Please see below the comments from teachers and staff about Dr. Leary's message to them at the start of the new year. This tradition was abandoned several years ago by former Supt. Klaus and I think bringing it back is great!
Maria
I guess I can really only speak for myself and the South people I talked to. My feeling is that is was very positive, upbeat, and meaningful. It began with someone that not many of us in the crowd really knew. Dr. Leary's message was very uplifting, he set the tone for a positive school year.
*************************************
I thought his message was positive, unifying,funny and affirming! It was
good to have the WHOLE staff be together. It sent a good message.
*******************************
It was an incredibly positive, genuine and inspiring presentation. For me
it set a wonderful tone that revitalized my attitude for this year after
what had been an extremely stressful and difficult year for most of us in
the district. It felt like a breath of fresh air! I can truly say I feel
more hopeful about our future as a district.
**************************************
I found his remarkes to be light-hearted, positive and
at times, funny. After teaching for 14 years I can't
believe that ECASD was not addressed as a whole by the
superintendent these last several years. In the two
other districts I taught in an address by the
superintendent was always how the year started off
(for good or for bad). Nice to see that the tradition
has returned to ECASD.
Most importantly, he respected the time alloted and
the time of the teachers and did not go over his
scheduled amount!
****************************************
t has been so long since I felt so excited and happy after hearing my superintendent speak. Dr. Leary was engaging, funny and poignant. He made me happy to be back and excited to work with my co-workers and my children again!
Just FYI, Dr. Butler sat with his head on his hand for all of the speech. Clearly, not the impression that the rest of the faculty had. We were laughing, clapping and moved.
*******************************************
I am embarrassed to say I did not have a writing tool during Dr.
Leary's comments because there was plenty of positive material. I do
not know if we are hungry for good things, if Superintendent Leary's
message was so good or a combination of the two but I remain
favorably impressed. His comments were affirmative, positive and
constructive. Perhaps the thing that resonated most loudly with me
was his comment regarding the status quo and how individuals who want
to maintain the status quo do not help us move forward. (My
conversations with district personnel regarding incorporation of
Macintosh computers for graphic arts and audio applications seem to
fall on deaf ears - or against big blinders.)
I heard more of the positive things that I heard at a board meeting
this summer and I cannot tell you how happy I am that he has agreed
to visit my class.
****************************************
Overall, his address was positive, humorous and clear about the
direction he wants to take us. I have not visited with many people
specifically about this speech but many heads were bobbing in
agreement which I interpret as a good sign. I continue to think we
have a man with his hand on the helm who is extremely capable and
willing to lead us through the troubled waters we need to cross
before we have an open and transparent board and administrative team.
******************************************
I was impressed with what Dr. Leary had to say this morning, especially his
emphasis on the value of relationships in our endeavors. His remarks were
welcoming, humorous, kind, complimentary and forward-looking. He asked us to
aim high and made it very clear that he wants to roll up his sleeves and
work alongside of us through our challenges.
********************************************
The first thing I noticed about him was his presence in the crowd this
morning as he greeted teachers in the lobby and in the auditorium. He
wasn't just standing up front, waiting for us to be seated! He was meeting
people as if they were the most important people in his world at that
moment. In addition, he didn't spend time introducing an entourage of people
around him, which I appreciated because I felt like he wanted to talk with
us.
I sense that he brings wisdom from experience and that he values people
above all else.
**************************************
Hi Maria . . .it was a perfect speech by Dr. Leary! And very well
received by the District staff . . . he was very funny which really
helps the first day back. He was totally forward looking too which
was good . . ... nothing about what happened last year, or year
before, or last week for that matter. I heard no negatives
whatsoever afterward . . . I think most people are really tired of the
negativity, whether they feel it was justified or not. I know
personally I'm looking forward to a very positive year no matter comes
my way. :-)
************************************
Every year, it seems that we all start out the school year with good
intentions, a positive attitude and energy to take on the daunting tasks
that are added to our already full teaching 'plates'. This year, we all
came to the first day with similar feelings, but with teacher morale at
an all-time low, our new interim superintendent, James Leary had his
work cut out for him as he addressed all employees. Add to the morale
issue (no contract, staff layoffs and program cuts, 'new-found' money,
and a general feeling that teachers are underappreciated by our board
and district administration), the fact that we are the only state in the
country without a passed budget, as the assembly proposes even further
cuts to our bare-bones programs and services, it makes for some
frustrated educators, to say the least!
