Archive for Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Photo by Matt Stensland
Steamboat Springs High School principal Mike Knezevich was back at work Tuesday, the day after he learned the Steamboat Springs School Board would not be renewing his contact, which expires June 30. "I just want to thank all the staff and community that supported me," Knezevich said.
Future uncertain
Knezevich undecided about taking legal action to save his job
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Steamboat Springs — One day after his contract was not renewed for the 2008-09 school year, Steamboat Springs High School Principal Mike Knezevich said he was unsure what, if any, legal action he might pursue to save his job.
The Steamboat Springs School Board voted, 3-2, late Monday night to get rid of the three-year principal. He also served as the school's assistant principal for six years.
Reached Tuesday at the high school, where he was conducting interviews for new staff members, Knezevich said he has not retained a lawyer. Several potentially challengeable issues arose Monday, including interim Superintendent Sandra Smyser's lack of an administrator's license for the state of Colorado, the School Board's alleged failure to comply with a performance review policy, and ethics questions raised against a School Board member.
"I'm going to have some real heart-to-heart conversations as a family," he said. His wife, Katie, is an elementary teacher in the district.
"The first thing is just to process through and see where this goes with the state Board of Education," he said, referring to Steamboat Springs School Board member John DeVincentis' letter sent to the state's Ethics Committee. DeVincentis, who voted to keep Knezevich, has accused fellow board member Laura Anderson of improperly meeting with the principal's critics.
Knezevich's dismissal came at the end of a six-hour School Board meeting during which he waived his right to hold his employment review in executive session, opting instead to hold the entire process in public. His supporters filled Centennial Hall during the meeting, and many spoke on his behalf during the public comment period.
"I know that Mike wants to make me a better teacher," high school staff member Dan Tullius said. "I'm thrilled to work under him."
Recently retired elementary school teacher Don Schwartz also addressed the board.
"Mike has made progress in the past months," he said. "I believe you have an ethical responsibility to put aside personal biases."
Several Knezevich critics spoke out Monday night, saying fear of retribution kept more people from making statements against the principal.
The issue of fear was raised several times during the meeting Monday night as public commentators and remarks from school surveys reported Knezevich to be intimidating and prone to retribution.
Gary Engle, a parent who also coached baseball for the high school for three years, said he held Knezevich responsible after one of his sons did not graduate.
"Mike Knezevich is a bully who uses intimidation and coercion to get his way. I can tell you he is deceitful and he has been untruthful in expulsion and pre-expulsion hearings," Engle said at the meeting.
During the board's time for comments, Anderson told Knezevich, "I was taken aback at how often I saw 'fear' and 'intimidation' in regards to you. You are a very polarizing personality."
In response, Knezevich said his size may be physically large, but his personality is welcoming.
"I'm a big teddy bear. I'm a crier. I have a heart of gold," he said.
DeVincentis also disregarded the fear comments.
"Fear is something people use to not stand up and say something, to get back at someone else without their name getting back to the accused," he said. He later referenced the people who "haven't had the guts to speak to the principal and haven't had the guts to speak" to the board.
Although board member Lisa Brown later voted to retain Knezevich, she spoke strongly against DeVincentis' remarks.
"It is not acceptable for students and staff to be fearful. Ever."
Another issue raised was Knezevich's supposed unwillingness to admit his faults.
In her evaluation, interim Superintendent Sandra Smyser said Knezevich has not acknowledged his weaknesses during discussions with her.
"How can we, or a future board, work through an issue when he categorically denies it exists?" she asked.
Knezevich said Tuesday that he thought his responses to the criticisms were enough to show he accepted his faults.
"If there are deficiencies which are identified, and I have an approved plan of action that meets those deficiencies, and I overwhelming demonstrate improvement in those areas, then a fair and rational person would say we need to give this man a chance," he said.
"When all those things are met and that's not the case, that's tough."
Smyser agreed that Knezevich had made improvements in many areas, and only his lack of professional behavior remained unsatisfactory.
Knezevich's contract will expire at the end of the month. He will continue working until that time, he said.
"I am principal of this building until June 30. I've put nine years of my heart and soul into this building and I'll do everything I can to make sure the building is ready to go for whoever. I'll continue to do the things I've been paid to do."
He also said the routine will help him deal with the loss of his job.
"I'm trying to do things as normally as I can. That's why I was in here at 7 o'clock this morning, like I am every morning. I put in a fair and honest day's work every day. That normalcy will hopefully help, too."
- To reach Zach Fridell, call 871-4208 or e-mail zfridell@steamboatpilot.com
Comments
zzzz (anonymous) says...
Engle, you have to be kidding. Take responsibility for your own child. He didn't graduate because of his actions and your parenting.
Mike, keep holding your head up high. I know how much you care about the kids. The school won't be the same without you.
June 11, 2008 at 7:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
carmen (anonymous) says...
I have worked for many principals and Mike is one of the best. Mike showed improvement in each of the areas that he was asked to improve.What people need to be afraid of is this board because they showed they will get rid of anyone. Their biggest complaint was staff treatment yet over 90% of the staff was behind him. The board listened to 5 people instead of the 70 who supported him. Mike, you showed how much integrity you have at the board meeting. Allowing the meeting to be held in open session showed you have nothing to hide. Thanks for being the man you are.
June 11, 2008 at 6:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
townie (anonymous) says...
