I've been thinking about what have unfolded the last week regarding the Oshkosh Superintendent situation read this posting on Eye on Oshkosh, it explains things perfectly.
I wanted to look at things from a different perspective, while the majority of the blame for people being "run out of town" goes to the naysayers those who disagree but say nothing are guilty as well. My father taught me that if you stand by and say nothing when someone tells a racist joke (for example) by your silence, you are in essence agreeing with what is said, or at least that is what others will assume.
I really think it is time for those in our community who do believe in our district, who can see the many positive things happening (even while wanting some things to change) need to speak out now and sing the praises of the district! I am by nature a pessimist (expect the worst and you won't be disappointed) and sometimes I focus on all the things that are wrong or need to change, however, I realize there are many positives in our district.
If we hope to attract a quality candidate for Supt. I believe the community needs to present a positive image of our district and the many things it has to offer. Those in the Silent Majority need to speak out and drown out those who spew so much negativity. In the last election for school board, clearly the voters chose to eliminate the negative, now it is time to accentuate the positive.
There will be plenty of time to work on needed changes. Right now I think we need to come together as people who care about the education of the children of the Oshkosh Area School District and support those who are working so hard to find a leader for our district. Yes I am talking about the 6 Board Members who have spent countless hours meeting to interview candidates, discuss the candidates qualifications and select someone they believed, in good faith, would be best to lead our district. There are plenty of things I disagree with a number of members about, but from all I have read, those 6 have been dedicated to finding the best Supt. for Oshkosh. It must be incredibly frustrating to have one of your own colleagues undermine what you have worked so hard on. How Mr. Becker could possibly have the respect of his colleagues is beyond me. His grandstanding and ego stroking is NOT what we need in this district. I can only hope the voters agree.
I really don't want people to spend too much time focusing on the negativity the radiates from Mr. Becker, rather I want people to focus on the positives of Oshkosh and the Oshkosh Area School District. I would like posters to focus on why someone would want to be Oshkosh's next Superintendent... What are the district's assets, strengths, uniqueness? I will delete those posts I deem negative.
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I want to add that Dan Becker also spent many hours looking at candidates but in the end couldn't be bothered to see the hiring process through. He left the meeting early, gave his blessing to candidate Gundlach, got his wish as far as conflicts go but afterward cried foul to make trouble for others while making a name for himself.
He brings up the issue of conflict of interest, Teresa, you've been on the board so you might be able to answer this. Dan Becker's wife is a teacher in another district, but aren't salaries and benefits in one dstrict determined by looking at the nearby or competing districts? If that's the case, it would appear that Dan Becker maybe shouldn't be voting on the budget either since. It's a stretch, I know, but gives you something to think about. Another thing, I heard him say at a school board meeting he runs a driving school. Our district provides training for young drivers so Mr. Becker voted present on fees for driver's education. Since driver's ed is contained in every budget, Mr. Becker should probably not vote on any budget. If he can't vote on it as a single item, how can he vote on it when it's part of a bigger one?
You spoke about those negative forces in the minority. I believe you're right about drowning them out. One way to do that is to set the record straight when they show more hypocrisy or spin things for their advantage.
Case in point is Michelle Monte. She made a posting about how Dan Becker is being given more credit than he's due for Gundlach pulling out. Even Becker told the ONW he may be the reason he pulled out. Maybe with all her many things going on she missed the story. She also never expressed any concern about her good friend Dan Becker leaving the meeting early but she's blogged about Mrs. Weinsheim arriving late to meetings, even when that didn't really happen. She's also now allowing comments about board members who have tattoos and who've gotten jobs from relatives. She and the writer of the comment must have forgotten her friend Ben Schneider has a job working in his dad's business.
I know you called for positive comments but if we're going to drown out the negative minority that has to be done by accentuating the positives as well as showing the false statements and hypocrisies. I hope you'll agree.
Wow anonymous 12:29, your post is wrong in many regards. I agree with Ms. Theil in that we need to focus on the future.
Oshkosh is a vibrant community with a wide array of opportunities available. 1) We house an excellent university which is highly underutilized by our school system. I'd love to see a super come in with the ability to build strong relationships with the departments at UWO. 2) The parents in this community are a huge asset. The fox valley is home to the most college degreed residents in Wisconsin. 3) The community is full of environmental educational opportunities...home to nature centers, a zoo, and significant water. Of course there are down-sides. The biggest obstacle is encouraging taxpayers to part with a nickel to educate their children. It can be done...but we need a vibrant cheerleader with the decision-making savvy of a CEO to lead the charge.
I relocated my family to Oshkosh a few years ago. I was very leary of the schools and wanted to move to Neenah instead. Quite an interesting thing happened...I discovered that our community is full of caring people and despite all the pitfalls of the school district, there is a lot of good happening too. My family discovered that Oshkosh is a great place to be a kid or a parent.
