"This isn’t about education; it’s about control"

Dr. Wardynski has gotten better at controlling the school board meetings to suit his own purposes. With a little help from Mr. Blair in shuffling the speakers around, he’s even attempting to control the message coming out of the citizens’ comments section of the board meeting. I suppose having on average two hours to say and push any message that he wants isn’t enough. He needs those few three minute blocks at the end as well.
So it was easy to smirk at my suggestion that it was time for him to resign for what he’s done to our teachers. First, he doesn’t care about them or about parents. This isn’t about education; it’s about control.
And second, he knew he had stacked the deck tonight. And it’s a lot easier to win when you’re playing footsie with the dealer.
Perhaps I didn’t go far enough tonight in my call for his resignation. I should have called for all six of them to step down.~Geek Pavaler

RedEye's Raves and Rants

Mega Fist Dap to the Montgomery Advertiser for being the kind of media I wish we had,  instead of the rubber stamp media we have, and, for being brave and intelligent enough to endorse President Barack Obama for a second term in a state full of Suckers who hate Obama more than they love their country, or themselves.

Speaking of the media we have,  what happened to the media who used to tell us what we needed to know instead of telling us what they want us to know? Case in point,  the headline on the Huntsville edition of Al.com reads Top Education adviser in Huntsville to learn about Digital 1:1 Initiative.  Once you go inside the headline we find the so called Top Education adviser is on staff in the  office of Faith-based (Church)  and Neighborhood Partnerships  and he focuses on digital learning  which is being promoted by the Secretary of Education (no doubt with the push of lobbyist)  in an attempt to replace trained, certified, teachers with computers.  Fist Dap to Geek Pavaler Updated:  Huntsville Council of PTA's Restricts Parent's Voices for informing and empowering us.

What's that you say?  U.S. majority have prejudice against blacks ? I'm shocked!  Shocked I tell you!  Not. Voting for Mitt Romney is like voting for George Wallace during the civil rights movement and apologizing for his racism.

So,  how is Mitten's planning to steal, I mean win the election with just the 1%  and the rapist vote?

Here is a hint.

RedEye's Raves and Rants over and out.  For now.

The man who was not chosen to be the superintendent of the Huntsville City Schools

Dr. Eric King photo Glen Baeske The Huntsville Times

Before I type another sentence I want to express my gratitude to Merts Center Monitor and Geek Palaver for being the Education Reporters we wish we had instead of the Education Reporters we have. 

 If it weren't for people who are not being paid to report on the school system and to inform the public, we  wouldn't know the Huntsville City School system is mired in a culture of cronyism, hypocrisy, and nepotism, especially in regard to the Pinnacle Policy, and the Digital Conversion debacle.

 Can you hear me now?

How did we get here? 

What do they want? 

IMHO, it all started when the inept black superintendent was replaced with a competent white one.  

Recap.  Casey Wardynski became OUR Superintendent after the buy out of Ann Roy Moore, and after being chosen as a finalist by the superintendent search firm hired by the school board.

The board voted 4-1 to hire BWP and Associates on a compressed timeline to find the new superintendent. The decision did not come without contention, however.Board members Laurie McCaulley, who voted against the motion, and Alta Morrison argued that the board could conduct the search itself. Fellow board members David Blair and Jennie Robinson disagreed with that idea

Dr. Eric King, a certified educator, and an experienced superintendent, was the first candidate quizzed to replace Anne Roy Moore.

King has served as superintendent of the Muncie system for about three years. His time overall as a superintendent has equaled 11 years, but his experience in education goes back much longer. He has also served as a director of pupil services, principal, dean of students, athletic director, teacher and director of parks and recreation.
His education includes bachelor's and master's degrees from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, an administrative certification from Concordia University in River Forest, Ill., and a PhD from Loyola University of Chicago.
King is the highest-paid of the candidates, earning $206,000 as head of a system of 7,000 students, according to his application. He oversees 30 employees.

Dr. Eric King has a proven track record (emphasis mine)

Board Vice President Laurie McCaulley asked about his experience transforming under performing schools. By using a systemic process of change that promotes continuous school improvement, King said, his system has seen one of its lowest performing schools recognized last year for making the most improvement in the state.
Financial crises also were an important issue discussed during King's interview.
"I think that's an issue that many school systems across the country are faced with," King said.
The Muncie system has faced financial challenges for a number of years, due to declining enrollment. The system established a blue ribbon task force to identify a cross-section of the community and get them involved in increasing the schools' efficiencies.

Cutting personnel as part of the financial woes is challenging, King said. He said his staff looks at attrition, or who was retiring or resigning, eliminating positions where possible. He also looks at reducing slots in administrative positions.

So why wasn't Dr. Eric King, chosen as one of the three finalist?

