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GRPS Superintendent Search


twoshort

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From the sounds of it, both candidates were highly qualified and I hope the school board chose the right one to do the job that is needed in Grand Rapids. Time will tell, and unfortunately, GRPS doesn't have that much time from the sounds of some of the headlines lately - he will already be starting off with the district in the red. I wish him luck.

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Like Dave has been saying, this story has been overblown by the media... I don't believe race was an issue.

Perhaps, but the behavior of the public who attended was atrocious:

"The vote brought cheers from a crowd overflowing the administration building auditorium -- after being chastised several times by President Amy McGlynn for heckling when board members said anything positive about Colin Armstrong, the other finalist."

"Rinck was one of several board members who said the public's derisive comments about Armstrong's citizenship put the board in a bind because it appears it was bullied into a decision. He said the behavior was "distasteful and despicable" and it hurt the city's reputation."

Kansas City superintendent is unanimous choice to lead GR schools

This is unacceptable. There are better ways to make your opinion heard than constantly disrupting a meeting and vote. And where were all of these angry and concerned people over the last few years as GRPS has made a beeline for the toilet?

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I don't believe race was an issue.

BS, the board pretty much came out and admitted it. Not to mention the idiocy about Armstrong being a Canadian - who the hell cares. However, playing the race card here did nothing but show a bright light on the racism that most of the supposed anti-racists in this community exhibit.

It seems to be OK to stereotype and protest aginst the hiring of a white man, however, if Rockford was to request only white candidates in their next search - you better believe Jesse Jackson would be in town... Total, hypocritical, BS.

Not to mention, both of these selections suck. Sure, the men have the academic credentials, however they come from districts that are even worse than Grand Rapids. Why, why, would you bother looking at someone who has already shown an inability to do their job in a similar environment.

Once again - the board drops the ball. However, this time they have been exposed for the shallow fools that they are. Pandering to those that it turns out are the most racist in out community.

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BS, the board pretty much came out and admitted it. Not to mention the idiocy about Armstrong being a Canadian - who the hell cares. However, playing the race card here did nothing but show a bright light on the racism that most of the supposed anti-racists in this community exhibit.

It seems to be OK to stereotype and protest aginst the hiring of a white man, however, if Rockford was to request only white candidates in their next search - you better believe Jesse Jackson would be in town... Total, hypocritical, BS.

Not to mention, both of these selections suck. Sure, the men have the academic credentials, however they come from districts that are even worse than Grand Rapids. Why, why, would you bother looking at someone who has already shown an inability to do their job in a similar environment.

Once again - the board drops the ball. However, this time they have been exposed for the shallow fools that they are. Pandering to those that it turns out are the most racist in out community.

Get your facts straight.

The board voted 9-0 to bring Dr. Taylor back for a second interview. He was obviously the board's first choice. 4 of the 5 board members did not even want to bring Armstrong back for a second interview.

Dr. Taylor took over the KC Public School System 5 years ago. Taylor walked into school in KC one day 5 years ago and there was a press conference on the steps of the admin. building. The superintendent, deputy superintendent, chief academic officer, and two of the board members were resigning from the KC Public Schools. He walked past the press conference and the newly elected board president called him in the office and askied him to be super...on the spot. The next day he had to go to the State capital to convince the state not to take over the finances and day to day running of the school system. He is well versed in crisis management.

The day he took over, KC school had been under some level of federal control for the past 30 years due to its refusal to de-segregate. The KC Public Schools have had 22 supers in the past 30 years. Taylor was the longest running super in those 30 years.

In the last 5 years Taylor has helped raise student achievement in KC more than any other super in its history. Taylor has a Phd. in Public School Admnistration and has been a "turn around agent in every position in his work history." He has worked with and sometimes fought the teacher's union. He has closed down schools when necessary. Taylor is not a business as usual kind of superintendent. He shakes things up. Which leads to why he is leaving KC.

Taylor's contract was not renewed because the board in KC was taken over by a two factions of the black community in KC...a ministerial alliance and a group of local busniessmen. Taylor refused to bow to their business as usual demands and they did not renew his contract.

