Update: If the The South Huntsville Civic (sic) Association is turning against you..#SpyGate

Copied and pasted verbatim from the  South Huntsville Civic Association Facebook Page

Nearly three weeks ago, citizens were informed by local media that the Huntsville City School System has operated a secret program for the past 18 months, designed to monitor student’s online activity. It was reported that this program began as a result of a tip from the NSA. After it became reasonably clear that the NSA did not contact the Huntsville City Schools security officer, Dr. Wardynski resorted to asking, “What does it matter who the call was from?” It does matter. It seems that the public was misinformed with a statement that would have shaped public opinion if it had been blindly accepted. There are several similar statements pertaining to this program, but no documentation is being provided.

Why does this matter? According to Superintendent Casey Wardynski, it shouldn’t. Our only concern should be for the safety of students. While this argument, launched after most citizens took umbrage to the program, is an effective diversion, (who would disagree that student safety is important?), it is also a means by which the conversation has been halted. We still have not heard straight answers regarding the parameters of the program, the source and amount of funding, the reason for its inception, or what elected official, responsible to citizens, knows the answers to these questions.
SHCA has spoken with the reporter who broke the story, who maintains that he reported what he was told by HCS administration. Follow-up interviews included details which differed from the information first provided.

While it was reported that students social media accounts were being monitored, later statements indicated that accounts are only looked at if school officials are alerted by a tip. The specialist hired to run this program works for T&W Operations, Inc. Upon learning about the program, we checked and found that T&W Operations, Inc had “liked” the facebook page of SHCA and was therefore receiving notifications of our activity. At last check, no member of the SHCA Board of Directors either is enrolled in or would have been reported as a threat to any school. Were we being monitored, or is this a coincidence?

Dr. Wardynski - "When we look on You Tube you'll see something go on there that some kid put up there some beat down somewhere on school property, that’s our job to make sure that doesn’t happen. We see that then we go looking for the kid. So it’s a matter of using the resources we have, looking in public places which is social media. If we get a tip that a kid is going to do something, we'll go look at their facebook page."
School board member, Topper Birney also spoke with one of our board members. He emphatically states that he was not aware that a program of this nature was in place. When asked by the media whether he knew about the program, the name, SAFe, was not mentioned. The activity was described and he maintains that he was never made aware of its existence.
Dr. Wardynski "They didn't know the acronym, but they knew about the program because we brief them on some of the specific cases rarely and more generally on the trends."
David Blair - " I have known about that for a while as well as my fellow board members. . . “
In an attempt to get answers regarding the program’s parameters, Senator Paul Sanford sent the following request to all Huntsville City School Board Members –
Senator Paul Sanford would like to request a detailed explanation for all
expulsions related to the SAFe program. No personal information is
requested, just the facts surrounding each reported threat and subsequent
facts that lead to expulsion or disciplinary measures.
He received the following reply from Board President, David Blair –
“I am uncomfortable with this request due to the sensitive nature of the
expulsions. There is a process in place to deal with discipline issues in the schools
which we will be glad to share if so desired.”

Senator Sanford sent the following response and has not received another reply.
“Mr. Blair,
I see no reason why the board cannot provide information regarding the expulsions or disciplinary measures taken in relation to the SAFe Program. I do not need any personal information about the incidents, but I feel info regarding the tips received, the action taken, and the situations that necessitated the board taking action are an appropriate and reasonable request.
Again I ask that the board provide the previously requested information surrounding the incidents relating to the SAFe Program and the details leading to corrective action by the board.“
While opinions may differ regarding the appropriateness of this type of program, we have a more immediate issue. Our local school board is withholding information from the public. Are you willing to accept being denied information by those you elect and pay? If so, please let us know that we should close our eyes and pretend that our local government is not being run by fiat.

Note from RedEye: Are the rattlesnakes beginning to turn on the Mighty Casey Wardynski........

I attended this Republican cheer leading event at Grissom last evening. It was sickening. I’ve never seen so many Republicans in my life. There were 7 elected Repugs on the stage. Could well have been the Republican convention. They used these “civic” meetings to win the election for Mo Brooks, and it is absolutely the bailiwick of school board member, president, head honcho, Jennie Robinson. I have asked the school attorney how they could use a public building for political meetings, and he said "anybody could use it if they paid for it".

