I don't know how many people last weekend saw this but the Star Ledger Magazine, Inside Jersey, published an interesting article about the "Best High Schools In New Jersey" and ranked them based on test scores, zip codes and medium home values or what is called a District Factor Group (DFG), the exceptions of course being the various vocational schools around the state such as High Technology High School, located in Brookdale Community College; Biotechnology High School in Freehold; Communications High School in Wall; Academy of Allied Health and Science in Neptune; and Marine Academy Science and Technology housed at Fort Hancock Historic District on Sandy Hook, which ranked much higher than all the classic public high schools in the state.
Within its DFG, Middletown South was #19 and Middletown North was #50 and were out performed by the several schools that make up the Freehold regional system, Edison's J.P Stevens High School as well as Camden's Eastern High.
Of the 26 public high schools in Monmouth County, Middletown HSS is 6th best behind Rumson-Fair Haven, Holmdel, Marlboro, Colts Neck, and Manasquan.
Middletown HSN trail behind at 14th with the likes of Manalapan,Wall and Red Bank Regional in front of it.
The big divide between our two high schools raises a few questions, especially the efficiency of our Board of Education. The socio-economic divide from east to west in Middletown can't be that great to justify a 31 placement difference within the DFG. It definitely lends to the argument that many residents have about our schools being separate and unequal.
I hope that our Superintendent of Schools, Bill George and our BOE, take this survey as a wake-up call and seriously consider what can be done to bring our two high schools closer together in performance.
53 comments:
"The socio-economic divide from east to west in Middletown can't be that great to justify a 31 placement difference within the DFG."
That is quite a statement Mike, how do you know that?
In the comment section of the article you cited the author says:
"median family income is one of the most significant factors in predicting educational outcomes."
Families with higher median incomes have better educational outcomes.
Of the two high schools in our town the one with the higher median income does better educationally.
If the administrators do everything in their power to treat both schools equally, which I believe they do, South will rank higher based on the difference in median family income since that is one of the most significant determining factors.
There is no formula which determines how a difference in income relates to a placement difference. Mike, you don't know that the difference isn't completely acceptable, you just assume it isn't.
The DFG places the entire district into a single group. Middletown has a wide range of income levels ranging from people who live in multimillion dollar estates to one bedroom bungalows. Income levels vary greatly from section to section.
It is reasonable to assume that the rankings of the schools represented by these diverse income levels will also vary considerably, which they do.
The schools are treated equally. There is no conspiracy to favor one school over the other. The fact that one school does a little better than the other in some areas is to be expected. They are both excellent schools.
Given the recent redevelopment of the Bayshore area with all of the houses( Hovnanian condos,etc.) the socio-economic divide should have narrowed considerably and a 31 point divide is unacceptable .
Our current BOE needs to stay out of politics and do the job they are elected to do. This has been a critical issue for several years now as the TC endeavors to control the finances of every body in this community regardless of the laws that divide these bodies.
We need a forensic analysis of all the entities of government in Middletown. If there are surpluses to commandeer.there is a problem with the budgeting of each entity,especially the TC that can't seem to ever have enough money ever.
Anon 11:37,
I'm glad you read the article.
While there may be a large disparity of income levels among residents of Middletown I have a hard time believing that the income disparity is so great that it would warrant a 31 position drop in academics between Middletown HSS and Middletown HSN.
It is simply not acceptable.
So it reasons that if we take the students from the sections of Belford, Leonardo and portions of Navisink that current attend HSS and move them to HSN, overall performance would increase at HSS and decrease further at HSN.
Sorry, but that doesn't fly with me. We are 1 town and everything humanly possible should be done to bring both schools closer together academically.
I repeat.
How do you know that everything isn't being done right now?
How do you know that the difference is not entirely because of the different income levels?
You did not answer a single question I posed to you Mike.
That is because you do not have an answer. You have an opinion. But you cannot state any facts to back up your opinion.
You say it is simply not acceptable to you?
I think criticizing people publicly when you cannot back up your claims with ANY facts is unacceptable and irresponsible to me.
Let me ask you, and anyone reading this, when was the last time you attended a BOE meeting?
Criticism abounds in this town but participation and the people who criticize the administration is primarily made up of people who are not involved in their children's education beyond complaining about things they don't know anything about.
Go to some meetings. Learn something about the school district and the people who work in it. Then publish your educated opinion instead of claiming what is and what is not acceptable to you from an uninformed position.
If you don't attend BOE meetings and you don't see how dedicated these professionals are and how hard they try to do what is best for all the children in town, don't criticize them without facts to back up your assumptions, suppositions and preconceived notions.
Mike, I thought you were better than this. You made the statement, "It definitely lends to the argument that many residents have about our schools being separate and unequal." Look at the cirriculums, they are virtually the same. The idea that one school is favored over the other is ludicrous. You also said, "The socio-economic divide from east to west in Middletown can't be that great to justify a 31 placement difference within the DFG." Have you researched this, or are you just throwing out an opinion without fact? You said you question the "efficiency of our Board the board of ed" implying the BOE favors one school over the other. Where? When? How? State some facts to back up your points.
Anon 9:10 AM,
At best, one school is 'good' and another is 'very good'. The two schools are not "excellent".
The family income of the students actually going to school coupled with a strong emphasis on the importance education has a direct and significant impact on how well a student will perform in school and the quality of education acquired. The study does point to a difference in the quality of education acquired in the two different schools, which appear to be statistically different. A possible experimental remedy might be exchanging some teachers between the two schools, or exchanging some students?
Students from the east side of the township (Navesink and parts of Leonardo)are bussed to HSS. This might balance out some of the economic differences. There are many factors that contribute to the quality of the education of children besides economics. A good one is the amount of time the parent dedicates to the childs education. Most households have both parents working and lends to a decrease in the amount of time the parents can spend reinforcing the childs education.
Maybe we need BOE members to have quality educations themselves in order to qualify to serve. Seems that is lacking in many instances today,now isn't it ???
Politics should have nothing to do with the BOE either and that too is not the case today ! The TC members should mind their own business which they are inept at also and quality of representation there leaves much to be desired as well.
If you check out the progress made in the rankings North is improving while South is getting worse. North will eventually pass South. In terms of DFG South would be IJ district if not for the socioeconomic impact of the North side of town. If this were the case South would be the lowest performing IJ high school in the State. Based on socioeconomic factors HSS should be with high schools like RFH, Holmdel and the like and would not be close in terms of performance. Wake up Middletown.
Mike. Let's forget all the other questions I asked you (you didn't answer them anyway) and just answer this one:
When was the last time you attended a BOE meeting and saw the people you are criticizing at work?
Anonymous 11:38p.m.,
Who signed your nominating petition? Whose lackey are you?
How did the feeder schools fit into your determination Mike?
What figures did you plug in for poverty rates for Lincroft and Ocean Ave when you determined what was acceptable to you.
More unanswered questions I'll bet.
Take a look at the DFG scores between North and South. They are within 5% of each other.
I don't think that is a mathematically significant difference.
The "rankings" don't really tell the story if the schools are all grouped together.
The Middletown high schools do not even make the 100 best in the state in the New Jersey monthly magazine. What does that tell you, Legion and the rest of you who can't see anything wrong with this town and those who serve on the TC and the BOE.
