Voters Need To Send FWCS Lifer Into Involuntary Retirement
Posted by Jeff Pruitt - 8/25/08 @ 9:51 am - Filed Under 2008 Local Elections, Featured
FWCS lifetime incumbent Steve Corona officially filed for re-election on Friday. Saturday’s JG story on Corona should remind voters on why it’s time to send him packing. Corona was the president of the board during last year’s remonstrance battle and there was absolutely nobody pushing the $500 million property tax increase more than he was - well except perhaps the JG editorial board.
Only after being resoundingly defeated by the populace has Corona begun to change his tune:
“I think we need to take a look at every significant repair item proposed and justify it and there may be items that we initially thought were essential that may need to be scrapped,”
Gee, that sounds a lot like what Evert Mol, Jon Olinger and the entire Code Blue group was saying last year. Of course at that time Corona not only wouldn’t listen, but was also steadfast in his opposition to any reasonable compromise including a scaled down $300 million project that he voted against. He later went on to say that knowing then what he knows now he would’ve supported it - you think?
Now he’s once again teaming up with the leader of the Yellow Petition drive group to put forth a new plan. When Steve Corona and John Pierce team up taxpayers had better grab their wallet:
Corona likes an idea from John Peirce, who is running for the District 2 seat and serving a temporary appointment on the board, to initially target a handful of schools that need improvements and do it for less than $50 million. The board could then “go through a very explicit explanation of what those dollars are going to buy,” as a way to prove to the community its fiscal responsibility, Corona said.
Where’s the long term plan - I thought these buildings were crumbling and needed repair immediately? That’s what I kept hearing from Corona and Pierce last year and now, in an election year, they haven’t as much as given the facilities a second thought. Corona, Pierce and the administration will tell you they want a small project to “gain taxpayer confidence” but all that means is they still plan on spending the entire $500 million (or worse) but they want to do it in smaller chunks.
Taxpayers’ confidence isn’t the problem here. I’m sure taxpayers have full confidence that FWCS will find a way to spend the $500 million they just don’t think it’s necessary and the truth is it’s not. Voters have a clear choice this fall. They can send Steve Corona back to the board for the 100th year in a row and watch him parrot the administration line that “all is well, nothing to see here” or they can vote for Evert Mol and give him a chance to try and right the ship.
Corona’s had his chance and things have gotten progressively worse under his watch. Voters should thank him for his service but give the career-board member an election day retirement…
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17 Responses to “Voters Need To Send FWCS Lifer Into Involuntary Retirement”
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Hey, you just brought back all the fond memories from last year. The FWEA (teachers union) PAC and Architect/Contractors PAC to elect sympathetic board members, $450K Of taxpayer money to a consultant and city councilman to help convince them to fork over $850 million more for (”this is not”) a wish list, Wendy’s hand picked Yellow Ribbon Task Force headed by Spoelhof who formed the contractor’s PAC assisted by FWCS attorney Bill Sweet, the public forums (sales jobs) packed with district employees, and the public hearing (pep session) at Anthis packed with district employees presided over by Mr. Corona.
The best part was all those damn yellow signs paid for and planted by the contractors that said “our kids are counting on you”.
I want to get away from the whole “repairing the crumbling building stuff” for a moment re: Corona.
What’s more disturbing to me - is that Corona is supposed to be a leading Hispanic-American leader in Fort Wayne - yet I have never seen him address the huge issues that the school district are facing with ESL and test scores associated to ESL.
He could have SO much influence - he could be such a change agent for both the community and the school district. I’m perplexed why he hasn’t been. What is he waiting for?
But you know, Corona wasn’t a product of FWCS himself (he attended Lew Wallace High School - Gary, IN) so maybe that pride the rest of us have - he just can’t identify with it because he never experienced what FWCS was like when it was a good school district to attend….
What’s he waiting for???
Well, as someone pointed out on another recent post at this site, Joe Biden has waited thirty-seven years to become an agent of change. So maybe Corona just needs one more term to see the light.
Is Olinger technically a “lifer” or not? 3 or more terms = lifer. 2 or more terms is just a lifer in the making.
“What’s more disturbing to me - is that Corona is supposed to be a leading Hispanic-American leader in Fort Wayne - yet I have never seen him address the huge issues that the school district are facing with ESL and test scores associated to ESL.”
1. His race does not obligate him to address this issue in particular.
2. ESL kids are at a tremendous disadvantage due to the language barrier. FWCS cannot possibly find a translator for every language spoken by ESL students; often the only way for these kids to learn English is osmosis.
3. Aside from simply drawing more attention to the issue, what policy changes do you propose? I am not a Corona fan, but you simply have not proposed what he should do differently with ESL.
I think when you approach Don Schmidt-like length of service you are a lifer…
Robert,
I wasn’t making this a “race” issue - I was making this a cultural-barrier issue. For example, my father’s side of the family is Native American. There are certain traditions, beliefs, values that do not necessarily coincide with mainstream. That isn’t good or bad - it is just what it is.
If I am in an elected position where there is a struggle being faced by a group of Native American individuals - not just 1 or 2 - but a group that represents a significant portion of the overarching body I am a part of, for me not to try to address their struggles (in the name of the overall good of the school district) would be highly irresponsible.
You may not agree with that - but this is what I believe.
And what do I propose the policies should be?
Why ask me? Ask Corona. Ask him what he thinks the challenges are (assuming he acknowledges them) and inquire as to what the possible solutions are (whether those are policies or whatever).
If FWCS is open to a citizens group studying the challenges and offering up suggestions (which they would be willing to follow through and implement), sign me up.
To date, I have not seen where they have even acknowledged that there are any challenges within the school system (and more than just ESL).
