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Patrick (Anonymous) says…

TSnyder, let me explain why public input is so important.
In a marriage the man or woman at any given time come may up with really really bad ideas. Then their spouse, kindly explains how, what they had just said is completely crazy. In a nice way I'm sure.
The school board doesn't want to hear from the public how crazy and improbable their ideas sound. The school board has created a bubble of crazy. Seriously, after I sat there for just one meeting I couldn't believe the ideas I heard. But you have no idea probably what I mean, because I couldn't speak to you.
And that's okay as far as the issue with me goes. I have a desire to write about it a share it with Moffat county. So with me it is actually a good thing for the public. But for the school board it's a bad thing. They need desperately need to have public input and pressure, or nothing will ever change.
Thank you so much for all you've done TSnyder.

Patrick (Anonymous) says…

I would like to publicly thank Tony Saint John. He is a very good school board member. I called him a couple of months ago after having been just fed up with the failure of the system. After I told him how mad I was at him, he asked me, “Well, where have you been?”Then we started working on ideas and directions to go. He had a great point. I never really lose arguments, but I did that day. Hahaha thanks Tony! Keep trying my friend. I'm here now. And I'm just getting started.

Patrick (Anonymous) says…

TSnyder, you make it sound like we should accept the complete and utter failure our school board and administration is in because no one will run.?
This may sound harsh, but if I had been there the past two years I would have resigned. If you can't fix it and have continued to fail, step away. I say that because that is the level we need to hold the employees to.
For goodness sake, at least push to fire some people. Like Joe. In my opinion he is a very flawed individual. I tried to work behind the scenes and he choose to go another route. A very public route. Not a real bright guy in my opinion.
I had my doubts that that approach would be effective anyway, but holy cow. Talk about people who live in glass houses. Anyone who lives in this glass house of a failed school system should be supporting a ban on rock throwing altogether!!! Lol Not instigating a public campaign for rock throwing by way of change and replacement.
I know he's just a pawn, and I don't want to give him more attention on this matter than he's due. Because he is just one of many that should go.
No, we need to focus on improvement, and replacement at this point. That's the drum beat that will go on.
PS the Joe thing really doesn't bother me. I've been planning this for years. I had many friends on the board so I just kept my mouth shut. Joe just decided the direction is all. And in the end, probably the best direction to affect change. I'm sorry TSnyder, this is going to be a long and public indictment. Change will happen, if your one of the good members, start standing up now. The public is coming. The public will be watching a listening starting now. I will do all I can to help the members who feel powerless and trapped. But I'll need you to call me and tell me what I can do to help you! I promise I will.

Patrick (Anonymous) says…

TSnyder, my morning post didn't post for some reason. Probably because it was to long.
Thank you for your service.
As far as public input goes I don't believe the board wants any. I had requested 12 times from Joe Petrone to be put on the school boards agenda. Finally it ended in conflict. What did I want to ask you? I wanted to request the board put on their permanent agenda a ten minute spot for public input. That way you could have more support for good ideas and more resistence for bad ideas.
Right now when someone gets the idea to get involved they get pushed off to some group or commity until they go away.
I'm sorry you are part of such a failed and sad organization. You probably are a really good person. But you probably aren't in charge either.
Sometimes things become more than the sums of their parts. Sometimes that's good, but not in the case of the board, they have built walls around the bubble they live in, and they like it there.

Patrick (Anonymous) says…

Let me clarify my view using a chess apology.
In chess you have a Royalty row that has knights, Bishops, and a King and Queen.
Then you have a row of disposable pawns.
The school board, administration, and even teachers to some extent, are the pawns.
The public, the parents, and the students are the royalty row.
The teachers are kind of in between. They have dedicated, and sacrificed large portions of their lives and wealth to serve the cause of education. Unlike 50 years ago, teachers have gone through a rigorous process that weeds out the week and unmotivated. That's another reason why I'm not seeing the bulk of the problem there.
The other reason, I've sat in their class rooms and seen the job they do. No broadway show can compete with the instruction seminars they put on. Many a times I was memorized by their abilities to present the matters at hand.
But yea, the board and management are the disposable pawns. Not the kids.

Patrick (Anonymous) says…

Let me tell you a success story of leadership in education. It can be found right here in Craig. The middle school principle's school got an “F” or something close to that her first year as principle. One year later, the school is Moffat county's trophy. I think it got a “B” or close to it. She turned it around in one year and is still going. Period, end of story. Success, there is no substitute for that.
People of Moffat county, we need to expect more from the people who work for us. We need to reward the ones who succeed. We need to stop taking this beating, or rather, we need to stop the beating and abuse that our children's futures are taking.
For now though, as we start to ponder what we must do, let's start by thanking the principle of the middle school. Her name is Julie Baker. Thank you Julie!!!!!

