I wish Paul Beardslee was done tonight! He turned out to be dishonest, he failed to hold Joyce accountable for lying and scandals, and he backstabbed Ron Behrenwald. And that's just a small part of all the bad things he did. I would never trust him! The city should dump him as their lawyer. Good riddance Paul! The worst part is I like so many others used to like Paul and support him. He betrayed us!
Yeah for Bill. I truly wish him wisdom, strength and the drive to work for what is best for our kids.
I did not think it was going to be good, for our schools to move forward, to have Georgia Marsh, once recalled as a School Board Member, be seated again.
Congratulations Bill DeSmet! We are counting on you to start cleaning up the mess and reboot our school back towards the excellence our kids deserve!
Advice to Paul: Don't backstab Rich Hulkow on your way out the door. You have done enough harm to our schools already.
Joyce Phillips- think long and hard about what you have done. Just because you were not held accountable and had all of your lies and scandals covered up does not make you any less guilty. Think what you have done on purpose to so many wonderful people. Think of Ron Behrenwald, Kathy Petrich and your other victims. Think of the crucial MHS bond that failed because of you. Think of the low morale among the staff caused in large part by you. Think of the mess you created at MHS. Think about the custodians you had so ruthlessly fired just because they complained about mismanagement by you and your incompetent loyalists.
You cost the MPS at least $37 million. You have severely hurt our kids and community.
I don't know how you sleep at night. We will not forget.
Paul, Janice, Vic and Dan share the blame too for all of these dirty deeds. A destructive combination of ego, vengeance, arrogance, foolishness and personal powertrips gone mad.
Two to one is absolutely nothing less than a LANDSLIDE. This should also be a message to JKP and her board sycophants that this vote speaks volumes to the lack of support they have in this community. Good luck to Mr. DeSmet and I hope you realize the majority of us are outraged at what these people have done to our school system. Please listen to staff, parents and students more than you do to JKP and her board cronies. They do not like dissent or criticism and like to isolate those who dare to speak up. Today the voters spoke and hopefully those left on the board will listen to that message.
Time for change. Unfortunately this is just a small step unless the board majority are recalled. For now the old guard still control the board. Soon they will bring in Phillips-clone Randy Davis. Good luck John C. and Bill S. You are our only hope! But we know two wise men cannot likely turn around a ship of fools.
Recall now - change is about recalling board members who serve their own interest
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Now would definitely be the time for a recall if ever there were a good time. If we were to recall at least two preferrably three board members(Janice, Vic or Dan) - and replaced them with caring community members that are truly concerned about turning the MPS system around to where it was when Phillips came on board....this is the time for change. Let's push a recall through now and re-take our school system - so our kids win, our property values recover and once again the Marshall School Board will operate in an up front - honest manner.
That is the only hope for real change. Otherwise we will have at least two more years of the same. Randy Davis and the Phillips-supporting board majority will keep doing the same old things- mismanagement, abuse of power, powertrips, lies, rewarding bad loyalists, hurting good teachers and programs.
I think Mr. Davis will be an improvement over Phillips because I can't imagine anyone being meaner, more incompetent or dishonest. But his background and performance at Athens is unimpressive at best. He will have to work hard and make big changes to win over a skeptical staff and community. Even if he wanted to, this will be hard with the current board members who want more of the same.
The Marshall schools need change now! They need to restore cooperation and trust between the staff and the administration. They need to restore trust and support from the community in the superintendent and the school board. A big bond is needed to update MHS and meet some other needs so Marshall can begin to catch up with the Battle Creek area districts. Personal attacks, petty politics, arrogance, dishonesty and mismanagement needs to end!
So glad for all of you. I know that Kathy would be proud of the coming together of you all to get rid of the people who seem to not care about what happened to her, or what Joyce did to others. Never forget she fought to make things better for everyone! :-)
Kathy Petrich and Ron Behrenwald and many others are missed. MHS needs to be "fixed" with a new Principal. An independent investigation is needed of the last 5 years of Supt. Joyce Phillips, Bus Mgr. Amy Jones, sst. Supt. Brian Metcalf and the board supporters of this regime. Many things need to be "fixed" to improve the Marshall schools. There has been no accountability at the top for five years!
Come out and support Mr. Hulkow at the next board meeting. Phillips, Beardslee, Potter, Darling and possibly Webb and Campau are trying to force him out. This is absurd! It should be Joyce Phillips they should have forced out long ago. Notice how dishonest, sneaky and sleazy they are going about it?
To Karen Christian above: I can assure you there are many of us whose lives have been touched by knowing and loving Kathy Petrich. She personally helped me to be the person I am today. She will not be forgotten. Hopefully MPS is about to go through changes for the better. I know things can't possibly keep spiraling downward at this school district.
What is happening about Mr. Hulkow? I saw the board meeting form April on TV and Vic Potter promised that no changes would move forward without Mr. Hulkow's involvement and support. Then I saw in the paper that it looked like it was all a big lie and they are moving toward forcing Rich out in a sneaky and sleazy manner.
They are trying to humiliate Rich as part of a plot of revenge. Its pathetic and everyone sees through their scheme. As is always the case they look like fools! Vic's little "drama queen" speech at the board meeting turned out to be one big fat lie! Any surprise there? I don't think so! They cannot hide their intentions or methods any longer. The election this week shows overwhelming support for new leadership and to get rid of the old failed leadership. Vic, Joyce, Dan, Janice and Paul are all very lame ducks, Too bad they will not all be gone soon. Or will they in a recall? We will see.
Plenty of reasons for a recall - start it now!
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Has anyone gone to the www.marshall.k12.mi.us site lately? Who is responsible for the student survey? First - what a weak attempt to shift responsibility for the 'budget cuts'. When did we start asking 'non taxpayers for thier ideas'. To ask MS and HS students what they think should be cut - how about another one of those famous surveys? Oh yes - the Board would and will just ignore it - but it is a great attempt to 'cover butt' under the guise of 'we asked'.
Also, - to whomever is responsible for the survey and having it submitted to the school website: Possibly if you are going to write on the district website - where it clearly says "excellence in education" you would make sure the spelling is correct! Why are we paying the Tech Director so much money if this is how our district is going to be protrayed? Once again....great work Board! Try asking the actual taxpayers instead of dangling the carrott in front of the taxpayer's students.
I think the underhanded way Vic and the gang are addressing the 'created issue' of the 'bad contract language' regarding Rich Hulkow is very much the same as how this Board has operated in the past 4 years. Attacking employees and programs. Hasn't this approach already caused so much damage to past employees and their families. Hasn't this type of treatment lead to much worse than stress....?How many lives have and will be mutilated. This trend has got to stop.
I firmly believe this blog has exposed enough reasons to hold a recall vote. Let's get moving - I believe the Board will be surprised about the outcome!
Marshall Schools reputation in decline- change needed now!
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The reputation across the state is that the Marshall schools are not a good place for the best and brightest educators to work. The reputation is that the top leaders are incompetent and treat the staff very badly. This will make it hard to recruit top talent in the future. We already saw in the Superintendent search that top talent, even 2nd tier talent, avoided Marshall. Randy Davis definitely comes from at best a 3rd tier of talent, what you might expect in a rural class D district, not an "excellent" Class B district. The community needs to know how bad things are and how much the Marshall schools have been damaged the last five years. This hurts us all.
The board has several objectives they are working on now:
1. Protect Joyce Phillips from any and all investigations or anything that may threaten her 2nd Michigan retirement.
2. Attack Mr. Hulkow and the teachers- put blame on them, play teachers against one another, deflect attention from past JP and board wrongdoing.
3. Start "training" Mr. Davis so he does as he is told and continues the same policies and goals as before. They do not want him warming up to teh staff or the community. They want a Joyce Phillips clone to continue.
4. Keep loyalist protected and their big raises intact. No change at MHS, they like how Klochack has been in fights with everyone and lacks respect and support from his staff. That is considered "good" in the mold of Joyce Phillips.
It will soon be a year since the passing of Kathy Petrich. Phillips, Klochack and the board made her life hell trying to force her out over the staff survey. In a sense she gave her life trying to make the Marshall schools better and share honest information with the community. For this she was persecuted.
An unnamed board member told me that they think there is contract problems with Mr. Hulkow and they did not make this up. I asked if they are trying to resolve this "contract problem" so Mr. Hulkow does not have to give up either of his positions. They said they would see what they could do, whatever that means.
This same board member tried to focus the conversation on Phillips imminent departure, getting a new superintendent and moving on. They even were happy that Bill DeSmet would be joining them. I am not sure if this board member was in denial or sincerely thinks everything is good and getting better. We will see what they do next.
Because Joyce hates him. She sees him as an adversary, not a co-worker nor one of her "team members". He has been known to question her motives and anyone who does that is automatically not a "team player" according to her. Ask R. Berhenwald, S. Townsend, B. Vaught, J. Venema, M. Dahlinger, or anyone else that she hasn't liked in her 5 years here. She figures that she hasn't much time and she can nail him on the way out the door, what can they do to her?
did anyone hear about the girl who was hit by a car riding her bike in the teachers parking lot this morning (she was ok and stayed in school all day) but when someone went in school to let office know klochack or nessel couldn't be found more then likely wasn't in the building as usual. also dont understand how klochack should remain principal in marshall when he don't reside in this town, he is paid with tax payers money but at the same time he pays his taxes to another town. i guess if there is so much money to throw away to an outsider maybe some of the residents should have money thrown their way to help pay the high cost of the electric since we all have to pay the outsourcing adjustment charge.
Other than Rich Hulkow there is often NO other principal on the MHS campus or in the building. Klochack commutes three hours roundtrip a day. Nessel is busy with family and kids. If they dump Rich as assistant Principal there will be nobody most of the time
I heard Steve Guerra is looking. He is a Marshall resident whose kids went through MHS with my kids, and a great guy! I think he would do a great job at MHS!.
The school admin. team has known this for awhile!!! I don't know why they didn't make it public sooner!!! Big cuts will happen!! And when elementary class sizes get bigger I think more will leave for MarLee and Marshall Academy!!! Also if the MTA does not go along with the pay freeze there will be even more cuts!!!
Also MPS needs to get it together and figure out what they are doing in respect to if they will have any half day kindergarten classes next year and if they will have RK, and if they have RK will it be half day or full day?? Parents are looking and have been looking for this info for a while!!! So because MPS doesn't know and parents want to know, they look else where!! I know several who have gone to MarLee as they know what they are doing next year and have already held their round-up!! MPS needs to move round-up to the school year and not in the first few weeks after the school year ends!! Come on MPS get it together!!!
One of the most upsetting changes comes from loosing school counselors!! They are making changes and this means only 1 counselor at the middle school now!!
The MPS Board will be meeting at Hughes School at 7 pm on Monday May 11, 2009. The agenda is linked off of an announcement on the MPS home page:
www.marshall.k12.mi.us/
If you have any concerns about whether the board should force out Mr. Hulkow, which teachers they plan to fire, which administrators got large raises the last few years or any other school issues please plan to attend and/or contact the board members via e-mail or telephone:
Vic Potter: budstowing@sbcglobal.net Paul Beardslee: pt-beards@tir.com Dan Stulberg dstulb@gmail.com Janice Darling: darling123@cablespeed.com John Coulter: JCoulter@oaklawnhospital.com Ali Webb: webb4education@yahoo.com Annette Campau: amcampau@sbcglobal.net
Some other issues to consider:
- Does MHS need a new Principal? - Is there a need for an independent investigation into the various scandals related to Dr. Phillips actions the last five years? - Should the Marshall teachers take a pay freeze, actually big cut after inflation and spread out over future years, when some administrators (Tech Director) have received as much as a 40% pay increase the last few years? Shouldn't that be cut first? Was this done as a reward for staff surveillance or helping cover up scandals? - Does Joyce Phillips deserve about $20,000 per year for life as a 2nd Michigan retirement despite very poor performance the last five years? - At the April 13 board meeting Vic Potter basically promised that no changes would be made related to Rich Hulkow without Rich's involvement and approval, then last week the opposite occurred when the board in a sneaky way approved to move forward with "changing the contract" which will likely mean Rich being forced out of part or all of his responsibilities with the Marshall schools. What happened? Did the board lie to the public when they acted as if nothing was in the works and it was all blown out of proportion? Did they know all along this was the plan and just decided not to be honest and up front about it? Should there be a recall of at least some board members over the way this is being handled and other past actions?
I believe a recall is long overdue. If this community knew even 50% of what this Board has knowingly allowed Joyce to do to good employees (Behrenwald, Petrich, Dalinger, Venema, and many more) they would also agree that a recall should have already happened. Perhaps it is time to start this recall and expose these FACTS - People may have to go public with the attacks that have been done to them - while Board members are aware and have done NOTHING TO MAKE THESE PEOPLE WHOLE. I believe the policy Joyce changed in the very beginning was the policy regarding how an employee is supposed to report mistreatment from the Supt. Why did Joyce change this policy? I believe we all know the answer. It was changed to make sure there was no accountability. R. Behrenwald followed the procedure. He had an issue with policy at the high school. He took it to the Board Pres....Beardslee basically stabbed him in the back. He told RB to take the issue of policy inconsistencies to a Board meeting and have it addressed. Instead - Beardslee should have addressed this with Joyce....no spine...set RB up...and we all know the rest. How many board members have been aware of employee attacks - UNJUST ATTACKS - and have done nothing but make promises to look into it. Time for people to speak up....expose the facts....stop the second retirement...recall board members....CHANGE IS ABOUT DOING IT NOW! We have talked about it for a long time - this is exactly what JP and her Board have hoped for....just talk. Take action now. Kathy P. lost her life over undue stress - targeting - attacks - YES THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT KNOW THESE FACTS...THE ATTACK QUESTIONS...BOARD MEMBERS KNOW...HER FAMILY KNOWS...FRIENDS KNOW....I believe it may be time for this community to know what has been going on in the Superintendent's Office....including Joyce lying in front of her secretary and the grounds crew regarding 'do whatever it takes to get that air conditioner working'....Why did she lie to the Prosecutor's office?
Are they discussing the Coach Hulkow issue tonight Monday May 11 at the board meeting at Hughes schools at 7 pm? Is anyone coming out to show support for Coach Hulkow? It sounds like the board plans to fire him in June after school is out. I had read that Phillips and the board would carry out revenge on Coach Hulkow and the teachers for the last year, but I had no idea they would be this mean spirited and overt about it! JP's last stand for sure!
If you come to the board meeting tonight 5-11-09 at hughes school plan on waiting a long time to address the board if it is about a non agenda item.
Then you will be given 3 min and most of the board could care less about what you have to say. Phillips will be looking down doing crossword puzzles or planning her grocery list or something. If it is on behalf of Rich Hulkow they have already heard from dozens of people and the entire town knows what a great job Rich has done and how most of us would hate to lose him in any capacity. Talking to the board though is a waste of time. Other than John Coulter, the current board wants Rich gone. Its personal and its political. Nothing short of a recall can save Rich now.
Then let's get on with the recall. This community has allowed this Board to send our school district into ruins. If we wait any longer there will be nothing left to save and we will have done nothing.
So far 11 positions cut, with 6 covered by retirements. No cuts to administrator salaries, some of whom got up to a 40% pay increase in recent years despite poor performance.
the students at the alternative school are there due to being singled out of high school for different reasons and given the chance to let someone know that there are people out there that do care for them and willing to help them get the education that they want. now the school board can pursue the alternative school to get their dirty work done knowing they won't have the people stand up for them like they are getting from other school buildings. more then likely mr rich hulkow will be gone, why would someone want to stay in a school system who wants to treat him like he is being treated? so now moving on to the next one they will work to get out mr bob vaught who is doing a great job at the alternative and talk in high school is many students are wanting to transfer out of high school to alternative. school board can't allow that they want to get rid of the alternative completely, could it be that they see success in students they didn't care what happened and have someone who does and allows them to get their education. not sure but i think they have a very high number of students who graduates. the people in marshall need to fight for the students of not only high school but alternative as well please don't forget the students in all buildings.
Rich Hulkow and Bob Vaught are two of the best in the Marshall schools. No wonder they are being targeted by some of the worst in the Marshall schools.
First we need pay rollbacks for the superintendent, the Tech Director, the Business Manager and other positions which have received huge pay increases despite poor performance the last four years.
Reasonable pay for the quality level of the current or likely future job holders:
Superintendent: $90,000 is plenty for Dr. Davis Business Manager: $80,000 should be plenty Assistant Supt: Metcalf proved we do not need this position Tech Director: for someone who doesn't do much and delegate most of his job, $60,000 is plenty.
Let's find out ALL of the real costs of the outsourced custodians, including all new equipment purchased to make their jobs much easier and faster. This needs to be combined with a survey and study of how good they actually do and how they compare to the previous custodians. I suspect little to no savings in money and a huge loss in community support and services. It may have cost us a few dozen students and a $35 million bond.
Since teacher pay in the MPS has averaged 2% or less per year for a decade while inflation ran at 4-5% each year, the teachers have ALREADY taken a pay cut of at least 20% after inflation. Now these are some concessions. Is it time to replace the 8 block at MHS with a more cost effective schedule?
Bad leadership has cost us perhaps half of the 200 students lost, the MHS bond, community support and has lowered the property values in our community. What shall we fix first?
Dr. Davis spent almost his entire career working in juvenile detention facilities, not as a teacher. Also he has never been a principal. His reputation at Athens is that of the captain of a sinking ship who has no idea how to prevent disaster and just keeps tossing people overboard to keep himself afloat. Is that what the MPS board has planned for his role as superintendent of the Marshall schools? Don't you think we could have done much better?
in the town know for the rich and snobby you don't have 1 person in a profession that knows the right person or people to contact to get an investigation started in the wrong doing of the superintendent or board of education or with the school year so close is all the comments just to give people a chance to vent and not do anything. i doubt any change will be made except for things getting worse then they are now. it is really good to hear that all the attention is focused on marshall and how bad things are there they are leaving the other schools time to be left alone. good luck marshall "redskins, redhawks, or whatever you want to call yourselves for not taking the stand sooner to stop this from getting so far to help the STUDENTS who are the ones hurt by it all.
