Parents protested actions of the 9-R adminstration at a recent school board meeting.
The DHS Parent Athletic Advisory Committee has called for the 9-R Board to consider requesting the resignation of the high school principal and the district superintendent, Mary F. Barter. The PAAC claims that district adminstrators have failed to comply with the personnel policies adopted last spring.
Rick O'Block, a DHS parent and PAAC member, told the board that "there are now grave issues with all the programs and the relationships within the high school and the district that... board members will need to address."
Mike Nargi, also of the DHS PAAC, after speaking of "obvious problems at the high school" said "it's time for the board to start listening to the people."
The current situation fits a pattern of public outcry over allegations of administrative improprieties. In 2005, the non-renewal of popular welding teacher Paddy Lynch led the board to hire a consultant whose report on hiring and firing practices was featured in the Durango Herald.
"Some district staff members perceive an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, " consultant Robert Tschirki told board members and Superintendent Mary Barter. "It's clear to me that you don't have the trust level that you would all like.” Read story
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17 comments:
You would think the Administration (MFB)
could see clearly that the community has no confidence in her ability any longer.
As one respected Principal said"If my picture ever appeared on the end of a stick, I would be gone. The community has spoken."
Mary can you say "dictator"?
When the president of the school board said he was afraid to cause "chaos" in the district, one principal said: "Bring it on! We love chaos!" I think tonight is a wonderful time to bring it on.
It is time for change. I can't express that enough.
It is clear that Supt. Barter must go. Her interests and decisions are strictly to satisfy her own personal agenda, and have little if anything to do with the well-being and effectiveness of the school district. This has gone on too long and must be remedied now.
It is a very unfortunate situation, but this school administration and board members are going to continue to ignore the public unless petitions are filed and the process is done legally. The board needs to be recalled and members put in place who are interested in the students and the public. We are dealing with a whole group of self serving egotists. Good effort on everyone's part however.
Both Mary Barter and Greg Spradling were as close to the historical lessons of the Gestapo in WWII Germany. Fear, intimidation, and secrecy. If you feel like your child should be the 'cookie cutter' mold of public education keep those two on board. If you would like for your child to be able to excel, be creative, and be prepared for the 'reality' of the world after high school, get rid of them. I have long spoken out against the 'tyranny' of DHS. Will the school board finally take charge or will Mary Barter once again reign as captain of 9-R? It is time for 9-R to take a lead in turning out tomorrow's leaders and not automatons. Padraig Lynch (former DHS Metal Fabrication instructor).
I am thrilled that this community is finally waking up. Could board members break the spell of "policy governance" just once? Board members have bought into the "company" line forever while our schools have lost great teachers and students. Children don't get another chance!! Rome has been burning while they have been fiddling - take the blinders off!!! These are public schools! Listen to the public.
I am a substitute teacher at DHS. I suggest the board take a really close look at the recent survey - and immediately begin an in-depth follow up. If they can't figure out big time change is needed at the top, they should consider going into another kind of public service. We need a real school board interested in real people. Don't believe the spin; look past test scores to real kids.
Wouldn't it be great to film a documentary about this entire debacle. This is historic. There are lessons to be learned from this entire event. Lets write a good ending for our kids. That's what really matters.As so elequontly put by Mr. Keresey, Spradling and Brennan to the football players and parents "we feel it's best to go in a new direction."
By "OUR observations" we have witnessed many accounts of intimidation and bullying by the High School Administration and Mary Barter. Pay attention School Board. We elected you to represent the good of our community. Are you good? Rid our community of this toxic regime.
The Zappers
If you are reading this, and think: "What's all the fuss...it's only Football"—you need to look again. Football might have been the catalyst that triggered over 200 people to attend the first public meeting to discuss the problems existing in our School District today, but that's all it was. A catalyst. The systemic problems surrounding the Superintendent and the Principal of the High School far out way the original call for their resignation.
Is Mr. Matheson a bully?
http://www.durangoherald.com/
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A new face on the block
November 5, 2001
By Melanie Brubaker Mazur
Herald Staff Writer
..."But the karate instructor is taking the changes in stride and said he has told the district administrators that he will stay at DHS for five years and plans to live up to that commitment.
Mr. Spradling needs to live up to his commitment and resign. He has overstayed his five years.
http://www.durangoherald.com/
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9-R scolds DHS principal for picture
February 16, 2002
By Tom Sluis
Herald Staff Writer
"Durango High School Principal Greg Spradling has received a reprimand for showing three male teachers a picture on his office computer that reportedly showed bare-breasted women.
The incident has prompted grumbling by some high school teachers and a call by at least one parent for 9-R to replace the principal. But Spradling said Friday that he would not step down."
I think that sums up the Principal of Durango High School. He is "in charge" of our children, and the example he set over this incident, is hardly impressing. Our kids have to sign a form saying they won't download Porn on the school district's computers.....and the man who leads them can get away with it?
When my son was viciously beaten up at DHS last May, Principal Spradling said: "Boys will be boys". Despite the clumps of hair on his desk, the incredible instant black and purple eye, blood on my son's clothes from his nose, which was spitting blood whilst every knee and fist smashed into his face -- and the level of violence of the attack....that's "all" I got? "Boys will be boys"? Not from where I come from. Kevin Kilpatrick told me to "sue the district" if I didn't like the outcome. Huh? Is that the answer to all 9-R's problems...."sue us"?
I find the High School administration in serious need of change. I don't want someone who allows 1100+ students to boo the Freshman on their first day of High School (and who never considers to tell the student body to applaud these new students) and who laughs off brutality, leading my child into his future adult years. There are many reasons to fire Spradling. Oh, and I can't help but wonder if his wife's "free or cheap health clinic" will pick up the future tab of $500 worth of medical, when one's child has the c*** beaten out of him at lunch time?
Last night's Work Session revealed who is in charge of external monitoring of this School District. Mary Barter. She will edit and go through all the comments from DHS survey of teachers, students and parents to make sure the public has all the information from this survey. Give me a break! How is this external with MFB in charge of this info? Don't let her do this Board Members. This is not external if Mary is involved.
I am still appalled that a principal could view pornography at school and not be fired!! What in the world was the board thinking? Why didn't he get kicked out immediately? What kind of message does this send to our kids--porno is okay as long as you're the boss? Of course, he has no respect from the students. How can we expect students to listen to, respect, or look up to a man who wants to view porno?
It's way past time for him to leave.
And, no one I know has any respect for Mary Barter either, including students. We've all experienced enough. Time for her to move on, too.
This process is taking waaaaayyyy tooo long! I spoke with a girl today that works in town and is a junior. I asked her "what is it like at DHS"? She said " I can not wait to get out of there!" I told her that it broke my heart to hear that.She said that everyone she knows feels that way. High school should be so much fun!I can not stand to hear this any more!!! WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO GET IT SCHOOL BOARD?????? IT IS LIKE A PRISON THERE!!:-( WE DESERVE BETTER!!! WE EXPECT AND DEMAND YOU GET RID OF THIS ADMINISTRATION ASAP!
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