My Star Ledger was in the driveway on top of the snow by 9:30 AM. The Courier and NY Times are delivered by the same service and on weekends if it arrives before 8:30 I am lucky. Today of course they will not be delivered.
By Gmail I linked to the Courier's on line edition.The computer screen is not good for these aging eyes, but I am glad I did not miss today's editorial and Jay Cooke's column. I hope the paper reprints them Monday, they are must reads.
The Courier calls for Dr. Gallon's firing. Not withstanding any positiver changes the Kingfish has initiated in the district, he has shown a complete absence of moral and ethical values. No amount of obfuscation or his use of palaver (misleading or beguiling speech) cloaked in an exotic vocabulary can hide the fact that he has deliberately ignored the guidelines of The State Department of Education for personal reasons.
Dr. Gallon's refusal to open personal and complete information about position appointees to the Board is completely unacceptable. The BOE's acceptance of that stance is mindboggling and once again raises the question of whether this elected Board and its predecessors have any concept of their fiduciary responsibility. Obviously the answer is no. How could any Board accept the principle that there were not funds for one book-one student, or adequate classroom supplies .
For too many years the PSS has been hampered by incompetent leadership, often interested i their own agendas not the delivery of quality education. The frequent turnover of superintendents down to school principles, often with the installation of a number of newly elected BOE members has been the most prominent feature of the system in more than a decade. The board has fought with strong leadership and supported ineffectual high livers.
Jay Cooke's response to Board Presidents Cathcart's letter of complaint reinforces the opinion that we need a complete restructuring of the Plainfield School System from BOE to all administrative levels. This may only be accomplished by a State takeover. If so let it be.
I must briefly turn to the other cancer that afflicts our community. That is the city government. Administration can not continue to operate ,as Dr Gallon has done, with complete contempt for the public. We have a Charter whose provisions are ignored more often than honored. Nepotism and patronage is the plague that afflicts us. The Council preaches transparency, it must demand it and act accordingly. Once more ,I will request that the meeting schedule be designated to be in the public's interests not the members desires.
Monday, is time to start the year 2010 right.
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Here....HEAR! My Brother!
ReplyDeleteSome good word old man.
ReplyDeleteDoc
ReplyDeleteI dare not challenge you on this. But as not just a supported of Gallon but one of truth you are incorrect in your understanding of this matter. I support Gallon until he proves to me his is some of these things he has been accused of being. The facts to date say he is not.
The state issued certificates of which he said all along the process was in play.
The BOE has access to information about applicants.Gallon simply said he did not agree with the past practice of sending that information home. He discussed this in the open at the BOE meeting.No BOE members disagreed other than Wilma Campbellwho said she did not have time to go into the office to review files.
He has been seemingly open with the media, though evasive to some people.He just refused to discuss the two ladies in public.With the lawsuits sure to come from the pair, I could not not blame him.
So the facts bear out that other than his communication gaps,the guy did not break the law or vioalte any rules or even refuse to share information with the BOE.
We all know that are many sides to a story.Maybe he could have done a better job telling his (Dan Damon's conclusion).But his work in Plainfield cannot be discounted because of this matter.
We have asked for another four years of much worse.
8:32 AM. You are welcomed to challenge me regarding Dr. Gallon.
ReplyDeleteI have had high hopes that he could and would reform the PSS and be able to negate all the bad of previous administrators. On the surface he seems to have made enought progress to have earned the wrath of some old timers. This is natural and must be taken into account.
However, If he has refused to share all his information about employees with the BOE in employment or disciplinary matters then he has done wrong . It does not matter if in error and if delibret he is guilty of of improper action.
I also fault him for flaunting his vocabulary and double talking. Some of this indicates a contempt for the public who is paying his salary. We do not need anyone who has a Napoleon complex.Three sins; withholding information, disregarding job standards, and arrogance.
8:32 More- You will note that I continue to fault the BOE for ALL of the systems problems. The buck stops with them.
ReplyDeleteDoc,
ReplyDeleteNapolean complex LOL! I just thought the guy was articulate. In fact he seems to just talk that way sometimes but seems to be a down to earth guy. But in Plainfield I would be cautious in my dealings with the old timers or what I would like to call the old guard. I agree that he has P#@sed somebody off.In Plainfield with some the shady characters we have that might not be a ad thing. He sho aint playing politics.LOL!