Interesting find on the MEA webpage - It's from their online magazine "MEA Voice"
Look at page 15 - Feature column on privatization of the Marshall custodians.
http://mea.org/voice/2009Sept/62AC8D517E82CF48BE494CCBC31C6FFC/index.html
Thoughts??
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«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 400 of 906 Newer› Newest»I can tell you that Darling, Potter, Stulberg and Beardslee lost a lot more than 10% of their business for their extreme actions against the schools and in support of corrupt and incompetent leaders. I hope someone wrote them a big check to cover their losses. Janice alone lost hundreds of dollars just from my own desire to quit supporting her business.
Gosh, you aren't going to believe this, but we have the same name.
But to improve on your thoughts, why don't we try time, materials and RESULTS for determining salaries, benefits and retirement? With the number of students graduating from K-12 that can't read, write or add 2+2, then somebody sure isn't providing an acceptable product. Just because one has umpteen degrees, doesn't make one a better teacher. Higher salary compensation, doesn't make one a better teacher. Receiving what one does get because one belongs to a union, has tenure, and a contract doesn't make one a better teacher.
The taxpayers are not receiving an acceptable return on their investment. The results just aren't as advertised! Don't believe it, your friend Obama does.
Anonymous
The union rights are all gone. Engler took away most tenure protection and the right to strike. The superintendent and the board can impose anything they want on the teachers.
So guess what's coming next? Ha ha! The teachers will lose no matter what!
after reading this blog, i decided to look at the school year budget...why does the board of education cost 80-90 thousand a year? i thought that if you were on the school board, it was a voluntary postion? are the people on the school board getting paid to be on the board? can someone answer this for me?
Congratulations Coach Hulkow and the entire MHS football team on your great victory over Detroit Country Day!
I hope that Dan, Paul, Vic and Janice quit trying to get you fired and quit talking trash about you behind your back. Thanks for hanging in there against great opposition from this band of fools.
By agreeing to "retire" and get hired back under contract, Coach Hulkow has saved the Marshall Schools about $20,000+ per year in benefits and retirement costs. He has done an outstanding job and puts in more hours most weeks at MHS than Klochack and Nessel do combined.
Isn't that about how much Joyce Phillips gets each for her undeserved "2nd Michigan retirement"? Now if Janice, Vic, Paul and Dan didn't fall over themselves giving her raises and protecting her form being held accountable for her actions, that money could have been saved for Michigan schools.
If the 'Bulk's' purported compensation package, in excess of $125,000 a year, is anywhere near true then he should be spending a whole lot more time there.
Remember this tidbit from "Support Coach Hulkow" on Facebook?
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=app_2373072738&gid=75636908565#/group.php?v=wall&gid=75636908565
“Kim Hulkow, He's a great family man too, right uncle Rich? What's it been now, 20 years since you have had any contact with your three nieces? Once my dad died, your brother, you and uncle Steve just forgot about us. No contact at all, you just left us. Say hi to Aunt Lynn for me too! So much for family bonds. September 14 at 10:14am • Report”
That's a gross exaggeration. Now Randy Davis makes that or more with perks and benefits. Is he worth it? Was Joyce Phillips worth it? Was Bryan Metcalf worth it? Or Amy Jones?
Hey - the root of the problem. Administrator salaries are very high for a district this size. We have employees being paid during the summer when there are no kids in the buildings. How do you like the 'school bus garage - paying 3 full time salaries' all summer while there are not students. Stop down to the City/School shared bus garage....it is one of their school jokes....how much money does the district waste on Wally Beck during the summer...and no one EVER sees him. The city crew thinks the school is pretty stupid not to look into this guy!!!! So - still the people are waiting for the right cut backs...still waiting!
How would you view an organization that made its employees pay for management's blunders?
None of this is part of the schools public relations drive... who authorized this web site... we need to focus on the new superintendent... everythign has changed... quit talking about negative or old things... Mr. Behrenwald, Mrs. Townsend and Ms. Petrich left on their own.. What scandals? Where's the proof?... that's being looked into... let's all unite for uniting sake... the teachers are happy... do you get more "excellence" by raising or lowering the bar?... lets not talk about recent raises... Cuts are coming... we can do what we want because we have all the power... oops, that was not supposed to be said publicly... don't worry be happy!
The views of your MPS board leaders
Why do they want to fire Coach Hulkow? To save money by hiring someone cheaper?
Doesn't he do three jobs at MHS- AD, Asst. Principal and Head football coach? Isn't true after school and on weekends he is usually the only MHS administrator on site? It seems you would have to hire two or three people to replace him. Plus he has a legendary record as a football coach.
What about "the Bulk's" main money man Athletic Booster Doug Jackson? Is it true he lost his license to practice as a CPA? Somethings up.
Dough Jackson has worked hard raising lots of money through Bingo for Marshall athletics. But he can be very difficult to work with and with Frank Boley moving out of the business he started you know something went very wrong. Yes I have heard many of the same rumors as above. Not sure about the facts.
If you have questions about Doug and Frank, call them up and ask them yourself. As far as this week, let's all get behind the Redhawks and show our support for the team at Williamston to beat Marine City at 1:00pm. Redhawk Nation let's get it together and show the rest of the state how we can rally around our kids!
I support Mr. Hulkow and he was a great coach back when I played in the 90s. I hope everyone appreciates all he has done for Marshall Athletics.
No one has said jack about benefits. Teacher benefits are wonderful and there may be some that are working 70hrs a week, but every week for all 35 weeks they teach? Doubt it. Tremendous amount of time, including 2 weeks at winter, a week a spring and 12 weeks in summer. Plus, I don't see many teachers hanging around after school, so how you are coming up with teachers working 14 hours a day, every day for 5 days during the week is beyond me. And if you are counting coaches: 1. They get paid extra 2. they work long hours in season only. Bottom line, teachers should be thankful for what they have--ave salary that is ranked 4th in the nation, but systems that are not putting out the 4th best educated kids. See below.
http://www.mackinac.org/article.aspx?ID=11098
So if Marshall wins this coming week, then it is on to Ford Field?
Yes, if they win this weekend, they will be playing at Ford Field on Friday at 7:30pm, Thanksgiving weekend. Go Redhawks!
In reply to three above I have no idea where they get that Michigan's "average" teachers make over $58,000 per year! In Marshall the "average" teacher makes about $45,000 per year. So it must be somewhere in the state there are many school districts paying their teachers $100,000 per year or more. Then again the "Mackinac Center" is a far right-wing DeVoss funded group that would like to see the pay and benefits of all workers cut and bigger tax cuts and "corporate welfare" for the wealthiest people in the state, like the DeVoss's and their friends who fund it.
Now administrative salaries in Marshall have skyrocketed! Because Joyce Phillips was able to get 5 years and buy five years she will get about $20,000/year for life from Michigan. This was caused by a bad law that allows it (waste!) and a board that did not remove her for just reasons early on. That does not count the over $550,000+ in pay she received for five years of bad service and scandals.
So it seems as if this is a case of people at the top wanting more and wanting to take more away from the people at the bottom. That is the main reason the :Mackinac Center" exists, it is connected to the far right wing of the Republican party, hardly a reliable or unbiassed source.
Go Redhawks!
The teacher pay issue is designed to divert attention from all of the management failures and waste of the last five years. The Marshall teachers have received pay increase far below inflation for years. For what they do, the vast majority are NOT overpaid, most are in fact underpaid.
Get ready, because you're going to be MORE underpaid, real soon. Believe it!!!
if you are complaining about the education your children are receiving now, how good do you think it will be when you cut the teachers pay and benefits? i'm sure some will be looking to seek employment elsewhere if that happens. again, i ask, who do you think will come to our schools to be an excellent teacher for substandard pay? last time, you just said quit your trash talking about phillips and that i'm saying the same crap over and over (which is really funny b/c that was the first time i've posted on here)without addressing the question. why don't you answer the question instead of screaming 10% cuts, 10% cuts!! who will want to contuine to be employed, or seek new enployment with MPS if you slash their pay and benefits 10%? if you really think giving the teachers a pay cut right now will benefit our schools, then you are crazy!! that's the nicest way i can say it. i really hope you don't do that, and then expect the same community to pass your bond. i mean, look how well it worked last year when you fired all the custodians...
Randy Davis' previous school district update:
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20091117/NEWS01/311170009/Athens+schools+to+close+a+building
Is Marshall next?
marshall is ranked 233 out of 625 schools in the state. according to schooldigger.com, also gordon elemantary, MMS, and MHS are ranked 4 out of 5 stars. i just had a conference last week, and am extremely pleased with the results and with the teachers. i think my child is getting a very good education in the MPS school system and want the teachers to know that there are people out there who support you and don't think you deserve pay cuts that the school board is threatening! keep up the good work!
It could be worse. We can save money by turning the Marshall Schools over to a local charter school company and letting a wingnut local dentist call all the shots! ;)
A friend worked there and said it was an awful place to teach. Most of their teachers want out if they can find a better job- anywhere! The state should cut funding to the charter schools. Most of the money is NOT being spent on the kids or the schools. It is highly profitable as they offer squat and pay little. Just slick PR that they are a "traditional values" (which is their excuse to be el cheapo) school, so they pick up the kids of burned out homeschool moms and people who are fearful of their kids going to public school after listening to Rush Limbaugh and Fox news.
