Grand Rapids Schools

[GRmomof2MN]

I wanted to open up a discussion on the school district here. I want to hear how other parents with kids in the middle school and high school feel about their childs time in these schools. Good experience? Bad experience? How were you treated by staff when you spoke up and stood up for your child?
Anything at all. Its a topic that needs to be talked about. Its a situation/problem that needs attention, answers and to be fixed.
Thanks!!

[concerned]

Have fun with Dan Adams being the assistant principal at Grand Rapids Middle School because he is an ass and talks down on you when you try to stick up for your child. he caters to the wealthy and popular kids.

[GRmomof2MN]

Seriously? I'd like to see his reaction to what happens the day he talks down to me. I have been dealing with that school for the last 4 years strait. Principal wise I've been through and dealt with Mr. Johnson, Mr. Rothlisburger, Mr.Rendall(that was a joke), Mr.Britan, and Mr....brain toot..the other one from last year. PLUS Mr. Silko.
Heck, what's 2 more in this final year of hell in that school.
What school passes an 8th grader onto 9th grade with a GPA of 0.03? No, not a typo.
I have stories that would leave some in shock.

[GRmom]

I have only had good experiences with the school. My daughter has had no problems so we don't spend all our time talking with the principals. Maybe the problem isn't with all the staff....maybe you need to look at home!

[GRmomof2MN]

GRmom wrote:

I have only had good experiences with the school. My daughter has had no problems so we don't spend all our time talking with the principals. Maybe the problem isn't with all the staff....maybe you need to look at home!

Maybe I am A good mom for standing up and fighting for my childs rights and education! Maybe I, unlike some, wont let the school get away with things they do. Maybe YOU should ask me what my issues with the school has been instead of telling me where to look. Maybe YOU are one of the staff I've had to deal with and it angers you when a parent fights for her children and won't back down to the sorry ass excuses I was given and expected to believe.

I have emails, letters, notes, grades, paperwork to back and prove all my claims and complaints. Want to read them all? Let's meet. Then YOU can tell me where I should look.

[GR alum]

Silko is an #ss...He actually told me my Sr year that I wouldn't amount to anything but white trailer trash, pregnant and unemployed.
Funny how I somehow managed a perfect 4.0 in college on the dean's list and graduated with honors. Nothing like caring motivation from your teachers to help you through those teen years.

[Paul Krumrei]

GR alum wrote:

Silko is an #ss...He actually told me my Sr year that I wouldn't amount to anything but white trailer trash, pregnant and unemployed.
Funny how I somehow managed a perfect 4.0 in college on the dean's list and graduated with honors. Nothing like caring motivation from your teachers to help you through those teen years.

Move on, if you did so good, then why complain. Obviously you have more personal issues than you realize and maybe he seen many other who acted like you in the past become nothing of themselves. Don't hurt yourself patting yourself on the back so hard.

[Some People]

GR alum wrote:

Silko is an #ss...He actually told me my Sr year that I wouldn't amount to anything but white trailer trash, pregnant and unemployed.
Funny how I somehow managed a perfect 4.0 in college on the dean's list and graduated with honors. Nothing like caring motivation from your teachers to help you through those teen years.

Funny how he was a teacher that impregnated a student back in the day and got away with it like he should talk. Like the pot calling the kettle black.

[Some People]

Paul Krumrei wrote:

<quoted text>
Move on, if you did so good, then why complain. Obviously you have more personal issues than you realize and maybe he seen many other who acted like you in the past become nothing of themselves. Don't hurt yourself patting yourself on the back so hard.

Jealous?

[Paul Krumrei]

Some People wrote:

<quoted text> Jealous?

Of what? I have two degree's I don't sit and cry to everyone about it.

[GRmomof2MN]

Paul Krumrei wrote:

<quoted text>
Move on, if you did so good, then why complain. Obviously you have more personal issues than you realize and maybe he seen many other who acted like you in the past become nothing of themselves. Don't hurt yourself patting yourself on the back so hard.

I started this post to hear what others think of this school and staff Paul. He is an ass. Ask him why HIS kids don't go to RJEMS.

