We’ve heard concerns that we publish articles that are biased: ones that only include negative experiences. We have requested all to share their experiences. As we haven’t had submissions from any with this perspective, we thought sharing Mr. McLellan’s public comment was a way to show all voices. We transcribed this from Don Messinger’s live feed on Channel CASD.
School Board Meeting 7/23/19
Public Comment
Allen McLellan
I'll start with a question: How do you build educational excellence? I submit to you that it’s not by frequent upheavals, changes in goals, programs, or critical personnel. You build it by having people in place, people who are committed to the organization, and to its progress, who understand the organization, the goals, its people, and its challenges to improve over time as their learning curve builds. We cannot immediately step in and create excellence in every area.
School Board Meeting 7/23/19
Public Comment
Allen McLellan
I'll start with a question: How do you build educational excellence? I submit to you that it’s not by frequent upheavals, changes in goals, programs, or critical personnel. You build it by having people in place, people who are committed to the organization, and to its progress, who understand the organization, the goals, its people, and its challenges to improve over time as their learning curve builds. We cannot immediately step in and create excellence in every area.
But leaders incorporate and breathe the culture, the people, the purpose, the strengths, the weaknesses of any organization. These people, these leaders are adaptable. And understand that solutions must fit the situation. Not all solutions in district X or district Y will fit in the Coatesville District because of our conditions and culture here. These leaders learn by their mistakes and all good leaders make mistakes. Show me a leader who has never failed, and I’ll show you someone who is on the sidelines and not in the arena.
I believe Dr. Taschner is a superb leader. She assumed her position after some of the worst upheavals in the district’s entire history. And when few credible candidates would even want the job. I will spare all of us the details of that dark period. But she quickly learned the culture and has led this district to build on it strengths and overcome its weaknesses which are endemic to this district.
I believe Dr. Taschner is a superb leader. She assumed her position after some of the worst upheavals in the district’s entire history. And when few credible candidates would even want the job. I will spare all of us the details of that dark period. But she quickly learned the culture and has led this district to build on it strengths and overcome its weaknesses which are endemic to this district.
The vector has been upward since her arrival.She makes the tough decisions just as good leaders must do. And in that process when you make decisions, believe me from 26 years in the military, you’re going to make some enemies. Some of them are very vocal, some are very loud, and they’re very wrong. Some of those enemies will attach themselves to a single issue and ride that hobby horse, complaining as they go but never offering real solutions. Their sole answer to every challenge is to fire the person in charge or the superintendent in this case. And bring in someone with his or her own baggage and shortcomings and in two years or sooner, the naysayers will be calling for that person to be fired and the cycle of upheavals will continue.
Many stakeholders in this district parents, students, staff, faculty, and homeowners have got a new optimism under Dr. Taschner’s leadership. I’m confident that she would have nay over 70 or perhaps 80% favorability. If she were in politics, no candidate could reasonably beat her. However, as in politics we see it: The majority of people who are satisfied do not speak up.
What I’m saying is that people who are satisfied, the silent majority, do not speak up and they should and we need them to do so now. What I’m saying is because there are some loud voices calling for this superintendent to be removed that would be a colossal and long lasting mistake. She has made and continues to make real progress. She was recognized by the Educational Leadership award in secondary education by the Young Men Women and Men In Charge Foundation. They don’t give away that award like popcorn.So they see perhaps what a lot of us may not see. She has the amazing circumstance of having a small [ group] of disgruntled people wanting to dispose of our award-winning superintendent. That makes no sense. For those here tonight if you support Dr. Taschner, now is the time to verbalize it. Realize there are serious efforts, serious efforts to remove her and for no rationale cause.
Board members please stand strong against the irrational and misguided efforts to remove the best option in Coatesville as superintendent. On the contrary, acknowledge your support for her and recognize her many achievements as outsiders do. She is still the right person, in the right place, and at the right time. We'll all be better for her continued service as superintendent.
Where do I start with this article. I'm glad that Allen's articulation of the leadership of our Superintendent was preserved. Allen would like us to believe that our desire to have the Superintendent resign is based on faulty motives, and lack of what we perceive to be progress. 4 1/2 years ago Mr Deets told me, to not to be emotional when I come to the meetings but get the facts. Well for the last 4 1/2 years I've been getting the facts. You know what the problem is now for those who think Dr T is doing a great job ? They have no measurable facts & data to back up their claims. You see, Allen just ignored 1,622 signatures for her resignation. He ignored the fact that 588 Employees have left the District. Or how about 1,400 students have left. My voice is powerful, but not powerful enough to convince 3,610 people to see something that isn't there. You see, what has happened has been reversed. Her fan club now is the emotional ones, Devoid of facts. Oh, Mr Allen showed his mastery of words, with his little put downs, but where's the beef ? Where's the facts to back up your claim about the vector this and the vector that. Look, at some point in time you have to show us with facts why you think we're better now than we were 5 years ago. A couple of her fan club members in which a few of them are board members, don't have a clue so it seems. I've gone back to when Scarnatti & Como were principals. At some point in time if you're not happy with our disdain for this leadership, you should bring in some facts. A lot of Gaslighting is what got us herein the 1st place. It's sad that adults charged with the well being of a School District and subsequently a Community takes that responsibility so lightly, that facts are now the enemy of their allegiance to one Failed Leader. It's also sad that this person swears by a person that has on more than one occasion signed documents that are completely false. In my opinion our present Leadership is way worse than what we had. That's based on Academics, Teacher Retention, Student Retention and overall morale. So Mr. Allen, you did good Tuesday. Your attempt to prop up failure was impressive, but your words rang hollow as your platitudes cannot erase what is now documented. The continuing demise of our School District. No we won't let voices such as yours Gaslight a whole Community. Those who have endured, those who have protested, those who are still here with two phrase have expressed their feelings. " Enough is Enough" & " We Want Our District Back "
ReplyDeleteExcellent Comment. I worked in the CASD for close to 35 years. Chester School District used to be considered the worst of the worst. CASD is on course to match.Disciple is probably your biggest problem. No discipline in the classroom very little learning will take place. I don't know if an Alternative School would help? You do have vacant buildings that could be used. Get rid of CASD Police force and let the local police handle disrupt student. Too much cover-up of disruptive students.
ReplyDeleteAllen - excellent article. I am in total agreement. Some in our community have had it in for her since day 1, I just don't know why. I can only speculate that there are other agendas in play here. She has chosen to stay when others would have thrown in the towel because she believes in what she is doing and believes our district can be better. Her ideas are not the problem, and if they were, the school board would not have approved them. As far as problem students, there are many, and not enough help for them. But the schools didn't create those problems - they stem from lack of parental supervision and family involvement in their children's education. These students have not bought into their education because they don't see the point. We have to find a way to make them value their education as a tool to help them achieve more in life. Tearing down every leader that comes along is not the way to do it.
ReplyDeleteEverytime the gentlemen speaks he never gives his address. Is he really a tax payer In this district? If so, with the tax raise that he has no problem paying, can he please help buy books, or more desks, kids sit on the window sill
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