"Recall of elected local Michigan schools’ officials is to be used for officials who do things that are illegal, immoral or negligent. "
I think at least four of our board members qualify:
Paul Beardslee Janice Darling Dan Stulberg Vic Potter
But it is too late to recall Beardslee, he is leaving soon either way. All have known exactly what they have been supporting that is wrong, all have covered up JP scandals, all have made very bad and negligent decisions that harmed our schools, all have been warned and informed of what was going on and did the opposite anyway, all qualify for a recall before they do more harm to the Marshall schools.
I still feel like the lying to the Prosecutor's office regarding the ordering of the grounds crew to go and 'do whatever it takes to get that air conditioner working - while on the clock' should be grounds for Joyce to be booted out of this community FIRED WITHOUT THE MICHIGAN RETIREMENT. How about interviewing those workers, K. VanWormer, L. Bennick....forget JP - she will just lie again. Can't this be looked into?
I heard from Athens, first week of May 2009, that there is big controversy regardin the 'contract language that R. Davis had put into his contract'. Someone should be checking this out. Seems - Athens is having to payout somewhere in the park of $20,000 just to see him leave for Marshall....look out....could it be the male version of JKP?
By all accounts Randy Davis is "Joyce Phillips" part 2. Out of all of the good candidates that may be out there we found another dud, or worse. No surprise, the same puppetmasters are in charge so they will want another of the same kind of self-serving incompetent puppets to use.
There will be a reception for the new Supt. Randy Davis on Thursday May 14 at MHS. I saw this in the advisor but when I checked the MPS web site for times there was nothing on it. So I am guessing this is still on unless they want to keep it low key.
The board and Joyce Phillips pulled together to cover up the air conditioning scandal. Imagine if the truth came out and JP had been fired 4 years ago? Imagine if a good superintendent had replaced her. Instead of layoffs we could all be united and looking forward to $35 mil worth of renovations at MHS and a donated $1.5 million recording studio. We could all be working together to solve problems. Staff morale would be far better, along with community trust, support and respect. So many things could be much better! If only the truth had not been covered up.
Ron Behrenwald would still be our fine MHS Principal
Kathy Petrich may still be with us leading the choir
The custodians and their families may still be employed and living in Marshall, with their kids attending the Marshall schools
Other staff who have been hurt badly and their families would be doing well
Open and honest communication would prevail and wise decisions could be agreed upon to deal with challenges.
Remember when hiring committees selected the best candidate and were not overruled by the superintendent to select a lesser candidate...
Its sad thinking about all that could have been! I am not sure if the Marshall schools will ever fully recover. These problems may cause an Athens-style downward "death spiral" of ongoing lost students and more budget cuts year after year.
Get ready. The disastrous last five years will take us many years to recover from, if ever. People who think it is just a small group of disgruntled complainers have their heads in the sand. Things will only get worse. Even with her long gone her evil spell will live on. How sad for all of us. Especially the kids. Have they been put "first" like JKPs famous slogan kept saying?
There are many topics that keep coming back up on this blog and I think I know how the board at least publicly, would respond. From my own conversations with board members and what others have told me they heard from the board here is what they will likely say followed by my opinion of the accuracy...
1. Why do you support Joyce Phillips and why did you extend her contract out to 5 years when she already was having big problems?
The board will claim they did realize things were not well but only after the controversial contract extension. Then they will say THEY told her it would not be renewed farther out. They act happy she is leaving.
My take: Phillips got the contract she wanted and is staying as long as she wanted to. There was no reason they could not have renewed her for 1 year as Sam and Bob suggested four years ago when problems already were happening. It was clearly political with a hidden agenda for Joyce to carry out in return for 5 years so she gets a 2nd retirement. No doubt about that! You can bet Rich Hulkow is the next target on the hit list. The rest is PR.
2. What about the large administrative raises and problems with other top administrators?
They will claim they forced out Metcalf and Jones. They will claim other raises are to "remain competitive." I think in the case of Charlie's huge raise they simply were sold that that other tech directors made more and he deserves way more money. Since they do not likely know what he actually does, or maybe he knows too much, they gave him what he wanted.
My take: If Charlie does a great job, he probably deserved a raise, but 40%? Also there is much doubt he does a great job, or even a mediocre job.
3. Why did you fire the custodians the same year you were going to try for a $35 mil bond?
The board will say they did this to save money and save teachers and programs. They will say that many custodians got other jobs such as at the hospital or were able to retire anyway.
My take: it was a stupid move and the timing was terrible. There is no reason they could not have phased any changes in over several years like Lakeview did, and maybe retain some custodians that work for the district and stay in the long term.
4. What about all of the scandals and employees who were harrassed or forced out like Ron B. and Kathy P.?
The board would say the latter two left on their own free will. They will say cases have been exaggerated or are private personnel issues that cannot be discussed publicly. Somehow they think Joyce knows things about people she barely knows in buildings she rarely visits better than those who actually work with and for these same people day in and day out for years.
My take: there may be some legitimate cases of staff they were justified in taking action against, but most actions were likely personal, political, sleazy or all of the above. More about meanness, egos and powertrips rather than good leadership.
5. Why did Joyce threaten the Chronicle and the teachers (union) with lawsuits after the staff survey?
The board would say that is between Joyce and those parties, its not from them.
My take: they backed Joyce 100% in these threats.
6. What about the air conditioning and insurance scandals?
The board would say they were investigated and proper actions taken. Former board member Bob Lyng said before he left the board that he was asked to lie to cover up the insurance scandal.
My take: cover up all the way!
7. Why did the $35 mil MHS bond fail?
The board will claim they did all they could to pass it. They think "whiners" and "anonymous bloggers" are a tiny minority and everyone else is happy and things are fine. They will say the proof is there has been no recall and until Bill DeSmet nobody running against any of them. They also blame the economy and people who did not support adding a new auditorium.
My take: I give them credit for their work on the bond and the process leading up to it. But I fault them on all of the other problems and mistrust they created that lost them the community and staff support they needed to pass the bond.
What now?
The new board, minus key leader Paul Beardslee, and with a new superintendent Randy Davis need to make big changes to rebuild staff cooperation, teamwork, trust, community support and overall respect. This will be nearly impossible for Vic, Dan and Janice. So no major changes are likely any time soon until new board members take power in the coming years. I hope I am wrong and big positive changes are somehow in the works with new leaders and maybe new attitudes by the old board members. A new Principal at MHS would be a great start!
Cuts are supposed to start with the top....not the people that teach our kids
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To the above: I'd like to add one thing to 'why the bond didn't pass'. Anyone using their God given brain would know: If you fired 24 local Marshall custodians...each of them have influenced at least 10 family or friends...each of these 24 with significant spouses/companions would influence at least 10 people. Of these influenced people most of them will influence at least 10 .... see this pyramid? There were 2400 signatures on the petitions to have our local community custodians keep their jobs. (this was done in less than 1 week)
Now - how many registered voters live in Marshall school district? 5000? This Board was made aware prior to the Board meeting at the Middle School regarding the outsourcing of our local custodians that at least 2400 registered voters were strongly against this 'brain storm of savings'. (how much is saved each year? - curious as you cannot seem to get any straight answer of any savings) Now - without being a college graduate I would say....2400 were opposed in the very beginning. After these 2400 signatures were totally ignored....people in Marshall were outraged. Now of these 2400 signatures...how many people did they influence? Do you see how in the very beginning at least 1/2 of our registered voters were saying to the board: We will not support your 'need' decisions since you have blatantly ignored our wish to keep our custodians locally employed - thus keeping our district wages here in Marshall to spend in our local economy.
Hey Board - it can't continue to BE ALL YOUR WAY. YOU WORK FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ELECTED YOU....NOT JKP OR DAVIS. START LISTENING TO THE TAXPAYERS IN MARSHALL - THEY REALLY ARE THE ONES THAT MAKE THE HUGE DECISIONS.
Perhaps we should start by cutting wages of the top administration including the new contract for Davis. This may help as we cut the people that form the lives of our community students. Cutting teachers and programs while giving pay increases to people that do not affect our student's educations is just WRONG!
To be honest I think the board and Joyce's arrogance and ego supersede any common sense. I do not think they care what the consequences are from their actions. They fire the custodians and it costs the bond, does Joyce really care? Do the board leaders seem to truly care? No, they can just throw it back and blame others. They brag there has been no recall so they can do as they please. They lose students from their actions and layoff more teachers. No harm to them, Joyce still gets her big pay and perks and second retirement. Now they are targeting Mr. Hulkow as their latest victim. They could care less who it upsets or how it hurts the Marshall schools. As they would say, nobody is going to start a recall- ha ha.
There is an open house for Dr. Randy Davis today, Thursday May 14, 2009, from 2-7 pm at the MHS Media Center. Please come and meet him. You may share your views on school issues too.
"I heard from Athens, first week of May 2009, that there is big controversy regardin the 'contract language that R. Davis had put into his contract'. Someone should be checking this out. Seems - Athens is having to payout somewhere in the park of $20,000 just to see him leave for Marshall....look out....could it be the male version of JKP?"
Has anyone heard any update on this from good sources in Athens?
"Dr. Davis spent almost his entire career working in juvenile detention facilities, not as a teacher. Also he has never been a principal. His reputation at Athens is that of the captain of a sinking ship who has no idea how to prevent disaster and just keeps tossing people overboard to keep himself afloat. Is that what the MPS board has planned for his role as superintendent of the Marshall schools? Don't you think we could have done much better?"
Well Dr. Davis, if these quotes are not accurate and you are highly competent you have to hit the ground running and prove it. You will need to earn trust and respect. You will be judged by your actions and not just words. You may have to take on some of your own board members to accomplish this. Maybe go to bat for Coach Hulkow, starting now! It won't be easy but the alternative is bad for you and the Marshall schools.
The fact is I have talked to several people in Athens connected to the schools and every single one of them is very happy to see Randy Davis leave. Not a good sign for Marshall.
Is there anything that can be done to get an investigation going about Joyce Phillips reign the last five years. There are so many fireable offenses that need to be looked into. If it can prevent her from getting her 2nd lucrative Michigan retirement then there would be a small measure of justice for her many victims.
What the board is doing by covering this up and preventing accountability is certainly a recallable offense. They must share responsibility (not John C.) for what they have done. Their role must be just as guilty, or why would they cover everything up?
I know the staff cannot stand Dr. Phillips. What is the motive of the board members who support her against the entire staff? What is the root cause of this power struggle that has torn the Marshall schools apart?
Its a mix of powertrip politics and misinformation. Say a kid has problems with a teacher and the parents happen to be friends or relatives of a school board member. They say the teacher should be fired so the school board member tells Joyce Phillips and she goes after them. Or maybe one of them dislikes a teacher because they are not "loyal" or question bad policies or actions, well that is grounds for retribution.
Anyone connected, even if only by suspicion, of being close to Lou G. or Mr. Hulkow is targeted. The teacher's union was targeted for speaking out, A few examples. Kathy Petrich was targeted for speaking out and Ron Behrenwald was targeted and backstabbed for perhaps being far more knowledgeable and competent than Joyce phillips, which made him a threat.
There have been outrageous comments from board members complaining about "teachers who do not want to do their jobs" and "teachers who are overpaid" and "teachers that should be fired." There is a lot of anger at the teachers. The custodians were hated and targeted for who knows what reasons- the poor souls. It has been power politics at its worst! Incompetence has been praised and rewarded while "excellence" and competence has been derided and punished. Just ask 20 teachers you know or others on staff. Its been lunacy covered up by lies and a false pretending that all is well.
Honor those who serve our kids- Thanks John Coulter!
said...
Not sure what the above means, the previous person seems to be asking if there is a recall or if anyone is stopping the 2nd retirement. I do not know of any efforts for either. The board majority has "circled the wagons" to protect Joyce Phillips and make sure she is never held accountable and get her $20,000 per year for life form Michigan taxpayers. Yes they serve her, not our kids. While I know many people who would support a recall, most are school employees or their spouses and the spouses who aren't sympathize but so far have not started a recall. Even if a recall was started now Phillips would like weasel out of accountability by leaving this summer before a recall was complete. Paul, Janice, Vic, Ali and Dan have served Joyce Phillips well! Too bad they did not do the same for the people of Marshall.
The budget cuts are not over, I heard more are coming and they plan to boot Mr. Hulkow after 25 years of great service! Joyce Phillips is as evil as everyone says, it just took some of us a while to fully understand how bad things were. I thought it was a few whiners as the board used to call them. But its the truth, most of this blog speaks the truth. Things are that bad. We need to replace the board members who have backed such an evil leader.
The board members pulled the puppet strings of Joyce Phillips. Even after five years she hardly knows anyone on staff. Who do you think made the hit lists and told her what to do. Then they act as if they do not know what is going on. We know what is up, JD, PB, DS and VP think they have been "fixing" things when in fact they made everything much worse. Why did they do this? Why did they ignore wise advice for five years? Ask them!
I heard Klochack's job is still up in the air, that's why he did not move down here. The board has been embarrassed that after putting their declining reputation on the line when they dumped Ron B. their handpicked replacement turned out to be a failed leader.
Now would be a smart time to let Dr. Davis pick a new MHS Principal. Especially if they do not bring back Rich Hulkow they will need a strong leader at MHS that has broad staff and community support and respect. Klochack failed to get staff and community support, he is simply part of the Joyce Phillips problems. Its time for a clean sweep. Hopefully they will keep Rich on in all of his roles too. Is the board wise enough to listen to such advice?
My inside sources say that Joyce, Dan, Vic, Janice, Paul and Ali are all out to "fire" Rich Hulkow. They are trying to figure out a way to make it look like a contract or budget issue. They will wait until school is out and things are quieter. The real motives involve dirty politics and personal vendettas. No surprise there.
What did John Coulter call it when they voted to pursue firing Rich Hulkow at a little known meeting with their lawyer, "sneaky and under the radar" if I remember right.
Now if there is anyone out there who does not understand why things are such a mess and why there is so much anger and outrage from staff and parents, what more proof do you need? There's mountains of problems, facts and evidence. Why there has been no recall I will never understand.
We are all paying the price in lost students, lost reputation and lost property values.
Lets see, is that the same "Incredible Bulk" that stood in the back of the room during most Board meetings, playing pocket pool, and hoping that his name wasn't called? Not until weeks before Dr. J is scheduled to retire did he have the chutzpa to speak out at a meeting, and of course, only after rallying his troops to stand beside him, once again give the MPS negative and misleading exposure in the media. All for the sake of self promotion...give me a break!!! Absolutely no sympathy is warranted or deserved..."Bye, Bye, don't forget to write".
So is this the Joyce Phillips, Paul Beardslee, Dan Stulberg, Janice Darling, Ali Webb and Vic Potter point of view? Is this insight into how the board and Phillips thinks about a 25+ year MPS highly respected AD, football coach and assistant Principal who has more support and respect that all of them combined times 100! Mr. Hulkow has done an enormous amount for the Marshall schools, including non athlete students. Phillips and the board just created many problems as they served their own interests at the expense of the kids. That is why we could not pass a bond to upgrade MHS to compete with Battle Creek area schools. I am very embarrassed about Joyce Phillips and her supporters on the school board. They should all resign and get out of the way of real progress.
If this 'latest attack' of Rich Hulkow were merely a 'contract issue/problem' then I ask: Why has Linda Bennick not been attacked and pressured and pushed out of this district? I believe they both have a contract by the Good Marks program.
It does not take a PHd to see what this Board and JP are doing. Sharpened up here 'elected officials'. I believe your voter constituents have proven they have brains enough to spot rot!
I personally hold this group of elected officials responsible for some very terrible things that they have allowed 'carpetbagger Phillips' to do to our community, school, kids, staff and image. THANKS....ALOT.
Perhaps had you even looked at the Staff Survey instead of 'making promises' (Yes Vic - we didn't forget) - and backing law suits - and buying flowers to soothe those hurt feelings (fell for that one huh Vic)....Maybe if you had even pretended to listen to the line of speakers beggging you to revisit your 'hurried decision' that you let the 'worst superintendent ever' stuff down your throats....Money savings? Where? Local custodians took 'your' bullet. Ron B. took your bullet. Kathy P. took your bullet. AND MANY MANY OTHERS TOOK YOUR BULLETS. All in the name of: 'this is a volunteer position that has to make hard decisions'. weep weep....
Hard decisions are acceptable only when they are made after much investigation, thought and planning. Firing our 24 custodians was a done deal in the name of 'saving district money'. How much? That's what I thought....no savings. Ron B. and Kathy P. were by far two of the most positive influential staffers at MHS....kicked to the curb - AND WORSE. I hope to someday find forgiveness in my heart for these dirty deeds. Until that day - I watch others being attacked....in the name of savings (once again). Have you forgotten - these people are helping to form the lives of our community's next generation. Bye Bye Marshall Schools...Thanks Joyce and Board! This town will rejoice June 30th!!!!
Bad leader plus fools equals five years of failure
said...
First "Dr. J" has an EdD not a PhD, not a big deal, it is not a hard program at most universities.
Second she lacks crucial experience (never a Principal) and made no attempt to work with those far more experienced at running an actual school building, such as Ron Behrenwald and Susan Townsend. She tried to mask her inexperience through meanness and raw authoritarian power. She fooled a board of noneducators who thought she knew what she was doing. This same board ignored dozens of their own highly respected and expert staff who warned them that JP did not know what she was doing and was a bad leader. Joyce was never respected or trusted. The result has been five years of bad leadership, huge problems, scandals and coverups. No wonder staff morale and community support are at rock bottom. Now this bad leader and her foolish followers are targeting the highly competent and respected Rich Hulkow. When will enough be enough?
Randy Davis does not offer much hope. He will have to make big changes to turn things around in Marshall. A real honest, hardworking, cooperative visionary is needed that can regain lost respect and support from the staff and the community. And he would have to do this with the same board majority that backed and propped up Joyce Phillips for five years. Not much hope, expect more of the same.
If the board had done the right thing and removed Joyce Phillips a few years ago, we could have passed the bond and most likely would be adding students and not making cuts.
Boy, are we glad to know this was all caused by the Board and Superintendent. Many actually thought that the Michigan economy could have had a major impact on school districts like Marshall...so thanks to the above posters for setting the record straight. What genius!
The superintendent and the school board have been the main cause of most problems for five years. Read a few hundred posts and talk to as many Marshall schools staff and parents as you can if you want the facts.