My now, isn't that refreshing, highly profitable?
Our hope is that those empowered to do so, make cuts to overpaid and underworked teachers salaries, benefits and retirement packages. Then maybe the public school system, as we know it, won't find it necessary to continually operate at a deficit.
Don't put that resume away, you might just need it when you apply for a postion at the Charter School.
The biggest problems in US education are at home and in the culture. The countries that outscore US students have different cultures and more often than not stronger families. Also they do not make fun of smart students calling them geeks and dorks. They show far more respect for their elders, their teachers, each other, etc. I know, I have lived overseas. Look at the high percentage of smart and bright people keeping our country at the forefront of business, medicine and technology, many are foreign born or their parents are. Calhoun County has one of the highest divorce and broken family rates in the country. The 20% poorest are having 40% of the kids. There is only so much you can do with kids who are unprepared or unmotivated to learn. The schools can do little about these problems which are only getting worse.
That's unfortunately true! We have some great kids and parents but way too many problems and distractions. Learning is not valued the way it should be. We have too many people who do not care.
A $29 million bond, what will it include? What should it include? What can be done to help it pass?
MHS needs a huge amount of work. If you do not believe take a slow walk through MHS. Then drive over to Lakeview, Harper and Pennfield and take a slow walk through them. It's embarrassing.
The long history of nasty political infighting and self-serving leaders running the Marshall schools make it difficult to rebuild community trust and support. I am surprised any bonds have passed in the last decade.
For above poster:
"self-serving leaders running the Marshall schools"
Your comment is proof that you are a JERK!!!
Go Redhawks, beat Marine City!!!
To two above I agree with three above. Here is a few reasons why...
Lou G. among other things gave himself and Brad Haines a $30,000 "buyout" each the year they were both going to retire anyway.
Bob Currie somehow claimed that all of his unused sick days from a roughly 20 year career should be paid out at the rate of "Superintendent Sick days" at $400 each. He took an extra $70,000 with him after his short tenure as the superintendent.
The self serving and mismanagement of the previous Joyce Phillips administration tops them all. Besides a long list of blunders and coverups that costs probably hundreds of thousands in legal bills, insurance mistake payouts, consultant fees, etc, she and her board supporters doled out large undeserved raises to herself and her cronies. Metcalf made $100,000/year while working full time on his PhD AND Phillips approved paying all of his tuition too. Amy and Joyce got big raises, far above what the teachers got, along with the tech director who got about a 40% increase for no apparent good reason. Simultaneously a lot of money was spent on consultants because some of these people were not very well qualified at doing their jobs.
The board's failure to remove Phillips and giving her extra money and perks also lead to her qualifying for a second Michigan retirement (which she should never have been allowed to stay around long enough to qualify for) which is now costing us about $20,000 year for life. I am sure she also gets a full retirement form Indiana too.
The examples and outrages can go on and on, but which of the above should not considered to be "self-serving"? Was this all done in the best interests of the Marshall schools and the kids? Who are in fact the "jerks" as you say? Those who did these acts or those who are upset over them and would rather see the wasted money spent on the kids?
it seems to me that the school board just dismisses those with different opinions, and resorts to name calling (jerk) instead of actually listening to what people say! most of the community has no trust or faith in the school board anymore. how many parents have enrolled their children in the local charter school just b/c of our school board and their continually questionable decisions? thankfully, not all parents are willing to give up on MPS. i myself am hoping the 4 people continually named from the school board on this blog will take it upon themselves to step down "for the sake of the kids". i expect more name calling to follow this post from the board supporters (or i actually think they are the board members, as i personally know no one who is supportive of the board anymore).
The two posts above are unfortunately very accurate. They seem to highlight some of the root causes of the problems.
Posted: 10:07 a.m. Nov. 19, 2009
Bill: State superintendent can force school districts to cut
By Dawson Bell
Free Press Lansing Bureau
"Public school employees’ pay and benefits could be subject to unilateral reduction in a financial emergency by the state schools superintendent under legislation introduced Wednesday in the state House.
A pair of bills introduced by state Rep. Tom McMillin, R-Rochester Hills, would authorize school districts to request the Superintendent of Public Instruction to make the cuts if the district is in deficit and has average teacher salaries at or above the top third nationally, and benefit levels above the average level for private sector employees in the state. The legislation would override existing union contracts or labor agreements and sunset in 2011".
Cuts are coming!
only if the bills pass!!
Keep your fingers crossed, ours are.
yes, mine are crossed for the 4 to step down from the board! is that what you are crossing yours for too? oh, my fault, i bet yours are crossed so you can CUT,CUT,CUT from our "overpaid teachers", so you will actually have the power to do what you have been threatening. why don't you find other ways to make up the deficit in our school budget...like step down so people won't think our school board is still full of self serving clowns! maybe the enrollment will start to come back up...or begin with rolling back wages for the administration...or actually spend money the way you are supposed to...like fixing the leaking pipes your showed the whole town last year when trying to pass the bond. what you left out about those pipes in your propaganga, was that the school board knew about them for some time, and could have fixed them, but opted to spend $20,000 to install air conditioning in the middle school auditorium instead (and that information was courtesy of one of the fired custodians who was explaining to some people how bad the school board mismanages money). from your posts, it's obvious who the real jerks are on this blog page, and it's not the majority of the community. it's the small, very small, minority who are supportive of the board (i am assuming they are friends and family of yours).
About half of the teachers I know or more vote mostly Republican. If the Republicans pass unilateral cuts in an extreme anti-teacher measure they will lose all of these votes too, including mine. Yes, I voted for people like Mike Nofs who normally support education. I hope Mike steps up and opposes his extremist Republican colleagues. I already gave up on Jase Bolger! Now I know why the board majority endorsed him, he is very unsupportive of education.
Gimmeee, Gimmeee, Gimmeee...Buy Me, Take Me, Gimmeee! The whiney vocabulary of unionized teachers and MEA members. Sounds an awful lot like your union brethren in the auto industry. They have and continue to make concessions, so get ready for yours, because they are coming. "Solidarity Forever"
What is Jase Bolger doing for the Marshall schools? Apparently nothing!
Keep in mind if that law passes your beloved Supt. and the Joyce cronie incompetents - will also be forced to take pay cuts. With this you have a state run school district which would not be good for the community of Marshall. So to you - the Board members - I say this: You need to start a positive trend, keep your spouses from talking trash, this is affecting your positions on the Board. No one should be wishing for pay cuts, those without knowledge speak stupid things and this is hurting any glimmer of an idea of forward movement. This bond is dead on arrival. I have not heard anyone 'outside the school family' who feels they are financially able at this time to support any bond. Instead of wishing the State Supt. will enforce pay cuts...(get the whole story) as the state will run our school district until we show a positive budget for I believe 3 consecutive years....get it together. Stop with the no brainer - always the first thing out of a Board member's mouth....cut teacher's pay. How stupid do you think it sounds to continue attacking our teachers while planning a new bond for the taxpayers. Each of these teachers have many friends who are taxpayers...attacking our teachers is the worst thing to be talking. If you have no other alternatives then concessions will happen on their own. First - come up with something....people are tired of the same attack each time a budget issue arises. There are proposed cuts that have been identified on this blog site. Has anyone even checked into the 3 summer employees at the bus garge working all summer long or being a JP loyalist must be keeping that waste safe. Does Vic even know what the Bus Supervisor has repeatedly said about his to his employees? How about the high salary Janice insists we must pay a superintendent to attract the 'best' to Marshall? How is that one working for Marshall? The Tech Director - where else do you attainn 37% increase in pay over 3 years....well thank you Charlie for doing all your secret agent work for Joyce Phillips....it got you a great salary. But that dirty work is done now...time to cut that salary back to the $55,000 range that is generally paid for this position....especially when you don't have to work summers. We hired Amy Jones without the title of Manager/Director so we could keep the salary down...guess what....Joyce got it right back up from $64,000/year to $94,000/year and this was supported by the Board. We could go on and on. What good would it do. I have spoke to Board members and been blown off for the last time. They were elected to listen to their constituents - they do not do this. VIC, JANICE, DAN - time to go - this may put us in the game to talk about a school bond. Until then....NOTTA
Congratulations and good luck to the Redhawks...Coach Hulkow....awesome. Nice to see someone is contributing to making MPS positively known in the State.
Still waiting on that rebuttal to the MEA regarding the savings to Marshall or lack of savings when the Board without any compassion fired our 24 custodians who were making a huge whopping $24,000 per year. You can't just say the MEA is wrong....where is the back up. The facts. Or do we have to do what Joyce FOIA procedures. Public statement in the Chronicle/Advisor stated Dr. Davis was coming out with the facts. Now, how do we start to trust this new superintendent with a bond vote if he has yet to back up his rebuttal report regarding the 'lack of savings....actually costings more money' after the privatization of the local custodians. Sounds like the same ole same ole. I thought the Board promised us communication and facts.