Better think again because this town is failing more everyday. Maybe that lawyer who has elected himself to sit on the dais should begin to do what the people in this town pay him to do.....the legal work and not be a mouthpiece for every TC member and speak for himself only when HE IS SPOKEN TO about a legal matter.
What incompetence is demonstrated by government in Middletown and some of the quacks involved in it !
To be honest, these latest rankings bring nothing new to light for those who have been paying attention to the status of Middletown School.
A Class of 2012 MHSS graduate myself, I can say that the BOE and administrators were not doing the best the could. To those of you posting that administrator and BOE members were doing their best to improve Middletown's schools:
How can you explain some of the teachers I had at MHSS whose classes were jokes, who threw A's at students and made no attempt to challenge or educate students? Just because a teacher is tenured, he or she does not have the right to allow their classes to become subpar?
Now, I will say that there are some excellent teachers at MHSS who played a pivotal role in furthering my education and helping me achieve academic success. From what I have been able to deduce, these teachers are excellent because the lover teaching, not because MHSS administration and the BOE hold them to high standards. That being said, there are also some dedicated and proffessional administrators at MHSS who work hard to improve MHSS.
Thus, the root of this problem can be logically traced back to the BOE. If I am correct (feel free to correct me if I am wrong), it is the job of the BOE and those who work at Central Office to create curriculum and oversee the quality of its teaching at MHSS and MHSN.
Unfortunately, the BOE has other agendas, and until they shift their focus back unto quality of Education, the rankings of MHSS and MHSN will continue to fall.
As to those who have stated, "Families with higher median incomes have better educational outcomes":
Quite a statement, how do you know that? You are aware that your comment is NOT based in fact. A fact is a truth, and statistics are not truths, they are theories and hypothesis, and thus cannot be stated as facts. So those who criticize Mike for not basing his statements in truth, please be aware that you are not stating facts either...
But I digress, my apologies. The BOE seems to be the root of the problem. Until their sole focus becomes quality of education, and not impressing voters with foolish changes made to the schools like foolishly bought technology or block scheduling, MHSS and MHSN will not improve. I will end my criticism, for I do not know what goes on behind the scenes within the BOE and Central Office.
I have attended many BOE meanings, only to see the public spoken to as children or completely ignored. There is no transparency. Perhaps my fellow classmates and myself will return from college back to Middletown. Perhaps enough of us will be willing to withstand the political grind and work to improve the BOE and public school of Middletown. Perhaps...
Middletown had a BOE and an administration that served the kids in this town and politics destroyed it in recent years.
Today we have a BOE that lacks education itself and leadership that sorely needs changing. Perhaps the time is long overdue to GET POLITICS OUT of the education of the thousands of kids in this town.
To hell with the inflated egos of some of those who serve......it's the lives of our kids that are important.We have lost several astute BOE members and a very astute BOE president as well as a some superior administrators much to the detriment of our kids.
The most important responsibility of every citizen in this town,county,state and country is the education of our youth.
STOP SCREWING IT UP IN MIDDLETOWN !!
"A Class of 2012 MHSS graduate myself, I can say that the BOE and administrators were not doing the best the (y) could."
Really? And you know this how? Because you graduated in 2012 that means that you know the inner workings of central office? Did you see an outcome and determine the cause without any facts?
It looks to me like you are a 2012 graduate of the Middletown Mike School of Logic.
You know that school right? That is where you learn how to make a blanket statement based on an observation that you made without knowing any of the facts involved. You then accuse people of not doing their jobs well and when someone asks you for facts, you ignore them.
"Thus, the root of this problem can be logically traced back to the BOE. If I am correct (feel free to correct me if I am wrong), it is the job of the BOE and those who work at Central Office to create curriculum and oversee the quality of its teaching at MHSS and MHSN."
Double really? It is not the job of the BOE to create curriculum. That is the job of the administration. The ONLY power that a BOE member has is to vote on the recommendations of the superintendent at the BOE meetings. That's it, zip, zero, nada, nothing else. They are not supposed to get involved in personnel issues, they are not supposed to take care of a problem you are having with your child, and although some board members think differently, they are not supposed to determine curriculum. It is the job of the board members to see that the schools are being run well, not to run the schools.
"Families with higher median incomes have better educational outcomes"
Sorry, that is both a fact and a truth backed up by numerous studies. And I cited the author of the article that Mike posted a link to who said the same thing.
As far as that convoluted statistics vs truth nonsense you stated, I hope you didn't learn that in our schools. Statistical analysis is the method used to identify trends.
If statistics are not truths then how can you say South does better than North? What information did you use to determine that? Right, statistics.
But I really enjoyed this:
"So those who criticize Mike for not basing his statements in truth……."
Whoa pardner. Stop right there. You are darn tootin' I can criticize Mike for not basing his statements in truth. Look at the paradigm that Mike posted under his mug shot at the top of this blog. Let me remind you, it says:
"I believe it is possible to have TRUTH, justice and the American way all at once here in Middletown...."
Maybe he should change "truth and justice" to "rumor and innuendo".
Oh, and Legion, there are no DFG scores for North and South so I don't know what you were looking at. The DFG is a district (D) factor not an individual school factor.
Anonymous 1:47 p.m.,
You sound like one of those BOE members with a big ego and in need of education about a lot of things.
Mike is informing the public about information of interest to each and every taxpayer in this town. Too damn bad if you don't like us to know....and we all can read and form our own opinions. That youngster expressed his beliefs,which he is entitled to every bit as much as you think you are to express yours .
I think you are the exact person serving who cannot stand legitimate criticism when you deserve it !
In the New Jersey monthly magazine, MHSS ranked #105 and MHSN ranked #128 for your information. Something is radically wrong today with the Middletown schools and the situation gets worse with the passage of time....that's first a great reason to GET RID OF MANY ON THE CURRENT BOE,starting with the current president of that board. Do the job you were elected to do, educate our kids, or resign and GO HOME !
We can agree about one thing, the BOE president must go.
She is the reason that we can't keep a superintendent or administrators in this town.
If you were to ask any of the five or so supers and the dozen or so administrators who left Middletown in the last few years they would all tell you she is the reason they left.
She makes their lives a living hell if they don't do her bidding.
She recently tried to get rid of our excellent BA.
She is unethical and vindictive and as soon as a super overlooks her choice for a position she starts her campaign to get rid of them.
Why do you think we had an interim super stand up in the middle of a BOE meeting and unceremoniously quit a $600 a day gig?
Because he realized that it was impossible to do his job as long as she was on the board.
She has her sights on Dr. George as we speak and if she has her way he will pack his bags and take his staff with him. It took this board two years to find a superintendent last time. The district was rudderless without a permanent leader. So if you are unhappy with the state of the school district you have her to blame.
Completely unethical,uneducated and possibly illegal behavior from that quack.Not in possession of an ounce of common sense .
If it looks like a duck,walks like a duck and sounds like a duck...it is a duck!!!
Quack,quack....quack.
Okay, they are scores assigned by the magazine that did the ratings, but the point remains the same - North and South are 5% apart even thought the rankings might seem much more distant.