Time will tell the truth.... 

"Folks here are keenly interested in property value," Wardynski told the crowd. "I am also keenly interested in value."
Wardynski said that focusing too much on price could cause the system to lose many programs of value. He reiterated that he intends to take schools' success into account when deciding which schools to close.
He added that he does not like using the words "school closures."

Yet he closed schools.....

This non-responsiveness to public comments and opinions is becoming a pattern. As public interest increases, their willingness to allow public participation in the process has decreased. But that’s a posting for another day.

To be continued.....

#HCSBOE "This is a public meeting but not a meeting of the public" & "Interfering with with board business" one sad vote at a time *Sigh*

HSC superintendent Casey Wardynski's contract, a progress report on the combined Jemison/McNair campus, and changes to its bylaws and standing rules that would allow only Huntsville residents to speak during citizen comments, were on the agenda at last nights HCS work session.   I am going to refer you to the Geek Pavaler for in depth analysis and reporting, but here is what happened in a nutshell:

1. Make it harder for anyone, including board members, to see how he’s spending the district’s money;
2. Make his contract “auto-renewing” because they want “to simplify the work of the board; and
3. Silence the public from speaking out against Wardynski even more.

As one commenter said: It’s amazing how devious and underhanded the HCS board has acted. I hate to say it, but I thought they were just incompetent. I guess I would have preferred that, to them being obvious low down dirty rotten scoundrels. 

I would also like to refer readers to this post by Geek Pavaler from the first time Dr. Wardynski's contract was up for renewal when he asked the board to please provide the community with some reasonable justification for extending the superintendent’s contract.

A disgusted parent predicted the future:  If his contract is extended, he will have 5 more years to sit comfortably and dictate policy as he sees fit, with no fear of losing his job or having to cave to the wrath of the community. I emailed every Board member and not surprisingly, received zero responses, even though I requested one. These Board members need to be reminded as well that they represent a constituency, NOT themselves. Contracts are renewed or extended based on merit and accomplishment, not just because they were requested. Mr. Wardynski’s resume and expertise lies in economics, finance and policy making. I see no reference whatsoever to engineering or education. So why are we rewarding someone who sits up there on his throne pontificating about his engineering background and his imagined expertise in the process of education?

Why are we rewarding Wardynski you ask?  Because he is doing the job he was hired to do.

 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!

What, no mention of the super secret spy program?  I wonder why?  Snark

I want to talk about the update on the combined Jemison/McNair campus.

6:18 p.m.: An architect from Chapman Sisson Architects presented a slide show of artist renderings of what the new McNair Junior High and Jemison High School will look like when the schools open their doors in 2016. The schools, which will be separate facilities on a single campus, mirror one another in design, though each has its own touches.
AL.com will share images of the new schools when available.
Board member Jennie Robinson said that she sees elements similar to the designs of other Huntsville schools like Blossomwood and Goldsmith-Schiffman elementaries in the McNair-Jemison design.  
"We're starting to tie together the design of our schools," Robinson said. "I like that."

So, the update was a slide show of what the new schools will look like when they are completed, and Al.com will share images of the new schools when they are available?  I guess it depends on what the definition of update IS.

Allow me to give you a real update on the Jemison/McNair campus via the Keep Johnson High Schools Name Facebook Page:

JAGUAR ON THE PROWL NEWS:
Personal check up on the digging of Jemison from one contractor's perspective.
Xxxx: "What have you heard or seen with the new development at the Jemison High development so far?"

Local Contractor: "The land is not draining properly and it's a pure swamp. It's actually a marshland. The land has to be built up and mold WILL be the culprit along with the Rock Quarry issue. This is a bad area."
Xxxx: "What role does the rock quarry play with this new
development?"
Local Contractor: "Everything... The land need to be built up to an extent that when the explosions from the quarry rattles, the soft land of this new school will have a solid ground. This land has serious draining challenges from what I am hearing and what I saw when I was viewing the digging process. We need to remember that nothing has been built on this property ever and it's wetland which will have mold problems."
Xxxx: "Do you think they (the contractors for the new development) should build the soil properly?"
Local Contractor: "Yes. This doesn't make any sense right now."
Xxxx: "Thank you.
Local Contractor: "More than welcome."
In conclusion to this new story, I was attached to the Civil Engineers while I was stationed in Germany. It's very crucial at this time that this conversation from a local contractor be taken seriously. We need a thorough sure and solid soil recheck that reaches beyond a Quality Control Site Supervisor at this time.
The Quarry issue now this? We need to hear from all Jaguars and the Huntsville community at large from this "Jungle Eyed View".
Presently; the city and HCS is following the builders code by placing a full length gated fence around Jemison. This is a safety precaution and must be adhered to in the building process.