Today's Must Read
Meet Dr. Casey Wardynski

This is the Media we have instead of the Media we wish we had~edit

I am not a professional journalist.

I don't get paid to report the news, or for my opinions.

I don't have access to people in power.

I do know the difference between reporting and editorializing .

The front page is reserved for what is known as straight reporting, also known as the 5 W's-Who, What, When, Where, and Why.

The editorial page is reserved for the opinions of the editorial board and columnists.

To insert opinion in the guise of an objective report is the definition of editorializing.

If there were any doubt The Huntsville Times tells the public what they want us to know, instead of what we need to know in order to make informed decisions about the public school system, look no further than Sunday's front page, banner headline 'COMMAND AND CONTROL' Wardynski's first year, complete with a 5 column, half page color picture of the Commandant, I mean superintendent, and two side by side articles anointing him King.  All they couldn't squeeze on the front page continued on the top half of page A6, with a  3 column black and white photo of Wardynski, and the full page on A8, complete with a color picture of the Super surrounded by students of color at Lee High School.  Snark

Let The Huntsville Times along with the Mayor, chosen board members and even the Huntsville Representative of the Alabama Education Association spin it, Wardynski just can't understand why the system is still under a desegregation order, is retoring fiscal responsibility the district, he listens to recommendations of the Huntsville Education Association, and the children is learning now that the dreadful Dr. Anne Roy Moore is no longer in charge.  Snark.  

If you want know know what's really going on in the school system,  log on to the internet and click on Geek  Pavaler, Merts Center Monitor, Havealittletalk, RedEye's Front Page, or even Left in Alabama.  The Huntsville Times caters to the segment who want to operate and  maintain  segregated public schools because black children lower the test scores, because they are well....black, which in turn lower property values, and God knows that wouldn't be fair.  Snark.

"Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe"~Fredrick Douglas

Casey you have to break the mold and prove you're not afraid of minorities, democrats, liberals, aclu types and the entire entitlement crowd! Do that, and you'll be doing the job you were hired to do! Oh yeah, not to mention striking down all racial transfers. And that includes allowing not allowing whites to racially transfer either. If you don't like where your child goes to school, move to where they can be zoned into a school of your preference, that's what I had to do!~allin13times

And much of the public buys into the message thatour schools are finally being run by people who do things the right way, who follow the rules, who don't just put their friends, regardless of their inexperience or incompetence into highly paid positions of power.~Geek Pavaler

It's too late, the contracts been signed, and nothing I say is going to change anything.~havealittletalk

The public gives us their two most precious resources; their children and their taxdollars.  We must protect both to the best of our ability.~Casey Wardynski

Today's Must Reads 
"The State of American Journalism 40 years After Watergate"
Biased "Reporting" not Technology led to the steep demise of the Birmingham News
Wardynski Alone Educates Kids

"Al Lankford needs to be put in his place ASAP"

Huntsville City Schools Chief of Security Al Lankford (L) with Huntsville City Schools Superintendent  Casey Wardynski  (R) at Lee High School student protest

Blame it on the black guy.  This is the prevailing sentiment from some of the comments on al.com in response to reporter Crystal Bonvillians'  headline,  Security officer forces parent to stop recording Huntsville board meeting, which gives the misleading (IMHO) impression the head of Huntsville City School Security Chief Al Lankford is letting power go to his head.  Big RedEye Roll

Let's go inside the story.  Anyone, including Crystal Bonvillian, who doesn't believe Al Lankford was just following orders, is not aware of the pattern of behavior of the Huntsville City School Board of Education towards parents who are vocal and involved.  They try and suppress dissent by any means necessary.  This is not the first time Mr. Winn was told there would not be a recording of a public meeting, nor is it the first time the School Board (not Al Langford)  has flagrantly violated the Alabama Open Meetings Law. 

I am beginning to suspect this whole issue is a set up to make Al Lankford the fall guy.  Why?  Because of the description posted at Geek Pavaler (Mr. Winn's blog) regarding the surprise interaction he had with school board Vice President David Blair before the meeting started.

Did Blair and his fellow board members know what was coming?  I say yes, because of their lockstep, see no evil, hear no evil, speak on evil , comments/reactions reported in the Huntsville Times following the incident.  Blair went on to say "I am not going to question Al's actions."  Un-huh.  Blame it all on "Al".

Psst Al, someone wants your J-O-B!

Edit~Is Al Langford a Voice or an Echo?

Huntsville City School Security  Chief Al Lankford (L) Huntsville City School Superintendent Casey Wardynski (R)

Here

We

Go 

Again

The Huntsville School board claims to be intimidated by the people they are supposed to serve, the parents/tax payers.  The only time they want parental involvement is when certain parents agree with them. Parents who don't agree with them are met with metal detectors, or the television feed just happens to have a glitch just as public comments are about to start.