Outsourcing these 24 local custodians started the downward spiral of trust. The Board was warned but they thought "these are just janitors - no one will even remember this outsourcing by next year -
Well - it is two years later and I have not forgotten. I will not vote for a bond nor will my adult children in this district until equity across the board begins at this school district. Remember...cuts should start at the top....and work their way down. Attacking the support staff made no sense and obvisouly saved no money. Now - if the facts show it has actually cost the district money, while being lied about, now backed up then I believe the board members making this promise should be recalled. I need to see the rebuttal by Davis also. But I really hope I don't have to FOIA the truth. If I do then it means we have not gotten rid of the Joyce regime....and that is where I believe we need to start.
the more i read this blog, and see the juvenile responses (name calling and threats)from the board supporters, who i think are actual board members, I feel like the board is only making themselves look more foolish. is this the same manner in which you run the school board? deaf ears to different ideas and opinions, name calling to those who don't agree with YOUR point of view...oh, that is how you do it, isn't it? and you wonder why you have no community support!
Yep, that's how they run the board. Imagine what they say when not at a public meeting. You can bet it is very bad. Oh, I have actually heard some of it when I talked to a few of them and acted like a supporter. I graduated form MHS back in the days of Vic and Dan. When they share how they really feel it is very bad. Lots of animosity towards the staff and the community. Not much real concern for the kids. Of course I am referring to the lady I used to get my pics framed at, the guy who has a towing business and the guy who runs the MAC. Ali is not as bad but she has been way to supportive of them. Annette is clueless and goes along with them. John is a nice guy but needs to stand up more for the schools. Bill is too new to do much, so far. Marsha F. and Georgia M. are definitely leaders of this group too.
We agree, it just wouldn't be fair asking only the teachers to take reductions! Lets make cuts to everybody associated with the Marshall Public Schools, as well as all school districts throughout Michigan...everybody takes a 10% cut in salary, benefits and retirement packages, EVERYBODY!!!
None of your buddies will lose their jobs and the budget will be balanced. Remember, it's "For The Kids".
how is georgia marsh still a leader when she was CREAMED by the opposition at the polls? if the candidate who the school board recommended is beaten in a LANDSLIDE, don't you think that would be a major hint to the school board that the majority of the community is not supportive of your choices or actions? Obviously we need new blood on the board, not the same old same old who keep repeating how they can't wait to cut the salaries and benefits of the teachers. i personally will not support any of these local businesses that are owned by the school board members until they step down, and will encourage all i know to do the same!
Its simple, roll back all wages to what they were five years ago. The teachers would take about a 4% cut and some others would take up to a 40% pay cut. Randy Davis would take the lead with at least a 15% pay cut. That's the only fair way to do it, if it is done at all.
i agree with the above post, if there are to be cuts, it should be to all positions, not just the teachers. i think a "rollback" which amounts to a 4% loss, and knowing the administration is taking a cut as well would be easier to stomach if you are a teacher.
For all of you who are hoping that Janice, Dan and Vic change their ways- it will not happen. The old saying "You can't teach an old goat new tricks" applies perfectly here. Their views and plans are shaped by years of what happened to them- political fights, anger, lost coaching job, misinformation, jealousy, and so on. Even after the outpouring of support for Vic after his accident, he went back to the same old same old. Nothing has or will change. These three more or less control Ali and Annette too. So they rule the board and the schools as they have done for five years now. They will do and get whatever they want. The only accountability is to either wait them out until they choose to leave the board or launch a recall. Since nobody has bothered to launch a recall, we are stuck with them and must wait them out at least a few more years. Then maybe things can start to turn around in the Marshall schools. A bond vote before then is a waste of time. This group has lost trust and support by the vast majority of staff and community members. That is the reality of the situation.
The situation seems hopeless at this time. Next a big wave of pay cuts and job cuts in the Marshall schools. There will never be a major remodeling of MHS or a new auditorium. Maybe enough can be scraped up to fix the track if we are lucky. More bad years to come. Marshall is in decline. We are still suffering the effects from all of the damage that has been done in the past 5-10 years.
how depressing...
I bet Paul, Janice, Vic and Dan are steaming mad seeing how well Coach Hulkow and the MHS Redhawk football team are doing this fall.
Dome bound! Or shall I say "Ford Field bound!"
They nearly fired him last spring but backed off due to public outrage. Let's keep on the pressure so they do not even consider it this year.
Hey, maybe that can actually be cooperative and supportive of Coach Hulkow for a change! Now let's pressure them to change in other ways! Ok wishful thinking.
What if they had succeeded in removing Coach Hulkow? Would the season have gone as well under a lesser coach?
Great job team!!!!!!!!
Great job Coach Hulkow, the rest of the coaching staff, the players, the fans, the parents, the community and school board members John Coulter and Bill DeSmet for their support!
John Coulter especially needs to be commended for standing up and supporting coach Hulkow against the others when they schemed to remove him last spring. Its great for the kids that the board majority did not succeed in this scheme. Too late for all the other excellent staff (Behrenwald, Petrich, etc) that hurt or forced out for no good reason.
Are Beardslee, Darling, Marsh, Potter, Stulberg and Webb going to Ford Field to show their support for Coach Hulkow and the football team? ;)
Redhawkmom77
You might think about buying some new batteries for your vibrator, has to be cheaper than prozac and should help you reduce your negativity.
You board leaders are a silly bunch! ;)
i hope Beardslee, Darling, Marsh, Potter, Stulberg and Webb don't go to ford field to show no support because it will just be to put on a show that they are when everyone knows they are not there to support the team or coaches. stay home we dont need your support to celebrate the great football team's accomplishments, you are a disgrace to marshall.
That's so true! The source of negativity is them and their actions, not those who care about the kids and therefore criticize their foolish actions.
They are NOT wanted at Ford Field, period! We all know how they truly think. If they had their way we may not be enjoying these great victories!
maybe they should come to ford field and sit with three rivers, maybe their school needs new school board members. may be our chance to get rid of them.
yea and maybe the janiturs can go to clean after the game cause they are so good at it also kind of at the ford field place.
Still waiting to hear how much money was reportedly saved/or lost when this Board blindly fired the local custodial staff. These 24 employees did clean up the puke, blood and trashy messes that were left behind on purpose. If some of you had ever walked the halls and watched the disrespect of some of our young people attending our schools you would have been appalled. Many students roll open pops, smash food items, and in general make messes to sit and watch the custodial staff have to clean up after them. These 24 employees were let go - without reason - simply by following the Mackinaw Group - which has misrepresented the information. These 24 employees have and will continue to effect the passage of a bond. In their loss - MPS has suffered an even greater loss. This will effect another bond - - - Where are those hidden savings Dr. Davis? I cannot put this to rest until I hear your 'facts'. The facts that have been obviously overlooked by all until you arrived and hired Blakenship - - Time for that rebuttal to the MEA Article from September.
Ask the staff, any and all of them, if the new "temp" custodians care or do as much as their previous building custodians? The school bought the new group great machines and high prices to make their jobs far quicker and easier. Why didn't they provide these tools before despite numerous requests?
So even if the costs are a little less, we are getting much less for our money. Yes, a few of the previous custodians needed to be fired. But the vast majority did a good job and if there were problems it was poor oversight and management. I think they were scapegoated to help cover for bad management and to make up for the hundreds of thousands of dollars that were wasted and squandered.
The price paid in a lost bond and lost community support is far higher than any long term savings. Imagine how much remodeling MHS and other buildings could be getting right now for $35 mil? Imagine the nice new auditorium! Imagine the great bargains in construction costs in this economy. We have lost millions. And this is from the same people that wanted to fired Coach Hulkow last spring.
did any of your children come home with the propoganda asking for ideas on how to pass a bond? mine did. the first idea i can think of is to have jan, dan, vic and ali step down!
also in the propoganda was how they want to buy new food service equipment. sound familar? yes, that's right, the truth is that MPS has already had people in the schools looking to take over the food services, but no company will do it b/c the equipment is too old! so they are attempting to sell you on this bond, without metioning the fact that they will OUTSOURCE the food service jobs once they get the new equipment. just like the janitors.
obviously, the board is smartening up a little bit, b/c they aren't firing anyone until AFTER the bond passes.
And I'd like to give a big thank you to the majority of the community who supported coach hulkcow and did not let the board run him off last spring!! without the community outcry, our team would not be headed to ford field this weekend!! GO REDHAWKS!!
i know someone who ask about the school food service dept wondering if they were doing any hiring and they were told no they were not hiring that they are considering outsourcing the food service dept.
Why are most of our school board members so predictable that if their is a dumbass option you just know that is the one they will go for?
Let's check Bud's wrecker. the MAC and Darlings Framing for big signs supporting Coach Hulkow and the Redhawk Football team. Beardslee's office should do the same. The new sign at the Franke Center can run "Congratulations Coach Hulkow" and Georgia Marsh can lead cheers at Ford Field. Let's all show our Redhawk spirit!!!
Maybe Vic can lead the procession to Ford Field in one of his trucks. Then if someone breaks down he can tow them back. I expect the others to fall in line and publicly support Coach Hulkow and the team. Its the least they can do after all the things they have done wrong.
"did any of your children come home with the propoganda asking for ideas on how to pass a bond? mine did. the first idea i can think of is to have jan, dan, vic and ali step down!" (from above)
Great idea!
How can I forget, remember when Ali proclaimed she used to be a cheerleader (during one of their many controversies)? She can lead cheers at Ford Field too!
Ali can join Georgia Marsh and Janice Darling and maybe Marsha Franke too and form a "Hulkows Divas" cheerleading squad for the game. Now that would show true support and harmony! It can help bury hurt feelings form when they schemed to get Coach Hulkow fired.
