Cool-Down Period

For whatever reason, people are starting to personally attack each other. I WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS! So for the time being, I am suspending the MPS Change is Good Blog. I will open the blog back up for discussion after the August Board meeting. If you have any comments or concerns, please contact mpschangeisgood@yahoo.com

Fact Finding Mission

Longtime - No post. But we are back. We would sure love it if people can fill us in on the following items. Joyce: Maybe you can send out a Rumor Control e-mail informing people what the truth is.

Charlie McDonald - MPS Head of Technology
It is "rumored" that in the past 4 years he has received a total raise of close to $20,000. He is "rumored" to be making in the low $80,000 range.

Joyce Phillips - Superintendent
3% raise and buying of years at the past board meeting. Also MANY perks in her contract - We wish we knew what her "perks" are.

Custodial Staff
They are on the chopping block. The board is currently looking into privatizing our Custodial Staff.

It is hard to believe that people at the top keep getting FAT POCKETS, and the ones towards the bottom keep getting things taken away. Please fill us in on any information you may have.

Election Results Are Final!

Proposal 1 & 2 were passed by the voters today. Because of todays results, you will see some much needed improvements mainly at the High School!

In other election news
Kellogg Community College Board of Trustees
Top 3 vote getters were:
Reba Harrington
Brian Hice
Jonathan Byrd

Congrats to EVERYONE who got out and voted today!

Election Day

UPADATE as of 10:15p.m.

With 8 of 9 precincts reporting the vote totals are as follows:

Proposal 1
Yes 1525
No 483

Proposal 2
Yes 1176
No 831

As of 9:00a.m. today, voter turn-out is VERY low. Total votes were in the low 100's. We will keep you updated as we hear more numbers. Is low voter turn-out good or bad for the bond?

Update/Correction
Those numbers were from the City of Marshall Voting Area

Update as of 10:45am
The numbers for the City of Marshall Voting Area are in the low 200's
Please get out to vote, these numbers are not looking good.

Update as of 12:30pm
The numbers for the Township of Marshall Voting Area are in the mid 250's

A Jeer from Shelly Sulser

In The Marshall Chronicle this week, Shelly Sulser did numerous Cheers and Jeers in her Editorial Column. The following is one of her jeers:

Jeers to the Marshall School Board for purposely refusing to keep written records of its recent evaluation of Dr. Joyce Phillips. President Vic Potter reported that no board members filled out their individual evaluation form. And, when the summary form was released, there were no board member comments included. The board leans toward secrecy too often by waiting until the day before major meetings such as two recent school board retreats and all other meeting to publicly post the sessions planned at least a month in advance in most cases.
Educators who expect students to do more than the minimum are setting a bad example when it sticks only to the minimum required of them by the state's public access laws.
Minimum meeting notices combined with rigid copying fees for every document - including $20 to $30 per month for the board packet - does nothing to HELP your local paper get the accurate information to you in a timely manner and to get it right.
It only creates another hurdle to surmount in our continued struggle to get to the truth.
An air of secrecy breeds suspicion - and sometimes critical bloggers - even when you have nothing to hide.
So cheers to the City of Marshall for always working with us - not against us - in our efforts to keep you - the real boss of both entities - informed so you can keep them held accountable.

Thanks Shelly for speaking what so many of us are thinking. So we here at MPS Kids First Cheer you! Wake up Board Members! Your secrecy doesn't help getting this Bond passed for the new "Lame Duck Superintendent."