Comments on: Paul Vallas’ new corporate partnership signs $18 million deal with Indianapolis School System

By: Bill Morrison

Bill Morrison — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 12:34:00 +0000

If anyone wants to help take action to stop the corruption being perpetrated against Connecticut by these so-called “education reformers”, please join us at Mulberry Pizza in Manchester on Friday, August 17 at 4:00. This will be our third meeting, and we will be planning demonstrations, attracting news attention, and other acts of resistance.

We are a team of educators, parents, and community members, so we welcome anyone interested in joining us.

By: guest

guest — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 01:36:00 +0000

Kinda like the Adamowski story. He went from the wreckage of Cincinnati, to a finalist interview in Seattle (jumping from district to district every 3-5 years)–Seattle did its homework, and didn’t hire him. Instead, Hartford snapped him up. Unfortunately, the corporate media and paid-for politicians of Connecticut won’t let the truth out about his failures in Hartford, and his strong-man tactics in Windham, where he wants to bulldoze his losing, reformy policies.
see here, for example: http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20030929&slug=adamowski29m

By: Just An Educator

Just An Educator — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 01:05:00 +0000

Note: I should have stated clearly that the above article is in reference to Wayne Alexander, who has been appointed high school principal at Bassick High School.

By: Just An Educator

Just An Educator — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 01:03:00 +0000

The internet is a wonderful thing. It’s too bad that the board of education didn’t bother to do the simplest research about the candidates for high school principalships they awarded last night. The people in Brockton, MA, did do their homework and they chose not to hire Wayne Alexander when he applied there. Note some of the comments:
“Alexander faced pointed questions from the Brockton School Board Monday
night about his tendency to jump from job to job and the recent unrest
in the school district he has led for the last two years.”
“Alexander’s job history — eight administrative positions since 1990 —
“raised a red flag,” Brockton School Board member Richard Bath said
during the 75-minute interview.”
“Alexander will be back in New England on May 20. He is the one of two finalists for the superintendent post in Westerly, R.I.”

The article in its entirety: http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/article1000412.ece

By: Castles Burning

Castles Burning — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 23:58:00 +0000

Yes, as we are seeing that does seem to be his SOP. Thanks for all of the details, especially about the accident.

By: Just An Educator

Just An Educator — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 21:40:00 +0000

Oh, I can just see how this is going to work for the Bassick High School community — NOT! Mr. Vallas, where is your judgment?

By: Brutus2011

Brutus2011 — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 21:17:00 +0000

I have come to the opinion that the professional education manager class needs to be phased out. The difference in income, including pensions, is so much greater than classroom teachers and paras that there is too much incentive for all kinds of managerial cow-pucky.

Our public schools are the one place were the Gordon Gekko wannabes cause more harm than good.

In other words, top-down dictatorial cultures don’t work and I believe that bottom-up collaboration just might.

Ask yourself what you would do to protect a 10K per month salary with a 6 figure pension in your future?

Pecuniary incentives really count but all too often are ignored.

By: guest

guest — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:55:00 +0000

Wow, thank you!
Please comment more when you have a chance.

By: Linda174

Linda174 — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:23:00 +0000

Wow….read the comments!

By: Linda174

Linda174 — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:19:00 +0000

And this:

Malcolm says he told Alexander his continued use of the phrase “have and have-nots” to describe schools was too divisive, and he warned him about what Malcolm called his my-way-or-the-highway approach to management.

“Let’s face it, the man was a polarizing figure,” Malcolm said. “If I had to do it all over again, I would not have made that choice. There’s going to be a lot of healing going on.”

Alexander himself has acknowledged he can be too direct and can come across as arrogant. Sweeney said Alexander could have done a better job communicating with the press.

Alexander maintains the media were aggressive, focusing on what he considered to be non-stories and invading his privacy.