Letters to the Editor 06-03-2005
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Save McGuire - Republicans Don't Think - Don't Terminate McGuire - Redeemer Secrets
Save McGuire
Editor, Times-Union:Be careful what you wish for, Warsaw!
On Monday, June 6, the school board will convene for a special meeting at Attorney Max Reed's office to discuss what options they have regarding Superintendent McGuire's contract.
Having attended the last board meeting on May 16, it was moving to see the support that Dr. McGuire has within our community! At the mention of support directed toward him, the room rose in a standing ovation! Why then, I ask, are we reviewing his contract? During this meeting nothing was revealed publicly about why the board is seeking options from an attorney. Are we reviewing this contract because of continued hurt feelings over the closing of the three schools? If this is the reason, I truly am disappointed in this community!
Unfortunately, this was a decision that was long in coming! Committees formed long ago made these very suggestions to former school boards, with no actions being taken. When Dr. McGuire became our superintendent, we entrusted him to make decisions that were in the best interest of not only our students, but also our school corporation. Offers were made to build new schools on the north and south sides of town; these schools would each have been four section buildings, able to accommodate the growing population. If I remember correctly, these options were rejected. Sad to say, it is just not financially feasible in today's world to operate one and two section schools.
In a perfect world, we would have all the federal and state funding available. In a perfect world, crazy programs demanding unrealistic goals placed on students and teachers would not be put into play without the proper research and funding. In a perfect world, all students would pass ISTEP and MAP tests. But, as we all know, this world is not perfect, students and teachers are not perfect, and decisions are not always perfect!
Sadly, the credibility of a man who has dedicated over 19 years of his life to this school district is being put to the test on Monday evening. This is a good man who has worked hard his entire life. He was hired into this position because decisions that were not perfect needed to be made. Well, Warsaw, look around at other communities. Compared to others, we are looking pretty good. We have not had to RIF teachers, we have not had to reduce programs, we have a balanced budget and are operating in the black, our overall ISTEP scores have improved dramatically over the past few years, we will have a beautiful state of the art high school facility (that, yes, all your children and grandchildren will use and benefit from).
Is our corporation perfect? No, and there are many areas that we can work on to improve for future generations. But, we are heading in the right direction with a leader who is dedicated and strong and who can make the tough decisions when necessary. Stop to look around at those other communities. Be careful what you wish for - you just may get it!
Patti Hanson
Leesburg Elementary PTO President
Republicans Don't Think
Editor, Times-Union:Ref: Mr. Guard's letter of May 17, "Proud Conservative"
Mr. Guard, you are the most self-centered, self-righteous, holier-than-thou, tunnel-visional man I have ever had the opportunity to read. You are the epitome of the Bush-brainwashed followers. It's people like you that will fulfill the Republican's goal of a one-party America. I'm sure the new "Fundamental Christians" will surely take the lead. How Christian was it when at Lincoln's election the electoral votes of 11 states were not counted? How Christian was it to illegally invade a country over one lie after another? Speaking of which, how conservative was that? We've spent enough money on that to take care of SS and much more. Conservative? Why of course, it's what GW wanted. Your goal will be, as a lot of party following non-thinkers, to "spur" them on. (Note my good ol' Texan cowboy word.) Now please don't write back about what a wonderful Marine you are, and how you remember this and that as a Master Sergeant. You're not one anymore. You should get over your "big me, I'm always right" attitude. Remember you are welcome to your opinion. But you should not push it down people's throats like GW does. And your childish words are disgusting and only appropriate for someone who hasn't grown up. Lastly, it's the people who don't think for themselves that become the losers.
M. Tapp
Warsaw
Don't Terminate McGuire
Editor, Times-Union:On June 6, 2005, the Warsaw Community School Board will pursue the termination of school superintendent Dr. David McGuire. This termination proceeding is being promoted by a school board that contains four new board members. These four new members have been in their positions for approximately four months and if my memory serves me correctly, I do not remember seeing three of the members attend any of the past school board meetings before they were elected and in one case appointed. How can you possibly determine a person's overall performance when your involvement has been so limited? And if you have not been attending previous meetings, what is the source of your facts?
In fact, I have been able to obtain a copy of Dr. McGuire's performance review for 2005 from a new local Web site. To begin, the job description for our superintendent is stated as "A district administrator is an educational leader who guides, facilitates, and supports the success of all learners by developing, articulating, implementing and evaluating an educational vision that is shared and supported by the greater school community." Please note the words "greater school community." There are a total of 92 questions that the superintendent is rated on. For space reasons, I've averaged the scores given by school administrators and school board members.
1-Unsatisfactory 3-Meets Expectations 5-Outstanding
Admin 2004 4.08
Board 2004 3.80
2005 4.19
2005 2.80
Hmm!! Makes me wonder, too.