I can get the point of both of the above two comments. The economy has made things much worse and not all of the problems in the Marshall schools are the fault of the superintendent and the school board. But it is clear there have been major problems with Superintendent Phillips for a long time and the board has failed to act to fix or replace her for five years. The board has also failed to work effectively with the rest of the Marshall schools staff and many active parents who warned them about the problems and bad decisions they were making. So they do deserve a big part of the blame for the problems. New leadership is needed badly.
To three post above: if all of Marshall's problems are caused by the Michigan economy, why is it that Lakeview is not needing to lay-off any employees in this tough time? (Also did you read today's 5-19 Enquirer article about the Lakeview Board Meeting last night. Cindy Ruble, a real educational leader, is forgoing her pay raise for next year as a way to save money. When is the last time JP did something like that?
Actually there have been a couple of administrators that people have written about in the paper. None of the top ones have been written about. Can you name who I'm thinking of.
What can I do to lock in a 40% pay raise before there is a much-hyped "pay freeze"? Whose butt can I kiss? I want to be a loyalist too! Do far less work and get praise and large undeserved raises from JP and the board!
Seriously- are any of these very large recent pay raises going to be rolled back?
At minimum Randy Davis should roll his pay back to where Joyce Phillips is today. That would be a small gesture of goodwill as he hopefully attempts to start undoing the damage of the past few years. Joyce received several large raises the last five years so the superintendent raises went up much higher than the staff pay, which was a cut after inflation.
When will the Board open their eyes???!!!???
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Don't count on R. Davis rolling back his pay. I doubt he seriously knows the depth of the issues at MPS. Remember: he has been acquainted with Dr. Philly through the Superintendent monthly meetings in Calhoun County. Even Cindy Ruble, who is highly respected at Lakeview, was sadly misled by Philly. Remember - she saves those sappy smiles and charm for persons she needs to impress. She does not need to impress those she is stomping on with both of her pointed black shoes..... Only the people suffering under her reign of terror actually understand the depth of deception and harm that has been bombed upon this school district. Over the past 5 years the staff at MPS has hoped beyond hope that we would see the 'good sister'....but this has not happened.
Too bad the School Board has forgotten that the Superintendent works for the Board and not vice versus! Look back at the policy she systematically changed her first year. All policy has been changed to allow her total control of the system employees. (with no fall back plan for the employees - unless of course you TRUST VIC P. TO LISTEN, INVESTIGATE AND SOLVE YOUR STAFF ISSUES. Remember that policy change regarding: Who to go to if you feel you are being harrassed. Remember that chain of command. If Supt. is the culprit - you go to the Board President for resolution. WOW DID THAT ONE WORK FOR HER. Then remember the administrator evaluation process? She changed it to be 'solely the superintendent that evaluates the administrators...so she can give you a bad eval...which she does...then year 2...she can make up issues and guess what - that administrator is history...and the district once again suffers. These adminstrators have no support of the Board since Joyce has changed that policy to "the superintendent has sole authority in the evaluation process of administrators". Are you starting to see how the unidoctor has been able to target, harrass and collect resignations from administrators? They need to find other employment before she ruins their careers. Wow - did she plan that one!!! Too bad the Board let her do this type of damage. I can see 10 years ahead of trying to fix the problems Joyce Phillips has created under the guise of "fixing issues". Now that is an oxymoron if I ever saw one!!!
The Marshall schools have been plagued by self-serving fools for 25 years at the top.
Lou G. ignored elementary parents and the next thing we know we got Marshall Academy. Bob "take the money and run" Currie set up a shady contract for himself and then left after 2 years with $70,000 in "sick" days. This was done by getting the board to agree to $400 per sick day but having it cover his entire career at MPS not just his two years as superintendent. He was definitely worse than Lou G.
Now the current regime of Phillips, Beardslee, Darling, Stulberg and Potter have proven they can be far worse at mismanaging the Marshall schools. They showed us how to force out some of the best staff, reward some of the worst staff, and blow a $35 million bond that would have included a $1.5 million donated recording studio. Yes, they cost us huge damage to the staff, the school's reputation and a vital bond that will affect the outcome of the Marshall schools. Even if a bond is passed in five years it will cost many many millions more to do the same thing. Also the lost time of improvements will likely lead to many more losses of students and programs, perhaps an irreversible loss and downward decline.
Yes, this regime is responsible. They will stay in power and now have found what they must think will be "Joyce Phillips part 2" in Randy Davis. Yes, another "Dr." that lacks crucial experience and from a district glad to be rid of them. Deja vu!
If nobody else runs for the school board, then we all are to blame. John Coulter and Bill DeSmet I trust and think will be very good in the coming years.
I keep hearing that more budget cuts are coming. Supposedly the board did not want to make things look as bad as they are until summer. Marshall could lose another 100 students or more.
Lou, Bob and Joyce- the opposite of excellence
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Quote from above: Bob "take the money and run" Currie set up a shady contract for himself and then left after 2 years with $70,000 in "sick" days. This was done by getting the board to agree to $400 per sick day but having it cover his entire career at MPS not just his two years as superintendent. A board member told me he had his contract worded vaguely so the board did not realize what he had planned to do. When he abruptly announced he took another job he then went after his ill gotten shady contract $70,000. The board was furious as they had been cheated by Currie. But Currie did not care and took the money that certainly wasn't justifiably his. Lou G. and Brad Hanes gave themselves a $30,000 "buyout" on their way out the door.
But Joyce Philips has them all beat by a longshot! Besides performance that would have gotten her fired anywhere else, she will get about $20,000 a year in a second Michigan retirement for life, after only five (very bad) years in Michigan!
Yes, the Michigan and Marshall taxpayers are screwed again, this time by the board supporters of Joyce Phillips. This doe not count the unjustified massive raises for some of the worst MPS employees who are loyal to JP (or have dirt on her) and the damage done to our schools from so many scandals and blunders.
Now Randy Davis may be in the middle of a shady contract dispute with Athens similar to what has occurred in Marshall. We deserve much better from our leaders! The Marshall schools have suffered long enough!
There is excellence in the Marshall schools
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To follow up the above with good news. I hesitated to mention these administrators publicly, but the entire staff knows who the "excellent" administrators are:
Susan Townsend- Walters Tom Hanson- Hughes Bob Vaught- Marshall Alternative Rich Hulkow- MHS Andrea Nessel- MHS
Don't forget to thank these fine leaders and show your support as they persevere under very difficult circumstances. They certainly are all excellent and surely put the best interests of the kids, the parents and the community first!
The sad part is we do have a strong majority of excellent teachers and as stated above some excellent administrators too! Why then are these excellent staff repeatedly treated with contempt, ignored or worse? Why are some of the mediocre staff treated so well and lavished with such raises and attention? Why is there a lack of cooperation and teamwork? Why do some board members keep insulting the staff and the excellent administrators listed above? Why is there no accountability at the top? Why did Joyce Phillips seem to dislike everyone from day 1? Lots of questions, no good answers.
It didn't surprise me to see Tom Franke endorse Bill DeSmet and write a letter talking about change. He is a great guy and cares about the Marshall schools. I imagine he and Marsha have figured out how bad things are and no longer support Joyce Phillips and the group that runs the board. I do not know of anyone left in town not on the board that will not be happy to see Joyce Phillips depart. Everyone I know wants change and wants big changes! The days of cliques, secrecy, conflict and dishonesty need to end now!
It would be great if Darling, Stulberg, and Potter departed along with their buddies Phillips and Beardslee! More bad reports coming in about Randy Davis, not good!
He has very poor relations with his staff, he is uncaring and self-serving, not very experienced running a school, quite clueless about most curriculum areas, definitely a weak candidate. Good luck Marshall!
The teachers of Athens are glad to see Dr. Davis move to Marshall. The damage done to our schools may lead to Athens High School closing in the next few years. It was not all his fault but he definitely made things much worse with little to no consideration of the consequences. A poor leader who will serve himself first. Do not trust him, he will backstab any teacher for the smallest of reasons.
We will find out soon if we get a (1) great new superintendent (not likely) a (2) Joyce Phillips part 2 (I can't imagine anyone being worse) or the most likely scenario (3) someone who is unimpressive but a little better than Joyce. Expectations are very low considering the same people who are close to Phillips hired him and ignored better candidates.
Lots of speculation and anxiety about what may come. Not much hope or enthusiasm. More cuts too! No bond to get excited about. Gloom and anger is still too high. Any signs of hope at the end of the tunnel?
The new chronicle shows a photo of Joyce Phillips giving a special award to her "good friend" Marsha Franke. No surprise there! This blog has been reporting for years that Marsha F. is one of JP's main backers. One of the main reasons JP was never fired or held accountable for anything. In other words Marsha Franke is a huge part of the problems of the last five years. No friend of the kids or the Marshall schools.
If Joyce Phillips and the school board do very bad things and make huge mistakes, coverup scandals and harm our schools, then those of us to complain about this are being negative?
I think the people who need help are those harming our schools, kids and community! There is definitely something wrong with Joyce Phillips psychologically- just ask anyone who works with her. There are lots of questions why some board members have done the things they have done- revenge? Stupidity Were they fooled?
Don't blame the messenger! Blame the guilty parties.
Joyce Phillips and her tiny clique of board members who support her and a few others (Marsha Franke, Georgia Marsh) are combined a failed regime that mismanaged the Marshall schools, or worse, for the last five years.
Since they cannot defend their record they have resorted to insults and trying to blame others for their actions. They want everyone to forget what they have done. If anyone is new to this blog you can read about the last five years in hundreds of posts. You can also talk to any Marshall schools staff member who trusts you enough to speak the truth. Yes, it is very bad! That is the sad truth!
When will they act on the Mr. Hulkow contract issue? What is the real story behind what is happening? I heard something about Dan Stulberg being mad about an old girls basketball coaching dispute.
This is the very first time of posting on here. Have been a regular reader and I am a school employee. Please believe that it is much more than a "handful of malcontents" and as has been said repeatedly ask any one connected to the schools if we are better off than five years ago. then ask them WHY.
Maybe they view 99% of the staff as a "handful." Maybe they view the majority of the people of Marshall who are involved with the schools as a "handful."
We would have to question the 99% of staff referenced above, more than likely it must be closer to 1%...we would think with that kind of elevated number that staff would have spoken out, made their message known during the Dr. J years and not have been led like lambs to slaughter. Where was your union during all of this? They must not have considered your complaints factual or meaningful, or certainly if it was/is as horrible as you claim, they would have come to your rescue??? Sounds like sour grapes to us, put your time to better use...and teach. "For the Kids"
I know this poster has it in for teachers. The jealousy comes through. Having never taught they think it's easy.
I'm not a teacher. Just someone who thinks the system has been mismanaged. There is no vision and there is no plan. We have no identifying strength. The school system has even become a liability against economic growth.
Board members are among my friends, but they should be ashamed.
So too, the MTA and any parent who hasn't spoken out publicy and personally. The super has cut classes and programs and we are still in a mess. Now we have no money and no academic excellence.
Marshall students are average. That's damning in this economy.
from everything said in all the post about how things were mismanaged by joyce phillips as well as the board members for some 5 years now i don't understand why so many post comments on this blog but yet not 1 person in the 5 years all this mismanagment has been going on has done anything for a recall to end things before it had gotten as bad and joyce phillips was given a 2nd retirement. so much from parents, teacher or community to think kids first or something would have been done to put a stop to it instead of waiting until she is gone then have so much to say. wont be long until marshall schools will be as bad as a few others in the area and crime rate will be way up the kids wont be taught from a book they will learn from a thug showing how to make a living selling and corrupting others to use drugs, how to hold a gun and fire. wont be long marshall will be part of "little detroit" battle creek.
I also saw in the paper the photo and article about Joyce Phillips and Marsha Franke. Did Marsha Franke really put Joyce Phillips up for free when she came to Marshall in one of their condos? Is Marsha Franke not only a supporter but one of the leaders, along with Georgia Marsh, of the clique that runs the school board (Stulberg, Potter, Darling, Beardslee, Webb)?
Marsha was a former assistant superintendent who was passed over for the promotion and then quit to marry Tom Franke, one of the wealthiest men in Marshall. I was shocked to see Tom endorse Bill DeSmet. I hope they are sincere in switching sides and not trying to co-opt Mr. DeSmet when they saw he was going to win. The Marshall school board majority has been very secretive and shady the last four years. Suspicion is that they had a hit list when Joyce arrived and used her to carry out all the bad things that happened.
No matter what anyone says, things are not good and there needs to be big changes for the better. So far the big changes of the last few years have mostly been for the worst.
The Frankes are very close to Joyce Phillips and seem very supportive of everything she has done. If they feel otherwise I have neither seen or heard any evidence. Many think their support is why the board never held JP accountable for anything. I wish it wasn't so.
To above poster who accuses writer of "Most of which have been written by a handful of malcontents..."
1) 2400+ registered voters signed petitions to 'keep local custodians working in the schools'.
2) 152 or 270+ school employees (in 2006) participated in the staff survey which pointed out 'huge problems/issues' with Phillips
3) EPIC survey (cost $16,500) reiterated what the staff survey results were: Phillips 1.4% out of 5%...identifying huge problems with superintendent and why this community would not support a bond while top leadership was in place. How many households participated in this survey...I did!
4) Huge support for R. Behrenwald while Phillips was attacking him under false pretense
As I recall the past five years (the historic down spiral of MPS - thanks Joyce and Board) I ask you - does this sound like a 'handful of malcontents'. I would more correctly say: Our Board is a handful who repeatedly pretend all is well thus making statements like: "just a handful of malcontents". Get a life....and come up with something to say that has at least some credibility. Just because you say it does not make it true. There are huge numbers backing the efforts since 2006 to "help this Board to see what is really going on at MPS"....while this Board continues to pretend it is only a 'handful of malcontents'.
Get your heads out of the sand...there is daylight and truth out here!!!!
The board has known everything about all of the problems in the schools. Their response- get Joyce Phillips flowers, extend her contract three years and cover up all of her many lies and scandals. Joyce is also an incompetent leader who has made many dumb blunders. No surprise, she has never even been a principal before. Now we just hired someone else with a similar lack of qualifications and experience.
The board is made up of a bunch of local citizens who most likely have no idea how to run a school district. They feel they need to take a "hard line" against the teachers and support staff. Several have stated things like "we need to get people to do their jobs" or "we need to fix what is broken."
Unfortunately this does not apply to Joyce Phillips or a group of her highly rewarded and protected close associates. They need to do the opposite, take a hardline against bad administrators like Joyce Phillips and fix problems and not ("break") make them worse. Only a fool would ignore the entire staff and side with someone like JP. There are many on staff far more deserving of a 40% pay increase than Charlie MacDonald.
I checked the MPS web site looking for board minutes from when they voted to pursue action against Mr. Hulkow in May in a "sneaky, under the radar" meeting. They have no board minutes posted since March. Is that what the tech director got a 40% raise for?
I also noticed no board meeting the last week of May, did they only have one known public meeting in May and the sneaky meeting with their lawyer? Something shady is up!
I think they prefer unannounced meetings with the lawyer that turn into "public" board meetings where they can take action in a sneaky way. Watch, they will backstab Coach Hulkow as soon as they think it will receive minimum publicity and attention. Also don't blame Charlie for the web site not being updated very well, you know his job is almost all delegated to others. ;)
"sneaky, under the radar" "Are they still planning to remove Mr. Hulkow from either his AD job or as head football coach? Or both?"
We agree, lets have more open, truthful, and honest communication between staff, administration and the public (i.e., the TAXPAYER). We think it would be very helpful if the total amount of the retirement benefit package being afforded to AD, Coach, Principal, Good-Guy Hulkow was made public. Most posters on this blog seem to be concerned about what Dr J will be taking with her when she retires. We would also be just as interested in what Hulkow will cost the Marshall Public Schools now and in the future. Transparency, "Try it, you might like it".
Open, honest and transparent answers to ALL questions
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I don't know of anyone who opposes making anyone's pay and benefits made public. Actually I think this information is public anyway if anyone wants to look into it.
Also in comparison (Hulkow) to Joyce Phillips, their overall impact on the Marshall schools is night and day. Rich Hulkow has had an enormously positive impact on the Marshall schools for over 25 years. Is he perfect? No, nobody is, but overall he has done a great job. Joyce Phillips on the other hand has had an enormously negative effect on the Marshall schools, our kids, reputation, trust, support and the community. At the same time she has not been held accountable for things she did that were blunders, foolish ideas, bad for the schools and possibly illegal and unethical actions too. So lets be open and honest and discuss these issues. On that, we are on the same side!
I would also be interested to know what it would cost to hire a new head football coach that does a tremendous job, a new athletic director that does at least as good of a job and a new assistant principal that is actually on site many evenings, weekend and entire days when the other two principals are not on site. My guess to cover all three with first tier talent will cost at least $150,000 per year!
Hulk - MOST DESERVING JP - 100% NOT DESERVING
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Great facts above thank you. When I moved to Marshall I repeatedly heard the phrase "Marshall sees through rose colored glasses". Well let me tell you....you can not continue to put your heads in the sand and believe what a Board tells you and not delve into a fact finding expedition on your own. I am in total agreement on two statements: I would safely guess $150,000 to replace Hulk with staffers to be available and do what Coach does. You will not often go into the high school without seeing Rich...weekend, evenings included. Now, nice people they may be...Nessel and Klochak...try to find them! Ron was also very visible as well as Ray Davis! Rich has given the students of MPS a huge portion of "coach, counselor, advisor - positive role model". It would cost this district a hefty sum to replace his positions....BUT YOU WON'T EVER REPLACE HULK THE PERSON.
Any staff member who has given 25+ years to Marshall is deserving of his 'well deserved pension'.
Joyce K. Phillips on the other hand: Will leave NO positive legacy with this district or with EVEN ONE STUDENT. (correct me if you are aware of one student she has made a positive impact on). She is not leaving MPS in a better spot than when she carpet bagged into our community. She will leave - hard feelings, hurt property values, emotional and physical personal damage - (and worse), a financial mess, a ruined organization, lost programs, defeated bonds, a totally messed up cleaning/maintenance program, and very fluffed egos of those incompetents...who hopefully will be easily spotted by the new supt.
There has been so much damage, allowed by this board, I am not sure if anyone can find a way out of the mess one incompetent individual from Indiana has caused! Let's look to Indiana for guidance. I am sure from speaking to that district they are still undoing the good doctor's mess!