I wouldn't suggest that he rode in on a white horse, but Dr. Leary has
been around the block - whether in Spain, Illinois, Michigan or Chippewa
Falls. He addressed the group with a sense of hope, positive outlook,
humor and respect. In his opening remarks, he suggested that he wouldn't
be introducing anyone, since this wasn't a day for identifying
'important people', rather we are all ONE...we are ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
As he gave his suggestions for fundamental factors to successful schools
(trust, humor, empowerment and compassion), it was clear that he is a
'people person', with the energy and integrity to move this district in
the right direction. I was impressed.
Having met Leary on numerous occasions, I'm further impressed by his
hidden saavy and interest in human nature. 'Hidden' because he has a
folksy style, has no airs, no desire for power or control, and certainly
no complacency! He does have a wealth of experience in working with
struggling district (not to mention GREAT expertise in passing
referendums; he's never had one fail!). He is eager to get out and visit
our schools (refreshing), and will visit classrooms, where he wants to
be introduced as a 'learning helper', not superintendent. He will likely
be very well-received. Our teachers are eager to trust, share and build
in this district, and it's about time it's reciprocal!
From Memorial, several superintendents and others gathered at North
High, where the Governor joined them in a press conference, highlighting
the need for the Assembly to pass a budget that is truly reflective of
the priority we place on public education. The cuts that the Republican
Assembly has proposed would literally devastate our schools - watch the
news tonight!
I believe we're slowly moving ahead in this district, with good things
happening on many levels - teachers, school board, parents AND
superintendent. Stay tuned!
Jo Burke
President, Eau Claire Association of Educators
*************************************************
I was very encouraged. I was looking forward to positive things
happening this year and I feel Dr. Leary started us off with just that.
I appreciated how he stressed the partnership that he has with us. In
fact, he told us he does not want to thought of as our "Superintendent"
he would rather us call him our "Learning Partner." It was a small
gesture but it carried weight after everything we have gone through.
****************************************
I was quite impressed with Dr. Leary's "welcome" to the staff this morning,
so much so that later today I e-mailed him and told him so. I came away
feeling energized and glad that he was leading us. I actually felt like
Dr. Leary WAS leading, and I felt that it was long overdue for our leader
to hold a district-wide meeting at the beginning of the school year. Dr.
Leary's message was just over 30 minutes long. He focused on the power of
positive thinking and on how we are all in this together in the "people"
business. He infused his message with humor and anecdotes along with
research stating what kids want (and need) in their teachers. Things like
they wanted their teachers to love them, they wanted to be trusted, and
they wanted their teachers to have a sense of humor. His tone throughout
was encouraging and positive! Dr. Leary also indicated that he believes we
are all teachers and all learners, simultaneously. To that end, he
indicated that he looks forward to learning all he can about our great
district while also clearly indicating that we are all in this together to
make positive changes. Many of my colleagues that I talked to were also
impressed with his message, and I, for one, feel good about the start of
this new school year!
Showing posts with label Interim Superintendent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Interim Superintendent. Show all posts
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
LT article about Dr. Leary's Initiatives
Please see below an article that was published in the LT about a lot of Dr. Leary's initiatives. GREAT STUFF!!
I guess my only comment is to enjoy reading between the lines!
Maria
Saturday,August 11, 2007
By Mary Stegmeir
Leader-Telegram staff
When James Leary was selected as the Eau Claire school district's interim superintendent last month, he knew exactly how he wanted to spend his year in charge.
While assisting the school board in choosing a permanent system leader,
Leary also wanted to help district officials set educational and operational
priorities. During some of his first meetings with board members this
summer, Leary started to lay out a school improvement process the district
will follow this year to plan for the future.
It's a method that's tried and true, said Leary, noting that the process has been followed by more than 100 school districts across the country.
"I know this works," he said. "It's all about setting goals and being accountable."
Leary developed the program about 25 years ago. He has shared his process with school leaders as president of MacroVision Associates, an education consulting firm in Holcombe that is temporarily shut down while the administrator works at the Eau Claire school district.
The program starts with board members crafting a district philosophy and setting goals for the system. Next, the board, along with teachers and administrators, will evaluate the district's needs, selecting up to 60 areas for improvement. Annual objectives also will be developed to ensure the new ideas are put into practice.
"We'll do the work this year so that the new superintendent can step right into the swing of things," Leary said. "I want this plan to be fully operational in this year so that it can form the basic foundation for allowing Eau Claire to move forward over the next three to five years."
The process is internal, but residents will learn about the district's plans throughout the year, Leary said. The school improvement plan is separate from the community comprehensive plan that the school board has discussed creating.
