Abuses Of Power - Let's connect Some Dots

My introduction to the abuse of power was in 1990 at Kingswood Elementary. When I was told by the Principal that my son would be spanked just like anyone else, depending on the behavior of my son, my first thought was there was something wrong. What I didn't realize was how wrong the system is. It took me six years until December 16th, 1996 at Mann Middle School before I realized that this was war. For those of you who want to think that you work for a professional organization, I apologize. It is what it is.

(For you who don't know, my son was completely deaf, visually impaired and was "behaviorally challenged". Say it to my face that he was spoiled or that we were "owed something". That happened once. It will never happen easily again.)

Some of you may think that my recent posts about Alafia Elementary and now the latest School Board fiasco is about the people that are identified. Frankly my dear, it is not. I don't know most of them. What I am about is exposing the system. Many, many good administrators, teachers, parents and students are done wrong by the system.

Despite the years of parsed language and deceit, I am not an isolated incident. The internet is defeating that defense. Where there is smoke there is fire. I was once told by a District employee that if there is horseshit everywhere, there must be a horse somewhere.

Read the Doug Erwin case which can be found in parts here: Lee Drury De Cesare's Casting-Room Couch: Erwin's Betrayal by Bricklemeyer and Gonzalez


Read the first Whitehead case where it was proved in Federal Court that the District RETALIATED against the parents for advocating for their son.

Wrightslaw - The Division of Administrative Hearings

If you are serious about the education of disabled kids, read the court's finding on "Low Expectations". This was not an isolated incident other than it went to Federal Court. Just ask around for the everyday truth.

I knew Doug Erwin. I know the Whiteheads. I know myself.

Until the culture of the system changes, "education for all" is just an empty slogan.

This Is It - The Tribune's Validation Of My Previous Post

The Groupthink Bully At Helm Of School Board

The Groupthink Bully At Helm Of School Board

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 24, 2008

Hillsborough School Board Chairwoman Jennifer Faliero only has a little more than a month left at the helm of this panel and given the dysfunction of this board and Faliero's attempts to muzzle opponents, that's a good thing.

Faliero sought this week to intimidate fellow board member April Griffin by motioning for security when Griffin didn't do as Faliero instructed. This was the kind of bullying one might expect to see on a playground, not on a panel of elected officials.

A skilled chairperson would know how to wrap up a discussion when it's going nowhere without threats. Granted, Griffin can be stubborn when trying to make a point, but nothing at Tuesday's discussion on board member travel warranted Faliero's threat to have Griffin thrown out of the meeting.

A minor disagreement started the conflict. Griffin wanted to travel to educational conferences other board members decided didn't comply with the new guidelines governing trips. Like much of the board's discussions, there was little focus on how to better educate our children - a topic which sadly doesn't inspire much passion on this panel.

Clearly losing patience with Griffin, Faliero banged her gavel to cut her off and then motioned for security to be ready to remove Griffin from the room. Those watching the meeting could hear board member Dorethea Edgecomb quietly pleading to Faliero, "Please don't do that."

The incident sent a chilling message on how the district will handle dissent. Earlier in her year-long term as chair, Faliero instructed public speakers not to identify school board employees they criticized, an infringement of the speakers' First Amendment rights. At least she realized her mistake then.

Not so here. She expresses no remorse. In a telephone conversation, Faliero told the Tribune she had no intention of having Griffin removed from the meeting, "but I had to do something to get her attention to halt."

That's called intimidation.

Faliero went on to say that Griffin has caused her own problems by being an outsider.

Griffin has been an outspoken critic of Superintendent MaryEllen Elia, who at one time had a personal friendship with Faliero. Griffin further upset the status quo by endorsing school board candidate Stephen Gorham, who is challenging incumbent Carol Kurdell.

Apparently, such independent thinking is not allowed on this board.

"April has publicly endorsed Stephen Gorham and there are a lot of things going on behind the scenes," Faliero said Thursday. "She's made it clear she's not a fan of the superintendent and doesn't support Carol Kurdell. There's a natural feeling of unrest when you have someone so blatantly disregarding the work of a team. She's put herself in a predicament. You don't build consensus by going against your own board."

The Hillsborough County School Board is an elected body, whose members, representing different constituencies, should have diverse opinions. To insist members act in lockstep muzzles the public's voice.

Faliero further said that whether it's "right, wrong or indifferent" the board is having trouble dealing with the fact that they are no longer a "collegial body."

She seems to have forgotten that voters elected board members to guide the schools, not form a club.

Democracy is about the free exchange of ideas without fear of intimidation. An elected official who doesn't understand that badly needs a civics lesson.

No time for comments right now.

This Is It - Arrogance With Ignorance

I have been writing about it for almost 17 months : "Arrogance with ignorance". Check out the labels on my blogs.

The arrogance of the HCPS School Board chair was to threaten a board member to be removed from the board meeting. The ignorance was that the Chair did not have authority to do so.

School Board talk on travel takes harsh turn - St. Petersburg Times:

"In fact, she had no authority to do so, board attorney Tom Gonzalez said."