The Harper Creek Community Schools Board of Education continued efforts to lessen a projected $750,000 budget deficit by laying off the high school and middle school assistant principal positions on Tuesday.
Dr. J and the Marshall School Board must be at fault...
If Harper cuts assistant Principals, could Marshall do the same? If Hulkow is cut, will his AD duties then go to Principals? Will Nessel and Klochack be expected to be around most nights and weekends to fill the void? How has custodial privatization worked in Marshall? Does it save as lot of money? Are there any problems?
You are right, most changes I know of were politically/personally targeted at certain individuals or groups. Very sleazy politics at stake. Now they are doing the same thing to Coach Hulkow. Lots of lies and secrecy surrounding their actions. No wonder nobody trusts the board or the superintendent, with one exception- John Coulter.
Bill DeSmet will join John Coulter so we will have at least two good board members. The best thing that can be said about Randy Davis is that he is a change from Joyce Phillips- we hope. I hate to say it but Mr. Hulkow will likely be gone. Once JP and her board targets someone they go all out. No mercy. Other areas of the budget will get cut first, the huge raises for the tech director and others are safe, albeit undeserved and grossly out of proportion to the job or their performance.
I was saddened to see that Dale Rosene and Jim and Judy Unruh are retiring. There goes 3-4 decades of "excellence" out the door! Good luck and thanks for your hard work for the kids over your many years!
Leave what works alone...fix actual problems!
said...
Very nice to see Vic is still posting here.....9:02 a.m. above.
Did you also read in the article? "combining the position of Asst. Principal and Athletic Director/Coach?" Looks like we already saved money in Marshall combining several positions under Hulk's umbrella! How quickly people forget when staff members save the district money. Rich has done this repeatedly. Don't forget how Mr. Hulkow raises huge funding to keep the Athletics alive and well in Marshall. Too bad these funds get robbed and used in other places! Great job Hulk. You deserve much better treatment than you have gotten for the past 3.5 years.
I've figured that it's either Dan or someone else posting from the board. If they(Harper's) were good administrators, maybe Joyce and the board did have something to do with Harper getting rid of them. The good ones tend to be the only ones that Joyce and crew tend to go after. The leave the bad(loyal) ones in place.
because for many years everything that happened in marshall stayed in marshall under the carpet and now that everyone who is normal and not some rich snob has had enough and started bringing things out and finally decided it was time to step up and work for the kids just sad it was to late to make a difference and get a recall together to keep joyce from a 2nd retirement as well as investigated for the **** she has done illegally and covered up by the board of education.
If you want to see some fun this evening, show up to the budget workshop at 7:00pm at the Middle School. I was also told that there is a 5:00pm executive session too. This is probably where they all have to get their stories straight so that when they go public, they'll all have the same line that JKP spews.
Why did they hire outside consultants to lay out budget options that should be obvious to any school leader or board member? Is this PR so it looks like the decisions were made by someone else? Do they think we can't figure out what is happening? Is this another waste of money?
Its nice to see there is a scholarship fund in memory of Kathy Petrich. What if she had been treated with the resepct and support she deserved by Joyce Phillips and the school board? She may still be with us today teaching choir! And some wonder why there is so much anger?
BC Enquirer article mostly focuses on kindergarten assignments.
The community is fed up with mismanagement, lies and phony PR campaigns too!
We need real cooperation and teamwork!
We need honesty, open communication and trust.
We need good competent leaders. We need school board members who are wise, honest, trustworthy (even by staff!) and work in the best interests of our schools and community.
This will not happen with Vic, Dan, Janice and Ali. They have made no changes for the better or learned from the errors of their ways. They have lost all trust and respect. Annette unfortunately has not done much for the better either. John and Bill are our best hope, but two against five cannot do much. Randy Davis by all indications will be a slightly nicer Joyce Phillips clone.
Has the superintendent or the board done anything to reach out to the students and Marshall Academy?
Marshall academy is plagued by a weird dictatorial leader, a high turnover of teachers and does not offer near what the Marshall schools offers. Maybe adopt the few good ideas the academy offers, such as uniforms (actually a dress code), and see if we can recruit back many of the students of disaffected parents. There should also be a reach out to homeschooler too. These kids need to be in real schools, especially after about 2nd grade.
Joyce Phillips doesn't reach out to her own staff, why would she bother to try to attract more students to the district? You can be sure she enjoys the cuts and notice how there is no negative affect on her money or that of her few loyalists? Even Charlie's 40% raise will not be touched.
The board is counting on teachers taking a "pay freeze" or face much bigger cuts. This may include a step freeze, which could cost a young teacher $20,000-$30,000 over the next decade. The goal of Joyce Phillips and the Board is to play teachers against one another in a very cold cruel and calculated way. Are the big pay raises for JP loyalists being cut? Is JP's second Michigan retirement being cut? What all of the waste JP approved or covered up? What have the legal bills been the last five years? Reports are in excess of $500,000!
I do not see the teachers taking a pay freeze after all of the waste and big raises at the top. The problems at the top need to be fixed before the teachers make big sacrifices. The board needs to fire Joyce Phillips for justice sake and to save the money from the 2nd retirement first. She is the last one in the district to deserve an extra $20,000 per year for life! So plan on much bigger cuts coming this summer.
You can be sure Georgia will still play a role running the Marshall schools with her friends Marsha H/F, JP, Dan, Janice, Vic and Ali. I am quite sure they will explain to Randy Davis what is expected of him and to follow their direction if he wants protection and large pay raises.
Any bets as to which day Dr. J and the board meet to backstab Rich Hulkow? You know they have to hurry so JP and Paul get to join in the fun. Why does this feel like a lynch mob? Maybe because we all know it is about personal revenge and not anything else?
Good analogy, it was a lynch mob that went after Ron Behrenwald, Kathy Petrich, the custodians and many others. The majority did not deserve the treatment they received. Most trusted the board before they were betrayed. Anything in confidence taken to say Paul or Vic was quickly taken to Joyce P. and the others. The only one I trust currently on the board is John Coulter. But even then you must be careful as he may tell one of the others and your name could end up on their target list. Kiss up and do squat, and you too can get a 40% raise! Yes, this has all happened and as outlandish as it sounds it is very true! How pathetic, Marshall should be much better than this. Shouldn't it? Good luck Bill, we are hoping you will join John as one of the good leaders. Randy Davis if you are reading this we hope you turn out good too!
Is there a chance for positive change at MPS?
said...
The disgrace here is this: Board members have been aware of the mistreatment of staff members by Joyce. Paul - shame on you. You are the one that advised Ron B. to take his concern to the Board meeting in June 2007 regarding the inconsistencies in the MPS hiring process. Solution: JKP hired (when our budget was very tight) a HR Generalist...yes just someone to take the bullet, if needed, during Joyces reign of terror. Once Ron B. took his concerns to the Board meeting....Joyce stepped in and severly reprimanded Ron B....wrote him up....his career was then in the crapper as Joycie had already had school policy changed to make sure she could sabotage any administrator's career if they stepped out of 'her' line twice. What a lose for our Kids. What a lose for the high school staff. What a lose for this school district. On a positive note: Cedar Springs superintendent has 'gushed' about the positive changes in the atmosphere at the high school during Ron B.'s short time. The staff has come together...the students have shown a very positive trend. How is it that the Marshall board of education allowed one crappy supt. to cause this much damage to our school district? How is it that the Marshall board of education allowed Joyce to attack the best choir teacher MPS has ever seen. Kathy Petrich was attacked, pursecuted, personally and professionally. The Board was aware of this. The Board did nothing. How about all the others that the Board has knowingly allowed Joyce to attack? How is it with the policy in place of 'harrassment - if the superintendent is the attacker...you are to take your problem to the Board President....yeah Vic...who then promptly, always went back to Joyce with the issue and the staff members name....thus allowing her to attack these staff members who were following the chain of command.... There is no policy in place for staff members being attacked by the supt. Do you think Joycy just changed that policy to better the school....NO...THIS POLICY WAS CHANGED FOR HER MISUSE OF STAFF MEMBERS. What about the personnel being kicked to the curb this summer? Central Office is losing Karla Bivens - probably the most gracious individual to work in that office ever. Then there are the media professionals....these are not just people earning paychecks. These are caring, wonderful individuals who are influencing our students on a daily basis.....helping to form young lives.
Now---just to put this into prospective...those receiving pay increases in excess who do not have student contact: Joyce, Charlie MacDonald, Mike Walbeck, Frank.....
Is there something wrong with this picture. I hope Randy Davis does read this. I hope he has the kahunas to seek out staff members for the truth about what has been happening at MPS. I hope he sees the 'problem issues' for himself and not follow this 'misinformed board'.
This past 5 years has been historically the worst ever for MPS. Let's hope and pray for the RIGHT CHANGES. I still feel this can only happen by getting rid of Vic Potter, Dan Stulberg, Janny Darling - what's her last name now,
Dr. Davis: please remember - the School Board has been tainted. Please seek out your staff in a positive effort for positive change. Change is about a new superintendent seeking the staff and working with them....not seeking the board and working against the staff.
One correction, the board did not allow these things to happen, they ordered these things to happen! Joyce doesn't have a clue who most of the staff are. The creepy clique running the board (most, not all, of the board) are the ones ordering the attacks on the staff. They are still fighting old anti-Lou, anti-Redskin, anti-Hulkow, and whatever other personal battles of years gone by.
I used to think it was all Mrs. Phillips and the board was just naive. But it is obvious now it is the other way around, the board directed her as to who to target and what to do. You are right, why would she have it in for so many people she doesn't even know? Now it makes sense why she was never fired.
Then why is a recall not happening? I always vote at school elections. I have finally concluded the current board members do not want to hear from the voters/taxpayers even though they publically state they do. My last call to a board member left me wondering why that board member threw a childish fit upon the defeat of the bond. I will not contact again. If you cannot share opinion with a board member then my question is: Are they serving the public that elected them or are they serving themselves? If the later is true - and in my case it is - then this school board is not operating under the Michigan Association of School Board members code which would be a condition for recall. Let's get moving community....Paul is out...let's give John and Bill some support and get them some individuals who do not have personal issues but rather want to address the issues of the community members that elected them.
I have spent every morning this week prior to getting ready for work reading this blog. I have many, many friends that work at MPS. My simple question: Why has a recall not happened yet? Why has Joyce Phillips not been removed yet? Why was she not prosecuted for the 'sending the maintenance guys' out to fix the air conditioner at the VanWormer home (for Linda Bennick - renter) on the school time clock with school equipment? The only answer I can come up with is: The best liar gets away with everything. I guess I know who the best liar in town may be!
It helps if those in on the corruption are also those responsible for enforcing accountability. The school board is in on everything so of course they will not do anything to solve the problems they created. They will also do whatever is necessary to cover up wrongdoing!
Even if John Coulter wanted to do something the majority would block him. The regime includes at least five board members. Until they are gone nothing will get better. Expect the same with Randy Davis.
Should the teachers take a pay freeze after huge raises of up to 40% were given out in recent years to top loyalists of Joyce Phillips and a big raise was given to incoming superintendent Randy Davis?
Shouldn't these outrageous raises be rolled back first BEFORE negotiations start with the teachers? At minimum the board should go back five years, see what each position made, give the same raises the teachers got for five years and then that is what they should be making at most!
Yes, I know some of these people should be fired for bad performance but try explaining that to the board that is in denial about how little some of these people actually do. The teachers know the truth.
I am surpriaed that there is not more discussion on here about the reduction in class sections. I hear that Gordon will only have 1 section of kindergarten and 1st grade next year, or maybe people don't care about this!!!
One of the greatest ironies in the entire mess that has become Marshall Public Schools is the total lack of connectedness to its rich history on the part of the current administration. As I understand it the high school principal has taken it upon himself to discourage certain harmless end-of-the-year traditions on the part of seniors. This has, I am sure, earned him a great deal of admiration and respect from the students and the community. But apparently he does not even get what he is trying to do. Does anyone if the reason Brian Burns will no longer be working at the school, is it his choice, or because the administration decided to eliminate the lunch room supervisor position.? This will be a tremendous loss, and in no way balance out the small amount of money saved. My guess is that the tradition of Class Night may not continue much longer. The editorial in Thursday's Enquirer was interesting. A good part of the reason the Marshall no longer as a competitive speech activities program is because the current administration really had no idea regarding the history of that program or what was needed to continue it. Last year no one ever bothered to ask the retiring debate and individual events teacher to be part of the interview process for the selection his replacement. That is,of course because neither the superintendent nor the high school principal probably had any idea what the history of that program even was. At the retirement reception last year, The Good Dr. Phillips simply read the names of the retiring teachers, stated when they started working at Marshall, and what they had taught. They were not even asked to come to the front to be recognized, nothing specific was said about any of them. As someone who retired recently from another district, where we were given a great deal of recognition and appreciation for our service, I was shocked at the time. If the current administrative team had bothered to connect with the teaching staff, and view them as a valuable resource instead of the enemy; imagine how much different things might be right now.
The current regime could care less about the many examples of the "rich tradition of excellence" in the Marshall schools. Do you think Vic cares? Or Janice? Or Dan? or Paul? or newcomers Ali or Annette? I think John Coulter does but he is just one lone voice. I bet they are glad to see Dale Rosene and the Unruhs leave, all of that dedication and competence is disgusting in their view. Look at the idiots, the very few, who they reward with big raises and protection despite incompetence? I rest my case.
In response to three above, not only do the current leaders not know about the excellence in the history of the Marshall schools, they don't care! Mrs. Phillips was incompetent from the start and had no interest in learning about how to lead effectively or work with those that actually knew how to run a school building. Then she duped the board into thinking she did know what she was doing and started scapegoating everyone else to make herself look better in their eyes. She was in way over her head but demanded blind loyalty and support for bad decisions and foolish policies from the building principals and staff. That is the root cause of the last five years of problems The school board backed the wrong side and that is why it was tolerated and festered far longer than it should have been. The damage has been deep and wide and everyone but Mrs. Phillips is a loser in this mess.
"This has, I am sure, earned him a great deal of admiration and respect from the students and the community." After re-reading my post, I realized that some people might not understand that that sentence was suppose to be sarcastic--I am sure it did not earn him anything but more disrespect from the students, who, as I understand it, cannot stand their principal. How sad.
oops, I do not know why the entire link did not copy. It should be:http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2009/06/mattawan_bids_farewell_to_reti.htm
The first wave of big cuts come down at tonight's board meeting 6-8-09. Another big wave is likely later in the summer or fall. You can expect Coach Hulkow forced out of at least one of his areas of responsibility. Look at how the cuts affect class size and programs. Students may be moved around to other schools too. So far no word on any cuts to the big raises the small clique of Joyce loyalists and her replacement have received. Not even the 40% pay raise the tech director got is being discussed.
If we had good management things would not be nearly as bad.
"The Marshall Board of Education will meet Monday, June 8, 2009 at Marshall Middle School Community Room at 7:00 p.m. for its regularly scheduled meeting"
Please come if you have any questions or concerns. The board agenda is on the Marshall schools web site:
http://www.marshall.k12.mi.us
If you look at the agenda there is time for public comments on the budget. There is also a reference to a 1 year contract for a 6-12 AD and a head football coach, did they agree to let Mr. Hulkow stay in these positions for another year? Will he still be an assistant MHS Principal? If not, does that mean Mr. Klochack and Mrs. Nessel will have to start covering after school, nights, activities and weekends?
Marshall needs a new school board that serves the best interests of the schools and the kids!
We can keep John Coulter and incoming Bill DeSmet and then replace all the others. Yes, Annette and Ali have gone to the "dark side" and there is no proof they are anything but allies or dupes of the other group. Until there is real change at the top, nothing will improve. All trust, support and respect has been lost by this failed clique in charge.
Are children still banned from walking past Dr. Phillips office at MHS? Was it because some walked by when she stepped in the hall to fart and they laughed at her?
"The good doctor" Phillips (sense the sarcasm) has always been hostile to everyone in the schools- teachers, support staff and the students. Then she puts on her phony southern charm to go have lunches at Schulers or the Rotary with town business and city leaders. She did have many fooled into thinking she knows what she is doing or is not all bad. But those who still support her are a tiny minority. Unfortunately they include most on the school board. Now it looks like we will get more of the same with "doctor" Davis.
179 comments:
Two to one...landslide...?
I wish Paul Beardslee was done tonight! He turned out to be dishonest, he failed to hold Joyce accountable for lying and scandals, and he backstabbed Ron Behrenwald. And that's just a small part of all the bad things he did. I would never trust him! The city should dump him as their lawyer. Good riddance Paul! The worst part is I like so many others used to like Paul and support him. He betrayed us!
Yeah for Bill. I truly wish him wisdom, strength and the drive to work for what is best for our kids.
I did not think it was going to be good, for our schools to move forward, to have Georgia Marsh, once recalled as a School Board Member, be seated again.
Great news - - - Congrats Bill!
Congratulations Bill DeSmet! We are counting on you to start cleaning up the mess and reboot our school back towards the excellence our kids deserve!
Advice to Paul: Don't backstab Rich Hulkow on your way out the door. You have done enough harm to our schools already.
Joyce Phillips- think long and hard about what you have done. Just because you were not held accountable and had all of your lies and scandals covered up does not make you any less guilty. Think what you have done on purpose to so many wonderful people. Think of Ron Behrenwald, Kathy Petrich and your other victims. Think of the crucial MHS bond that failed because of you. Think of the low morale among the staff caused in large part by you. Think of the mess you created at MHS. Think about the custodians you had so ruthlessly fired just because they complained about mismanagement by you and your incompetent loyalists.
You cost the MPS at least $37 million. You have severely hurt our kids and community.
I don't know how you sleep at night. We will not forget.
Paul, Janice, Vic and Dan share the blame too for all of these dirty deeds. A destructive combination of ego, vengeance, arrogance, foolishness and personal powertrips gone mad.
Two to one is absolutely nothing less than a LANDSLIDE. This should also be a message to JKP and her board sycophants that this vote speaks volumes to the lack of support they have in this community.
Good luck to Mr. DeSmet and I hope you realize the majority of us are outraged at what these people have done to our school system. Please listen to staff, parents and students more than you do to JKP and her board cronies. They do not like dissent or criticism and like to isolate those who dare to speak up. Today the voters spoke and hopefully those left on the board will listen to that message.