Mike has been a great principal. At the board meeting and during the last 8 weeks he continually worked to improve himself. He told his staff specifically what he needed to improve, and went over each of those points during the board meeting. He more than explained what he needed to improve. Anyone who knows Mike knows that he has a huge heart. He had over a 90% approval rating from his staff. The five that didn't like him used the term fear get rid of a respected man. We have a few staff members who when they don't get their way rant and rave. Mike explained at the board meeting that his size can be intimidating. Trust me these 5 staff members weren't afraid of Mike they spent a good portion of their time complaining to him. Mike, you are a great man!
June 11, 2008 at 6:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bcpow (anonymous) says...
On the next As the Boat Sinks:
Knezie retains a lawyer to fight his firing.
Dr. D releases emails he hacked from other board members.
Gary Wall rides his bike to work.
June 11, 2008 at 7:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
raver (anonymous) says...
Gary Engle bullied his way around the baseball fields when he coached little league,he bullied his players and the umpires ,and he got kicked out of the fields.This is who the board has listened to! very unprofessional and just plain stupid!!
June 11, 2008 at 7:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SilverSpoon (anonymous) says...
Don't you get tenure after 3 years? Was he a tenured assistant principal? Then promoted to principal, and after 3 years he cannot be renewed? Does he have an option to get de-moted back to the assistant principal?
The least the board should do is buy Mike out like they did with donna. It is hard in this town, he could probably use the steady paycheck for a couple of years so he can figure out what to do.
Also,
If you get expelled for any reason, there are diplomas waiting for you in the form of a GED. Kids screw up, and if they screw up bad enough, it is a principals duty to remove them from the student population. Was engle's kid a straight 'A' perfect angel? The record will set that straight.
June 11, 2008 at 7:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hmmmm (anonymous) says...
Mike, you showed your outstanding character at the board meeting. Smyser, you showed your lack of leadership skills. Mike did not deny his faults; he worked on them throughout the process. Eagle can have Smyser. She was unable to answer most of the questions asked of her and showed a complete unwillingness to help Mike through the process. She wasn't legally allowed to evaluate Mike but chose to ignore the law and do so anyway. The process used was a joke.
June 11, 2008 at 8:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
2007 (anonymous) says...
I have no children in the school district so most of what I know, I have learned from reading the newspaper. I have been amazed at the level of pettiness or ignorance or maybe just incompetence, shown by Board members in recent years. When I read that there was a delay in renewing this man's contract I assumed it was his first year on the job and perhaps more time was needed to evaluate his work. But when I learned from reading today that not only has he been in the job for three years, but was assistant for six years previously, I am flabbergasted. The Board is responsible for overseeing the professionals in the district. What have they been doing for the last nine years? Why was this person kept for six years in a prior position, then promoted, then kept for three years if there were questions about his qualifications? If questions came up only this year why wasn't the Board working to sort things out before the last minute? School jobs are cyclical and how is this man going to get a new principal job for the coming year now? And what kind of replacement principal are you going to find in June? And what person with good sense would even consider working in the Steamboat Springs School District after learning about the Mickey Mouse antics of the board and opinionated parents with chips on their shoulders? I hate to think the town will be paying out more money due another poor decision of the board in personnel issues, but it sounds like this man may have a very reasonable argument for compensation.
June 11, 2008 at 8:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jomarch (anonymous) says...
I've been following the Steamboat dramas with interest. There have been a lot of stones thrown. We all live in glass houses. We could all use a lesson in professionalism and ethics --- maybe Mike, but especially the school board, the newspaper, and the on-line posters. This is a personnel issue. No one, regardless of who is wrong or right, should have to go through this publicly. Walk a mile in another man's shoes. And, let's think of the kids. Let's all be role models about how adults should act.
June 11, 2008 at 8:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jomarch (anonymous) says...
Oh, and it's not the BOE's job to oversee staff. That is the administrators' jobs. The BOE's job is to set policy and to follow, question, and/or discuss administration recommendations. This BOE is micromanaging.
June 11, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bloggyblog (anonymous) says...
jomarch, well said, bloggy thinks you knocked it out of the park! its everyones right to have an opinion but remember everyone is human. before posting something vindictive walk outside and take a deep breath (or in our case, stick your head in the snowbank) and take a moment to relax. bcpow, how about "all my boat children" ?
June 11, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RanchHQ (Stephen Blinkenberg) says...
"It is not acceptable for students and staff to be fearful. Ever."
Duke Thayer was the Man during my High School Days, we feared Mr. Thayer, and we respected Mr. Thayer.
Next no one will be allowed to keep score at athletic events.
June 11, 2008 at 8:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
surfnturf (anonymous) says...
After reading all the comments, I'm amazed at how many people think that Mike looked out for ALL the students. Our experience is that he looked out for certain students and ignored the rest. Where is the support for the the "not college bound", the special needs kids, the non-jocks? What kind of a high school has a half time shop teacher? There should be 2 full-time teachers. I don't know who everyone thinks will build their decks, fix there Hummers, and keep the lights on. Mike has shown favorites consistently.
GOOD JOB SCHOOL BOARD for considering ALL the kids!
And will someone tell Dr. D that threats have a way of coming back at you. I think Dr. D and Mike are two peas in the pod.
June 11, 2008 at 9:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
misterkindbuds (anonymous) says...
Growing up in a family of educators, I am familiar with how the process goes.
And I have to say, Steamboat has the worst school board I have ever come across.
Just because you live in an affluent mountain town doesn't mean your high school is a private one.
