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Updated: 7:06 PM Jun 17, 2009
Second Community Forum Held
Meridian, Miss. Another large crowd turned out for the second Meridian Public School District community forum held at the Wesley House. Posted: 11:40 PM Jun 16, 2009Reporter: Tametria Conner Email Address: tametria.conner@wtok.com |
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Posted by: mhs teacher
on Jun 18, 2009 at 05:55 PM
I have been in this district for a long time and worked under several principals and superintendents. Dr. Sargeant did an outstanding job; Dr. McLin did an okay job; Sylvia Autry was an awesome Superintendent. She visited my classroom on the first day of every school year and on several other occassions. She obviously enjoyed the students and all of their activities. The words of praise she would leave me with when she left my class made me feel like I was appreciated and doing a good job; in turn it made me want to be even more pleasing to her. Mr. Kent has been very disappointing and ineffective. He does not seem to be able to get his administrators to follow policy; he does not seem to be able to win the confidence of the community leaders; in his only letter posted on the MPSD website, he proclaimed our only duty was to keep the children and the parents happy; and that we would not waiver from that; the teachers simply do not count with him. And a comedian, he is not...
Posted by: Anonymous
Location: Jackson
on Jun 18, 2009 at 04:27 PM
I am a teacher who recently left the Meridian Public School District. I was present at the district staff meeting on May 28th at Meridian High School. I left that meeting feeling very sad for the dedicated educators that are left to teach in the Meridian Public School District. I wish there had been hidden news media at that meeting. Mr. Kent spoke to the employees of MPSD with such disrespect that it left everyone in attendance speechless. How can we as educators gain respect from parents/students if the "man in charge" doesn't respect the educators in his own disrict? I will join a new school discrict in August, but will keep the Meridian Public School District in my thoughts and prayers. God bless the educators and children involved.
Posted by: FED UP with Fed Up!
Location: Meridian
on Jun 18, 2009 at 02:57 PM
This is for Fed Up! You apparently were always on a break when Mrs. Autry visited your school and classrooms, as she was in all schools frequently and visited throughout her terms in office. Also, if you invited her she made an extra trip just to visit. Did you invite her to your class to see what your students were doing? How many times has Mr. Kent been in your school or class? Remember he said that was not his job and he did not have time to visit every class. He stated, "that was the principal's job." Oh, by the way how many football games did you see him at this year, NONE? He did go to the championship game, Wow that's great! Finally a little support for our team from him. I want to remind you that Mrs. Autry was at those games when she was superintendent. Even after she had surgery, she continued to show her support to our football team, coaches, parents and MHS supporters at a time she should have been taking care of herself! No one is degrading MPSD we want positive leadership.
Posted by: Zoo Keeper
Location: Meridian
on Jun 18, 2009 at 02:29 PM
Dear Fed UP! Please remove your head from the sand reality is reality and ignoring the facts has got us where we are!
Posted by: Fed Up!
Location: Meridian
on Jun 18, 2009 at 01:03 PM
For the teachers who continuously degrade MPSD, just leave. As long as your thoughts and verbal attacks continue to degrade the system, it will never move forward. Just for clarification purposes, Mrs. Autry never visited my classroom either while she was the Supt. I say give Mr. Kent the benefit of the doubt and stop all of this complaining. Again, leave if you are just that unhappy about the Supt. Remember that people always remember the negative and that's exactly what you all are doing to affect our school system, posting negative comments.
Posted by: Test
Location: Meridian
on Jun 18, 2009 at 12:20 PM
I wonder how many teachers Mr. Kent could recognize and call them by their first or last name if they were lined up. I dare say very few, unlike our former superintendent and other superintendents through the years. Each time I saw the following superintendents in school, out of school,or in church I was always greeted with a smile and by my first name from the following during their first year in office: Dr. George Cannon, Mr. James Vance, Dr. Larry Drawdy Dr. Jayne Sargeant, Dr. Janet McLinn, Mrs. Sylvia Autry. Also, I enjoyed a professional conversation about how things were going in my class and often a conversation about my own family and how each of them were doing. Often they new their names, as well. This was not the exception but the rule these superintendents made an effort to get to know as many people in this community as possible not all of them were from Meridian and had the advantage of knowing many through the years. They had to get out of their office to meet people.
