2 new members elected to GRPS Board

There are two new faces on the Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education following Tuesday's election.

[Rick]

I'm sure Luis Pena has already been offered some new position somewhere else, and if not one available, they will create one.

[MARY]

I AM SO HAPPY THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE NEW FACES ON THE GRPS SCHOOL BOARD. HOPEFULLY THE NEW PEOPLE WILL NOT ALLOW DR.TAYLOR TO MAKE THEM IN TO RUBBER STAMPS OF HIMSELF. HOPEFULLY THEY WILL HAVE THE STRENGTH AND SINCEREITY TO VOICE THEIR OWN OPINIONS. PERHAPS THERE IS HOPE............

[bye-bye]

Let the union bashing begin...........

[GRPS My Choice]

Thank you Grand Rapid's citizens for deciding to change the GRPS school board. I think they sent the message that they want some opposition voices on the school board. Even with all his connections in the community Hoskins only won by about 250 votes. The other two incumbents got beat by double digit percentages. I hope Griffin decides to run again. Come on people he was a teacher and principal for 30 years in GRPS. I think he might know some things about what needs to be changed in GRPS. Tony was a great choice and Jane obviously cares about GRPS and goes out of her way to help the district. Thank you Grand Rapids, the teachers appreciate your support!

[Truth 007]

This Union thing and Board disagreements are childish! Glad I am done with school nowadays. You guys are acting worse than the children you are all afraid of! Come together and get the job done!

[Edward]

It doesnt matter you gets voted in, they all will be taking orders from someone, and if by chance a couple of board members sway the votes in a direction that certain political people dont want? They'll appeal it or send it before a committee or whatever needs to be done to change it to their advantage. The days of satisfying what the public wants and sees as a good ethical choice are over. It doesnt matter who gets voted in anymore, they either give orders, or take them. The good ole days are gone, the public tax payer is always the loser today.

[enough already]

Truth 007 wrote:

This Union thing and Board disagreements are childish! Glad I am done with school nowadays. You guys are acting worse than the children you are all afraid of! Come together and get the job done!

You are so right!!! teachers/unions are never happy.. it is always a circus... board fights with super...super fights with teachers.. teachers fight with board and super... good grief.. you expect public support after all this nonsense... get back to work.. quite your whinning and grow up.... all of you..

[Teacher]

enough already wrote:

<quoted text> You are so right!!! teachers/unions are never happy.. it is always a circus... board fights with super...super fights with teachers.. teachers fight with board and super... good grief.. you expect public support after all this nonsense... get back to work.. quite your whinning and grow up.... all of you..

Because this is a real grown up thing to say, right? So we should all try to be just like you? Whatever. Go spend some time in a classroom, ANY classroom and then preach to us about what you *think* you know. You don't know anything.

[Rick]

Teacher wrote:

<quoted text>
Go spend some time in a classroom, ANY classroom and then preach to us about what you *think* you know. You don't know anything.

I do know that adminstration is way overpaid and overstaffed and getting very political who gets these jobs. That much I do know.

[Jennifer]

The issues should be dealt with behind closed doors-the public whining is worse than the school employees! These things go on everywhere--teachers are just an easy target because of the misunderstanding that their lives are so easy. Talk about whining--how are the tax payers losers? You should go into a hospital and see how the medicaid system is abused-but I'm not going to sit and bash every person who needs medicaid. Hopefully a fresh start will help things run smoothly.

[enough already]

Teacher wrote:

<quoted text>Once agai
Because this is a real grown up thing to say, right? So we should all try to be just like you? Whatever. Go spend some time in a classroom, ANY classroom and then preach to us about what you *think* you know. You don't know anything.

Wrong bucko.. my child is a public school teacher.. know more than you think....What in the world does the teacher/union... relationship/behavior.. with administration/board have to do with being in a class room? Point is...The lack of professional behavior on both sides is getting old...you are a teacher? that is scary.. that I *know*

[whiner]

Nothing will change. It has been this way for years but it is now being done more in public. Hope Salena's daughter behaves in school. She won't get one of those "look the other way board child" cards when she hit a teacer.

[enough already]

Jennifer wrote:

The issues should be dealt with behind closed doors-the public whining is worse than the school employees! These things go on everywhere--teachers are just an easy target because of the misunderstanding that their lives are so easy. Talk about whining--how are the tax payers losers? You should go into a hospital and see how the medicaid system is abused-but I'm not going to sit and bash every person who needs medicaid. Hopefully a fresh start will help things run smoothly.

