Out of the Frying Pan . . .

And into the Hornet’s Nest

I don’t know about you, but this sounds familiar to me:

From the Taunton Gazette, August 20, 2007 “The school district is facing a $3 million budget shortfall and was forced to eliminate 15 positions earlier this month. Adding to the budgetary problems, the School Committee did not approve a budget until Aug. 1 — a full month after the new fiscal year began. ‘There’s been a lot of change,’ Stellar said. ‘There are accountability issues and budgetary issues. I didn’t create these things.’”
http://www.tauntongazette.com/education/x477565212

So, maybe Dr. Stellar is our guy. Sounds like he has some experience dealing with some of the same issues that our county has dealt with. I would warn the current board majority that Dr. Stellar does not appear to “suffer fools gladly,” and that they may have hired someone who has personal/professional/academic standards that they (and maybe not many of us) would ever measure up to.

Dr. Stellar appears to be no shrinking violet. From what I have gathered in my research over the past couple of hours, Dr. Stellar appears to have a strong personality. He appears to possess above average (dare I say “stellar”?) intelligence. He appears to be a very literate and scholarly person. He appears to have the ability to press on with his agenda in spite of disagreement from school boards or subordinates. He appears to have the ability to keep current and future school boards “in line” – a double-edged sword – a boon if he is keeping the current school board from overstepping their bounds, a disaster if he is keeping reasonable school board members from performing their statutory duties.

He also appears to value accreditation. I wonder how he ever got the job considering the board majority’s antipathy toward our high school’s accreditation. The following is a quote from Dr. Stellar regarding Taunton Schools: “ 'When colleges look at scholarships and admissions for two students being [otherwise] equal, and one comes from an accredited high school, the accredited high school [graduate will have the advantage],' Stellar explained recently." http://www.tauntongazette.com/news/x1624693250

While all of those traits can be beneficial, I am not sure that that is what the employees of the Burke County Public Schools need at this time (and transitively, the students of the Burke County Schools). Susan and I agree with Buddy and Sam that the election of a superintendent right now is a huge mistake. I also agree that in a county with traditional values that is made up of folks genetically pre-disposed to be suspicious of outsiders, with attendant massive school board dysfunction and budgetary woes, Dr. Stellar is going to have his hands full.

I would even say we needed a “healer.” I don’t think we got one.

Dr. Stellar/Steller has dealt with some heavy issues in the past – including integration in Oklahoma City, and a US Appeals Court case originating in the same school system. See: http://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/03/us/must-busing-go-on-till-racial-balance-is-exact.html?pagewanted=all and http://ca10.washburnlaw.edu/cases/1998/06/96-6134.htm. So I can understand why he might say in the meeting last night that all school systems have conflicts. I hope that sentiment doesn’t mean that because he feels that conflict is part of the job, that creating more conflict is just a matter of course, and not something to be minimized (to some extent).

We REALLY do not need more conflict. REALLY.

So, once we have allowed our brains to process all of the information received last night we will all have clearer thoughts about how to proceed. We think we must give Dr. Stellar a chance, and ask that he meet us halfway by resolving to communicate with the stakeholders and school staff.

Dr. Stellar –
Welcome to Burke County. We understand that you have been exposed to outright hostility from the public, and we apologize for that. That hostility is directed at the board majority. Please know that that hostility is not the hostility of a lawless, violent “mob” as has probably been portrayed to you. This hostility is a result of the governed withdrawing their consent to be governed by this board majority by any non-violent means at the mob’s disposal. And please remember that this “mob” is made up of all kinds of people – non-high-school graduates, high-school graduates, college graduates, MS’s, JD’s, PhD’s, Ed’S’s, MDiv’s, MD’s - we run the gamut, and, unlike the board majority, we feel we have the best interests of our children in mind.

In the meantime, we (Stroup, Wilkinson, Armour and Thomas) will continue campaigning for our cause. We must win the board seat majority. Thank you, dear readers and supporters, for your faith in us. We value your input and support.

PS:

Please keep Sam and his family in your prayers.