You have a public school system.
Despite the attempts of some "board members" who try to mold the system to their liking.
If the only thing I feared in high school was the principal, I would have been living a dream.
We had hallways that were controlled by gangs of black students. Fights were a common occurance and I don't mean behind the building after school.
We had two police liasons at the school and no open campus.
Close to 30 members of our graduating class have ended up in prison or dead.
And I'm not from an economically-challenged background, just a "regular" public school kid.
If Mike K. is your biggest problem ... you are in serious trouble.
Quit pampering your spoiled, weak children ... or I'll bring some brothers up there and show you how to start some real trouble.
Peace.
June 11, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Fox (anonymous) says...
90% approval rating is an A+ as I see it. That's a wonderful record. His position requires that he settle disputes, conflicts and disagreements. That means that 50% of the time he has to decide against someone. One person is happy, the other is unhappy. Over time this can catch up with a Principal. If he has to suspend or expel a student you know that student and his parents are going to be very unhappy. So when he has to expel a student for good reasons he is creating enemies, who will want to get revenge. The same thing happens with teachers who don't measure up. It is Knezevich's job to motivate these sub par teachers and get them to change their methods or philosophy in dealing with children. They resent his intervention and he may have to non-renew their contracts, they perceive this as a "threat". So the best way to remove this "threat" is to go after Kenezevich. These weak teachers go whining to a school board member, who has the stupidity to listen to them, instead of backing the Principal. That school board member should have told them to shape up and follow the directives of the Principal, then they would not longer be 'threatened". They would have to change their failing ways and the students would ultimately benefit. If the failing teachers don't like the Principal then they should find employment at a school where they will be happy.
There is no way any Principal is going to make 100% of the teachers, parents, or students happy and do the job he was hired to do. As long as the Principal has the best interests of the students as his primary concern he must be given 100% support by the school board. The school board must politely listen to complainers with the knowledge in the back of their mind that the Principal needs their support to function, if they need to investigate complaints they should do it by starting with asking the Principal first. He will tell them what dealings he has had with the complainer, why he had to discipline this teacher or that student, don't forget that he has to deal with both mentally unstable students and parents. Board members should not listen to any anonymous complaints. If people don't have the courage to name themselves, then their complaints have no credibility and are fantasy. It is just a way to get back at the Principal. The Principal is going to step on people's toes, that is the nature of the job.
Can you imagine what it will be like for the next Principal? Three board members have now empowered the very small minority of complainers. So if someone is unhappy with the next Principal, and they will be after he has been there for three years, because of the nature of the job, all they will have to do is complain to a board member and he's gone.
June 11, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
foodchain (anonymous) says...
cut from the Jail Report
Wednesday, June 4
Matthew David Engle, 20, Steamboat Springs - Third-degree assault (SSPD)
June 11, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
foodchain (anonymous) says...
Gary Engle should take responsibility for his offspring including whether or not they graduate.
June 11, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bwatts (anonymous) says...
this man has no interest in improving the lives of his students. from a students point of view, the man simply doesn't care. if you as a student do not fall into his guidelines of what he thinks a good student is, you get pushed away untill finally you hit rock bottom. trust me, once you do hit the bottom he sure won't be there to help you. its a beautiful thing this man has had to leave his post. good for the students attending sshs next year!
June 11, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
felix (babette dickson) says...
1-the BOE was elected by the people... wasn't it? and with a large majority... so why are some people bitching about... i did not vote for the trio, wanted to keep jerry k and Co... oh well.
2-mike k is also the kind of guy who had ordered a "no welcome" sign for some teachers who wanted to work with kids at SSHS. talk to Mr J and his project in Africa to help the poorest kids in the world, talk with Mrs DeLucia, or Nicole Young or any performing art fellows and their working conditions.... it was not a priority for mike k because it was not all about basket ball, lacrosse...
3-mike visited once the kids at stepping stones, a program under his responsibility... he did not give a damn about special needs kids, particularly if they were very low... I strongly believe at the "boomerang effect"... he got it back right in the face... you said Karma??!!
4-please DrD don't mention "ethics".
5-election for BOE due in november... who is running?
6-kevin would make a great principal...
Have a great summer.
June 11, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bwatts (anonymous) says...
as a friend of matt engle... if you don't know the kid don't bring up the jail report! this has nothing to do with all of the talk of mr. knezevich. matt like many of the drop outs in this town, is just another kid who slipped through the cracks as mr. k sat back and watched... happy as hell i suppose...
June 11, 2008 at 10:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
foodchain (anonymous) says...
I am so mad that my son did not get accepted to my alma mater. How dare they deny him. He is entitled!!! Well, at least I know it is not MY fault.
I know that the Steamboat public school is to blame!!
One time while I was vacationing out of the country my 16 year old had a party at my house. No adult supervision! This was the school's fault. My own kid got a got a DUI and Minor in possession charge that weekend. That was the school's fault. He was not even old enough to legally drive at the time. Why didn't the school teach him not to do that?
Last week one of my kids assaulted someone. My kid would not be such a bully if we had a better school.
I blame all of you. You and you and you and you.
And in my neighborhood there was a kid who tried weed and he even kept a baggie of it in his locker at the local school. He got suspended from school. How dare they! I blame the SCHOOL for this child having to stay home for a week. Now he is behind in his classes and he might not graduate.
For these reasons we need CHANGE that we can believe in...in our public schools, d.d. it.
