said the 'fine details to the guidelines of the key' have not been worked out. If it takes 10 months to figure out that the key could be housed in the high school locked vault so it can be accessed in that building when needed by classes at the high school (instead of having to place a call to Ms. Jones {if she can be reached} so she can then call {Mr. Armstrong who can drive the key to the high school if he is not tied up doing something important} - I can only guess how these two women are going to be responsible for the millons they are asking to be responsible for in the upcoming bond issue.
Let's get new administration in place that can be trusted explicitly - then when we have actually 'PUT KIDS FIRST' we can make the main thing the main thing (which is not money) - but kids!!!! Leadership is about change - let's change leadership.
Excellent points! All of us who want to see Ms. Phillips (and Jones and Metcalf) replaced are people who truly care about the kids, the Marshall Public Schools and Marshall in general! Some of us will vote for this far-from-perfect bond anyway. Many more of us will likely vote against it as a loud public protest that it is not acceptable all of the bad things this small clique and their board supporters are doing to the Marshall schools. We need new leadership and we need it now. We need accountability and "excellence" at the top too, not just at the other levels.
I have no trust in Phillips, Jones, Metcalf, Darling Beardslee and Potter. I have tried but have been burned time and time again.
As an outside observor it is obvious even to me that there are problems with the Marshall Schools Superintendent that may lead to her removal from office. The near unanimous calls for her firing or other methods of replacement have spread throughout the town. I cannot think of any way she could regain the kind of support she would need to be a truly effective Superintendent. I am calling on the school board to take the actions needed to get a new Superintendent that is obviously needed now.
J. Wilson
Dear J Wilson,
Thanks for your thoughts... a well placed letter to the editor (of the Chronicle and the Enquirer) would be much appreciated. As employees we have our hands tied due to receiving unsatisfactory evals if we speak up. For non-tenured teachers it is the kiss of death. Now that there are bound to be cuts we are all on pins and needles. One would think that our dire financial straights would cause any ethical superintendent to forgo their raise if she is so concerned with our kids wellbeing. Citizens, like yourself, that are parents, friends or concerned citizens can really make a difference! Thanks!
Cuts? Cuts? Here is a list:
- Joyce Phillips (savings, at least $130,000)
- Brian Metcalf (savings, at least $100,000)
- Amy Jones (savings, at least $90,000)
Then hire a good retired interim Superintendent and an interim business manager to get through the next year. The curriculum stuff can be handled by a curriculum committee and building Principals, for some extra pay of course). This should work much better than the do-little Metcalf and save a lot of money too.
Savings after hiring interims, etc: at least $200,000!
That plan would save money, boost morale and productivity, improve excellence, solve many problems, and build support for the bond and other school needs! Sounds great to me!
I love the plan. I have thought all school year we should be talking about privitizing our business office. Look at the money savings to the district not to mention the morale boost. Besides the fact that this community cannot afford to pay yet another supt. retirement - where to heck did the board think we are going to get funds to give joyce a michigan retirement? I have been very concerned about the financial issues and of course the settlements due to various needless lawsuits due to jp and her mismanagement efforts. Jones has cost the district valuable money and has not proven to be knowledgable enough to be in a position of financial decision. Her theory is if you can't pressure people into what you want - try to flirt. Now, this is quite a management approach. These two have got to go. Let's get an accounting firm in to do the finances and the interim supt. idea. I would suggest Mr. Miles - who recently gave some order to the disheveled Middle School (before joyce put Turner in charge!!!!)
After much agonizing I have decided that I have to vote "No" on the shool bonds. This will be my first time in 30 years voting against a Marshall school bond. Do I support improving the buildings and meeting the classroom needs? Yes! Am I concerned that at the moment we have far great problems in the Marshall Public Schools that need to be addressed first? Yes!
The current regime has to go- period! Supt. Phillips is by far the worst leader I can think of in the history of the Marshall schools, and I was no big fan of Lou (who looks far better now). Voting down the bond is the only immediate option I can see towards removing Phillips sooner rather than later. It would be a huge blow to any credibility that Phillips may still have in the community.