Its great the school board were stopped before they could fire Rich Hulkow. Now if we could only have succeeded in pressuring or persuading them not to force out Ron Behrenwald, Susan Townsend, Kathy Petrich (who would likely still be alive and leading the choir) the custodians and others. The bond would have passed, morale of the staff would be way up and the community support and trust would be strong. The bond passing would have lead to great bargains in this economy and we would be seeing big improvement at MHS and elsewhere. So many things would have been so much better! Was it the fault of Phillips? Jones, Metcalf? MacDonald, Walbeck? Beardslee? Potter? Stulberg? Webb? Varvatos? or all of the above? I think the latter. Community apathy helped them. The kids and the community are the real losers. I talked to most of them I did everything I could do. So did some others. But not enough community involvement. The staff ran scared when attacks and retributions took place. Many gave up after too many lies, scandals and threats. Is it too late for a recall?That seems to be the only solution to turn this mess around.
My involvement in the Marshall schools dates back to the early 1970s. This is the worst overall mess I have ever seen in nearly 40 years!
Just to add, Janice Darling, Marsha Franke and Georgia Marsh all played a big role in the "leadership" the the Marshall schools the last 5-10 years. Even with Joyce Phillips gone, the same people and mentality still dominates the schools board. Bill DeSmet and John Coulter are pretty good! They can't turn things around by themselves.
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20091124/NEWS01/911240313/-1/NEWSFRONT2/Marshall-still-seeking-voter-input-on-bond-issue
Can a bond pass when the majority of school board members are NOT trusted? Is their resignation or a recall needed first?
I cannot vote for ANY INCREASE in my taxes. Passing a bond is way to premature for the economy in my household. We both work but every day there are more and more plant closures, people moving, etc. I feel that it is time to look into consolidation of the Calhoun County school systems and be under one umbrella. Has anyone looked into the feasibility and the cost savings in school countywide consolidation?
If such a plan were implemented then many smaller schools would close. Marshall would likely have an elementary school close, probably Gordon. To avoid discrimination you would likely have inner city kids bussed around the county. Money would be shifted to poorer areas. It would only succeed at building a big central "out of touch" bureaucracy with far less community oversight and involvement. As bad as the Marshall school board has been consolidating schools in Calhoun County would be a nightmare. As far as saving some money through collaboration or purchasing at statewide prices, some of that already occurs.
Good luck Coach Hulkow and the Varsity Football team at Ford Field on Friday Nov. 27th! :-)
Those board members who schemed last spring to remove Coach Hulkow and have been opposed to the best interests of the Marshall should resign or be recalled. That will leave John and Bill and we can elect new replacements ASAP for the others. This is needed to pass the bond too.
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20091127/NEWS01/91127001/Marshall+wins+state+championship++49-28
Great job Marshall Redhawks! Great job Coach Hulkow and the rest of the coaching staff and parents! See what happens when excellent leaders are allowed to do their jobs!
http://www.match.com/profile/showProfile.aspx?uid=BUQfYbEnbPOmbCDriqwq7g==&handle=aden1973&tp=S&pn=1&rn=4&do=2&lid=18
now that's funny...in a sad way
Great job Marshall Redhawks and coaching staff. Hey, I even saw the new superintendent at the game, on the sidelines and he actually got excited when Marshall scored. I even saw him shaking hands with the coaches and players after the game. That was refreshing to see. Congratulations State Champs!
what about Klochack and Nessel where they there to support the team? that is right i forgot they only work for mps for the money not for the support of the kids. they as well as the board members should be out and have vaught as principal, he does a great job and has record of graduates to prove it at alt school, keep hulkow and get triece to replace nessel; have you noticed how they can get into the heads of the team during a game when there is a poor play done just image what how the school would be with them in, wouldnt have to worry bout all the crap that is going on in the school now. btw, congrats on championship win - players and coaches.
Nessel hasn't been to 1 playoff game this year. My kids have been talking about that and how she is also never at work. Not too long ago she had made a statement that "those football players are driving me nuts" or something near to that. Sounds like someone has a problem with Marshall football, well maybe not, maybe she just doesn't like Marshall. Congratulations State Champs!
i heard a comment made about marshall students and i guess i shouldnt be shocked as to what other towns near and far think of our small town. i heard the comment made of how little respect people in marshall has for others and other schools property. winning the championship title should be a great thing for this town and shows the hard work the team put into winning this title to have others see and hear what we in marshall cover up.
If JKP, Vic, Dan, Paul, Janice and Ali had their way, Rich Hulkow would not have been coaching football this year and preferably he would have been gone all together.
Now too bad the community had not stepped up more often the last five years to try to stop or prevent all of the other bad things they did to damage the Marshall schools.
I would give Ms. Nessel a break. She lost a baby a few years ago and apparently is going through a divorce. I can forgive her if she misses a few events.
Now Klochack there is no excuse. Ron Behrenwald should still be here. And if not Ron, then Bob Voight should have that job. We need to clean house of the JKP/ruling clique lackies. We lost Susan Townsend in large part because they treated her crappy and then gave Walters to a JKP lackey.
Congratulations to the football team, parents and the coaching staff! An outstanding season!
sorry to hear nessel is going thru so much but that is her job. if that were you or me at our job, you dont just pick when you want to work because of family problems or a death. you take a leave. but i never lost a child and wouldnt want to know how it felt. how many sport event did she attend before the loss of the child, birth of the recent child, going thru the divorce?
each year Nessel has been at the school she has something going on in her private life that is excusable for her missing time on her job. how many other employers would allow family or marital problems to excuse them from their job every year they have been employeed, with the economy like it is today i doubt many employers would before leaving them go to deal with the situations at home.
HERE IS WHAT WAS WROTE ABOUT MARSHALL IN MARINE CITY NEWS BLOG - GOES TO SHOW JUST HOW IMPORTANT HULKOW AS WELL AS REST OF THE COACHES ARE TO MARSHALL:
MC Season: Marshall played a very difficult group of teams in the playoffs and the regular season, which earned Marshall a great deal of respect from all over the state of Michigan.
For example, beating when Marshall beat that awesome team from Williamston in overtime, it earned a lot of respect. Williamston would have crushed the Marine City Mariners just as easily as Marshall did.
I also congratulate you on your win against Three Rivers. Beating a great team like that by 26 points was very impressive. That's almost as bad as the 31-point whooping that Marshall embarrassed the Marine City Mariners with.
In Marine City we were hoping Marhsall would actually beat Three Rivers by more than 31 points, because that would at least imply we might have won if we had beaten Marshall. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Three Rivers obviously would have beaten the Mariners.
Marshall is an excellent program that really is a generation ahead of Marine City. If Marshall hadn't put in their second-string backup players when they did in so many spots, the blowout would have been worse than 31 points, which would have hurt the Marine City program even worse.
Great job Marshall! If we face three teams with a 6-3 record in the playoffs next year, we will see you in the semi-finals again!...assuming you have what it takes to get past the higher quality 8-1 and 9-0 teams on your side of the state!
Too bad our school board majority do not feel the same way. They see "excellence" and success as a threat! They have hired, promoted and rewarded mediocrity and incompetence. That is why they have targeted so many good staff including Rich Hulkow, Kathy Petrich, Bob Voight, Susan Townsend. Tom Hanson, Ron Behrenwald and the list goes on and on.
Look at the fools they have hired, promoted and given large raises too? Holbrook, Turner, Klochack, MacDonald, Walbeck, Joyce Phillips, Amy Jones and Brian Metcalf, to name a few. Everything is backwards. The best are attacked or treated in a rude and disrespectful manner while the bad ones are protected and covered for. If they had their way Rich would have been gone at least from coaching last spring. How much more can we afford to tolerate? How much damage to our Marshall schools should we allow? Because of them and their bad decisions we have lost the last bond and it will sink this bond too. Who trusts Darling, Webb, Stulberg and Potter- along with their stooges? Nobody!
We either need to unite and remove them or stand back and watch then do more damage to our schools. The bond is DOA unless they resign or are recalled first. They have lost almost all trust and faith to move forward or do the right thing. Each week they stay in power is a week longer before things can truly get better.
I noticed the MPS has another new set of goals. Whatever happened to the previous set of goals? Were they forgotten?
Rumors of cuts abound. What about cutting those who got big undeserved pay raises under Joyce Phillips? Also the superintendent position has been lavished with large pay increases, I can't imagine Dr. Davis asking the teachers and support staff for any concessions without taking at least a 20% pay cut himself. His position went from about $95,000/year a few years ago to about $115,000/year now.
This alone will force the leadership to hold back on asking for teacher pay cuts. I doubt they want to take big pay cuts themselves. They would have to be first in line and take much bigger cuts because they got the big raises the teachers did not get in recent years.
The teachers actually have had pay cuts for years after inflation is factored in.
why hasn't anyone started a recall? is it b/c everyone knows how spiteful and nasty these board members are? i would think retribution would be on their minds...but something has got to be done. if the things said on this blog are truly the feelings of our community, then no bond will pass with them still at the helm. how do you start a recall? will anyone do it?
why hasn't anyone started a recall? is it b/c everyone knows how spiteful and nasty these board members are? i would think retribution would be on their minds...but something has got to be done. if the things said on this blog are truly the feelings of our community, then no bond will pass with them still at the helm. how do you start a recall? will anyone do it?