First of all this is a forum about GRPS not medicaid... Although that is a whole other can of worms.. secodly... teachers are not misunderstood targets. They are just like every one else. They get up day after day, go to work, love their jobs/hate their jobs... they are no more special than thousands of other working joes. The misunderstanding could come from the fact that SOME teachers think they are more worthy than the rest of john q public and their union will stop at nothing to remind us taxpayer of that fact.

[Jennifer]

enough already wrote:

<quoted text> First of all this is a forum about GRPS not medicaid... Although that is a whole other can of worms.. secodly... teachers are not misunderstood targets. They are just like every one else. They get up day after day, go to work, love their jobs/hate their jobs... they are no more special than thousands of other working joes. The misunderstanding could come from the fact that SOME teachers think they are more worthy than the rest of john q public and their union will stop at nothing to remind us taxpayer of that fact.

Wow did you miss my point.

[Thoughtful]

Gee no Rob???

I am pleased by the election results. One board member the superintendant wanted in rev Hoskins. One the Union wanted in Tony and Jane who offered to build bridges. Looks like a wondereful compromise.

I will recommend again that the GRPS teachers get no more and no less than the other teachers in neighboring districts.

Adding 12 extra hours to their on site work week with no raise and asking them to pay more for their benefits is unreasonable.

I also believe that the issue of school safety will not be able to be denied any longer. Looks like Harry Doland was right after all. Maybe we need to put those uniformed officers in the schools like he suggested???

Now lets hope that the message that ws sent to Dr. Taylor and the union is clear. We believe there is a school safety issues and want the board to deal with it. We can't pay all of you what you might want or even deserve right now.

After taking part on this board I did do some research on Dr. Taylor and have discovered some things that have given me pause.. He need to check his ego at the door and earn the 200,000 dollars the citizens are paying him.

PS. Next time a parent brings a concern in front of you in front of the school board-remember you are Paid to listen and respond to her respectfully! I was in your corner until I saw that.

[New Teacher in GRPS]

enough already wrote:

<quoted text> Wrong bucko.. my child is a public school teacher.. know more than you think....What in the world does the teacher/union... relationship/behavior.. with administration/board have to do with being in a class room? Point is...The lack of professional behavior on both sides is getting old...you are a teacher? that is scary.. that I *know*

I think the point was, it doesn't matter if your CHILD is a public school teacher, YOU aren't. My spouse can't honestly begin to imagine what I do as a teacher all day because he isn't one himself. Can he empathize with me when I struggle because I just can't seem to get Little Johnny up to snuff because his parents don't read with him, make him do homework or even come to conferences? Yes. But can he REALLY understand? No because he isn't there.

I think "Teacher" was trying to point out that none of us teachers ever wanted it to get this far, but for people like yourself to judge us, call us names and then tell us to grow up...it seems rather hypocritical.

[Robentcorp]

Thoughtful you are not....A fact to consider...Rev Hoskins and company hired Taylor. am not sure where the idea comes from that they work for Taylor. I suppose it is a good way to demonize Talyor because you really cannot make a bad guy out of those elected, can you...

Interesting how you have quietly swayed in favor of Helder's propaganda...Let's consider this...If his teachers actually believed the risk were so high, why did so few of his membership bother to show up for HelderFest last weekend?

If this were so great a problem why are we not hearing outcry from the parents. In reality there are more student victims of violence than teachers.

I love the pay argument. It is the typical way some people appeal to the less educated....Well here is the education. You are going to pay because the market demands it. Who do you think you will get for $80K when they can get more somewhere else? Whine about it all you want, it is the way of the world...and who wants a low paid leadership; they'll either be imcompetent or looking for the next job somewhere else.

This community will pay the teachers what the other Districts get just as soon as they produce the results the other districts get.

And how preposterous to suggest the two newly elected folks are changing anything. The Board does not have its handpicked candidates, so they had no slate. The Union had 3 hand picked candidates and two of them were soundly defeated and immediately following the election the third began to create distance from the union by making clear there will be no following Helder's path. Given that is a one year post, I am hunching Helder will not have anyone carry water for him on the Board.

Blame Taylor all you want, the fact is the District has been doing a horrible job for years. Blame Taylor because it is certainly easier than solving problems. Taylor has a plan, he deserves a shot at running the show the way he wants.

If the District is ever to turn around, the teachers are going to have to make some major changes, the old ways are not going to fly. The District is going to have to make major changes, the old ways are not going to fly.

Helder is a clown, he acts without truth and uses his office to make fools of his members. Our teachers have enough morale and image issues. This guy is not civil and was roundly defeated by the community this week.

If he actually had any courage he would resign rather continue to ruin what little reputation and respect our teachers have.