"Experience has shown that's important that we work and get our plans together in-house first," Leary said. " ... We should be able to solve our own problems in-house and then reach out and give."
Leary's school improvement process benefited the Chippewa Falls school district, said board president Roberta Rasmus. The administrator served as interim superintendent with that system in 2003-04.
Using Leary's planning process, district employees realized the system needed to add a human relations position. The new job cut costs by decreasing the number of employee grievances, Rasmus said.
"He helped us understand possible changes we could make or where we should be prioritizing our limited resources," she said. "When he left us we were at a really good place to have a new superintendent come in."
Eau Claire school board members started working on their school improvement plan last month. One of the first steps is completing a district needs assessments. The surveys list 112 objectives, from adding more after-school programs to establishing a public relations program. Board members are in the process of selecting which objectives are most important for the district.
Teachers and other staff members will complete assessments when the school year starts.
"I think this is an excellent way to get everybody involved," said board member Brent Wogahn. "After we figure out what we perceive our needs to be, then we can go to the public."
The improvement plan can guide progress in the years to come, Leary said. He hopes that Eau Claire can one day be recognized as a top school in the state and nation.
"There's just so much potential for this school district," he said.
I guess my only comment is to enjoy reading between the lines!
Maria
Saturday,August 11, 2007
By Mary Stegmeir
Leader-Telegram staff
When James Leary was selected as the Eau Claire school district's interim superintendent last month, he knew exactly how he wanted to spend his year in charge.
While assisting the school board in choosing a permanent system leader,
Leary also wanted to help district officials set educational and operational
priorities. During some of his first meetings with board members this
summer, Leary started to lay out a school improvement process the district
will follow this year to plan for the future.
It's a method that's tried and true, said Leary, noting that the process has been followed by more than 100 school districts across the country.
"I know this works," he said. "It's all about setting goals and being accountable."
Leary developed the program about 25 years ago. He has shared his process with school leaders as president of MacroVision Associates, an education consulting firm in Holcombe that is temporarily shut down while the administrator works at the Eau Claire school district.
The program starts with board members crafting a district philosophy and setting goals for the system. Next, the board, along with teachers and administrators, will evaluate the district's needs, selecting up to 60 areas for improvement. Annual objectives also will be developed to ensure the new ideas are put into practice.
"We'll do the work this year so that the new superintendent can step right into the swing of things," Leary said. "I want this plan to be fully operational in this year so that it can form the basic foundation for allowing Eau Claire to move forward over the next three to five years."
The process is internal, but residents will learn about the district's plans throughout the year, Leary said. The school improvement plan is separate from the community comprehensive plan that the school board has discussed creating.
"Experience has shown that's important that we work and get our plans together in-house first," Leary said. " ... We should be able to solve our own problems in-house and then reach out and give."
Leary's school improvement process benefited the Chippewa Falls school district, said board president Roberta Rasmus. The administrator served as interim superintendent with that system in 2003-04.
Using Leary's planning process, district employees realized the system needed to add a human relations position. The new job cut costs by decreasing the number of employee grievances, Rasmus said.
"He helped us understand possible changes we could make or where we should be prioritizing our limited resources," she said. "When he left us we were at a really good place to have a new superintendent come in."
Eau Claire school board members started working on their school improvement plan last month. One of the first steps is completing a district needs assessments. The surveys list 112 objectives, from adding more after-school programs to establishing a public relations program. Board members are in the process of selecting which objectives are most important for the district.
Teachers and other staff members will complete assessments when the school year starts.
"I think this is an excellent way to get everybody involved," said board member Brent Wogahn. "After we figure out what we perceive our needs to be, then we can go to the public."
The improvement plan can guide progress in the years to come, Leary said. He hopes that Eau Claire can one day be recognized as a top school in the state and nation.
"There's just so much potential for this school district," he said.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Dr. James Leary information
Please see below the press release about Dr. James Leary that he prepared and was given to the LT but not published. It is a clear indicator of his energy and desire to effect positive change for our district, our students and our community.
I was interested to find more biographical information on Dr. Leary so I asked at the ECASD Main office if I could look at the resumes of the 3 final candidates for the position. (This required making sure the district legal counsel (Weld, Riley) was OK with the request. It was.) So I stopped by the office and the secretary showed me the material that was submitted by all 3 candidates for their application for the position.