To add insult to what should have been a professional at work, the Times reports this in the same above article:

"Faliero later said she never intended to have Griffin removed,..."

Ms. Griffin had what it took to withstand this threat. She even stated that the Chair was a peer, not an employer. Look at what happened to Doug Erwin. Look at what happens to school employees, parents and students who cannot overcome the arrogance with ignorance when it happens.

For those who are concerned that people do not respect the school system, look no further. It was on full display yesterday at the ROSSAC.

Parents Critical Of Alafia Elementary Principal - Comments After Board Meeting

The fact that so many people can now watch the HCPS school board meetings either on TV or on their computer is going to change how business is done. Those who control information have power. When "the information" is not the truth is when things get bad. A review of history should teach us about that.

I don't know what the truth is about Alafia Elementary, but I believe there are a few people who do. Time will tell if the rest of us will learn the truth.

It is very interesting what happens when the public gets involved in the public education system. One thing we do know is there is going to be a lot of meetings held.

Below are some of the new comments on the Tribune site that were posted after the board meeting yesterday where so many people eagerly awaited the report on the situation:

Don't forget to look up what the Delphi Technique is and how public school systems use it.

Parents Critical Of Alafia Elementary Principal#comments#comments#comments#comments#comments: "Posted by ( ConcernedTaxpayer ) on 10/21/2008 at 10:10 pm.
I was really disappointed in Elia's speech at the school board meeting. I feel like I'm paying a lot of people a lot of money to have continous meeting about a problem that has existed for several years. In the real world we deal with problems. I guess when the government has problems, they pay a lot of people a lot of money to attend meeting and continue to sweep the problems under the rug. Well Otero and Sikes, am I correct? Your brooms should be worn out by now. When I see how my tax money is be spent, I really want to get a refund!
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( raider1 ) on 10/21/2008 at 10:29 pm.
I just finished viewing the school board meeting. Mrs. Elia refers to Mr. Otero and how he was open to teachers calling his office to discuss the concerns expressed by the teachers following his June 4th meeting with parents. That is not what I experienced. After numerous attempts to contact him through his secretary I was finally told he had heard from enough teachers and would not be taking any more calls. Not exactly open and willing to listen. I appreciate Mrs. Elia's desire to inform the public and school board about the history of this situation, but be careful when stating he was there to hear what teachers had to say. I know of one teacher who did speak with Mr. Otero personally and she was extremely disappointed in his attitude and his lack of attention to her concerns.

Certain sounded like lip service then, we'll wait to see if it's lip service now."

A Very Long Time - 40 Years and then 33 years

I was researching something else because someone had asked a question about change.

Hillsborough: County schools' attorney to resign

By MELANIE AVE
Published September 30, 2004

"Few, 71, plans to step down next week as Hillsborough school attorney after nearly 40 years. He plans to work part time for a while as he ends a tenure as one of the longest-serving school attorneys in Florida.

At Tuesday's board meeting, superintendent Earl Lennard will recommend Tom Gonzalez replace Few as school attorney at Few's request. Gonzalez has handled the district's labor issues since 1975."

Interesting that the reins held by one for 40 years were turned over to one who has had their hand on the reins for (at the time) 29 years.

Maybe this longevity provides concrete stability to a system.

MyPaperNow.com - Your Stories, Your Life. / Join Us In The Journey / Published By Linda Chion Kenney- powered by SmugMug

MyPaperNow.com - Your Stories, Your Life. / Join Us In The Journey / Published By Linda Chion Kenney- powered by SmugMug


Mr. Forristal has a big heart. I have known him a very long time.

I wish the system had as big a heart.

What got my attention was the fact that he retired and then was hired back by the system.

Good for him.

How does this effect the budget line for other employees?

Alafia Elementary and The Clinton Defense

Wasn't it Bill Clinton who said that oral sex isn't sex? Maybe Monica didn't inhale either, just as Bill didn't back in the day of his almost encounter with smoking a joint. I know an old couple who called each other once a week, said the word "sex" to each other and then would hang up. They had heard of phone sex and thought they should try it out.

Enough of that sex talk. A parent wrote a letter to the St. Pete Times.

School official's reaction upsets - St. Petersburg Times

"In print: Friday, October 17, 2008

Parents take beef with principal to the board Oct. 10

School official's reaction upsets

I was very intrigued by your story on Alafia Elementary School principal Ellyn Smith. Our family experienced similar issues with Mrs. Smith when our daughter attended Alafia two years ago.

We had an issue with a little boy speaking very inappropriately to our daughter. She was in third grade, and this little boy was telling her that she enjoyed doing very vulgar things with her mouth....."

According to the letter, when the parents finally moved up the chain of command to the Principal, this was the Principal's response:

She actually said, and I quote, "Mrs. Daniels, you cannot throw your morals around on everyone else."

The parent goes on to make the point about sexual harassment not being about morals.

Sounds like an interesting way to defend a behavior. Is this to say that throwing spitballs in class can be dealt with, but acts that challenge a moral tenet can't be addressed?

One must wonder what would happen to the little boy if he just told his teacher or the principal to "suck it".