If Runner A does the hundred yard dash in 10 seconds and Runner B does it in 10.05 B only has to "make up" that .05, no matter how many other runners are between them.
When looked at in terms of statistical analysis, that 5% might even be within the standard error and not even statistically significant, so the bluster about this ranking system meaning something is just that - bluster.
The BOE is an elected body. If you don't like how they are doing, find candidates you DO like and get them elected. Run yourselves, since you obviously know more than the current board does and get yourself elected. Otherwise I would expect you to support the Board and what they are trying to do, that's how democracy is supposed to work.
Legion,you are full of S___and you always are !!! A crock of republican BS.
All republicans are not nuts but most of them are....especially you and your bunch of incompetent cronies e.g. that BOE president.
Government,the TC and the BOE, are failing our kids in the name of politics and a money grab that is selling our kids down the river.
There is no other way to see what is happening in this town...none.
Democracy in Middletown is non existent! The TC is controlled by two mouthpieces and neither has any respect for a democratic form of government.
Quacks,the bunch of them.
Anon 1:47PM:
When did I ever claim to say that I know the inner workings of central office? Please refrain from putting words in my mouth.
I said, “If I am correct (feel free to correct me if I am wrong), it is the job of the BOE and those who work at Central Office to create curriculum and oversee the quality of its teaching at MHSS and MHSN.”
I did not make a blanket statement. I understand how a BOE is supposed to function. One of the general duties of the BOE is to evaluate the educational program within its purview and making and adopting changes to the educational program.
So yes, the BOE is in charge of educational standards. This follows my statement regarding the poor quality of many teachers and administrators at MHSS, whom the BOE approved to be hired and or tenured. Thus, I did not make a baseless blanket statement, I just made a conclusion based off of a known fact. In fact, allow me to provide you with a source for my aforementioned conclusion, http://voices.yahoo.com/what-does-board-education-do-5772712.html?cat=4
Yes, I know the school. I spent four years at MHSS, you don’t think I didn’t pick up on a few things? I also attended many BOE meetings. So please do not insult my integrity or intelligence by saying that I make blanket statement and do not know how to think or argue.
Also who asked me for facts? I do believe you are the first person to challenge my earlier post, and I am providing you with the facts and logic behind my argument, so you are either delusional or making a foolish attempt to again attack my integrity.
“Double really? It is not the job of the BOE to create curriculum. That is the job of the administration. The ONLY power that a BOE member has is to vote on the recommendations of the superintendent at the BOE meetings.”
It looks like you are still getting your facts wrong. Along with approving the hiring of a superintendent, the BOE members as a whole have the power/duty to: set district policies, grant teachers tenure, overseeing the district budget, making/adopting changes to educational programs, and last but not least, including the community in the educational decision making process.
" ‘Families with higher median incomes have better educational outcomes.’ Sorry, that is both a fact and a truth backed up by numerous studies. And I cited the author of the article that Mike posted a link to who said the same thing.”
Clearly you do not understand the science of statistics. The science of statistics is defined as, “the science that deals with the collection, classification, analysis, and interpretation of numerical facts or data, and that, by use of mathematical theories of probability, imposes order and regularity on aggregates of more or less disparate elements.” In short, a statistic or statistical trend is a suggested theory or conclusion based off of some form of poll, census, study, etc. Yes, statistics can be accurate, but they can also be easily skewed by limiting those being studied to produce a chosen result. No statistic is a fact or truth, but merely a suggestion that a theory or trend may hold true based of a numerical data.
“If statistics are not truths then how can you say South does better than North? What information did you use to determine that? Right, statistics.”
Based off of that statement, how can you say that the schools of Holmdel, Rumson-Fair Haven, and Colts Neck, areas with quite similar mean income the district of MHSS, do far better than MHSS? Do you have a statistic to explain that?
“But I really enjoyed this: ‘So those who criticize Mike for not basing his statements in truth…….’ Whoa pardner. Stop right there. You are darn tootin' I can criticize Mike for not basing his statements in truth. Look at the paradigm that Mike posted under his mug shot at the top of this blog…”
Whoa pardner, look at the inconsistencies and falsehoods I pointed out in your posts. So you are darn tootin’ I can criticize your posts and tell you that you are wrong.
"When did I ever claim to say that I know the inner workings of central office? Please refrain from putting words in my mouth."
You said it in the quote of yours directly above my comment that I reposted and I will repost again:
"A Class of 2012 MHSS graduate myself, I can say that the BOE and administrators were not doing the best the(y) could."
Mike implied and you stated that the administrators were not doing the best they could. You absolutely did make a blanket statement. You didn't just say that the results were not acceptable, you blamed people for not doing the best they could.
Neither one of you know that and neither one of you could not know that unless you were privy to the intimate inner workings of central office. Both of you made accusations without having adequate knowledge.
"One of the general duties of the BOE is to evaluate the educational program within its purview and making and adopting changes to the educational program."
That is a completely false statement. Once again, not only can the BOE not make changes to the "educational program" it is against the code of ethics that they all swear to uphold to do so.
The BOE can ONLY vote on the suggestions of the superintendent at the BOE meetings. That is all they can do, period. The BOE may be responsible for the items you mention but they only act on the proposals put forth by the superintendent.
I do stand corrected on one point. The only thing that a BOE can do that is not required to first be introduced by the superintendent is to hire a superintendent.
Which brings us to this comment of yours:
"set district policies, grant teachers tenure, overseeing the district budget, making/adopting changes to educational programs, and last but not least, including the community in the educational decision making process."
The key there being the last part where it says last but not least include the community in the decision making process.
Did you know that in the two years that it took our BOE to hire a new superintendent that they never once included the parents,teachers, administrators, local business leaders, or community leaders in the decision making process. Every meeting with regard to hiring the new superintendent was held behind closed doors. This board in particular that constantly criticizes administration for a lack of transparency held its meetings in secret regarding the most important hiring in the school district.
"how can you say that the schools of Holmdel, Rumson-Fair Haven, and Colts Neck, areas with quite similar mean income the district of MHSS, do far better than MHSS?"
I am going to go out on a limb. Middletown does not have a similar median income as those other towns. You chose three of the most affluent towns in our area to compare to Middletown and again made a statement that is not based in fact. Matter of fact, forget about median income, let's talk about poverty level. None of those towns have a poverty rate anywhere near what exists in the north side of Middletown. I would guess their collective poverty level is zero.
Let's agree to disagree about the importance or definitions of statistics, it's a red herring.
And of course you can criticize my posts. That is what this place is for.
And finally, I'm retired, I can do this all day. What are you doing posting at two in the afternoon an on a Tuesday? Get out there and earn some money will ya? You are going to need beer money when you start college next week.
Anonymous 8:33a.m.,
You are probably that know it all former mayor and current member of TOMSA who has a biased opinion against anyone who disagees with the current breed of republican in this town. If so, you serve only yourself and are exactly what represents all that is wrong in this town.
This young graduate of one of our high schools has a right to his or her opinion and is to be commended for their courage in speaking out. Frankly what he or she does at 2.p.m. in the afternoon is none of your business,freeloading pain in the a$$.
