Comments on: Responsibility http://www.showmedaily.org/2008/08/responsibility.html Advancing liberty with responsibility by promoting market solutions for Missouri public policy Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:56:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Audrey Spalding http://www.showmedaily.org/2008/08/responsibility.html#comment-459 Audrey Spalding Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:11:16 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=1137#comment-459 Gina, thanks for your comment and I see your point(s). I'm sure there is more to the superintendent's story about the tornado -- after all I did only speak with him and not his critics. I agree with you, the superintendent does assume ultimate responsibility as part of her employment, often regardless of who made the decisions. My point with this post was just that there were more people involved than just Chase in the direction of the school district. Gina, thanks for your comment and I see your point(s).

I’m sure there is more to the superintendent’s story about the tornado — after all I did only speak with him and not his critics.

I agree with you, the superintendent does assume ultimate responsibility as part of her employment, often regardless of who made the decisions.

My point with this post was just that there were more people involved than just Chase in the direction of the school district.

]]> By: Gina http://www.showmedaily.org/2008/08/responsibility.html#comment-457 Gina Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:44:04 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=1137#comment-457 The superintendent has responsibility for the complete operations of the district, including which administrators to hire or fire and what recommendations make it to the board. CPS Superintendent Chase chose to fire and demote well respected personnel for dissent and warnings about budget issues. Teachers and staff were frustrated by constant change and interference in the classroom, additional duties that took away from classroom time, and inconsistent, poorly communicated expectations. While it was not just one person who made the decisions that angered Columbia voters and parents, the superintendent assumes the ultimate responsibility as part of her employment. In Columbia, voters were expressing their displeasure at least two years earlier by electing school board members who took their job of overseeing the superintendent seriously. New board members finally were able to bring the management problems to the fore and change the culture of secrecy and intimidation. There are numerous lessons in this situation for school superintendents throughout the state if they are savvy enough to recognize them. (There is a lot more to the "tornado" story than the superintendent's complaint, too.) The superintendent has responsibility for the complete operations of the district, including which administrators to hire or fire and what recommendations make it to the board. CPS Superintendent Chase chose to fire and demote well respected personnel for dissent and warnings about budget issues. Teachers and staff were frustrated by constant change and interference in the classroom, additional duties that took away from classroom time, and inconsistent, poorly communicated expectations. While it was not just one person who made the decisions that angered Columbia voters and parents, the superintendent assumes the ultimate responsibility as part of her employment. In Columbia, voters were expressing their displeasure at least two years earlier by electing school board members who took their job of overseeing the superintendent seriously. New board members finally were able to bring the management problems to the fore and change the culture of secrecy and intimidation.
There are numerous lessons in this situation for school superintendents throughout the state if they are savvy enough to recognize them. (There is a lot more to the “tornado” story than the superintendent’s complaint, too.)

]]> By: Audrey Spalding http://www.showmedaily.org/2008/08/responsibility.html#comment-445 Audrey Spalding Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:54:42 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=1137#comment-445 Janese, Thanks for pointing out my mistake on who makes curriculum decisions. Janese,

Thanks for pointing out my mistake on who makes curriculum decisions.

]]> By: Janese Heavin http://www.showmedaily.org/2008/08/responsibility.html#comment-444 Janese Heavin Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:59:52 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=1137#comment-444 "The school board members who voted for the disputed curriculum recommendations." Just to clarify, in Columbia the board does not vote on curricula. That's not the case in some smaller districts, but Columbia board members have no say so in curriculum decisions. Those are made by internal committees and administrators. (Although I know at least one board member who would like to see that changed.) “The school board members who voted for the disputed curriculum recommendations.”
Just to clarify, in Columbia the board does not vote on curricula. That’s not the case in some smaller districts, but Columbia board members have no say so in curriculum decisions. Those are made by internal committees and administrators. (Although I know at least one board member who would like to see that changed.)

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