The only 'reservation' (please pardon the pun) I still harbor is the serious lack of quality restaurants.
What in the first post is wrong anonymous? There's not one thing wrong or inaccurate about it. Not being all inclusive doesn't make it wrong. Enlighten us please.
I find it interesting that some would have you believe that the schools will not be opening in September because we have no superintendent and the board is full of knuckleheads with tatoos.
OASD is much more than a super, the BOE and tatoos....It's about caring people - teachers, staff and administrators who despite all of these distractions will tirelessly work to make sure that Oshkosh children receive the very best education possible.
I have confidence that on the day after Labor Day the lights will be on, blackboards cleaned (do they still use blackboards?) and heads will be filled with knowledge.
I know this because I am married to one of those caring individuals who gives 100%+ to OASD every day.
I think that it's time for all of us to take a deep breath and put an end to all the recriminations of he/said/she said - it's a school yard brawl that no one wins and everyone ends up looking childish. This behavior only creates a poisonous ooze which I refuse to enter.
Don't get me wrong - I am upset with the actions of some and will vote accordingly at the next election but I am not willing to get in the same mud with them.
It is so peculiar how Dan Becker can suggest to the ONW that his inquiries may have had something to do with David Gundlach changing his minds about the job and that's okay but when others suggest the same thing is possible, they are put down by Becker supporters. What hypocrites.
People should also be reminded that Dan Becker's cyncism is not the only suspect in this twisted mess. There were several of his minions on blogs carping and speculating about Gundlach's conflict. It's been said that all of them could be a factor in his decision. None that I saw solely blamed Dan Becker. But why should Becker or his groupies let the facts cloud their thought process any more than it already is.
Anonymous 12:29
You bring up an interesting point and one I've thought about from time to time. One of the first things that is looked at in Arbitration is "what are the school districts in the area paying?" Seems to me Mr. Becker certainly should be participating in teacher negotiations (which he did participate in this last go round)... even if it isn't illegal doesn't it give (and this is the Beckers and Montes and the like words) the appearance of inappropriate. Isn't it possible that things that happen in an Oshkosh teacher negotiation contract could influence the teacher pay in Omro (where Mrs. Becker works)? Certainly something to think about... what is that quote about the "speck in your neighbors eye while missing the log in your own"?
The driver's ed issue is another interesting one, I'm not sure of the answer but perhaps Mr. Becker should call the Ethics Board and see what they have to say!
For those who have not seen the article... the NW has a story today (sorry I'm no good at linking in the comments section) where basically the Ethics Board says the only thing Mr. Gundlach would NOT have been able to participate in would be teacher contract negotiations --- exactly as I thought! There are a number of districts in the state where the Supt. does not participate in teacher negotiations for a variety of reasons. Mr. Becker makes a ridiculous comment in the article; "It was clear the remainder of the board had no interest in exploring this." There is no basis in fact for such a statement. The conflict being managed was the first item in the condiditional offer. This was going to be addressed in the contract being drafted by the attorneys for the district. And as I suspected the whole issue was "much ado about nothing" given the statements from the Ethics Board!
Again it is time for positive forces to take over this community, people who are willing to look for the good in things, who will work WITH the district to make needed changes, not work to sabatoge anything they don't agree with. How can we make our school district a more inviting place that will attract the type of leader we need to move things forward?
First, I believe that the BOE needs to look at its' code of conduct - if it does not have one, it needs to get one! It must hold members who engage in detrimental conduct accountable for their actions. Enough already with the lone wolf grandstanding that is driving good people away and creating ill-will in the community. I for one am sick and tired of these misbehaviors.
Second, I think people need to positively support in whatever manner they can their individual schools, teachers and administrators. Education is supposed to be fun and we need to stop sucking the life out of the process with the constant negativity.
Third, when things happen in our schools, let's get beyond this mindset which automatically assumes the worst of people. I believe that most people are trying to do the very best they can. Let's train and coach our educators to be positive forces in the lives of children and their families.
Fourth, Learn from your mistakes - this will not be easy for the BOE to admit, but they collectively messed up with this selection process. Be introsprective BOE and take a good look in the mirror at your own actions/failure to act.
Next, start another national search but don't saddle yourself with artificial timelines. The district appears to be currently managing just fine under the current leadership. Do the best job as a group that you possibly can to find the right match.
Finally, postpone any talk of a referendum until at least 2010. Lay the groundwork properly now and build consensus communitywide. Remember, people want to back a winner!
I agree with your comments except that the board collectively messed up this selection process. The board did nothing wrong. We had a supt. in place and the negativity started with Beckers and some other negative bloggers and before you knew it, the man had pulled out. Dan Becker acted as a free agent and proceeded without regard for the rest of the board, the Gundlachs or what harm his actions might cause the district.
