The school board voted at lasts nights meeting to delay the North Adams school reconfiguration and won’t readdress the issue until April of 2010. The Decatur Daily Democrat reported:
Acting upon the recommendation of Superintendent of Schools Wylie Sirk,who said in a prepared statement that an ad hoc citizen committee had threatened legal action against the school district for its reconfiguration decision due to of alleged procedural irregularities, the board voted 5-0 to postpone for at least a year any further discussions surrounding the realignment of classrooms in the school district
This hopefully will open the doors for better communication between the board and citizens of Decatur for future changes. In addition to halting the school reconfiguration the board also announced additional teacher cuts that are taking place due to lower enrollment numbers in the local schools.
33 Comments
This is great NEWS!!!
Get ready for a cut somewhere else!
A battle was won but the war (shrinking budget) still needs to be fought.
Mr. Sirk still faces the same challenge he did before, how to make up for evaporating funds from the state.
Our Children, Our Future now needs to focus on our lawmakers to get our schools the funding they deserve from our tax dollars.
And, yes I am glad the kids get to stay in the same school as their siblings.
Way to go “Our Children, Our Future”. You all stayed focused & driven..keep up the good work. I support your group 100%.
Congratulations to Our Children, Our Future! You have my support 100%!
Parent #9…..
I agree with we now we need to go to law makers and stand up for our schools. North Adams is a great system. WE have to come together and everyone get involed with the school.
To “our children, our future” great job!!!!
It’s sad that no one has considered the staff’s feelings anymore. Staff was upset when told we had to move, as this WAS going to happen. We finally have all come to terms with the move as we all were finally told where we’d be located next year. Then we started packing and ‘liking’ the possibilities of things to come and to help the children adjust and grow. Now it’s OFF and we’re not sure where you’ll be next yr! So just hang on and keep dangling on that emotional roller coaster while we try to put together plan C. WHAT A HORRIBLE THING TO do to these the staff! We are real people with real feelings and we are the ones stuck in the middle. NOW once again….we wait and wonder where we’ll be as we can all still be moved out of our bldgs. Yes this group has ‘won’ for now but what about the children?? THIS has GOT to be our main focus. Please continue with elected school board but now many of us have wished this reconfiguration would have just been left alone since the vote went through…..it’s been a rotten ride on a roller coaster and we want to know when it’ll stop?
I understand your sadness in this, yet another turn of events. However, I am amazed that this group went to bat for you and the “children” and now you condemn them for their efforts. From the discussions I have had with teachers, many of them had not come to terms with the reconfiguration and the moving and were still totally upset with the idea. What happened to all the ideas that were being shared in the prior blog where teachers could roll with the punches and make positive results with any situation thrown at them? I personally think it was a good thing that the reality of the situation was exposed and the legal situation exposed as well. Too many times situations in this school system are let go that are illegal with nobody standing up for right and wrong. If it this decision was made illegally, then it should be reversed and those in charge should proceed legally.
sadstaff
I understand were you are coming from. It has been a roller coster ride. It has been for me and my kids. But the children are first. What do you mean you dont know where the staff will be next year? Sirk said in the meeting NO more teachers cut. How is this a HORRIBLE thing? I understand you have feeling, but the commuity was fighting for the kids and staff. how did they hurt your feelings? The school board never took my feeling into thought when they voted this plan in. I am just happy the board is now listen to the commuinty. And we can come together and work TOGETHER. Like it should be>
Wrong Eve, NO WHERE did I condem anyone for this. I’m merely stating that it has been an emotional roller coaster for the staff. Also yes, most of us HAVE rolled with the punches and were accepting the move (as we had no other choice!) BUT now once again, we are uncertain of what lies ahead of us! AS ALWAYS tho, we WILL roll with the punches and deal with the ’situation’ that will be thrown at us next and we WILL adjust and make it good FOR the children! Please NOTE though: I am NOT condeming anyone….just stating some roller coaster feelings with this “here we go again” as the saga continues!
My apologies sadstaff. It just read that you were upset that another change had been made and it was the “groups’ fault. Good Luck to you in your remainder of the school year.
Sadstaff, I am sorry you feel you are on a “roller coaster ride” It amazes me that the main focus of the OFOC commitie has always been what was best for the students. How are you “stuck in the midle.” It seems to me the students are the ones that are stuck in the middle and on a roller coaster ride. I have zero sypathy for you and the packing you have already done. Why did you not stand up for the children when you were told to pack before the school year was over? If I am not mistaken dont you still have ISTEP testing in a few weeks? You may feel bad about your curent situation but you have nothing to complain about compared to the students. Thank goodness the OFOC stood up for the children when MOST everyone else just sat there feeling sorry for themselves. Great leaders lead when no one else will. This reconfiguration showed everyone who the real leaders are. I feel sorry for your inconvience but I also believe you need to reevaluate why you teach. It is not about you!!! It is about the children!!! OFOC thank you for being the voice for the true victims in this situation, the children.