Posted by: Disappointed!
Location: Meridian
on Jun 18, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Also, I had hoped for a genuine apology. It was very obvious as he spoke that he did not mean a word he said. I'm disappointed that our board members are not recognizing this and are going to keep him on in this position. I attempted to speak to him and he just brushed past me. Everytime I've attempted this year to greet him he has done this. I consider myself a forgiving person and willing to accept an apology and move forward but, I do not expect leaders in education to be out and out rude. I expect them to be genuine caring individuals who lead by example.
Posted by: Not Naive
Location: Meridian
on Jun 18, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Teachers were hoping for a true apology from Mr. Kent at the forum. He was given a chance to apologize for his remarks, but he chose to claim that he had been misunderstood. His apology insinuated that teachers just didn't understand his remarks - it was a condescending apology and was also a forced one given the setting. This was also an opportunity for him to say something - ANYTHING - positive about the teachers in our district, and he did not do so. Please don't think that the teacher was naive. There was "method to her madness". In Mr. Kent's response to her questions, he ONCE AGAIN showed his disrespect for teachers by refusing to acknowledge that MPSD has MANY, MANY caring professionals in the classroom. The positive aspects of the forum were seen only in the parents, teachers, and community members who showed once again that they are NOT going to give up on MPSD!
Posted by: mhs teacher
on Jun 17, 2009 at 07:38 PM
Just like you cannot "fix stupid" you cannot fix 'wrong' when the evidence is there. Mr. Kent never seems to have all the facts, like the exact dates, the details, the "intent", the handbook rules, etc. He does not have all the facts about the clearing of V. Hood, either. Either he is confused again or he is putting it out there to make the media back off. She knows she did not follow policy, the board knows she did not follow policy, the State Dept. knows she did not follow policy; maybe someone needs to tell Kent in simple terms that she does not know how to follow policy. The Kent-Hood duo also covered for the administrator got a student pregnant; said it happened after she was a student; she supposedly miscarried the one when she was a student; now she is on the second one. This district is headed for even worse trouble if it is going to be based on lies and cover-ups. The only way the community is going to feel "renewed" is for the administration to be "renewed".
Posted by: Change
Location: Meridian
on Jun 17, 2009 at 07:31 PM
The entire Board should resign by the end of June, so our District can have a new beginning. They had their chance and failed miserably. Our new Mayor should be able to pick a new School Board on July 1 and a Board that she feels has the expertise to save our District. She should be able to pick all 5 positions. If these 5 individuals won't voluntarily resign, she must have the courage to call for their resignations. They have had ample time to improve our District, but it's only gotten worse. We need new blood. Perhaps these 5 have made their best efforts to improve our District, but couldn't make it happen. They are now only holding us back. Our District cannot heal until they are gone. It's time for them to say GOODBYE and let someone else try. How about Brad Sims for the School Board.
Posted by: Astounded
Location: Meridian
on Jun 17, 2009 at 05:57 PM
I cannot believe the audacity of Fred Wile, Ed Lynch and the other con artists on the panel last night. What was Fred Wile doing there? He supposedly has not been partticipating in Board activities for months. I thought that he had finally realized the damage he has done to MPSD and crawled under a rock to hide. I guess Ed begged him out so he wouldn't have to face the music alone. Anyone who left the meeting hopeful, must be delusional. They had the same old lies repackaged. How could they have been so dumb as to have Hood sitting up there like a peacock after all the shame she has brought to MPSD. The explanation about regaining full accrediation as long as we have no other violations for one testing cycle is a lie. That might be the case if the people responsible were fired. If this does not happen we will drop from Advised to Probation status. MPSD is a laughing stock state wide and the topic of coversation at every State Education meeting. We must have new leadership. RESIGN NOW!!!