Time for change. Unfortunately this is just a small step unless the board majority are recalled. For now the old guard still control the board. Soon they will bring in Phillips-clone Randy Davis. Good luck John C. and Bill S. You are our only hope! But we know two wise men cannot likely turn around a ship of fools.
Great job Bill! We need a smart, caring and honest man like you on the MPS school board! Good luck, it will be a big challenge.
Now would definitely be the time for a recall if ever there were a good time. If we were to recall at least two preferrably three board members(Janice, Vic or Dan) - and replaced them with caring community members that are truly concerned about turning the MPS system around to where it was when Phillips came on board....this is the time for change. Let's push a recall through now and re-take our school system - so our kids win, our property values recover and once again the Marshall School Board will operate in an up front - honest manner.
That is the only hope for real change. Otherwise we will have at least two more years of the same. Randy Davis and the Phillips-supporting board majority will keep doing the same old things- mismanagement, abuse of power, powertrips, lies, rewarding bad loyalists, hurting good teachers and programs.
I voted for neither. Marsh for obvious reasons. DeSmet because he seemed nice, but offered nothing substantive.
Davis is an enigma. People I respect say he will be OK. However, education and performance at Athens say otherwise.
In the end, it's really up to us to shape things, isn't it?
I think Mr. Davis will be an improvement over Phillips because I can't imagine anyone being meaner, more incompetent or dishonest. But his background and performance at Athens is unimpressive at best. He will have to work hard and make big changes to win over a skeptical staff and community. Even if he wanted to, this will be hard with the current board members who want more of the same.
The Marshall schools need change now! They need to restore cooperation and trust between the staff and the administration. They need to restore trust and support from the community in the superintendent and the school board. A big bond is needed to update MHS and meet some other needs so Marshall can begin to catch up with the Battle Creek area districts. Personal attacks, petty politics, arrogance, dishonesty and mismanagement needs to end!
So glad for all of you. I know that Kathy would be proud of the coming together of you all to get rid of the people who seem to not care about what happened to her, or what Joyce did to others. Never forget she fought to make things better for everyone! :-)
Kathy Petrich and Ron Behrenwald and many others are missed. MHS needs to be "fixed" with a new Principal. An independent investigation is needed of the last 5 years of Supt. Joyce Phillips, Bus Mgr. Amy Jones, sst. Supt. Brian Metcalf and the board supporters of this regime. Many things need to be "fixed" to improve the Marshall schools. There has been no accountability at the top for five years!
Come out and support Mr. Hulkow at the next board meeting. Phillips, Beardslee, Potter, Darling and possibly Webb and Campau are trying to force him out. This is absurd! It should be Joyce Phillips they should have forced out long ago. Notice how dishonest, sneaky and sleazy they are going about it?
To Karen Christian above: I can assure you there are many of us whose lives have been touched by knowing and loving Kathy Petrich. She personally helped me to be the person I am today. She will not be forgotten. Hopefully MPS is about to go through changes for the better. I know things can't possibly keep spiraling downward at this school district.
What is happening about Mr. Hulkow? I saw the board meeting form April on TV and Vic Potter promised that no changes would move forward without Mr. Hulkow's involvement and support. Then I saw in the paper that it looked like it was all a big lie and they are moving toward forcing Rich out in a sneaky and sleazy manner.
They are trying to humiliate Rich as part of a plot of revenge. Its pathetic and everyone sees through their scheme. As is always the case they look like fools! Vic's little "drama queen" speech at the board meeting turned out to be one big fat lie! Any surprise there? I don't think so! They cannot hide their intentions or methods any longer. The election this week shows overwhelming support for new leadership and to get rid of the old failed leadership. Vic, Joyce, Dan, Janice and Paul are all very lame ducks, Too bad they will not all be gone soon. Or will they in a recall? We will see.
Has anyone gone to the www.marshall.k12.mi.us site lately? Who is responsible for the student survey? First - what a weak attempt to shift responsibility for the 'budget cuts'. When did we start asking 'non taxpayers for thier ideas'. To ask MS and HS students what they think should be cut - how about another one of those famous surveys? Oh yes - the Board would and will just ignore it - but it is a great attempt to 'cover butt' under the guise of 'we asked'.
Also, - to whomever is responsible for the survey and having it submitted to the school website: Possibly if you are going to write on the district website - where it clearly says "excellence in education" you would make sure the spelling is correct! Why are we paying the Tech Director so much money if this is how our district is going to be protrayed? Once again....great work Board! Try asking the actual taxpayers instead of dangling the carrott in front of the taxpayer's students.
I think the underhanded way Vic and the gang are addressing the 'created issue' of the 'bad contract language' regarding Rich Hulkow is very much the same as how this Board has operated in the past 4 years. Attacking employees and programs. Hasn't this approach already caused so much damage to past employees and their families. Hasn't this type of treatment lead to much worse than stress....?How many lives have and will be mutilated. This trend has got to stop.
I firmly believe this blog has exposed enough reasons to hold a recall vote. Let's get moving - I believe the Board will be surprised about the outcome!
The reputation across the state is that the Marshall schools are not a good place for the best and brightest educators to work. The reputation is that the top leaders are incompetent and treat the staff very badly. This will make it hard to recruit top talent in the future. We already saw in the Superintendent search that top talent, even 2nd tier talent, avoided Marshall. Randy Davis definitely comes from at best a 3rd tier of talent, what you might expect in a rural class D district, not an "excellent" Class B district. The community needs to know how bad things are and how much the Marshall schools have been damaged the last five years. This hurts us all.
The board has several objectives they are working on now:
1. Protect Joyce Phillips from any and all investigations or anything that may threaten her 2nd Michigan retirement.
2. Attack Mr. Hulkow and the teachers- put blame on them, play teachers against one another, deflect attention from past JP and board wrongdoing.
3. Start "training" Mr. Davis so he does as he is told and continues the same policies and goals as before. They do not want him warming up to teh staff or the community. They want a Joyce Phillips clone to continue.
4. Keep loyalist protected and their big raises intact. No change at MHS, they like how Klochack has been in fights with everyone and lacks respect and support from his staff. That is considered "good" in the mold of Joyce Phillips.
It will soon be a year since the passing of Kathy Petrich. Phillips, Klochack and the board made her life hell trying to force her out over the staff survey. In a sense she gave her life trying to make the Marshall schools better and share honest information with the community. For this she was persecuted.
An unnamed board member told me that they think there is contract problems with Mr. Hulkow and they did not make this up. I asked if they are trying to resolve this "contract problem" so Mr. Hulkow does not have to give up either of his positions. They said they would see what they could do, whatever that means.
This same board member tried to focus the conversation on Phillips imminent departure, getting a new superintendent and moving on. They even were happy that Bill DeSmet would be joining them. I am not sure if this board member was in denial or sincerely thinks everything is good and getting better. We will see what they do next.
Mr. Hulkow does not deserve such unprofessional, mean-spirited and disrespectful treatment after over two decades of outstanding service.
Why are they targeting Coach Hulkow at this time? Are the nuts?
Because Joyce hates him. She sees him as an adversary, not a co-worker nor one of her "team members". He has been known to question her motives and anyone who does that is automatically not a "team player" according to her. Ask R. Berhenwald, S. Townsend, B. Vaught, J. Venema, M. Dahlinger, or anyone else that she hasn't liked in her 5 years here. She figures that she hasn't much time and she can nail him on the way out the door, what can they do to her?
did anyone hear about the girl who was hit by a car riding her bike in the teachers parking lot this morning (she was ok and stayed in school all day) but when someone went in school to let office know klochack or nessel couldn't be found more then likely wasn't in the building as usual. also dont understand how klochack should remain principal in marshall when he don't reside in this town, he is paid with tax payers money but at the same time he pays his taxes to another town. i guess if there is so much money to throw away to an outsider maybe some of the residents should have money thrown their way to help pay the high cost of the electric since we all have to pay the outsourcing adjustment charge.
Other than Rich Hulkow there is often NO other principal on the MHS campus or in the building. Klochack commutes three hours roundtrip a day. Nessel is busy with family and kids. If they dump Rich as assistant Principal there will be nobody most of the time
I heard Steve Guerra is looking. He is a Marshall resident whose kids went through MHS with my kids, and a great guy! I think he would do a great job at MHS!.
Friday May 8, 2009:
A news segment aired on Ch. 3 about the Marshall schools and up to $2 million in budget cuts coming. You can go to:
www.wwmt.com
And look under local news for the video segment or try this link:
http://www.wwmt.com/video/index.php?bcpid=1111405973&bclid=1137706675&bctid=22593235001
The school admin. team has known this for awhile!!! I don't know why they didn't make it public sooner!!! Big cuts will happen!! And when elementary class sizes get bigger I think more will leave for MarLee and Marshall Academy!!! Also if the MTA does not go along with the pay freeze there will be even more cuts!!!
Also MPS needs to get it together and figure out what they are doing in respect to if they will have any half day kindergarten classes next year and if they will have RK, and if they have RK will it be half day or full day?? Parents are looking and have been looking for this info for a while!!! So because MPS doesn't know and parents want to know, they look else where!! I know several who have gone to MarLee as they know what they are doing next year and have already held their round-up!! MPS needs to move round-up to the school year and not in the first few weeks after the school year ends!! Come on MPS get it together!!!
One of the most upsetting changes comes from loosing school counselors!! They are making changes and this means only 1 counselor at the middle school now!!
The MPS Board will be meeting at Hughes School at 7 pm on Monday May 11, 2009. The agenda is linked off of an announcement on the MPS home page:
www.marshall.k12.mi.us/
If you have any concerns about whether the board should force out Mr. Hulkow, which teachers they plan to fire, which administrators got large raises the last few years or any other school issues please plan to attend and/or contact the board members via e-mail or telephone:
Vic Potter: budstowing@sbcglobal.net
Paul Beardslee: pt-beards@tir.com
Dan Stulberg dstulb@gmail.com
Janice Darling: darling123@cablespeed.com
John Coulter: JCoulter@oaklawnhospital.com
Ali Webb: webb4education@yahoo.com
Annette Campau: amcampau@sbcglobal.net
Some other issues to consider:
- Does MHS need a new Principal?
- Is there a need for an independent investigation into the various scandals related to Dr. Phillips actions the last five years?
- Should the Marshall teachers take a pay freeze, actually big cut after inflation and spread out over future years, when some administrators (Tech Director) have received as much as a 40% pay increase the last few years? Shouldn't that be cut first? Was this done as a reward for staff surveillance or helping cover up scandals?
- Does Joyce Phillips deserve about $20,000 per year for life as a 2nd Michigan retirement despite very poor performance the last five years?
- At the April 13 board meeting Vic Potter basically promised that no changes would be made related to Rich Hulkow without Rich's involvement and approval, then last week the opposite occurred when the board in a sneaky way approved to move forward with "changing the contract" which will likely mean Rich being forced out of part or all of his responsibilities with the Marshall schools. What happened? Did the board lie to the public when they acted as if nothing was in the works and it was all blown out of proportion? Did they know all along this was the plan and just decided not to be honest and up front about it? Should there be a recall of at least some board members over the way this is being handled and other past actions?
Share your views!
I believe a recall is long overdue. If this community knew even 50% of what this Board has knowingly allowed Joyce to do to good employees (Behrenwald, Petrich, Dalinger, Venema, and many more) they would also agree that a recall should have already happened. Perhaps it is time to start this recall and expose these FACTS - People may have to go public with the attacks that have been done to them - while Board members are aware and have done NOTHING TO MAKE THESE PEOPLE WHOLE. I believe the policy Joyce changed in the very beginning was the policy regarding how an employee is supposed to report mistreatment from the Supt. Why did Joyce change this policy? I believe we all know the answer. It was changed to make sure there was no accountability. R. Behrenwald followed the procedure. He had an issue with policy at the high school. He took it to the Board Pres....Beardslee basically stabbed him in the back. He told RB to take the issue of policy inconsistencies to a Board meeting and have it addressed. Instead - Beardslee should have addressed this with Joyce....no spine...set RB up...and we all know the rest. How many board members have been aware of employee attacks - UNJUST ATTACKS - and have done nothing but make promises to look into it. Time for people to speak up....expose the facts....stop the second retirement...recall board members....CHANGE IS ABOUT DOING IT NOW! We have talked about it for a long time - this is exactly what JP and her Board have hoped for....just talk. Take action now. Kathy P. lost her life over undue stress - targeting - attacks - YES THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT KNOW THESE FACTS...THE ATTACK QUESTIONS...BOARD MEMBERS KNOW...HER FAMILY KNOWS...FRIENDS KNOW....I believe it may be time for this community to know what has been going on in the Superintendent's Office....including Joyce lying in front of her secretary and the grounds crew regarding 'do whatever it takes to get that air conditioner working'....Why did she lie to the Prosecutor's office?
Are they discussing the Coach Hulkow issue tonight Monday May 11 at the board meeting at Hughes schools at 7 pm? Is anyone coming out to show support for Coach Hulkow? It sounds like the board plans to fire him in June after school is out. I had read that Phillips and the board would carry out revenge on Coach Hulkow and the teachers for the last year, but I had no idea they would be this mean spirited and overt about it! JP's last stand for sure!
If you come to the board meeting tonight 5-11-09 at hughes school plan on waiting a long time to address the board if it is about a non agenda item.
Then you will be given 3 min and most of the board could care less about what you have to say. Phillips will be looking down doing crossword puzzles or planning her grocery list or something. If it is on behalf of Rich Hulkow they have already heard from dozens of people and the entire town knows what a great job Rich has done and how most of us would hate to lose him in any capacity. Talking to the board though is a waste of time. Other than John Coulter, the current board wants Rich gone. Its personal and its political. Nothing short of a recall can save Rich now.
Then let's get on with the recall. This community has allowed this Board to send our school district into ruins. If we wait any longer there will be nothing left to save and we will have done nothing.
BC Enquirer May 12, 2009:
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20090512/NEWS01/905120315
So far 11 positions cut, with 6 covered by retirements. No cuts to administrator salaries, some of whom got up to a 40% pay increase in recent years despite poor performance.
Will they be fixing MHS by hiring a new Principal this year? There are many problems with the current one.
I hope they keep Coach Hulkow! He has done a great job for 25 years! The problems are in the main office.
Class C here we come- thanks board majority clique!
the students at the alternative school are there due to being singled out of high school for different reasons and given the chance to let someone know that there are people out there that do care for them and willing to help them get the education that they want. now the school board can pursue the alternative school to get their dirty work done knowing they won't have the people stand up for them like they are getting from other school buildings. more then likely mr rich hulkow will be gone, why would someone want to stay in a school system who wants to treat him like he is being treated? so now moving on to the next one they will work to get out mr bob vaught who is doing a great job at the alternative and talk in high school is many students are wanting to transfer out of high school to alternative. school board can't allow that they want to get rid of the alternative completely, could it be that they see success in students they didn't care what happened and have someone who does and allows them to get their education. not sure but i think they have a very high number of students who graduates. the people in marshall need to fight for the students of not only high school but alternative as well please don't forget the students in all buildings.
Rich Hulkow and Bob Vaught are two of the best in the Marshall schools. No wonder they are being targeted by some of the worst in the Marshall schools.
First we need pay rollbacks for the superintendent, the Tech Director, the Business Manager and other positions which have received huge pay increases despite poor performance the last four years.
Reasonable pay for the quality level of the current or likely future job holders:
Superintendent: $90,000 is plenty for Dr. Davis
Business Manager: $80,000 should be plenty
Assistant Supt: Metcalf proved we do not need this position
Tech Director: for someone who doesn't do much and delegate most of his job, $60,000 is plenty.
Let's find out ALL of the real costs of the outsourced custodians, including all new equipment purchased to make their jobs much easier and faster. This needs to be combined with a survey and study of how good they actually do and how they compare to the previous custodians. I suspect little to no savings in money and a huge loss in community support and services. It may have cost us a few dozen students and a $35 million bond.
Since teacher pay in the MPS has averaged 2% or less per year for a decade while inflation ran at 4-5% each year, the teachers have ALREADY taken a pay cut of at least 20% after inflation. Now these are some concessions. Is it time to replace the 8 block at MHS with a more cost effective schedule?
Bad leadership has cost us perhaps half of the 200 students lost, the MHS bond, community support and has lowered the property values in our community. What shall we fix first?
Dr. Davis spent almost his entire career working in juvenile detention facilities, not as a teacher. Also he has never been a principal. His reputation at Athens is that of the captain of a sinking ship who has no idea how to prevent disaster and just keeps tossing people overboard to keep himself afloat. Is that what the MPS board has planned for his role as superintendent of the Marshall schools? Don't you think we could have done much better?
in the town know for the rich and snobby you don't have 1 person in a profession that knows the right person or people to contact to get an investigation started in the wrong doing of the superintendent or board of education or with the school year so close is all the comments just to give people a chance to vent and not do anything. i doubt any change will be made except for things getting worse then they are now. it is really good to hear that all the attention is focused on marshall and how bad things are there they are leaving the other schools time to be left alone. good luck marshall "redskins, redhawks, or whatever you want to call yourselves for not taking the stand sooner to stop this from getting so far to help the STUDENTS who are the ones hurt by it all.
How do you even start a recall???
Here is an article I found in the Michigan Daily about recalls:
http://www.michigandaily.com/content/state-may-restrict-recall-elections
And...
http://www.ncsl.org/programs/legismgt/elect/recallprovision.htm
Here is a quote from another recall article:
"Recall of elected local Michigan schools’ officials is to be used for officials who do things that are illegal, immoral or negligent. "
I think at least four of our board members qualify:
Paul Beardslee
Janice Darling
Dan Stulberg
Vic Potter
But it is too late to recall Beardslee, he is leaving soon either way. All have known exactly what they have been supporting that is wrong, all have covered up JP scandals, all have made very bad and negligent decisions that harmed our schools, all have been warned and informed of what was going on and did the opposite anyway, all qualify for a recall before they do more harm to the Marshall schools.
I still feel like the lying to the Prosecutor's office regarding the ordering of the grounds crew to go and 'do whatever it takes to get that air conditioner working - while on the clock' should be grounds for Joyce to be booted out of this community FIRED WITHOUT THE MICHIGAN RETIREMENT. How about interviewing those workers, K. VanWormer, L. Bennick....forget JP - she will just lie again. Can't this be looked into?
