Take Back Perry Schools
Introduction
We are a group of concerned parents, educators, teachers, students and taxpayers that are committed to taking back control of the Metropolitan School District of Perry Township from a divided school board. This division started from the actions of four individual board members with personal agendas and whose actions have put our schools in a downward spiral. Their ongoing disregard for board by-laws and state laws, as well as the flippant waste of taxpayer's dollars must be opposed in an effort to Take Back Perry Schools.An Update to the Situation and Moving Forward
There has been a great deal of activity over the past few weeks as you’re aware. We have tried to keep a low profile and let the legal process work. It did work, and it worked quite well. In case you have not heard, yesterday, the U.S. Federal District Court enjoined Nancy Walsh from participating in the hearing, discussion and vote related to the cancellation of Dr. Williams’ contract!! Dr Williams’ closed hearing before the Board was scheduled to begin this evening, but has been continued until next Wednesday, June 13. For a brief time, we thought that the Board majority might consider some type of resolution or compromise that would result in the hearing being cancelled. Attorneys for both sides met today. There is no longer any reason to think that the Board majority has any interest in stopping this nonsense. None of us are surprised!
The Board could attempt to appeal the Federal Court decision. However, the Board cannot appeal as a matter of right. First, the District Court would have to certify the appeal. Then, the 7th Circuit Court would have to accept the appeal. In the extremely unlikely event that both Courts consented to the appeal going forward, one court would have to stay the injunction while the appeal is pending. Again, this is not likely and would represent yet another illogical decision of the majority driven by bias and rage, without regard for cost to the taxpayers.
For now, Dr. Williams has prevailed and he is on track to return! That outcome seems most likely at this point, and the entire mood of Perry Township seems to have lifted. People are smiling and hopes are high! Now that Judge McKinney has ruled, and the voting block of 4 has been broken, we have cause to be very optimistic.
The next school board meeting is on Monday, June 11 at the PTEC Building at 6:30 p.m. Let’s show up in force to demonstrate our continued support for the return of Dr. Williams to his rightful position in Perry Township!!! Unless you feel compelled to do so, we are not even encouraging anyone to address the board. Just show up, wear your brightest orange …………… and smile!!
See you all there!
June 7th, 2007 at 12:04 am
[...] An Update to the Situation and Moving Forward on the Take Back Perry Schools website. [...]
June 7th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
What is the TBPS response to the fact the Judge found no bias in Adams and denied Williams’ motion against her?
June 7th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
This is amazing
How do you know Williams is coming back? Oh i forgot the other board members are biased to DUH!…..Don’t jump to conclusions Beany :)
June 7th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
We didn’t like it.
June 7th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
I am not sure what TBPS response is to Adams still being able to vote. My response is ONE DOWN THREE TO GO!!!! :)
June 7th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Wow! And to think someone was chiding me for not showing respect because of how I referred to someone. At least a used their actual name. Doesn’t bother me though, trust me I’ve heard worse.
In truth, you’re correct though. I can’t say for certain that Dr. Williams is back in his position yet. I’m sure the board will be pursuing some kind of strategy to keep him out of his office and rightful duties.
I’d like to hear your reasoning for claiming how the other three board members can be grouped together as “biased” as Nancy Walsh was stated to be by a Federal Chief Judge.
June 7th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
Bean lets see….
Mrs Buffie’s husband testified for Dr. Williams….bias I think so. Also, Bylaws state- board members are to represent the township- Doug Williams is not the township.
Gayle Houchin and Mr. Maple-are sure votes- can’t be proven but we ALL know they are. Well actually one can be. Gayle Houchin was at a TBPS rally-which wants Dr. Williams back—-BIAS!
You are probably right its going to be
3-3. However, please dont jump to conclusions-something could happen tomorrow or the next day-
June 7th, 2007 at 11:31 pm
You need to do some more research into the meaning of bias that was used in the recent court case against Nancy Walsh and Susan Adams. Bias in this case wasn’t just about a preference for a person, it was stronger than that. None of the other three school board members ever claimed to be called by God to remove Dr. Williams from office or to resign if Dr. Williams did.
Of the three, Mrs. Buffie had continually been open to hearing all the facts the board majority was willing to share about the case, but weren’t with the other three. That’s a problem.
You see the board supporters continue to claim that elections matter and the board was elected and they should do the job they have the power to do. I agree with that. The problem is when the four make decisions without the other three board member’s knowledge or involvement. They then take away the power of the election from everyone that voted for those three members to represent them and their concerns for the township. You stated “board members are to represent the township”, which I agree, and which the board majority hasn’t allowed the minority three to do.
June 8th, 2007 at 7:34 am
Admin I hope you don’t really believe that the other three didn’t know what was going on? Tracy Berry knows what’s going on as does Marsha Hicks so I find it really hard to believe that Steve and Gayle didn’t know what was going on.
and hold on is right…Dr. Williams wrote an introduction/preface in Dr. Buffie’s book - so tell me he has no bias?! Gayle contributes to TBPS-tell me she has no bias?! Gayle used to own property that Dr. Williams leased…I could honestly go on all day about how many ties she has to him.
Bottom line is the board WAS elected - the board majority wants the superintendent out - so be it. That is their job.
June 8th, 2007 at 10:19 am
Last time I checked, Dr. Buffie’s first name was not “JoEllen”.
June 8th, 2007 at 10:59 am
First off to Mrs Butler-Last time i checked- you supported all of Dr. Butler’s decisons right? Don’t even try that one-you know it as well as I.
