[Southsider2k12]

Breaking news tonight... MCHS principal Lee Dabagia Jr resigned tonight at the school board meeting. The resignation was accepted by the board.

[Southsider2k12]

Two thoughts. #1 I am glad Dabagia resigned, instead of fighting this all of the way. #2, I am glad it timed out when it did, so hopefully the embers die down by the time school starts again.

[taxthedeer]

Was Kevin Goralczyk named the new head Wolf?

[Southsider2k12]

Was Kevin Goralczyk named the new head Wolf?

He will be named interm-principal at the next board meeting Jan 8. They are also supposed to discuss a plan of action to find a principal for next year. Goralczyk is a lame duck right now, which is a bad choice IMO.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/content/e-editi...12/19/1/A01.pdf

A picture of the front page of the News Dispatch from today, which includes excerpts from Dabagia's resignation letter.

[taxthedeer]

He will be named interm-principal at the next board meeting Jan 8. They are also supposed to discuss a plan of action to find a principal for next year. Goralczyk is a lame duck right now, which is a bad choice IMO.

Since I moved here 20 years ago there has been at least five principals at the high school, Tim Bietry, Albert Seay, Mark Francesconi, Lee Dagagia and Kevin Goraczyk, way to much instability in that position at our high school. I'll never forget the big brew ha ha and inquisition at the Edgewood School gym that ensued when Tim Bietry was fired for having a school year ending faculty champagne toast at the high school.

We had way too many school superintendent's as well, when I moved here Dr. Nathaniel Clay was the Michigan City Area Schools Superintendent. My favorite one was Dr. Linda Anast, she came under scrutiny when she used her school system credit card to get cash at an ATM at Blue Chip Casino. When Dr. Michael harding resigned to become superintendent at East Chicago the MCAS paid him $59,000 to resign.

[Southsider2k12]

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/laporte...414e8ec20e.html

Michigan City High School principal resigns
Stan Maddux Times Correspodent


MICHIGAN CITY | The principal at Michigan City High School has resigned due to allegations of inappropriate cell phone conversations with a former student.

The school board Tuesday night accepted the resignation from Lee Dabagia Jr.

One of the board members, Beryle Burgwald, voted against it expressing a desire to terminate Dabagia.

School board vice-president Jim Kintzele Sr. said firing Dabagia potentially would have been costly because he was on paid suspension and could have appealed while still collecting pay.

A termination also could have resulted in a lawsuit, said Kintzele, who revealed criminal charges against Dabagia are not being pursued by prosecutors.

"To the best of my knowledge they said there is no violation of law," said Kintzele.

Dabagia had been on paid leave since the middle of October due to allegations of inappropriate contact with a former student through use of a cell phone.

In a letter to the board, Dabagia said he decided to step down for the well being of both his family and school district.

Dabagia had been the principal for just over a year.

He was previously associate principal and curriculum coach at the high school and prior to that held positions like teacher at Krueger Middle School.

Michigan City Police Chief Mark Swistek would not confirm or deny whether any decision to prosecute the case had been made.

He also would not divulge more specifics about the case, which he described as "still open and ongoing."

[Southsider2k12]

So I went over the ND's web page and read their version of the story, which has one reader comment on it. The comment basically took apart the girl who is allegedly involved in this case, and pretty much blamed her for this situation, talking about how she has no blame in this situation. Do a lot of people agree with this? I can't see blaming the 18 year old here.

[bandaid19]

I think that it's human nature to blame victims, and it's not a new thing to blame women who are accusers in cases of rape, incest, assault, etc. It's unfortunately a very double-edged sword.. there are many false accusations in the world, and there are also many victims that are shamed for daring to accuse someone so well liked.

As to the timing of this, folks who know the school system are not surprised by this. Administrative contracts have to be renewed or non-renewed on 12/15, and/or administrators are notified of layoffs, etc. by this date. The teacher timeline is later.

The whole situation is sad, but as a taxpayer who is a MCAS employee, I'm relieved that no more of my dollars or potential budget dollars will be spent on this staff member. And, while an "investigation" might be socially fascinating, it would waste time, money and focus that can instead be spent on positive MCAS happenings.

So I went over the ND's web page and read their version of the story, which has one reader comment on it. The comment basically took apart the girl who is allegedly involved in this case, and pretty much blamed her for this situation, talking about how she has no blame in this situation. Do a lot of people agree with this? I can't see blaming the 18 year old here.

[John Spartan]

So I went over the ND's web page and read their version of the story, which has one reader comment on it. The comment basically took apart the girl who is allegedly involved in this case, and pretty much blamed her for this situation, talking about how she has no blame in this situation. Do a lot of people agree with this? I can't see blaming the 18 year old here.

After reading the comments on the Times and ND websites, it's not too hard to figure out who the accuser is or rather who her Mother is. Even more shocking is the community organization she represents.

[Southsider2k12]

Marty M. Corley, Board of Trustee member, Michigan City Area Schools
Short meeting tonite but some interesting content. Kevin Goralczyk was named Interim Principal at the high school along with John Boyd names Assistant Principal. The search for a permanent principal will begin this month with posting and recruitment this month, candidate vetting in February and hopefully a complete selection in April. Next meeting will be Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 6 pm. Also, this meeting can be seen on channel 98.

[taxthedeer]

Marty M. Corley, Board of Trustee member, Michigan City Area Schools
Short meeting tonite but some interesting content. Kevin Goralczyk was named Interim Principal at the high school along with John Boyd names Assistant Principal. The search for a permanent principal will begin this month with posting and recruitment this month, candidate vetting in February and hopefully a complete selection in April. Next meeting will be Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 6 pm. Also, this meeting can be seen on channel 98.

How much emphisis is going to be put on hiring a Michgan City High School principal that resides within the Michigan City Area School district?

[Southsider2k12]

How much emphisis is going to be put on hiring a Michgan City High School principal that resides within the Michigan City Area School district?

I'm guessing near zero.

[taxthedeer]

I'm guessing near zero.

What about promoting one of the current elementary or middle school principals?

[Southsider2k12]

What about promoting one of the current elementary or middle school principals?

I would guess if that was the strategy, they would have already transferred them over to the HS to fill the empty position. Smart money is on an out of towner.

[taxthedeer]

I would guess if that was the strategy, they would have already transferred them over to the HS to fill the empty position. Smart money is on an out of towner.

I have a buddy that holds a PHD and a superintendents licence that is a former high school principal in another district that I am going to encourage to apply.

[Southsider2k12]

I have a buddy that holds a PHD and a superintendents licence that is a former high school principal in another district that I am going to encourage to apply.

It is going to be a tough sell. It is not going to be a happy place for the next leader. The kids really want Dabagia and no one else.

[Ang]

Not to mention that MCAS is one of the lowest paid school districts in the area.

[Commuter]

It is going to be a tough sell. It is not going to be a happy place for the next leader. The kids really want Dabagia and no one else.

The kids who are products of that school can't even spell. If you look at ratemyteachers.com and similar peer-rating sites, you will see that Dabagia was rated as easy.

http://www.ratemyteachers.com/lee-dabagia/1600920-t

Of course they want him back.

[Southsider2k12]

The kids who are products of that school can't even spell. If you look at ratemyteachers.com and similar peer-rating sites, you will see that Dabagia was rated as easy.

http://www.ratemyteachers.com/lee-dabagia/1600920-t

Of course they want him back.

Funny statement considering how he lost his job...