Steve Jobs was purported to say “A” people hire “A” people. “B” people hire “C” people.
Dayton Public Schools is an example of what happens when “F” people hire.
Seriously. It doesn’t get any stupider than this:
Dayton Public Schools hopes a two-year, $537,000 advertising campaign will boost the district’s enrollment and attendance numbers, Superintendent Elizabeth Lolli said Tuesday.
Lolli told school board members the campaign by the Ohlmann Group will include everything from billboards and RTA bus ads to radio spots and direct mail. The budget plan estimates $250,000 in spending this school year and $287,000 next year.
“We want the word to get out to everyone that Dayton Public Schools are changing for the better, and we want them to understand the changes that are happening,” Lolli said. “Our parents need to have their students in school every day. Students need to know that school matters, and we want everyone to be there.”
The hundreds of proposed radio ads, totaling $107,000 are the largest expense in the $250,000 campaign for this school year, with billboards ($32,000) and direct mail ($27,000) next highest.
Source: Dayton schools plan $500K ad blitz on attendance, enrollment [1]
You don’t buy a media plan, before you have the campaign. And, what do people in Centerville, Piqua, Kettering, etc. care about DPS? Why would you spend money on radio? Oh, that’s because Ohlmann loves to spend money on media. And, I’m sure ads in the Dayton Daily news are well read by parents of DPS kids too- or is paying off Cox Ohio to leave them alone the idea.
And, btw- the amount of money for the actual execution of this brilliant campaign- a measly $5K. What a deal.
Dr. Lolli knows nothing about advertising- or what she’s buying and this board is too stupid to know any better.
Because, well, “F” people hire “F” people.
And speaking of “F”- Lolli keeps saying “we’re only an “F” district on paper.” Uh, you have a PhD and you don’t understand a scoring rubric?
And why are you an “F” district?
How about the fact that your IEP system is down, you’re pointing fingers- and kids aren’t getting services. That’s a violation of Federal and State laws.
For those of you who don’t know what IEP is- it’s an Individualized Education Program, a written document that’s developed for each public school child who is eligible for special education. The IEP is created through a team effort and reviewed at least once a year. It’s also what gets the district a ton of extra money. There is this thing called accountability in Federal money- and right now, Dr. Lolli and this board are one step outside of a prison cell if they don’t get their system back online. DPS has at least a third of it’s kids on IEPs.
Now- some other things you don’t do unless you’re a flaming flying idiot. Remove staff from one of your top performing and most sought-after schools, and cause the principal to lose it. No, you can’t take kids on IEPs who are operating at functional levels of a 3 year old- and put them in third grade without disrupting EVERYTHING.
Or, walking into another school, and removing two teachers from the building, but fail to notify them in writing, as required by the contract, of what they did wrong. This causes lawsuits. It also kills morale. Of course, when one of them tried to make an EEOC complaint the day before getting hauled out of class, it starts looking worse. Especially when she was told there was no one to take her grievance. Remember what sank Rhonda Corr? It was Dr. Winston’s EEOC complaint, which started an investigation.
The Dayton Education Association President, David Romick, has decided he now works for Dr. Lolli, and not the union. He’s refused to push to get these teachers back in the classroom, or for clarification on why they were removed in the first place. Word is, Romick is looking to get a cushy $100K plus job in HQ working with the enemy.
Tuesday is the last duty day for Board attorney, Jyllian Bradshaw, even though they can’t have possibly fully evaluated their RFP for legal services. But, don’t worry, they are giving their law cleark a .49 cent an hour raise to manage things- like the ridiculous amounts of money they are wasting with Subashi and Wildermuth to lose the suit I filed against them for violations of the Open Meetings Act.
But, the prize of the “F” district – is having the board president send an email to the staff who came to the Sep 18 board meeting to discuss the screwed up state of the English as a Second Language program since Dr. Lolli put her nose into it. BTW- that was the very last meeting I will attend, until the State takes this mess over, or these idiots out in handcuffs. I’ll be there for that.
Let’s be clear- the teachers don’t work for the board. They work for the superintendent. If Bill Harris has a problem- the correct chain of command is through her. But, he’s an idiot.