I think the defeat of the bond is an unfortunate necessity to expedite Phillips much-needed removal and to initiate the process of real reform and a return to "excellence" in the top leadership of the Marshall schools. Once a new Superintendent is in place, we can plan and pass a needed school bond with broad support and enthusiasm from the staff and the community. The Marshall schools cannot afford two more years of the disasterous Phillips administration. Let's unite to do "what is best for the kids!"
Question: Is it right to have school employees spending time putting bond brochures into paycheck envelopes and into report card envelopes. I had thought this was misappropriation of school funds to do any work toward bonds while on the taxpayers time. I have talked to a few employees who received paychecks with bond brochures in them and now heard the report cards have them also. Am looking for an answer to this question. Thanks.
I am responding to two posts above. This May 8th will be historical for me also. I have always supported the needs of the school district. I will wholeheartedly support any bond after this school board does something to improve MPS. I do not feel it is in the best interest of Marshall to let her stay 2 more years. I also feel Jones needs to be replaced with someone with actual financial experience. She is overpaid for her lack of experience. Goodness sakes she cannot even figure out the fine details to how to give the key to the HS for the box that locks up the piano. Therefore, at her wage, she drives the key to the HS when Mr. Armstrong cannot get there. We now have to pay for him to show up to unlock as well as lock that box even for the upcoming recital this weekend. Question: How much has this 'key' issue cost this district. I want everyone to know that the HS has a vault that is locked with a safe in it. I would hope the key would be safe in the safe! The wage loss here is great as this has been going on since last August! We have some 'music oriented' students that would actually like to hear/see/play this wonderful grand piano that Ms. Jones has decided needs to be locked up with only her having access. Maybe if we put the key in the safe Ms. Jones could do some financial business in the business office.
As you can see by my rantings: There is everyday mismanagement problems that do stem directly to joyce and amy. This needs to change. I would like to see the board (their bosses) step up and administer some changes so we can start putting kids first. I venture to say what could be done with the money that has been wasted on the 'key issue'. Let's really put kids first: Replace joyce, amy and brian and get some really employees in those offices - if that does not happen things will only get worse at MPS.
Micromanagement is the name of the game at MPS. Virtually everything from hiring building level employees, that used to be done by the building level administrators(like Behrenwald) to day to day health care (the job of our school nurse)and many other things that are not within her job perameters are now "managed" by her. People that used to hire, fire and dicipline now need Joyce's "permission" just to POST a job. (That by the way should be the job of our new highly paid,Human Resources person...what does she actually do anyway?
The MTA spoke up very loudly last fall that things were very bad in the Marshall Schools. For the most part they have been ignored and Joyce Phillips has only gotten worse since then. She thinks that her board supporters will circle and protect her no matter what she does. She is as arrogant, rude and uncooperative as ever and she is making fools out of the school board and hurting the reputation of the Marshall schools immensely.
In the new Marshall Chronicle (May 1st) Vic Potter and Janice Darling are interviewed about school issues, including references to this blog and the major problems caused by Joyce Phillips.
To his credit, Vic did express concern about problems and encouraged people to talk with him about their questions or concerns. In contrast Janice was unapologetically 100 percent Pro-Joyce and did not show any serious concern about the major problems, the staff surveys, or the near complete loss of staff and community support and confidence in Joyce's leadership.
Does anyone know why Janice is so radically pro-Joyce when almost everyone else would like to see Joyce fired? Is there more to this story? When I talk with her she seems to be in denial or a "hear no evil, see no evil" mode.
The real Joyce is the person everyone has to deal with in the Marshall schools except...
The school board works mostly with the "fake Joyce" that tells them what they want to here (anything but the truth!), befriends them, charms them and carries out their agendas.
Also the real Joyce does everything she can to keep the MPS staff away from the school board and vice versa.
The current $8.7 million bond will have minimal effects on improving student learning and will cost the average taxpayer about $400 per year more in taxes than if it does not pass. The bond seems more designed to be an PR boost for Phillips and her board supporters. Some of the major "improvements" are unnecessary things like moving the MHS admin offices from the second floor to the first floor or remodelling the MHS media center which can wait until other issues are addressed.