For your info,am a retiree also and a nearly 50 year resident of this community and a life long resident of Monmouth County so when you think only your opinion counts,I will rebuke and rebut you every step of the way.And btw am not a Democrat but a concerned citizen who know the difference between right and wrong. Don't believe you have a clue about justice ,democracy or right or wrong. All you understand is your and your political cronies agenda which is no longer good for the people who live in Middletown or the children in today's school population in this community.
Go shoot your mouth off over on MMM
where your arrogance may be more welcome. We can all live without you.that's for damn sure.
Middletown's republicans are ruining our schools,our library and our quality of life, all in the name of politics. SHAME ON YOU.
“Mike implied and you stated that the administrators were not doing the best they could. You absolutely did make a blanket statement. You didn't just say that the results were not acceptable, you blamed people for not doing the best they could.
Neither one of you know that and neither one of you could not know that unless you were privy to the intimate inner workings of central office. Both of you made accusations without having adequate knowledge.”
Allow me to clarify a few issues for you.
First, I am not supporting Mike. I agree with some of his opinions but I disagree with just as many. I made this comment of my own volition; I did not graduate from the “Middletown Mike School of Logic.”
I did not make a blanket statement. I made a comment based off of the information that was available to me via my observations at MHSS and BOE meetings. Nor did I state that my initial statements were fact, I just put forth my opinions and thought process. I understand the BOE job is to oversee the quality of education in the schools of its district. If you disagree with this point, then you should probably read up on the duties of a BOE.
So neither Mike nor myself are “privy to the intimate inner workings of central office” nor have we inadequate knowledge? Well then, you keep commenting on our lack of understanding of the BOE, so what do you know? Educate us please. I would love to know what goes on behind the scenes, so I could know whether my earlier statements are wrong or correct.
This sticking point actually leads into another famous issue of the BOE, the lack of transparency. For some reason or another, the BOE has chosen to make most of its important decisions behind closed doors and provide little information behind why those decisions were made.
But again, if it is not too much trouble, please feel free to educate us on the inner workings of the BOE
“ ‘One of the general duties of the BOE is to evaluate the educational program within its purview and making and adopting changes to the educational program.’
That is a completely false statement. Once again, not only can the BOE not make changes to the ‘educational program’ it is against the code of ethics that they all swear to uphold to do so.”
Are you referring to this code of ethics? http://www.nj.gov/education/ethics/act.htm
“I will carry out my responsibility, not to administer the schools, but, together with my fellow board members, to see that they are well run” (18A:12-24.1 article d).
It appears that this code of ethics only supports my earlier statement that based off of my observations, that MHSS not being run to its full potential is indeed the responsibility of the BOE.
9“The key there being the last part where it says last but not least include the community in the decision making process.
Did you know that in the two years that it took our BOE to hire a new superintendent that they never once included the parents,teachers, administrators, local business leaders, or community leaders in the decision making process. Every meeting with regard to hiring the new superintendent was held behind closed doors. This board in particular that constantly criticizes administration for a lack of transparency held its meetings in secret regarding the most important hiring in the school district.”
Yes, I am aware of this matter. It is actually one of the problems with the current BOE that irks me the most.
“I am going to go out on a limb. Middletown does not have a similar median income as those other towns. You chose three of the most affluent towns in our area to compare to Middletown and again made a statement that is not based in fact. Matter of fact, forget about median income, let's talk about poverty level. None of those towns have a poverty rate anywhere near what exists in the north side of Middletown. I would guess their collective poverty level is zero.”
I was not referring to Middletown as a whole. I referred to the district of MHSS, which aside from perhaps small areas of Leonardo, is just as affluent as the towns I mentioned. You said, “I would guess their collective poverty level is zero.” I could show you some areas of districted to Marlboro and Colts Neck that are just as poor if not poorer than the poorest areas of Middletown.
“What are you doing posting at two in the afternoon an on a Tuesday? Get out there and earn some money will ya? You are going to need beer money when you start college next week.”
When have I posted at two in the afternoon? I posted at 8:55PM and 12:40AM. Not sure where you got two in the afternoon from… That aside, I have been in college for over a week, and I worked all summer from 8:30 to 4:30 five days a week to earn my beer money, if you want to call it that, so I don’t really need to be working at the moment.
First of all, we are not comparing South to other towns. We are comparing South to North. You are getting off topic.
You stated that the reason that South scored better was because the administration was not doing all they can to treat the schools equally.
I think you are wrong and you have offered no evidence to support the notion that they are not doing all they can.
You can disagree all you want, the fact remains that there is a direct correlation between median income and education outcomes. The parents at South have a higher median income than North.
That is the evidence that I am offering for the difference.
Now tell me what you know that the administration has not done that they should have done. You claimed that they did not do all they could, elaborate please.
Because so far all I see so far is a conclusion based on anecdotal evidence, which we can both agree is inadequate. Give me specific things that you know they could have done that they have not done.
You and Mike made a very specific claim yet you offer no specific information to back up that claim. Until you do so all you have is an opinion, which to paraphrase, is something that all anatomically correct humans have. Mike apparently had sense enough to leave the building with Elvis when I asked him when he last attended a BOE meeting. Discretion is the better part of valor Mike, you made a wise decision.
But this is getting tedious. I have said I need to say on the matter. You can have the last word.
Good luck in college. I am quite certain that the Middletown school district that you are criticizing and that made it possible for you to get your diploma has prepared you well.
You must admit, it is a thankless job sometimes for the board members,teachers and administrators when the very students who have benefitted from their dedication and hard work graduate and then criticize them.
There is a common consensus that the current BOE president needs to be replaced and that could help some of what's wrong with the schools in this town. It's all about her ego and what she wants and her conduct is destructive. It has also been stated there is a lack of education and ethical behavior and that also contributes to the inability to work with others.
“First of all, we are not comparing South to other towns. We are comparing South to North. You are getting off topic.”
I initially did say “To those of you posting that administrator and BOE members were doing their best to improve Middletown's schools:”, but that was merely my way of referencing multiple posters. I did, however, include MHSN in my argument that the BOE was not doing a good job, and that was my mistake. I did not go to MHSN, and cannot speak for what goes on there, I apologize for my mistake. That being said, I have made it rather clear in the post following my first post that I am concerned about the quality of education at MHSS. Nor have made no more mention of the difference in ranks between both schools. I care much more about the underachieving of MHSS and also MHSN, the supposed disparity between the rankings means little to me, although it might mean more to Mike or yourself.
I am beginning to think you may have been a former politician (although this is just a guess) because it is a classic political debate strategy to make an attack on your opponent by placing words in his or her mouth and the criticizing them, flustering your opponent and catching them off guard. You said that I, “stated that the reason that South scored better was because the administration was not doing all they can to treat the schools equally. I think you are wrong and you have offered no evidence to support the notion that they are not doing all they can.”
Where did I say this? Please find the exact line or passage where I said the aforementioned statement.
“You and Mike made a very specific claim yet you offer no specific information to back up that claim. Until you do so all you have is an opinion, which to paraphrase, is something that all anatomically correct humans have.”
Have you not made some specific claims yourself? You have backed your statement by claiming that you know what goes on behind the scenes at the BOE? Did I not ask you for this information and its source? Yet you have failed to provide this information, and as such you are stating opinion just like Mike and myself.