The biggest thing holding back a recall is that most of the people who know how bad things truly are and know first hand all that has happened ALSO work for the Marshall schools. A recall lead by teachers or support staff could cost those people their jobs. Those who do not work for the schools may be sympathetic but so far nobody as stepped up to lead such an effort.
I hate to say it but the last recall was over the Redskin name. Hardly important compared to what has happened the last five years. It also allowed the anti-Redskin leaders to launch a stealth campaign to take over the school board. Yes, the group is charge is highly organized. The leaders include those both on and off the board (P. Beardslee, G. Marsh, Marsha F., V. Potter, Stulberg, J. Darling, and to a lesser extent A. Webb and A. Campeau).
The only two board members I trust are John Coulter and Bill DeSmet and so far there is not much they can or will do to truly make the needed changes. The community is paying a big price too in a lowered reputation that makes Marshall less appealing and hurts property values. Also a much needed bond to remodel MHS and make other improvements cannot pass with this "clique" in charge. Also if you have read all of the things posted about problems and scandals on this blog that is only the half of it. Things are much much worse. Randy Davis is a nice guy but there is nothing he can do if he wants to keep his job. Unless of course we get new board members to replace the problem ones.
There won't be a recall, its all bluster here. There are about 5 posters who post the same thing over and over.
You have the (1)custodian person who posts about 10times a day (prove it, refute it, blah, blah, blah). The schools now look better than ever by the way. You have the(2)Redhawkmom person who blathers on about the SB trying to get rid of Hulkow (which was wrong and rightly smacked down)--she has been chided up and down on the Enquirer Blog, you have the (3) politics person who has been posting and reposting about Bolger, Nofs, ad. nausem, there is the(4)Kathy Pertirch diehard who always want to blame her death on everyone else and then finally, the (5) recall nut who wants everyone to start a recall, but has no cujones to get it going themself. If what is happening is such a tragedy, such an important time for a recall, silly things like being an employee shouldn't stop you from organizing one.
I have one question for you all--isn't easier to piss and moan than do something about it? Where is the candidates for school board, where are the people to stand up at meeting and demand change? They are nowhere because this blog is the play space of a few malcontents.
So a few (5 I believe)??? What survey firm ran those statistics? There were 2400 signatures on petitions to 'keep our custodians' in the schools...not five signatures. But why would the board know that? They totally ignored the 2400 signatures, as well as the full auditorium and 20+ speakers - speaking out against outsourcing as a tool to save money.
Kathy Petrich was forced out. Nothing short of that. She did not want to leave MPS. She started noticing signs of head aches, not sleeping, seeing Dr. Richardson as well as seeking assistance at Bear Creek - along with about 50 others MPS related clients. (not 5 malcontents). If you were involved you would know the questions, methods of targeting, and wrongful allegations poised against her by Brian Metcalf, Bryan Klockak and Joyce Phillips. This attack HAD A DIRECT EFFECT ON KATHY PETRICH'S HEALTH... I have read the questions that were written for Klochak to attack her with- this was a very targeted attack. So again....you do not know what you are talking about.
Politics are all around us. Wake up. The economy is in the toilet and this school board still wants to ask for a bond passage. Hum....don't have to be a politician to understand Campbells, Glass company, Marshall Brass, Eatons, State Farm, Collins & Aikins, Lear Corp (IAC), closures in the Marshall area. Again - not 5 disgruntled malcontents here.
The 'recall nut'....most people know it takes a ground level organization to get this going - Joyce suppporters did lead to huge apathy towards our school system administration. The staff survey said it all. In December 2006 the staff submitted, in a very respectful closed session meeting - the results. Only to be told by Vic....we will look into these things....Yup you guessed it....only hot air by Vic. NOTHING WAS ADDRESSED, NOTHING WAS FIXED, JOYCE WAS GIVEN FLOWERS - law suits were threatened by Joyce, totally ignored the 152 concerned staff members who warned against us getting to the point MPS is at right now (guess we forgot about the 'flower malcontent)(guess you forgot about the staff survey 'malcontent - nut') Most of us have lost all respect, as well as desire to 'Put Kids First' --- ooops --- guess you forgot about the 'kids first NUT' too.
Why is it there have 43,000 visitors on this blog site but yet Einstein above insists there are 5 malcontents. Usually 5 malcontents cannot keep a blog site active for over two years.
Most people that have seen no change...(remember the 'change is good - malcontent') and have totally given up on our school board. That my friend, is why you still have a seat on this school board. Apathy has given you job security.
Let's now list all the accomplishments the school board of the past five years: Ready, set go.....I'll be reading to see your list!
All you have to do is talk to a long list of MPS staff, parents and students to know about all of the problems and the widespread anger over many many issues, scandals and injustices. One whiner (2 above) who is either affiliated with the school board or clueless about the reality of what has happened (or maybe both?) is a rare voice in the community.
While hundreds may not post here weekly, the views are widely held, just ask around. Joyce Phillips deserved to be fired and she had one scandal after another covered up. Some of our best in the schools are gone or have suffered unjust persecution for demanding excellence and justice. Only a fool would think everything is great and only a few malcontents post here. My time serving in the MPS are over, but I still care deeply about the schools system I once worked in. Much damage has been done and for no good reason. "Excellence" has suffered and incompetence has been rewarded handsomely.
Whatever happened to the EPIC survey? Or the teacher staff survey? Why did the last bond fail when Marshall normally passes all school bonds?
And yes I believe that Kathy Petrich would still be alive and serving as the choir director had the unjust persecution not occurred. Ron Behrenwald would still be at MHs and things would be much better there. Susan Townsend might have stayed at Walters. Yes, it is a fact the board majority wanted Rich Hulkow gone and have made no secret about this for years. Only a huge outpouring of support last spring prevented them from taking away at least his football coaching duties. Had the Marshall custodians been managed properly and given needed equipment all could have worked out just great keeping our own people. Also the $35 mil bond would have passed and we would be getting a huge "bang for our bucks" in this economy as we would be remodeling MHS right now.
Things could have been much better! We need a return to honesty, cooperation, teamwork, "excellence" and competence!
Oh, may I add we would also have received a $1.5 million donated recording studio in the newly remodeled MHS.
there are 6 posters on this blog! including the 5 already named, don't forget the one board supporter (member?) that always has something nasty and negative to say followed by a threat of pay cuts!
Thanks for the reminder...Your beloved 'Granny' in Lansing has finally made the first positive decision, while serving her term in office, by making cuts in education funding. Time for reductions to staff/teachers excessive salaries, benefits and retirements. Thank you 'Granny' for a job well done, you are the best!
I would guess the regulars (at least once a month) are more like 20-30. Since this web site started about three years ago the posts have been about 98% critical of Joyce Phillips and the school board majority that backed her. Those who say these efforts are a waste because the board or JKP could care less what anyone else things are correct in that sense. The truth of the situation is well known and this web site helped spread awareness. Also as far as I can tell no posts have ever been deleted, so all views are allowed.
I agree with two above, we have excessive salaries for the superintendent, the tech director, the bus director, the Walters Principal, the MHS Principal and a few others.
...and the teachers!!!
The bad ones yes, the good ones NO!
I am waiting for Randy Davis to offer a 20% pay cut in his own salary and a roll back of other administrators who got big raises the last few years before asking anyone else for pay cuts.
I watched a recent Marshall school board meeting on TV where they discussed the bond priorities. The board was very uninformed and not well prepared. I sensed they are not really into because they think it has no chance of passing.
Like I said, all bluster and no one to muster. You can say there are 2,400 people that support the bloggers here, but the fact is, there are just a few of you that enjoy running the schools down and then blaming everyone else. If there were more then there would be more action and less bs. Whine, cry, piss and moan all you want, but YOU haven't done anything to move the situation forward. That is a fact.
You teachers are LOSERS!!!!! Ha ha ha! Your pay will be CUT CUT CUT or your jobs will be gone! All bluster and no balls. You get what you deserve!!!!!!!!!!
Nice to see the mentality of the above poster has not improved! Maybe you should run for higher office. Still waiting to read the requested list. Also waiting for Dr. Davis to show those figures that disprove the MEA article.
To the poster several above: You quite evidently have absolutely NO CORRECT INFORMATION regarding Kathy Petrich. Please watch how you refer to Kathy - she was a victim and did not want to leave her beloved Marshall.
How sad that the evident lack of credible information leads you to open you mouth! Hummmm
The teachers are weak. About 20-30 years ago if a bunch of idiots took control and tried to screw up the schools they would have mustered support to get them all replaced. Now they seem to be powerless. Where have all the leaders gone? Apathy is a big problem in this mess.
i wonder if i was a teacher, to what degree i would perform my job, knowing that the school board views me as a lazy, overpaid, whining loser? no wonder there's apathy. nothing happens, nothing changes. same old guard still in charge. gee, i hope my kid doesn't graduate before we start seeing some changes being made. i'm sure, with the economy as it is, many teachers don't want to risk their jobs, or incurr the wrath of the mighty school board! i can't even believe some of the stuff posted on this site by the board (supporters?); it is only making you look more idiotic than you have already made yourself look by your actions. don't bother with your bond, it won't pass. some will say due to the economy (which is partially true), by mainly because of the school board.
