Update: 2 more members resigned. See here for the update.
Something was up early in the day when the agenda for Tuesday night’s meeting still had not been posted. It finally appears around noon, just six short hours before the meeting and in violation of governing board policy to have it posted 24 hours before the meeting. Incompetence, mismanagement, oversight, or deception. You decide but the public now knows that Dr. Ashby has asked to leave the district and an interim superintendent may be selected.
So the meeting begins and almost immediately one of the governing board members moved to table items 6.3 and 6.4. to have them discussed in executive board meeting (i.e., away from the prying eyes of the public). It was ruled that procedurally this was not proper and the meeting went forward. Icanopen has filled you in on the SFB money, and some announcement of staffing changes and additions were made (some great, some not). Just one more observation about how this district is not committed to communication and openness. The board voted on approving the budget at this meeting. Dr. Frison mentioned before the vote that the district had ‘published’ the budget for the public to see and that they accomplished this by posting the budget at ADE, but not in the newspaper (fine, that costs money) and not on the district website. There is no excuse for this not to be published and communicated on the district website. Again, incompetence, mismanagement, oversight, or deception. You decide.
So now the main event. Again some members of the board try to get these items tabled or moved to executive session. If finally becomes apparent that some members believe that there is a chance that Dr. Ashby could still be saved. They claimed they had spoken to her and the door was open to negotiations. President Reese reiterates that she had spoken directly to Dr. Ashby, just before the meeting, and Dr. Ashby had wished for it to go forward. The board then votes on whether to move forward on these items, and it narrowly passes. President Reese reads the letter from Dr. Ashby asking to be released from her contract including the direct poke in the eye to the district saying “I’m leaving and I WILL be going somewhere else.” More discussion takes place and it soon becomes clear that Dr. Ashby had dropped this bombshell with no warning and no communication, just a letter asking to be released, and while she was out of town on vacation. Without question, Dr. Ashby was playing games with the board, asking to resign, telling some she would stay, telling others she could leave, telling the board president to go ahead even though she was not present. Some more discussion with the HR staff revealed that they could not go to an executive meeting on an HR issue without prior agreement from the individual. The board was starting to waffle and looked like things were going to get pushed back until...
Sandy Krestan
It was like David E. Kelly himself had scripted the night. Ms. Krestan is president of the BMES PTO, who we recently praised for their strong leadership. Boy, did we under-praise them. Ms. Krestan stepped up to the microphone and blasted the board. She called them micromanagers (they are). She accused them of driving principals out of the district (they have). She said they were in the hot seat and if they were the board of a major corporation they would be out on their butts (you go Sandy!). Ms. Krestan let it be known in no uncertain terms that Dr. Ashby was playing with them and that she had to go. Ms. Krestan’s speech was so forceful, so heartfelt, and so impassioned, there were tears in some of the audience members eyes.
Well that pretty much silenced the board and ended the discussion. The board voted to release Dr. Ashby 6 to 1 with Member Ledesma voting no. With no discussion, Dr. Burdick was voted in as interim superintendent, 6 to 1 with Member Clancy voting no.
What would have been the point of not releasing Dr. Ashby by the board? They are damned if they do and damned if they don't. If they didn't release her then, as Ms. Krestan stated at the board meeting, they would have been labeled as micromanaging and if they do release her then they would be labeled as "airing their dirty laundry".
ReplyDeleteInteresting how one board member stated that they spoke with Dr. Ashby right after they received her resignation letter. Allegedly, the board members only received the letter when they arrived at the board meeting. Osmosis must be at work here.....
I still wonder who Member Clancy wanted instead of Dr. Burdick and even Member Doche hesitated.
It's unfortunate the way this went down last night. It appeared to me as very unprofessional. Being on vacation and having a letter read seems like a cowardly way to go. Oh well...
Be sure to read Mr. Airdo's take on the night.
ReplyDeleteCave Creek superintendent resigns
So what? It reads objectively/unbiased and shows really what happened at the meeting last night. No new surprises here. What's your point?
ReplyDeleteDear Watch,
ReplyDeleteAfter reading Airdo's article, how do you jump to the conclusion that:
"Ms. Krestan let it be known in no uncertain terms that Dr. Ashby was playing with them and that she had to go."
I read Ms. Krestan's comments as a criticism of the boe. I also read them as a recognition that it was obvious to her, even if it wasn't to the boe, that Tacy did not want to work for them and not that she was toying with them.