“But this is getting tedious. I have said I need to say on the matter. You can have the last word.”
I thought you were retired and could do this all day? Perhaps you have finally run out of words to put in my mouth? Or maybe you just want to enjoy your retirement, and if so, go ahead.
“I am quite certain that the Middletown school district that you are criticizing and that made it possible for you to get your diploma has prepared you well…You must admit, it is a thankless job sometimes for the board members, teachers and administrators when the very students who have benefitted from their dedication and hard work graduate and then criticize them.”
Did I not say, “There are some excellent teachers at MHSS who played a pivotal role in furthering my education and helping me achieve academic success.”
Please do not try to label me as an ingrate and cynical critic. I will forever be in debt to those excellent teachers who helped and inspired during my high school years. I thanked each of them to their face, hugged them, shook their hands, wrote thank you cards, and gave the tokens of my appreciation. If only the high school administrators and BOE were more transparent, then perhaps I would know more about this hard work and dedication you speak of, and in turn I could give them their due thanks. Sadly though, there is no transparency, so I am left with what I can observe myself and form my own opinions and musing about what might be going on behind the scenes and develop my supposedly baseless criticism.
It is also a thankless job to be a parent who pays taxes which fund their children’s schools, only to watch the schools they pay for get worse academically year after year...
But again, if this is too tedious, then let this debate end with my words as you suggested. We will go our separate ways and have our own opinions. I do wish you a happy retirement and hope I haven’t been too much of a bother. I was just forwarded this article by a friend, and after reading it and the comments about it, I felt like I had to speak out.
Thank you for a good debate, and I wish you the best.
Okay,okay. You sound like you want more so here it is.
You can call it a debating tactic if you like but I think what I have been doing consistently is asking you to provide specific evidence to support your claim that administrators are not doing all they can. And you just as consistently evade the question. Give an example.
You just can't make claims like, "Sadly though, there is no transparency" without anything specific to back up your claims. Give an example.
Let me ask you again, when was the last time you attended a BOE meeting? When was the last time your parents attended a BOE meeting?
Because I have been to many meetings and high school aged attendees stick out like a sore thumb in the crowd of ten or so people who do not work in the district at the meetings. And it is the same ten or so people at every meeting. There is only one person attending the meeting regularly who would fit into your age group and it is not you.
It is a common complaint about administrators made by people who do not attend the meetings. The administration does all of the new hires in public. The budget is published for all to see. You can look up everyone's salary if you choose to do so. The public is invited to speak directly to the board and the administrators before and after every meeting.
What specifically do you want the administrators to do to be more transparent?
The BOE, as we have seen, chooses to keep the public in the dark when they want to but what more do you want administrators to do?
“What I have been doing consistently is asking you to provide specific evidence to support your claim that administrators are not doing all they can. And you just as consistently evade the question. Give an example.”
I have been promptly addressing each of your questions in my posts. It appears you have just chosen to ignore them. Did I not say in my original post that I believe the problem could logically be traced back to the BOE? Yet you continue to bring administration into your arguments. Why? I have said multiple times that I said the BOE lets poor administrators and teachers run rampant in schools. There is nothing the administration can do because it is the BOE’s job to oversee high school administration and teachers to make sure the quality of education at their schools is a good as it can be. If you disagree with this, then perhaps you should reread the BOE’s code of ethics I posted earlier…
I have not asked for administrators to be more transparent, I only asked for the BOE to be more transparent. Perhaps you should reread my earlier posts.
What are these questions I have not answered? You only provided one unanswered question from my latest post which I will answer now. I invite you to find (or make up) more questions I have not answered. Here are two examples of lack of transparency. First, the BOE kept the public in the dark about why Dr. Shallop was not doing a satisfactory job at MHSS. Yes, I know part of the issue concerned a student, but the BOE made it obvious that was not the sole reason for his termination. Yet, the BOE did not give any other reasons, choosing to keep the public in the dark about Shallop’s termination. That was not acceptable. Second, there is Mr. Houston’s departure from Superintendent and his exiting comments regarding the current BOE about how he was unable to work under their leadership. The BOE provided no explanation for these comments.
So you attack me for not attending BOE meetings? In the past year I have attended 4 meetings, but I have read the minutes of many more and watched what meeting videos were posted. For a student in HS, especially those who participate in varsity athletics and have a rigorous AP schedule, BOE meetings are rather inconveniently held on weekdays so I have done my best to be involved. As to high school students sticking out like sore thumbs, those meeting I have attended I sat of to the side choosing to stay out of the spotlight of the often circus like meetings. I honestly avoided being noticed.
“The administration does all of the new hires in public. The budget is published for all to see. You can look up everyone's salary if you choose to do so. The public is invited to speak directly to the board and the administrators before and after every meeting.”
I know the role of the BOE. I can read.
However, your words, “The public is invited to speak directly to the board and the administrators before and after every meeting,” are rather intriguing. When over fifty students spoke about how much the loved Dr. Shallop and wanted him to stay, most of the BOE members paid no attention to their comments. If you attend meeting as regularly as you say you do, are you aware the in the most recent meeting the BOE suggested limiting the amount the public may speak at meetings? I could not attend due to college, but my mother and brother were in attendance and were not happy about that to say the least.
Let us return to your claim that I have not answered your questions. I have provided effective responses to all of your questions, and I’ll keep on answering if need be.
As to you, you have made multiple claims that you know the inner workings of the BOE. You said, “Neither one of you know that and neither one of you could not know that unless you were privy to the intimate inner workings of central office.” What do you know? Provide this knowledge please.
"There is nothing the administration can do because it is the BOE’s job to oversee high school administration and teachers"
It is not the job of the BOE to oversee teachers and high school administrators. It is the job of central office to oversee high school administrators. It is the job of the principals to oversee all the employees in their buildings, including the teachers.
How many times do I have to say it? The BOE's only power is vote on the recommendations of the superintendent. They have no business whatsoever getting involved with individual teachers unless the super recommends something regarding that teacher at a BOE meeting. I realize that you may not understand this, some board members don't understand it either.
"I have not asked for administrators to be more transparent, I only asked for the BOE to be more transparent."
Yes you did, right here:
"If only the high school administrators and BOE were more transparent, then perhaps I would know more about this hard work and dedication you speak of, and in turn I could give them their due thanks. Sadly though, there is no transparency"
Of course, the Dr. Shallop debacle. The fact is that Dr. Shallop was a public employee. The board is prohibited by law from discussing personnel issues in public regarding a public employee. If they had, Dr. Shallop would have sued the pants off the district. So when you speak about a lack of transparency, there is no, and can be no transparency regarding personnel issues unless the person involved waives his right to privacy.
Instead of criticizing the board you should be commending them on their restraint since they could not defend themselves against the onslaught on defenders that Dr. Shallop mustered in his defense, including I might add by using social media.
He created a circus to try and save his job.
Dr. Shallop was free to tell everyone why he was not rehired. Why didn't he do that? He could have requested that all meetings with the board regarding the issue be held in public. Why didn't he do that? Didn't he owe that degree of transparency to all the people he urged to defend him? If he claimed that he didn't know why he was not being rehired he should have welcomed a public hearing. He didn't.