Eye update, You decide.

NOTICE: Due to Huntsville City School Superintendent Casey Warydynski's  Executive Orders, the school district may have read your social media accounts without warning, warrant, or notice. You have no recourse nor protection but to call for the resignation of the Superintendent and the Board of Education who enabled him.

Edited~"Keeping Them Honest"

CNN  Talking TeeVee Pundit Head Anderson Cooper has segment on AC-360 entitled "Keeping Them Honest" .  "Keeping Them Honest" exposes possible issues of government corruption, failed promises, and other anomalies from various sectors.  I'm no Anderson Cooper, but stay with me as I attempt to keep some people honest with some fact checking, starting with Huntsville City Schools Board of Education member, and city council candidate,   Dr. Jeannie Robinson.

Members of the J.O. Johnson Alumni Association were  guest on WEUP Talk with host David Person yesterday (5/6/2014).  Person begin the segment by describing the lengthy discussion he had with HCS BOE member Dr. Jeannie Robinson following  the Prayer Vigil conducted by the GHIMF (Greater Huntsville Interdenominational Ministerial Fellowship), to pray for peace and equity in Huntsville's Schools.  Person revealed Robinson said she thought the prayer vigil was divisive, and, she also questioned why there were no complaints from the black community about equity and low test scores when  Dr.  Ann Roy Moore was the Superintendent.

I'm going to begin by debunking the allegation there were no complaints from the black community about equity and low test scores when Dr. Ann Roy Moore was the superintendent.   First of all, Dr. Moore did not propose a sweeping zoning proposal that would re-segregate the public school system.  Secondly, Dr. Robinson was one of Dr. Moores' biggest fans before she became a detractor. Robinson was part of the 4-1 majority that voted to hire Dr. Moore.  Dr. James I Dawson, who championed justice and equality, was the lone vote against hiring Moore, and frequently challenged her recommendations.  Robinson also served on the board during Moore's entire tenure, giving her near perfect evaluations until she decided to cut the puppet strings.

WAFF 48 News looked at Dr. Moore's past three evaluations, which show what the board of education believe Dr. Moore is doing right and what she is doing wrong in her job.

She was evaluated on seven tasks, ranging from her performance as an education leader, to overseeing the districts thousand of employees.

Dr. Moore was given high marks from four of the five board members.

The only low scores came from Dr. Jeannie Robinson, especially when it came to Moore's involvement in community planning and problem solving.

When the scores were added and averaged, though, the Superintendent passed the test.

The average of the seven areas reviewed combined were 4.4 out of 5 in 2007.

Now let's move on to the allegation the prayer vigil was "divisive".   Talking a position can be divisive, especially when everyone doesn't agree. The position taken by the GHIMF is based on justice and equality for ALL Huntsvillians, black and white.  People who have no concept of what justice is, and others who do, but take a different position for political reasons ,would most certainly find the prayer vigil "divisive".

 Thank you Dr. Robinson for speaking to the obvious.


 

Standing in the school house door for unitary status "with or without you" (north Huntsville)

Proponents of Huntsville City School’s efforts to achieve “unitary status” rally on the steps of the Annie Merts Center March 18, 2014

About those staged protest Shelly Haskins, are you aware the Huntsville City Schools Director of Community Engagement composed an email sent to every district employee, via the Superintendent’s administrative assistant, encouraging them to attend the Rally for Huntsville City Schools Unitary Status on March 18, 2014?

If that is not a "staged protest" I don't know what IS.

There are approximately 1,300 teachers working in the district, and they were all encouraged to show up to stand on the steps to celebrate the “remarkable academic, fiscal, and infrastructure [sic] advances” the district likes to tell everyone that they’ve made over the past three years.

