More room for Rockford lackeys?

Eco, nice observation, but I think he has everyone he wants on staff.

Thompson is running the school district like some CEO's run their companies. The primary responsibility is to the shareholders, not the customers.

In the school's case, he is obligated to the MAJORITY of taxpayers, not the children.

The question is should the school system be run like a business?

And let's see what a mess this new guy creates in his short term here. It will be short-lived. Hope his new Princies from Illinois know that when they settle down here.

$570,000 for Thompson, Gimmell, and Hayes. $263,823 in salary for Budzynski, Tim Kutz, and Christy Kutz.

That's nearly $834,000 for six cold Rockfordians to become warm Neapolitans.

New blood? Yes, from cutting and slicing and dicing teachers and their families already here. All for the good of the kids?

Who does this school district belong to?

What?!? Non-renewals in the midst of a recession and declining enrollment? What a shock! NOT!

At least five teachers will not have their contracts renewed, it's begining of weeding out the dead weight that has been sucking the system dry. The more that go the better. Bring on the fresh and talented teachers that will make a difference in our children's lifes!

volo,
I don't think you really understand this.

You said: The primary responsibility is to the shareholders, not the customers.
In the school's case, he is obligated to the MAJORITY of taxpayers, not the children.

Let me help: The stockholders(shareholders) are the taxpayers. The customers are the parents. The product is the student. The corporation has a fiduciary responsibility to the stockholders to provide the best quality product(student) for the customer(parents). Understand?
FYI, The quality of the product has been in steep decline, and the board just changed the CEO. The CEO has the absolute right to make changes in his management team to improve the quality of the product. The board oversees the CEO, but he really runs the corporation.
Does that make it clear?

I can tell you of one case of a highly experienced teacher whose contract was not renewed.
She has many years of experience, EVERY child in her classes through the years passed FCAT and she now teaches the lowest performing students at a Title 1 school. Her classroom management, content, motivation of the students and love of her job are evident to anyone who walks into her class. Her principal was 100% supportive of her but this decision was made from above. She received notice of her termination in an e mail in the middle of the day. What a terrible way for this district to treat a highly effective teacher!!! There are others like her. The district is saying those positions were eliminated so the teachers were not needed. Not true!! This is a disgrace!

Here is another real world analogy for you all to think about.... What about the CEO who is hired and runs the company into the ground while he lines his pockets with the company's money and enjoys generous benefits? Does this sound familiar????

ummmmm.....Lets consider this too. Thompson is paid 245,000/year plus generous other benefits. The "Dixie Chicks" are paid around 145,000 and 170,000 plus generous benefits as well. QUESTION: HOW MANY TEACHERS MUST BE SACRIFICED TO PAY FOR A SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS TEAM? Maybe this question should appear on our students next FCAT exams?

Another question for your consideration and perhaps even enjoyment........

Why is that the Rockford,IL School Board let
Thompson walk away so easily without making a counteroffer or anyother attempt to keep him there?(Not to mention the fact that he broke his contract with them and they are not taking any legal action...What is up with that???) maybe he is not the miracle worker we are being led to believe he is?

Also why is it that the others he has brought here (with one excetion)were also allowed to leave without any efforts by Rockford,IL School District to keep them there?

Ummmmmm sounds like Rockford,IL knew the score and said goodbye to bad rubbish. Will collier County be the trash dump for wayward administrators in search of high paying jobs (at least those that Thompson can call his cronies)? Will we allow that?

Some questions we all should be asking our CCPS Superintendent.....

Page 22 of the independent report regarding sexual harassment allegations against board member Calabrese states “This matter should be referred to the Florida Commission on Human Relations for such other and further investigation and action as is warranted under Florida statutes, rules and regulations governing constitutional officers within the state.” Has this action been taken? If it has, have you received a reply yet?
Pages 21 and 22 of the independent report regarding sexual harassment allegations against board member Calabrese contains recommendations that state “ Mr. Calabrese’s violations require: ( 1 ) that he receive appropriate training on Policy GBAA commensurate with sexual harassment training provided to other supervisory personnel within the District; and ( 2 ) that Mr. Calabrese sign a written acknowledgment, understanding and intention to comply with Policy GBAA as required of other District personnel.”
Has Mr. Calabrese complied with these stipulations yet ? If he chooses to refuse or otherwise fails to comply what further actions can be taken to deal with this matter?