Posted by: veracity
Location: meridian
on Jun 17, 2009 at 02:34 PM
To accept untruths, told repeatedly by a chorus of officials, in the interest of coming together, hopefully, to produce positive results for a community seldom works. Look again if you left thinking things have changed and watch carefully to safeguard your children's future. That Mr. Kent would criticize his team of teachers for using "crutches", without having visited their classrooms, because it is not "his job", says more about his leadership skills than any speech he could make on a stage. How sad to see MPSD burning while Charlie Kent "fiddles" and his cronies giddily accept whatever fiction he spouts.
Posted by: Anonymous
on Jun 17, 2009 at 02:11 PM
I agree I feel like Mr. Kent is just doing what he can to keep a job. I don't think he is sincere and I also feel once the heat is off of him he is just going to go back to his normal self.
Posted by: Hopeful
Location: Meridian
on Jun 17, 2009 at 01:14 PM
I am a parent who has attended all the fourms as well as the Monday night board meeting. I am hopeful for the first time in months that our issues are going to be addressed and the MPSD Board along with Mr. Kent will realize that as parents we want what is best for ALL children in MPSD. We want a learning environment where the children can get the best possible education with the best teachers available. With discipline problems being what they are and teacher morale down I feel the children are the ones who are going to pay the price. I left the meeting last night hopeful that the board, Mr. Kent, and school administrators are also concerned and willing to do everything they can to get MPS back on track. We are fortunate to have the most caring, dedicated, professional teachers in the world. I can promise you NO teacher within our district wants a child to fail. They go above and beyond! With support from all involved we can make the 2009-10 school year the best.
Posted by: Teacher Leaving MPSD
on Jun 17, 2009 at 11:15 AM
I am willing to take a 25,000 pay cut just to get out of MPSD!!!!!! I want to leave because I have NO respect for administration. I am embarrassed to be a part of a district that lets the children and parents run things!!!! MPSD is losing so many good teacher and no body cares!!!! The state department of education is eventually going to come in and take over our schools. Teachers can't teach because student discipline is out of control!!!!
Posted by: Margaret
Location: Meridian
on Jun 17, 2009 at 10:43 AM
I don't want to open any wounds, but could someone tell me/us what it was that Mr. Kent said about the teachers? Apparently, it was quite disturbing and I missed it. Thank you
Posted by: Thanks
Location: Meridian
on Jun 17, 2009 at 10:28 AM
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Executive Director Ginger Stevens and her staff at Wesley House for taking the initiative to provide the opportunity for our community to come together to voice our concerns about the problems that exist in the Meridian Public School District. I hope more people will make an effort to become part of these meetings, so we can begin to work positively in bringing about change for our school district. Mr. Lynch, Mr. Wile, Mr. Kent, Mrs. Hood and Mr. Pugh thank you for your participation in answering many of our concerns. Also, thanks to the media for serving the community to keep us informed as we begin to work through these problems.
Posted by: Careful Observer
Location: On the Spot
on Jun 17, 2009 at 08:40 AM
Sorry Folks, A leopard doesn't change his spots, and you can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear. I could go on and on. Charlie Kent sees the writing on the wall, and it says, "Exit here for Chicago." He is running scared and trying to say the right things. The only problem: for 11 months, he has said the wrong things, or he has said nothing at all. Meridian Public School teachers cannot be fooled by the lies: "I have been in a number of classrooms." It's just not my job to be there." "The police were called." "The policy is discussed at every cabinet meeting." I think I will bring my Pepto Bismol for the next forum. He just makes my stomach hurt! Brad Sims, you said it so well. For 15 years, we were the top notch school system. WE must take back our schools.