There are very serious and major problems in the Marshall schools that need to be "fixed" first. At minimum we need a new Superintendent now, not in two years. I have no trust or faith in Dr. Phillips or her strongest board supporters with any bond planning or money. Until changes are made at the top, I will have to vote "no" on this bond that seems more designed for pro-Phillips propaganda than for the true needs of the kids. After the changes are made at the top, we can unite and vote in maybe a bigger better bond in the fall under new better and trusted leadership.
With Privitization being talked about at most Michigan schools, I have noticed that the brunt of this happens at the bottom of the ladder where the smallest amount of gain is. Now maybe noone is aware that there are companies that do serve all sects of the schools, from custodial to secretarial to aides to teachers, but in real cost to personnel ratio the real money saver dollar for dollar would be Upper administration. To out source the top three would be a huge money saver and results would be just as fast as with any other group. just a thought as this election comes to a boil.
I know of at least five people on the list endorsing the school bond who plan to vote AGAINST it! They all know that if the bond fails the entire town will know that the cause is Phillips bad leadership and recognize that something drastic needs to be done to fix the schools.
If the bond loses, there will be very strong pressure on the school board to remove Phillips, one way or another, this summer. Then in the fall everyone can unite for another bond vote, maybe even covering more building improvements. Why would people agree to "endorse" a bond they plan to vote against? A combination of PR politics and coertion on the part of some bond promoters (or fear of retribution by Phillips).
Most sincere bond supporters I know also want to see Phillips fired or somehow removed. It will be a tough decision for many school supporters as to what is the best strategy on May 8. Vote for a bond that benefits Phillips? Or vote against the bond as a loud strong protest against keeping Phillips? We can always vote again on a bond after Phillips is gone. Can we afford two more years of major problems, lies and mismanagment? Let's return to excellence first!
I agree with the post above. Talk of outsourcing jobs at the bottom of the ladder where the average pay is around $20,000 per year with medical benefits to less than 1/2 of these workers would not be cost effective. If we hired a private CPA/consulting firm to do the business that Jones, and Phillips mess up each day we would be saving more between these 2 positions than 20 of the lower positions. How many hours has Jones spent this year just handling the key to the 'museum treated grand piano'? If you don't play it, if you don't see it, if you have to move it out of a controlled environment, locked box, back stage, each time you want to have someone if the community use it - it's value is 0. The only way this $100,000 grand piano is worth $100,000 is if the students are able to see, touch, and OH MAYBE EVEN PLAY IT. Since it has taken joyce and amy 9 months to figure out how to store the key to the locked box at the high school so it can be utilized like the donors intended - how does anyone in thier right mind think these two women will figure out how to handle this bond money...if it goes through. The proof is in the pudding so to say...Let's replace the problems to this district and then unite for real bond issues. Then this community will pull together and PUT KIDS FIRST! (if kids were really put first don't you think they would be able to access the donated piano?)
I just wonder...even if the bond fails will the school board actually do anything? It may be good to ask that before we vote no and really hurt the kids for no reason. Phillips needs to go..I am skeptical of the board's response to a "No" vote. What do you think?
The political pressure to remove Phillips is very very strong right now. If the bond fails, the heat will get far hotter to remove Phillips. Everyone will recognize that Phillips needs to be removed immediately!
I cannot see how the school board could just sit back and do nothing if the bond fails, as the chorus to remove Phillips gets louder and louder. The future of the Marshall schools are at stake. We cannot compete if we allow the major and very serious problems at the top to persist. If the board fails in their responsibility to provide excellent leadership at the top, then a justified recall of at least some board members is necessary. If we give up and cave in to Phillips, then we are in for more problems and decline in the Marshall schools for two more years. Anyone who truly cares would not want this to happen.
If the bond fails, then Joyce has to go! That should be obvious to everyone. The only reason it would fail would be because of her awful leadership.
I am surprised that the list of bond supporters is so short. If we had a good Superintendent and a better school board there would be 500+ names on the list. Also I bet at least a quarter of those on the list will vote against the bond anyway. JP needs to be replaced first before any real improvements can be accomplished.