The final proof of what a joke Helder has become is there are actually teachers opposing him.(See GR Press)

And consider this....If the 1700 organized teachers of the Grand Rapids Education Association on average convinced 4 people other than themselves to vote for the Union slate they would have swept the election for every single board seat open. One begins to see the level of respect our teachers have when on average they do not have 4 parents in each their classrooms who believe what Helder is saying and believes it is in the interest of their child to go out and do something....One begins to see the level of respect and involvement in the community as a whole that on average each teacher cannot find and convince 4 people of the seriousness of their plight.

You can fool some of the people....

[Helder yes taylor no]

Robentcorp wrote:

Thoughtful you are not....A fact to consider...Rev Hoskins and company hired Taylor. am not sure where the idea comes from that they work for Taylor. I suppose it is a good way to demonize Talyor because you really cannot make a bad guy out of those elected, can you...
Interesting how you have quietly swayed in favor of Helder's propaganda...Let's consider this...If his teachers actually believed the risk were so high, why did so few of his membership bother to show up for HelderFest last weekend?
If this were so great a problem why are we not hearing outcry from the parents. In reality there are more student victims of violence than teachers.
I love the pay argument. It is the typical way some people appeal to the less educated....Well here is the education. You are going to pay because the market demands it. Who do you think you will get for $80K when they can get more somewhere else? Whine about it all you want, it is the way of the world...and who wants a low paid leadership; they'll either be imcompetent or looking for the next job somewhere else.
This community will pay the teachers what the other Districts get just as soon as they produce the results the other districts get.
And how preposterous to suggest the two newly elected folks are changing anything. The Board does not have its handpicked candidates, so they had no slate. The Union had 3 hand picked candidates and two of them were soundly defeated and immediately following the election the third began to create distance from the union by making clear there will be no following Helder's path. Given that is a one year post, I am hunching Helder will not have anyone carry water for him on the Board.
Blame Taylor all you want, the fact is the District has been doing a horrible job for years. Blame Taylor because it is certainly easier than solving problems. Taylor has a plan, he deserves a shot at running the show the way he wants.
If the District is ever to turn around, the teachers are going to have to make some major changes, the old ways are not going to fly. The District is going to have to make major changes, the old ways are not going to fly.
Helder is a clown, he acts without truth and uses his office to make fools of his members. Our teachers have enough morale and image issues. This guy is not civil and was roundly defeated by the community this week.
If he actually had any courage he would resign rather continue to ruin what little reputation and respect our teachers have.
The final proof of what a joke Helder has become is there are actually teachers opposing him.(See GR Press)
And consider this....If the 1700 organized teachers of the Grand Rapids Education Association on average convinced 4 people other than themselves to vote for the Union slate they would have swept the election for every single board seat open. One begins to see the level of respect our teachers have when on average they do not have 4 parents in each their classrooms who believe what Helder is saying and believes it is in the interest of their child to go out and do something....One begins to see the level of respect and involvement in the community as a whole that on average each teacher cannot find and convince 4 people of the seriousness of their plight.
You can fool some of the people....

You are fooled. Hoskins supports him to the max. Wonder why? Best for them worst for kids. Why don't we just pass all the kids without making them do anything. Turn in homework whenever. It just teaches them they can do what they want. Keep the dropout factory from showing bad numbers. Then we wonder why they turn out the way they do. The board should not work for Taylor but they do. Maybe the new board members will see this.

[GR Teacher]

What people fail to realize is that this school board election was a win for the community. True, the union endorsed candidates barely won, however, Reverend Hoskins was barely re-elected, and the other two incumbents, Pena and Lenear had the lowest amount of votes in their respective races. There will be two new members on the board.

I believe that the community did send a clear message to the board that there needs to be dramatic changes made, and I think the current board members will become a bit more thoughtful and humble in the carrying out of their duties, as the community has spoken that incumbents are no longer 'safe.' Typically there has been so little interest in board elections that once a person was elected, it was more of an appointment until they no longer wanted to be a board member. This is clearly no longer the case.

While I do not agree with the board's 'glowing' review of Dr. Taylor's performance, it is about time that they finally told him that he needs to be more cognizant in the way that he handles criticism, constructive or otherwise.

Contrary to what many may choose to believe, this is not a matter of the union against everyone else or vice versa, it is about the kids and the community. Thank you Grand Rapids voters for speaking up and affirming the unions stance that there needs to be change in the board.

[GR Teacher]

Robentcorp wrote:

You can fool some of the people....

...and you have not. Your diatribes fall on just as many deaf ears as they did weeks ago. I have not seen one person (other than myself on one occasion) agree with anything that you have said.