Board vote on school administrator caught residents by surprise
By Kate York, kyork@mariettatimes.comMarietta Board of Education members say they feel they made the right choice in approving a three-year contract for a new superintendent last week, despite some criticism from district residents who say they feel left out of the process.
The board unanimously approved a three-year contract for Herb Young at its Nov. 24 meeting, four months into a year-long contract as interim superintendent that Young began in August.
Some parents now say they're concerned about a lack of notice that the decision was being made and that there was no request from the board for community input on the choice
"I was surprised," said Sherry Oliver, 44, of Marietta. "It wasn't necessarily a bad surprise but I was just surprised, and on a decision this major, the community shouldn't be surprised. We should have known this was being considered and voted on right now, without having to dig to find out."
Board member Greg Gault said the vote was simply an attempt to ensure the district could hold on to an administrator the board felt was doing a good job.
"It certainly wasn't a move to deceive the public or squelch input," he said. "We felt it was the right thing for us to do to provide (Young) with some security because he had made a commitment to us. He's been a very good find for us, and it's not like there is a line of people waiting to be superintendent right now. The pool's pretty shallow."
Board President Jack Moberg said the community could have voiced thoughts on Young's performance at any point since his interim superintendent contract began Aug. 1.
"We have a meeting each month; we all have phone numbers and e-mail addresses available," he said. "If anybody had any concerns or reservations they had ample time to express them."
Young could not be reached for comment Monday.
Parent Julie McCauley, who has two children in the school system and has been part of a community superintendent selection committee in the past, said she's not upset that Young has the job, but that there wasn't an open discussion of a possible contract extension.
"I've had nothing but good, positive interactions with him," she said. "But I think when the board agreed to give him an interim position - a temporary position - that when they wanted to make that a three-year contract, the taxpayers did have the right to know."
McCauley, who has been a candidate for the school board, said she does check board meeting agendas on the district's Web site but often finds them not posted much in advance of the meeting.
"I had no idea this was about to happen," she said. "Why not put that out there in advance so people had the opportunity to comment at a meeting? Maybe no one would have shown up or maybe 200 people would have, but it would have been out in the open."
Although hiring of employees can be discussed by boards in closed session, many districts allow community members to meet and even interview superintendent candidates before they are hired, as the Marietta district has done in the past.
Moberg said circumstances were a little different since Young was already in the district as a superintendent and no other candidates were being interviewed.
"Frankly, that's not a process I'm anxious to repeat," he said of the community meetings during the hiring process. "I think we were elected to do the very best job we can for Marietta City Schools, and I think we've done that with this and in other ways. The last thing we wanted him doing was calling someone else (for a job)."
Since Young has already spent months in the district, residents may actually be more familiar with him than they could have been after a meeting or interview before hiring, said Gault.
"He was probably part of the longest interview process any superintendent has ever been through," he said. "He was an interim, he knew he had a one-year contract, and he was being scrutinized from the start."
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concernedpatriot
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12-03-08 5:49 PM
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MariettaCollegeGrad89, I guess I don't know exactly what you are saying here, agreeing, not agreeing. In any case I don't care how it gets done, all I know is it gets done. These countries kick our butts in education period. We could take lessons from them, but we as Americans know everything. When I was growing up if I messed up I got my ass spanked. And I think that is part of the problem with kids in this country today, no discipline what so ever, let alone a spanking when the need it. I believe in "spare the rod, spoil the child", and we had better get back to that before it is too late. Dr. Spock did an number on the heads of parents in this country. Now because of the nonexistance of discipline we are growing a second geberation of social misfits. The statement of "No whippings, no disgrace or dishonor...NOTHING. Our gov't will take care of all of our lazy misfits..." just about says it all. Thank you for reading.
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MariettaCollegeGrad89
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12-03-08 4:06 PM
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ConcernedPatriot: Ok, let's face it, the countries you listed (Korea, Taiwan, japan) all have one thing in common...they have very strict rules for education and social class structure. If kids screw up or act out or even fail, they dishonor their families, etc. Also, in these countries, children are still faced with 'paddling' and 'whippings' if they do not succeed. I know, I have lived in two of the three countries mentioned. While I think kids in the 'gentler/kinder' USA are babied way too much, there is no way we are going to catch up with the other countries when there is no 'downside' for the lazy student. No whippings, no disgrace or dishonor...NOTHING. Our gov't will take care of all of our lazy misfits...
