MIndless in Danville

It is often hard to decide which group wastes more money, the city of Danville or Danville Public Schools. On one side you have a city that spends $80,000 on a “world wide search” for a new city manager only to find the best candidate was already sitting in the office or DPS who spends that much money on colored mulch. It’s a toss up. (Of course the board also did a “world wide search” and look at what they ended up with.)

But nothing can hold a candle to the useless pile of wasted flesh that is called the School Board. As a teacher once told me, “These people could not think their way of a train tunnel.” How pitiful can a group get? Obviously pitiful enough to use their collective brain cells and come up with a ridiculous policy establishing a class of “essential” personnel. What human resources drop out would design such a policy? Of course the bureaucrat wannabe on the board who likes to hear himself talk is waving it around in the air like the Holy Grail. The policy defies logic. Why would any group come up with such a policy that is bound to divide faculties, intimidate employees, and generally tick off all the professionals in the district?

The base of the policy is that a principal can identify up to ten percent of the faculty as “essential” and thus exempt from the normal layoff process. So a twenty year teacher who does not kiss the proverbial a_ _ of the principal now becomes “nonessential” while the two year scared to death teacher is “essential”. So a “nonessential” teacher will now sit back and allow the “essential” teacher do all the work. Why not? If a system values them so little why put out an effort? It is a policy that is doomed to rip the school system apart. And who makes this decision? The principals in the system who have the collective experience level of a fruit fly life. What an embarrassment to the school district. But the robot board clicks their heels, pledge undying allegiance to the high goddess, and prints their edicts on slabs of stone. If it wasn’t so sad it would be funny…….well maybe not.

Until the board and the administration starts to show some sensitivity towards the employees of the district it will continue to be “An Underachieving School District”. Until they recognize the worth and dignity of all their employees they will continue to be viewed as the “enemy”. And why would they not be viewed that way? Their actions speak volumes.

“A company must recognize that its employees are its most valuable asset. The company also recognizes the individual dignity and worth of each employee. It is the company's desire and intent that each employee be treated as an intelligent, adult human being, with fairness and respect.” (Human Resource Basic Policy of Beliefs- Human Resource Institute) Are you reading this school board? You can only stick your head so far into the sand.

“Every person possesses inherent worth as a human being and, as such, is to be treated with dignity, fairness, and respect. Employees are to be judged on the basis of merit and ability, valued for their performance, and encouraged to attain their full potential.” (Joint Warfare Analysis Center-Commanders Policy) If its good enough for the military……

A board member recently stated that the policy had been approved and reviewed by VSBA. Upon contacting the VSBA the representative stated that they do not “approve” such policies. If fact their own policy statement on RIF states, “The VSBA recognizes that each division, and each community, values the elements that must be considered in changing a division’s workforce (including seniority, expertise, past performance, and special skills, among others) differently. Thus, VSBA does not have a sample RIF regulation.” Lets see is that lie number 2000 or 2001 from the board?

It all comes down to this. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. But some school board members just seem to keep poking a paper clip into the wall plug. They can’t leave well enough alone. I would suggest that instead of creating a needless firestorm they concentrate of a school administration that acts like a Roman orgy with tax money. Mark these words; another school employee will soon be sacrificed so the Concrete Castle Goddesses can point and say “There’s the problem!” And behind the scene the moneychangers will hackle and laugh and count their thirty pieces of silver.