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.Tonight’s School Board Meeting - 06/25/2007
Yes, it is that time again. There will be another school board meeting tomorrow night, and your attendance continues to be very important to Perry Township. I have attached a copy of the agenda for your review. This week, in the center ring, will be Nancy Walsh asking the community to pay for yet another new attorney, Mr. Lewis, to represent her personally, in the appeal of Judge McKinney?s ruling that she is biased. The money for this latest attorney will come from the general fund, or in other words, it will come right out of your pocket. The school corporation insurance company has said ?No? to this request, but as we know, Ms. Walsh usually does not react well to the word ?No?. We are assuming the vote will be a resounding 4-3, which will mean that Ms. Walsh once again votes when she clearly has a conflict of interest. Then again, we are never sure what might happen, so plan on being there to see the vote first hand!
In the second ring, the upcoming bond issue will be discussed. As you may or may not know, 100 signatures were gathered to let the board know that the community had concerns about their ability to handle a $53M bond issue. Opening up doors of communication and finally allow the public to have some participation into what is going on in Perry Township would have been one of the first positive things to happen for a long time. Apparently, the ?leadership? of the board has now decided to pull the plug on the bond issue, rather than even begin to talk to voters to find out why they signed the petition. So, because the board had no interest in hearing the voices of the community, our belief is that the bond issue will be delayed for a year. By the summer of 2008, we will have competent board members in place, and the bond issue will be more viable. However, the fact that they are unwilling to even hear from the community is very telling.
Finally, the third ring is the ?ring of mystery?. You never know if Susan Adams is going to put some surprise items on the evening?s agenda. You never know what may come up during board comments at the end of the meeting. And the firing of a beloved and hard-working custodian from one of our buildings will more than likely come up, as it should. This man was fired for sending emails from his home computer to board members, telling them he disagreed with what they were doing to our schools, our teachers and our children. It was suggested by some that he be allowed to apologize and serve a short suspension, but apparently that would not suffice. His resignation was demanded by one or more of the board majority, and Dennis Nichols willingly complied with their wishes. His friends and co-workers are devastated, but nobody who has endured the wrath of this board is surprised. They have not shown any hesitation to violate citizens? First Amendment rights to date?.why should they start now?
We must continue to be visible. We must continue to speak out against the unlawful and unconscionable actions of Adams, Walsh, Thompson and Alexander. They are hoping we will get frustrated and tired, and back down. They are hoping they will finally get their way and be allowed to rule with an iron fist and no oversight. We must not allow that to happen. We must stand up for those teachers who fear for their jobs, and there are many of them out there. We must stand up for those administrators who remain, before we are left with no one to man the controls in Perry Township. We must continue to let these four controlling women see that the citizens of Perry Township will always stand up for what is right! Sign up to speak and let them hear your disapproval and frustration, loud and clear! See you at the meeting, 6:30, PTEC Building.
June 25th, 2007 at 12:53 am
[...] an announcement posted on the TBPS website about tonight’s school board [...]
June 26th, 2007 at 1:36 am
Ok, this may not be the best category in which to post my questions, but I attended the meeting tonight and have two questions to which I cannot find answers.
I have found conflicting information all over the Web about when each Board member was elected and when her or his term is up. (One day more is too long for a certain few on the Board. Four, in particular.)
Does anyone know the real answer to this question?
Also, are the bylaws of the Board public information and/or posted anywhere online? Or available in print to the public? I’d really like to read them if so.
We as a community should read them, right? They sure aren’t being read or followed by the group who thinks they are above the law.
June 26th, 2007 at 1:43 am
Fawn, in anser to your questions:
Remaining Terms:
Susan Adams - 2 yrs (2 yrs on board)
Nancy Walsh - 4 yrs (1st year member)
Barbara Thompson - 4 yrs (1st year member)
Rubie Alexander - 2 yrs (2 yrs on board, appointed by Dr. Williams)
Steve Maples - 4 yrs (8+ yrs on board)
Gayle Houchin - 2 yrs (2 yrs on board)
Jo Ellen Buffie - 2 yrs (6 yrs on board)
http://www.wesupportwilliams.com/news/2006/11/17/remaining-terms/
As for the bylaws, I’ve seen a printed hardcopy version but was told I couldn’t scan them or post them on the website. If someone gets an electronic copy and wants to share it with me, I’ll post it on the site ASAP.
June 26th, 2007 at 4:59 am
These four have proven time and time again that they could care less about the law, board by-laws, or what any taxpayers think. Sure they may have violated the law tonight and they will continue to do just that unless the courts get serious and shut these lunatics down. They must first be challenged in court …again…for that to happen unfortunately. Everything they do on the record will make for some quality evidence against themselves. Hopefully the give them enough rope theory is working…to bad the taxpayers are the ones suffering for these mental giants crimes.
June 26th, 2007 at 8:16 am
Fawn (and Jason),
The by-laws cannot be put into any electronic format due to the product used to organize the by-law’s (NEOLA) licensing restrictions. You may visit PTEC Human Resource Department and make copies of the relevant sections of the by-laws.
It would also cost $3800 to get the licensing to post an online version with their proprietary software plus a $400 per year maintenance fee.
The school district doesn’t have the money for that kind of expenditure, which would benefit the residents of Perry Township and relieve the administrative offices of the time taken away from tasks to deal with these requests. That money is going to attorneys for Nancy Walsh.
June 26th, 2007 at 11:15 am
Thank you all for the information!
I kept hearing conflicting information about how long a Board member’s term is. In four cases, it’s a real shame that terms are four years…
I realize by-laws mean nothing to these four members. As I said, they think they are above the law. I guess the upside is that they keep digging themselves in deeper and deeper, so when this finally does go to court, the evidence against them will be overwhelming.
June 26th, 2007 at 11:38 am
The bylaws for the Perry Township School Board are a fallacy. The bylaws are only followed when it suits the needs of the board 4.
June 26th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Hey, Jason…I don’t mean to offend you or anything…but I believe that you are off about the board members’ terms now that it is June. Instead of 2 years left for Susan, Gayle, JoEllen, and Rubie, I think it is 1 year left. For Barbara, Steve, and Nancy, it is 3 years left. The next election will be May of 2008, and EVERYONE ABSOLUTELY MUST VOTE!!!!!!!
June 26th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
Thanks Olivia, you’re right. I just posted the information from the previous post I linked to without updating the actual remaining months of their terms. Thank you for clarifying.