You would think Rob Covert and other city leaders would all get together and try to get the bad board members replaced. Besides creating a mess in the schools they have hurt the entire community. The bad rep is bad for the hospital and all businesses too! I am embarrassed now to say I graduated from the Marshall schools. We are looked upon as a joke, other than the recent football victory.
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20091204/HSSPORTS/912040308/Marshall-honors-championship-football-team
Great job Coach Hulkow and the entire football team, coaching staff and parents! Thanks for hanging in their when Klochack and the school board wanted you gone last spring!
I would like to thank the over 100 people who came out to a school board meeting last April to support Coach Hulkow and speak out against the board majority (yes that's Vic Potter, Dan Stulberg, Janice Darling, Ali Webb and Paul Beardslee at the time) along with the despised Supt. Joyce Phillips and MHS Principal Bryan Klochack for their sneaky moves to try to force Coach Hulkow out of his Coaching job and possibly out the door all together.
There would not have likely been a state championship if they had succeeded! Now if only many of their other bad decisions could have been reversed the Marshall schools would be doing much better and the bond would have passed to remodel MHS.
Is the school board against Coach Hulkow because of an old basketball coaching dispute between a board member and a previous superintendent back in the 90s? Don't blame Rich Hulkow, blame Lou Giannunzio and the parents who wanted a different coach. The people you should have forced out you gave raises to. What gives? Leave Coach Hulkow alone!
Keep Coach Hulkow and get rid of the fools on the school board who wanted him gone last spring! Thanks John Coulter for taking a brave stance in support of Coach Hulkow!!!
If the board had their way the great season we just had probably would not have happened. We would have never known what we missed out on!
What if the board had treated Kathy Petrich fairly, would she still be directing the MHS choir and be with us this holiday season?
What if the custodians had not been fired or other bad decisions been made, would the bond had passed and would there be an awesome remodeling project underway at MHS and elsewhere in our school district going on right now? Would we be receiving our $1.5 million donated recording studio promised if the bond had passed?
What if Ron Behrenwald and others forced out had been treated fairly and were still serving in their positions, would things be much better than the mess we have now?
What if the EPIC and staff surveys had been listened to and followed?
What if we had honesty, teamwork, cooperation and respect at all levels?
The public outcry and pressure have worked! The board leaders have backed off from a number of bad things they wanted to do. Notice they are keeping a low profile and trying to distance themselves from the Joyce Phillips regime? They are making her the scapegoat though she followed THEIR orders! JKP did not know anyone when she arrived and barely knew anyone on staff when she abruptly left last summer. She targeted people she was TOLD to target. I have inside information, and the tactics used were not honest or fair in any way. It was "get the job done no matter what shady tactics you have to use." She did, got paid handsomely (blood money) and gets a 2nd Michigan retirement out of the deal. More money for our kids wasted.
Oh My God! You people need to get a life. I agree with your opinion about all the deceitful and mean things that have gone on with the board and Joyce. Really, it is not doing any good for Marshall or the schools to keep beating this "dead horse". Let's focus on what we can do.
hey, i am over the whole joyce thing too, but the point is just b/c she's gone, doesn't mean the others aren't. i see no way to go forward at this time. i am over all the nasty things posted on here, and all the same stuff over and over. obviously, no one wants to do anything to make a change (school board or community) other than complain about it. i, personally, cannot put myself out there to begin a recall or publicly speak out against the school board for multiple reasons. i am sure there are others who feel like me and want to do something, but can't for different reasons. i have been trying to not comment here anymore b/c it doesn't matter, and i just get even more irritated reading what board backers post. i can't support a bond financially at this time, and wouldn't anyway with the current school board. when is the next school board election? BTW...CONGRATULATIONS TO COACH HULKOW FOR BEING NAMED COACH OF THE YEAR! I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY TRIED TO FIRE YOU!!
The board seeks your input on Wednesday December 9th at a public forum to get input about a possible school bond. Bring your ideas and get involved. We need to pass a bond. Joyce Phillips is gone and it is time to move on. The board and Dr. Davis are willing to work with anyone to get things done and improve the Marshall schools. It is not true that the board wanted Rich Hulkow fired, there were just discussions about his contract. The board wants positive communication and your cooperation to move board goals forward. We don't have time for whiny people who don't agree with us. Did you know that a lot of people do not do their jobs, they need to be fired. The teachers should take a pay cut, or better yet they will be forced to take a pay cut and job cuts too. Ok, nobody is going to do a recall, we will fire Hulkow any time we damn well please. Whatchya gonna do about it? NOTHING! You losers... ha ha ha!!!
I apologize, I went off script... oops, I mean we all need to work together, we are proud of our time, don't believe vicious rumors on this blog, Joyce is gone- blame her for everything, we had no choice to fire the custodians, Ron B. and Kathy P. chose to leave and we wished them well, what you don't believe us? The EPIC survey said all was fine! The teacher survey was positive and we appreciate their cooperation. Ok, we didn't but they are quiet now except the ones that whine on this blog. Can you give us your names, so we can fire you!!! Oops, off script again. That's not how we all think on the board. We haven't convinced John or Bill yet... oops again, off script. Let's all communicate and stuff and pass the bond. Great job everyone on the football team except the coaches whom we do not like, let's give the credit to Klochack. Oh yeah... thanks for listening and just trust us.
How ridicules! Of course I am referring to the actual behavior and mindset of too many of our school board members, not the obvious satire above.
I both laugh and then cry thinking about all that went wrong. At least Coach Hulkow's job was saved from their wrath. Its too late for many others. Staff morale is terible! Community trust is nill.
I think the board will go forward with another bond proposal though they know it will fail. The best opportunity was blown last year. They needed to make changes several years ago. Its too late now.
Now I am one of the biggest anti-JKP, anti-Dan, Janice, Paul, Vic, Ali, Turner, Holbrook, Klochak, Bennick,people in this community. But I also know that the kids NEED things in this school district and with out these needs being met, we are going to be in trouble. The problem with the last bond was that the committee fell to the WANTS of too many with too much fluff and didn't push for what was needed. I will vote yes on the bond because that is what is right by the kids and I'm not going to punish the students of MPS because of a few lame brains. They will fall to the wayside, but we need to furnish our kids with the best opportunities possible and if that means that I have to pay more(which means that I have to pinch my pennies further) then I will. I will probably get flamed by some of you, as a board supporter, but I can promise you I am not and I also don't have much money, but I do want what's best for my grandchildren.
Go to payscale.com and take a look at what teachers make nationally and in Michigan. Our teacher salaries are in line with what teachers make nationally and in Michigan. Michigan is not at the top of the payscale and neither is Marshall. There are other websites where you can research teacher salaries. Try researching before you start saying that teachers are "overpaid and underworked". Ha! It is a ludicrous statement.
i'm sorry, i cannot put 15 million or so dollars into these peoples hands. and i know the kids need it. i have been donating stuff all year long.
Kathy Petrich was a victim of injustice and the stress from the bad and unfair treatment she received most likely contributed to her untimely passing. Joyce Phillips, Bryan Klochack, Brian Metcalf, Amy Jones and the school board will have to live with their decisions to do what they did.
But what would Kathy Petrich do? Well she was a devout Christian. My guess is that she would love those who harmed her. She would be praying for them. She would be concerned about what hurt, anger and ignorance contributed to the way they behaved. She would care about them and want them to change their ways. She would want others to be forgiving, even if they do not deserve forgiveness. From a Christian view we have all been forgiven for much that is not deserved through Jesus Christ if we believe in Him as our Lord and Savior! She would say "He forgave us and would want us to forgive others." She would want peace, love and reconciliation with everybody.
I think everyone on all sides of these issues should think about this. If anyone has been a part of the problems it is time for reflection and change. I urge both the school leaders and their critics to reflect on what they can do to truly make things better and rebuild trust, cooperation and true caring about each other. We all need to clear greed, selfishness, anger, hate, jealousy and prejudice from our hearts. We need to replace them with love, peace, patience, humility, honesty and understanding.
God bless everyone this Christmas season! Happy Hannukkah too!
That is what I am sure Kathy wants for everybody!
The board spent the 2008-09 year waiting for Joyce to leave. They really didn't improve communication or address the academic shortcomings in the district.
So, even if one thinks Randy and the board have done better, it hasn't been enough because the hole was so deep.
I sense that the bond campaign will be the usual stodgy affair with all the usual dog and pony shows. The usual suspects are running it. None of them appears to have any sense of what's really bothering people, much less the inclination to address it.
The days of people being swayed by the public statements of their neighbors or community leaders are gone. Or, those statements will be seen as not addressing the voter's real concerns.
The board can't see it, but they've created this problem. The bond will not pass, partly due to their continued incompetence.
Joyce said the last failure was the economy. It wasn't. This coming failure will be due to the economy in part. I haven't had a raise since gas was $1.20 four years ago.
It's sad, but maybe another failure will wake the board up to the truth.
The bond will fail. Time and money will be wasted. Just think what we could do if the board looked in the mirror.
I think that if they did, those of us who have been loyal supporters would return to that role.
