Tag: Polk District
The Aramark contract and the Polk School District’s most damaging internal pathology
I’m an active and inquisitive board member. I do not believe the people of Polk County elected me to sit idly by and collect a $40,000/year salary awaiting “recommendations” from staff that I then rubberstamp as a formality when I show up for meeting once or twice per month. I believe the people of Polk County elected me to solve…
Don’t let Bill Thompson’s incompetence fool you, part 1: your School Board, other than me and Kay Fields, may well approve the Guardian program if you don’t stop them
What follows is a typically lazy and inaccurate passage from Ledger editorial writer Bill Thompson. What separates it from normal, and makes it worthy for attention, is the civic importance of its misinformation. Here’s the quote, addressing our school safety work session last week with Sheriff Grady Judd and a whole bunch of silent police chiefs: “Schools Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd foreclosed…
The Florida model is DEAD. Here’s how we breathe life into something NEW.
Florida claims to be obsessed with data in education. That’s a lie, of course. The Jeb model has never actually cared about data on its own terms and in good faith. It has always seen data as a manipulatable political weapon to use against teachers and the very idea of egalitarian public education. The behavior of our educrat leaders demonstrates…
The ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Chronicles: Ledger editorial writer would rather concern troll faraway women over harassment than support them at home
As you know if you’ve been following my writing, the Polk County School District has its own high profile scandal relating to allegations of sexual harassment and abuse of official workplace power. In this case, Jason Looney, the powerful man accused of harassment in multiple forms and settings has suffered no personal consequences. Three formal investigations in seven years all…
A glimpse of a new era: Why I am thankful for the impasse resolution
The 15-month impasse war began in one era; and it will end in another. I believe common sense and common purpose, against all odds, have won. And I believe that is a victory worth celebrating, while also recognizing the years of hard work we have ahead of us. I believe this negotiated deal for 16-17 and 17-18 — and the…
The ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ chronicles, part 1: Nobody is entitled to taxpayer business, Tim Harris.
During his Aug. 31 appearance at the mandatory meeting for Tenoroc High School faculty, Tim Harris said a lot of things. I’m going to be looking closely at some of them in coming days. But I want to start here, because it relates to the bizarre and embarrassing spectacle with our financial advisor RFQ. In this passage, Tim advised school…
A battle for the leadership culture and soul of the Polk School District, part 1: the Tenoroc/GJ investigations reveal comprehensive, catastrophic leadership failure
In the last seven years, the Polk School District has twice investigated multiple allegations of sexual harassment against current Tenoroc High School Principal Jason Looney. To my knowledge, all of the players are different in the two investigations except Jason Looney. He is the common element. The first was at George Jenkins High School in 2010. The second is at…
Clarifying the record on the Tenoroc investigation
The Polk School District is investigating allegations of sexual harassment against Tenoroc High School Principal Jason Looney. This investigation started at some point in July. Several of the complainants, including the woman most directly affected, came to me with their stories. I forwarded them to our HR officials and top staff. I told our staff through internal emails that I…
Changing culture requires confronting it: explaining my administrator vote
Take a look at the brief clip that follows. It comes from last week’s regular School Board meeting. In it, I explain why I felt it morally and ethically necessary to vote against a slate of administrator hires and promotions. In short, the circumstances of two specific appointments trouble me deeply. Our HR department has said it is reviewing both…
Power, sex, and leadership: an urgent policy need
Since June, I’ve become aware of three personnel decisions or relationships tainted by allegations of favoritism or mistreatment tied to undisclosed consensual sexual relationships. I’ve been made aware by the public or close stakeholders who provided detailed accusations. I make no claims about the truth of the allegations — only their existence and detail. One of three has already resolved…