Thank goodness for Joey Airdo. It is refreshing to see news reported without spin.
honeymom
Hi HM,
ReplyDeleteBased on what you read here and in Mr. Airdo's article do you believe that no toying was going on even though two board members flat out said at the meeting that Dr. Ashby told them 'the door was open' (to Member Ledesma) and she was 'amiable to meeting in executive session in regards to her contract negotiations' (to Member Doche)?
Also, do you think it was fair and equitable of us to point to Mr. Airdo's article so our readers could compare?
Dear Watch,
ReplyDeleteFrom what I can tell, Ms. Reese spoke before Ms. Krestan and said that Ashby wanted to move forward with the letter. I read Ashby's willingness to meet privately with the boe as a courtesy. I do not read it as toying around. And, I do not read Ms. Krestan's statement as saying that Ashby is toying around. Perhaps if we are lucky, Krestan will come on this board and clarify the intent of her statement since there seem to be several BMES parents on here.
Re: in another comment on your blog today, I do point out that despite the spin that you are not keeping dissenting opinions off of here. I do believe that you like to throw bombs though to get our attention. I think a lot of us are ready to discuss issues without attention grabbing spin.
honeymom
Would you want to work for this BOE? There are, maybe, two members who actually try to do what is best for the students/teachers/district. The others all listen to the loudest whining parents OR have their own personal agenda they try to forward.
ReplyDeleteDo we really want a district like this? Do we really want a board with members who think it is their obligation to doubt, crticize and vote down any administration-supported ideas? A board who thinks they are all better than those they themselves hired to do the jobs?
Do we want a board with the sad, depressing vision for this town/school/district that certain newspaper editors hold?
Why do we continue to allow this group of complainers to have a voice? When are the caring, focused, thoughtful parents like Honeymom going to be the ones who stand up and say "We're tired and we can't take it any more."?
I'm there. I'm ready for this district to get a superintendent that puts the boe in its place and invites their support of strategic planning, mission focus and fiscal oversite, but draws the line at second guessing, micromanagement and mistrust. I'm ready for a superintendent who says. "We are doing this because our administrators and teachers know it is in the best interest of our students and we're not opening it up for survey or vote by folks who do not have the qualifications to make those decisions. Do that enough and that will clean up the district...because the one thing that has been true is that our teachers and administrators have the best interest of the students at heart whether the BOE decides to listen to them or not.
If this BOE, after last night does not realize the havoc they have wreaked, God help us all.
Member Clancy, the darling of the Sonoran News is a major culprit and I know, as usual, the S'news will take NO CREDIT for the havoc they have wreaked.
Just like when the KKK came here and members stated they felt comfortable here because they had been reading the Sonoran News and found a kindred spirit in its editor.
Dr. Ashby got tired. I completely understand. I find it ironic that those that are the most vocal critics and the ones that make this place the most disfunctional and difficult district to work in (it has a reputation statewide at least) are the ones who sit back and blame Dr. Ashby for creating the mess.
You created the mess. Now you, in all your perfect educational wisdom -- clean it up. Let's see you become Superintendent ...
oh...wait, you can't... you're not certified... you don't have the qualifications...you don't have the educational experience ... yet, somehow, you have all the answers.
I give up.
Maybe those of us who are fed up with the cr@p this district puts out get someone in there who cares about the school and is ready to the HARD WORK to fix things, then we will be more willing to step up and help. Right now any offers of help or changes are met with resistance from the teachers, principals and the districts. So, those of you with rose colored glasses on, wake up and realize things are not going to change until someone high up in the food chain (aka Ashby or whomever replaces her) is willing and able to do the work that they are getting paid to do.
ReplyDeleteIt's time for this district to put up or shut up.
NEED SPELL CHECK LOL
ReplyDeleteThat should read:
Maybe those of us who are fed up with the cr@p this district puts out will quit complaining when they get someone in there who cares about the school and is ready to the HARD WORK to fix things. Then and only then we will be more willing to step up and help. Right now any offers of help or changes are met with resistance from the teachers, principals and the district. So, those of you with rose colored glasses on, wake up and realize things are not going to change until someone high up in the food chain (aka Ashby or whomever replaces her) is willing and able to do the work that they are getting paid to do.
It's time for this district to put up or shut up.
Here is the Sonoran News report...
ReplyDeleteCCUSD releases Superintendent Tacy Ashby from contract
Sorry the post disappeared. We were editing it but did not realize that it disappeared during editing.