Sadstaff-
I feel for all the teachers and the emotional roller coaster that you have been riding. But as a mom I would rather have the adults ride this than my children until a well developed, thought out transition would be able to take place.
Our Children, Our Future did what they thought was in the best interest of ALL that was involved.
Thanks!!!!!!!
I would like to say thank you to all of the community, without the support of YOU, we OCOF would not had the power or the means to go forward.
The Emotional Roller Coaster seats are taken by those employed by Fleetwood, GM, Thunderbird, and other industries. Yes, Sadstaff, you might be on a bumpy bike ride, but lets get real here.
I agree with Monmouth Mom, I would rather adults take this ride than any of the children. The poor kids who are being pulled along for the ride.
I commend any parent that can stand up for what they believe in and at the end of the day be proud of it. I wish there were more teachers and parents that would do the same for our children. Remember, these are the parents that have worked tirelessly for what is right even when others gave up.
Like it or not, this decision was made in a wrong manner and the sadness and confusion that is being felt is being misdirected at the wrong people.
Can someone tell me how we have 2 people posting under the same name? I guess I’ll change my name to make it a bit different….
concerned parent said: “Remember, these are the parents that have worked tirelessly for what is right even when others gave up.”
You mean these parents worked tirelessly for what was CONVENIENT for them, ignoring what would have been best and most equitable for ALL the kids involved.
My child needed the extra resources that would have been available with the reconfiguration, and now he loses out on that because some of you didn’t want your kids to have to *gasp* do something different.
TO all concerned…..remember most of us were NOT for this from the begining, but WE could only say so much for fear of loosing our jobs. I do thank those parents who fought for all of us and YES I do know that the children are the reason we all fought the best we could. I was NOT complaining just stating feelings. The roller coaster ride is because once again we do not know where we will be next yr. Just because the reconfiguration is off does not mean that we will not still be moved to other buildings. We were told to quit packing but not to unpack yet until we see what happens. There still are things to be decided. I am NOT mad at the parents or should I say the OFOC group. I applaud what they did. I think the blame here lies with the Administration that tried to rush this all through. NO where did I try to lay blame on anyone else. Why did we not stand up when told to pack??? WELL, Excuse me, but have you not heard the word insubordinate before??? ”Get real” you say?? You have ”NO sympathy for us”??? WELL, Thanks for your kindness! Yes, we do have ISTEP coming up-what was your point on this? We have prepared for this, don’t you worry!! If you were insinuating that we were packing instead, think AGAIN!
I think people sure like to keep the drama going on here! I am through posting, this is starting to get riduculous like the last time. Sorry I came on and posted and sorry that I was taken wrong by some of you. It’s been a mess for ALL of us but I DO believe our students are resilient and will (and would have) adapt (ed), as will the staff when this all comes up again in a year and we go forward with this. The ONLY difference this time is that it will be done the ‘legal’ way! P.S. Thanks Eve for the apology. I really did NOT fault any parent or the group. People are just being too thin-skinned!
It is hard to say what will happen so Mr. Sirk can save face. We were told that the packing would be on our own time, and many of us did this. I’m glad that some of my closets and cupboards are now clean. We have been told to not unpack – what does he have up his sleeve now? Yes we have ISTEP coming up – this is a stressful time for teachers also – but I think all of North Adams made AYP from the fall testing, so now we will await the results from the spring. Students and staff were already under some stress from the proposed reconfiguration. I am thrilled that the reconfiguration will not take place, but I wish the committee would be able to post what the illegalities were that the board and Mr. Sirk committed, since now the rumor mill has begun spinning that it was just a couple inconsequensial errors, but the board didn’t want to have a long drawn out legal battle and didn’t want the harrassment that the committee was subjecting the school system to. I don’t think Mr. Sirk would have backed down so quickly if it would have been just a couple small errors. What else does he have to hide? I am proud to serve the patrons of North Adams and was once proud to be a North Adams employee, but now we are the laughing stock of the area. Mr. Sirk and his “pals” began this process with no input from staff or citizens. He will not be happy to allow things to be status quo – they get their “high” by becoming dictators and not ask for input from the people who work day to day with children, but by keeping total control over the outcomes. Adams Central has listed how they will use their federal stimulus money – will we redecorate an administrative office with ours? There will be transfers – there is no doubt about this – how else can Mr. Sirk treat his employees like serfs and he is the King?