I heard from Athens, first week of May 2009, that there is big controversy regardin the 'contract language that R. Davis had put into his contract'. Someone should be checking this out. Seems - Athens is having to payout somewhere in the park of $20,000 just to see him leave for Marshall....look out....could it be the male version of JKP?
By all accounts Randy Davis is "Joyce Phillips" part 2. Out of all of the good candidates that may be out there we found another dud, or worse. No surprise, the same puppetmasters are in charge so they will want another of the same kind of self-serving incompetent puppets to use.
There will be a reception for the new Supt. Randy Davis on Thursday May 14 at MHS. I saw this in the advisor but when I checked the MPS web site for times there was nothing on it. So I am guessing this is still on unless they want to keep it low key.
The board and Joyce Phillips pulled together to cover up the air conditioning scandal. Imagine if the truth came out and JP had been fired 4 years ago? Imagine if a good superintendent had replaced her. Instead of layoffs we could all be united and looking forward to $35 mil worth of renovations at MHS and a donated $1.5 million recording studio. We could all be working together to solve problems. Staff morale would be far better, along with community trust, support and respect. So many things could be much better! If only the truth had not been covered up.
To add to above...
Ron Behrenwald would still be our fine MHS Principal
Kathy Petrich may still be with us leading the choir
The custodians and their families may still be employed and living in Marshall, with their kids attending the Marshall schools
Other staff who have been hurt badly and their families would be doing well
Open and honest communication would prevail and wise decisions could be agreed upon to deal with challenges.
Remember when hiring committees selected the best candidate and were not overruled by the superintendent to select a lesser candidate...
Its sad thinking about all that could have been! I am not sure if the Marshall schools will ever fully recover. These problems may cause an Athens-style downward "death spiral" of ongoing lost students and more budget cuts year after year.
Get ready. The disastrous last five years will take us many years to recover from, if ever. People who think it is just a small group of disgruntled complainers have their heads in the sand. Things will only get worse. Even with her long gone her evil spell will live on. How sad for all of us. Especially the kids. Have they been put "first" like JKPs famous slogan kept saying?
There are many topics that keep coming back up on this blog and I think I know how the board at least publicly, would respond. From my own conversations with board members and what others have told me they heard from the board here is what they will likely say followed by my opinion of the accuracy...
1. Why do you support Joyce Phillips and why did you extend her contract out to 5 years when she already was having big problems?
The board will claim they did realize things were not well but only after the controversial contract extension. Then they will say THEY told her it would not be renewed farther out. They act happy she is leaving.
My take: Phillips got the contract she wanted and is staying as long as she wanted to. There was no reason they could not have renewed her for 1 year as Sam and Bob suggested four years ago when problems already were happening. It was clearly political with a hidden agenda for Joyce to carry out in return for 5 years so she gets a 2nd retirement. No doubt about that! You can bet Rich Hulkow is the next target on the hit list. The rest is PR.
2. What about the large administrative raises and problems with other top administrators?
They will claim they forced out Metcalf and Jones. They will claim other raises are to "remain competitive." I think in the case of Charlie's huge raise they simply were sold that that other tech directors made more and he deserves way more money. Since they do not likely know what he actually does, or maybe he knows too much, they gave him what he wanted.
My take: If Charlie does a great job, he probably deserved a raise, but 40%? Also there is much doubt he does a great job, or even a mediocre job.
3. Why did you fire the custodians the same year you were going to try for a $35 mil bond?
The board will say they did this to save money and save teachers and programs. They will say that many custodians got other jobs such as at the hospital or were able to retire anyway.
My take: it was a stupid move and the timing was terrible. There is no reason they could not have phased any changes in over several years like Lakeview did, and maybe retain some custodians that work for the district and stay in the long term.
4. What about all of the scandals and employees who were harrassed or forced out like Ron B. and Kathy P.?
The board would say the latter two left on their own free will. They will say cases have been exaggerated or are private personnel issues that cannot be discussed publicly. Somehow they think Joyce knows things about people she barely knows in buildings she rarely visits better than those who actually work with and for these same people day in and day out for years.
My take: there may be some legitimate cases of staff they were justified in taking action against, but most actions were likely personal, political, sleazy or all of the above. More about meanness, egos and powertrips rather than good leadership.
5. Why did Joyce threaten the Chronicle and the teachers (union) with lawsuits after the staff survey?
The board would say that is between Joyce and those parties, its not from them.
My take: they backed Joyce 100% in these threats.
6. What about the air conditioning and insurance scandals?
The board would say they were investigated and proper actions taken. Former board member Bob Lyng said before he left the board that he was asked to lie to cover up the insurance scandal.
My take: cover up all the way!
7. Why did the $35 mil MHS bond fail?
The board will claim they did all they could to pass it. They think "whiners" and "anonymous bloggers" are a tiny minority and everyone else is happy and things are fine. They will say the proof is there has been no recall and until Bill DeSmet nobody running against any of them. They also blame the economy and people who did not support adding a new auditorium.
My take: I give them credit for their work on the bond and the process leading up to it. But I fault them on all of the other problems and mistrust they created that lost them the community and staff support they needed to pass the bond.
What now?
The new board, minus key leader Paul Beardslee, and with a new superintendent Randy Davis need to make big changes to rebuild staff cooperation, teamwork, trust, community support and overall respect. This will be nearly impossible for Vic, Dan and Janice. So no major changes are likely any time soon until new board members take power in the coming years. I hope I am wrong and big positive changes are somehow in the works with new leaders and maybe new attitudes by the old board members. A new Principal at MHS would be a great start!
To the above: I'd like to add one thing to 'why the bond didn't pass'. Anyone using their God given brain would know: If you fired 24 local Marshall custodians...each of them have influenced at least 10 family or friends...each of these 24 with significant spouses/companions would influence at least 10 people. Of these influenced people most of them will influence at least 10 .... see this pyramid? There were 2400 signatures on the petitions to have our local community custodians keep their jobs. (this was done in less than 1 week)
Now - how many registered voters live in Marshall school district? 5000? This Board was made aware prior to the Board meeting at the Middle School regarding the outsourcing of our local custodians that at least 2400 registered voters were strongly against this 'brain storm of savings'. (how much is saved each year? - curious as you cannot seem to get any straight answer of any savings) Now - without being a college graduate I would say....2400 were opposed in the very beginning. After these 2400 signatures were totally ignored....people in Marshall were outraged. Now of these 2400 signatures...how many people did they influence? Do you see how in the very beginning at least 1/2 of our registered voters were saying to the board: We will not support your 'need' decisions since you have blatantly ignored our wish to keep our custodians locally employed - thus keeping our district wages here in Marshall to spend in our local economy.
Hey Board - it can't continue to BE ALL YOUR WAY. YOU WORK FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ELECTED YOU....NOT JKP OR DAVIS. START LISTENING TO THE TAXPAYERS IN MARSHALL - THEY REALLY ARE THE ONES THAT MAKE THE HUGE DECISIONS.
Perhaps we should start by cutting wages of the top administration including the new contract for Davis. This may help as we cut the people that form the lives of our community students. Cutting teachers and programs while giving pay increases to people that do not affect our student's educations is just WRONG!
To be honest I think the board and Joyce's arrogance and ego supersede any common sense. I do not think they care what the consequences are from their actions. They fire the custodians and it costs the bond, does Joyce really care? Do the board leaders seem to truly care? No, they can just throw it back and blame others. They brag there has been no recall so they can do as they please. They lose students from their actions and layoff more teachers. No harm to them, Joyce still gets her big pay and perks and second retirement. Now they are targeting Mr. Hulkow as their latest victim. They could care less who it upsets or how it hurts the Marshall schools. As they would say, nobody is going to start a recall- ha ha.
I think Phillips and her board buddies enjoy picking fights with everybody.
There is an open house for Dr. Randy Davis today, Thursday May 14, 2009, from 2-7 pm at the MHS Media Center. Please come and meet him. You may share your views on school issues too.
"I heard from Athens, first week of May 2009, that there is big controversy regardin the 'contract language that R. Davis had put into his contract'. Someone should be checking this out. Seems - Athens is having to payout somewhere in the park of $20,000 just to see him leave for Marshall....look out....could it be the male version of JKP?"
Has anyone heard any update on this from good sources in Athens?
"Dr. Davis spent almost his entire career working in juvenile detention facilities, not as a teacher. Also he has never been a principal. His reputation at Athens is that of the captain of a sinking ship who has no idea how to prevent disaster and just keeps tossing people overboard to keep himself afloat. Is that what the MPS board has planned for his role as superintendent of the Marshall schools? Don't you think we could have done much better?"
Well Dr. Davis, if these quotes are not accurate and you are highly competent you have to hit the ground running and prove it. You will need to earn trust and respect. You will be judged by your actions and not just words. You may have to take on some of your own board members to accomplish this. Maybe go to bat for Coach Hulkow, starting now! It won't be easy but the alternative is bad for you and the Marshall schools.
The fact is I have talked to several people in Athens connected to the schools and every single one of them is very happy to see Randy Davis leave. Not a good sign for Marshall.
Is there anything that can be done to get an investigation going about Joyce Phillips reign the last five years. There are so many fireable offenses that need to be looked into. If it can prevent her from getting her 2nd lucrative Michigan retirement then there would be a small measure of justice for her many victims.
What the board is doing by covering this up and preventing accountability is certainly a recallable offense. They must share responsibility (not John C.) for what they have done. Their role must be just as guilty, or why would they cover everything up?
I know the staff cannot stand Dr. Phillips. What is the motive of the board members who support her against the entire staff? What is the root cause of this power struggle that has torn the Marshall schools apart?
Its a mix of powertrip politics and misinformation. Say a kid has problems with a teacher and the parents happen to be friends or relatives of a school board member. They say the teacher should be fired so the school board member tells Joyce Phillips and she goes after them. Or maybe one of them dislikes a teacher because they are not "loyal" or question bad policies or actions, well that is grounds for retribution.
Anyone connected, even if only by suspicion, of being close to Lou G. or Mr. Hulkow is targeted. The teacher's union was targeted for speaking out, A few examples. Kathy Petrich was targeted for speaking out and Ron Behrenwald was targeted and backstabbed for perhaps being far more knowledgeable and competent than Joyce phillips, which made him a threat.
There have been outrageous comments from board members complaining about "teachers who do not want to do their jobs" and "teachers who are overpaid" and "teachers that should be fired." There is a lot of anger at the teachers. The custodians were hated and targeted for who knows what reasons- the poor souls. It has been power politics at its worst! Incompetence has been praised and rewarded while "excellence" and competence has been derided and punished. Just ask 20 teachers you know or others on staff. Its been lunacy covered up by lies and a false pretending that all is well.
Life is stranger than fiction- especially in Marshall.
I agree with alot on this blog - but is anyone doing anything to put a stop to the 2nd retirement or perhaps a recall?
Where have you been? Are you lost, did you just stroll into town off of I-94 or I-69? Pathetic at best...
Not sure what the above means, the previous person seems to be asking if there is a recall or if anyone is stopping the 2nd retirement. I do not know of any efforts for either. The board majority has "circled the wagons" to protect Joyce Phillips and make sure she is never held accountable and get her $20,000 per year for life form Michigan taxpayers. Yes they serve her, not our kids. While I know many people who would support a recall, most are school employees or their spouses and the spouses who aren't sympathize but so far have not started a recall. Even if a recall was started now Phillips would like weasel out of accountability by leaving this summer before a recall was complete. Paul, Janice, Vic, Ali and Dan have served Joyce Phillips well! Too bad they did not do the same for the people of Marshall.
The budget cuts are not over, I heard more are coming and they plan to boot Mr. Hulkow after 25 years of great service! Joyce Phillips is as evil as everyone says, it just took some of us a while to fully understand how bad things were. I thought it was a few whiners as the board used to call them. But its the truth, most of this blog speaks the truth. Things are that bad. We need to replace the board members who have backed such an evil leader.
The board members pulled the puppet strings of Joyce Phillips. Even after five years she hardly knows anyone on staff. Who do you think made the hit lists and told her what to do. Then they act as if they do not know what is going on. We know what is up, JD, PB, DS and VP think they have been "fixing" things when in fact they made everything much worse. Why did they do this? Why did they ignore wise advice for five years? Ask them!
I heard Klochack's job is still up in the air, that's why he did not move down here. The board has been embarrassed that after putting their declining reputation on the line when they dumped Ron B. their handpicked replacement turned out to be a failed leader.
Now would be a smart time to let Dr. Davis pick a new MHS Principal. Especially if they do not bring back Rich Hulkow they will need a strong leader at MHS that has broad staff and community support and respect. Klochack failed to get staff and community support, he is simply part of the Joyce Phillips problems. Its time for a clean sweep. Hopefully they will keep Rich on in all of his roles too. Is the board wise enough to listen to such advice?
My inside sources say that Joyce, Dan, Vic, Janice, Paul and Ali are all out to "fire" Rich Hulkow. They are trying to figure out a way to make it look like a contract or budget issue. They will wait until school is out and things are quieter. The real motives involve dirty politics and personal vendettas. No surprise there.
Are you implying that Dr. Phillips and our board would do something in a dishonest and devious way?
;)
What did John Coulter call it when they voted to pursue firing Rich Hulkow at a little known meeting with their lawyer, "sneaky and under the radar" if I remember right.
Now if there is anyone out there who does not understand why things are such a mess and why there is so much anger and outrage from staff and parents, what more proof do you need? There's mountains of problems, facts and evidence. Why there has been no recall I will never understand.
We are all paying the price in lost students, lost reputation and lost property values.
Lets see, is that the same "Incredible Bulk" that stood in the back of the room during most Board meetings, playing pocket pool, and hoping that his name wasn't called? Not until weeks before Dr. J is scheduled to retire did he have the chutzpa to speak out at a meeting, and of course, only after rallying his troops to stand beside him, once again give the MPS negative and misleading exposure in the media. All for the sake of self promotion...give me a break!!! Absolutely no sympathy is warranted or deserved..."Bye, Bye, don't forget to write".
So is this the Joyce Phillips, Paul Beardslee, Dan Stulberg, Janice Darling, Ali Webb and Vic Potter point of view? Is this insight into how the board and Phillips thinks about a 25+ year MPS highly respected AD, football coach and assistant Principal who has more support and respect that all of them combined times 100! Mr. Hulkow has done an enormous amount for the Marshall schools, including non athlete students. Phillips and the board just created many problems as they served their own interests at the expense of the kids. That is why we could not pass a bond to upgrade MHS to compete with Battle Creek area schools. I am very embarrassed about Joyce Phillips and her supporters on the school board. They should all resign and get out of the way of real progress.
If this 'latest attack' of Rich Hulkow were merely a 'contract issue/problem' then I ask: Why has Linda Bennick not been attacked and pressured and pushed out of this district? I believe they both have a contract by the Good Marks program.
It does not take a PHd to see what this Board and JP are doing. Sharpened up here 'elected officials'. I believe your voter constituents have proven they have brains enough to spot rot!
I personally hold this group of elected officials responsible for some very terrible things that they have allowed 'carpetbagger Phillips' to do to our community, school, kids, staff and image. THANKS....ALOT.
Perhaps had you even looked at the Staff Survey instead of 'making promises' (Yes Vic - we didn't forget) - and backing law suits - and buying flowers to soothe those hurt feelings (fell for that one huh Vic)....Maybe if you had even pretended to listen to the line of speakers beggging you to revisit your 'hurried decision' that you let the 'worst superintendent ever' stuff down your throats....Money savings? Where? Local custodians took 'your' bullet. Ron B. took your bullet. Kathy P. took your bullet. AND MANY MANY OTHERS TOOK YOUR BULLETS. All in the name of: 'this is a volunteer position that has to make hard decisions'. weep weep....
Hard decisions are acceptable only when they are made after much investigation, thought and planning. Firing our 24 custodians was a done deal in the name of 'saving district money'. How much? That's what I thought....no savings. Ron B. and Kathy P. were by far two of the most positive influential staffers at MHS....kicked to the curb - AND WORSE. I hope to someday find forgiveness in my heart for these dirty deeds. Until that day - I watch others being attacked....in the name of savings (once again). Have you forgotten - these people are helping to form the lives of our community's next generation. Bye Bye Marshall Schools...Thanks Joyce and Board! This town will rejoice June 30th!!!!
First "Dr. J" has an EdD not a PhD, not a big deal, it is not a hard program at most universities.
Second she lacks crucial experience (never a Principal) and made no attempt to work with those far more experienced at running an actual school building, such as Ron Behrenwald and Susan Townsend. She tried to mask her inexperience through meanness and raw authoritarian power. She fooled a board of noneducators who thought she knew what she was doing. This same board ignored dozens of their own highly respected and expert staff who warned them that JP did not know what she was doing and was a bad leader. Joyce was never respected or trusted. The result has been five years of bad leadership, huge problems, scandals and coverups. No wonder staff morale and community support are at rock bottom. Now this bad leader and her foolish followers are targeting the highly competent and respected Rich Hulkow. When will enough be enough?
Is the cycle of bad leadership, lost students, lost revenue, more cuts, more lost students, and on and on the future of Marshall?
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20090519/NEWS01/905190316
Randy Davis does not offer much hope. He will have to make big changes to turn things around in Marshall. A real honest, hardworking, cooperative visionary is needed that can regain lost respect and support from the staff and the community. And he would have to do this with the same board majority that backed and propped up Joyce Phillips for five years. Not much hope, expect more of the same.
If the board had done the right thing and removed Joyce Phillips a few years ago, we could have passed the bond and most likely would be adding students and not making cuts.
Boy, are we glad to know this was all caused by the Board and Superintendent. Many actually thought that the Michigan economy could have had a major impact on school districts like Marshall...so thanks to the above posters for setting the record straight. What genius!
The superintendent and the school board have been the main cause of most problems for five years. Read a few hundred posts and talk to as many Marshall schools staff and parents as you can if you want the facts.
I can get the point of both of the above two comments. The economy has made things much worse and not all of the problems in the Marshall schools are the fault of the superintendent and the school board. But it is clear there have been major problems with Superintendent Phillips for a long time and the board has failed to act to fix or replace her for five years. The board has also failed to work effectively with the rest of the Marshall schools staff and many active parents who warned them about the problems and bad decisions they were making. So they do deserve a big part of the blame for the problems. New leadership is needed badly.