Judging by the lack of comments this morning from the Dan Beckers and Montes of the world maybe the silencing of the negative forces has begun. Now if it could only last.
If the District Super has any say or control over employee wages and benefits there will always be a concern that the direction the Super takes will benefit his personal position. I think it was a good call for Gundlach to take his name out of the running. I think he saw the problems his connection with his wife would cause.
Leave it to some nimrod in this district to have a problem with something the state ethics people don't. You're as dumb as Dan Becker.
Teresa. I agree, I want the silent majority to drown out the vocal minority too!
If that happpened, you and your liberal cronies would be wiped off the political landscape in Oshkosh.
Great idea, how can we make it happen? Will you please take the lead on this?
Elections tell the real story and if the last election was any indication of the silent majority speaking out, it did its job well. We got rid of Ben Schneider and we kept Michelle Monte off the board. Way to go "not-so"-silent majority.
Well is it very obvious Anon. 3:13 that you have NO idea what a negative influence is. I have NEVER been as negative influence where this district is concerned. I am not the one constantly railing against every decision made my administration or the BOE. NO it is you and those like you have have nothing good to say about our district, you cannot disagree without being disagreeable and who rarely has the correct facts when spouting off on an issue. It is pretty clear that the voters in the last election were FED UP with the negativity and showed Schneider the door and placed Monte in last place... clearly those who truly care about education in this community showed where they stand on the negativity when voting for school board.
I believe in this community and I am confident that the majority in the community want to help build a better school district not help the likes of Becker and Monte tear it down.
Your argument is rather foolish, if the majority in the community were like you the board would have 6 Dan Beckers and not the 6 so-called (because most are not liberals at all) liberals we do have. I would describe it as 6 individuals who care about making Oshkosh schools the best they can be and one egotistical naysayer. Surely egotistical naysayers are NOT the majority of this community.
you all conveniently forget the small turnout (this means that teachers had a greater influence) that got the last board members elected. you also conveniently forget that the runoff election had the opposite results and guess what- a bigger turnout. if you want proof of what the silent majority thinks- wait for the referendum.
you have your 6 votes. did none of the 6 even think to bring up any potential of conflict of interest before they hired him? would no that be what we expect of board members- due diligence?was your president in contact with Mr. Gundlach to make sure he was on board and OK?
you have your way- you have 6 - time you take responsibility.
how many of you think forging ahead with an ill thought out referendum is in order? make sure you schedulue the vote when the turnout will be low. the real negativity is deserved by the actions and inactions of the board. you have had your liberal majority for about 10 of the last 12 years. own up to it.
What ignorant comments. First Dan Becker was on board with Gundlach too but you have conveniently forgotten that. The other thing is the board has no control over when voter turn out is high or low. Only the voters determine that. No wonder you're in the minority and you're candidates keep losing.
We need a strong administrator who will stand up against the powerful teachers union and do what is best for the students and taxpayers...not the teachers and administrators.
Adminstrators don't vote on the teachers salaries and benefits nor the budget. I'd say what we need are bloggers and voters who understand what they're actually talking about, unlike you, 11:01.
I completely agree with the post from Independent Thoughts, but I think the appropriate thing to do is link to the post (so people are actually directed to the site), rather than copy and paste it... I've tried to link but don't think I succeeded.
http://independent--thoughts.blogspot.com/search/label/Oshkosh
The April outcome was due to a strong "get out the vote" campaign conducted by the teachers union.
The teachers union wants to remain powerful in-order to maintain those that support wage and benefit increases.
The average property taxpayer can no longer afford the services public sector union employees provide if wages and benefits continue to increase.
Having Oshkosh taxpayers fund 95% of city workers healthcare costs is a crime against the taxpayer.
Unions want strength to continue to milk taxpayers out of property tax payments to afford the union membership increasing benefits in the face of declining benefits for those that pay them (the average Oshkosh taxpayer)
This must end.
People are beginning to wake up and understand the burden that public sector unions place on them.
Yeah right. That's why people are storming the school district's boardroom and the city council chambers. You wish that were the case. Call Madison or go whine to someone who gives a damn. Most people don't seem to care. That much is clear from your side losing in the last election. As for the teacher's union and their get out the vote campaign, you'd be surprised to see how many teachers don't even live in this district so can't vote anyway. You've got no solid basis for your argument but instead of admitting it, you'll blame everyone else. Typical of a person in denial.
2:21 - If you actually believe few people are interested in this, and are convinced that the vast majority think like you, well then you don’t really need to worry about things…yet the nature of your postings say otherwise. I think you can feel the momentum building and you’re scared.
Cut staff, don’t raise taxes!
Oh yes the momentum is building so much that the taxpayers are storming meeting rooms. NOT! My posts suggest nothing other than an effort to help you see the error of your ways and to help spare you from further humiliation of stating things that aren't true. Copy and paste dudes suck!
