Why Spend Thousands of Dollars To Find What You Already Have?
Why is the School Board so determined to subvert the will of the people and look for another Director of Schools when they already have an extremely well qualified and proven leader in Mr. J.B. Smith?
There have been a number of claims or suggestions made ranging from racism to personal animus toward the current Director. What the real reason is I do not know since I have not heard a clear response to the question from Board members
Mr. Smith was appointed the Interim Director of Schools with the understanding and commitment, that as soon as the time requirements, imposed by the election, were met he would be made the Director of Schools. This commitment was made in part based on the fact that Mr. Smith had been fully vetted in the previous search for a Director where he had been the second choice behind Dr. Webb.
What is the point of spending several thousand dollars going through the process and paying an attorney, whose advice has proven faulty and costly in the past, to find the best person for the job when by most accounts he is already in that position.
It's time, past time, that this county stop depending on what the elitist, out of touch "political educators" in Nashville want and consider what the people paying the bills want. I can not more strongly endorse Mr. Smith for School Director and I urge the School Board to drop this expensive inaneness and appoint Mr. Smith as permanent director before he becomes so disgusted with the games that he withdraws and the county loses its opportunity to provide students with a higher quality education.
There have been a number of claims or suggestions made ranging from racism to personal animus toward the current Director. What the real reason is I do not know since I have not heard a clear response to the question from Board members
Mr. Smith was appointed the Interim Director of Schools with the understanding and commitment, that as soon as the time requirements, imposed by the election, were met he would be made the Director of Schools. This commitment was made in part based on the fact that Mr. Smith had been fully vetted in the previous search for a Director where he had been the second choice behind Dr. Webb.
What is the point of spending several thousand dollars going through the process and paying an attorney, whose advice has proven faulty and costly in the past, to find the best person for the job when by most accounts he is already in that position.
It's time, past time, that this county stop depending on what the elitist, out of touch "political educators" in Nashville want and consider what the people paying the bills want. I can not more strongly endorse Mr. Smith for School Director and I urge the School Board to drop this expensive inaneness and appoint Mr. Smith as permanent director before he becomes so disgusted with the games that he withdraws and the county loses its opportunity to provide students with a higher quality education.
posted by Allen Barrett | 11:34 AM
25 Comments:
Maybe because however qualified Mr. Smith may be, there could be someone more qualified. Mr. Smith was not second behind Dr. Webb anyway, Rose Brown was. I think Mr. Smith is doing a good job, but I can't say that for sure because I am not in the school system. and I am pretty sure they never said he would have the job after the election, they said they would decide whether to take applications or to appoint him. They never said he couldn't apply too. He may very well be the best for the job, but there's a chance through a search they could find someone better.
I bet they can find another Mr. Little.
WHY OH WHY is "Lucy working on it " ? when the county has their own hired gun attorney who perhaps can make something happen ..or not ?
Dear School Board Members, please retain Mr. Smith in this position notwithstanding the fact that Mr. Barrett is in favor of it.
Dear Allen,
Please do not mess this up too.
Ironic. Mr. Barrett expunges his thoughts and invested time toward open government derived by democratic procedures yet he criticizes a board for conducting open democratic rules regarding staff additions. He screams with penmanship implying cronyism yet retreats to a stance of selection without an open application process. His desire to circumvent open hiring processes is noted. Therefore his bed is lined with the same quilting as those of whom he protests.
Klugscheißer
You may be a smart aleck (the nice translation) but that doesn't mean you have a knowledge of my thoughts even after reading the words of those thoughts. I am not opposed to the open "democratic" process when it is applied equally and fairly and I am completely opposed to the cronyism that prevails in this county but neither are at play in this situation. I sat through the entire interview process when the last director was hired and there was no question that the decision was already made prior to the interviews.
Mrs Brown presented strongly in the interview process but she lost points due to a lack of real leadership experience on a large level. As was stated at the time she was not perceived as strong enough to run the whole thing. Mr. Smith was the second choice based on comments of the selection committee.