I fought that school for 3 years to have my son given an IEP. FINALLY got it and he ended the school year last year on the B honor roll. This is a student the school allowed to fail 4th 5th and 6th grade. But still kept passing him on to the next grade. My daughter was passed onto the 9th grade after ending the year with a GPA of 0.03. How are kids suposed to learn this way?
Some of the teachers are great and I have made sure I have told them that they are and how much I appreciate them.
But I have also made the ones who are insulting to the kids, rude to parents, ignore the parents attempt to help their children also know exactly how I felt. Being nice never worked. I had to go physco mom and tell some strait up exactley how I felt.
Some need to retire like 5 years ago.
I have documentation and emails and proof/facts that would leave some of you in shock and anger of the things I have been through with that school.

Anyways, You should be proud of your accomplishments and I would have made it a point to make damn sure Silko was aware of what you accomplished. His smart ass grin makes me wanna ....

Thanks for the replies.

[Paul Krumrei]

nice comments editor.

[GRmomof2MN]

Paul Krumrei wrote:

nice comments editor.

Don't like them??:-(

[Some People]

Paul Krumrei wrote:

<quoted text>
Of what? I have two degree's I don't sit and cry to everyone about it.

Degree in judging people and being negative.

[reality check]

Clearly the woman who began this topic only wanted to hear from other complainers. It is obvious that you were poised and ready to jump down the throat of not a discussion of a topic. In fact, it defeats the purpose of having a discussion altogether. Perhaps your topic's title should have been "Complaints about Grand Rapids Schools". At least that would have been more honest.

It is admirable that you are an advocate for your children. Many parents aren't. You do not help your child if you walk into every meeting ready to give the person in charge a piece of your mind. There is always another side to the story. Anyone who has worked with adolescents knows that their side of the story is often skewed. Brain reasearch shows that an adolescent's perception of a situation is based on their emotions, and not the reality of what really happened, or even what was really said. This isn't my child, or your child I speak of. This is EVERY adolescent child! When a parent adds their emotions to the situation, it can actually further skew the truth. If you are calm, you can get the real story from the child, and the real story from the professional closer to the facts. And to head off your accusations, I am trained in the field, but am not an educator in the local school district.

Last but not least, when someone doesn't agree with you, they are not necessarily an "ass". I have been around for a while. I know of the inappropriate things that have happened around here in the schools. Look at last Spring's situation at the middle school. An embarassment to our community that we let those two leaders go. I also know that a few bad eggs who have been around for a while don't make the whole district bad. Take the time to notice some of the really amazing people that are spending their days with you children. There are a lot of good folks around here too!

Best wishes for a good school year!

[CMofGRMN]

I called a local Public Health official here in Rapids recently and asked a few questions. Did you know that the schools around here are only wiping down desks nightly instead of closing the school for awhile when H1N1 has been diagnosed in a student? While other schools in MN shut down Rapids schools districts just keep on spreading the crap all over! About as smart as people around here just keep right on going to work and college and spreading this disease and other kinds of virus', etc. when they are sick. Too many people are thoughtless, self centered, and don't give a damn about anybody else that they are making sick and possibly killing. Oh yeah, by all means go to church and spread it all around there too! Village idiots.

[Who will pay for that]

As long as this community votes down much-needed referendums for our kids, we cannot ask for more from our schools regarding custodians. The awesome custodial staff has been cut down dramatically. We hardly have enough to go around because they are spread so thin just trying to do their daily work. Perhaps someone could start a PTA group to come in and each night and sanitize the things the custodians can't get to during this kind of pandemic. Don't say..."I'm a taxpayer! I pay for someone else to do that!" It's not true. There are not enough folks on the custodial payroll to take care of the kind of germ-fighting that needs to be done. Our local district's operating budget is not going as far as it used to. Citizens should consider that when they vote! Referendums make our schools better!

[true]

This would be funny, but it's too close to true about teachers and their job responsibilities. I have a couple in my family, and they will tell you that this IS what teaching is like...

You want me to wage a war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, check their backpacks for weapons of mass destruction, and raise their self esteem.
You want me to teach them patriotism, good citizenship, sportsmanship, fair play, how to register to vote, how to balance a checkbook, and how to apply for a job. I am to check their heads for lice, maintain a safe environment, recognize signs of anti-social behavior, make sure all students pass the state exams, even those who don't come to school regularly or complete any of their assignments.
Plus, I am to make sure that all of the students with handicaps get an equal education regardless of the extent of their mental or physical handicap. I am to communicate regularly with the parents by letter, telephone, newsletter, email, and report card.
All of this I am to do with just a piece of chalk, a computer, a few books, a bulletin board, a big smile AND on a starting salary that qualifies my family for food stamps!
You want me to do all of this and then you tell me...

I CAN'T PRAY?"