I mean, it is getting to the point where I am having to spend less time on vacation because the g.d. school cannot supervise my kid.
June 11, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
foodchain (anonymous) says...
And, heck yes, I will bring up the Jail Report.
There would be NO JAIL report if not for the failings of our public school.
As a parent, I my mind can rest knowing that each time my kid gets arrested it is totally not my fault. I was not even in town when it happened--it is the school's fault. It has to be. It cannot be my fault.
All of the arrests and alleged crimes reported in the JAIL REPORT would have never happened if not for the fault of the public school. What is a parent to do? It is not our fault as parents that underage kids use drugs and alcohol. Some of them even have sex! It is the school's fault. As a parent of several children who attend public school in Steamboat Springs, my children are ENTITLED to graduate and they are ENTITLED to be supervised by the people who work for the school.
June 11, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shadow (anonymous) says...
Amen, foodchain.
June 11, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
foodchain (anonymous) says...
oh, it gets worse.
I just got a call from one of my neighbors. He told me that he saw my TEN YEAR OLD daughter hanging out in the Wells Fargo parking lot two weeks ago smoking cigarettes!
You know where my daughter had been earlier that day? AT the PUBLIC SCHOOL! It is the school's fault. I was not even home that night.
This happened two weeks ago and I just found out about it because I have been busy working in Chicago. I am so angry with the school right now.
June 11, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
foodchain (anonymous) says...
and furthermore, EACH time my 14 year old son has been busted for weed, you know where he was? AT SCHOOL.
Except one time he got busted for weed at my home, but I was not even there when it happened (I was on vacation) and you know where my kid had been earlier that day? AT PUBLIC SCHOOL!
So, do I have an axe to grind with the public schools? You bet.
And unless you have personally had a child flunk out, get busted or otherwise be eternally damaged by the failings of our public school sytstem, you have no right to judge others and you shoud not be allowed to post here or comment on any issue related to the school.
June 11, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blahblah (anonymous) says...
Let's take a survey on the public's approval rating of each board member. Anyone with an approval rating under 90 percent agrees to resign. That would be comparable to what some the board was expecting for Mr. Knezevich.
June 11, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bwatts (anonymous) says...
still foodchain, the jail report has NOTHING at all to do with why mike knezevich made an inadequette high school principal.
June 11, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
foodchain (anonymous) says...
it has EVERYTHING to do with inadequette.
and these teachers want raises and better housing. I will personally provide them with housing when they can prove to me that they can do an adequette job of babysitting my kids on the job site. How can I trust them to watch my kids in my own neighborhood when they can't keep my kid from smoking weed at school?
SOMEONE is not doing an adequette job of raising my g.d. kids.
June 11, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
myopinion (anonymous) says...
Mike DID NOT receive a 90% approval rating from the staff. Mike has used one question on the survey that had absolutely nothing to do with whether or not the staff thought he was a good principal.
And on top of that, he added the "Fair" results and lumped that into the 90% approval rating.
The question was about a staff's relationship with Mike, and 70% or so said it was good or excellent--that is a C grade, not an A grade. 20% said their relationship was Fair. And 10% said it was poor.
June 11, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
StbtWatchmen (anonymous) says...
foodchain,
I see you've vented your hateful self by dumping on public education! Good job! Feel better? Teachers may not be able to do their job because of the pot head, class dodging bullies they have to baby-sit because; their parents won't take the time to raise them in the first place! Who in their right mind, leaves kids home when the parents take off for vacation? CAN YOU SAY DYSFUNCTIONAL!!!! Dude! WTF! Why have kids or was that a Oh oooh mishap again! Oh yah, the apple doesn't fall to far from the tree now, does it! Put your kid in private school or home school them if you don't like the options! WAGDFL!
kitty (felix),
I question your judgement on Taulman! If you only knew what I knew! Bon Voyage!
June 11, 2008 at 1:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bcpow (anonymous) says...
"How can I trust them to watch my kids in my own neighborhood when they can't keep my kid from smoking weed at school?"
This is quite possibly the most pathetic comment from a parent ever. Take a look in the mirror you kook.
June 11, 2008 at 1:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mountinmike (Michael Brumbaugh) says...
Watchmen -- ummmm, I'm pretty sure Foodchain is typing with tongue firmly planted in his fingers (hmmm, that didn't sound quite right...anyway)
This is a partial repost from other thread...sorry, but want it said here, since it somewhat applies to a comment above...
At the high school, I had the privilege of teaching theatre classes, directing a couple theatre productions, and working to improve the accountability of people who used the SSHS theatre so that it is maintained as a higher quality performing arts space in town (it used to be pretty loosey goosey when it came to people and groups using and abusing it). I'm sure I've probably rankled a few people along the way, though that was never my intention. I wanted to strive for excellence, and I believed that's what Mike wanted also.
I would have liked Mike to have had a better idea of what the performing arts could do for students, but what I appreciated about him was that he trusted me, and I felt great support from that. His door was always open, and he truly listened whenever I had something to tell him or had an important (or not so important) question. He seemed to understand the reality of "politics", but he also seemed to put the students' needs above the pettier aspects of that.
Something about the way this was all handled doesn't really pass the "smell" test, since it was objectively pointed out that he improved in four out of five areas, and he got pretty darn good feedback from the staff, overall. And, if true, this is the first negative evaluation he received in 20 years of education work. I've been a supervisor, and I would much rather have a person who is willing to change working for me than to go out looking for an unknown entity. Unless the person has done something terribly wrong or immoral, why not try and work with him? The truth may yet come out once this is all over.