I am a bond supporter but very reluctantly due to the top three administrators and the current board. I however will NOT cast a vote for either of the two incumbent board members running. A small statement for sure but the more total votes cast and the fewer number of votes for the board members should be a message to them that THEY and their support of what is going on is NOT supported by the voters. Too bad no one else had the desire to run against them but actually voting for those two gives them the false notion that they are doing a good job. Leave their slots blank if you dont like what is happening regardless of your position on the bond issues.
Good idea! I will leave them blank too on the ballot. Those who agree that we need a new Superintendent NOW need to unite and do whatever we can to help accomplish this for the benefit of the Marshall schools.
Many will vote against the bond as a protest, others will choose to support the bond anyway. But all know that change is needed very soon or else the Marshall schools are in for two more years of conflict, controversy, scandal and decline.
Yes, on the 18 mill foundation millage, no on the bond, blank for the candidates.
I agree. Yes on one No on two and no vote for the candidates. Hope the boardd listens to the results.
After talking to over two dozen people around Marshall this weekend it appears that many will leave the school board votes blank (as a protest for pro-Phillips support), many will vote for the first one proposal (not all) and most I talked to will vote against the main bond/millage proposal to protest keeping Phillips for two more years.
The lack of trust and outrage and board support (against the interests of the kids) is motivating opposition to the bond at this time. Some will vote anyway for the bond, but I think the vote will be bad for the bond, it may even lose, due solely to the bad decision to keep Phillips. Everyone I talked to agreed that we need a new Superintendent NOW!
What is the latest Phillips scandal? According to the Chronicle, an MHS student was accused of sexually assaulting another student AT MHS and Phillips allowed him to stay in school while she took at least six days to look into it. Meanwhile the same student allegedly sexually assaulted another student at MHS while Phillips was taking her time looking into it. Is this outrageous?
When Mr. Foreman was falsely accused last year of an incident that had nothing to do with MHS students or on school property she immediately suspended him and he was escorted off the property. When the false charges were dropped and he was cleared, Phillips decided to pursue tenure charges costing about $250,000 even though Mr. Foreman was the victim of proveable false charges. Why the extreme double-standards? How many terribly outdated computer labs could have been replaced with $250,000? Five?
If Phillips is not fired soon the Marshall schools may be facing several lawsuits from her blunders.
I will probably write in Donald Duck and Minnie Mouse for the board seats. I know I will vote yes to renew the current operating mill but an ABSOLUTE NO TO THE PHASE 1. Who in their right minds thinks by moving the high school offices to the first floor will actually bring security to the high school building? Let's vote this stupid Phase One down and get rid of philly - then we can actually have those working hands on day to day help to identify the needs. New roof, remodeled bathrooms, update boilers....tear out philly's new carpet and put it in the 37 year old high school office where people are welcomed each day unlike philly's office where there IS NOT WELCOME MAT AT ALL~
How dare you vote against phase 1. Joyce Phillips does not like walking up to the 2nd floor during her annual visits to MHS, so the move is necessary. What can possibly be more important for the education of the kids than moving the admin offices from the 2nd floor to the 1st floor? ;-)
commenting on the sexual assualt comment, first of all are we not innocent until proven guilty? Those students are "special needs" students and have classroom aides with them during school hours. The claim of the assualt is supposedly to have been in the library. The library also has adult supervison, how did the assualt happen and how bad is this assualt??
This parent who is in trouble with the state for not sending her child to school is trying to blame everything on everyone else, instead of taking the blame herself. I know this parent and that is what she does. Did all the the "sexual assualt" have to be printed in the paper? I don't think that it did, but that is how she works. I am not by any means saying the assualt was right but by printing the article EVERYONE now sees this young man, and I do say young, is guilty. Not Right!!
Does Supt. Phillips mismanage everything she is involved with? I can't believe how much opposition there is to Phillips and somehow she is still employed in Marshall. What a mess!
One more day until the election. Though Potter and Darling will win reelection, I cannot think of anyone who wants them to stay on the school board. I bet there will be many funny write-ins or just blank for school board. The millage is in trouble. Most people I know who would normally vote for just about any school bond are planning to vote "no" or are wavering. I defeat of the millage/bond will be a huge defeat for Supt. Phillips! Calls for her resignation and firing would be far stronger, that I doubt she would last the summer.
