Denise Connelly: Hard questions
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Every Board of Education has its own vision, and all our elected members bring varied backgrounds and experiences to mold and implement that vision.
This Board has built on the work of previous boards and continued on in its own direction.
Our main goals are to attract and retain quality staff, improve the climate of the district, revamp and improve the governance policies, review the curriculum and determine the 21st century skills that students will need, and provide the resources our staff needs to continue to support and increase the academic achievement of our students and meet their varied individual needs.
We are collaborating with the city to develop meaningful and safe after-school activities, preparing for the possibility of full-time kindergarten in the future, proactively working with safety officers and neighboring districts on security needs, and implementing a cutting-edge system of technology throughout the district.
We have achieved many successes in the short year and a half that the majority of this board has been in place, and we are continuing to work in a positive direction for the district. With the generous support of the community we have:
1. Passed a bond issue to replace the aging Soda Creek Elementary School and construct an addition on Strawberry Park Elementary School;
2. Worked alongside the Education Fund Board to add classrooms and relocate the administrative offices at the middle school, in order to increase security and also installed an artificial turf field at the high school;
3. Passed a mill levy override to increase salaries which will help attract and retain certified and qualified staff;
4. Conducted a climate survey to increase communication with our stakeholders: the students, parents, and staff;
5. Implemented procedures to increase accountability for programs and staff at all levels.
Our past board president voiced our dedication to asking the "hard questions."
We must continue in that direction in an effort to set high expectations for students, staff and ourselves and to move the district to the next level of excellence.
A level of excellence that ensures policies are in place that protect staff and students from arbitrary and/or capricious sources. A level of excellence that ensures that policies that are in place are enforced and interpreted fairly and equitably. A level of excellence that moves all our students, staff, future Boards and our community forward in the 21st century.
I would also like to ask some of our past board members to answer some of those "hard questions" as part of our investigation.
Many former board members have demonstrated their desire to continue to be involved in our district. Their cooperation in being interviewed to determine if we have sound policies in place to protect our staff and students would truly benefit the district as we progress into the future.
I thank the community for its continued support of education. We may not always be able to achieve 100 percent consensus on every decision, but we are all motivated to do what is in the best interests of our students. I hope that we can cooperate, as a community, in a positive manner for their good.
Denise Connelly
President, Board of Education
Comments
53native 6 years ago
What a self-serving, poorly written piece of puff propaganda this is. If Ms. Connelly and the Board want to "change the climate" (roll back global warming! back to the Pleistocene!!) they could start by eliminating this kind of bovine flatulence...
beagle 6 years ago
53 - Why would you say that? I'm glad to see a factual and unemotional summary of what this board has done and is doing. Especially in light of the way some people have tried to attack and manipulate them. Former board members should be embarassed if they are refusing to tell what they know about the e-mail leak. It looks like they just wanted to use underhanded (and mean) ways to disrupt the democratic process and undermine elected officials. Trying to control everything from their graves, so to speak. Funny, this town is not that dumb or easily manipulated.
another_local 6 years ago
Beagle, what is your point about the leak? The person who did it revealed himself in a signed letter to the newspapaer and explained why. What does it have to do with other former board members?
The action had nothing to do with disrupting and undermining elected officials in general and everything to do with getting rid of an unacceptable elected official who does not have the good grace to step down.
It is too bad that Denise takes credit for the climate survey that Dr D pushed for the stated reason of undermining the administration. Now that the motivation and intended use for the survey is revealed I would think that it would be an embarrassment to her rather than something to crow about. Fruit of the poison tree.
beagle 6 years ago
My point is, Gleason and other board members had the e-mails two years ago, as he admitted in his letter. But they didn't tell Denise or any other new board members about it. They just waited and then released them to the paper of all things. This is not really taking the high road, now is it? There were better ways they could have dealt with their concerns. As I think I said before, I'm glad I've never been on a board with such a backstabber as Mr. G. Their goal apparently was to get rid of Dr. D. (and try to ruin his life while they're at it) My take is that they figured Denise would cave to all the pressure and ask him to resign. The funny part to me is that the plot apparently backfired when the investigation seemed about to expose Howell's involvement. And that's why Gleason came forward, to stop the investigation. Otherwise why be anonymous to start with? As far as climate surveys go, there's nothing wrong with them. They're just a tool to increase communication, one of the stated goals of the board.
Sunspot 6 years ago
If the old board has nothing to hide then what's the big deal. I suspect that is not the case, it looks more like they are in on it. Either way its clear there is more to this whole thing than just Gleason. It is still hard to believe that they did all of this just to save Howell.
beagle 6 years ago
It wasn't meant as a personal attack, reallocal, you just remind me of a teenager I know. but really, you guys are looking up the lawyer and trying to get all the info you can on him? you want to be ready to smear him too along with Denise and the rest of the board? what or who are you so worried about with this investigation?
SteamboatJoe 6 years ago
I find it disappointing that Denise chose to blame the old board for her current problems. She could have written a very direct letter to the community explaining her position on many of these issues. Instead, the letter is a lecture to old board members with zero responsibility in her hands. Denial is a beautiful thing.
linus 6 years ago
Explain her position on what issues, Steamboatjoe? She talked about what the board has done, what they're working on now, and their goals. And she asked the old board members to cooperate with the investigation.