WAFF , WHNT, Fox 54, and WAAY television stations, are you aware the Huntsville City Schools Director of Community Engagement wrote a five minute speech for each speaker at the Rally for Huntsville City Schools Unitary Status to communicate all of their talking points for them?  No, because you are too busy trying to connect the dots to old news to connect the dots to what's happening now.

 Let’s make that point one more time: the superintendent’s administrative assistant sent out an email to every employee in the district, and about 85 people showed up. That doesn’t even represent the full staff of the Merts building, who were already there.

I suppose no one but me finds the calls for "unity"  staged (for lack of a better word).

At the school board meeting later in the evening, board members called for unity in the community, saying disagreement doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t listening.
Board members Jennie Robinson and Laurie McCaulley specifically addressed threats made against the superintendent and school board.
“Bullying and browbeating may have been the way we did business years ago, but it’s not the way business is done now,” said Robinson. “If we really want to meet the needs of our children in this school system we will have to work together.”

I wonder why the media isn't investigating threats made against the superintendent and the BOE like they are investigating Commissioner Bob Harrison now defunct non profit?

I wonder why the media isn't investigating the use of the official Huntsville City Schools website to spread lies and misinformation to retaliate against a vocal critic?

Now Superintendent Wardynski is asking taxpayers to fund a forensic audit on a matter that was litigated and resolved over six years ago.  Wouldn't it be better to spend tax dollars to fund a health risk assessment and aggressive air quality test on the site  of the new north high school , to make sure it will be safe for students, teachers, and support personnel to occupy?

 Jennie Robinson told the crowd she welcomes community involvement and hopes everyone can work together for a common cause: the students. "We're going to get there with you or without you, but I hope you will join us for the journey," she said.

The Huntsville City Schools Board of Education has the right to challenge the Department of Justice when they can't have their way, but for some reason they believe we the people can't challenge the Board of Eduction when we can't get our way.

There is an old saying, know who is driving the wagon before you hitch your horse up to it,  since EYE don't like where this journey is heading, and EYE can't trust who is driving the wagon, EYE am  not going to hitch my horse up to this wagon.

 "This city belongs to us, the people. It doesn’t belong to the Huntsville Times. It doesn’t belong to the Huntsville Board of Education. It doesn’t belong to Dr. Wardynski. It belongs to us."  ~Geek Pavaler

"Huntsville City Schools need a lecture on the state's open meetings law. Honesty and public trust should be part of that lesson"

Schools Dealing in Darkness

City school board members Topper Birney, Jennie Robinson and David Blair need a lecture on the state's open meetings law. Honesty and public trust should be part of that lesson.
Only a week or so after the municipal elections, the three huddled privately at a local restaurant to discuss board business, including the search for a superintendent and who might be the next school board chairman. Times special projects editor Challen Stephens reported on the restaurant rendezvous on Thursday.
As it turns out, Birney was elected board chairman and he immediately placed Blair and Robinson in charge of the superintendent search.
If that was coincidence, it sure seems fishy. Even if the leadership selections weren't influenced by that meal time pow wow, what were they thinking?
Blair's excuse that he had not been officially seated yet is lame. Under state law, public officials elected, but not yet seated, count toward a quorum that would constitute a private meeting. That starts the day the election results are certified, The Times reported Thursday. Blair ought to know. He served on the board from 2000 to 2004 and was part of the selection of now-outgoing Ann Roy Moore as superintendent.
Robinson also offered a weak defense, noting the three had occasionally met for lunch before the election and that the luncheon started as a post-election celebration. All three acknowledged, however, that school issues, including the superintendent search, were discussed and they soon began to feel uncomfortable. "It just didn't feel right. And that's something that's not going to happen again," Robinson said.
Birney said no decisions were made in the luncheon meeting.

Open meetings act

In Alabama, an open meeting of a governing body is defined as the gathering of a quorum, or a voting majority.  

 The Alabama Open Meetings Act holds that "the deliberative process of governmental bodies shall be open to the public during meetings."

Commissioner Bob Harrison and Councilman Richard Showers are right.  No pun intended.