If Dr. McGuire is being terminated based on the decision to close the schools, or in other words consolidate resources, then I would suggest you take a very hard look at what you are about to do. There are many of us who agree with the decision to consolidate resources by closing the one-section schools.
This decision to terminate Dr. McGuire will set a very dangerous precedent. If the superintendent can be removed based on a decision where the majority of the people agree, I would think that all other school administrators would be very uncomfortable in any decisions that they are required to make during the normal course of their jobs. It will in all likelihood taint not only one man's reputation, but that of the school board as well. I hope you have all of your facts straight and that you are not basing your decision on comments and statements delivered by a select few.
I would like to recommend that the school board delay the termination proceedings of Dr. McGuire until the facilities committee delivers their findings. I would hate to see a person wrongfully terminated, only to then find out later that he was right all along.
David Smolen
Warsaw
Redeemer Secrets
Editor, Times-Union:In response to Mr. Harding's rebuttal, you are barking up the wrong tree as they say.
We as parents of Redeemer students were never given the option of paying more for our children to attend school. The church kept the "big" secret from those who could have helped save the school and then gave us as parents less than two months notice that they were pulling the plug on the school. Even after the parents came up with very realistic plans to save the school and raised funds to help ease the deficit the church had encountered, the council refused to even listen to any of the ideas.
When you have a faculty willing to take cuts in salary and parents willing to provide additional funds in way of tuition and even purchasing supplies for the every day running of the school, how can you possibly say that we were not willing to pay our way? When my 7-year-old son came to me with his piggy bank in hand wanting to donate it to the school to keep it open, will you now accuse him of not being willing to pay his way.
I know every parent of a Redeemer Lutheran student would have been more than willing to do whatever they could if we had been given the chance. The idea that more students would have made it worse is utterly ridiculous. The classrooms had room for growth, we were in no way close to being maxed out to ratio. So an increase in enrollment would not have put anymore burden on the staff or the school. It would have only increased revenue.
I thank your parents for what they have done in providing funding for the school, because my son had two great years at Redeemer. My beef, as well as the beef of many of the other parents is that "Why didn't someone do something before it came to this to try and eliminate from ever happening?" "Why keep the parents in the dark?"
I believe Ms. Hughes is correct when she stated that there were members of the church who didn't want the school in the first place and jumped at the opportunity to shut it down.
All I know is that my Bible reads in Matthew 18:5-6 "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." I guess we shall all be ready to drown.
Chris Morehouse
Mentone
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- Save McGuire - Republicans Don't Think - Don't Terminate McGuire - Redeemer Secrets
Save McGuire
Editor, Times-Union:Be careful what you wish for, Warsaw!
On Monday, June 6, the school board will convene for a special meeting at Attorney Max Reed's office to discuss what options they have regarding Superintendent McGuire's contract.
Having attended the last board meeting on May 16, it was moving to see the support that Dr. McGuire has within our community! At the mention of support directed toward him, the room rose in a standing ovation! Why then, I ask, are we reviewing his contract? During this meeting nothing was revealed publicly about why the board is seeking options from an attorney. Are we reviewing this contract because of continued hurt feelings over the closing of the three schools? If this is the reason, I truly am disappointed in this community!
Unfortunately, this was a decision that was long in coming! Committees formed long ago made these very suggestions to former school boards, with no actions being taken. When Dr. McGuire became our superintendent, we entrusted him to make decisions that were in the best interest of not only our students, but also our school corporation. Offers were made to build new schools on the north and south sides of town; these schools would each have been four section buildings, able to accommodate the growing population. If I remember correctly, these options were rejected. Sad to say, it is just not financially feasible in today's world to operate one and two section schools.
In a perfect world, we would have all the federal and state funding available. In a perfect world, crazy programs demanding unrealistic goals placed on students and teachers would not be put into play without the proper research and funding. In a perfect world, all students would pass ISTEP and MAP tests. But, as we all know, this world is not perfect, students and teachers are not perfect, and decisions are not always perfect!
Sadly, the credibility of a man who has dedicated over 19 years of his life to this school district is being put to the test on Monday evening. This is a good man who has worked hard his entire life. He was hired into this position because decisions that were not perfect needed to be made. Well, Warsaw, look around at other communities. Compared to others, we are looking pretty good. We have not had to RIF teachers, we have not had to reduce programs, we have a balanced budget and are operating in the black, our overall ISTEP scores have improved dramatically over the past few years, we will have a beautiful state of the art high school facility (that, yes, all your children and grandchildren will use and benefit from).
Is our corporation perfect? No, and there are many areas that we can work on to improve for future generations. But, we are heading in the right direction with a leader who is dedicated and strong and who can make the tough decisions when necessary. Stop to look around at those other communities. Be careful what you wish for - you just may get it!