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concernedpatriot
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12-03-08 11:26 AM
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Indian, check out the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The only stats for teacher/ student ratio is from 1991, Korea 49 students, Taiwan 44 students, Japan 36.....the United States 23. These 3 countries consistantly place higher than the United States in mathematics, even with much larger (up to 100%) classroom sizes. A lot of the ability for the students to learn in in the presentation by the teacher. You have to face it, not every teacher we have should be a teacher. That includes the ones who have done forever. You must have had bad teachers when you were in school, I know I did. And I don't think anything has chaged. Now please explain, if you would. How class size has a definate connection to learning?
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concernedpatriot
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12-03-08 10:34 AM
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Dorthey, I take it you are satisfied with the way the school system (of the nation) is. I for one am not talking about the remodling of Marietta's schools alone. They all need repaired. Just send money.
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MarkTwain
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12-03-08 10:11 AM
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Buckeye Gal, How is it the administrators and guidance counselors fault? Should they coddle your kid every day? Would you like them to give them a wake up call? Would you like them to come over and fix your kids breakfast? I think its great that administrators actually take time to help kids, whether its at homecoming or in athletics. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. That's what is wrong with society today, never taking responsibility. Blame others. I could easily blame you for bad parenting....
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Dorthey
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12-03-08 8:30 AM
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Patriot and Contrarian.....please send me one of your signs to put in my yard when you run for Mtta City School Board. Good Luck! Let us know how we can donate to your campaign.
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concernedpatriot
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12-03-08 5:49 AM
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I apologize, I ran out of room but I am certain you understand what I am saying, no matter if you agree with it or not. Thanks for reading.
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concernedpatriot
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12-03-08 5:46 AM
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Of course each class has diversity as does life itself. If a teacher can't handle that, they should get out of that profession. Do you think diversity is a new concept? There is nothing different in the classroom today that wasn't there when I was in school except discipline. Teachers today teach the students who do not necessarily need to be taught. In other words, the student who needs to be taught gets "left behind". Students who "get it", get all of the attention. I don't need to do the research, I have seen it and been a victim of it. Please do not get me wrong, this is not an attack on our teachers. I feel our teachers do a good job with the tools they have to work with. It all boils down to what "Contrarian" said, "School System needs a makeover akin to what GM, Ford and Chrysler need...they are hamstrung by unions, tenure, and students and parents who don't care. Public education needs to be reworked from the ground up with merit pay and br
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smokehouse
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12-02-08 10:03 PM
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Again, the Marietta school board of education has gone behind the public backs and named a new superintendent. Just wait till they want to pass an operating levy and they will be asking for public support. I for one will vote no on every issue the school board places on the ballot.
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mtta4life
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12-02-08 9:37 PM
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The difference in regards to class size is when you went to school classes were not all inclusive. In today's class you have students' with learning and physical disabilities, non-readers, average to strong average and T.A.G. students all in a class of 30-33. The school no longer levels or 'tracks.' 1 teacher with 30 students, some able to read quite well, some not able to read or write legible, some hearing, sight impaired, ADHD and so forth all in the same room does not meet the needs of the students. The best teacher in the world could not meet the needs of each individual student in this situation and EVERY student deserves to have their educational needs met so they can reach their full potential. Unfortunately, do your research and you will find your MCS Teachers have large class sizes and these classes have a large diversity of learners as mentioned above. In a college class of 80 you would not have non-readers or have to deal with discipline problems...think about it.
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concernedpatriot
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12-02-08 6:25 PM
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Well my friend, you have your opinion and I have mine. Question is, can you afford yours?
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scout82
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12-02-08 6:14 PM
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Class size is a huge factor in student achievement. Why do you think that parents put students in private schools where class sizes are WAY smaller? So they can get one-on-one attention, maybe? Why do you think tutoring works? The smaller the class size- the higher student achievement will be. I would love to see how many teachers would refuse to teach a class of 35 to 40 students. You cannot even fit 30 in some classrooms. Class sizes have been getting bigger. In fact, they have hired less teachers because they have made class sizes bigger already.
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Indian
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12-02-08 6:02 PM
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Another example of ludicrous thinking. Studies prove you wrong my friend. Collge classes yes,K-2, heck no, 3rd to 8th maybe 25 to 1. Not realistics nor condusive to learning. Jump into a classroom and check it out. Sounds like you haven't been in one for a while. You and I do not agree on this one, sorry.
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troyinohio
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12-02-08 5:54 PM
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Board President Jack Moberg said the community could have voiced thoughts on Young's performance at any point since his interim superintendent contract began Aug. 1. "We have a meeting each month; we all have phone numbers and e-mail addresses available," he said. "If anybody had any concerns or reservations they had ample time to express them." Shame on you Mr. Moberg. In normal circumstances the interim is there while a search is being conducted. Usually the interim is not in consideration for the job. There was no reason to comment on the interim if you were looking for a super. The fact that you hired the interim with NO advance notice to the community was wrong and your statement was tacky. I will remember this the next time you want us to elect a levy. Dumb statement on your part that WILL be remembered in the future.