Posted by: Hopeful
Location: Meridian
on Jun 17, 2009 at 06:06 AM
I think that last night's meeting was a positive step forward. Hats-off to Ms. Brown for constructing a heart-felt statement to Mr. Kent on recent statements he made that pretty-much alienated all of his teachers, and to Mr. Kent for his apology. I agree with him that we need to move past this, but I also hope he understands teachers' need to feel that he views them as important professional contributors and thinks twice before making such statements in the future. I feel like administration and board listened intently to the people, addressed as many concerns as they possibly could. I hope and pray this is the new beginning we've all been waiting for.
Posted by: Posting
on Jun 17, 2009 at 02:39 AM
Now we know what it takes for Kent to talk civilly to teachers - over 100 community members watching and listening. Can you guys be at the district meetings next year?
Posted by: Concerned
on Jun 16, 2009 at 11:45 PM
Community support for MPSD was great tonight at the forum. Many people left feeling encouraged, but those of us who have personal experiences with the questions raised tonight did not. It was agonizing to hear denials, lies, twisted facts and diversion. Calling the superintendent or the MHS principal that they are liars in public would have been occupational suicide. The two teachers who spoke up did a great job, although Mr. Kent's lack of respect for teachers has been far more severe and disturbing than the polite teacher indicated. When an auditorium filled with hundreds of teachers with bachelor's degrees and advanced degrees are the brunt of numerous degading jokes and professional insults from the superintendent at three different district meetings and nobody is laughing, the teachers are not "misconstruing" Mr. Kent's intent, as Kent proposes. If you believe his apology was sincere, that's fine. Those of us who know of the many lies told tonight don't think so. |
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Correction: In the assault case of the teacher at Northwest, school personnel was instructed to contact the police which took them almost 45 minutes to arrive at the school. The police arrived while the teacher was in route to press charges.
MHS Teacher - You are right on all counts! Kent does have a lack of people skills and seems to have an underlying animosity, which comes through in statements to teachers, such as his suggestion that undesirable teachers need to be "thrown off of the bus, no under the bus, because if you don't, they'll come back to get you", or Kent advising teachers who don't like his changes that they need to go to the Director of Personnel for an "occupational adjustment", or Kent's assertion that teachers are just sitting around waiting on their WIC (sp?)check (entitlement check). He indicated clearly that if we were responsible for our own morale, not him, and we were to handle our own problems at school - "Don't waste your $4.00 a gallon gas coming to see me." Intimidation is not a good leadership quality.
I would like to address Kent's selection of words at the second forum. When questioned about why the police were not called concerning the Kate Griffin knife incident and the assault on the teacher at Northwest, Kent very clearly stated "...the police WERE called", giving the impression that MPSD policy had been followed. As I understand it, a person at MPSD Central Office instructed the KG principal not to call the police (there are several witnesses to this) and the teacher at Northwest called the police herself to press charges. Correct me if I'm wrong, but MPSD did not call the police. If that is true, then Kent's statement about having to release students to the custody of the parents before the police arrived at the school is also false.
I think the problem teachers are having with MR. Kent is his lack of people skills; his first appearance with the MPSD teachers had a threatening tone with a lot of rhetoric spewed. Again, on the first day of school, it was the same things...I will be watching you; if you don't want to be here, leave; so many of you are just "falling back on teaching". He, himself is "falling back" on being a Superintendent. He was on the verge of going into the finance business when this highly overpaid job "fell in his lap." If the teachers were getting the backing they need from their administrators, like we have had in the past, we would not be looking to Mr. Kent for help; when we did not get it there, it has opened up a lot of venting. All these things the teachers are saying are true - students are running MHS; referrals are being shredded; too many referrals by a teacher means they are a poor teacher, no matter how many times they are literally cussed out by students - and nothing is done...
