To the blog management:Generally, I agree with your assessment of the problems in our school system. However, there are a few factors, other than the board's interference and incompetence, that should be identified as responsible for the discontent of teachers and the community at large. For example, school principals are responsible for maintaining an environment of professionalism in their schools, and for practicing and communicating a cooperative general commitment to fairness, trust, honesty, truthfulness, and respect... as well as enthusiasm, optimism, and an atmosphere where hopes and dreams may become reality. Strong, positive, well-motivated principals are able to create and maintain pleasant, productive working conditions for their teachers, staff, and students... with or without the interference of Central Office or Board of Education. Generally, such a principal will receive cooperation and respect from those two entities.On the other hand, there are school principals in this district who are so involved with their own importance... that they can think of nothing else. Their schools have teachers who live in anxiety and fear, and those feelings also communicate to the students, in ways that inhibit peace and productivity.Blog owners... yes, things were generally good while Gonzales was in charge... but, contrary to your interpretation of when things started to go bad... in my opinion, we had a couple of good years after Jesse. Virginia Foltz was a strong leader... supportive, fair, honest, and committed to the best for our district. She deserves credit for her dedicated service to this community. And last... shouldn't we give Rounds a chance? He's been here barely long enough to get his feet wet.
Blogger Comment: Comments were not meant to detract from the contribution that Foltz or Patton made.
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Having just talked with someone who worked directly under Stan Rounds in Alamogordo, their comment was "just watch the money".Apparently, he does some wheeling and dealing without leaving the appropriate paper trail. He was ready to trade off some land that belonged to the district. I just hope whoever selects the next superintendent does a THOROUGH background check. Talk to people that worked for them. Resumes lie. May the goal of all who work for LCPS be that the children learn, the teachers get to teach...and there are no alternative motives or integrity questions to deal with. Children first - not an ego or a pocketbook!