How is having a faith a bad thing-just because she believes God does thing’s for a reason?? Also you said she would resign if Dr. Williams did-how is that bias-she was doing what she thought was best for the township.
Mrs Houchin is a supporter of TBPS-what is one of TBPS’s goals? You would know since your such a fanatic-to return Dr. Williams to his superintendent’s chair. I have pictures of her at the rally if anyone wants to see.
When did the majority ever make a decision without the other 3 knowing? We knew or we wouldnt have shown up at the meetings-They probably didn’t want to know, but they definitely always knew.
See here you go again twisting my words. When i say represent the township- I meant in public-like at HEARINGS! Not represent the so-called majority of the township’s feelings.
Anyhow- the conclusion is ALL board members are bias-it would never be a fair trial-usually jury members have no stake in the situation. This time they do-I don’t think its fair for the board to be the jury-who else would be the jury though? i dont know.
ps. Mrs Butler- last time I checked Mr. Thompsons first name wasn’t Barb. So leave him out of it too.
June 8th, 2007 at 11:06 am
So you can say Barb Thompson’s biased because of Mark Thompson but Jo Ellen is not biased because of her husband? I was referring to his testimony in the Federal Court-he should not have been allowed to testify as he is Jo Ellen’s husband and obviously has a personal friendship with Dr. Williams based on his book preface that was written by Dr. Williams.
June 8th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
It’s time to move on. Let’s let Williams get back to work. Let’s let all seven board members do their jobs properly. Elections will rid us of the four troublemakers. What is in the best interest of Perry schools is for the few Williams haters out there to admit you have lost and let’s actually encourage Dr. Williams and ALL of the board members to work together. What do you say ?
June 8th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Why isn’t bean responding?
June 8th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
For one, because I’m very busy this week with a variety of other projects and I can’t just spend all day responding to everyone’s comments.
What specific question are you asking that you’re wanting me to respond?
It could also be that you have no respect for my actual opinion, so I’m really not as in much of a hurry to respond to your comments.
June 8th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
MEMBERS: Elected school board officials have the AUTHORITY to hear all the relevant information, participate in discussions, and cast a full-count vote in the decisions of the Board.
BOARD: The board has “final authority” to determine a multitude of issues regarding the school distrinct - including the termination of the Superintendent. But the board is still limitted in two fundamental ways:
1) Scope of authority - “domain”. The board may not make decisions outside the areas defined in Indiana law and the board’s by-laws.
2) Due-process: multiple Indiana Code sections and the board’s by-laws require or prohibit specific actions and methods. Even when the decision is well-within the scope of the Board’s authority, it is STILL REQUIRED to proceed in the appropriate manner.
The board has the power to terminate Dr. Williams position. Period.
The board has to go about in the proper manner.
Elected officials are not given unlimitted power. Period.
The judge wrote in his decision that Mrs. Walsh made it clear that she was unwilling or unable to follow the process required to remove Dr. Williams. The judge indicated that the law provides NO remedy for an elected board-member who dislikes and has a strong-preference to see someone removed. But it (at least in this case) provides a remedy for someone who’s dislike-and-determination to see Dr. Williams removed has rendered her unwilling to follow the due-process requirements.
Clearly Susan Adams is “prone” to find that nothing has come to light to change her mind. BUT the judge at least believed that she is aware of her responsibility to go into that process *willing* to hear her fellow boardmembers and evaluate the information honestly. THAT is the ASSIGNMENT these boardmembers were elected FOR. What would be really good for Perry would be to see the elected officials now pursue the course of:
A) Sharing and evaluating ALL the information that is applicable to this decision honestly.
B) Listening carefully to each other - recognizing that even those who likely have “ulterior” motives were elected and have an important perspective to be understood before disregarding or reacting.
C) Limitting the discussions to the meetings.
D) Voting.
E) Communicating carefully with the public. Clearly the decision about Dr. Williams is going to be unpopular with at least part of the community and they are worthy of being heard.
F) LEARNING from this process.
June 8th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Sorry but I will never ever accept a criminal in charge of the township. However, I do agree that it would be wonderful if all seven board members got along…but let’s be honest, 2-3 are personal friends with Dr. W and the other 4 want to get rid of him…so how exactly can they get along? The truth is they haven’t gotten along EVER. And they unfortunately probably never will. It’s hard to get along with people like Gayle who lie to your face and stab you in the back.
June 8th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
In response to “hold on”…your comments are so far off that I won’t waste my time responding. However, my husband and I laughed really hard about your comment that I support ALL of his decisions. You’re funny! :0)
June 8th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
Matt…You obviously put a lot of thought and effort into your comments, and I appreciate what you had to say. Judge McKinney repeated several times that the board members are to maintain honesty and integrity at all times in their positions. I hope that each member will keep this in mind as they proceed, and I hope that all parties can be respectful of eachother and to the public. This whole process has truly been a painful learning experience for the entire community.
June 9th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Mrs Butler-
I want you to respond and get me on the right track-
Thank you
June 9th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
17 — R2D2Bot wrote:
Sorry but I will never ever accept a criminal in charge of the township.
Pray tell — What is the crime?
Mrs. Butler — You made me laugh. Great comeback on the support of ALL of your husband’s decisions.
June 27th, 2007 at 12:31 am
Enough already. You 4 (and you know who I mean) are the most petty, pathetic and selfish people I have ever seen. You make communism look like a walk in the park. You are acting like a dictatorship and you need to be stopped NOW! You are ruining our childrens education needs, making a joke out of bad behavior by celebrating delinquents graduations, and STEALING money from our children. You are theives and should be prosecuted for it.