Kitsap Education

12 Responses to “Bremerton School Board names superintendent finalists”

1. Louis Ferr Says:
   April 19th, 2009 at 2:50 pm

   I can’t believe you people are so naive about the process for schools superintendent. The job will be given to Edwards and everyone, outside you people, are aware of that and the schools will continue to suffer the same garbage in leadership. Boyd never had a clue how to run a district – remember the problems he had – and Cynthia is totally naive and clueless. Why don’t you people do some real reporting – oh, I guess that’s gone now along with freedom of the press since it is controlled by so many left wingers.

   Cokeman

2. Karen Says:
   April 19th, 2009 at 4:54 pm

   There is manipulation by the press, Mr. Ferr, that’s for sure. I see your comment was written at 2:50 p.m. this afternoon and it was approved and posted about 10 minutes ago. Meanwhile, my comment, which was written at 9:05 a.m. awaits moderation. I’ve been posting on this forum, by the way, since its inception.

   It is interesting how some newspapers treat some elected officials. On the one hand, its OK that Meatpuppet suggests Todd was performing a dastardly deed on one elected official, and on the other hand, they go out of their way to protect elected officals from having to answer tough questions and have a real discussion about, say, education.

   This is the same organization whose Editorial Board asked Mr. Randy Dorn about school district consolidation and he basically challenged them to an old-fashioned duel, saying something like “I don’t have time for that. You’re going to have a political fight on your hands”.
   So I guess there are dumb questions. According to the top teacher, anyway. And the KS Editorial Board let him get away with it.

3. Kathryn Simpson Says:
   April 19th, 2009 at 5:52 pm

   Karen,

   Did your post happen to have links in it?

   When I post more than one link in the blogs, it gets held for moderation.

4. Karen Says:
   April 19th, 2009 at 7:25 pm

   Yes, I guess that’s what happened. One link. Charlie Rose/Michelle Rhee interview. Thanks for asking.

   Aren’t you thrilled that Olympia is talking about funding basic education and school reform? I have to say, Congratulations. It wasn’t an effort in futility.

5. Kathryn Simpson Says:
   April 19th, 2009 at 10:52 pm

   One of the senators said during the debate over the funding bill that he hesitates to jump for joy over this legislation because right now it is just another promise that may be broken.

   This is “promise” legislation. I like the concepts involved, but am leery of serious potential for empty promises.

   Regards,
   Kathryn Simpson

6. Colleen Smidt Says:
   April 20th, 2009 at 8:07 am

   Karen, I hear you. I keep trying to give congress the benefit of the doubt when I see hopeful pieces of legislation. Right now I am having a really hard time keeping positive about it. Tonight is another meeting of the Financial Committee I am sitting on and we continue to pour over numbers and programs that define the failures of years, if not decades of bait and switch shell games with education funding legislation implemented by congress. I sincerely hope they succeed in keeping promises like Kathryn stated.

   Back to the Superintendent Candidates…here is my post from the story (below).

   I too was disappointed that the pool of 6 was did not have more diversity in backgrounds. But since we had absolutely no control over that process, those of us who attended the 11 hours of interviews and final decision making yesterday, were hoping for the best of the 6. We got 2 (of who we wanted) out of the final 3. It was a very long day that started at 8 am and ended with the final 3 announcement around 7 pm.

   Mr. Parker and Mr. Edwards did rise to the top of the pack. I felt that they were able to draw upon their years of personal experience in education to get beyond the textbook, standard and expected answers the rest of the interviewees stuck to. I felt we really got the best opportunity to get a peek at what was really inside them making them tick. Several of the others were polished but lacked sincerity and passion for the job.

   Mr. Herndon is a young man who has been on the fast track for most of his career. Nice enough and has potential but needs more seasoning and experiences to draw upon before taking on a district like this one. Despite his statements that he would stay a significant amount of time, I am still leery since his entire career to date has been quick fast track, building block appointments. I do not want to see this appointment become just another fast block.

   We all know that the outcome is most likely to be what and who Dr. Boyd wants. He tried to light me on fire yesterday with some very dirty looks during the questioning of candidates regarding how they would deal with angry parents or unhappy community members. All it did was validate why all of my hours of watching, participating and commenting are so very necessary.

   Colleen Smidt

7. Kathryn Simpson Says:
   April 20th, 2009 at 11:07 am

   Funny, Colleen,

   ‘Shell games’ and ‘Bait and Switch’. Not what one would have expected. But you have hit the realities right on the head.

   Facades eventually crumble. What we needed was a strong foundation for the past 20 years. What we got were facades to get people elected, but no attention to the needs of the foundation.

   It is a state and national travesty!

   Regards,
   Kathryn Simpson

8. Colleen Smidt Says:
   April 20th, 2009 at 12:25 pm

   To be completely honest, I did not invent those phrases and their association with education funding. Several other taxpaying citizen members on the finance committee started using them first. Glorified Ponzi scheme is also one that is used frequently. Pressure is mounting and larger groups of people are getting fed up and involved. Increased participation and scrutiny will bring about true education reform. You and I are just holding the flashlight so the average person can focus on and see what we see a little clearer.

9. Colleen Smidt Says:
   April 20th, 2009 at 1:20 pm

   Hey Marietta,

   You spelled “individually” wrong. Hey, I pick on all of the reporters for that…Of course I get special enjoyment when I can get on my good buddy Gardner’s case about it.

   We can just blame it on the whole “12″ discussion and related blurting.

   “The three will be visiting Bremerton indivually on…”

   Later….
   Colleen

10. marietta nelson Says:
    April 20th, 2009 at 2:53 pm

    Thank you for the heads up Colleen. I corrected it. Thanks too for all your comments on this blog and for spurring discussion about education among the folks here.
    Marietta

11. marietta nelson Says:
    April 20th, 2009 at 2:57 pm

    Karen
    I would like to assure you that I have not manipulated in any way the posting you have referred to or any other posts in the past. The system held up your post due to the link and one other issue that I would be happy to discuss with you. I have left a message on your home phone and will send you an email shortly about it.
    Thanks again for posting on this blog.
    Marietta Nelson

12. Kathryn Simpson Says:
    April 20th, 2009 at 3:47 pm

    Colleen,

    I know you didn’t invent them. Neither did I as I started to see these same things. There should be much debate about education. School boards should be debating staff recommendations to enhance programs that will make a difference in graduation rates, core competencies, and student achievement priorities. Instead, we are constantly debating where the next hit to the budget will impact kids the least.

    For a state whose “PARAMOUNT” duty is K-12 education, we have not put our #1 priority first. Sure, every legislator and the governor will tell you that “education is my top priority”. But have we really prioritized education when the governor’s staff has been approved, year after year, for more employees and has grown 70% in 10 years (from 37 to 63 Full time employees) and yet the state shorts the average school district 1/3 the cost of basic student transportation? Have they really prioritized education when we have taxpayer funds to pay for the “Raspberry Commission”, but we are not fully funding special education?

    Paramount duty? I hope the storm is rising, Colleen! Maybe the storm will make a difference for our grandchildren… if the legislature can get their act together or if we can elect people with backbone to say, “Let us meet our paramount duty FIRST! In January of the Legislative session! Not, as the last order of business in April, just before we adjurn.”

    Our elected state officials, for the past 20 years, has shorted an entire generation of their birthright in Washington State.

    Regards,
    Kathryn Simpson