Hammurabi 6 years ago
This letter is very interesting in that Connelly is taking credit for many thing that I don't recall (to coin a phrase) seeing, reading or hearing the board take the lead on. Numbers 1 and 3 were spearheaded by Howell and community citizens. The turf field was totally built and funded by parents and community members. Number 4 is a joke given the actions of the board on the teacher survey that was supposed to be anonymous, but wasn't. Number 5 regarding accountiblity is what the recall is all about. Finally, the board was given a list of attorneys by their state organization, but chose not to use any of them, instead picked someone from Grand Junction. Why this attorney over others? Who found him?
SteamboatJoe 6 years ago
Exactly.
Don't expect her to answer that.
reallocal 6 years ago
The only concrete anything I can find on this Earl Rhodes guy is that he's a personal injury lawyer. I'm sure there are plenty of lawyers out there who have experience with this kind of thing. I couldn't see that Mr Rhodes does. This makes me wonder, is he in cahoots with DeVincentis or did all the lawyers with experience in this area laugh them out of their offices? Something to think about...
And what if the past board members do answer some of those "hard questions" and it isn't what Denise wanted to hear? Then will she finally grow a backbone? Or will she continue to point the finger at someone else, hoping that this will all blow over? I've got news for you, Denise: you aren't going to get what you want out of this. You won't be able to drive Howell out, you won't be able to save your own reputation, and you won't be able to save DeVincentis. It would seem that perhaps it is time to ask yourself the "hard questions," and I can only hope it's not too hard for you to come up with the right answers, but judging from a lack of responsible behavior on the current board, I'm probably best off not holding my breath.
beagle 6 years ago
reallocal, you sound like a youngster who doesn't have much life experience. why don't you save yourself all the anxiety and quit reading this stuff?
reallocal 6 years ago
Beagle-why not address the question rather than make personal attacks? Because you don't have any answers? So again, beagle, linus, snoopy, and the rest of the Peanuts gallery, why was this lawyer chosen? What will happen if DeVincentis, oops, sorry, Denise, can't get rid of Howell? And where's Pigpen?
reallocal 6 years ago
I'm just curious why a mediator gave the board a list of lawyers with experience in these situations and they chose someone who wasn't on the list, so I looked up his court cases. Not looking to smear anyone (although he does share a name with a character William Shatner once played, which I consider to be smear in and of itself, personally), but rather to educate myself about why the people elected to positions of public trust do the things they do. When the public stops being aware of the actions taken by elected officials, they stop holding those same officials responsible for upholding public expectations of performance. Questioning what is going on AND why are essential to holding public officials accountable. So, beagle, for the third time, what reasoning was there behind hiring Earl Rhodes to lead this internal investigation?
My concerns with the investigation are, more or less, related to the future relationships within the district. Many district insiders have long known about DeVincentis' vindictive nature, and the person who released these emails has already taken credit for it. Continuing an investigation will only serve to discourgage students, employees, and volunteers from coming forward to do the right thing for the district the next time something needs to change. And waste taxpayer dollars in the short term.
dwahzner 6 years ago
4seasons just plain HATES public education by the blogs presented! Go figure!
dwahzner 6 years ago
In my opinion, this issue of the school board, & Dr D is a punch in the gut to "ALL" the good people who work in the schools! I hope there is no reflection from this to them!
Sunspot 6 years ago
Reallocal your own words tell the story.
"but rather to educate myself about why the people elected to positions of public trust do the things they do. When the public stops being aware of the actions taken by elected officials, they stop holding those same officials responsible for upholding public expectations of performance. Questioning what is going on AND why are essential to holding public officials accountable."
This also applies to elected officials who have resigned. Aren't you the least bit concerned that someone in this rogue administration violated district security policies trying to take out a sitting school board member? Shouldn't there be some sort of penalty for that? I mainly don't ever want this to happen again in our school district.
And as far as backbone goes, Denise Connelly has had to stand up to an angry lynch mob, a lopsided newspaper, a disgruntled board member, Howell's rogue administration, old board members have come from the grave to cast stones and the hyenas in the blogs. That's big-time backbone! I would have to say she has more backbone than most people, especially anonymous blog posters like you and me.
Denise has shown real strength and is doing a great job.
reallocal 6 years ago
There have been two points I have been trying to make. While you have all responded with the predictable answers to one portion of my argument, there is one question that no one will address. OK, last time. WHY was Earl Rhodes chosen by the board to investigate this matter over a list of experienced lawyers provided by a mediator familiar with the situation?
In response spot, I sympathize with Denise. She has been put in a difficult position, but she needed to use her leadership to change things, not condone DeVincentis' actions with her own inaction. However, you have to be joking with your statement about holding former elected officials publically accountable for their actions when they are not serving in an elected position and did nothing illegal (no criminal investigation, notice?). And exactly what kind of penalty do you propose? A slap on the wrist and a check to the lawyer for thousands of taxpayer dollars?
another_local 6 years ago
What was Earl R chosen? Maybe because he and Dr D go back a while?
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