And on a different, but kind of related note, I just want to take Mark GiaQuinta off to the side and say - guy…everytime you use marketing terms and buzz words in your quotes, you further alienate people.
Example:
Mark GiaQuinta, President, F.W.C.S Board: “The community needs to understand that you’re now holding yourself accountable and that you’re doing it with measures and targets that indicate continuous improvement in education. So absolutely we are trying to sell the concept of the balanced scorecard.”
For the love of (insert the name of your deity here) why does he say that? “Sell the concept”???
Stop selling Mark. You all are really bad at marketing. REALLY BAD.
Start showing measurable results (Mark).
Measurable results speak for themselves.
STOP SELLING.
It makes you look really bad.
Like pathetic bad.
The Board voted to accept the Balanced Score Card program. It sets goals, measures and expectations right out there where we can see what is or is not happening. And the problem with that is ????????
As I have mentioned before, Downtown Rotary has made great strides with Washington Elementary School. Again, I ask, who will come read with me?
I challenge you, (Evert, you already do this, so it is not about you!) put as much time in at your local elementary school as you do on these political blogs and at the end of the year, we will have a quantifiable improvement you can be proud to have made happen.
Cara-there is nothing wrong with the measures or the Balanced Scorecard per se but there have been improvement programs in place for many years with no improvements in academic achievement and no changes in the upper levels of the Administration.Nothing has been said about what will be done if the goals aren’t met or how failure to make progress will impact the Supt.’s evaluation or future. Word around the schools is that she is lobbying for a no-cut contract because she fears the lack of measurable progress. That would be an even bigger travesty than her recent “non transparent-evaluation”.
Nobody in this town would be any happier than me if the improvement is even close to the established goals!
Cara,
I’ve spent nearly every Thursday the last 4 years (well, every other last year) volunteering at the downtown library as part of the Homework Help program so spare me the “if you only did something” spiel.
Corona has been on the board for nearly 30 years and what progress have we seen? The board finally instituted some benchmarks - hooray. Forgive me if I don’t jump for joy that the board decided to do their job - albeit a few years too late…
OK, some progress here. Now we have two of the group who are active!
About the same degree of progress we are complaining about at FWCS, yes?
Cara;
You seem to imply that if we don’t volunteer to help in some way, then our complaints are illigitimate. That argument is completely invalid. I do a lot to help FWCS, by paying property taxes, and I have a legitimate right to be concerned about how those taxes are spent.
I have no doubt that many current members of FWCS board have the best interest of the children in mind, and they are probably trying to help them the best way they know how to. But when this board continues to do things like blame others for the failure of their bloated spending package, hold news conferences to talk about things that are not newsworthy, and keep secret the evaluation of Wendy Robinson, they show that they are out of touch with the people who are paying their salaries.
You have very valid interests, no disagreement there. I am just terribly enthused that we have found a key to the situation, community involvement in the classroom. Point taken, some read, some pay for the classrooms!
And yes, I have had rabid moments (ha! rabid years to tell the truth) about spending. I still reach 99 decibles just thinking about the waste of the New Deumling Clinic and that unholy mess. But that cannot be undone, I must move on.
Tax laws have changed. We should not have to face another remonstrance; we have the board’s careful attention. I know several of the board personally, and yes, they are concerned for the children and our community in general.
The only point I want to make is we can help by being directly involved, and the difference we make is immense. We have the opportunity to make great improvements with the board’s approval, assistance and appreciation. Never has community involvement been so willingly accepted.
So, we agree paying taxes is great participation. If you want to have some real fun, join us for Dr. Seuss’ Birthday at Washington Elementary School next spring. I hope to be the one chosen to wear the Cat in the Hat costume and ham it up!
Cara-I happen to spend only about 5% of my time on school issues(none in the classroom at this time) but I spend the other 95% on other charitable causes including Boards and committees of SCAN,the Library Foundation,Metropolitan Human Relations Commission,and my neighborhood assn.(plus about 10 others over the past 40 years).My talents don’t necessarily match the classroom but I feel that I make my contribution to society and Fort Wayne in other ways-and yes,raising hell about the state of our FWCS is a contribution in my book! I’m glad you think you have the attention of the Board but I and several others have tried very hard to work with them AND the Administration but if you won’t do things their way you are not welcome to participate! We are belittled and talked down to because we believe our school system is a failure and has to do better if approximately half our students are to have a fighting chance at a successful and productive life. Community involvement will be a big help but drastic changes are needed to right this sinking ship.There is no excuse for taking 20 months to develop an improvement program that exists on the shelves of major corporations and management consultants but it did get the measures of success or lack thereof and ANY transparency past this Fall’s Board election.
Cara;
Several years ago, I taught a Junior Achievement class at Washington Elementary. I have also volunteered for Study Connection in the past. Although I do not currently volunteer for anything, I do think these programs for kids are a great way to help. And I still enjoy reading Dr. Seuss books, so it appears our common interests are greater than our differences.
Grassroots efforts only go so far. If we have to continue to call on grassroots efforts to address the lack of leadership of both the board and the administration, then help me understand what their role is?
They’re not leading.
They’re not managing.
They’re not even “PR’ing” well.
They don’t support their teachers.
They blame everything on the past.
They claim issues don’t exist (discipline and hope anyone?)
The state is at fault (but other school districts seem to be rolling with the punches).
Today’s I can’t believe they said that quote goes to John Kline.
This is in reference to the fact that SAT scores locally (and nationwide) are stagnant. Instead of just saying something benign, he has to open his mouth and spout off something outrageous.
John - I know you’re trying to sell your magnet programs - but you ought not to promise that they will have a direct effect on the number of students taking the SAT + the scores they receive. You’re just guessing. You have no data to back you up.
Underpromise.
Overdeliver.