Yes there were people at the meetings screaming that we should not hire Armstrong and hire Taylor around issues of race. In fact at the last meeting the Press covered it pretty fairly...it was ugly. However, these people have done Taylor a great disservice. He is one of the most highly qualified candidates we have had in 20 years. Taylor will help GRPS grow up and be a great urban public school system. The board and the community, however, need to not repeat the mistakes made in KC and let factions rule the day.

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Thanks for the informative post Dave.

It is truly shameful to boil this down to race as some people in the community did and to be so blatant and disrespectful on top of that is even worse. There are far more tasteful and proactive ways to discuss these issues.

There is no doubt, that for some, this boiled down to race. We can only hope that this is only a vocal minority and that Dr. Taylor can work some miracles, without letting these factions taint the process.

He was clearly the most qualified candidate and this could be a turning point for the schools. His track record speaks for itself.

I am excited about his appointment, both for now and for the future. He may give some much needed stability to this program.

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Get your facts straight.

The board voted 9-0 to bring Dr. Taylor back for a second interview. He was obviously the board's first choice. 4 of the 5 board members did not even want to bring Armstrong back for a second interview.

Dr. Taylor took over the KC Public School System 5 years ago. Taylor walked into school in KC one day 5 years ago and there was a press conference on the steps of the admin. building. The superintendent, deputy superintendent, chief academic officer, and two of the board members were resigning from the KC Public Schools. He walked past the press conference and the newly elected board president called him in the office and askied him to be super...on the spot. The next day he had to go to the State capital to convince the state not to take over the finances and day to day running of the school system. He is well versed in crisis management.

The day he took over, KC school had been under some level of federal control for the past 30 years due to its refusal to de-segregate. The KC Public Schools have had 22 supers in the past 30 years. Taylor was the longest running super in those 30 years.

In the last 5 years Taylor has helped raise student achievement in KC more than any other super in its history. Taylor has a Phd. in Public School Admnistration and has been a "turn around agent in every position in his work history." He has worked with and sometimes fought the teacher's union. He has closed down schools when necessary. Taylor is not a business as usual kind of superintendent. He shakes things up. Which leads to why he is leaving KC.

Taylor's contract was not renewed because the board in KC was taken over by a two factions of the black community in KC...a ministerial alliance and a group of local busniessmen. Taylor refused to bow to their business as usual demands and they did not renew his contract.

Yes there were people at the meetings screaming that we should not hire Armstrong and hire Taylor around issues of race. In fact at the last meeting the Press covered it pretty fairly...it was ugly. However, these people have done Taylor a great disservice. He is one of the most highly qualified candidates we have had in 20 years. Taylor will help GRPS grow up and be a great urban public school system. The board and the community, however, need to not repeat the mistakes made in KC and let factions rule the day.

AND IT IS STILL ONE OF THE WORST DISTRICTS IN THE NATION...

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CAN WE PLEASE BE REAL HERE. RACE, or more accurately, CULTURE, has ALWAYS been at the core of Grand Rapids. It is why we are JUST NOW in the 21st Century instead of the 1980's starting to peek around the corner of world-class status. Ever heard of the saying, "If you're not dutch, you're not much"? Be real and move forward -_- .

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Snoog:

Attempting to be cute while an opportunity to see and recognize something real about our home metro presents itself cheapens the moment and underscores everything that is a drag on GR's momentum. Stop it. There - no caps.

I'm much less concerned about your antics then I am the antics of another person.

I wish no ill will on anyone, only to see harmony restored to an otherwise hostile topic.

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I'm much less concerned about your antics then I am the antics of another person.

I wish no ill will on anyone, only to see harmony restored to an otherwise hostile topic.

Minus the caps, what superNOVA was doing was stating the simple facts - is it wrong to state something

contrary to the "harmonious" dialogue that is prevelant on this forum?

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Minus the caps, what superNOVA was doing was stating the simple facts - is it wrong to state something

contrary to the "harmonious" dialogue that is prevelant on this forum?

Thanks for the clarification, Snoog. No, faks. Contrary statements are part of democracy. The timing and how they are stated is what creates wars. The world just needs more tact (among a great many other forgotten graces).

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Minus the caps, what superNOVA was doing was stating the simple facts - is it wrong to state something

contrary to the "harmonious" dialogue that is prevelant on this forum?

If you have a problem with the "harmonious" dialogue here faksman, you can go somewhere else.

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