Saturday, March 1, 2008

Just say NO to status quo

Here is a Courier Times article regariding the upcoming board workshop.

I wonder if Dr. Phil is available,

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is as embarassing as it gets. Our school board needs babysitters so they will play nice. You should all be ashamed of yourselves. You are the laughing stock of this county.

P.S. Bill, stop being a coward and comment on the disgraceful administrative hire at the middle school. You lost alot of people's respect for approving that one. You were supposed to be the one who did what's best for kids. Your looking more and more political by the minute.

William O'Connor said...

Check your facts, Anonymous. The first page of the personnel report was pulled before we approved it. I am doing exactly what I promised I would. So how is it I'm looking more and more political by the minute?

Anonymous said...

Not that Mr. O'Connor needs me to stick up for him, but why would you call him a coward or say he is being political? Are you going to these meetings? Do you see the dynamics going on with that board? There have been problems for a long time and nothing was being done. At least now that Mr. O'Connor is on the board, they are having this retreat. I'll bet his actions behind the scenes have a great deal to do with the fact this retreat is even happening. Maybe you should cut him a little slack.

Hoover mom said...

I disagree with anonymous. I think that most school boards have issues, and I give you all credit, but especially you, Mr O'Connor, for seeing a problem and trying to fix it. You are man of your word and I for one DO trust you.

Anonymous said...

How can they 'pull' a page? But still have it approved? I missed the bulk of the meeting and since we don't have the NNTV, another issue of district redtape with Verizon, haven't seen how the board reacted to that. Can someone enlighten me? Bill you have my support 100%, I am sure you did the right thing. I don't see that happening with you...ie: questioning another board member on thoughts of closing Hoover. At least you spoke up! I was impressed that a certain board member spoke up, guess she reads your blog!

Anonymous said...

I have heard the four of the five people up for administrative appointment are quality people. Two are current vice-principals being considered for temporary principal positions. One of the five is questionable, and looks like a political deal in the works. This may not be the case, but to many people, appearence is reality.

Anonymous said...

If you're looking for someone who can guide a bunch of political hacks and "really knows and really cares about Neshaminy".... you go to Dr. Gary Bowman. I know... how about we get some middle school peer mediators to oversee the process; they are, after all, more mature and wiser than this lot.

Anonymous said...

Whom ever heads up this meeting between the board members should be someone who has no vested interest in anyone involved. They should be someone who knows the rules of what is allowed by school boards and administration. They don't have to know about the district. The purpose of this meeting from what I understand is to look at what problems have occurred and see why the tension has reached the level that it has. If any rules have been broken with regards to who was given jobs, this mediator will instruct the superintendent and board to take the proper steps necessary to discipline or remove those that were involved.

With all the politics that have been played over the years, I wouldn't trust any prior superintendent to head up this meeting. Perhaps the fact the Mr. Kadri WON'T play politics is why some board members have made it very difficult for him to stay here.

Whatever the results of the meeting, I hope the board realized that the public has the right to know what has driven our superintendent to look for employment elsewhere, why there is such controversy over who is hired in the district and why the previous board couldn't give Mr. Kadri direction on what they wanted from him as the superintendent.

William O'Connor said...

I'm with you, Waiting for Answers. With all due respect to each of our former superintendents, I don't want someone with any prior knowledge of or personal relationships with the Neshaminy family. We need someone completely objective and free from any perception of favoritism.

Anonymous said...

Again Bill, you avoid answering the question about the personnel report. Why was the page pulled? We deserve an answer!!

Anonymous said...

Why was the first page of the personnel report pulled? These administrators have been in these positions for three weeks. Are you telling us they started without board approval? PLEASE explain what is going on!!

William O'Connor said...

The board allows the administration to conditionally hire pending board approval. The board always has a right to not hire someone.
Regarding why the first page of the personnel report was pulled, simply stated, that section is under further review. I'm sorry I cannot be more specific but stay tuned for further developments.

Anonymous said...

Hey how about J.D. Mullane? He's figured out "stay at home mom syndrome", full-day kindergarten, and how to increase PSSA scores.
Best of all he's from Levittown!

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr. Kadri and Mr. Eccles,

Closing schools and redistricting or realigning grades is upsetting. But as others commented at the February 26th school board meeting, we as a community will adjust. They are correct. So close schools if you must. Redistrict if you must. My concern and my challenge to you, gentlemen, is this. How are you going to use the limited resources that we have to raise the educational experience of Neshaminy Schools? How are you going to better prepare my children and those that follow to compete in a global market? How are you going to better prepare our students to become better citizens? By addressing these needs today you will raise the current debate from one of fear and divisiveness to one of courage and hope. I think we can all agree failing our community’s children is not an option.

SD

Anonymous said...

Mr. o'Connor,
When will the "further review" of the personnel report be conducted. Could you please have the minutes from the meetings put on the website sooner so people know what's going on. If you have Verizon Fios TV, you're left in the dark. You have really grabbed people's attention with your response. When can we expect an answer about the administrators?

William O'Connor said...

I can only assume the personnel report will be addressed after our workshop. I don't anticipate this will happen prior to next Tuesday's public meeting.

Anonymous said...

So in the mean time we have administrators running our schools who were not approved by the board? If that's the case then why have a board?