AMEN! To Terrified Teacher! I support each and every word you have stated. I too agree that you are treated like serfs by the “King”! Although, maybe you should call yourself “swabby” since he has self proclaimed himself the Captain as of the first newsletter last August. Remember, a swabby: slang a member of the navy, typically one who is of low rank.
His lies and illegal handling of situations began last year by the way.
Northwest Mom,
Unfortunately the way the comment system is set up here there can be duplicate names used in the comments. I really didnt want to have to implement a registration process and force people to log in to comment. I’ll have to look into this a bit more to see if I can keep it from happening.
Thanks,
Admin
J –
That was a pretty harsh comment…”You mean these parents worked tirelessly for what was CONVENIENT for them, ignoring what would have been best and most equitable for ALL the kids involved. ” My understanding of the parents, who worked tirelessly on getting this decision reversed, is that they had nothing but the kids best interest at heart. You may not agree and that’s okay, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
Personally, I don’t believe that the reconfiguration would’ve been beneficial to “ALL”. My son would’ve had a hard time with transitioning schools and who’s to say how that would’ve affected his education. However, you say yours would’ve enjoyed it. So the question is, who’s child is more important? Are you willing to make that call…I’m not.
While I applaud Our Children, Our Future for winning this battle, I do not believe the war is over. I am afraid that Wiley and Co will use this next year to get their ducks in a row so he can push this through. Please keep fighting the good fight and doing what is best for the children because they are truly the future of Decatur and their education is what is most important here.
J-Your take is simply your take and while you have your right to it, it doesn’t make it right just as I am sure you would argue against the other side. I won’t tell you what is right for your child just as I would expect you not to do the same for me.
I also warn against making the assumption that these parents acted out of convenience or fear of something different. Approach a committee member about their purpose and your take might be different.
I don’t care if OCOF was fighting for or against this. I am just utterly impressed that they fought at all and they deserve to be commended for that. It takes guts and isn’t easy no matter what side you are on.
Sad Staff, I am sorry you won’t participate anymore but I understand. Please know as a parent I appreciate your dedication to your profession and I hope you know many parents do even if they don’t say it.
You people need to wake up and look at the big picture. The kids are all together in middle school and high school anyway. It might actually be a good thing to have all kids in a certain grade in one school. It would have benefitted NA tremendously. You could help the struggling kids and also help the top tier. There is so much more the teachers could have done to educate the kids. Kids are way more resilient to change than you give them credit for! Believe me I know I once lived in a growing community where kids were getting moved around every 2 years. The parents had a much harder time with it than the kids. Sometimes you need to think outside the box and do something different to grow and learn!
Been there>
I do look at the big picture. Don’t judge people until you see the BIG picture.
It is not just the change that I am of afraid of. Why was the commuinty not told about this BIG change until one month before the School Board voted on it. Why was it kept such a big secret, if this was such a great thing for North ADams? If this was such a great plan they (sirk and school board) would of listen more to the parents. Parents and the schools should work TOGETHER.
been there,
Thanks for the information about the school system you were a part of that had a reconfiguration much like the one North Adama has proposed. I do have a question. What was the name of the school system? What state was it in? I would like to look at there student achievment data. Please post on this site that information so everyone can look up the school you refer to.
Wow!!!! What a meeting it was on Tuesday.
Well it appears that the “wonder boy” has struck yet again. Moving people around “just because”. It started with the high school band director, moved to the vocal director and now the football coach.
Do you think it might be time to move the “wonder boy”?
Eve,
I must agree. It is a sad day when “wonder boy” thinks he can do what he wants . I dont understand what he was thinking move the coach that just got “coach of the year” plus am I wrong did Bellmont not just win state for football. Am I wrong but is this not the first time in HISTORY for North Adams in football. Now I just hope the school board sees how ” wonder boy” is breaking the commuinty down and the school system it self apart. Hope the school boards address this ISSUE with “wonder boy”.
Sirk……does it again!!!!
Oh, my. What has he done now?
OMG! The school board and especially Wyle does not get it. The entire idea was to get someone who is in the school system to coach! Sooooooooooo…….what do they do, continue to screw up the system by getting a coach who does have experience, but is not in the system or even in the high school. No wonder everyone wants to go to Adams Central. It appears their Superintendent has a clue and truly does what is best for the students instead of just giving lip service and lies.