Patti Hanson
Leesburg Elementary PTO President
Republicans Don't Think
Editor, Times-Union:Ref: Mr. Guard's letter of May 17, "Proud Conservative"
Mr. Guard, you are the most self-centered, self-righteous, holier-than-thou, tunnel-visional man I have ever had the opportunity to read. You are the epitome of the Bush-brainwashed followers. It's people like you that will fulfill the Republican's goal of a one-party America. I'm sure the new "Fundamental Christians" will surely take the lead. How Christian was it when at Lincoln's election the electoral votes of 11 states were not counted? How Christian was it to illegally invade a country over one lie after another? Speaking of which, how conservative was that? We've spent enough money on that to take care of SS and much more. Conservative? Why of course, it's what GW wanted. Your goal will be, as a lot of party following non-thinkers, to "spur" them on. (Note my good ol' Texan cowboy word.) Now please don't write back about what a wonderful Marine you are, and how you remember this and that as a Master Sergeant. You're not one anymore. You should get over your "big me, I'm always right" attitude. Remember you are welcome to your opinion. But you should not push it down people's throats like GW does. And your childish words are disgusting and only appropriate for someone who hasn't grown up. Lastly, it's the people who don't think for themselves that become the losers.
M. Tapp
Warsaw
Don't Terminate McGuire
Editor, Times-Union:On June 6, 2005, the Warsaw Community School Board will pursue the termination of school superintendent Dr. David McGuire. This termination proceeding is being promoted by a school board that contains four new board members. These four new members have been in their positions for approximately four months and if my memory serves me correctly, I do not remember seeing three of the members attend any of the past school board meetings before they were elected and in one case appointed. How can you possibly determine a person's overall performance when your involvement has been so limited? And if you have not been attending previous meetings, what is the source of your facts?
In fact, I have been able to obtain a copy of Dr. McGuire's performance review for 2005 from a new local Web site. To begin, the job description for our superintendent is stated as "A district administrator is an educational leader who guides, facilitates, and supports the success of all learners by developing, articulating, implementing and evaluating an educational vision that is shared and supported by the greater school community." Please note the words "greater school community." There are a total of 92 questions that the superintendent is rated on. For space reasons, I've averaged the scores given by school administrators and school board members.
1-Unsatisfactory 3-Meets Expectations 5-Outstanding
Admin 2004 4.08
Board 2004 3.80
2005 4.19
2005 2.80
Hmm!! Makes me wonder, too.
If Dr. McGuire is being terminated based on the decision to close the schools, or in other words consolidate resources, then I would suggest you take a very hard look at what you are about to do. There are many of us who agree with the decision to consolidate resources by closing the one-section schools.
This decision to terminate Dr. McGuire will set a very dangerous precedent. If the superintendent can be removed based on a decision where the majority of the people agree, I would think that all other school administrators would be very uncomfortable in any decisions that they are required to make during the normal course of their jobs. It will in all likelihood taint not only one man's reputation, but that of the school board as well. I hope you have all of your facts straight and that you are not basing your decision on comments and statements delivered by a select few.
I would like to recommend that the school board delay the termination proceedings of Dr. McGuire until the facilities committee delivers their findings. I would hate to see a person wrongfully terminated, only to then find out later that he was right all along.
David Smolen
Warsaw
Redeemer Secrets
Editor, Times-Union:In response to Mr. Harding's rebuttal, you are barking up the wrong tree as they say.
We as parents of Redeemer students were never given the option of paying more for our children to attend school. The church kept the "big" secret from those who could have helped save the school and then gave us as parents less than two months notice that they were pulling the plug on the school. Even after the parents came up with very realistic plans to save the school and raised funds to help ease the deficit the church had encountered, the council refused to even listen to any of the ideas.
When you have a faculty willing to take cuts in salary and parents willing to provide additional funds in way of tuition and even purchasing supplies for the every day running of the school, how can you possibly say that we were not willing to pay our way? When my 7-year-old son came to me with his piggy bank in hand wanting to donate it to the school to keep it open, will you now accuse him of not being willing to pay his way.
I know every parent of a Redeemer Lutheran student would have been more than willing to do whatever they could if we had been given the chance. The idea that more students would have made it worse is utterly ridiculous. The classrooms had room for growth, we were in no way close to being maxed out to ratio. So an increase in enrollment would not have put anymore burden on the staff or the school. It would have only increased revenue.
I thank your parents for what they have done in providing funding for the school, because my son had two great years at Redeemer. My beef, as well as the beef of many of the other parents is that "Why didn't someone do something before it came to this to try and eliminate from ever happening?" "Why keep the parents in the dark?"
I believe Ms. Hughes is correct when she stated that there were members of the church who didn't want the school in the first place and jumped at the opportunity to shut it down.
All I know is that my Bible reads in Matthew 18:5-6 "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." I guess we shall all be ready to drown.
Chris Morehouse
Mentone
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