To three post above: if all of Marshall's problems are caused by the Michigan economy, why is it that Lakeview is not needing to lay-off any employees in this tough time? (Also did you read today's 5-19 Enquirer article about the Lakeview Board Meeting last night. Cindy Ruble, a real educational leader, is forgoing her pay raise for next year as a way to save money. When is the last time JP did something like that?
Anyone notice there's never been a letter in the newspaper exclaiming about the great job the board and administration have done?
Actually there have been a couple of administrators that people have written about in the paper. None of the top ones have been written about. Can you name who I'm thinking of.
What can I do to lock in a 40% pay raise before there is a much-hyped "pay freeze"? Whose butt can I kiss? I want to be a loyalist too! Do far less work and get praise and large undeserved raises from JP and the board!
Seriously- are any of these very large recent pay raises going to be rolled back?
At minimum Randy Davis should roll his pay back to where Joyce Phillips is today. That would be a small gesture of goodwill as he hopefully attempts to start undoing the damage of the past few years. Joyce received several large raises the last five years so the superintendent raises went up much higher than the staff pay, which was a cut after inflation.
Don't count on R. Davis rolling back his pay. I doubt he seriously knows the depth of the issues at MPS. Remember: he has been acquainted with Dr. Philly through the Superintendent monthly meetings in Calhoun County. Even Cindy Ruble, who is highly respected at Lakeview, was sadly misled by Philly. Remember - she saves those sappy smiles and charm for persons she needs to impress. She does not need to impress those she is stomping on with both of her pointed black shoes..... Only the people suffering under her reign of terror actually understand the depth of deception and harm that has been bombed upon this school district. Over the past 5 years the staff at MPS has hoped beyond hope that we would see the 'good sister'....but this has not happened.
Too bad the School Board has forgotten that the Superintendent works for the Board and not vice versus! Look back at the policy she systematically changed her first year. All policy has been changed to allow her total control of the system employees. (with no fall back plan for the employees - unless of course you TRUST VIC P. TO LISTEN, INVESTIGATE AND SOLVE YOUR STAFF ISSUES. Remember that policy change regarding: Who to go to if you feel you are being harrassed. Remember that chain of command. If Supt. is the culprit - you go to the Board President for resolution. WOW DID THAT ONE WORK FOR HER. Then remember the administrator evaluation process? She changed it to be 'solely the superintendent that evaluates the administrators...so she can give you a bad eval...which she does...then year 2...she can make up issues and guess what - that administrator is history...and the district once again suffers. These adminstrators have no support of the Board since Joyce has changed that policy to "the superintendent has sole authority in the evaluation process of administrators". Are you starting to see how the unidoctor has been able to target, harrass and collect resignations from administrators? They need to find other employment before she ruins their careers. Wow - did she plan that one!!! Too bad the Board let her do this type of damage. I can see 10 years ahead of trying to fix the problems Joyce Phillips has created under the guise of "fixing issues". Now that is an oxymoron if I ever saw one!!!
The Marshall schools have been plagued by self-serving fools for 25 years at the top.
Lou G. ignored elementary parents and the next thing we know we got Marshall Academy. Bob "take the money and run" Currie set up a shady contract for himself and then left after 2 years with $70,000 in "sick" days. This was done by getting the board to agree to $400 per sick day but having it cover his entire career at MPS not just his two years as superintendent. He was definitely worse than Lou G.
Now the current regime of Phillips, Beardslee, Darling, Stulberg and Potter have proven they can be far worse at mismanaging the Marshall schools. They showed us how to force out some of the best staff, reward some of the worst staff, and blow a $35 million bond that would have included a $1.5 million donated recording studio. Yes, they cost us huge damage to the staff, the school's reputation and a vital bond that will affect the outcome of the Marshall schools. Even if a bond is passed in five years it will cost many many millions more to do the same thing. Also the lost time of improvements will likely lead to many more losses of students and programs, perhaps an irreversible loss and downward decline.
Yes, this regime is responsible. They will stay in power and now have found what they must think will be "Joyce Phillips part 2" in Randy Davis. Yes, another "Dr." that lacks crucial experience and from a district glad to be rid of them. Deja vu!
If nobody else runs for the school board, then we all are to blame. John Coulter and Bill DeSmet I trust and think will be very good in the coming years.
I keep hearing that more budget cuts are coming. Supposedly the board did not want to make things look as bad as they are until summer. Marshall could lose another 100 students or more.
Quote from above:
Bob "take the money and run" Currie set up a shady contract for himself and then left after 2 years with $70,000 in "sick" days. This was done by getting the board to agree to $400 per sick day but having it cover his entire career at MPS not just his two years as superintendent. A board member told me he had his contract worded vaguely so the board did not realize what he had planned to do. When he abruptly announced he took another job he then went after his ill gotten shady contract $70,000. The board was furious as they had been cheated by Currie. But Currie did not care and took the money that certainly wasn't justifiably his. Lou G. and Brad Hanes gave themselves a $30,000 "buyout" on their way out the door.
But Joyce Philips has them all beat by a longshot! Besides performance that would have gotten her fired anywhere else, she will get about $20,000 a year in a second Michigan retirement for life, after only five (very bad) years in Michigan!
Yes, the Michigan and Marshall taxpayers are screwed again, this time by the board supporters of Joyce Phillips. This doe not count the unjustified massive raises for some of the worst MPS employees who are loyal to JP (or have dirt on her) and the damage done to our schools from so many scandals and blunders.
Now Randy Davis may be in the middle of a shady contract dispute with Athens similar to what has occurred in Marshall. We deserve much better from our leaders! The Marshall schools have suffered long enough!
To follow up the above with good news. I hesitated to mention these administrators publicly, but the entire staff knows who the "excellent" administrators are:
Susan Townsend- Walters
Tom Hanson- Hughes
Bob Vaught- Marshall Alternative
Rich Hulkow- MHS
Andrea Nessel- MHS
Don't forget to thank these fine leaders and show your support as they persevere under very difficult circumstances. They certainly are all excellent and surely put the best interests of the kids, the parents and the community first!
Those are the good ones. Let me clarify, the "excellent" ones!
Any of them could have made a good superintendent. Bob Vaught should be moved to become the MHS Principal.
The sad part is we do have a strong majority of excellent teachers and as stated above some excellent administrators too! Why then are these excellent staff repeatedly treated with contempt, ignored or worse? Why are some of the mediocre staff treated so well and lavished with such raises and attention? Why is there a lack of cooperation and teamwork? Why do some board members keep insulting the staff and the excellent administrators listed above? Why is there no accountability at the top? Why did Joyce Phillips seem to dislike everyone from day 1? Lots of questions, no good answers.
It didn't surprise me to see Tom Franke endorse Bill DeSmet and write a letter talking about change. He is a great guy and cares about the Marshall schools. I imagine he and Marsha have figured out how bad things are and no longer support Joyce Phillips and the group that runs the board. I do not know of anyone left in town not on the board that will not be happy to see Joyce Phillips depart. Everyone I know wants change and wants big changes! The days of cliques, secrecy, conflict and dishonesty need to end now!
It would be great if Darling, Stulberg, and Potter departed along with their buddies Phillips and Beardslee! More bad reports coming in about Randy Davis, not good!
what details about davis
Someone should ask "Dr." Davis how much of the district's scarce money he spent on the tenure case to force a veteran teacher to retire.
He has very poor relations with his staff, he is uncaring and self-serving, not very experienced running a school, quite clueless about most curriculum areas, definitely a weak candidate. Good luck Marshall!
Mr. Davis is exceptional at increasing student enrollment- unfortunately in other area schools.
The teachers of Athens are glad to see Dr. Davis move to Marshall. The damage done to our schools may lead to Athens High School closing in the next few years. It was not all his fault but he definitely made things much worse with little to no consideration of the consequences. A poor leader who will serve himself first. Do not trust him, he will backstab any teacher for the smallest of reasons.
Continued and absolute rubbish!!!
We will find out soon if we get a (1) great new superintendent (not likely) a (2) Joyce Phillips part 2 (I can't imagine anyone being worse) or the most likely scenario (3) someone who is unimpressive but a little better than Joyce. Expectations are very low considering the same people who are close to Phillips hired him and ignored better candidates.
Lots of speculation and anxiety about what may come. Not much hope or enthusiasm. More cuts too! No bond to get excited about. Gloom and anger is still too high. Any signs of hope at the end of the tunnel?
The new chronicle shows a photo of Joyce Phillips giving a special award to her "good friend" Marsha Franke. No surprise there! This blog has been reporting for years that Marsha F. is one of JP's main backers. One of the main reasons JP was never fired or held accountable for anything. In other words Marsha Franke is a huge part of the problems of the last five years. No friend of the kids or the Marshall schools.
A huge part of the problem...
Might it be that you continue to post your always NEGATIVE posts??? Get a life!!! Get over it!!! Get yourself some help!!!
If Joyce Phillips and the school board do very bad things and make huge mistakes, coverup scandals and harm our schools, then those of us to complain about this are being negative?
I think the people who need help are those harming our schools, kids and community! There is definitely something wrong with Joyce Phillips psychologically- just ask anyone who works with her. There are lots of questions why some board members have done the things they have done- revenge? Stupidity Were they fooled?
Don't blame the messenger! Blame the guilty parties.
In response to two above.
Joyce Phillips and her tiny clique of board members who support her and a few others (Marsha Franke, Georgia Marsh) are combined a failed regime that mismanaged the Marshall schools, or worse, for the last five years.
Since they cannot defend their record they have resorted to insults and trying to blame others for their actions. They want everyone to forget what they have done. If anyone is new to this blog you can read about the last five years in hundreds of posts. You can also talk to any Marshall schools staff member who trusts you enough to speak the truth. Yes, it is very bad! That is the sad truth!
When will they act on the Mr. Hulkow contract issue? What is the real story behind what is happening? I heard something about Dan Stulberg being mad about an old girls basketball coaching dispute.
"If anyone is new to this blog you can read about the last five years in hundreds of posts."
Most of which have been written by a handful of malcontents...
This is the very first time of posting on here. Have been a regular reader and I am a school employee. Please believe that it is much more than a "handful of malcontents" and as has been said repeatedly ask any one connected to the schools if we are better off than five years ago. then ask them WHY.
Maybe they view 99% of the staff as a "handful." Maybe they view the majority of the people of Marshall who are involved with the schools as a "handful."
We would have to question the 99% of staff referenced above, more than likely it must be closer to 1%...we would think with that kind of elevated number that staff would have spoken out, made their message known during the Dr. J years and not have been led like lambs to slaughter. Where was your union during all of this? They must not have considered your complaints factual or meaningful, or certainly if it was/is as horrible as you claim, they would have come to your rescue??? Sounds like sour grapes to us, put your time to better use...and teach. "For the Kids"
I know this poster has it in for teachers. The jealousy comes through. Having never taught they think it's easy.
I'm not a teacher. Just someone who thinks the system has been mismanaged. There is no vision and there is no plan. We have no identifying strength. The school system has even become a liability against economic growth.
Board members are among my friends, but they should be ashamed.
So too, the MTA and any parent who hasn't spoken out publicy and personally. The super has cut classes and programs and we are still in a mess. Now we have no money and no academic excellence.
Marshall students are average. That's damning in this economy.
from everything said in all the post about how things were mismanaged by joyce phillips as well as the board members for some 5 years now i don't understand why so many post comments on this blog but yet not 1 person in the 5 years all this mismanagment has been going on has done anything for a recall to end things before it had gotten as bad and joyce phillips was given a 2nd retirement. so much from parents, teacher or community to think kids first or something would have been done to put a stop to it instead of waiting until she is gone then have so much to say. wont be long until marshall schools will be as bad as a few others in the area and crime rate will be way up the kids wont be taught from a book they will learn from a thug showing how to make a living selling and corrupting others to use drugs, how to hold a gun and fire. wont be long marshall will be part of "little detroit" battle creek.
I also saw in the paper the photo and article about Joyce Phillips and Marsha Franke. Did Marsha Franke really put Joyce Phillips up for free when she came to Marshall in one of their condos? Is Marsha Franke not only a supporter but one of the leaders, along with Georgia Marsh, of the clique that runs the school board (Stulberg, Potter, Darling, Beardslee, Webb)?
Marsha was a former assistant superintendent who was passed over for the promotion and then quit to marry Tom Franke, one of the wealthiest men in Marshall. I was shocked to see Tom endorse Bill DeSmet. I hope they are sincere in switching sides and not trying to co-opt Mr. DeSmet when they saw he was going to win. The Marshall school board majority has been very secretive and shady the last four years. Suspicion is that they had a hit list when Joyce arrived and used her to carry out all the bad things that happened.
No matter what anyone says, things are not good and there needs to be big changes for the better. So far the big changes of the last few years have mostly been for the worst.
The Frankes are very close to Joyce Phillips and seem very supportive of everything she has done. If they feel otherwise I have neither seen or heard any evidence. Many think their support is why the board never held JP accountable for anything. I wish it wasn't so.
To above poster who accuses writer of "Most of which have been written by a handful of malcontents..."
1) 2400+ registered voters signed petitions to 'keep local custodians working in the schools'.
2) 152 or 270+ school employees (in 2006) participated in the staff survey which pointed out 'huge problems/issues' with Phillips
3) EPIC survey (cost $16,500) reiterated what the staff survey results were: Phillips 1.4% out of 5%...identifying huge problems with superintendent and why this community would not support a bond while top leadership was in place. How many households participated in this survey...I did!
4) Huge support for R. Behrenwald while Phillips was attacking him under false pretense
As I recall the past five years (the historic down spiral of MPS - thanks Joyce and Board) I ask you - does this sound like a 'handful of malcontents'. I would more correctly say: Our Board is a handful who repeatedly pretend all is well thus making statements like: "just a handful of malcontents". Get a life....and come up with something to say that has at least some credibility. Just because you say it does not make it true. There are huge numbers backing the efforts since 2006 to "help this Board to see what is really going on at MPS"....while this Board continues to pretend it is only a 'handful of malcontents'.
Get your heads out of the sand...there is daylight and truth out here!!!!
The board has known everything about all of the problems in the schools. Their response- get Joyce Phillips flowers, extend her contract three years and cover up all of her many lies and scandals. Joyce is also an incompetent leader who has made many dumb blunders. No surprise, she has never even been a principal before. Now we just hired someone else with a similar lack of qualifications and experience.
The board is made up of a bunch of local citizens who most likely have no idea how to run a school district. They feel they need to take a "hard line" against the teachers and support staff. Several have stated things like "we need to get people to do their jobs" or "we need to fix what is broken."
Unfortunately this does not apply to Joyce Phillips or a group of her highly rewarded and protected close associates. They need to do the opposite, take a hardline against bad administrators like Joyce Phillips and fix problems and not ("break") make them worse. Only a fool would ignore the entire staff and side with someone like JP. There are many on staff far more deserving of a 40% pay increase than Charlie MacDonald.
I checked the MPS web site looking for board minutes from when they voted to pursue action against Mr. Hulkow in May in a "sneaky, under the radar" meeting. They have no board minutes posted since March. Is that what the tech director got a 40% raise for?
I also noticed no board meeting the last week of May, did they only have one known public meeting in May and the sneaky meeting with their lawyer? Something shady is up!
I think they prefer unannounced meetings with the lawyer that turn into "public" board meetings where they can take action in a sneaky way. Watch, they will backstab Coach Hulkow as soon as they think it will receive minimum publicity and attention. Also don't blame Charlie for the web site not being updated very well, you know his job is almost all delegated to others. ;)
Are they still planning to remove Mr. Hulkow from either his AD job or as head football coach? Or both?
From previous posts:
"sneaky, under the radar"
"Are they still planning to remove Mr. Hulkow from either his AD job or as head football coach? Or both?"
We agree, lets have more open, truthful, and honest communication between staff, administration and the public (i.e., the TAXPAYER). We think it would be very helpful if the total amount of the retirement benefit package being afforded to AD, Coach, Principal, Good-Guy Hulkow was made public. Most posters on this blog seem to be concerned about what Dr J will be taking with her when she retires. We would also be just as interested in what Hulkow will cost the Marshall Public Schools now and in the future. Transparency, "Try it, you might like it".
I don't know of anyone who opposes making anyone's pay and benefits made public. Actually I think this information is public anyway if anyone wants to look into it.
Also in comparison (Hulkow) to Joyce Phillips, their overall impact on the Marshall schools is night and day. Rich Hulkow has had an enormously positive impact on the Marshall schools for over 25 years. Is he perfect? No, nobody is, but overall he has done a great job. Joyce Phillips on the other hand has had an enormously negative effect on the Marshall schools, our kids, reputation, trust, support and the community. At the same time she has not been held accountable for things she did that were blunders, foolish ideas, bad for the schools and possibly illegal and unethical actions too. So lets be open and honest and discuss these issues. On that, we are on the same side!
I would also be interested to know what it would cost to hire a new head football coach that does a tremendous job, a new athletic director that does at least as good of a job and a new assistant principal that is actually on site many evenings, weekend and entire days when the other two principals are not on site. My guess to cover all three with first tier talent will cost at least $150,000 per year!
Great facts above thank you. When I moved to Marshall I repeatedly heard the phrase "Marshall sees through rose colored glasses". Well let me tell you....you can not continue to put your heads in the sand and believe what a Board tells you and not delve into a fact finding expedition on your own. I am in total agreement on two statements: I would safely guess $150,000 to replace Hulk with staffers to be available and do what Coach does. You will not often go into the high school without seeing Rich...weekend, evenings included. Now, nice people they may be...Nessel and Klochak...try to find them! Ron was also very visible as well as Ray Davis! Rich has given the students of MPS a huge portion of "coach, counselor, advisor - positive role model". It would cost this district a hefty sum to replace his positions....BUT YOU WON'T EVER REPLACE HULK THE PERSON.
Any staff member who has given 25+ years to Marshall is deserving of his 'well deserved pension'.
Joyce K. Phillips on the other hand: Will leave NO positive legacy with this district or with EVEN ONE STUDENT. (correct me if you are aware of one student she has made a positive impact on). She is not leaving MPS in a better spot than when she carpet bagged into our community. She will leave - hard feelings, hurt property values, emotional and physical personal damage - (and worse), a financial mess, a ruined organization, lost programs, defeated bonds, a totally messed up cleaning/maintenance program, and very fluffed egos of those incompetents...who hopefully will be easily spotted by the new supt.