I certainly wish Mike well. I know the feeling of being unjustly judged because of people's "impressions" or personal biases, rather than on empirical evidence. I also personally know (who were even mentioned in a comment above) a couple people who had run-ins with him, and who yet think he has not been treated fairly here.
He allowed creativity to flourish in my area of extertise, and I thank him. I'm only hoping that whoever they get to replace him will be at least as committed to excellence in the performing arts, even in the face of unreasonable pressure from others (notice the word "unreasonable"). I also hope they find someone as funny, humble, reasonable, big-picture thinking, forward-looking, student-loving, staff-encouraging, and imperfect as he was.
Michael Brumbaugh
June 11, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bcpow (anonymous) says...
Sorry foodchain...I actually get it after rereading the posts. I will go get a detention slip.
June 11, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
paddlefisher (anonymous) says...
BLAME FOR PROBLEMS=foodchain..they are educaters not baby sitters..it is your job to teach them right from wrong..no dis respect to you but sounds like you are chasing the almighty buck..and as stbt watch said who leaves their kid at home when they are on vaca..of course they are going to do what they please they are teenagers..no guidance
June 11, 2008 at 1:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
armchairqb (anonymous) says...
OK People lets get one thing straight: Your Principal "IS NOT YOUR FRIEND" Just like parents should NOT be their childs best friend.
Fear IS GOOD!!!! Respect IS GOOD!!!! We should ALL go back to the GOOD OLD DAYS. School work is #1 (then comes the sports) Parents should be involved w/making sure that homework is completed. (but they must not complete the work for them...I have seen this first hand) My son is NOT going to college. A military career is in his future. We as parents, his counselor, & Mike K,. made sure that he was well prepared. He took shop...math...speech....he even took weights.
Parents remember: YOU are in charge....NOT your child. If he or she wants to quit school.... it is NOT their decision....it is YOURS. You are the PARENT!!!!!! Now start acting like one!!!!! Some day your child will leave this mountain town & then where will they be???? Life isn't always the same as in Steamboat and Mama & Pappa can't always bail them out of their problems!!!!!!
June 11, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
palmway (anonymous) says...
Here are a few details the Pilot failed to report:
1. The attorney for the Board clarified that while Smyser does not currently hold a certificate for Colorado, she did apply in March (after accepting a permanent position in CO), and it should be issued later this month, and it will be retroactive. Currently, she does have all required training to qualify as an evaluator of administrators according to the State requirements, and the District is within the law. This, of course, could be challenged.
2. Likewise, the attorney, Mr Lyons, clarified that while the District does not have a proper written policy for evaluations, it does have extensive written procedures and a history of practice that puts them in compliance with State statute, and it is highly unlikely that the District would lose accreditation as a result. This could be challenged as well.
3. The staff survey is only one part of the picture, and was not the sole means of arriving at the results of the evaluation. The survey did not measure response from parents, students, fellow administrators, staff who did not complete the survey, staff from other buildings, or community members. The Board also had interviews, conversations and emails to consider from many others not contained in the survey, information which we as the public do not have.
4. For DeVincentis to blindside a fellow board member with an accusation of ethical misconduct in public session, and to personally send a letter of accusation directly to the State, is highly unethical in itself, and rather nasty, too.
Mike has done an admirable job of trying to improve over the past few months, and was extremely poised and professional during the proceedings. He should have been given a remediation plan and a year to prove himself. That being said, I respect the fact that I did not have the full set of cards that the Board and Superintendent had, and could not say how I would have voted had I been in their shoes.
Sitting on the BOE is a tough job, and not many have the skills and courage to step forward and take it on, certainly not most of the critics here. Do not be so quick to judge.
June 11, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SilverSpoon (anonymous) says...
foodchain= inadequate parenting
affluent kids are the worst! You can't hire teacher like nannys. teachers are education facilitators. parents are resposible for kids character or lack there of.
June 11, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
foodchain (anonymous) says...
June 11, 2008 at 4:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
foodchain (anonymous) says...
MountainMike is right on. IF ONLY we had more performing arts classes at the public school, MAYBE the kids would have less opportunity to smoke weed. Why don't those dummies who are in charge figure that out? That is why the administrators are paid the six figure salaries and have to have a doctorate in education. duh!
And it is not like it is easy to get a doctorate in education dubble duh!
One of the reasons why I think public schools are so worthless these days is not only did they not teach my kid not to use drugs after school (and in my own home) but they also did not teach him a dang thing about ballet. My wife and I simply cannot take him ANYWHERE without him asking dumb questions. Sometimes I hear him singing way off key and that embarrasses me. Don't even get me started about his horrid "art" projects, they are so totally inadequette that I have burn them right in front of him.
My friends ask why I have none of his "art" on my fridge. Answer:
PUBLIC SCHOOL is inadequette at teaching performing arts. I know that id04sp will agree with me on this.
June 11, 2008 at 4:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stillinsteamboat (anonymous) says...
Even though we didn't always agree with Mike or like all of his decisions, I sure wish he was given longer than a couple of months to "change" whatever that means. Don't know what went on behind the scenes but our school now has an uncertain future. Been through many new principals at the elementary level, it's not fun......
June 11, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
raver (anonymous) says...
foodCHAIN is yanking yours!
June 11, 2008 at 5:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
buggacat (anonymous) says...