I cannot see how the Marshall School Board could keep backing Phillips if the bond fails. I am sure Phillips is sweating this vote out. If the bond fails, she should do the honorable thing and resign before the board is forced to fire her. Everyone will know that she is the cause of this and many more failures in the schools.
To the parents of middle school students, Did you get the outline information packet sent to you? I did not but yet know that they were printed for all students of MPS. is there another blunder under our feet? How can anyone get behind all of these falling puppets? The schools are in need of repair, from the (incompatent) board, to the (was I supposed to add or subtract)upper office managers to (I got my safari but not the books) number 2, to the pipes and computer labs to the track and classroom technology. Unfortunate that we have so much riding on such proven failures! However whose going to loose because of this? Joyce will still get her multi-retirement, we will still have mutiplied bluders of the finance director, and we will still have busted pipes and computers that take longer to boot up than the assistant superintendant can book his next hunting expedition! So what do you want Marshall Because so far you have not done back joyce and complain!!
the last sentence should read: So what do you want Marshall, Because so far you have not done anything but Back joyce and complain!!!!
I think it is worse than that, I have found many people simply givng up on the Marshall schools as major problems continue year after year. School of choice will be interesting. While some students leave for Harper, Pennfield and Lakeview, we are getting more and more students from Albion. Will Marshall start going the way of the Albion schools? They suffered under one or more very bad Superintendents too!
If this bond is defeated a new proposal will be written that is in fact for the much needed - not just wanted - items for our students. To finance moving high school offices to the first floor and hoping the taxpayers think it will improve the security and safety of students is perhaps the most bizarre thing this joyce regime has tried to stuff down our throats so far. Unless staff and students stop being helpful and open the door every time they see someone outside struggling to get the locked door open....there will never be a secure building. Let's vote this monster down and with it's upcoming Phase II and Phase III. Let's come up with a plan that in innovative and will satisfy the needs of our community school for years to come....not just until they ask for the next proposal next summer 08.
The choices for board members is a big void. Of course no one wants to donate their time when they would be up against a 'bought and paid for' board. I agree - if Donald Duck and Minnie are voted in - so be it. I do not agree with putting my name on the line for alternative life style persons nor for domestic violence persons.
Time to fix the problems - then Marshall can move forward!
We can nit pick the construction details if we want. If it makes you feel important to pretend to know more than someone, fine, go for it.
If you want kids first, improve academics. That means leadership and drive.That's why we need a new superintendent and a different board majority.
We need to be the school system where every freshman graduates. We need to be the school system where everyone either goes to college or gets a licensed trade. We have to help our students succeed, or else we will see them in the Enquirer under recent sentencings.
I'm voting no, but for a better reason.
As a parent it is hard for me to vote no, BUT in these extreme circumstances I have no other choice.
We need new leadership in the Marshall schools. Joyce Phillips has clearly failed us badly. A "no" vote on the bond will send a strong and loud message that we need a new Superintendent now, and not in two years. We cannot afford two more years of the hostility and conflict that Phillips has encourage and lead us into. We need change now, and we can vote on another bond proposal soon after we get new leadership.
Well said! I am voting to send a message loud and clear that we need a new Superintendent first, and now!
Good leadership, then a bond! A bond rewarding bad leadership will send the wrong signal that poor performance will continue to be rewarded. Let's have a return to "excellence."
The it will "cost you zero" bond barely passed with 59 percent of the vote. If everyone who is angry with Phillips, Potter, Darling, etc voted against the bond it would have been a landslide defeat.
MHS needs at least $25-$30 million to become competitive with the BC schools. Any chance that would ever pass with this Superintendent and school board? NO WAY! So the kids and community will suffer a few more years of falling further behind. Will Marshall ever truly turn around an catch up? Or are we going the way of Albion and Bellevue?
We seem to be following Albion, a very bad Superintendent and other top leaders which is causing a great loss of reputation.
