MADAK NAMED NEW SUPERINTENDENT

Lynn Farris · Post by **Lynn Farris** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 2:07 pm

You are absolutely right. The population is different between Strongsville and Lakewood.

I will also point out that No Child Left Behind and many other Federal regulations that have been passed have given public schools unfunded mandates which have hurt. That is one of the reasons that I am pleased that our new Congress and Obama is looking at this issue. Systems with a more diverse population get hurt.

However, I take exception to your statement:

On a side note: Before the next operating appears, the school board is going to have to strip the perceptions that accompany your post with the realities of my post. How much is enough to get the job done with a given set of variables? Voting the perceptions and not the reality could hurt many.

My figures are not perception, they are reality. I have been very good about where I have gotten the numbers and have cited the websites from which they have come so that everyone can see the reality. The State of Ohio Department of Education Power User Reports, Ohio School Board Association and the Plain Dealer for the proposed salary

I question whether having a diverse population and being squeezed financially by unfunded mandates means that our superintendent should make 60% more than the Strongsville Superintendent when we are in economic distress. Or 60% more than he did previously in the same school district 10 years ago.

That other web site was giving the perception and I am paraphrasing that "since Madak is already getting retirement from the Lakewood Public Schools he is serving at a very low salary to help out the people of Lakewood" and isn't that a good example for the children of Lakewood that he would work at a lower salary since the he was already financially set." That is not reality.

I am totally for reality and not perception. I am strongly dedicated to excellence in education and want the best public schools for the children in Lakewood.

In the spirit of open government and separating reality from perception would the school board be willing to post the contract they are voting on Monday with all additional side contracts, addendums, etc.?

stephen davis · Post by **stephen davis** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 2:11 pm

Scott Meeson wrote:On a side note: Before the next operating appears, the school board is going to have to strip the perceptions that accompany your post with the realities of my post. How much is enough to get the job done with a given set of variables? Voting the perceptions and not the reality could hurt many.

Scott,

You are exactly right in your approach to available data, and the perceptions created by posts like Lynnâ€™s.

We fought these same battles about 15 years ago when Lakewood went through a number of school levy failures. There was a group that was basically against tax money for public schools. They used all kinds of statistics in a sophistic way, to disinform the community with regard to our schools. I canâ€™t remember any of them having any relationship to the Lakewood Public Schools, except in a critical role. Votersâ€™ perceptions were manipulated by the anti-tax group that had money and media access.

The superintendent, board members, and a host of citizens rallied in a very passionate, informative, and personal way, to finally save our schools from a fifth consecutive levy failure. The residual of that effort helped the schools in their improvement campaign for many years.

In the 90â€™s, Lynn teamed up with a couple of members of that anti group and ran as a slate of three for Lakewood School Board. Fortunately, they all lost.

Lynn sent her children to private schools. She recently sold her Lakewood home, and Iâ€™m not even sure that she lives here anymore. So, what is her agenda?

Her posts about schools bring back bad memories.

Keep up the good work. Stay on top of it.

Steve

Grace O'Malley · Post by **Grace O'Malley** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 2:27 pm

Lynn's daughter DID graduate from Lakewood High School, so you are wrong, Stephen, and even if they DID, there are many, many families in Lakewood whose children attend LCA yet the parents are active in many community organizations, even LakewoodAlive.

stephen davis · Post by **stephen davis** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 2:53 pm

Grace O'Malley wrote:Lynn's daughter DID graduate from Lakewood High School, so you are wrong, Stephen, and even if they DID, there are many, many families in Lakewood whose children attend LCA yet the parents are active in many community organizations, even LakewoodAlive.

Grace,

I graduated from a private high school. There are many private school graduates and parents that support public education as I do. Let's also not forget that there are many empty-nesters (I'm sort of one of those now. My kids have graduated.) and people without children that support public education.

I DO have a problem with irresponsible use of statistics and data to do damage to public education in my city, state, and country. It is rampant.

Do I think public education is perfect? No. Do I think our Lakewood Schools are perfect? No. Do I think that some people have a philosophic difference with the concept of public education? Yes. Do I think some people are just opposed to paying taxes? Yes, and that includes me. Will I pay more taxes for something I believe in, like public education? Yes.

I think we should all take a close look at our schools, but I have no patience for someone waving numbers at me without proper context. Having seen those destructive patterns before, I have to question motives.

Steve

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Lynn Farris · Post by **Lynn Farris** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 3:14 pm

Dee,

You bring up all good points. Including the edit button. 

Scott and Dee,

I believe that you have engaged in an open discussion of issues facing the school system. That is healthy to present all of the information and I have responded in a similar fashion presenting data and indicating the sources of my information. I sincerely appreciate that you are able to have a rational discussion without any type of personal attacks.

Steve,

Again perception versus reality.

1) My daughter Savannah is a graduate of Lakewood Public Schools. She loved her experience there and took advantage of the many opportunities it afforded. She graduated, went to college and graduated. Many here can verify her attendance.

2) Sadly our son Hunter did not have the same positive experience and he was dyslexic. We transferred him to Lawrence Academy a school for children with learning disorders then to a Catholic school, Trinity HS, which had a program that specialized in learning disorders. Trinity was amazing and a great choice for him. He was able to graduate, go on to a competitive college and graduate. To us it was worth the drive and the cost. I never once thought that because I had one child attending a parochial school that I shouldnâ€™t support the public program. I might point out that many of our elected officials send their children to parochial schools for various reasons, that doesnâ€™t make them anti-public schools either â€“ nor should it silence their voice.