If anyone believes Al Langford is not following orders I have some nice ocean front property in Utah for sell.

Blair said he only learned of the incident when contacted by the media Monday.
"There are so many things going on at the board meetings," Blair said, "that I don't sit there and look for intimidation and threats."
Blair said he's always found Winn to be pleasant and cordial. He did say, however, that some people at the December meeting found Winn's minute and a half of silence uncomfortable.
"I didn't, but I think other people may have found it upsetting," Blair said. "It was kind of awkward."
When asked if he agreed with Lankford's decision to stop Winn from recording the meeting, Blair declined to discuss it.
"I'm not going to Monday morning quarterback the actions," Blair said. "We're there to do the business of the board, to move the school system forward. I'm not going to second-guess Al's decisions."

Un Huh. RedEye Roll  Blame it on the black guy.

I know from personal experience this is how the HCS systems deals with  taxpayers who don't go along to get along.  Mr. Winn should be glad he wasn't  arrested, charged, and convicted of harassment for trying to stand up for the rights of not only his student, but all students.

Today's Must Read
Trayvon Martin comes to the Huntsville City Schools
It seems to me that Dr. Wardynski also sees threats in things that just don’t seem threatening to me. For example, during his presentation to the board concerning his recommendation to put a fence and a “welcome center” (read: guard shack) around the new Lee High campus, he asked for several photos of the neighborhood surrounding Lee High to be displayed for the board and the public.

It's not wise to blog about The Huntsville City School System

Strike that.

It's not wise for Geek Pavaler to blog about the Huntsville City School System.

Here we go again.

You know the drill.

Blogger gets hacked after skewering the Status Quo.

It can happen to you.

I thought I was secure.  I was careful about how I set up my blog, my e-mail, and my Twitter.  I used unique, complex passwords.  But it didn’t matter.  I was hacked.  It happened to me, and it can happen to you.I was hacked because I am criticizing the Birmingham News.  I was hacked because of what I have said.  But it’s not just me and my blog that were attacked, it was free speech.The people or organization behind this attack committed a crime.  They hired skilled hackers to attack me and hack my accounts.  They used resource that a regular person like me does not have access to in an attempt to shut me down.It happened to me because of what I have written.  And if you write something these people or this organization doesn’t like, it will happen to you.  These people do not believe in free speech.  They do not think that you or I have a right to criticize or express our opinions about issues.

It has happened to me.

Freedom of Speech isn't Free.

I thought we were fighting them over there so we wouldn't have to fight them over here?

God bless America?

Today's Must Reads
Blog about Siegelman, Lose your Job
Hacked?  Riiiight......

RedEye tiptoeing away from the computer to go pray for my city, my county, my state, my country, and the world.

So this is America?

Gestapo

Hitler

Nazi

Censorship

Retaliation

Political Prosecutions for partisan gain

Racial Profiling

High Tech Lynching

Fear of reprisals

Privatization

Segregation

Discrimination

No bid contracts

The word above aren't describing a Communist country or a Dictatorship.  Nope.  They are words citizens, teachers, and support personnel whisper to describe the sad, sorry, state of the Huntsville City School System and education in general in Sweet Home Alabama.   Note I said culture, not person(s).  

The case of Geek Pavaler confirms and validates the whispers.

Geek Pavaler ask the board for answers to important questions regarding Special Education funding cuts

The Board ignores the questions.

Geek continues to press for answers.

The board gives a response of sorts.

Geek attempts to file a  grievance against the board with the Board.

The Board tells him there is no process for filing a grievance against the Board.

Geek Pavaler filed a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

Geek Pavaler was silent and made eye contact with Board during a public meeting

Geek Pavaler was told his inaction Made People Uncomfortable  there would be consequences if he did it again.

Today's Must Read-Freedom:  An Endangered Species in America

'Comfort the disturbed, disturb the comfortable"

Fellow Blogger Geek Pavaler is being threatened with being banned from speaking at Huntsville City School Board  public meetings by the Head of inSecurity, because he "Made People Uncomfortable" by standing silently making eye contact with the Superintendent and the ELECTED School Board members during the Public Comment section.  I kid you not.

I feel Geeks pain, because that's exactly what happened to me at Left in Alabama when I made the powers that be uncomfortable.  As my friend yellowdog said at the time, attacking the messenger is so creepily republican.   But I digress.

Evidently The Huntsville City Schools needs a Civics refresher about things that ARE in the Preamble and the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America..

Regulating pubic comments infringe on freedom of speech, why have public comments if you are going to regulate them?

Today's Must Read- Can Standing Silently for 65 Seconds Constitute a Threat?