Standing in the School House Door Huntsville, Alabama Style

The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, Huntsville City Schools personnel, the Mayor,  the Board of Education, and  the Huntsville Council of PTA's went on a full scale media enabled public relations offensive yesterday, or as I like to call it, Standing in the School House Door Huntsville City Schools style with a few Negro's thrown in for....... color.  Nod, nod, wink, wink, we see you.

al.com's version:

The event comes after the district's formal response to the U.S. Department of Justice concerning the school rezoning plan and public criticisms from Madison County Commissioner Bob Harrison, Councilman Richard Showers and a group of northwest Huntsville residents.

My translation:  How dare those Negro's think they have rights!

The event comes after the U.S. Department of Justice told the district don't  even think about being granted Unitary Status and Council Richard Showers and Commissioner Bob Harrison called them out for as the young people say "dissing their constituents".

 The "rally" moved inside the building for part 2 of the PR offensive as the Superintendent posed with African American students, and the BOE was allowed to bash, bully, and browbeat citizens, and accuse them of threatening their lives on camera, but turning the camera's off when it was time for the citizens to speak.  Can't have the public hearing both sides of the story, that would be too much like right, pun intended. He/she who controls the message controls the outcome.

The Chamber’s Board of Directors also approved a position statement saying it supports the Huntsville City School system’s endeavors to seek unitary status.
Part of the statement reads:
“By attaining unitary status, the (school) System seeks to demonstrate to the local community, businesses, potential residents and the military services that it no longer operates two separate systems – one for African-American students and one for White students – and that it does not discriminate against any students based on their race.
“Unitary status will give the system the autonomy and agility to make education decisions locally in this age of accelerating change. This ensures that our school board is accountable to the citizens of Huntsville. Operating Huntsville as a unitary system will ensure our city is globally competitive and our economy will provide high wage jobs for our graduates and a strong tax base to support quality education for all students.”

So here's the deal, The Chamber's Board of Directors, Warynski, and the BOE wants Unitary Status in theory but not in practice.  They want to be able to say they don't have a dual school system while they maintain and operate a dual school system.  I wonder what part of Unitary don't they understand?

The U.S. Department of Justice fired back in federal court late last night, asserting that the Huntsville school board's plan for redrawing zone lines "would leave most students in segregated schools and, in some cases, assign them to even more segregated educational environments."

While the Chamber and others are supporting the superintendent and the BOE, who is supporting parents and students?  Not the people who were elected and are being paid that's for sure.  They care more about pretending to be a Unitary school district than they do the fact they are planning to build a $65 million dollar school less than half a mile from an active rock quarry.  A school the community did not ask for, or need.  A school that was illegally renamed against the wishes of the community. 
 
While the Chamber, the Mayor, and four members of the NW Cluster of PTA's support Wardynski and the BOE,  as for me and mine, we will continue to support the parents and children.  Lord knows nobody else is.

From: Bill Denney
Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2014 12:51 PM
To: Bob Harrison
Subject: Your Rant

Commissioner,
Your rant and accusations are TOTALLY unfounded. You had and vehemently supported a Negro female Superintendent who ran the school system, both physically and economically, into the ground.
It is time Negroes, you included, grew up and acted like adult AMERICANS instead of whinnying Negroes with an "America owes me" mentality.
You personify ALL that is wrong with Negroes in America.
Grow up and act like an ADULT AMERICAN instead of a Negro who always uses the race card as an excuse to whine because you don't get what you want.

 
FIRE ALL CAREER POLITICIANS
THEY ARE DESTROYING AMERICA
WHILE MAKING
MILLIONAIRE$ OF THEMSELVES

It's 1960 all over again, but Shhhh, don't tell anyone and maybe it will go away.    Sigh 

An Open Letter to Dr. Mae Carol Jemison~Edited

Dear Dr. Mae Carol Jemison,

It's me, RedEye.  Have your ears been burning lately?  The reason I ask is because you are being talked about 24/7 in the Rocket City.  In case you haven't heard, the Superintendent and the Huntsville City Schools Board of Education, voted to replace the name James Oliver Johnson  with  your name, despite opposition  from the majority of Alumni, parents, students, and the community.  The reason the BOE states for wanting to replace the name  J.O. Johnson with  your good name is because you are well....black  and because JOJ is a so called  "failing" school. In other words, they don't want to fix the problem, they want to slap your good name on it and call it fixed.  Nod.  Nod. Wink.  Wink.