Before telling you more about Dr. Leary, let me just inform you that Gregg Butler's application/resume/cover letter was a pathetic, unprofessional JOKE. (Reminder, this is a job application for the equivalent of the CEO of a $120 million dollar organization that is one of the biggest employers in Eau Claire.) Gregg Butler submitted a single piece of paper with huge font (it reminded me of what my youngest son did in 4th grade when he needed to make a flimsy book report look more substantial!) that had one sentence written on it:
"Please consider me a candidate for the position of Interim Superintendent for the ECASD for the 2007-08 school year."
That's it. No resume. No cover letter. No statement of his goals for the position. No information about why he thinks he is qualified. I actually asked the secretary if it was missing something because it looked so pathetic and she said that she asked Mr. Kling the same thing. Nope. That was it. What the _____? It was beyond wierd. It was pathologic.
I could not figure it out at all. Was he so supremely confident of getting the job that no effort was required? If anybody else has an idea or clue about the meaning of this, please post a comment.
OK, back to Dr. Leary. In contrast to Butler's application, Dr. Leary submitted 14 pages of information that included a detailed cover letter with his initial assessment of what was needed by the ECASD and how he could help the district be successful based on his experience of 25 years in Administration (10 as the Superintendent in a suburban Detroit district.) Since then he has had a consulting firm, Macro Vision Associates. Most recently he was the Interim Superintendent in Chippewa Falls where he helped move the district from a negative to a positive fund balance, changed elementary boundaries with support from citizens, reorganized their administrative group and helped them prepare a 5 year administrative/board plan.
Dr. Leary has a Bachelors and a Distinguished Service Award from UWEC, a Masters degree from the University of Michigan and a doctorate from Wayne State. While working in Michigan his district was named one of the "25 most effective school systems in the nation" and the IDEA and Kettering Foundation named it a Number One School. He also included numerous ideas he had for school/community paratnerships, and newspaper articles about his time in CF. The paper reported that when Dr. Leary came to the CF graduation ceremony (after being in the district ONE YEAR) the Senior class "roared" in appreciation and he was given a standing ovation by the crowd. At the Memorial HS graduation this year nobody from the ECASD Administration showed up and Trish Cummins (Carol Craig had a family medical emergency) was the only member of BOE leadership. Kinda sad but true statement about our leadership and the community.
PRESS RELEASE
I am honored to have the Eau Claire Board of Education select me to serve as their Interim Superintendent. It will be a pleasure to work with the board, the staff and community to make improvements within the school system while building strong school-community relationships. My many years of work with schools, businesses and governmental units throughout the country will allow me to bring the very best of all features to Eau Claire.
My desire is to set the tone and model the processes necessary for Eau Claire Public Schools to provide exemplary service to its students and citizens, as well as the many businesses, service organizations and citizen groups that comprise this dynamic community. I have great respect for this city and commit my energy and skills to improving the quality and character of learning and living here.
There are many influences that will be in force as we focus our combined efforts to bring about positive changes. Recognizing the rich heritage of this school system, I feel confident that we share a unified desire to create an environment that results in Eau Claire Area Schools becoming a national model of educational excellence. I accept that challenge and look forward to working with our employees, students and all community sectors as we take initial steps in the attainment of that vision.
I was interested to find more biographical information on Dr. Leary so I asked at the ECASD Main office if I could look at the resumes of the 3 final candidates for the position. (This required making sure the district legal counsel (Weld, Riley) was OK with the request. It was.) So I stopped by the office and the secretary showed me the material that was submitted by all 3 candidates for their application for the position.
Before telling you more about Dr. Leary, let me just inform you that Gregg Butler's application/resume/cover letter was a pathetic, unprofessional JOKE. (Reminder, this is a job application for the equivalent of the CEO of a $120 million dollar organization that is one of the biggest employers in Eau Claire.) Gregg Butler submitted a single piece of paper with huge font (it reminded me of what my youngest son did in 4th grade when he needed to make a flimsy book report look more substantial!) that had one sentence written on it:
"Please consider me a candidate for the position of Interim Superintendent for the ECASD for the 2007-08 school year."
That's it. No resume. No cover letter. No statement of his goals for the position. No information about why he thinks he is qualified. I actually asked the secretary if it was missing something because it looked so pathetic and she said that she asked Mr. Kling the same thing. Nope. That was it. What the _____? It was beyond wierd. It was pathologic.
I could not figure it out at all. Was he so supremely confident of getting the job that no effort was required? If anybody else has an idea or clue about the meaning of this, please post a comment.