As a loyal supporter all my life I completely agree with every word of both of the last two postings. Kathy P. would be urging all of us to move on for the kids. We do need to somehow begin healing after a disastrous five years ofincompetence and meanness, both subtle as well as blatant. Yet Kathy would want the "peace love and reconciliation for everybody" that we so badly need. Sadly, every word in the next post is also exactly true. It will take alot more than a "nicer than Joyce" supt. and our wonderful football season to heal the raw divides of this school community. This board does not and will not have the trust and faith needed to rebuild what they allowed to be destroyed. Sad for all of us who care but true.
If the board was sincere about turning things around and tried sincerely cooperating with everyone to make improvements, most others would eventually come around. They will first need to make some big changes and admit their mistakes so we know they have learned from their mistakes. They need to personally reach out to others and apologies would help a lot. Some of the damage can be undone. Maybe some of the good custodians can be hired back. Some of the scandals need to be investigated by an independent person or group to see if there was any wrongdoing. If they told the truth they have nothing to hide to investigate and help resolve questions and concerns.
This is all nice and sweet but the board has blown many opportunities in the past to help right their wrongs. Now would be another great opportunity as we all celebrate the great victory of the Redhawk football team and Coach Rich Hulkow! I bet they blow it but I hope I am wrong.
You know, I think an "I'm sorry, we screwed up," would go a long way.
Fools never admit when they are wrong.
Fools never listen to reason.
Fools do not care about the consequences of their actions.
Fools prefer to be ignorant rather than listen to any opinions that differ from their own.
Fools do not like people around who are smarter, wiser, or in any way better than they are.
Fools pretend their make believe world is reality.
For information about the bond and to provide input go to the Marshall Public Schools home page:
http://www.marshall.k12.mi.us/
There will be a public meeting for input and questions on Wednesday December 9, 2009 in the MIddle School cafeteria at 7:00 pm.
Do something positive, get involved!
Will we finally be getting Randy Davis' item by item rebuttal to the MEA article showing they did not really save big money by firing all the custodians? Or was that more phony PR?
I think you will be waiting for a very long time.
What luck! An important public bond meeting is scheduled tonight Wednesday Dec 9 at 7 pm at MMS and a snow blizzard is predicted. Are we cursed or what?
Well at least the football team is a success story and a much needed morale boost of good news.
Just go online and share your views:
http://www.marshall.k12.mi.us/
There are links and info about the bond. They are seeking input.
Of course as I tried to click the link from the PDF file to offer input the "click here" link failed to work.
Here is the direct link to the PDF:
http://www.marshall.k12.mi.us/docs/School_Improvement_Bond_Initiative.pdf
Maybe they should fix the "click here" link if they want input. Can anyone find Charlie MacDonald to check it? After a 40% pay increase you would think he would check such things.
You can send your views in an e-mail to the board members:
http://www.marshall.k12.mi.us/board.php
They still need to add an e-mail address for Bill DeSmet. But hey, its only been five months since he joined the board.
I also tried the link to give input and it did not work for me either. I read about the list of things they want to do or fix. It looks more like a maintenance list.
Maybe the bad link was part of their "Communication Plan"?
Maybe they can hire a consultant to come in for $10,000 and fix it!
;)
As I read the list of school improvements I again see 'wants' not needs. Remodel auditorium into Creative Arts Center, Remodel music suites, - under safety: Repair field house and bleachers...??? Safety? Replace basketball backboards systems ?? Safety? Enclosed outside walkway at MS - Safety ? this is Michigan - we learn to walk in the snow. Now - here is a good one - under Stewardship: Establish a transportation/operations facility -
What are the price tags of these ideas? How much will it cost a taxpayer of a home of $100,000? Why now - this is looking alot like the National Health Care Reform. When I don't have money I don't spend money. Where is MPS going to get all this money? If we have a student loss (which we do) if we have a state cut in state aid (which we do)....WHY IS THIS BOARD NEEDING PUSH FORWARD AT THIS TIME? WHY NOT WAIT A YEAR AND SEE WHAT THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OR LACK OF GROWTH IN OUR AREA IS.
We are still losing jobs in Marshall. Campbells and AGL Glass - ? Do these board members read the news?
I cannot support any increase in my taxes at this time. I need to step back and wait for the economic recovery until I begin to spend my money again.
I feel like this bond is EXTREMELY PREMATURE - especially now that I see the needs list. Building a bus garage is not a need at this time. We have shared the city garage for our buses for 20 years - Remodeling the auditorium into a CREATIVE ARTS CENTER? We have the Franke Center...how many centers does one tiny town need?
You cannot continue to spend money that you do not have. This district should be showing a stable school economy before going more into debt. You cannot improve the buildings and expect the generation that we are trying to educate to pay for it.
Spend while in the black not the red!
Good luck Marshall swimmers! Excellence does still exist in many areas of the MPS despite years of bad leadership at the top.
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20091210/HSSPORTS/912100325/Marshall-Lakeview-top-pool-talent
Imagine how good the Marshall schools would be doing if there was equally good leadership. Supt. Davis is dragged down by the board majority. Morale is still bad. Despite that many good things are happening. We need to replace the bad board members and pass a bond.
New Principals are needed at a few buildings, including MHS. A few other administrative positions could use replacements.
You may donate to the Success Fund to help support the Marshall schools. Donations are tax deductible so now is a good time to donate:
http://www.successfund.org/
Also you may suggest ideas or educators to honor.
Happy Holidays!
There would not be a need for a "Success Fund" if so much money had not been wasted or squandered on high paid consultants, sky-high legal fees, undeserved raises, scandal coverups and many other instances of waste and fraud. It is sad the community is asked to pay for track upgrades, routine maintenance of buildings, textbooks and other things that the school district could have easily funded.
Now how can we trust these same people with a $30 million bond?
The district may or may not have saved money on the outsourcing, but it impossible to tell from the MEA comparison because too many other expenses were combined in the numbers.
The MEA is being disingenuous, to make a political point.
We are still waiting for the item by item response from Dr. Davis and the school board. We know under Joyce Phillips they played loose with the facts and tried to bury many things in the budget. When the Chronicle used to truly cover the schools, they often refused to give Shelley Sulser simple requests and she had to file Freedom of Information Act requests to get needed information. That was before JKP and her "big money" backers threatened the Chronicle. They issued the same threats to the MTA and targeted union leaders for persecution for questioning such bad decisions.
I could see the school board only sharing what they "officially" pay the janitorial service and not include all of the expensive equipment they bought or what they pay for "extras." That is where the scam is. These companies bid low with huge loopholes built into their contracts. It looks good on paper until you factor in all of the real costs and charges for "extras." Ask any teacher, the new ones do NOT do all of the things the previous janitors did. No big surprise there, they were like family.
Also what is the cost over losing the last $35 million school bond due in large part to this decision? What stupid timing! At minimum we lost the $1.5 million donated studio. Also even if a bond with the same items in it were passed next year, it will likely cost much more to actually contract them as the economy improves. A conservative estimate is we lost $3-$5 million on the bond alone as far as what we would have gotten for our money had it passed last year.
Now would be a good time to speak to area districts that are using Grand Rapids Building Services. Ask about the turn over, the lack of background checks, the problems within the operation, the caliber of individuals they are interviewing and hiring and the hidden costs. With the school custodians: there were no hidden costs, the turnover was pretty much non-existent - many with 20+ years of service to our schools, the raises were 1/2% to 1% per contract year, with the school custodians paying more and more towards their benefits/insurance.
Dr Davis promised a clear rebuttal to the MEA article. I would like to see those facts and figures printed in the paper like the article where he promised to bring those facts to life.
Where are the savings?
School Board meeting tonight Dec 14th at 7 pm. Here is the agenda:
http://www.marshall.k12.mi.us/docs/121409agenda.pdf
We will be voting on the scope of the bond. Come and share your questions and views on school issues.
Just like with every other issue, I doubt most of the board cares what anyone else thinks unless they already agree with them. At least they backed down from firing Coach Hulkow last spring after people spoke up.
BC Enquirer:
Can a $32 million school bond pass?
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20091214/NEWS01/312140015/Marshall+superintendent+presents++32M+bond+proposal
Most of the same board members are in charge, though Joyce Phillips is gone. Do the parents, staff and community have faith and trust in the school board to do a good job running the schools?
I quit going to board meetings 18 months ago. It was a total waste of my time. Some of the blatantly rude statements, shows of condensation towards staff, lies/deception and games of making the public wait until 3 hours into the meeting in order to have public comment time.
If you have spent your entire life in Marshall like I have - you will know what a disfunctional board we now have in place. To even think to ask any small community for 32 mil bond at a time when staff and services are being cut - ???
Under good stewardship: I do agree with most of the upkeep and maintenance items. Wake up people: The city of marshall has been threatening to not renew the rental for the bus services for at least 8 - 10 years. We are not in a spot where we can afford anything that is not going to be an asset to ALL students. The percentage of students that bus is way under 50%....why would this be a good stewardship bond request especially at this time.
The Science area at the high school is up to date if we are living in the late 1970's - which we are not. But turning the auditorium into a Fine Arts Center is just another deception - the rewrite of the 800 seat auditorium that did not pass last time....now let's call it a Fine Arts Center....what is the percentage of students that take choral, band or orchestra at high school level....about 10%....hum? Is this serving the entire community with the best bang for our dollar or ARE WE ONCE AGAIN BEING PUSHED INTO SOMETHING WE CAN'T AFFORD....BY THE OLD MONEY IN MARSHALL?
Now, with more job loss in Marshall, is not the time to ask for frivilous bond dollars that we will pay for for decades!
