Monday, November 17, 2008

The Vanishing Principal

It doesn’t take a genius to know that a leadership position at the city school’s can only be successful when the person is present! Well at least one city school doesn’t believe this theory. GWHS has been run by a phantom for over a year.

Yes our tax money has been going to an individual who believes a principalship is a part-time job. According to some well placed sources the principal of GWHS has yet to put in a full week of work this year. And even when he’s there he isn’t there! Since when do principals leave school grounds for lunch? You would think he worked at Home Depot. Hey, news flash, a principal’s job is full-time! Geez……….

Well I guess since the school is running so smoothly you can afford to sit back and bask in your glory. If only this was true. With a drop out rate increasing every year and a total enrollment slipping by an average of over 50 students a year you would think the principal might have something to do. Lets look at some other statistics: Alcohol and drug offenses from 7 to 25, Offenses Against Persons from 54 to 115, Technology Offenses from 0 to 205, and the grand Kahuna, Disruptive Behavior Offenses 8 to a whopping 3,410! Now I know why he doesn’t want to be there. (See School Report Card)

And all this goes on under the watchful eyes of the exalted Danville City School Board and Reject Committee. But listen to the school board meetings. The picture is painted of la-la-land where all is good and the butterflies are beautiful. At their meetings they collectively pat each other on the back and smile while the grand diva spouts off about her latest achievement in mediocrity. An “Overachieving School District”? What the hell does that even mean ? More like an “Overembellishing School District”. How long will the citizens of Danville stand for this?

And the wheel continues to grind on chewing up the children of Danville. And in the mean time the principal of GWHS rears back in his chair and contemplates where he will go today. If you don’t have to be there you certainly don’t have to deal with it. The crown gem of Danville is tarnished indeed. The school board croons about how all is well and continues their real task, rewriting those important school board policies. This is what a district is really about. But travel down the corriders of GW and look at all the principal photos in the main hall. The many fine leaers that graced this institution. The years of academic excellence represented by those picture. But look closely, you can almost see a tear in the eye of each photograph.