OK, back to Dr. Leary. In contrast to Butler's application, Dr. Leary submitted 14 pages of information that included a detailed cover letter with his initial assessment of what was needed by the ECASD and how he could help the district be successful based on his experience of 25 years in Administration (10 as the Superintendent in a suburban Detroit district.) Since then he has had a consulting firm, Macro Vision Associates. Most recently he was the Interim Superintendent in Chippewa Falls where he helped move the district from a negative to a positive fund balance, changed elementary boundaries with support from citizens, reorganized their administrative group and helped them prepare a 5 year administrative/board plan.
Dr. Leary has a Bachelors and a Distinguished Service Award from UWEC, a Masters degree from the University of Michigan and a doctorate from Wayne State. While working in Michigan his district was named one of the "25 most effective school systems in the nation" and the IDEA and Kettering Foundation named it a Number One School. He also included numerous ideas he had for school/community paratnerships, and newspaper articles about his time in CF. The paper reported that when Dr. Leary came to the CF graduation ceremony (after being in the district ONE YEAR) the Senior class "roared" in appreciation and he was given a standing ovation by the crowd. At the Memorial HS graduation this year nobody from the ECASD Administration showed up and Trish Cummins (Carol Craig had a family medical emergency) was the only member of BOE leadership. Kinda sad but true statement about our leadership and the community.
PRESS RELEASE
I am honored to have the Eau Claire Board of Education select me to serve as their Interim Superintendent. It will be a pleasure to work with the board, the staff and community to make improvements within the school system while building strong school-community relationships. My many years of work with schools, businesses and governmental units throughout the country will allow me to bring the very best of all features to Eau Claire.
My desire is to set the tone and model the processes necessary for Eau Claire Public Schools to provide exemplary service to its students and citizens, as well as the many businesses, service organizations and citizen groups that comprise this dynamic community. I have great respect for this city and commit my energy and skills to improving the quality and character of learning and living here.
There are many influences that will be in force as we focus our combined efforts to bring about positive changes. Recognizing the rich heritage of this school system, I feel confident that we share a unified desire to create an environment that results in Eau Claire Area Schools becoming a national model of educational excellence. I accept that challenge and look forward to working with our employees, students and all community sectors as we take initial steps in the attainment of that vision.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
and Gomer Pyle says:
Suprise! Suprise! Suprise!
I guess that the Gomer Pyle reference shows my age, but it is such a perfect quote for the recent news.
The phones are ringing, the e-mails are zinging and the "Alleluia's" singing with the announcement about the new Interim Superintendent. I will admit that I was convinced that the EC Swami was absolutely correct in calling the race completely in favor of Deputy Gregg. Just when I had resigned myself to having the ECASD remain stuck in several key areas I am completely amazed that the BOE found the votes to make a change for somebody outside of the same, darn Black Box that so many of us have been trying to penetrate for years.
I guess that the next step is to locate a Deputy Superintendent. But if the Interim Sup. is truly just a "one year or less" position, I am assuming that they will have an Interim Deputy as well so the new Superintendent can select his/her own Deputy. Wow! We are going to have to get scorecards to follow all of the changes.
We are finally reaching a crucial tipping point for change with some new BOE members, new Administrators and a new way of doing business that has a chance to move our district into the 21st century. It has been way too long in coming but it makes it ever so welcome now that it is here.
Maria
I guess that the Gomer Pyle reference shows my age, but it is such a perfect quote for the recent news.
The phones are ringing, the e-mails are zinging and the "Alleluia's" singing with the announcement about the new Interim Superintendent. I will admit that I was convinced that the EC Swami was absolutely correct in calling the race completely in favor of Deputy Gregg. Just when I had resigned myself to having the ECASD remain stuck in several key areas I am completely amazed that the BOE found the votes to make a change for somebody outside of the same, darn Black Box that so many of us have been trying to penetrate for years.
I guess that the next step is to locate a Deputy Superintendent. But if the Interim Sup. is truly just a "one year or less" position, I am assuming that they will have an Interim Deputy as well so the new Superintendent can select his/her own Deputy. Wow! We are going to have to get scorecards to follow all of the changes.
We are finally reaching a crucial tipping point for change with some new BOE members, new Administrators and a new way of doing business that has a chance to move our district into the 21st century. It has been way too long in coming but it makes it ever so welcome now that it is here.
Maria
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Interim Superintendent position
Please see below an essay that was written by Karen Peikert and published in the Leader Telegram that discusses the probable appointment of Gregg Butler to the Interim Superintendent position. I will follow up with many, many comments that were written to me about this issue. Maria
Our city is deeply divided over the contentious issues surrounding a school
closing, teacher and staff layoffs and possible extracurricular reductions.
