Where are the savings?

Interesting find on the MEA webpage - It's from their online magazine "MEA Voice"

Look at page 15 - Feature column on privatization of the Marshall custodians.

http://mea.org/voice/2009Sept/62AC8D517E82CF48BE494CCBC31C6FFC/index.html

Thoughts??

How about a little RESPECT

Mr. Klochack, Principal at Marshall High School, reads along as the two MHS Graduates give their speeches.

We are told that the two graduates had to turn their speeches into Mr. Klochack prior to graduation - that's understandable. Obviously he was so concerned that the grads may add a word or two in, that he followed along with the copy they turned in to him. Both speeches were great - too bad he didn't pay attention to them because he was too busy reading them word for word.
Word of advice: Show respect, and you shall receive respect.

Huh??

Rumor has it that a top building administrator will be pulling their children from MPS and heading to Olivet Schools. Anybody have any confirmation on that?

It's official

Bill DeSmet has beat Georgia Marsh in a landslide.

Vote for DeSmet for Marshall board

As seen in the Battle Creek Enquirer April 28, 2009

I wish to encourage people to vote for Bill DeSmet for the Marshall school board. Bill is a bright, energetic young man with children in the Marshall school system. He is concerned about the best education possible for them and for all of the students in the Marshall Public Schools. His knowledge of business, particularly in purchasing, should make him an important member of our school board.

It is time that we give more of the younger members of our community the opportunity to step forward to help for the betterment of Marshall. I encourage you to give Bill your vote on May 5.

Tom Franke
Marshall

Thank you!

Wow. What a week it has been here at MPS Change is Good. Since Monday the 13th we have averaged 200 page visits and 300 page views per day. Keep spreading the word about www.mpschangeisgood.blogspot.com

What a meeting

Reports coming in from the Board Meeting tonight:

Meeting lasted 3 hours. Approx. 150 people in attendance. Vic did a horrible job in the final moments of the meeting representing the Marshall Public School Board. Yelling and raising his voice. John Coulter wanted the Hulkow issue on the agenda tonight - but was rejected. Dan Stulberg stayed silent during the whole Hulkow discussion - hmmmmm. Coulter & Paul Beardslee admitted this issue has gone on way too long.

What did we miss - comment about what you thought about tonight.

Joyce Phillips' Last Stand

As seen in this weeks Ad-Visor/Chronicle.

SUPPORT
"COACH HULKOW"!
ATTEND SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ON
MONDAY APRIL 13 @ 7:00PM
AT GORDON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

It has come to the attention of many school district supporters that a recommendation is being made by our Supt. at this coming Monday, April 13th school board meeting to terminate coach Rich Hulkow's contract with the district! Rather than serving as both Athletic Director and football coach, he has been asked by the Supt. to choose one or the other and the board is to act on this recommendation Monday night. Quite frankly, we find it hard to believe that such an action would even be considered by the board. Given that a new Supt. has been hired, such a recommendation should be deferred to the new Supt. in a similar and consistent manner as with the Asst Supt. and Curriculum Director's positions.

Rich Hulkow's effort as both A.D. and football coach over the past 25 years has been outstanding. It would be difficult to find a comparable record. In addition to growing the athletic program to provide equitable opportunities for boy and girls and managing it competently for 25 years, he has brought many dollars to the district via his initiatives. This would include starting the Redhawk Open (est. $500,000 over 25 years) and raising additional dollars through revitalization of the Athletic Boosters organization resulting in greater membership revenue and initiating booster activities such as the former bingo game and present tailgate sales, etc. Further, the present contract arrangement entered into by the board by way of a 3rd party on coach Hulkow's behalf two years ago, has resulted in savings to the district of over $25,000 annually. Board President Vic Potter at the time was heard to have said the cost savings agreement was a good business decision. In liht of the district's present finances, the decision to undo this arrangement looks foolish and suggests an ulterior motive on the part of the Supt. considering that Rich has continued to do an excellent job. As to Rich's coaching success, there are very few coaches who have won 80% of their games over this long a career, particularly considering that many of these games were played against larger Class A Schools. Additionally, his hiring and maintaining an excellent coaching staff in football and in other sports has allowed the continuation of a fine athletic program. Why change now? What's the rationale/motive? If the Board supports this change, it is a certainty that the district would lose booster support, Redhawk Open support and would most likely further undermine the prospect for passing a bond issue. We have even heard some booster suggest a Board recall if this change were to be supported by the Board.

If school district residents wish to support Coach Hulkow and maintain his outstanding leadership as both A.D. and football coach, please attend the school board meeting on Monday, April 13th at 7PM at Gordon Elementary School and tell the board how you feel!

Yours Truly,
Lou Giannunzio, Former Supt. 1983 - 2001
Paul Herman, Local Businessman and football coach
Steve Hageman, Former Booster President
Doug Jackson, Booster Treasurer
Jeff Albaugh, Former school board president (served 12 years)
Bob Lyng, School board 12 years, Boosters President 13 years
Lynn Kalinoski, Redhawk Open Chairman

Come one Come all.

Monday March 23rd - Marshall High School - 7pm
Public Forum regarding the upcoming budget

Please go and share your ideas!

Interest in Write-In Candidates?

It appears by comments on the last blog entry that there seems to be some interest in having a write-in candidate in the upcoming School Board election in May. Discuss.....

It's official

Dr. Randy Davis is the new MPS superintendent.

Reposting blog entry from "Somber Reflections"

I am re-posting an excellent blog entry from "somber reflections".  As the blogger mentions towards the bottom of their post - Get Involved!  If you care about the future of Marshall Public Schools, speak up, contact the board members and let them know who is best to be the next MPS Superintendent.

Good point! This is the real world. We have unrealistic expectations of the superintendent and the school board. Reading in the paper how excited they got over some cliche answers from the candidates reminds me how out of touch our board members are. I am not saying their responses were bad, but any teacher would expect such responses and they are no big deal.

I do not expect the board to be experts in all areas of education but I do expect them to make a good faith effort to work with the teaching staff and do their best to learn what goes on and why? They have not done this very well, if at all. Joyce Phillips turned out to be arrogant, self-serving and of limited competence in managing the school district. She made many mistakes and made no attempt to improve or work effectively with the staff. She failed, period! She was not always honest and did her best to cover her mistakes. Many think she had even worse intentions, I do not know. Nobody feels she truly carried about the Marshall schools in any way, probably not even the board thinks anything good about her any longer. 

What next? If we are lucky the next superintendent will be an improvement. Probably not great, but probably not worse. Expectations do need to be lowered. The Marshall schools do not have the reputation they once had. Enrollment and budgets are in decline. Many of the best teachers have retired or moved on. We have lost about 2,000 jobs in Marshall the last few years. It may be a long time until things get better. 

As best you can everyone who cares should get involved. I agree, drop trying to hold Joyce accountable- it is not going to happen. Those who support her and protect her dominate the board and have very wealthy supporters backing her. That is simply the reality of this tragic situation. 

Maybe, just maybe, things will get a little better next year. The victims will not be helped in this matter, they are out of luck. Life goes on. Life is not fair. Things are bleak and the sky is still very cloudy. At least try to find a superintendent who has been a building Principal and knows how to effectively work with the staff. That should at least be a bare minimum standard.

Discuss....

We know that members of the Marshall School Board frequent the blog. Let them know what you think of the final two candidates.

Bruce Burger - Morrice Area Schools Superintendent

Randy Davis - Athens Area Schools Superintendent

Dave Watson, Headmaster of Howe Military School was dropped from consideration. Thank you Mr. Watson for putting yourself out there during this process. We wish you much success in the future.