As the current term of D49 board members comes to a close, the school community said goodbye to directors Dave Stark, Anna Bartha , and Mark Shook.
When I think of the impact of Mark Shook, Anna Bartha, and Kent Clawson (who left to take a job in another state in September), had on d49, I realize the school district is forever changed because of their service.
In 2004, the status quo for board members was the revolving door of failed superintendents, hands off board governance, and stagnant student achievement.
As these board members leave, they have made an impact that will be felt for years.
They have raised standards, changed policies, ended special interest domination of district committees, and ended rule by unelected committees.
By their courageous act of ignoring the noisy D49 community minority, and pressing forward with a superintendent search, then again ignoring the D49 minority's demand for Mike Poore as the only choice for superintendent, they choose the right man for the time.
Dr Brad Schoeppey and Dr Mary Guinn will make the necessary changes in true accountability, increase standards and will demand and obtain the achievement improvements that have long been the board's end goal.
They will do so on the foundation of policy changes Shook, Clawson, and Bartha championed and instituted.
Charter school administrators and parents are now represented on every D49 committee. But just 2 short years ago, NO charter parents served on any D49 committee.
The relationship of the district and their charter schools has been forever changed by this board's insistence of inclusion of charter school parents . That first charter school mom Shook nominated for the LRPC committee he chaired is now the newest D49 board member, elected by the largest number of votes cast for a single board member in D49 history.
The opposition in the last election branded these new board members as Shook's hand picked candidates, but they found out on election day they were really the majority of this conservative leaning school district's everyman/woman.
As the last meeting of the term came to a close, the words of a past president come to mind.
..."My friends: We did it. We weren't just marking time. We made a difference. We made the (district) stronger. We made the (district better), and we left her in good hands.
All in all, not bad, not bad at all..."
..."Ce n'est pas fini. Ce n'est que le début..."
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1 comment:
- Pat said...
I think you all have done a good job and in the most critical decision you had to make, you hit a grand slam. You have placed District 49 on the path to success with the selection of Dr. Schoeppey and Dr. Guinn and NO ONE can argue with that. I commend Anna, Dave and Mark for their leadership and courage under fire. You made the tough calls, you took the heat from the dissenters but maintained your values, and you have left this district better than you found it. Great job!
There is one anonymous comment that I especially want to answer and debunk, (again.)
That is, regarding the number of superintendents the 3 board members leaving are responsible for hiring, or firing. Here are the facts.
Bartha & Stark 2005-2009
Ended the rein of Steve Hull and Grant Schmidt.
Bartha voted against Grant Schmidt. Stark For.
Both voted to hire current superintendent Brad Schoeppey
Shook 2008-2009
Voted to end the rein of Grant Schmidt
Voted to Hire Brad Schoeppey.
The other "acting superintendents were just current staff place holders filling in until a permanent superintendent could be found, or retired superintendents hired to be there temporarily. None were fired."
FINAL SCORE
Bartha F=2 H=1
Stark F=2 H=2
Shook F=1 H=1
All three voted to hire the current superintendent.
All 3 (actually all 5) board members voted to end Grant Schmidt's employment.
I think you all have done a good job and in the most critical decision you had to make, you hit a grand slam. You have placed District 49 on the path to success with the selection of Dr. Schoeppey and Dr. Guinn and NO ONE can argue with that. I commend Anna, Dave and Mark for their leadership and courage under fire. You made the tough calls, you took the heat from the dissenters but maintained your values, and you have left this district better than you found it. Great job!
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