3) Fifteen years ago after the defeat of several school levies the superintendent, Dr. Kalish, asked me and several others to be on a committee to help pass the levy. We named ourselves Lakewood Taxpayers for Responsible Schools (LTRS) as we were supposed to look independent. I was on the PR subcommittee. The PR subcommittee assigned me to write the report for the Finance committee since I was the only writer with an MBA who could communicate this rather technical information to the general public easily.

This was not an anti-tax group â€“ it was group designed to PASS THE LEVY and assembled because we supported the education of Lakewood Students. Unbelievable hours were donated by this group of accountants, public finance people and auditors. It was a group that was supposed to analyze the finances independently and prove to the public that the schools were acting financially responsible with their money. Unfortunately, the finance committee did too good of a job and came up with lots of issues where the information was being hidden or misrepresented such as the STRS pick up They also came up with a wide variety of cost saving ideas that the School Board at the time refused to consider.

4) I supported the levy that failed (the combined city and school income tax) during that time and worked hard for it â€“ even speaking publically on its behalf the day after my mother died. I have always supported the school levies. However, I was still irritated that the School Board at that time had refused to consider any of the cost saving ideas. Being fiscally responsible is not anti-tax or anti-school â€“ then or now. Yes, I joined with these fiscally responsible individuals to offer Lakewood a choice. Isnâ€™t that what elections are supposed to be about offering the citizens a choice? However, some individuals, like you Steve, branded us as anti-tax. This is despite the fact that the Teacherâ€™s Association endorsed me in that same year. Our company several years later was awarded by the School Board the Friend of Education Award for providing computers for a computer lab at McKinley elementary school, which were donated by our clients.

5) You are right, we sold our home which was a seven bedroom home which was too large for an empty nester. We advertised in the Observer â€“ so Iâ€™m not trying to hide it. Our business is right here in Lakewood still. We have yet to purchase another home in the area yet. Our daughter owns a condo in Lakewood.

6) Steve, I have lived in Lakewood for more than 30 years. Education is my passion. So is open government. Open government and fiscal responsibility isnâ€™t a bad thing. On this Iâ€™m sure we can agree.

7) It is my impression that the current School Board is much more committed to open government. In this spirit. I again request the Contract, side contracts and addendums to be posted.

sharon kinsella · Post by **sharon kinsella** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 3:27 pm

Lynn, I thought you were building a house in Costa Rica - that's the word on the street.

Lynn Farris · Post by **Lynn Farris** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 3:42 pm

Sharon,

Our address is still in Lakewood and we are still running a Lakewood business. We have told a small circle of friends about our vacation home in Costa Rica and I guess that now includes you and everyone on the deck.

I would love to share more about Costa Rica - but that is really not in the scope of this thread. Pura Vida.

stephen davis · Post by **stephen davis** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:59 pm

Lynn Farris · Post by **Lynn Farris** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 5:55 pm

Steve,

This thread is not about me, although it is begining to feel as if we switched topics to try and attack anyone who would dare present acurate data from government sponsored web sites. No matter how much you attack me, it doesn't change the fact that the salary being offered according the government websites is the third highest in Cuyahoga County behind the City of Cleveland and Shaker Heights.

But in the effort of being open and honest. LTRS is indeed the group you are discussing. Tom Monahan was one of the public fiance people that I met in that finance group from LTRS. He may have been that subcommittee head. Tom and I didn't agree on every issue, but we certainly were willing to think outside of the box and consider new ideas which the school board at that time was not willing to do. Are we still discussing an election from 15 years ago. You won - can we move on - my goodness.

I clearly said I have supported all of the levies. That does not mean that I don't think we can do things better or be more fiscally responsible.

Congratulations, on your award. Many people donate their OWN time, money, and possessions without awards.

This is a little bit snarky on your part. I didn't ask for an award or any thing else for what I did or for what my company did. I have donated a great deal of time money etc. and have served on both school and city groups without awards. But when being painted as a three headed dragon opposed to education - I thought I would share that not all in Lakewood or Lakewood's Educational system feel the same way as you.

I wasn't aware that one currently had to own property to be a resident. Leasing or renting should be enough.

sharon kinsella · Post by **sharon kinsella** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 12:37 am

Lynn I didn't say that to be mean, I just heard the info passed around and thought it might be true. I don't care if you live in Barcelona, you seem to have an interest in good things happening in our town and for that you have my support (which might not be well thought of around here) but it's what I have.

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:02 pm

P. Joseph Madak was announced officially tonight as the new superintendent at the school board meeting tonight.

Welcome home Joe.

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Lynn Farris · Post by **Lynn Farris** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:18 pm

Lynn I didn't say that to be mean, I just heard the info passed around and thought it might be true. I don't care if you live in Barcelona, you seem to have an interest in good things happening in our town and for that you have my support (which might not be well thought of around here) but it's what I have.

Thanks Sharon, I never thought you meant to be mean. I do apreciate your support, it means a lot to me. I also appreciate the kind words of others who have e-mailed me.

I know we all want the best for Lakewood.

stephen davis · Post by **stephen davis** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:54 pm

I want to thank everybody that has shown me support in my defense of Lakewood Public Schools against the sophistic use of "facts" and reckless innuendo, in this thread, and others.

Our schools, and public education in general, will always encounter groups with dogmatic opposition, ignorance, elitism, those with personal enmity, and charlatans. We need to, in defense, quickly expose false arguments at the city, state, and national level.

To honor the spirit of education, we must, at least, take an academic approach to the problems facing our schools, and develop rational solutions within the context of the mission and available resources.

Steve

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