Due to changing demographics, J.O. Johnson High School is predominately African American.  With all due respect to you and your many accomplishments, many consider the actions of the BOE to be a slap in the face to J.O. Johnson and it's proud alumni and an attempt to "pacify us" adding  insult to injury.

Johnson High School is not black or white, it is blue and gold and to connect Johnson High to a certain ethnic background is disrespectful, and it's hurtful to those alumni and current students who are not of the same background. You are alienating us with racial prejudice and segregation. And 100 years from now, when Johnson's ethnic landscape has morphed again, the only thing that will hopefully still be intact is its legacy. Its Alma mater. It's mascot, the mighty Jaguar that has come to symbolize perseverance against all odds in this city and beyond.

I also want you to let you know that in their haste to place your good name on the new school building,  the BOE violated their own naming policy.

Last night the Huntsville City School Board of Education violated their own policy on the Selection of School, Facility, and/or Property Name (Policy 2.9, presented September 5, 2013) by concluding the process and voting on the new names approximately three weeks before they were allowed to do so.
On September 5, 2013, the board met and discussed during their work session a new policy entitled, “Selection of School, Facility, and/or Property Name” (Policy 2.9). This policy was necessary to ensure that the process of receiving new names for schools would be as open to the public as possible. Laurie McCaulley, who was at that time serving as the School Board President, assured the public present that evening that the public would have every opportunity to “have input on these changes.”

 The public did not have every opportunity to "have input on these changes", as a matter of fact, it was the opposite.

The board was receiving political heat over this decision, and they don’t like political heat or pressure. Despite their claims to the contrary, they actually do prefer it when the board room is filled with nothing but employees whom they control.

That was why they held between 10 and 15 seats in a standing room only crowd last night for TFAers. (There are, by the way, only about 50 seats in the room that aren’t always taken by school district employees.)

 That was why they kept the general public waiting outside until 5:15pm.

 That was why they instigated a new policy of requiring all questions from the public during the work session part of the meeting to be submitted in writing (that they then refused to read out loud).

That was why Dr. Robinson decided that it would be a good idea to berate Johnson parents for supposedly caring more about the name of the school rather than the test scores when she said, “My challenge would be to those folks who have been spending a lot of time focused on the name that you might want to put that same focus on the test scores.”

That was why Ms. McCaulley seemed to have such difficulty reading citizens’ questions or putting forth a coherent statement on her position.

That was why Mr. Blair seemed incapable of doing anything other than demand complete silence from a crowd of interested citizens.

That was why Dr. Wardynski asked security to remove the few non-employees who managed to get seats in the room.

Mr. Culbreath’s only contribution was to claim, by holding up a folder that he “had received only a few hours ago,” that he just didn’t understand how anyone could claim that this process had been anything other than transparent.

Only Mr. Birney seemed genuinely concerned about the process that they were pushing through when he shared that Mae Jemison didn’t appreciate her southern heritage by pointing out, “You may have the possibility of Dr. Jemison refusing this as she has publicly declaimed the fact that she was born in the south. She resented that heritage.” Mr. Birney was the lone dissenting voice on this matter last night.

Anyhoo, I just wanted to let you know what was being done in your name, and wondering if you approve?

Your friend,
RedEye

UPDATE! Huntsville City Schools BOE to the taxpayers of District 1, "Your name is Toby", I mean, Mae Jemison

It is official Johnson and Butler will merge and become Mae Jemison High

BREAKING NEWS!  IN THEIR HASTE TO TREAT JOJ SUPPORTERS LIKE SLAVES THE HCS BOE VIOLATED THEIR OWN POLICY.

Last night the Huntsville City School Board of Education violated their own policy on the Selection of School, Facility, and/or Property Name (Policy 2.9, presented September 5, 2013) by concluding the process and voting on the new names approximately three weeks before they were allowed to do so.