We have carefully read the independent report of sexual harassment allegations surrounding board member Calabrese. This report taken in its’ totality with other events ( Mr. Calabrese’s inappropriate behavior towards a female Naples Daily News reporter ) certainly indicates that there is a problem to be addressed. In the future wouldn’t it be prudent to have board members participate in anti-harassment training and sign an agreement that they will abide by Policy GBAA. If they fail to abide by the written agreement they agree to resign from the board ? We have brought you here and entrusted you with the task of making our School District a better place to educate our children. Please do something about this serious matter.

And.... Why is our media including NDN so reluctant to ask tough probing questions?

I don't see that this has anything to do with the superintendent, but a big part is the declining enrollment. Also, many teachers opted to go work at low performing schools which are under restructuring. Many of teachers are trying to transfer out due to very poor working conditions. Then you have Naples teachers who are surplussed. In order to fill those contract obligations, those teachers will be transferred into new positions, mainly in Immokalee. So, most of the annual positions will be let go. I am assuming those positions will mostly be out in Immokalee. No one wants to work out there. Then the surplussed people who are forced to go out there will probably quit because they don't want to go. Economic crises of firing teachers is solved. The super just walked into a mess. Give him a chance. If the board worked with him for the general good of all involved we wouldn't have such a problem, but the board mainly works to satisfy the Naple's elite.

More questions.....

NDN reporter Katherine Lewis and her employer found the incident involving Mr. Calabrese's kiss on her bare shoulder at least offensive enough to share it with us all in the paper. Yet they backed down from this matter and choose to accept an apology that really was not an apology (He did not deny it,but he refused to say his behavior was wrong....It was blown out of proportion by his political enemies) So the question here is: Can we trust this reporter and the NDN to report on matters involving Mr. Calabrese and anything else on education and CCPS?Obviously there is some sort of conflict of interest at work. Perhaps a implied promise to make access to information difficult if NDN does not shut up and cooperate?

Inquiring minds want to know. True patriots who really love their nation ask tough questions of those in positions of authority and demand answers. So here is another question: How many of you out there are true patriots???

Another question to consider....

How many of you have taken time to read the independent report regarding the allegations of sexual harassment against board member Calabrese?
In case you have not, here is the link to it. Enjoy!
http://media.naplesnews.com/pdf/2008/...

The pleasure of the School District is to terminate without cause. The teachers, many of whom have received "Professional" rating on their evalutions are being let go because the School District has the power to do so. Mr. Hamlutt explained that there were other mitigating circumstances that have led to these teachers dismissal. Mr. Hamlutt, what are they? If a teacher was struggling it would be noted in the Evaluations and Classroom Observations. If this was not noted then what? Don't you have an obligation to mentor teachers that are struggling? New teachers just like new administrators will struggle but it is up the District to provide them with the necessary assistance and tools to succeed. This is not being done. How pompous can you be! Taxpayers of Collier County if anyone should be fired it is the staff managing the budget. They've clearly demonstrated that they cannot predict trends, manage the money, and lack the the knowledge to make sound investments. Planning for the future should've been done and therefore the COO, the CFO, and others should be dismissed immediately and replaced with a competent professional and not someone from Rockford, IL. I realize that many want to get rid of deadwood but it's the new growth being affected and no one else.

It seems that with the amount of irregularities that have started showing up since the firing of Mr. Baker, that an investigation of how things are done in the C.C.S.B. should be initiated by the State Board of Education, and by The State of Florida in regards to the possible violations of the Sunshine laws. If these issues are not looked at by outside agencies we will just have a continuation of the circus that is the C.C.S.D. .

NplsTxPayor, you are so right! The teachers were not rehired based on finances. CCPS can get almost two new teachers for the cost of an experienced one. However,new kids just out of college can not do the job experienced teachers can do. Folks, there are children in many of the schools who need extra language, academic and behavioral support. Teaching in Collier County is NOT an easy job. Sad to say, experienced teachers who were getting the results were let go in an impersonal e mail.

Argo34116 - Or, should we say, RAY BAKER...why do you insist on wasting time with things that have absolutely nothing to do with THIS ARTICLE?

Estatesdude and MIF are right on target...

Argo,
No one responded to you on the other article. It is over. Calabrese, Donovan, and Withers went through the training. The Calabrese allegations were just that. You can't make it real by writing a bunch of unsubstantiated garbage. Be a patriot and go back to where you came from, ok? You need to determine the relevance to the topic we are discussing before you post.

I think the 5 teachers who are not coming back have been in the DROP program for 5 years and the district is not allowing them to continue in the DROP program. Your time in DROP is over- c'ya- have a nice retirement!

REWARD- A life time contract for the for the real dead beats! Just there to complain about their raises. They really need to get rid of that arrogant Hamblett too!