There's seems to be a pattern of Mike being overly-authoritarian and inflexible to the concerns and views of people who did not agree with him, his policies or his expectations of staff. While he was obviously a good listener to some students, staff and parents, he arguably was not to others. I agree with surfnturf that Mike appeared to waver in his support of some programs (ie tech ed) that help give both college-bound and non-college bound students inspiration and skills for the job market. Regardless of whether you like or dislike Mike, we have to ask ourselves if this kind of divisiveness is good for the learning and teaching atmosphere at the high school. I would say it is not. Perhaps this process will help Mike improve his leadership style for better success in future endeavors.
June 11, 2008 at 5:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
StbtWatchmen (anonymous) says...
raver,
I believe you are correct about foodchain! Look back at the posts from the health and rec membership fees! I could bet foodchain was doing bongers with the kid while posting! Dude, burn some for us spaceman! Totally! LOL!
buggacat,
Good synopsis!
foodchain,
Through all the smoke in the room, how can you see your computer screen? Dude! LOL! Are your chronic buds good smoke? Wasted! I guess you don't make enough money for the private schools like the "pampas turd" you portrayed yourself to be in your earlier posts!
June 11, 2008 at 6:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
macstudent (anonymous) says...
As a student at the high school i met with Mr. Knezevich on a regular basis and had many impromptu conversations with him in the halls. And never in my three years at SSHS have i ever heard a single person say that they feared or were even the slightest bit scared of Mr. Knezevich. That was the board members excuse to go on with their own agenda on the matter. I was completely amazed at the utter lack of professionalism of Dr. Smyser and many of the board members. It was blatant that all but one board member had their mind made up before they even listened to the comments from the community. This was the worst display of a failing democracy i could imagine when numerous staff, parents, community members, and students stood up to speak in support of Mr. Knezevich while only two stood up in dismay of him with there only evidence being personal issues with little detail of what caused the personal issue. I'm sorry but as a public official aren't you as a board member supposed to represent the PUBLIC!!! I would finally like to challenge you to find one principal, boss, or authoritarian in this nation who has a 90% approval rating.
June 11, 2008 at 6:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MtnWarlock (anonymous) says...
StbtWatchmen,
You are correct about foodchains posts on the health and rec issues. Don't get sucked in.
Buggacat'
I believe is your on course there.
All,
The HS is more in tuned to those whom are collegian material because; they are the ones who make them look good! Not every student is going to Harvard or Yale! Most will wait tables, drive busses, clean buildings and work labor or middle management positions. Some will go to a tech school for an Assc. Degree. I have had a hard time with this issue at our schools! We need a vocational tech program in our high school for those kids who are not college bound! Our special needs program needs more attention for those students as well! It is my opinion that; if you have a functional kid who has been gifted with the ability to learn and perform well, you have the full attention of the district! If you are not fortunate to have a child of this caliber, you will have to struggle with it! Thats the administrations problem, not the teachers! That's sad! For what it's worth, have a good day!
June 11, 2008 at 6:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
foodchain (anonymous) says...
Dear McLovin, I mean MacStudent,
Pampas is a type of ornamental grass. There is no such thing as a pampas turd, unless your cat eats pampas grass, then maybe.
I think you meant to call me a pompous turd. Even if I was not laughing so hard I would still not be offended.
I have an axe to grind and by darn it I am going to speak up about it. My kid is a bully who cannot sing, dance or act his way out of a paper bag. I blame the public school.
One of my kids might not graduate. How could this be my fault? I am a busy man. I am very important and it takes a lot of my time to sit on my throne and cast judgment on all of you.
One of my kids was arrested for assault. If only the school would have let him graduate that might not have happened. If we had a better public school, our community could eliminate half of the law enforcement and traffic would decrease. Have you seen all of those highschool kids clogging up traffic near the post office? Sometimes there are six or more of them packed into a car!!! What the heck is the school admin thinking letting them drive around like that during the day and late at night?
And then I saw a segment on Bill O'Reilly's show about slutty prom dresses being in fashion. What's up with that? The PUBLIC schools are not teaching manners, modesty and fashion, that is a huge problem in our society.
June 11, 2008 at 7:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
80488mom (anonymous) says...
Foodchain - thanks for the laughs! You aren't too far off base which is scary.
June 11, 2008 at 7:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
macstudent (anonymous) says...
MtnWarlock:
I challenge you to find ANY public H.S. in this country that DOES NOT operate in the same manner. The public schools do not have the funds available to cater to the individual needs of every student. The best they can do is cater to the majority of the students.
At SSHS the largest offering of classes is in the Business/Career Tech and the Fine Arts departments. These classes prepare students for any future beyond high school whether college bound or not.
June 11, 2008 at 7:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
macstudent (anonymous) says...
foodchain
YOU lost me... but your post are hilarious
props
June 11, 2008 at 7:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
steamboatyahoo (anonymous) says...
I think I like this foodchain. Points out how stupid people out there really are!! Keep it up, sometimes I forget.
My kids aren't in school yet and I'm so glad that I'm going to have someone to blame in a few years for everything they do.
June 11, 2008 at 7:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
foodchain (anonymous) says...
My apology Mac...it was not you who called me a Pampas Turd.
Pampas grass can be very beautiful in a landscape and is a nice subject for a watercolour, but I doubt my kids would even know that since the G.D. PUBLIC school fails at teaching art. My garden keep speaks spanish but my kid is not going to learn a g.d thing from him because he is flunking spanish because the public school is failing him as to that subject also.