On Tue, Oct 9, 2018 at 9:26 AM William Harris <[email protected] [2]> wrote:
To Teresa Troyer and The Members of the ELS Team:
Yesterday, I received an email from the ELS team. After reading the email, I was shocked and appalled at the same time. First, It appears that this team has disregard for the structure and rank of employees at DPS. While, the team may have some questions about information, it is highly inappropriate to attack Ms. Mack, who serves as your Supervisor concerning a presentation made at the Board meeting on September 18. If you have concerns and or questions, you should ask her for a meeting to clarify matters. While many of you have worked in this department for some time, that does not give you the right to usurp the authority of Ms. Mack or Superintendent Lolli. You are well aware that the District is addressing the concerns of students and parents in your department. There are some challenges that exist and Dr. Lolli and Ms. Mack are addressing these issues. Obviously for some of you, solutions are too slow. However, it is inappropriate as well as unprofessional to leap over rank to address this Board, when the chain of command is in place. I would suggest that you decide to be a part of the solution and not add to the problem.Also, I believe that is is also appalling to continue to come to board meetings to address the board regarding your department. For teachers too address the board is unprofessional and sends the wrong signal to the community. The ELS Team Members are a vital part of the overall DPS team, you are supposed to be a “cheerleader for the District.Your work is valued and we would hope that you would join us in making DPS rise, not fall.You have my permission to forward this email to the ELS Team.Best Wishes,Dr. Harris
From: SHEILA TAYLOR <[email protected] [3]>
Date: Tue, Oct 9, 2018 at 10:35 AM
Subject: Re: Response to the ELS Team Members
To: William Harris <[email protected] [2]>
Cc: Carolyn Mack <[email protected] [4]>, Elizabeth Lolli <[email protected] [5]>, JOCELYN RHYNARD <[email protected] [6]>, JOHN MCMANUS <[email protected] [7]>, Karen Wick <[email protected] [8]>, Mohamed AlHamdani <[email protected] [9]>, ROBERT WALKER <[email protected] [10]>, TERESA TROYER <[email protected] [11]>
As a Board Member I am available to hear any questions or concerns pertaining to DPS. President Harris is not speaking for me. Board Member, Sheila Taylor 623-7466
On Fri, Oct 12, 2018 at 7:13 AM Teresa Troyer <[email protected] [12]> wrote:
Please see from Ms. Taylor and Mr. Harris below.
Ms. Rhynard responded just to me, not to all, that she appreciates the work we do for the community. Ms. Wick-Gagnet responded to me and forwarded the letter to Ms. Mack/ Dr. Lolli saying that she is confident in the team to address our concerns.I thought you should all be able to see the responses.Thanks,
Uh, Ms. Rhynard isn’t allowed to speak to you either. She should be talking to her direct employee- Dr. Lolli, no one else. Same goes for Ms. Wick-Gagnet.
This is why this board needs intervention now by the state. Not, next September when the next “F” comes out on the report card.
State takeover – now!
wow!!!!! So many thoughts –
Be careful what you wish for. It is the state that forced colleges to convert to semesters, and then cut the number of credit hours so that the (all important) data could be improved and show an increase per population of those earning a higher education. That one step forced 2-year colleges to cut content and courses. It was the state Board of Education and the Governor that came up with the CTAG program, allowing high-schoolers to get out of taking certain college courses, which essentially means that the professional experience and Master’s in one’s subject matter does not matter. It is similar to comparing apples and oranges, a Master’s in a field of study and additional professional experience, vs. a Master’s of Education, subject to the whims of the Executive branch and the unconstitutional Department of Education.
Politics is local. Education is local. It should actually BE local. Parents should know and get involved and force changes that work locally. Education should not be treating people as numbers and maneuvering control OUT of the local populace, in order to make the numbers look better for the Governor and Board. My opinion.
Mr. Esrati,
I am a parent of a student in DPS. Could you help me understand rules that Board members need to follow when interacting with the public? When I email Board members my concerns, are they allowed to respond to my email?
Thank you.
Hi Jaimee-
Yes- board members can and should respond to the public- via email and at board meetings, however, one board member can’t do anything official- that requires a majority of them to act and vote in public. So- they can say, “Thank you for informing me of your concerns, I’ll take this up with the board and the superintendent and we’ll get you an official response through the appropriate channels.”
The board should also respond to the public when they speak at board meetings- even if it’s just to acknowledge the speaker- and direct the district to respond appropriately – and set a time line.
I cant wait until state takeover as well. New leadership by any means necessary
Why does a school need advertising like that? You advertise results. By saying you’re not an “F” district when your results say you are is asinine. Own up to it, make changes, and move up. People see through the excuses.
It’s time for the admin and board at DPS to be replaced. While state takeover is not a perfect option, it’s a better option than continuing with the status quo.
The current situation is a disaster.
Teresa Troyer is hard-working, passionate, and committed to that ESL program (not to mention calm and soft-spoken). If she’s speaking up, then things truly ARE fucked. Really, Mr. Harris, that’s your best response?? To castigate the employees who are speaking up against the utter and complete shambles of one of your district’s (formerly) strongest programs? Ugh. This Dayton voter is shaking her head …
If you have a child with a disability, you and your child have rights that are being violated! Demand to see evidence that IEPs are being followed correctly. If the school does not show you evidence, or shrugs their shoulders and blames “software issues”, you have the right to be represented for free.
Contact:
-Ohio Department of Education 877-644-6338
-State Support Team 10 Director Betsy Apolito (937)236-9965 x2118
-Racial Justice NOW https://rjnohio.org/contact-us/
-For parents of autistic students OCALI 866.886.2254