"When over fifty students spoke about how much the loved Dr. Shallop and wanted him to stay, most of the BOE members paid no attention to their comments"
Believe me, they paid attention. But again, they are prohibited from commenting about a personnel issue publicly. It is against the law.
“Neither one of you know that and neither one of you could not know that unless you were privy to the intimate inner workings of central office.” What do you know? Provide this knowledge please."
Okay, I'll tell you everything I know about the inner workings of central office. Nothing, not a darn thing.
And that is why I would never accuse them of not doing all they can do, like you and Mike did on a public forum. I wouldn't claim that the job they were doing was "unacceptable" unless I knew in detail what they had done and what they had not done. But that's just me.
Which pretty much brings us full circle, wouldn't you say?
NOT REALLY anonymous 9:28p.m.. It is just a blatant example of how politics and the political connections of someone successfully drove a great person out of the Middletown school system.
That's one way to look at it.
Another way to look at it is that this is what happens when a teacher with connections is appointed principal when they have absolutely no administrative experience whatsoever.
“I will carry out my responsibility, not to administer the schools, but, together with my fellow board members, to see that they are well run.”
That quote is directly from 18A:12-24.1, i.e. the Code of Ethics for School Board Members. Thus, all board members have a commitment to make sure that the schools of Middletown are well run. How do you know it is Central Offices job? Please cite where you got that information.
“They have no business whatsoever getting involved with individual teachers unless the super recommends something regarding that teacher at a BOE meeting. I realize that you may not understand this, some board members don't understand it either.”
Again, read my above comment from the BOE’s Code of Ethics. It is the BOE job to make sure that the quality of the education programs they oversee is at its best. This relates to one of my initial complaints in which I said that there were teachers and administrators at MHSS who were doing lackluster jobs. As I quoted earlier, “A Board of Education is deeply involved in evaluating the educational program within its purview and making and adopting changes to the educational program.” Thus, the fact that MHSS and MHSN continue to fall in the public school rankings, shows that the BOE is not doing its job to make sure that the schools are well run and that they have not been properly evaluating and adopting the proper changes to improve Middletown Schools.
“You must admit, it is a thankless job sometimes for the board members,teachers and administrators when the very students who have benefitted from their dedication and hard work graduate and then criticize them.”
When I asked for administrators to be more transparent, it was only respond to your above statement regarding my earlier post. Before that post I only mentioned that I wanted the BOE to be more transparent, “I have attended many BOE meanings, only to see the public spoken to as children or completely ignored. There is no transparency.” Again and again you keep dragging administrators into this argument. Why? Have I not made it clear that I believe the BOE is most at fault and that I blame them for the degradation of education in Middletown’s schools.
“The board is prohibited by law from discussing personnel issues in public regarding a public employee.”
Please cite where you found this information.
“He could have requested that all meetings with the board regarding the issue be held in public. Why didn't he do that?”
You are aware that you just said, “The board is prohibited by law from discussing personnel issues in public regarding a public employee.” Thus, no public meetings could be held regarding Shallop’s termination, because as you said, he could have, “sued the pants off the district.”
Let me also mention that Shallop now works at JP Stevens, one of the top school in NJ. So I guess MHSS got the better deal right?
“Believe me, they paid attention. But again, they are prohibited from commenting about a personnel issue publicly. It is against the law.”
I was there. Maybe one, perhaps two BOE members wanted to hear what the students and parents had to say. Some board members even had looks of disgust on their faces as the students spoke, as if their night was being wasted listening to a group of ingrates. You can deny what I just said all you want, but I know what I saw, and I can find plenty of people that would agree with me.
“Okay, I'll tell you everything I know about the inner workings of central office. Nothing, not a darn thing.”
Now the truth comes out. Yet you felt the need to chastise Mike and myself for lacking this knowledge, even though you had none of it yourself. . I have provided two sources for my information. You make many comments regarding the working and powers of the BOE, yet you have failed to cite this knowledge
Which pretty much brings us full circle, wouldn't you say?
"Thus, all board members have a commitment to make sure that the schools of Middletown are well run. How do you know it is Central Offices job?"
Listen, I have been handling you with kid gloves thus far and it just hasn't been working.
If you have to go to Yahoo answers, like you did, to find out what the job of the school board is, then you haven't been involved enough in the process.
http://voices.yahoo.com/what-does-board-education-do-5772712.html
And when you make statements like this:
"There is nothing the administration can do because it is the BOE’s job to oversee high school administration and teachers"
The administrators run the school district not the BOE, to say that there is nothing that administrators can do is, forgive me, ignorant.
It is abundantly clear that you do not understand the role of administrators or the role of the BOE.
I'll say this one more time with feeling:
The ONLY power that the BOE has is to vote on the recommendations of the superintendent.
"Thus, the fact that MHSS and MHSN continue to fall in the public school rankings, shows that the BOE is not doing its job to make sure that the schools are well run and that they have not been properly evaluating and adopting the proper changes to improve Middletown Schools."
Did you take any science classes? Do you remember the scientific process? Didn't they teach you that anecdotal evidence is not conclusive? There are a myriad of factors that determine how a school ranks. Budgets that did not pass, mass layoffs, no continuity in district leadership, a severe recession placing demands on families, retirements, and who knows what else all contribute to the quality of the education.
Middletown was hurt disproportionately by Christie's school aid cuts because the district was fiscally sound We lost more aid proportionately than districts that were not being run as well financially. If you had been at the budget presentation that Mrs. Bilboa presented, you would have seen our BA point this disparity out to then State Senator Kyrillos. And you would have seen Kyrillos agree and say that he would bring it to Christie's attention. Nothing ever became of it.
So there are many factors that determine educational success. And there are many more that you and I don't know.
“The board is prohibited by law from discussing personnel issues in public regarding a public employee.”
"Please cite where you found this information."
No. I am not going to do your research. That is common knowledge. If you don't believe me, Google it.
"Thus, no public meetings could be held regarding Shallop’s termination"
Reread my post. I said that Dr. Shallop could have waived his right to privacy, he chose not to do so. There absolutely could have been a public hearing. Dr. Shallop did not want his meeting with the BOE to be attended by his supporters. If he wanted you to know why the board chose not to rehire him, you would know and we wouldn't be having this discussion years later.
"Maybe one, perhaps two BOE members wanted to hear what the students and parents had to say."
You can assign motives if you like. Try to remember the situation. Dr Shallop had just left a meeting with the board where he pled for his job. Whatever he said in that room before the BOE meeting convinced the board, unamamously, that he should not be rehired. Their minds were not going to be changed because of the people who liked him and were not privy to what took place in that room.
Why don't you ask him yourself? He claimed that he did not know why he was not being rehired. Do you believe that? This is off the J.P. Stevens website:
Dr. Shallop
Anti-Bullying Specialist
Grade 9
e-mail: anthony.shallop@edison.k12.nj.us
phone: (732) 452-2800
Yes, congratulations to Dr. Shallop on finding employment at J. P. Stevens High School. I guess the administration there thought that his resume made him a good choice for assistant 9th grade principal specializing in bullying. Perhaps he can gain some experience as an administrator, move up the ranks, and apply for a principal position in the future.
"Now the truth comes out. Yet you felt the need to chastise Mike and myself for lacking this knowledge, even though you had none of it yourself."
