The MCAS versus the Parks Department |
The MCAS versus the Parks Department |
Mar 24 2008, 11:15 AM
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Spends WAY too much time at CBTL Group: Admin Posts: 16,426 Joined: 8-December 06 From: Michigan City, IN Member No.: 2 |
http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=47767.69
QUOTE Under MCAS, City Loses Again It appears that the Michigan City Area Schools can't stand success. Look at all the great press recently. Students attacking each other, attempted poisoning of teachers, 50 percent drop-out rate, and now what very little is left of a growing girls basketball program is being squashed. I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder toward the whole school system employee protection system. I am an entrepreneur, and a business owner and in my world if you don't get things done to go forward you lose your gig. Period. Our school system seems to embrace laziness, apathy and greed. I am an Elston graduate and have lived here most of my life. I have personally directed hockey camps here with Chicago Blackhawks and NHL All Stars. The Michigan City Park Department, led by Darrell Garbacik, helped put together these great opportunities for our local kids, and he and his staff have a great attitude toward our city and, from what I read, they have helped with Mr. Butler's Girls Basketball Academy. I would guess that Mr. Butler spends countless hours of volunteer time and effort to do something positive. He has built this program to the regional level and should feel very proud. Guess what MCAS, you are breaking Mr. Butler's heart. Do we need to do an economic impact study to show the economic benefits this town, its residents and business of this program. It brings young athletes and good people to town and they spend money. I suppose MCAS isn't interested in the girls basketball team selling more tickets, which create revenue and increase the fan base, which is a positive thing. I hope it isn't too late to fix this. MCAS should roll out a red carpet to Mr. Butler and furnish the best gym and facility we have for this program, and if not, Mr. Butler's phone will ring from a neighboring town and they will roll the red carpet out to him and Michigan City loses again. We wonder why we can't grow our town and bring good people here to live. Until we fix our school system and its attitude, the downward spiral will continue. Mr. Butler, "Keep Diggin", you have a great program that needs to continue. Tim Jahnz Michigan City http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=47767.69 QUOTE Schools Wasted Cash Fighting Girls I have previously shed light on the Michigan City Area Schools' decision to block our Michigan City youth girls basketball program (Michigan City Basketball Academy) from using gyms while never actually telling our program why we were being denied. Out of courtesy to MCAS I left out a few details hoping that they would come to their senses, but I see that was a pipe dream. I am curious if the taxpayers of Michigan City know just how much of their money was wasted by MCAS and its legal staff fighting to ensure a group of MCAS kids would not be allowed to use facilities that they allow other MC Park and Recreation programs to use freely without question. I ask the school board president to release that information to the public so they can truly get a picture on this waste of money. They had no problems forking over thousands to their attorneys to ensure these kids could not use an empty gym, I guess their attorneys are more important than our kids, as it would have cost them nothing to let them play. Now I see that School Board President Clyde Zeek has fingered MCHS Athletic Director Robert "Bear" Falls as the person responsible for our program's demise. Given all the conversations I personally had with Mr. Falls related to this issue I find it ironic that he always claimed to support our program, and was working to see we got gym time, as he believed our program was a great feeder system for our MCHS Lady Wolves basketball program. Something sure smells funny surrounding this issue to say the least. He was in favor of our program, saw its relevance, and yet has sought to deny us access to gyms sitting un-used? Seems somebody needs to figure out which story they are going to tell. I cannot believe MCAS can do business this way, or does morality have no place in our school administration now? How can we expect students to respect a school system when this type of action is allowed to take place? Roger Butler Lady Wolves Basketball Assistant Coach Organizer, Coach Michigan City Basketball Academy |
Mar 26 2008, 12:52 PM
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Spends WAY too much time at CBTL Group: Admin Posts: 16,426 Joined: 8-December 06 From: Michigan City, IN Member No.: 2 |
http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=53748.05
QUOTE MCAS Board Addresses Use Of School Gyms Members approve use of Wolves Den for April 19 All-Star basketball game, discuss situation with Girls Basketball Academy. Deborah Sederberg The News-Dispatch MICHIGAN CITY - The MCAS board Tuesday voted unanimously to waive the fee for The News-Dispatch 2008 Charity All-Star Basketball Game on April 19. Proceeds will go to the United Way of La Porte County. Since 2005, it has been the school board's policy to require anyone who seeks a fee waiver for use of MCAS facilities to appeal to the school board. Other discussion centered around the Michigan City Girls Basketball Academy, whose season was canceled this year because the girls had nowhere to practice or to play their games. "The bottom line is, if policy was followed we wouldn't be here tonight," MCHS Athletic Director Bob "Bear" Falls said. Falls has been assigned to investigate the relationship between the school corporation and the Michigan City Parks and Recreation Department. He wouldn't speak directly to the girls basketball situation, but simply said procedure is not being followed. As athletic director, Falls said, he has an obligation to protect the Wolves Den, "the ninth-largest high school gym in the country, not in the state, but in the country." He is doing his best to keep the gym empty on Sundays to allow for proper cleaning and maintenance. Board President Clyde Zeek acknowledged the existence of a contract between the school corporation and the parks and recreation department. He said, however, the board will not allow the park department to determine how MCAS uses its facilities. City Councilman Bob McKee spoke strongly to the girls basketball program. "It builds character. It teaches a young person how to win and how to lose. It teaches them about hard work and dedication," McKee said. "It breaks through the barriers of race and social status that so often plague our society because it teaches teamwork and reliance on others." He said he wants "an honest answer as to who made this decision (to deny access to the girls program)." If an administrator made the decision, he suggested disciplinary action against that person. If it turns out to be a board decision, he said he wants to see minutes containing the public vote. Park Superintendent Darrell Garbacik told the board a check from his department paying the fee for use of the gym was returned. Zeek said he soon will meet with Phil Latchford, president of the park board, and with Mayor Chuck Oberlie in an attempt to resolve some issues between the school corporation and the park department. He said he will "try to get resolution, to respond positively to the dilemma we find ourselves in." Contact reporter Deborah Sederberg at dsederberg@thenewsdispatch.com. THE CHARITY HOOPS EVENT The News-Dispatch will host Hoops Away for The United Way: The News-Dispatch 2008 Charity High School All-Star Basketball Game. The event will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 19. Tickets are available at The News-Dispatch office or by calling (800) 489-9292, Ext. 403. The cost is $5 per ticket, and children ages 5 and under will be admitted free. Tickets may also be purchased at the Michigan City Chamber of Commerce or at The United Way in La Porte. |
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