ReplyDeleteHow can someone (anyone) do their job when they are micromanaged, questioned (even though, as another post pointed out, they have ALL their credentials, etc), criticized by a local rag that calls itself a newspaper, has a board member with ties to the rag (that God forbid that board member is called out), has a board member(s) who is soooo concerned about their position in the community (i.e., not thinking of the children first)? Think about your job - if your boss(es) (our superintendent has 7) micromanaged your EVERY MOVE, criticized your and your principals WELL THOUGHT OUT AND EDUCATED determinations would you be able to do your job? This is very very wrong - I think the board needs to brush up on what they are supposed to be doing. It is so sad that our children lost Dr. Ashby. Her dedication and extremely long hours TRYING TO DO THE JOB WE PAY HER TO DO are gone now. Let's support our new interim superintendent Dr. Burdick. She is also EDUCATED, HAS THE CREDENTIALS, etc. to move the district in the right direction. Governing Board, stick to what you're there to do - STOP TRYING TO MICROMANAGE A DISTRICT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE CREDENTIALS TO DO SO. TRUST YOUR ADMINISTRATION, TRUST YOUR EMPLOYEES, TRUST YOUR PARENTS, TRUST YOUR STUDENTS. PULL YOUR HEADS OUT OF YOUR ..... for the sake of our children - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE control yourselves.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the reason the ideas are met with resistence is because they are NOT in the best interest of the students and are PERSONAL agendas.
ReplyDeleteIf principals (and we have had exemplary principals -- award winning principals) and teachers (yes, award-winning, National Board Certified, Ph.D., Masters teachers) and administrators (again award-winning highly qualified) are resistent to an idea it is because from their experience it is not something that will work. OR perhaps it is because the implementation is not as simple as some may think.
I remember sitting on site council at a school where a parent continually complained about the discipline system being used at the school. They found about 4 or 5 other parents to complain with them, but offered no real solutions to the problem. Just asked that the system be replaced with no suggestions on what to replace it with. They wanted it done and they wanted it done NOW!
Well, discussion was initiated with the teachers and over a year the teachers decided they might want to look into something else so they researched (over 6 months or so) a variety of other programs and made a recommendation. Then they went through training and are now going to implement next year. It took about 3 years to accomplish this. It takes TIME. Teachers don't have full time to spend researching these. Something like this also has to be done with buy in and support from the teachers.
Of course when the committees began their research in diligence the complaining parent did not sit on the committes (was invited) and continued to whine about how nothing was being done.
Some problems (a lot of problems in the schools) cannot be solved simply or quickly.
We don't wear rose-colored glasses, we actually work with the system to bring about change. And you know what...many of us have been very successful. We don't sit back, throw stones and complain. We work with those who are appropriate and we work together to find solutions.
I have not found teachers/administrators or principals to be resistant about working toward solutions that are actually beneficial to the students/teachers/staff of this district.
These folks all put the students first. That is why we have strong schools here. Unfortunately, when they are undermined on the board level it makes it all too frustrating.
The work the one high up on the food chain needs to do is to tell the board to butt out of business that isn't theirs. To tell complainers to shut up because the decisions are being made by the educators who are actually trained to educate students and tell the Sonoran News to take their sad, pathetic, ugly vision of the world and welll...
They need to stop listening to and being influenced by so many loud vocal minorities (like the head of this blog) and start focusing on what needs to be done for the kids.
That's what they need to do.
Of course, that is provided that anyone actually wants to come here to head this district.
I sure wouldn't want to do it.
Dear 1:15pm,
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to me to see how neutral (finally) the rag's story on last night's meeting was. Do you think that perhaps they realize how angry parents are and that we are about to revolt?
So the answer is that "yes, I am mad as you know what and I won't take it anymore!" Think about the words "advertiser boycott."
honeymom
Hi July 9, 2008 7:49 PM,
ReplyDeleteLoud mouthed minority here.
Thank you so much for your thoughful post.
Have you read our previous posts? Have you seen our solutions? Have you read our suggestions? What do you think our agenda is here? What are we being loud mouthed about?
Our agenda here is the same as yours but you are missing a piece. CCUSD underperforms neighboring schools becuase of its poor curriculum choices.
Go read the board minutes for the past year. There is rarely a discussion about how to improve academic acheivement in this district. The administration proclaims we are 'excelling' so all is OK. Well its not.
With the smallness of this district, the uniformness of its demographics, and like you said the quality of its teachers, this school district should be the best public school district in the Southwest.