So then Union Pal, no need to get all worked up then is there. No one cares.Go out and enjoy yourself. Enjoy today because you never know what tomorrow will bring!
Cut staff, don’t raise taxes!
Good idea. I'll relax while you toil away the hours trying to rally the troops. Better luck than you've had so far.
Relax, It's not work for me, I enjoy it. Sit back and watch!
:)
Cut staff, don’t raise taxes!
Maybe you should approach it as work because you're not having much luck rallying the troops with the lazy man's approach. While you're gathering a few negative nellies around the campfire of malcontent, work on those grammar skills, okay? You're still making the same mistakes and they're just like the same ones made by KM and MM in their blog ramblings.
Glad your "tuned in" my Union Pal!
Relax, you guys don't have a thing to worry about.
In fact go spend some money this weekend, support the economy, that $26,000,000.00 referendum is almost yours!
;)
More mistakes. Remedial English is in the cards for you.
No mistaking this...
Cut the jobs, don't raise the taxes!
Dream on, Union Hater.
Spoken like a Dan Becker or one of his mental midget minions. You haven't even seen what exactly the referendum will be for or how much it will cost but you're ready to cast your NO vote. What a prize.
Only you would extrapolate a "cut jobs, don't raise taxes" message from an editorial that speaks about local politics as a whole. The ONW is actually on record as saying they understand what collective bargaining is all about. They actually support it, and if you're in doubt, give 'em a call and ask the editorial board its position on unions. So there goes your argument and so-called support for it.
You're right about one thing -- you've been bitching about salaries and benefits for public sector union workers for years. And for years, few people have voiced similar concerns to lawmakers. So there you go, copy and pasting union hater. But you keep marching in your one man parade if it gives you a feeling of accomplishment.
From the Sunday edition of the Northwestern.
“…there will be no mention of the local budget fix Oshkosh, Wis. finds itself in.
No, it’s up to Chief Scott Greuel and his administrators (maybe with a dash of public input) to figure out how to fit a pre-brokered 2.75 percent wage hike for officers into an Oshkosh Police Department budget asked to originally aim for a zero-percent increase. Even a slight, allowable increase by the city’s top brass won’t make matters easy. __
There’s already a “vehicle reduction plan” on the table and the likely elimination of OPD’s victim-witness coordinator, Greuel recently told The Northwestern editorial board. The city of Oshkosh’s top brass and our elected Oshkosh Common Council will make those and other final budget decisions in the next two to three months.”
“… But don’t forget to also drop a call or two to each member of your local boards and councils on issues and programs that matter most to you… before they are reviewed for potential cutting. “
“…Kudos to the city of Oshkosh for featuring an online “Budget/Fiscal Survey” feature this year at its Web site that asks residents to list what they consider “high” and “low” priority “services, functions and programs.” You don’t have to read between the lines to figure out that the survey will be more tool in helping city leaders decide where and where not to trim.”
So, the Northwestern heard me when I said:
CUT JOBS, DON’T RAISE TAXES!
I see Michelle Monte is running off at the fingertips again, this time about the "blame game." What an interesting thign for her to write about, since she's the game's most avid player. In her usual manner of playing forked-tongue politics, she talks about how playing the blame game solves nothing, but in the same paragraph points her hypocritical finger at everyone but the real suspects -- her friends. There is none so blind as she who will not see.
Anonymous 2:10
Interesting how you didn't post this "quote" from the NW:
Obama and Sen. John McCain are spending our local commercial time bouting over energy, economy and war, but neither has an answer for how a revenue-strapped, tax-levy-capped Oshkosh metes out meager raises for our public workers yet maintains everyday services
Did you note the word MEAGER above? The Dictionary.com definition of meager is: 1. deficient in quantity or quality; lacking fullness or richness; scanty; inadequate: a meager salary; meager fare; a meager harvest
In case you need further explanation --- a meager raise is not a good thing. The NW at least in this editorial does NOT agree with you!
Anon. 6:27 I completely agree with you! But I just don't have the energy to deal with all the nonsense she writes. How someone can follow a district for years and be so ill informed continues to amaze me. No point in going over her misinformation though because most posters care not about the facts.
I have to agree about her. Besides the misinformation, her post is, as usual, rife with grammatical and typographical errors. In the past she has blamed her errors on being in a hurry when she typed things. Most recently on the ONW's blog she blamed them on her having an arthritic condition. I'm no doctor but it's hard to believe that an arthritic condition would allow you to blog incessantly all over the Internet, but not correct the mistakes you make in doing so.
BTW, I think the misinformation she puts out there is at least somewhat due to being ill- or uninformed, but the other part is from her burning desire to discredit others at any cost. Playing her own version of the blame game I guess.
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