June 11, 2008 at 7:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
macstudent (anonymous) says...
When can i attend your comic routine??!!!
i love the comment about Spanish it is dead on!!
June 11, 2008 at 8:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
foodchain (anonymous) says...
oh, it gets worse.
You want to know why my garden keep speaks Spanish? Because the English speaking guys cost more. I can no longer afford to hire legals. AND IT IS NOT MY FAULT.
It is the fault of the damn school.
I have incurred thousands of dollars in legal fees to get bogus criminal charges dismissed on my kids. The cops are picking on my kids and you know whose fault that is? THE SCHOOL!
If the school was watching my kids as they should be, then the cops would not be setting up and framing my kids on MIP, dope and assault charges.
How can I hire legal help when I need to keep so much cash around to bail my kids out of jail? Thank you public schools. This is your fault.
June 11, 2008 at 8:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
macstudent (anonymous) says...
AMEN BROTHA!!!
June 11, 2008 at 8:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tolaf (anonymous) says...
foodchain--
do you live under a freakin rock?!?! this kind of stuff happens in steamboat we do not live in the perfect little mountain town sure its great i love it here but im not so freakin naive to not believe that bad things happen in this town.
seriously how can you truly think that it is the soul job of the school to raise your kids?! what do you think the job of the parent is in raising children if, according to what i have read, it is the job of the schools and teachers to babysit your kids?
as a future teacher, thus a student of education, and a graduate of SSHS (under knezie), it is the job of the teacher to teach and care about the student at the school. once they are out of school for the day it is no longer their job to babysit your kids. while they are in school it is all they can do to teach the students the information they need let alone not to drink, not to do drugs etc. that is the parents job!!! the teachers are to watch students in school, educate them about history, math, science, English etc not drugs, alcohol, etc. i ask again what do you think the parents job is in raising kids?
how can you hire legal help? teach your own kids about drugs, alcohol etc so that they dont screw up!
June 11, 2008 at 8:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tolaf (anonymous) says...
also ever wonder why we have trouble retaining teachers? its because teachers are (were) scared of knezie, he had no issue with blackmailing them into getting what he wants. talk to any teacher who is still around they will agree.
its not simply a matter of getting teachers its keeping them. when they are scared of the principle of the school they are obviously not gonna stick around. i wouldn't. if you dont agree in what the principle does it is going to be hard to stick around, that in addition to the regular stress of each day is enough to make even the best teacher loose it.
June 11, 2008 at 8:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
steamboatyahoo (anonymous) says...
huhh tolaf, he's kidding, tongue in cheek, not serious
June 11, 2008 at 8:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iopinion (anonymous) says...
macstudent and foodchain for BOE! They know what's goin' on!
June 11, 2008 at 8:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
foodchain (anonymous) says...
Tolaf, then what is the "soul job" of the school?
I said my kid can't dance. If the dang teachers were doing their soul jobs then why can't my white boy dance?
He got no rhythm and it embarrasses the heck out of me. My wife and I cannot take him anywhere and he dresses like a wigga. Thank you for doing your soul job on him.
You teachers need to do your soul jobs better.
June 11, 2008 at 10:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
techno_babble (anonymous) says...
tolaf,
If your grammer and spelling are indicative of your educashun, then I guess you speek for most sshs grads.....
June 11, 2008 at 10:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
StbtWatchmen (anonymous) says...
Yo! stoner, I mean foodchain! Hey spaceman, it was I that used the incorrect english of pompas. Thanks for the correction! Toke up dude, It's another fine day in Steamboatia! Can't wait to hear more psycho babble from ya!LOL! Peace out!
foodchains bumper sticker says: im a produkt ov publik edicashun!
June 12, 2008 at 4:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
id04sp (anonymous) says...
"I am principal of this building until June 30. I've put nine years of my heart and soul into this building and I'll do everything I can to make sure the building is ready to go for whoever. I'll continue to do the things I've been paid to do."
Freud woud ask why he identifies himself as principal of the BUILDING rather than of the SCHOOL.
It's not a lighthouse or a factory or a cemetary or a football stadium. It's an institution, established by and for people, that just happens to be housed in that particular building.
This might tell us a lot about how he feels about the teachers and the children. Maybe he treated too many of them as objects rather than as people, and that's the source of the trouble.
This might not mean anything, but then again, it might mean everything.
June 12, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SilverSpoon (anonymous) says...
The only thing we have to fear: is fear itself.
If you are a student or teacher who is afraid of the principal, who's fault is that?
Bad kids need to be disiplined by the principal, i guess that is something to be fearful of: "if i egg the school, I'll get suspended"; "If i bring narcotics to school, the principal will kick me out of school".
June 12, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mountinmike (Michael Brumbaugh) says...
ID,
I wouldn't get too philosophical about his comments.
He probably just used this terminology because currently there are no students and hardly any staff around the school. I've been there the last few days. Typically, this is the time of year when there is "down time", and there are mainly paperwork and maintenance needs to be addressed. If he's been "let go", seems reasonable he wouldn't be too worried about planning for personnel / student needs for next year there, don't you think?