Patrick (Anonymous) says…

I hope this works, I really truly do.
I have a huge problem with this editorial though.
First line “Moffat County high school teachers are experimenting”.
I think the experiments and the never ending con job should end. Followed by some people's jobs ending. Like the principle, superintendent and many of the school board members. They have been there before, during, and now when the
major performance crash has happened.
The irony in this editorial couldn't be greater.
The last sentence in the last paragraph starts like this, ” In the age of school accountability”
We the people need to reread that line and start holding people accountable! We need to think about what that word means. I doesn't mean acceptance, continued failure, or job security.
I hope this works, for the sake of the kids. But regardless, tomorrow I start my second letter. I'm doing one a month. If this doesn't work, by this time next year, hopefully enough attention will have been shined on the subject that heads will roll. Let the drum beat begin. Lets us express resolve here and now that if this does fail, that by this time next year if our schools, any of them fail, we change leadership across the board. Including any board members that are up for a vote along with principles and the superintendent.
I've had a lot of people already express great approval for this cause I've taken up. So I again invite others to join in again on this post. Many many more people out there than I knew of are just as fed up as me and you.
I want to thank the paper and the people who worked on this letter, we really need to keep this conversation going if we are going to hold the school district accountable. It is a hopeful feel good letter that has its place. But I think it's time for a more critical tone to be taken.

Patrick (Anonymous) says…

Buff you and Calvin have a good point. One I agree with. I don't believe that's the big problem though. Something like poor parent participation might knock you down some but not to the extent we are dealing with. Let me play Devils advocate for a second.
Here in Craig we have almost zero gang activity. We have a small crime rate. We have few drug problems, such as heroine, LSD, and meth. They are still here, but the PD keeps them in check compared to the big cities. We have more traditional families than large urban areas. We have lower unenployment then they do in urban areas. The only thing I think that we out do the urban areas in is alcohol. Which is no small thing, I'll grant. But over all, we should have a more stable home enviroment than most communities.
I can't tell people enough, go to the school board meetings. You will see the problem, its right there in front of our faces. I'm not going to spoil my next letter by telling you what I mean. But trust me its right there. Our school system is so bad that the problem jumps out at you if you look for it.
Please get involved. Please start standing up for our kids in Craig. Whatever it takes. Please quit accepting this. Write the paper. Post on this wall, but start standing up for the kids. We have to stop this if it's ever going to change. The people we've voted in will not.
The school board members are all friends, they all meet, shake hands, ask about each others families. Then they eat dinner together. Not one of them will stand up for our kids if it means offending their friends, they just go along to get along. The people who work for them are all friends with them too. Meaning the administration. And they don't want to hurt their feelings either. The school board is very very happy to accept the excuses offered to them by their own management. At least that's my impression.
But don't take my word for it, go see for yourself.

Patrick (Anonymous) says…

Who are you talking to Calvin? Not me because I didn't blame the teachers. Lol
I will be addressing the standards in one of many up coming letters. I've had to pay for the college to teach my daughter an English class that the high school said she was good in. In fact the HS said they had met the college standards for her. She got a “A” in the hs class. She had to re take the class at the college, which I paid $350 for. The reasons for that are another subject entirely and I will address at a later time in a letter.
But let me make it clear for the forth time and for people who don't read my actual post, I don't blame the teachers. Our teachers are very impressive,(for the third time). It's the school board and administration that blame the teachers! I do not! I've sat in with both, I know better. I would advise others to do the same. The reason for a school system that is as bad as ours is not hard to find. It's so bad, it's obvious where the problem lies.
So other than a little misunderstanding I would agree with everything you said. Im sorry if I offended you but that blame the teachers thing is at the root of my disgust. I get a little emotional when people use that excuse and being accused of it myself is a little offending. Sorry

Patrick (Anonymous) says…

Here's a question? How is it that other school districts preform just fine with their teachers? Maybe they don't have Joe Petrone as their superintendent.
He's been here before we got down into the bottom one percent, during the bottom one percent, and he still here as we stay close the the bottom percentages. The reason why because the school board likes him. They think alike.
Yup, they say to themselves, no change needed here its just a phase we're going through.
Don't forget to vote folks. By Election Day it will be clear what needs to be done.