Sunday, November 1, 2009

Tale of Employees and GWHS Slide

It appears the rampage is still going on. According to records more employees have been dismissed from DPS in the last four years then from the past ten years cumulative. Some may say, Well they are getting those bad teachers out of the classroom!” Ahhhhh, not so fast. Most of the employees have been in support positions and not classroom teachers. Why? Because most support employees have no experience or are no aware of the policies and laws pertaining to employment. Most amazing, according to records, is that the recommendations for dismissal have not come from direct supervisors but from the central office. Also in many cases the employee has never been informed of charges against them or what policies have been violated. As a matter of record, employees who challenged their rights through the Virginia Employment Commission (unemployment) have generally been successful in receiving benefits. Why? Because according to documentation the district has failed to provide adequate evidence that the employee was in the wrong. One hearing officer even went so far as to chide a district representative to, “Never come to a hearing again so unprepared or lacking of even basic information.”

So it appears the carnage continues as the Concrete Palace wields its sword over all who fail to conform to their way of thinking. Sounds a little Orwellian doesn’t it? Also note that the school board again turns a blind eye to the issue.

On another matter GWHS continues its slide. The school did not make AYP (Average Yearly Progress) and is also on a population slide. Records show that the enrollment has slipped to 1,578. Such a slip may force the district to drop athletics into a lower class for district play. Technology offenses (misuse of computers) has risen to a whopping 663! Ever wonder what the graduation breakdown (kinds of diplomas awarded)was for 2008-2009? Keep wondering, as of this date the district has failed to report the results to the state. Takes a lot of time to spin numbers doesn’t it?

The list goes on and on. The Queen and her subjects sit their twiddling their fingers looking for someone else to sacrifice. Who will be next?