June 12, 2008 at 10:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sshsgrad (anonymous) says...
ok foodchain- let me just say this much. blaming all of you shortcomings as a parent on the school is not only inappropriate but also completely wrong. The job of the teachers is to education your children about academic subjects. What your kids do at school or at your house is their decisions, teachers are not there to act as baby sitters. Frankly, in high school your kids should be old enough not to NEED a baby sitter. It is clear to me that you have not taught your kids anything about right and wrong and it's a shame that you must take your shortcomings out on the school. Im am no way arguing that this school is a perfect school, however the fact that your kid smokes pot is not a result of this school. They don't tell us that we should smoke pot, we go through anti drug training to prevent this. In middle school we take DARE which educates us about the dangers of using drugs, and then again we learn about the dangers in the required health classes. Also the fact that your kid didn't get accepted to your alma mater? first of all, no one is entailed to anything, college acceptance is something that needs to be worked for, and it doesnt matter what high school you come from, its a matter of who works hard and if your kid is lazy it's not the schools fault. and the fact that your kids get arrested when you are out of town is not your fault? how is it the schools fault? if i do recall, YOU are the parent. it is YOUR responsibilty to teach your kids right and wrong and to supervise then and not let them run loose. Sorry foodchain, but i think instead of looking at the school as the cause of your kids problems, you need to look at yourself and the kind of parent you are. I think you might find that is the cause of all of these issues. try to spend a little more time with your kids instead of posting on these walls about irrelevant subjects and the tangents you go off on.
June 13, 2008 at 3:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wissbecklarry (anonymous) says...
Hey, food chain:
Wonderful use of sarcasm in your posts. I should mention a lesson I learned while teaching at Steamboat Springs High School. Sarcasm doesn't work on immature minds. And more's the pity.
June 13, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wissbecklarry (anonymous) says...
A couple of additional observations from inside "The System." All the people running the Steamboat Springs School District from the Board of Education to the first year teachers, have a college education. Indeed they cannot be hired (nor apparently elected) without a college degree. In this circumstance, it is a natural human reaction to place inordinate value on "higher education." I'm guessing that 90% of the educational effort at the Steamboat Springs High School is designed to push students into college. Thus it becomes the University's responsibility to prepare the young for "Life in the 21st Century."
The Steamboat Springs High School is presently looking for a teacher with a college degree who would be willing to work half time as an Industrial Arts (Shop) teacher and half time for the District's Maintenance Department. Let's hope they don't find someone incompetent at both.
Most any mention of technology in the educational community translates to computers. Computers are great. They don't make sawdust, get grease under your fingernails or get the lawn mowed or the car fixed...Wait!! Is that sarcasm seeping in? Immature mind alert!
And I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I'm getting out of the "system" after only one year. Teaching is a lot, A LOT, harder than it looks from the outside.
Some of the problems in our schools are ingrained and pervasive. Wishing it weren't so is no more productive than blaming Mike Knezivich or Dr. D for our problems.
June 13, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SilverSpoon (anonymous) says...
"Technology"
You can get the fastest computer out there, and it is only as good as the monkey running it.
Garbage in= Garbage out
Word 98 and excel 98 still works great on that pentium II processor, not to mention surfing the web also.
June 13, 2008 at 12:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kielbasa (Matthew Stoddard) says...
Too bad that Pentium II won't let you multitask beyond having just Word and Excel open at the same time! LOL!
June 13, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
foodchain (anonymous) says...
SSHS Grad, Thank you for your advice.You have a good head on your shoulders. I was wondering if you are available this weekend? My wife and I are looking for a babysitter for our two highschool age kids because we are going out of town for a golf tourney. Please email me and let me know if you are interested in babysitting.
One of my kids is on a robocuff from a trumped up juvi charge, all because the PUBLIC SCHOOL became even more neglectful of him after he got rejected from my alma mater. My daughter is on diversion and I am still really not sure how those teachers let that happen. So, if you can babysit for us, that would be great. You will need to make sure that my son calls in to someplace and whatnot and we have a rule here that no more than 20 kids in the media room at a time,no glass in the spa area and NO RUNNING near the pool.
Nevermind emailing me-just come over in about an hour because my wife and I need to leave right now. I don't know where my kids are right now but I will leave their cell phone numbers on my desk in my office, third door to the left on the first floor. Thanks again. I will pay you in cash when we return. There is fishsticks and corn in the freezer, so help yourself to dinner on us.
June 13, 2008 at 2:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fish (anonymous) says...
Wow, having not read this thread before today, I couldn't keep from cracking up at all the posts from people going off on foodchain. I would like to prescribe a week's worth of Family Guy and South Park viewing to all of those who missed the "Boat."
June 13, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MtnWarlock (anonymous) says...
foodchain,
Stand fast and suck up your chain pulling bullsh!t game for awhile! Enough fun is enough! Thanks for the humor! Don't ware it out, ok! Thanks! Have a good day!
June 13, 2008 at 3:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
foodchain (anonymous) says...
anthing you say, bilbo baggins.
June 13, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
id04sp (anonymous) says...
Mountainmike,
I guess I always thought of a school as the sum of its parts, not just a building.
I'll admit to having some affection for a couple of my old schools, but it has nothing to do with the building. It's all about the people and the things we did in the school building.
I know there aren't many people around during the summer, but it just seems impersonal to frame the thing in terms of the structure rather than the institution. I have never heard the phrase, "Principal of this building," before. I've always heard it as, "Principal of this school." Would the pastor of a church tie himself to the building more than the people?
It just seems strange. It's the kind of thing someone would have to think up to say to make a point, not something that would be natural to the situation.
June 13, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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