My thoughts are that because the selection process was so recent and Mr. Smith did so well and has the experience of developing a strong school system at Bridgeport he would be the best choice for the whole system. I do not trust the advice of the attorney, he has proven to be unreliable in his benefit to this county. If the school board would simply give a reasonable explanation as to why they feel it's necessary to seek another director then I could change my mind but until then I will stay with my first choice.
"that doesn't mean you have a knowledge of my thoughts even after reading the words of those thoughts." WAB
That's funny, in a weird sort of way. Kind of like I was against it before I was for it. So everyone be warned, just because he says it does NOT mean he is thinking it. Okay. I think I finally got it. ....or so I think. But if he says he "thinks" I did not get it, does that mean I really did, and we should disregard his words. Whew. Living in this beyond the looking glass world is confusing.
The selection committee does not determine who was second choice. The selection committee made recommendations for the board to interview. In the board interviews, Mr. Smith was not even in the top three. I was told personally by a former board member that he was not even considered because in his interview, he told them that they really didn't want to give the job to him because he was not going to follow orders. What everyone seems not to understand is that the only boss the director of schools has is the Board of Education. So many director's are called puppets of the board and so on, that's because the Board members are the director's bosses. The director should take orders from those elected officials. That's how the system works.
Forgive me as to the lack of a timely response. The availability of an open Wi-Fi sometimes evades me as I operate solely on a portable devise obscure from detection.
You response is noted however flawed by your own contributions. One should have knowledge of anothers thoughts after conjunctive analysis of your penmanship. In the case at hand you are an enabler of cronyism and closed government by the mere suggestion that a person should be awarded said open position without advertisement of the said opening. Elapsed time is of no value. Only divine intervention could shed light on who might apply for this opening without open posting. Your words Mr. Barrett. By the stroke of your hand your desire to simply award the position without open due process is noted.
This position effects all of us. Our schools must improve. The budgets must be exact and accountable. The process should include the ability of the board to advertise the position and then select the best qualified candidate.
"I am not opposed to the open "democratic" process when it is applied equally and fairly and I am completely opposed to the cronyism that prevails in this county but neither are at play in this situation." The colours off the brush you paint with show different. You desire to appoint without open and fair competition by denying any other applicants to respond. That would be cronyism at it's finest.
Klugscheißer
That is an absolute lie 5:42 I was there as a board member and there was nothing even close to that stated by Mr. Smith or anyone else. Smith was not my first choice but he did receive the second highest number of votes.
THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013
A New Director Of Schools Has Been Selected
Tonight the school Board met and voted on a new Director of Schools.
On the ballot to choose the top two possibilities the vote was as follows;
For Dr. Webb- Byrant, Greene, Young, Story, Glover and Ead
For Dr. Wright- Byrant and Story
For Commissioner Brown - Turner, Greene, Young and Glover
For Principal Smith - Turner and Ead
On the vote between the top two
Dr. Webb received the vote of Board Members Byrant, Greene, Young, Story and Ead
Ms. Brown received the votes of Board Members Turner and Glover
As you can see, according to Allen Barrett himself, you are wrong.
Fine Christina Gentleman at work again.
I am not CG, remember he never proves he is right. But I like how that's the only thing you could come back with. Show your intelligence. You're doing a good job..
10:10 I know you aren't a Christian or gentleman from your post.
By the way which post was 8:15 referring too so I'll know which one is yours?
I am so tired of the race card look the only raciest I see are the ones calling others raciest. Let the people vote for school super. Mr.Smith should not be handed this position post it let others apply if he is the most qualified he should not worry if he is not then that is it. That is not raciest that is the right way
Extremely poor judgement is one of several reasons for the Board not to make Smith permanent.
Anyone who authorizes his own pay and the pay of others without board approval should not be director of schools.