The special call meeting of the MPSD School Board will be at 5:30 at Central Office (1019 25th Avenue). Items on the agenda include building renovations update, ninth grade building overview, community concerns overview, and refine superintendent evaluation instrument.
Where will the meeting be held? Can WTOK broadcast it live on the web channel?
Special board meeting Tuesday, 23rd 5:30...be there.
Charlie Kent DOES NOT have a doctorate degree.
To my knowledge, Charlie Kent does not have a doctorate.
These issues, along with some others, are personal and have little to do with the children. There are some teachers who are only in it for the money, but there are also teachers who care. There are incompetent administrators, but there are also competent administrators. I have no idea what the purpose of a school board is, so I won't even comment on that. Parents, teachers, and administrators should meet and discuss solutions. Dr. Kent, don't think because you have a doctorate you can't learn from someone who only has a highschool diploman or less. Listen to people, keep an open mind and then make your policy decisions. Teachers, understand that you are not going to have "perfect children" in your classrooms and honestly ask yourself if it's the children or you. However, if it is the children, you do need support because you can't teach while trying to discipline 80% of the time. When you have a behavior problem, CONTACT THE PARENT. Parents, get involved and stay in contact with teacher
I have been following what has been going on within the school system. I'm not a teacher or an administrator, but a parent. From what I can tell, there are a lot of personal things going on here. For whatever their reasons, people are venting "their" personal opinions. Dr. Kent is new and I think he's making changes to put "his" plans into action. People are not always open to change. I have agreed with some changes and not agreed with others, but it's not ALL about me. If it's true that Dr. Kent is derespectful to teachers, I can only imagine what his attitude would be toward a parent who does not have a college degree or even a job. Concerning where teachers' children attend school, the children should attend school where they reside,not where the parent works. If a teacher works at Poplar Springs School but resides in Witherspoon school district, his/her children should attend Witherspoon Elementary.
Wow! Are you people posting these comments REALLY educators? For those of you who dislike MPSD superintendent,MPSD administrators, and a teacher, suck it up. Mr. Kent doesn't have to visit my classroom for me to know that I am an outstanding teacher. The students I teach will show it. The parents will tell me. It will shine through on my evaluations (verbally and written). I don't need an apology from Mr. Kent because I know that I am an outstanding educator. I have never agreed with every decision adminstrators make, however the ultimate decision is based on a whole group and not on individual teachers. I read that there will be an exodus of teachers. Let the exodus begin. I know several young, excited, and ready to hit the classroom running licensed educators ready to begin their teaching career. I have always been excited to teach for MPSD and look forward to the 09-10 school year. So again,as my granddaughter would say, "Suck it up and take it like a man."
Fed Up, It's easy to see and know who's at the games! Yes, I did! and NO he did not visit my school or my classroom.
I'm not a teacher, so I cannot speak directly to the issues of whether Mr. Kent (or any previous administrator) visited the campuses routinely- or how he has treated individual educators. My overall observation is that "where there's smoke, there's fire". What I mean is- considering the sheer # of people who have voiced unfavorable opinions, and the # of teachers that have complained of disrepect from Mr. Kent, IT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS there is a problem! Get rid of the problems that have left the teachers of our children in dangerous positions. How many more good teachers have to leave the district before we take the steps needed to actually affect some changes?! Day after day, teachers are chosing other districts due to the current conditions in MPSD. I sure hope we don't have to continue learning the same ole lesson- the "good ole boys" group attitude isn't getting us anywhere. (sounds like Fed Up! may be one of those "good ole boys/girls" to me).
I should not have had to invite Mrs. Autry to my class, since you are so concerned about Mr. Kent not visiting, that was her job. It appears to be double standard to me. Also, how do you know that he was not present at the football games? Did you go around to see, amongst the hundreds of people, if he was there? Let's be realisitic okay. It does not matter how many times Mr. Kent has been at my school. The bottom line is, I do my job. By the way, did you invite him to your classroom?