Do you see what happens when school employees support and help pass a bond? Within only 30 days, right out of the middle of the night, comes the top three to axe their jobs. If anyone is stupid enough to believe this is the only feasible way to fix our budget they are as crazy as the night is long! Cases upon cases have proven that these types of cuts such as outsourcing custodians and school bus mechanics- only fix the problem for less than 3 years - then your new cleaning company or out of town mechanic has skyrocketed costs. I agree with Shelly - if cutting 20+ local employee jobs doesn't even equal the salary alone of the top three administrators - why would a board elected to serve the people of their town even give this serious consideration. Of course, if the finance director had not made all the crucial errors she has made, that have cost this district alot of money then maybe - but her track record (the double insurance settlement with MESSA approx $22,000, the forgetting to pass along the insurance increase to bus drivers approx. $6,500 (they agreed to pay 1/2 of her mistake) and the latest underbudgeting by 23-27% the HSA/HRA insurance costs)....What company anywhere else would we be paying this person a salary. I believe in any other situation this person would be looking for a job (perhaps in the school district they live in) and our local custodians and bus mechanic that live here, vote here, pay taxes here....would not be on her latest chopping block. These inequities must be eliminated before the community of Marshall can start to repair their school system. If people reading this just think it is people venting for some personal reason - this very sad error in mental judgement will soon be past the point of repair. There is no time to lose in fixing the issues at the top of the administration in MPS. I appreciate all the time our board members are giving of their personal time - but let's rid ourselves of the problem that has remained existent for 18 months now. this is not just a couple people upset -
It does not matter how hard the custodians have worked, how little they are paid (even with benefits, how many years of service they have given or anything else. We are in an era of extreme greed. The state government has given away so much money and tax breaks to special interests that they have failed to properly fund education. Phillips is in Marshall for Phillips, what is best for her is what she will do. She has cut some sort of deal to get outstanding pay and benefits (and a 2nd retirement) in return for carrying out the hidden agenda of the school board. The school board lavishes pay and benefits in a corrupt manner on Phillips, Metcalf, Jones, MacDonald and a select few undeserving others. The rest of the staff get the crumbs and are treated very badly. The goals and priorites are backwards! The good, honest, "excellent" and hardworking should be rewarded, not the opposite.
My question is: If the state aid is not being cut by $122 per pupil...why should anyone lose their jobs to a private company from Kalamazoo or Grand Rapids. This is a people business. These people have had background checks...and have passed them with flying colors. You will be amazed at the promises these private cleaning companies will deliver while placing into your school buildings, with your children, people that have records. Amy can promise you anything but I promise you Amy will not be able to deliver what she promises. There is evidence of promises given, promises not kept and contracts that blow out of this world. Then does the board know how to fix that problem. Seriously, they do not seem to know how to fix the personnel issue of one person, Joyce Phillips, so how will they control who is in our school buildings with our children. The turnover is almost weekly due to low pay and no benefits. There is no accountability with the persons working for a private cleaning company. Sometimes the owners of these companies do not even know who was in your building working on what day. If you do not believe me - you had better - you see I have worked for one of those companies. Within two weeks you harding recognize anyone the turnover is that drastic. I had to keep my minimum paying job to pay my single household bills. You people in Marshall need to understand I am not making this up. I worked with convicted felones. There was one background check in my two years that was in the beginning. Then the scum of the earth was hiring in and out fasting than a revolving door. Why am I telling you this? Because you have children in the buildings these unsavory people will be in. Lock it up. Don't put pictures of children around. I am serious. This Amy Jones does not have the whole picture. She only have the marketing information which in itself looks good. A friend of mine from Battle Creek told me about this website and how I could maybe help. You see I am no longer working for the private company but you should know the facts. If you Marshall citizens care about keeping your kids first.
Amy Jones has proven herself time and again to be an idiot! She is also just as mean and arrogant as her mentor Joyce Phillips. This may seem rude and blunt but it is very well deserved!