Once again: Mr. Smith was asked to be interim Director of Schools on a Thursday night (I think) and the next morning he was in the office before most of us had turned over. He had know one to give him guidelines or help in anyway. I would hope Ms. Moore would have told him what he could or couldn't do as far as money goes. And as for Mr. Pope wanting to show Mr. Smith, he's a good one to show anybody anything.
May I submit an inquiry to Wednesday, November 19, 2014 10:54:00 PM. A presentation of the following was submitted timely in the early days during the month of October, in the year of 2014 of our Lord. The response gained was mere silence. I assume that Mr. Barrett, a champion of the people regarding wasteful expenditures, elected to ignore the inquiry due to his open support for Mr. Smith. Your input would gain thanks.
Did Mr. Smith forward funds directed to the acquisition of newly manufactured items of furniture for his personal office environment?
Information forwarded included the mention of a $2,000.00 expenditure combined with staff addition consisting of placing his personal assistant within the general office.
If true, did these decisions add value to the educational process or were they merely a indicator as to his personal desired comfort level? It should be noted that although this would be a modest expenditure as compared to the complete budgetary package, reflections of his priorities would become a known. I find it suspect that a intern director would make such permanent directives.
Klugscheißer
5:24 I thought Tee Jackson had already fixed that office up good. I guess Dr Webb wore it out.
Where was the "presentation of the following" posted Klug? Please be specific because your post does not make sense as presented. Was this an actual question posted to Barrett in the past? What was the date of the post to which you refer?
Thursday, November 20, 2014 12:40:00 PM
Your targeted question deserves merit. My apologies for failing to provide reference.
Upon this blog under the topic heading "School Board Takes a Giant Step Backwards. Monday October 06, 2014. 11:01 AM.
I also failed in regards to implications that Mr. Barrett should have answered my inquiry. It is not his responsibility to do so. I assumed he would come to task after questionable expenditures were implied. My apologies sir.
Klugscheißer
To anonymous of Tuesday, November 18, 2014 5:41:00 PM
I apologize for creating such a challenge for you, I’m sure it must be very difficult trying to read and comprehend while at the same time looking to twist words into your own meaning. To put what I said in simple terms just for your benefit, “YOU FAILED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I CLEARLY STATED”
To Klugscheiber AKA “smart aleck” the nice translation..
I can understand part of your criticism as appropriate and I apologize for seeming to support circumventing the lawful process for selecting a new school director. The problem I was trying to point out is the total inconsistency with which the hiring process has been followed all along.
I stand by the need to follow legal “established” procedures. However, I am totally opposed to the “established” procedures that have been followed during the last two director searches and the retention of a previous director. Those established procedures being the non-public meetings held by some board members where discussions were held and decisions made then brought to the public meeting and voted on. I apologize if I seemed to support the prevailing cronyism, my reaction was primarily to what I consider the slight to Mr. Smith.
I support Mr. Smith as a very capable candidate as I did previously and I support him as a person who was told the job would be his after the completed time period. This was done in a Board meeting and I am sure the recorded minutes would verify. The whole matter could and would be totally inconsequential if the people were merely allowed to vote for a director. History shows that there has not been a worthwhile director since Sam Collins was elected every appointed director has failed the county.
I fully agree that the schools must improve and that, I believe, will require a strong leader that has the confidence of the teachers, the community and a commitment to discipline all those, staff and student, who will not contribute to the learning process.
As for the expenditures you posted I know nothing of them and won’t comment on them until I know more. If they were unnecessary or merely for decoration I will be as critical as I was of the building of the unnecessary wasteful school offices.
I was very displeased at the expenditures made without approval from the County Legislative Body but account those to the newness of Mr. Smith and the lack of direction offered by the School Board and the Financial Management Department. No salary changes should be made without the school board approval, which I understand they gave, and information from the Financial Management Department as to the propriety of such an action.
Did Mr. Smith request guidance from the finance office and not receive it or is this just an attempt to put it off on them?
Does Gerry Bryant still work at Walgreens as his name is not on the front door as pharmacy manager?
From what i hear, he is sort of just working other stores. I think he more or less stepped down to work less hours.
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