There has been so much damage, allowed by this board, I am not sure if anyone can find a way out of the mess one incompetent individual from Indiana has caused! Let's look to Indiana for guidance. I am sure from speaking to that district they are still undoing the good doctor's mess!
The Harper Creek Community Schools Board of Education continued efforts to lessen a projected $750,000 budget deficit by laying off the high school and middle school assistant principal positions on Tuesday.
Dr. J and the Marshall School Board must be at fault...
If Harper cuts assistant Principals, could Marshall do the same? If Hulkow is cut, will his AD duties then go to Principals? Will Nessel and Klochack be expected to be around most nights and weekends to fill the void? How has custodial privatization worked in Marshall? Does it save as lot of money? Are there any problems?
No, the administration and board cut programs to force out teachers they don't like. That's their style.
You are right, most changes I know of were politically/personally targeted at certain individuals or groups. Very sleazy politics at stake. Now they are doing the same thing to Coach Hulkow. Lots of lies and secrecy surrounding their actions. No wonder nobody trusts the board or the superintendent, with one exception- John Coulter.
Bill DeSmet will join John Coulter so we will have at least two good board members. The best thing that can be said about Randy Davis is that he is a change from Joyce Phillips- we hope. I hate to say it but Mr. Hulkow will likely be gone. Once JP and her board targets someone they go all out. No mercy. Other areas of the budget will get cut first, the huge raises for the tech director and others are safe, albeit undeserved and grossly out of proportion to the job or their performance.
I was saddened to see that Dale Rosene and Jim and Judy Unruh are retiring. There goes 3-4 decades of "excellence" out the door! Good luck and thanks for your hard work for the kids over your many years!
The Marshall schools may never been again what they once were!
"The Marshall schools may never be again what they once were!"
Many of the best are gone. The administration and board do more harm than good.
The community has lost trust and respect.
MHS has gone from being the best in the county to in need of repairs and falling apart in places.
Very nice to see Vic is still posting here.....9:02 a.m. above.
Did you also read in the article? "combining the position of Asst. Principal and Athletic Director/Coach?" Looks like we already saved money in Marshall combining several positions under Hulk's umbrella! How quickly people forget when staff members save the district money. Rich has done this repeatedly. Don't forget how Mr. Hulkow raises huge funding to keep the Athletics alive and well in Marshall. Too bad these funds get robbed and used in other places! Great job Hulk. You deserve much better treatment than you have gotten for the past 3.5 years.
I've figured that it's either Dan or someone else posting from the board. If they(Harper's) were good administrators, maybe Joyce and the board did have something to do with Harper getting rid of them. The good ones tend to be the only ones that Joyce and crew tend to go after. The leave the bad(loyal) ones in place.
Why do Marshall school politics always seem so bizzarre?
because for many years everything that happened in marshall stayed in marshall under the carpet and now that everyone who is normal and not some rich snob has had enough and started bringing things out and finally decided it was time to step up and work for the kids just sad it was to late to make a difference and get a recall together to keep joyce from a 2nd retirement as well as investigated for the **** she has done illegally and covered up by the board of education.
If you want to see some fun this evening, show up to the budget workshop at 7:00pm at the Middle School. I was also told that there is a 5:00pm executive session too. This is probably where they all have to get their stories straight so that when they go public, they'll all have the same line that JKP spews.
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20090529/NEWS01/905290313
It looks like more big cuts coming soon!
Why did they hire outside consultants to lay out budget options that should be obvious to any school leader or board member? Is this PR so it looks like the decisions were made by someone else? Do they think we can't figure out what is happening? Is this another waste of money?
Its nice to see there is a scholarship fund in memory of Kathy Petrich. What if she had been treated with the resepct and support she deserved by Joyce Phillips and the school board? She may still be with us today teaching choir! And some wonder why there is so much anger?
BC Enquirer article mostly focuses on kindergarten assignments.
The community is fed up with mismanagement, lies and phony PR campaigns too!
We need real cooperation and teamwork!
We need honesty, open communication and trust.
We need good competent leaders. We need school board members who are wise, honest, trustworthy (even by staff!) and work in the best interests of our schools and community.
We need change!
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20090530/NEWS01/905300305/1002/NEWS01/Parents++students+remain+in+limbo
This will not happen with Vic, Dan, Janice and Ali. They have made no changes for the better or learned from the errors of their ways. They have lost all trust and respect. Annette unfortunately has not done much for the better either. John and Bill are our best hope, but two against five cannot do much. Randy Davis by all indications will be a slightly nicer Joyce Phillips clone.
Has the superintendent or the board done anything to reach out to the students and Marshall Academy?
Marshall academy is plagued by a weird dictatorial leader, a high turnover of teachers and does not offer near what the Marshall schools offers. Maybe adopt the few good ideas the academy offers, such as uniforms (actually a dress code), and see if we can recruit back many of the students of disaffected parents. There should also be a reach out to homeschooler too. These kids need to be in real schools, especially after about 2nd grade.
Joyce Phillips doesn't reach out to her own staff, why would she bother to try to attract more students to the district? You can be sure she enjoys the cuts and notice how there is no negative affect on her money or that of her few loyalists? Even Charlie's 40% raise will not be touched.
The board is counting on teachers taking a "pay freeze" or face much bigger cuts. This may include a step freeze, which could cost a young teacher $20,000-$30,000 over the next decade. The goal of Joyce Phillips and the Board is to play teachers against one another in a very cold cruel and calculated way. Are the big pay raises for JP loyalists being cut? Is JP's second Michigan retirement being cut? What all of the waste JP approved or covered up? What have the legal bills been the last five years? Reports are in excess of $500,000!
I do not see the teachers taking a pay freeze after all of the waste and big raises at the top. The problems at the top need to be fixed before the teachers make big sacrifices. The board needs to fire Joyce Phillips for justice sake and to save the money from the 2nd retirement first. She is the last one in the district to deserve an extra $20,000 per year for life! So plan on much bigger cuts coming this summer.
Running unopposed, Georgia will be re-elected to the ISD board today.
She had to file petitions by May 4, so it was always Plan B.
You can be sure Georgia will still play a role running the Marshall schools with her friends Marsha H/F, JP, Dan, Janice, Vic and Ali. I am quite sure they will explain to Randy Davis what is expected of him and to follow their direction if he wants protection and large pay raises.
That sure is their game. Remember their famous "Kids First" slogan not long ago. Staff and students got a real big kick out of that. What a joke.
Any bets as to which day Dr. J and the board meet to backstab Rich Hulkow? You know they have to hurry so JP and Paul get to join in the fun. Why does this feel like a lynch mob? Maybe because we all know it is about personal revenge and not anything else?
Good analogy, it was a lynch mob that went after Ron Behrenwald, Kathy Petrich, the custodians and many others. The majority did not deserve the treatment they received. Most trusted the board before they were betrayed. Anything in confidence taken to say Paul or Vic was quickly taken to Joyce P. and the others. The only one I trust currently on the board is John Coulter. But even then you must be careful as he may tell one of the others and your name could end up on their target list. Kiss up and do squat, and you too can get a 40% raise! Yes, this has all happened and as outlandish as it sounds it is very true! How pathetic, Marshall should be much better than this. Shouldn't it? Good luck Bill, we are hoping you will join John as one of the good leaders. Randy Davis if you are reading this we hope you turn out good too!
The disgrace here is this: Board members have been aware of the mistreatment of staff members by Joyce. Paul - shame on you. You are the one that advised Ron B. to take his concern to the Board meeting in June 2007 regarding the inconsistencies in the MPS hiring process. Solution: JKP hired (when our budget was very tight) a HR Generalist...yes just someone to take the bullet, if needed, during Joyces reign of terror. Once Ron B. took his concerns to the Board meeting....Joyce stepped in and severly reprimanded Ron B....wrote him up....his career was then in the crapper as Joycie had already had school policy changed to make sure she could sabotage any administrator's career if they stepped out of 'her' line twice. What a lose for our Kids. What a lose for the high school staff. What a lose for this school district. On a positive note: Cedar Springs superintendent has 'gushed' about the positive changes in the atmosphere at the high school during Ron B.'s short time. The staff has come together...the students have shown a very positive trend. How is it that the Marshall board of education allowed one crappy supt. to cause this much damage to our school district? How is it that the Marshall board of education allowed Joyce to attack the best choir teacher MPS has ever seen. Kathy Petrich was attacked, pursecuted, personally and professionally. The Board was aware of this. The Board did nothing. How about all the others that the Board has knowingly allowed Joyce to attack? How is it with the policy in place of 'harrassment - if the superintendent is the attacker...you are to take your problem to the Board President....yeah Vic...who then promptly, always went back to Joyce with the issue and the staff members name....thus allowing her to attack these staff members who were following the chain of command.... There is no policy in place for staff members being attacked by the supt. Do you think Joycy just changed that policy to better the school....NO...THIS POLICY WAS CHANGED FOR HER MISUSE OF STAFF MEMBERS. What about the personnel being kicked to the curb this summer? Central Office is losing Karla Bivens - probably the most gracious individual to work in that office ever. Then there are the media professionals....these are not just people earning paychecks. These are caring, wonderful individuals who are influencing our students on a daily basis.....helping to form young lives.
Now---just to put this into prospective...those receiving pay increases in excess who do not have student contact: Joyce, Charlie MacDonald, Mike Walbeck, Frank.....
Is there something wrong with this picture. I hope Randy Davis does read this. I hope he has the kahunas to seek out staff members for the truth about what has been happening at MPS. I hope he sees the 'problem issues' for himself and not follow this 'misinformed board'.
This past 5 years has been historically the worst ever for MPS. Let's hope and pray for the RIGHT CHANGES. I still feel this can only happen by getting rid of Vic Potter, Dan Stulberg, Janny Darling - what's her last name now,
Dr. Davis: please remember - the School Board has been tainted. Please seek out your staff in a positive effort for positive change. Change is about a new superintendent seeking the staff and working with them....not seeking the board and working against the staff.
One correction, the board did not allow these things to happen, they ordered these things to happen! Joyce doesn't have a clue who most of the staff are. The creepy clique running the board (most, not all, of the board) are the ones ordering the attacks on the staff. They are still fighting old anti-Lou, anti-Redskin, anti-Hulkow, and whatever other personal battles of years gone by.
I used to think it was all Mrs. Phillips and the board was just naive. But it is obvious now it is the other way around, the board directed her as to who to target and what to do. You are right, why would she have it in for so many people she doesn't even know? Now it makes sense why she was never fired.
Then why is a recall not happening? I always vote at school elections. I have finally concluded the current board members do not want to hear from the voters/taxpayers even though they publically state they do. My last call to a board member left me wondering why that board member threw a childish fit upon the defeat of the bond. I will not contact again. If you cannot share opinion with a board member then my question is: Are they serving the public that elected them or are they serving themselves? If the later is true - and in my case it is - then this school board is not operating under the Michigan Association of School Board members code which would be a condition for recall. Let's get moving community....Paul is out...let's give John and Bill some support and get them some individuals who do not have personal issues but rather want to address the issues of the community members that elected them.
I have spent every morning this week prior to getting ready for work reading this blog. I have many, many friends that work at MPS. My simple question: Why has a recall not happened yet? Why has Joyce Phillips not been removed yet? Why was she not prosecuted for the 'sending the maintenance guys' out to fix the air conditioner at the VanWormer home (for Linda Bennick - renter) on the school time clock with school equipment? The only answer I can come up with is: The best liar gets away with everything. I guess I know who the best liar in town may be!
It helps if those in on the corruption are also those responsible for enforcing accountability. The school board is in on everything so of course they will not do anything to solve the problems they created. They will also do whatever is necessary to cover up wrongdoing!
Even if John Coulter wanted to do something the majority would block him. The regime includes at least five board members. Until they are gone nothing will get better. Expect the same with Randy Davis.
You are right! The problems go way beyond Dr. Phillips.
Congratulations Sue Flanders Marshall Teacher of the Year!
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20090605/NEWS01/906050313/1002/NEWS01/Marshall+names+its+teacher+of+the+year
Marshall has a great teaching staff despite what Joyce Phillips and some of our board members say.
Should the teachers take a pay freeze after huge raises of up to 40% were given out in recent years to top loyalists of Joyce Phillips and a big raise was given to incoming superintendent Randy Davis?
Shouldn't these outrageous raises be rolled back first BEFORE negotiations start with the teachers? At minimum the board should go back five years, see what each position made, give the same raises the teachers got for five years and then that is what they should be making at most!
Yes, I know some of these people should be fired for bad performance but try explaining that to the board that is in denial about how little some of these people actually do. The teachers know the truth.
I am surpriaed that there is not more discussion on here about the reduction in class sections. I hear that Gordon will only have 1 section of kindergarten and 1st grade next year, or maybe people don't care about this!!!
One of the greatest ironies in the entire mess that has become Marshall Public Schools is the total lack of connectedness to its rich history on the part of the current administration. As I understand it the high school principal has taken it upon himself to discourage certain harmless end-of-the-year traditions on the part of seniors. This has, I am sure, earned him a great deal of admiration and respect from the students and the community. But apparently he does not even get what he is trying to do.
Does anyone if the reason Brian Burns will no longer be working at the school, is it his choice, or because the administration decided to eliminate the lunch room supervisor position.? This will be a tremendous loss, and in no way balance out the small amount of money saved. My guess is that the tradition of Class Night may not continue much longer.
The editorial in Thursday's Enquirer was interesting. A good part of the reason the Marshall no longer as a competitive speech activities program is because the current administration really had no idea regarding the history of that program or what was needed to continue it. Last year no one ever bothered to ask the retiring debate and individual events teacher to be part of the interview process for the selection his replacement. That is,of course because neither the superintendent nor the high school principal probably had any idea what the history of that program even was.
At the retirement reception last year, The Good Dr. Phillips simply read the names of the retiring teachers, stated when they started working at Marshall, and what they had taught. They were not even asked to come to the front to be recognized, nothing specific was said about any of them. As someone who retired recently from another district, where we were given a great deal of recognition and appreciation for our service, I was shocked at the time.
If the current administrative team had bothered to connect with the teaching staff, and view them as a valuable resource instead of the enemy; imagine how much different things might be right now.
The current regime could care less about the many examples of the "rich tradition of excellence" in the Marshall schools. Do you think Vic cares? Or Janice? Or Dan? or Paul? or newcomers Ali or Annette? I think John Coulter does but he is just one lone voice. I bet they are glad to see Dale Rosene and the Unruhs leave, all of that dedication and competence is disgusting in their view. Look at the idiots, the very few, who they reward with big raises and protection despite incompetence? I rest my case.
The staff have given up trying to work with JP and the board after four years of hostility and disrespect.
In response to three above, not only do the current leaders not know about the excellence in the history of the Marshall schools, they don't care! Mrs. Phillips was incompetent from the start and had no interest in learning about how to lead effectively or work with those that actually knew how to run a school building. Then she duped the board into thinking she did know what she was doing and started scapegoating everyone else to make herself look better in their eyes. She was in way over her head but demanded blind loyalty and support for bad decisions and foolish policies from the building principals and staff. That is the root cause of the last five years of problems The school board backed the wrong side and that is why it was tolerated and festered far longer than it should have been. The damage has been deep and wide and everyone but Mrs. Phillips is a loser in this mess.
"This has, I am sure, earned him a great deal of admiration and respect from the students and the community."
After re-reading my post, I realized that some people might not understand that that sentence was suppose to be sarcastic--I am sure it did not earn him anything but more disrespect from the students, who, as I understand it, cannot stand their principal. How sad.
Here is a very inspiring article about the retirement of Rev. Weeldreyer's father. It is so sad that Marshall could not have had a leader like he was.
http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2009/06/mattawan_bids_farewell_to_reti.html
oops, I do not know why the entire link did not copy.
It should be:http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2009/06/mattawan_bids_farewell_to_reti.htm
The first wave of big cuts come down at tonight's board meeting 6-8-09. Another big wave is likely later in the summer or fall. You can expect Coach Hulkow forced out of at least one of his areas of responsibility. Look at how the cuts affect class size and programs. Students may be moved around to other schools too. So far no word on any cuts to the big raises the small clique of Joyce loyalists and her replacement have received. Not even the 40% pay raise the tech director got is being discussed.
If we had good management things would not be nearly as bad.
"The Marshall Board of Education will meet Monday, June 8, 2009 at Marshall Middle School Community Room at 7:00 p.m. for its regularly scheduled meeting"
Please come if you have any questions or concerns. The board agenda is on the Marshall schools web site:
http://www.marshall.k12.mi.us
If you look at the agenda there is time for public comments on the budget. There is also a reference to a 1 year contract for a 6-12 AD and a head football coach, did they agree to let Mr. Hulkow stay in these positions for another year? Will he still be an assistant MHS Principal? If not, does that mean Mr. Klochack and Mrs. Nessel will have to start covering after school, nights, activities and weekends?
What are other areas of concern?
Marshall needs a new school board that serves the best interests of the schools and the kids!
We can keep John Coulter and incoming Bill DeSmet and then replace all the others. Yes, Annette and Ali have gone to the "dark side" and there is no proof they are anything but allies or dupes of the other group. Until there is real change at the top, nothing will improve. All trust, support and respect has been lost by this failed clique in charge.
Are children still banned from walking past Dr. Phillips office at MHS? Was it because some walked by when she stepped in the hall to fart and they laughed at her?
Oops, MMS!
"The good doctor" Phillips (sense the sarcasm) has always been hostile to everyone in the schools- teachers, support staff and the students. Then she puts on her phony southern charm to go have lunches at Schulers or the Rotary with town business and city leaders. She did have many fooled into thinking she knows what she is doing or is not all bad. But those who still support her are a tiny minority. Unfortunately they include most on the school board. Now it looks like we will get more of the same with "doctor" Davis.
in response to three above, that can be a metaphor to what she did to the entire district. Actually it was much worse.
Remember when Amy Jones was caught in a "compromising position" late at night with contractor Josh in her office at MMS?
Did JP and the board fire her? No, they fired the custodians instead for reporting it! Then they covered it up and gave Amy a big raise.
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