A friend of mine had called Amy Jones inquiring about rare trees around the high school. He was concerned that as they tear down the woods to make way for an ugly bus garage that they may unknowingly cut down these rare trees. First she did not return his call until about the 8th time he called. He offfered to move the trees for free on school property or buy them at a fair price. Amy wanted nothing to do with such an "unimportant diversion" in her opinion. What kind of person is this that would treat a very well-known prominent Marshall citizen adn MHS alum in this manner? Especially someone trying to do a very good deed for the schools?
Lies and deception. I guess these are two of the newest 'character education' topics -
If leadership is about this kind of stuff - I thank God I am not part of the current leadership clique.
How many costly errors is Amy going to be allowed to make while we the taxpayers are expected to believe her numbers, budgets and projections. I for one have looked into her latest scheme of outsourcing our local workers. I say to Amy Jones: You, the one making all the mistakes are the one that should lose your job. You are undeserving of any pension that you are building. At any other business under any other superintendent your lies, schemes and mistakes would have you standing accountable for them. Why would anyone have any faith in any thing you say?
A school board member I talked to this week challenged us critics to call them directly, or e-mail, or come to board meetings. They said if 99 out of 100 citizens or staff who are upset just post on this blog and tell their friends it does not do much good. He wants to help make a difference but if there are not many board contacts, public questions or even letters to the editor, it appears that everything is alright.
If the custodians want to keep their jobs they need to launch an effective PR campaign. They also need to take the high road and be seen doing an excellent job and have many positive stories about their efforts spread around. If it is handled correctly they can save their jobs. I believe they are an important asset to the MPS. They need to amke sure they are and that many know about their role and why we should keep them! Take the high road but go public too (this is advice from a sympathetic board member I talked to)!
Thanks for the advice, I will use a pseudenym "Tow Truck Driver."
I agree with the post above with the exception of even when taking the high road, which the unions did last fall with the survey, and tried to get the board to understand 'no one would do a survey unless they felt a grave need to do so with hopes of change' and still nothing has happened except more employees are being targeted. Are these board members willing to protect employees after they go public? There is one simple fix in order for Marshall to take back their schools and each of us know the answers. When the top administrators keep making mistakes that cost this district precious funds and then are rewarded with salary increases but yet, those who have been limited in doing their jobs to excellence by Amy, who has refused to post openings, fill vacancies, recognize contracts, assist employees - we all know she has carefully set the foundation against the custodians to work her way up to outsourcing their jobs. We do not know if Amy alone has orchestrated this plan or if she has been directed to do so by Joyce. I am guessing the second to be true. Which would bring me back to: Change must take place at the top in order for this school board to get back to positive operations are MPS.
Parents and prominent non-employee citizens will need to lead much of the public efforts to save the custodian jobs. That is why it is crucial for the custodians to have such friends and supporters. If none come forward then the situation does not look good. If the PCOs, Rotary, Chamber, etc speak up, their jobs will be saved! If I were the custodians, I would start lobbying these groups.
Hopefully a public outcry will get off the ground soon, maybe at the Monday June 11 board meeting.
Monday was a big start! About 70 citizens came to speak out on various issues. I think the long-suffering people of Marshall are starting to take a stand. I hope it continues.
Send letters too to the papers.
Prediction: hardly anyone will write letters to the editor, the custodains will be lucky to get some of their fellow coworkers and a few friends and family members to show up, the board will back Phillips with little real debate and fire the custodians in July or August. Some "rent-a-custodian" company will get the contract and we will see a high turnover of who-knows-who working with our kids in our schools. Some will likely be shady characters and I would not be surprised if at least a few engage in illegal activity in our schools. Vic, Paul and Janice will gloat how they are "saving money" as they lavish more pay and perks on the bad performance of Joyce, Brian, Amy and Charlie. The MTA will do nothing as they are repeatedly targeted and threatend for standing up for what is best for the Marshall schools. In other words everything is bad and will keep getting worse until there is a recall that brings in good leadership, accountability, and a pro-kids and pro-Marshall majority.
We have had three bad years with this current regime and we will get two more even worse years under the same leaders. Why should we expect anything else?
To "you should be aware" from a few posts up - PLEASE attend the board meeting on July 9th at 7pm at the Middle School Community Room and tell your story to our board of directors.
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