The board knows the bond will not pass, especially with the same controversial clique running things. They cannot be trusted with such a massive undertaking. Because of this lack of trust, which is well-deserved, the bond has no chance whatsoever! It takes good leadership to pass such a bond. That is what the Marshall schools has been missing for many years. This clique needs to resign first. They have done way too much damage in the last six years to be trusted by anyone. Leave John and Bill, the rest can go.
I agree they do need to offer two options, with the auditorium and perhaps a few other "extras" in a separate voting item. If not I doubt the entire bond can pass. I will support both parts despite my mistrust in some of the school leaders. Our kids and community will suffer if the bond cannot pass again.
I am now supporting the bond after discussing a variety of issues with a school board member. This member promised me they will not target Rich Hulkow anymore, back off from threatening the teachers, and review if any of the JP flunkies need to be replaced, They also apologized for past mistakes and seemed very sincere to turn things around. I talked to Randy Davis too and he knows many changes need to take place to get the past behind us. Honestly I think the board has given up on the bond. Most do not have kids in the schools anyway so they may not care. We can't wait for new board members. We need to begin moving forward after years of falling behind.
ha ha...you are supporting the bond after talking to ONE school board member? they PROMISED you something and you are taking them at their WORD? really? very surprising redhawkmom, as you are very vocal in voicing your displeasure with the board. i'm surprised the fact that one member of the school board promising something would sway you like this...since most of them don't have kids in school and may not care, and have given up on the bond, why the @$%& are they still on the school board? if you don't care, hurry up and resign!
I know that I strongly support the schools but not most of the school board. I am not sure if I can vote for the bond without leadership change first.
At the same time can we afford to wait? We can still get a lot for our money in this economy. I do not think Dan, Vic and Janice will run for re-election. The sooner they leave the better! Joyce, Amy Brian and Paul are gone already. Ali and Annette have come around to some extent and realize how they were used and made fools of by the others. John and Bill are good. A few of Joyce's stooges need to go too.
Back to the bond. There is a program they are taking advantage of. I think for no interest or something and that is good. This may be our last good opportunity in years. I am conflicted. The bond will be tough to pass no matter how they set it up.
If the bond fails, its the fault of the school board and leadership of the last five years.
They can sell naming rights to the auditorium and to each seat. It can raise a lot of money. Maybe it can be the "Franke Auditorium". Maybe the anonymous CA donor can come through and help. Is he offering the $1.5 million studio again?
They will be splitting the bond into two parts, which is a great idea! Its nice to see the board do something that makes sense for a change.
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20091215/NEWS01/912150314/UPDATED++Marshall+approves+two-part+bond+++25+M+overall+and++8.8+M+for+auditorium
Now how can Supt. Davis and the school board regain staff and community support and trust? Are they doing anything other than a PR campaign?
Most of them can resign. That would help. We can keep Bill, John and Supt. Davis. We need some new principals too.
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20091216/NEWS01/912160311/Marshall+bond+to+be+divided+on+ballot
The bond vote is May 4th, and the bond will be divided into two parts.
What programs will survive the upcoming cuts? I heard orchestra will likely go, along with many other programs.
The auditorium bond will fail for sure! The $25 mil bond will need a big boost. Seriously the best thing would be for Potter, Stulberg and Darling to resign. Short of that, THEY would have to reach out to all of those they harmed and targeted and see if they can regain their trust. Since neither scenario is likely, then the entire bond is doomed.
I teach in the Marshall schools and so far the MPS board has not done anything to truly rebuild trust and cooperation with the staff. Backstabbing has hurt morale. Those that used to go to them have quit because we do not trust most of the board anymore. Now they think we have forgotten all that has happened? They ignored us, or worse, before! Why should we trust them now?
Not much has changed from last year. Not much will change. The bond will likely lose again. Not even the board is enthused about it.
The board's biggest dumb move of the past year was when they tried a weasel move to force Hulkow out right around spring break. They thought nobody would find out or notice. Make it a "contract issue" or a "budget move."
Do they forget we have connections inside central office? Do they forget just about anyone they confide it also confide's in at least one teacher too? We know everything that is going on, and I mean everything! They can't get away with anything. We know exactly what they have done, we know their sneaky moves, we know the lies, and most importantly we know the truth!
Twice this week the BC Enquirer has reported: Remodeling to the transportation facility. Does anyone has more information. MPS has never had a transportation facility but has tried to come up with money to build a brand new facility on the Trapp property north of the HS bordering I94. Do we really have the finances to build a brand new facility that will house buses - I have seen the floor plan....nice offices, break rooms, storage rooms and shower/restrooms.
MPS must have some extra money some where as less than 50% of the 2500 students use the bus system. How would this be good stewardship. The City has been saying for years "they might want to utilize the area the school rents." Any information here?
If there are plans to move the bus facility to the nice woods (Trapp property) next to MHS that will kill the bond for sure. Everyone I know is opposed to a bus facility at the high school. Those woods should be left as a nature area, for cross country, etc, NOT for an ugly bus garage! We have ugly areas around Marshall where a bus garage can be set up if it had to move. I bet the city let's them stay. Tell Rob Covert it is in the city's and school's interest to keep it where it is and the city will let them stay.
let the bus garage stay at the city's garage. if they really plan to rip out all those woods for something that we have never had, i will definitly vote NO!
NO bus garage at MHS!!! If they try that I will start a recall!!!!!!!!
Are you implying the school board would do something stupid and against the wishes of most staff and parents?
Are we still getting the $15m in stimulus money?
If we qualify it is a $15 mil loan. It will save money in interest. But it is not a $15 mil grant. Wish it was!
I know its nature, but Dr. Davis was all over it and now there's silence.
I have read that the money will not actually turn out to be low interest and fees, so some districts are eschewing it.
It's curious that MPS touted it all summer and now they are silent.
Thanks for hanging in there!
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20091220/HSSPORTS/912200327/Hulkow-is-All-Area-Coach-of-the-Year
I wonder if the school board leaders (Webb, Potter, Stulberg and Darling) will scheme to force our Coach Hulkow again this year?
Last year it backfired when word of their sleazy plans leaked out. Over 100 came out to support Coach Hulkow at a school board meeting! They backed off. I am surprised there was no recall.
It looks like Supt. Davis got off the "Titanic" Athens school district between hitting the iceberg and sinking.
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20091220/NEWS01/912200314/Athens+recognizes+need+for+school+closure
Marshall was so wise to hire the inexperienced (never a teacher, never a Principal) Superintendent of a sinking class D school district. And we upped the pay and benefits significantly to get such "talent" for about $120,00 per year!
The Marshall schools have had bad leadership for years. Any chance this could ever change?
Walbeck has assured many that there will be a brand spanking new bus facility. The bond is hiding this new construction under 'stewardship' on the bond list. Stewardship to me means: re-roofing, re-paving, and in general repairing the facility that the taxpayers have already begun paying for. Stewardship to me DOES NOT MEAN BUILDING A BRAND NEW BUS GARAGE. Are we getting our transportation department ready for Dean Transportation to take over. Dean will not enter into a contract that does not have a bus facility - and they prefer to contract with districts that have reasonably new buses. Is this good stewardship.
Once again - do even 50% of our school district children ride buses? Are we not supposed to be utilizing our tax dollars to support the majority of students? Is this not just another high school auditorium?
Better look closely at the bond needs. Seems the Board is up to the same old same old: saying one thing while hiding other things in the wording. NO TO A NEW BUS FACILITY. MARSHALL IS SMALL - MARSHALL SCHOOLS HAS NEVER HAD TO HAVE THEIR OWN BUS FACILITY - With dropping student enrollment - why would we be asked to spend money on a facility that will not serve all students?
Walbeck has assured many that there will be a brand spanking new bus facility. The bond is hiding this new construction under 'stewardship' on the bond list. Stewardship to me means: re-roofing, re-paving, and in general repairing the facility that the taxpayers have already begun paying for. Stewardship to me DOES NOT MEAN BUILDING A BRAND NEW BUS GARAGE. Are we getting our transportation department ready for Dean Transportation to take over. Dean will not enter into a contract that does not have a bus facility - and they prefer to contract with districts that have reasonably new buses. Is this good stewardship.
Once again - do even 50% of our school district children ride buses? Are we not supposed to be utilizing our tax dollars to support the majority of students? Is this not just another high school auditorium?
Better look closely at the bond needs. Seems the Board is up to the same old same old: saying one thing while hiding other things in the wording. NO TO A NEW BUS FACILITY. MARSHALL IS SMALL - MARSHALL SCHOOLS HAS NEVER HAD TO HAVE THEIR OWN BUS FACILITY - With dropping student enrollment - why would we be asked to spend money on a facility that will not serve all students?
Word is already spreading that if the bond passes they will destroy the woods near MHS to put in a bus facility. Even the chance this would happen is enough to vote against the bond!
To save a little on land they want to ruin the woods and natural environment near MHS. Well cheap crappy industrial areas abound around Marshall. They could buy cheap land, maybe a building too, at one of the many empty facilities around town. Nobody wants the bus garage at MHS!
Dr. Gilbertson said that about 25% of the Marshall High School students are involved in the music department. She said this at the choir concert last Wednesday night. Just wanted to set the record straight as an earlier post said they thought it was 10%.
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