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concernedpatriot
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12-02-08 5:19 PM
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Indian, what makes you think that? With qualified teachers, class size should make no difference. When I was in college class sizes were up to 85. I learned in elementry, jr. high, high school and college. Maybe part of the problem is our teachers are not qualified. Maybe part of the problem is the students. When I was in school there was discipline at school and at home. Today I don't see any of that in school and from what I can tell, very little at home. Indian, I could not disagree with you more. Class size with good teachers is not a problem. It's a problem for the poor teachers that just want a paycheck and 3 months a year off, plus all holidays. And thank you.
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MariettaCollegeGrad89
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12-02-08 3:19 PM
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Herb Young is a horrible Supt and possibly a crook. Just call the Fairborn City Schools in Fairborn, Ohio where he was Supt for one year, then abruptly left with his handpicked CFO once the state audit started and millions of dollars were either missing or unaccounted for.
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BuckeyeGal
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12-02-08 3:09 PM
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I think under the "No child left behind" Act, it mandates class size ratios based on enrollment.
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BuckeyeGal
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12-02-08 3:06 PM
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doglover, I love your rose-colored glasses. You obviously have no children in the district. Some administrative positions need to be kept in order to comply with state regulations and funding. I do think NO administrators should be allowed supplemental contracts. Especially guidance counselors. If they were truly doing their jobs, we'd have less students with bad grades, social problems, and not going on to post secondary education. They seem too busy buying toilet paper for homecoming floats and making baseball rosters to really do their primary job well. I also do not believe we need a treasurer and a business manager. Their duties seem to overlap a lot. The board didn't have to publicize their intentions so they didn't. Fear of the unkown.
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concernedpatriot
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12-02-08 2:56 PM
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Contrarian, I couldn't agree with you more. However I know from when my children were in school, teachers really do not want parent involvement. They talk a good story but that is all it is, talk. Every time I tried to get involved, I got stepped on. I stayed involved any way, they really hated that. I do have a question, why do we need a superintendant, principal, vice-principal, guidence councellors? Can't some of these positions be combined? When there are cut backs, the teachers take the brunt. Let management take a hit for a change. Boost the class size. When I was in school, it was not odd to see 35-40 students in a class. Today teachers don't want 20 and that is with an aide. There were no aides when I was in school. I think there are a lot of areas in the school system that could be trimed but it will take a non-teacher administrator to accomplish anything.
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Contrarian
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12-02-08 2:26 PM
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School System needs a makeover akin to what GM, Ford and Chrysler need...they are hamstrung by unions, tenure, and students and parents who don't care. Public education needs to be reworked from the ground up with merit pay and broader latitude to hire and fire.
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doglover
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12-02-08 1:21 PM
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We should be very glad to see Mr. Young given the 3 year contract. It is time for leadership in our school system. With his strong leadership and experience, we may be able to keep the effects of the country’s current economic situation to a minimum in our schools, thus delaying any school closings in the near future. We are fortunate to live in a country where we have a voice in our schools through election of school board members and passing of school levies to support our children’s education. With Mr. Young in this important leadership position, our elected school board can now concentrate on the business of Marietta City Schools. We elected them to have the best interests of our children in mind when making decisions. Now, let's let them do that job.
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WarrenGrad97
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12-02-08 1:17 PM
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I keep hearing people complain about the money and I'm not sure what you are basing this on. Go to Salary**** and put in the Marietta zip code and fill out the position characteristics, $135K is the median, plus the guy's got 30 years experience. This is the biggest district in the county, he should be paid the most, it's commensurate with his experience and the job duties.
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Bittersweet
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12-02-08 1:01 PM
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mttamom.....ya think? why do you think they did it without the public knowing....it's called sneaky brown nosing...and guess what? they got away with it ...again. LOL
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mttamom
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12-02-08 11:31 AM
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my thoughts on City of Mtta. and Mtta. City Schools-DUH...not to smart in use of common sense or our $.
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DaBears
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12-02-08 9:38 AM
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Perhaps the public would have rather not agreed to pay Mr. Young nearly $100,000 a year. NO superintendent in a financially strapped district is worth THAT much money! Maybe, Mr. Moberg, we would have had some comments to make via one the means of communication that you mention had we known that the board was going to hire him as the NEW superintendent! Mr. Young can still "get away" from this district at any time. Just look at what the last few have done!!
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