Hamblett said: "[blah, blah, blah] ... we need to make sure we have good standards for our teachers."
-------

HA! As if he cared about that???

And what about "good standards" for executive directors of human resources? Is there anyone in charge of that? He has been here forever and a day, and what exactly are his official duties -- besides being quoted in the newspaper?

Just wondering...

http://www.labbottsaysvisitrockford.b...

Executive Directors of Human Resources don't have to deal with students every day like teachers do. "Good standards" for teachers are not only much more important, they are incomparable given the different skill sets for each job.

Besides, wouldn't "good standards" for them be as equally hard to qualify as those for teachers, since what they do is equally as "subjective" as what teachers do?

Just wondering...

give me one good reason why anyone should get a "contract for life" ? seems like it could breed laziness and complacency to me......

How is it that the Executive Director of HR doesn't know how many teachers received non-renewals? Is he so busy that he cannot even keep track of employment figures for this district? I understand there isn't going to be a recruitment fair. What is he doing to earn his administrative paycheck? I know that HR means more than just hiring and firing...but still.

At least five teachers will not have their contracts renewed, it's begining of weeding out the dead weight that has been sucking the system dry. The more that go the better. Bring on the fresh and talented teachers that will make a difference in our children's lifes!
~~~~~~~~~~
What color is the sky in your world? Where are these fresh and talented teachers going to come from? Seriously, the Philippines or maybe Lithuania? Collier County School District's reputation is trashed. You may not be aware, but teachers want to be able to earn enough money to send their children to college too.

Momma, don't let your babies grow up to be teachers in Collier County.

Thanks for the positive hits on my website!

www.dooley08.com

Dooley 4 School Board

The contract is the contract. For the first three years you run the risk of not having your contract renewed - no cause needed. After your third year you are usually offered a professional contract which is tenured. People who join DROP are guaranteed 5 additional years but must reapply for years 6-8. It is the risk you take.

In my opinion, during the teacher shortage over the past 5 years, there were maybe hundreds of teachers that were hired that did not perform well. CCPS is quite difficult when it comes to the TITLE1 schools. I'm not going to feel bad for the students of some of these "teachers". CCPS hired some unqualified people. They came from professions like professional golfer, manger of a supermarket, math/science degrees etc...but none had a lick of teaching experience. Sure, some have been INCREDIBLE additions but others just can't cut it. Teaching is more than knowing your content; oh so much more.

The title says it all. That is just what is happening! Supervisors trying to save their own butts are snowing Dr. T. when it should be some of them leaving instead of getting rid of the good employees who have supported them. Get rid of AH! HE's got Dr. T and MG beleiving he is wonderful! Well he's not! Wake up Dr. T. Find out who does the work and who walks around with the coffee mugs in their hands doing nothing.

It is always interesting to read the amount of misinformation in the blogs. As a teacher for CCPS and as a teacher for one of the alternative educational programs, I have had to see too many alternative ed programs cut, which translates to staff cut or getting a RIF letter, or their job just no longer existing. No one ever received an e-mail in the middle of the day. Everyone was aware ahead of time that cuts were being made and that our great principal was fighting hard for our programs, his staff and our students. People from the administration building had been around several times looking at numbers and looking at programs. A great teacher just does not get cut for no reason out of the clear blue. Could a teacher get a RIF letter, (reduction in workforce), because they had less seniority than everyone else in the building? Yes. Then they would have to try and transfer to another school. But, do not try and tell people on these blogs stories that are not true. I feel that more of the public would be backing teacher's complaint's if only half of the information they heard was correct. Now days, you never know what is true and what is exaggerated.

Bottom line, the district has found a loophole in the contract to avoid a RIF. Let it be a "non-renewal" or an "involuntary transfer" to the furthest place from your home, it all boils down to one less employee in the district!

ksweat, I know you and you are incorrect. I know people who HAVE received letters in the middle of the day in emails telling them their services are no longer needed. Some have had well over 25 years of service. So, some do not know well in advance and some have not had a choice to get to stay or do something different. Maybe your job is protected and that's why your standing up for this terrible mess. I know one gentlemen who is a very good teacher, many many years in the county and is a Christian through and through. He was sent a letter saying his services were appreciated but no longer needed. So please be sure you have all the facts before saying everyone knew in advance. They don't!

Stormie2's right! It IS happening to some very hardworking people right here in our community. I know 2 personally.

If it really was a matter of weeding out the bad apples, I could understand, but this firing people to make way for Rockford transplants is just WRONG!