Here is the difference between you and Mike and me. You criticize people when you do not know what you are talking about.
I do not criticize people unless I know what I am talking about.
Listen, I thought that perhaps because you were young that you would be open to engaging in a discussion in the hopes of seeing another point of view. I tried to give you a different perspective on criticizing public employees on a public forum. I was mistaken.
Remember that board members are volunteers. Unlike 99.99% of the people, including parents, they are involved in the educational process in Middletown
Also try to remember when you make broad statements about a group of people that you are talking about real people who are trying to make a living. These are people who have dedicated their careers to education. People, who just like you are going to do, achieved a college degree. In the case of administrators multiple degrees, many with doctorates. These are highly educated, hard working people running a business with 1,000 employees responsible for the safety and education of 10,000 students just like you.
The last thing the administrators and the BOE need is someone with a blog telling people that the job they are doing is unacceptable when he doesn't know what he is talking about. Because the easy thing for people to do is to is to take him at his word and pile on, just as you did.
Along with the police and firemen, they have the most difficult and important job in the town and they deserve better than that.
I'm not going to beat a dead horse. Either you get it by now, or you don't. I have nothing more to add.
“No. I am not going to do your research. That is common knowledge. If you don't believe me, Google it.”
You were the one who stated, the fact, so you should be able to provide me with the source of your information. Would you hand a paper into your boss, and when he asks you where you got your information from, tell him to go research it himself? I hope not. Provide where you found this information, citing something as common knowledge is a cop out.
“Reread my post. I said that Dr. Shallop could have waived his right to privacy, he chose not to do so. There absolutely could have been a public hearing. Dr. Shallop did not want his meeting with the BOE to be attended by his supporters. If he wanted you to know why the board chose not to rehire him, you would know and we wouldn't be having this discussion years later.”
From what Dr. Shallop told his supporters, he could not discuss the cause of his termination because it involved a student’s privacy, which he could not disclose to the public. Aside from that issue, he said there were no other reasons why he was not being hired. Thus, there could be no public hearing regarding his termination. Perhaps you are right; Dr. Shallop could have lied to us. I’d like to think not, but that is entirely possible.
“Here is the difference between you and Mike and me. You criticize people when you do not know what you are talking about.
I do not criticize people unless I know what I am talking about.”
That is not true. Have I not provided detailed sources for my information? There is nothing wrong with a Yahoo Voices article written by someone with a Doctorate. Neither is the NJ DOE Code of Ethics for the BOE.
You, however, have backed your statements by saying they are “common knowledge.” That is not acceptable. Provide sources for your information.
“Listen, I thought that perhaps because you were young that you would be open to engaging in a discussion in the hopes of seeing another point of view. I tried to give you a different perspective on criticizing public employees on a public forum. I was mistaken.”
I have listened to what you have to say. You said,
“And that is why I would never accuse them of not doing all they can do, like you and Mike did on a public forum. I wouldn't claim that the job they were doing was "unacceptable" unless I knew in detail what they had done and what they had not done. But that's just me.”
Let me make something clear. I have never once said the BOE was doing an unacceptable job. I said they were not doing the best they could. I never said I thought they were doing an unacceptable job.
I have listened to your point of view and think it is a valid opinion. I just disagree. I won’t tell you it is wrong. I just think that the BOE has not been upfront with all of their decisions. Most of the major decisions made by the BOE are done behind the closed doors, leaving the public in the dark. This makes it hard for me to trust them, and has created a certain corrupt perception in most of the public eye...
Maybe they aren’t doing anything wrong and are trying their best to improve Middletown’s schools. Maybe they want some privacy and peace and quite so that they can make the best of their decisions.
I honestly don’t know. And the BOE certainly isn’t going to say why they prefer their privacy. They’ve been asked why at meetings I’ve been to and avoided the question.
I’m left then, to read year after year, in various publications, that Middletown’s schools are falling in the educational ranks. As such, I will lay blame on the institution whose most important duty is to uphold and oversee the quality of the education in Middletown, the BOE.
“Also try to remember when you make broad statements about a group of people that you are talking about real people who are trying to make a living. These are people who have dedicated their careers to education. People, who just like you are going to do, achieved a college degree. In the case of administrators multiple degrees, many with doctorates. These are highly educated, hard working people running a business with 1,000 employees responsible for the safety and education of 10,000 students just like you.”
I agree with what you said in the above statement. Again though, if they are doing their best jobs, how do the rankings of MHSS and MHSN continue to fall? Maybe the current members of the BOE aren’t the right people for the job? If that is the case, they should step down and let things start from a clean slate...
Just an idea however. I respect the fact that the amount of time it takes to be a member of the BOE is impressive and laudable. It is not, however, an excuse for the decline in Middletown’s education.
“I'm not going to beat a dead horse. Either you get it by now, or you don't. I have nothing more to add.”
If you are done with this discussion, so be it. As I said earlier I don’t want to be a bother. Thank you for being civil in your arguments and providing some excellent responses.
It does seem we are beating a dead horse. I have my opinion and you have yours. It looks like that will not change. If you have nothing more to add, then this discussion is over, and we will go our separate ways. I give you my regards and enjoy your retirement.
"The lady doth protest too much" and if Middletown schools are to improve,she should be replaced as BOE president. This individual is a divisive and self serving person and the education of the kids in this town is not about her, it's about them.
This town was better off under the former BOE president and the others who left us on the board. The TC should stop meddling also because it's not about them either. It's about the kids of Middletown, not the politicians or their cronies !!!!!
"I said they were not doing the best they could. I never said I thought they were doing an unacceptable job."
Semantics anyone?
So then you are saying that it is acceptable to you if they are not doing the best they can.
If Dr. Shallop told you that he could not have a public hearing regarding the board's decision not to rehire him, he lied to you. He could have waived HIS right to privacy without affecting the privacy of anyone else. If other individuals were in involved, students or otherwise, their names would not be used in public and therefore their privacy would not be compromised.
I suggest you check out the Open Public Meetings Law for NJ. Dr. Shallop was given a RICE notice informing him that his employment was going to be discussed in closed session by the board.
"The “Rice Notice” exception to the is found at N.J.S.A. 10:4-12b(8). It states that a public body may go into closed session when discussing: “Any matter involving the employment, appointment, termination of employment, terms and conditions of employment, evaluation of the performance of, promotion or disciplining of any specific prospective public officer or employee or current public officer or employee employed or appointed by the public body, unless all the individual employees or appointees whose rights could be adversely affected request in writing that such matter or matters be discussed at a public meeting.”
Again:
"unless all the individual employees or appointees whose rights could be adversely affected request in writing that such matter or matters be discussed at a public meeting."
"The Law permits any person to file a lawsuit in New Jersey Superior Court to
invalidate any action taken by a public body at a meeting which violates the Open
Public Meetings Law. The lawsuit must be brought within 45 days after the
public body’s action sought to be nullified has been made public. In addition,
any person may apply to New Jersey Superior Court for an injunction or other
judicial relief to insure future compliance with the law."
I hope that this puts the notion that Dr. Shallop could not have had a public hearing to rest once and for all.
He did not have a public hearing because he did not want a public hearing, period.