You won't read it on al.com,  or see it on TV, but the Huntsville City Schools BOE stooped to a new low last night.   We all knew the fix was in and the BOE  had made up their minds(sic) to rename J.O. Johnson High School. We also learned Butler High School was rezoned from District 5 to District about "7 months ago", still not sure when the board voted to close J.O.Johnson and S.R. Butler, but I wish we had known before they made us sit through two long presentations about how wonderful the schools are.

It was painful to watch democracy, fairness, and justice, die last night. I went to bed last night  and woke up this morning with that same sick feeling I had after the not guilty verdict in the  George Zimmerman trial.

First, they stacked the agenda with long presentations, and seats were saved for teachers/employees prior to the public being allowed to enter the board room.  Second, citizens were told to write down their questions on cards to be given to the board members and they would decide which ones were to be read or answered.  Citizens were not allowed to ask questions of the BOE.  A handpicked Pastor was "asked" and allowed to speak, however Reverend Mark Johnson, nephew of J.O. Johnson left because the BOE kept changing the rules and he thought he wasn't going to be allowed to speak.

BOE member Dr. Jeannie Robinson, who represents Grissom High School, took it upon herself to scold the J.O. Johnson taxpayers about what they should and should not focus on. 

There were dozens of Johnson supporters in attendance, and District 3 Representative Jennie Robinson said if the people who have put a lot of focus opposing the name change of Johnson when it moves to a new building, would put the same effort into all the school's needs, the school would be stronger.
The comment drew snide looks and comments from some of the Johnson supporters.
One woman said, "Why does she got to put her foot in her mouth."

Grissom High School gets to keep it's name after overwhelming public support, J.O.Johnson  High School does not get to keep it's name after overwhelming public support.  Wardynski listened to any number of councilman and officials who called to inform him he was making  a gargantuan mistake regarding Lee High School, but he's ignoring the councilman and officials who call to inform him he's making a gargantuan mistake regarding J.O. Johnson.  Go figure.

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!

Mission Accomplished.

BTW, The city will pay the school system $8 million to acquire the current Grissom and Johnson campuses once the new schools are built. Last week, Madison County Commissioner Phil Riddick unveiled plans to turn the old Grissom into a public library, community theater, police precinct and city parks and recreation facility for southeast Huntsville.

The city will acquire the current J.O. Johnson off Winchester Road, which may be converted into a public safety facility and training center for police, firefighters and National Guard members.

Oh, and there are plans to build a new low income housing project on Winchester Road, which student won't be allowed to transfer from because Mae Jemison is not on the failing school list.  

"This city belongs to us, the people. It doesn’t belong to the Huntsville Times. It doesn’t belong to the Huntsville Board of Education. It doesn’t belong to Dr. Wardynski. It belongs to us."  ~Geek Pavaler

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

WARdynski on Public Education

The Problem Black Students Still Live With

Access to a quality public education for black/brown/poor students is under a well funded, well organized, and sustained attack in Huntsville, AL. under the capable command of Colonel Casey WARdynski.

Why is public education under attack?  Well, because it's PUBLIC education.  Meaning, every child has access, regardless of race, gender, income or address, which is the opposite of PRIVATE education.  The only reason some (not to be confused with all) black/brown/poor children have access to a quality public education is because the school district is under a federal court desegregation order.

Board President David Blair says the court order is holding back progress, preventing city schools from experimenting with a system in which students choose a school based on what they want to study instead of where they live.
"I would love to see us challenge the desegregation order," said board member Jennie Robinson, who represents south Huntsville.The Justice Department, which monitors compliance with the court order, recently refused approval for a second southeast high school. At Grissom, the only nearby high school, less than 4 percent of students are black.
The Justice Department's action limits growth near the Tennessee River, Robinson said. Plus, she said the court order ignores that there are more than two races here. Last year, Huntsville had almost 600 Hispanic students and almost 600 Asians. Most Asian students attended Grissom or its feeder schools.
She also said some studies show children learn better from teachers of the same race.
Board member Topper Birney said the city school board could better operate without federal approval for every new building.

