[Marram]

Are we reaching rock bottom, or is it a matter of familiarity breeding contempt and frustration? Again, I will withhold my own opinion at the outset.

We had a record number of people respond to the question about Franklin Street. Whadya say we see if we can best ourselves again on this one.

PS Can I get a mod to change the question to, "Is the Michigan City Area School System the worst it has ever been?"

[Dave]

I hope that's the way you want it. If not, let me know.

I'm not voting, as I haven't been here in MC long enough to know any condition other than the status quo.

[Ang]

I went to MCAS up until 8th grade. Then I move to Griffith and went to school there until my junior year, when I returned to MC. I completed 11th grade at MCCS (How many of you remember that school?) and started Elston my senior year. When y mom took me to get signed up, I had enough credits earned in Griffith to graduate from Elston. I couldn't because I hadn't taken the required senior classes (gov't and soce), but I had enough credits to do so. This was 25 years ago and I don't think the MCAS has raised their standards one iota.
As an employee of the MCAS, I worked first at Plant Planning. This was after the Jeff Kutch hunting fiasco, so I never worked for him. At that job, I had constant contact with the building Principals and the folks at Admin. Linda Anast was the superintedent. It was a great place to work and I loved my job. Yeah, some of the admin people are crabby bitches, but for the most part, I loved my job. Then the AD secretary position came open and I wanted more than anything to work for Tag. I got the job and moved over to the High School. I loved that job and it was very rewarding, in more ways than one. Then Harding came along and the whole system started the downward slide. People changed all over the place. It was amazing to watch the transformation. Very few of us remained the same people we started out as. To my knowledge, none of us non-comformists are there anymore.

[Southsider2k12]

I went to MCAS up until 8th grade. Then I move to Griffith and went to school there until my junior year, when I returned to MC. I completed 11th grade at MCCS (How many of you remember that school?) and started Elston my senior year. When y mom took me to get signed up, I had enough credits earned in Griffith to graduate from Elston. I couldn't because I hadn't taken the required senior classes (gov't and soce), but I had enough credits to do so. This was 25 years ago and I don't think the MCAS has raised their standards one iota.
As an employee of the MCAS, I worked first at Plant Planning. This was after the Jeff Kutch hunting fiasco, so I never worked for him. At that job, I had constant contact with the building Principals and the folks at Admin. Linda Anast was the superintedent. It was a great place to work and I loved my job. Yeah, some of the admin people are crabby bitches, but for the most part, I loved my job. Then the AD secretary position came open and I wanted more than anything to work for Tag. I got the job and moved over to the High School. I loved that job and it was very rewarding, in more ways than one. Then Harding came along and the whole system started the downward slide. People changed all over the place. It was amazing to watch the transformation. Very few of us remained the same people we started out as. To my knowledge, none of us non-comformists are there anymore.

30 years ago my Grandmother paid to send me to St Paul, because of how far the MCAS had fallen off since her kids went there is the 1960's. I ended up going to Elston High School after that. It was an adjustment for me to say the least. I really feel listening to the stories from people in the classrooms that things have slid even further downhill, with an acceleration after the entrance of Michael Harding. As for your last sentence, it really sounds like the non-conformist teachers are the next ones on the hit list. They are really trying hard to silence their critics, dispite the BS they fed us in the strategic plan about working with the community.

[Michelle]

I'm not voting, as I haven't been here in MC long enough to know any condition other than the status quo.

[Ang]

As for your last sentence, it really sounds like the non-conformist teachers are the next ones on the hit list. They are really trying hard to silence their critics, dispite the BS they fed us in the strategic plan about working with the community.

Yup. Here's a partial list of non-conformists:

Me
Jeff Freitag
Bob Holmes
Gary Collins
Michele Nauyokas
Cheryl Koepke (but she retired before they could "get" her)
Carolyn Threatt (for those of you who don't know that name, she was the Principal at the Alternative school when they closed it. They stuck her at AK Smith supervising night school. I'm not sure if she's still there or if she's moved on by now)
Ed Mullins (Former Plant Planning Director. Awsome guy, but he left the MCAS to work some where else, is now making $30K more a year doing the same thing and is much happier for the move!)

I know there's more but that's all I can think of off the top of my head.

[Roger Kaputnik]

Here is my list: Superintendent. School board.

[Beachgirl77]

Yup. Here's a partial list of non-conformists:

Me
Jeff Freitag
Bob Holmes
Gary Collins
Michele Nauyokas
Cheryl Koepke (but she retired before they could "get" her)
Carolyn Threatt (for those of you who don't know that name, she was the Principal at the Alternative school when they closed it. They stuck her at AK Smith supervising night school. I'm not sure if she's still there or if she's moved on by now)
Ed Mullins (Former Plant Planning Director. Awsome guy, but he left the MCAS to work some where else, is now making $30K more a year doing the same thing and is much happier for the move!)

I know there's more but that's all I can think of off the top of my head.

Jeff was a good guy!

[Ang]

I'm thinking that some of you may misundersand my point. If you notice I am at the top of my list. My list is a group of people who refuse to cowtow to the demands of the Administration, Namely Michael Harding and his crone, Carla Iacona.
These are people who feel the education of our children are what's important. They believe in honesty and integrity. Treating everyone as they would like to be treated. Going the extra mile to help a child who is struggling.
This group of people (and there are more than just the ones I mentioned) do not believe in the current status quo. They are not afraid to speak out about their dissatisfaction with the system.

That is why we are no longer there, either by our choice or by the choice of the cowardly administration.

Yeah, I know---strong words. Now you know why I am among the people on my list.

Oh, and you wanna know something funny? I'm sure you have all read my quote below. The first time I heard that was from the Principal's secretary at MCHS. She would send out a daily email of what's going on at the high school and she would end it with a quote. When I first read that, I decided that was perfect for me. I made a big sign and hung it up in my office. Mark Francesconi frowned at it the first time he saw it. He did not tell me to take it down, but I could tell he was displeased.

[Southsider2k12]

That's a gutsy post. Maybe you are the one who should be running for school board, and not me!

[not that I am running, I am just sayin']

[Ang]

That's a gutsy post. Maybe you are the one who should be running for school board, and not me!

Yeah, well that would involve me moving back to MC and there's too much other stuff that needs to be fixed in that town before I can come back. I've got a good thing going here in Casper so I'll be staying here for a while. Besides, there is someone else out there who is going to run that will do a much better job than I.

[Roger Kaputnik]

Clarifications:

1. I mean that MY hit list is the Supt and the Board, not that they are nonconformists.

2. I misread the question and answered "Worst is a ridiculous understatement." I thought it said "...statement" not UNDERstatement. If possible, please change my vote to "Not."