He could have handed in his resignation citing personal issues as his reason for leaving the job at any time prior to the board voting not to rehire him. Instead he thought that he could circle the wagons and pressure the BOE into rehiring him. It turns out he was wrong and he used poor judgment. He now has a black mark on his resume. Perhaps using similar poor judgment was the reason he was not rehired.
“ ‘I said they were not doing the best they could. I never said I thought they were doing an unacceptable job.’
Semantics anyone?”
No not semantics. It is you trying to put words in my mouth in order to attack my argument.
“So then you are saying that it is acceptable to you if they are not doing the best they can.”
I said in my original post, “To those of you posting that administrators and BOE members were doing their best to improve Middletown's schools,” that is what I meant. I did not say their job was unacceptable.
Allow me to repeat: I said that I felt they were not working to the best of their abilities and were focusing on other agendas instead of improving educational quality in Middletown’s schools. I have made it clear that I feel that they are misguided and misappropriated in their actions, not unacceptable.
I respect the BOE member for the time they put in each week at their position, I find the time they spend working as acceptable. I also respect the fact and find it acceptable that the BOE were elected by the citizens of Middletown.
I do, however, find it unacceptable that the educational rankings of Middletown’s schools continue to decline.
I do not think the BOE is doing an entirely “unacceptable job” as you said.
Thank you for providing a solid explanation of why Dr. Shallop could have had his termination discussed in public. It appears that I may have been lied too, assuming that the reasons for Dr. Shallop’s termination was more than the incident that involved a certain student. I have no way of knowing that, both sides claim they are unable to say why the termination occurred, so I’ll put the issue to bed because there is no way of knowing who is telling the truth.
I digress. I have noticed an interesting trend in your posts. You only address and focus on certain points. The point you refuse to address the fact that the rankings of Middletown ‘s schools continues to decline year after year.
Has this not been my original complaint from my first post?
Did I not say,
“How can you explain some of the teachers I had at MHSS whose classes were jokes, who threw A's at students and made no attempt to challenge or educate students? Just because a teacher is tenured, he or she does not have the right to allow their classes to become subpar?”
When they swore to their Code of Ethics, the BOE members said, “I will carry out my responsibility, not to administer the schools, but, together with my fellow board members, to see that they are well run.”
Clearly, the BOE is not monitoring the superintendent, school administrators, and teachers properly because Middletown’s schools continue to decline. Think what you want, but it clearly states in the Code of Ethics that the BOE must “see that they [schools] are well run.”
The BOE appoints and monitors the superintendent, who in turn monitors school administrators. The school administrators monitor the teachers, making sure they a teaching they are maintaining educational quality in their teachings.
Thus, the BOE receives the blame for the degradation of education in Middletown.
The schools of Middletown have not been well run under the current members of the BOE. This assumption cannot be denied as it is supported by the fact that Middletown’s schools continue to fall in the educational rankings.
So I will continue to play the role of gadfly until Middletown’s schools begin to once again climb the education rankings.
My sincerest apologies if you find me bothersome of annoying.
Dr. Shallop was the victim of the personal vendetta of a parent who did not like his child being disciplined for that student's conduct and the political connections of that particular parent.
Just look at the current BOE members and just how they got on the BOE. Politics invading our educational system...that's how.
News Flash: see anything enlightning there? Well?
Yes Dr. Shallop was the victim of politics.
It was his political connections that got a science teacher promoted to be the principal of a large high school when he had no administrative experience whatsoever.
He was in over his head because his cronies unwittingly set him up to fail.
Why did two ex-board members stand up at the podium and defend Dr. Shallop the night he was not rehired?
Who was their kid's science teacher?
Did you know these two board members were on the board that hired Dr. Shallop and they are were neighbors and supporters of the then superintendent?
Did you also know that when these two people were no longer on the board that the superintendent resigned before the end of her contract stating in the Press that she had decided to leave after seeing the results of the previous BOE elections?
Why was there an interim principal hired for South while Dr. Shallop obtained his administrator's certificate? Why didn't the superintendent interview for the position and hire the best candidate available for the job at the time? Why wait?
Why was the principal position at South, his first administrative position, waiting for him when he received his certification?
And this is the sixty four thousand dollar question:
Why did Dr. Shallop lie to his supporters and claim that he did not know why he was not being rehired and that he could not have a public hearing?
I'll tell you why. Because he thought that he could use the support of the people he lied to, to publicly pressure the board into rehiring him.
He was wrong and he used poor judgment by overestimating his political connections.
I would suggest that perhaps that same proclivity for using poor judgment is more likely to be the reason he was not rehired, not because he appropriately disciplined a student as you believe.
Do you see anything enlightening there? Well?
Politics in Middletown is a sick,sick condition whether we are talking BOE or TC.
As a long,long time, unaffiliated resident, am well aware of just how sick. Slander and unethical behavior is rampant.
And I repeat."the lady doth protest too much!
Enlightened now ? Or choose to be ignorant?
Enlightened now ???
Anon 9:12,
Assuming you are the same individual as Anon 1:37PM, Anon 10:36 AM, etc.
Cat got your tongue? What is wrong?
It seems that you have decided to ignore my latest post.
More importantly, why have you, in all of your posts, refused to address my most important concern regarding the current BOE? Under their tenure, Middletown’s schools have continued their downward spiral in the educational rankings. The current BOE has not improved anything and have had ample time to do so.
Again, why haven’t Middletown’s schools improved under the current BOE?
Do you have an answer? Do you see anything enlightening?
Well?
No, I am not anon 1:37 or anon 10:36. I am a longtime resident of this community ,for nearly 50 years and I know just how much dirty ,rotten politics has cost this community in recent years.
Politics has corroded or corrupted everything the republicans have touched in these last years. They will stoop to any depth without regard to outcome as long as they think they are in control.
Destruction of our schools,our library and our way of life is the result !!!
Are you now enlightened or are you just ignorant and choose to stay that way ??
Well ??
Anon 1:37
Looks like you abandoned ship...
Why won't you adress the fact that Middletown's schools continue to fall in the educational rankings under the current BOE?
Have you no exlpanation?
You seemed to have and explanation for everything else...
First, Middletown schools provide an excellent education and it is up to the student to take away all that he/she can learn and experience during these years. However, the schools have become overcrowded, with too many transfers into the Middletown Schools. Why are there so many vehicles with NY license plates dropping off/picking up students in the Middletown, NJ schools? All students deserve an equal education, however, in HS South, there are far too many "special needs" students. These children are at many times loud, disruptive, tend to have outbursts and present an unfair learning environment for the rest of the student body. It seems there are twice as many more special needs students at HS South this 2016/17 year. When your children come home stressed and annoyed at yet another daily outburst by the children - it serves no useful purpose. True we do recognize that these children deserve their education, but at what expense. We pay far too much in taxes for this to be occurring. Also, there is too much emphasis on the football program when one in a thousand actually moves on to professional level sports. Some of the teachers are actually rude and display outright dislike for some students in their classes; this should not be tolerated, but it is evident that this school district does as they please and will not tolerate any concern raised by parents. Too much political garbage; we don't need a comedian on the school board; and there needs to be better control over the spending of the taxpayer dollar in this school district.
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