The Justice Department told the School Board to not even think about being granted Unitary Status.  My Daddy says if you can't get in through the front door then go around to the back door.  Looks like the School Board has finally found the man with a plan to continue to ignore the United States Department of Justice.  Keeping them there black/brown/poor students in their place, I mean their zones.  Snark

In a three-page explanation to The Times, Wardynski said his sweeping overhaul of system leadership was designed "to promote strong leaders into larger schools and into schools for which their talents are particularly suited."
Two of those principal swaps, the transfer of Lynette Alexander to Westlawn Middle and Dawn Ashley to Dawson Elementary, are designed to help the district "restart" low-performing schools. A "restart" allows the district to replace about 50 percent of the teachers and bring in new school leaders.
Wardynski called Alexander and Ashley "two of our most accomplished leaders" and said he expected immediate improvements.
The move also allows a district to cancel student transfers to other schools and erase a school's test score history in an effort to give it a fresh start.

Looks like Colonel WARdynski is doing at least on of the jobs he was hired to do.

In case you missed it, tonight the board had yet another discussion about how to evaluate Dr. Wardynski. The board has proposed five goals by which Dr. Wardynski will be evaluated. These are:
Accelerate Learning at All Levels
Increase Flexibility in the General Fund Budget While Preserving Educational Programs
Build Bench Strength Though Strategic Staffing
Improve Capital Infrastructure
Meet Department of Justice Requirements to Deserve Unitary Status

Today's Must Read
Just how much of a bonus should Dr. Wardynski receive for his work this year? 

Which brings me to the Pinnacle fiasco.  Stay tuned.

The #HCSBOE Crony Capitalism

H/T Geek Pavaler

After voting to spend millions of tax dollars on multiple contract awards,  the board meeting was abruptly ended  by the resident weather forecaster, who happens to be the husband of guess who.... board member, and Conservative Congress endorsed, Dr. Jeannie Robinson.

The School Board Meeting was called to order at 5: 30 PM.   After sitting through numerous Superintendent resolutions (including one to Robinson's husband for weather forecasting),  a presentation of the budget, fiscal accountability,  E-Rate Vendors, three action items, and votes on 11 contract awards,  it was finally time for the moment tax payers had been waiting patiently for.... citizens comments.

Not.

After the second speaker, Board VP David Blair adjourned the meeting due to severe thunderstorms OUTSIDE of the building.  That's right, the meeting was adjourned because it was storming outside. One would think since the weather was bad enough to adjourn the meeting, citizens would be moved to a secure location on the ground floor until the storm passed over. Nope.  There were no plans for the safety of citizens, everyone was on their own. Sigh

Citizens milled around the hallway, in front of a wall of glass doors and windows, watching the Superintendent give a television interview, and board members scurrying around like chickens with their heads cut off, trying to avoid citizens.

Let's recap:
.
Citizens were inside the Mertz Center in an interior,  windowless, sound proof,  room.

Severe weather outside the Mertz Center, including strong winds,  torrential rain, thunder, lightening, and hail.

No weather sirens, no loss of power inside building.

A note from  "the real Dr. Robinson" (Jeannie Robinson's husband)  is handed to board VP David Blair, stating severe weather is in the area.

The board votes to adjourn, citizens told to go home in the severe weather.

Citizens, nor Board Members, can leave, mill around in the Foyer in front a wall of glass doors and windows.

Security hands out large trash bags for those who want to make a mad dash to their automobiles.

School Board members snatch up the garbage bags.

Dr. Wardynski retreats to his office.

The next school board meeting is April 5, 2012 , 5:30 PM, Annie Mertz Center, 200White Street.

Citizens comments should be first on the agenda.

Not last.

Happy Days with Tax Payers Dollars

According to a  Watchdog Report by The Huntsville Times,   former HSC Superintendent Dr. Anne Roy Moore earned her $99,000 consulting fee,  in addition to her $198,000 annual salary,  by working at home, and providing background information on the firing of Hampton Middle Schools former principal.  Nice work if you can get it.

The reason Moore was paid a consulting fee, in addition to her annual salary, was because theSchool Board  didn't have a valid reason not to renew her contract and replace her with Casey Wardynski,  so he could, according to a comment at al.com,   "restore the school system to it's former glory."

To make a long story short, the school board  paid our money to Anne Roy Moore to avoid a law suit she would have won.  This at the same time they are cutting special education funding and making other costly changes at taxpayers expense.

This is history repeating itself with the same cast of characters.

And we wonder why we keep getting the same results?