CCUSD Watch,
ReplyDeleteI would wholeheartedly agree with you. This district COULD have the resources it needs to be the absolute envy of all other districts. We do need solutions and those you have offered are very good...but now we need people who will implement these good ideas. Some of the issue, in my opinion, came from a place of fear (I believe the Dr. Ashby was perhaps afraid to be bold and make progressive changes because of how she was treated by a board member of two and one of the local rags) as well as the integration of the Rio Verde and Troon areas. Do these areas really feel part of the CCUSD community? I doubt it...when you have some in that area suing the State to go back to the way things were (not paying their share of taxes) and in the end, who suffers, the kids. We need to refocus our efforts on the kids. I don't believe that everyone on that board is bad or had other motives. Yes, CCUSD does have a board member or two that continually cause problems and create issues with the administration. How can the board effectively operate when you have a member or two who want to destroy the superintendent and run off some of the other members while also having a board president fearful of confronting the problem children on the board. Deal with the problems on the board and let the rest move forward and get some things done. If not, I fear you may lose more board members (the ones who actually care about the kids) and then you would be left with the problem members...deal with that, and rest should start to take care of itself. It's pretty sad actually. Take care of Dr. Burdick and her cabinet as well as the board members are not problematic and who will help work towards solutions and transition in a new board.
If you were at the Board Meeting you would have known what Ms. Krestan said. It was not what the Sonoran so called News printed. She did not blame Dr. Ashby. She told the board to take a long hard look in the mirror. Why are all these people leaving? We lost some amazing people this year, they are the "Board of Directors" of our District. If this was any other business they would be in the hot seet having your CEO "Dr. Ashby" leave and 5 of 8 Division Heads "principals". Why are they not in the hot seat with the voters or "shareholders". In my opinion losing President Reese is tragic! I wish she could have stayed to see this board turned around. Take a good hard look at each member, go to the meetings see how they vote and how "negative" some of them are. We would fire them if they worked in the office with us...
ReplyDeleteAs "stockholders" in the CCUSD93 company, we need to make them accountable. We need to take time out of our busy schedules and be at these meetings. That is the only way they won't be able to get away with all of this junk. You need to know why when they call for a committe to review the k-6 option do they only give the committe 4 options to review. I am pretty sure everyone on the committee are not professionals in education or on the k-6 options. I am also pretty sure there are more than 4 options available to a committee to review. Get up and Get out Vote and be heard! Some waiting for someone else to make the difference...it needs to be each of us.
Sorry of typo...typing too quick...
We were there. We got it right. The Sonoran News got it right. The Scottsdale Independent got it right.
ReplyDeleteYou may have noticed that we were the first out with a report from the meeting.
Maybe at the next meeting we will blog it live.
Honestly, I am not going to Board meetings for myself. I am going for your child and mine. I do not think Dr. Ashby got a fair shake here. How could anyone work with several members on this board? She couldn't. It was a no win situation. The board holds the ticket to her future. How do you walk that line, I don't know. I want to heard, I do not think Dr. Ashby is a 100% at blame at all! The biggest piece is with us as parents. We did not get out and get the best candidates possible for our Board. Some (not me) didn't get out and vote for our school funding (come on, we have some of the lowest taxes in the Country!)and we didn't go to the meetings and hold our Board members accountable.
ReplyDeleteFor that I apologize. I promise to make a change for myself, will you?
Why don't you, Ms. Krestan run for the Board. 4 seats and only four candidates? You seem to care enough to rip on the Board and yes some of them deserved it, but the timing was a little suspicious especially being the sister of a principal who left because of promotion. But if you mean what you say, then step up and take on the role. You could probably win a seat. It's easy to throw stones when you don't have any reprocussions or accountability yourself.
ReplyDeleteThis is not the first time I have spoke to the Board at a meeting. I am not throwing stones. I am asking the Board to stop micromanaging and start putting our kids first. If that is your reason I should run because I have gone to board meetings, there should be alot more parents running for the board. I am a PTO President and on site council. I am not going to pretend that I have all the answers and that I have enough knowledge of our District to serve my neighbors as a Board Member. If you do, 7:50pm, why aren't you running? Some here hids under Anonymous because they are District employees,it is really easy to throw words at people and challenge them or call them out when you don't type your name.
ReplyDeleteDear Ms. Krestan,
ReplyDeleteWhile you would be an asset to the boe, you are definitely doing your share. Thank you for being such a strong supporter of the kids.
honeymom
This blog has moved to
ReplyDeletehttp://ccusdwatch.com
and is now part of
Tatum Central
Please continue the discussion there.