At the recent School Board meeting, I observed parents yelling and booing at
decisions that angered them, and incivility and condescension amongst
certain school board members.
The current animosity between and towards school leadership will eventually
start to erode the quality of our schools and ruin any chance of passing a
future referendum unless we have a dramatic turnaround in the public trust.
The failed referendum indicates that this community needs to be persuaded
that our district leaders will be good stewards of our tax dollars.
In January, the current superintendent announced that he will be stepping
down from his post to become a middle school principal, but will receive a
retirement package as though he had completed his career at the more
demanding position. On April 17, we were notified that the deputy
superintendent will be retiring at age 56, and then applying for the interim
superintendent position. I have a sneaking suspicion that those two
decisions do not exemplify kind of financial stewardship the taxpayers are
looking for.
By most accounts, school district "double-dipping" (individuals retiring at
full pension who are then rehired in another capacity) is somewhat
commonplace, and not unique to Eau Claire. Obviously, it is not illegal,
but it certainly does not happen in industries that seek to effectively
manage their bottom line. At a time when every student and teacher in the
district will directly feel the effects of the budget cuts, we must ask
ourselves whether this is the kind of principled decision-making that is
required in difficult times.
I don't doubt that the deputy superintendent has been an outstanding
contributor to Eau Claire's educational system, but at a certain point, can
we say "enough" to financial gamesmanship? Can we, as taxpayers, do anything
to change a compensation system that actually rewards educators for retiring
at an age that, in the private sector, they are often considered to be at
the top of their game? In the interim, can our School Board begin to say no
to the practice of double-dipping, thus eliminating the option of
manipulating the existing retirement system towards personal gain?
In the face of enormous budget deficits, the money involved is literally a
drop in the bucket. And truthfully, we probably need the deputy
superintendent's expertise to guide us through the challenges of the coming
school year. However, the voters of this community 'spoke' at the polls,
expressing a lack of confidence in school leadership to responsibly handle
the additional tax dollars needed to solve the budget problem. The argument
over whether this mistrust is justified is irrelevant; it must be addressed.
In the long road toward gaining taxpayer confidence, this was one small
step in the wrong direction.
Our city is deeply divided over the contentious issues surrounding a school
closing, teacher and staff layoffs and possible extracurricular reductions.
At the recent School Board meeting, I observed parents yelling and booing at
decisions that angered them, and incivility and condescension amongst
certain school board members.
The current animosity between and towards school leadership will eventually
start to erode the quality of our schools and ruin any chance of passing a
future referendum unless we have a dramatic turnaround in the public trust.
The failed referendum indicates that this community needs to be persuaded
that our district leaders will be good stewards of our tax dollars.
In January, the current superintendent announced that he will be stepping
down from his post to become a middle school principal, but will receive a
retirement package as though he had completed his career at the more
demanding position. On April 17, we were notified that the deputy
superintendent will be retiring at age 56, and then applying for the interim
superintendent position. I have a sneaking suspicion that those two
decisions do not exemplify kind of financial stewardship the taxpayers are
looking for.
By most accounts, school district "double-dipping" (individuals retiring at
full pension who are then rehired in another capacity) is somewhat
commonplace, and not unique to Eau Claire. Obviously, it is not illegal,
but it certainly does not happen in industries that seek to effectively
manage their bottom line. At a time when every student and teacher in the
district will directly feel the effects of the budget cuts, we must ask
ourselves whether this is the kind of principled decision-making that is
required in difficult times.
I don't doubt that the deputy superintendent has been an outstanding
contributor to Eau Claire's educational system, but at a certain point, can
we say "enough" to financial gamesmanship? Can we, as taxpayers, do anything
to change a compensation system that actually rewards educators for retiring
at an age that, in the private sector, they are often considered to be at
the top of their game? In the interim, can our School Board begin to say no
to the practice of double-dipping, thus eliminating the option of
manipulating the existing retirement system towards personal gain?
In the face of enormous budget deficits, the money involved is literally a
drop in the bucket. And truthfully, we probably need the deputy
superintendent's expertise to guide us through the challenges of the coming
school year. However, the voters of this community 'spoke' at the polls,
expressing a lack of confidence in school leadership to responsibly handle
the additional tax dollars needed to solve the budget problem. The argument
over whether this mistrust is justified is irrelevant; it must be addressed.
In the long road toward gaining taxpayer confidence, this was one small
step in the wrong direction.
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