The Observation Deck

Bryan, Jim.

There has to be something internal going on.

it's obviously not about the money..

Ivor,

No, it certainly doesn’t appear to be about money. Dr. Estrop has made his choice and it's time to move forward. Our school board has many areas to invest its time, without analyzing the reasoning/issues of Dr. Estrop.

I do know for the community and for those who’ve been paving the way for these many years-its been and continues to be about the students. I have no doubt about those who have built and maintain the foundation of our schools!

I welcome the opportunity for our school board to seek new and dynamic leadership for a community of learners. That leadership just might be in our own backyard!

Good luck to Dr. Estrop and thanks for your contribution. I hope you are able to regain balance in your career and in life.

The Cleveland wave and some modern trends will probably drag a lot of good statistics down. It's better to leave while the good statistics can still be placed on your resume.

Two quick questions, who hires the person for this position and who does the superintendent report too? The school board?

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Where does this leaves us?

***

We have spent $25 mill on new schools, only to have the Superintendent say ""Given events that have developed in the district over the last two to three months, my wife Virginia and I have decided it is no longer in our interest for me to remain in the Lakewood schools,"

*** Are you aware of any of these "events"?

Jim,

That is an issue that the Board will need to address as a whole, as well as what the events/developments are referenced in the quote attributed to Dr. Estrop in other sources. Fortunately, we have a board meeting tomorrow.

Matt

Shawna Shepherd wrote:Two quick questions, who hires the person for this position and who does the superintendent report too? The school board?

Shawna,

The Board hires the Superintendent, who reports to the Board. And, the Board reports to you.

Matt

Any news since the Board meeting? Did the Board meeting happen with the weather and all that it brought to our fair city? This is still very much on the minds of my wife and I and just about any other parent we have talked to in the last couple of days.

Thanks,

Phil

I'm also interested in hearing what the board had to say. Mr. Markling, are you at liberty to fill in the group? Also, are board meetings open to the public? Thanks for any help you give in making the school board more transparent than it already is.

Phil Florian wrote:Any news since the Board meeting? Did the Board meeting happen with the weather and all that it brought to our fair city? This is still very much on the minds of my wife and I and just about any other parent we have talked to in the last couple of days.

Thanks,

Phil

Joe Sgambellone wrote:I'm also interested in hearing what the board had to say. Mr. Markling, are you at liberty to fill in the group? Also, are board meetings open to the public? Thanks for any help you give in making the school board more transparent than it already is.

Phil and Joe,

All board meetings are open to the public.

The meeting did take place on Monday as scheduled, and we passed resolutions to extend all day kindergarten and request proposals for legal services in order to reduce attorney fees (among other matters).

Dr. Estrop did not comment further on his decision to explore other opportunities at this time.

Matt

What are the conditions of the schools being built & renovated? The last update was: They were on time & within budget.
I recall hearing there was a conflict of interest & lawsuit the Lakewood Schools lost. How expensive was that?

Matthew John Markling wrote: Dr. Estrop did not comment further on his decision to explore other opportunities at this time.

Matt

Matt

So if I may be so bold. We have been told or assured that the Lakewood School system does not fit into the needs of Dr. Estrop, but all we can do is sit and wait?

The residents got proactive and gave up $25 million for new schools, but we cannot get proactive in a search for a person to run them?

This would really seem to put the Lakewood Schools back on their heels.

It would also seem that Dr. Estrop has an axe to grind, as his public comments seemed leveled at the city and or the schools.

How much latitude does he still have? On contracts? Expenditures? Policy?

Did we not just offer everything everything he asked for with a 4 year contract?

Not to get down on you and the board as we appreciate your involvement here. BUT... No one said "Hey Doc, those words in the media were pretty inflammatory, would you like to explain? Is there a problem?

.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:
Matt

So if I may be so bold. We have been told or assured that the Lakewood School system does not fit into the needs of Dr. Estrop, but all we can do is sit and wait?

The residents got proactive and gave up $25 million for new schools, but we cannot get proactive in a search for a person to run them?

To be honest, I agree with you Jim. IMHO, Estrop flipped the bird to Lakewood with his unbefitting comments to the Sun Paper. It's his prerogative to look for a new position, but to basically say Lakewood is not in his interests to me was just unprofessional.

I will completely disappointed by our entire school board if they don't show him the same respect he showed for the board and this city's school system and begin an immediate search for his replacement.

If Lakewood isn't in his interest, then it's not in the taxpayer's interests to keep him here.

I also still can't help feel there's something bigger to this that we're not being told.

Bryan Schwegler wrote: To be honest, I agree with you Jim. IMHO, Estrop flipped the bird to Lakewood with his unbefitting comments to the Sun Paper. It's his prerogative to look for a new position, but to basically say Lakewood is not in his interests to me was just unprofessional.

Bryan

This is the part that upsets me and others the most.

I will sit down with Chas Geiger in the next day or so, and see what he has to say. He has always been straight with me about what is happening.

.

Bryan Schwegler wrote:If Lakewood isn't in his interest, then it's not in the taxpayer's interests to keep him here.

I also still can't help feel there's something bigger to this that we're not being told.

The employees of the school system and the City act in their own self interests. There is nothing wrong with that. Perhaps it's time for the taxpayers and residents of Lakewood to act in their own self interest.

The school board and City have coasted for the last four years. We have coasted right into the rocks. New blood on the school board and in City government may make a difference. Only time will tell. I'm optimistic.

Apparently no one has noticed that he has a contract. I doubt that what he has said is sufficient to warrant breaking the terms of that contract. So if the Board acted now to hire a replacement (not that anyone would take the job under such circumstances) we would have two superintendents. which could give Estrop grounds for demanding an expensive buyout. If the Board waits until Estrop gives notice, such expenses can be minimized. Perhaps if he can't find a more ideal situation, he will even honor his contract and seek an extension.

His openness about his dissatisfaction is consistent with the transparency we seem to want in government. Imagine what we would think if he just walked in on Friday and said he wouldn't be back starting Monday.

I think he has only been here a little over three years, and I don't have a sense that there has been a lot of change, but in an industry controlled by laws and politicians, unions, and workers who seem resistant to change, change is probably not to be expected. I think our best hope would be to establish a parallel system, staffed by revolutionaries, and see which provided the best services, then end the other. But our community is not yet concerned enough about the shortcomings of our current system, and change will come only when it is forced on us.

Its in my opinion that Dr Estrop is waving the white flag and that for the betterment of his career he will move on to another job and leave Lakewood holding the bag sort of speak with a needed upcoming operating levy and a phase 3 construction levy. We as a district, according to the 5 year forecast provided by the administration show’s a

-$1,287,698.00 in 2008
-$7,005,156.00 in 2009
-$10,194,087.00 in 2010
-$13,346,672.00 in 2011
-$16,527,919.00 in 2012.

As you can see there is a lot of work in front of us. Yes those are negative numbers!

I believe that this school board needs to be proactive in finding his replacement and keep a close eye on his remainder of time as Superintendent.

I am very disturbed in his comments in the Lakewood Sun Post

Dr Estrop said:

"Given events that have developed in the district over the last two to three months, my wife Virginia and I have decided it is no longer in our interest for me to remain in the Lakewood schools," he said. He did not elaborate on the events in question.



Mr. Markling or any other board member these questions are for you:

What are these developments? Is there really something going on we (citizens) do not know about? Should Dr. Estrop leave now or at the end of this year? If he stays how as a Lakewood tax payer can we trust his decisions for the district? He states he’s leaving for his and his wife’s best interest. Who’s watching out for Lakewood Schools best Interest?

Mr. Markling,

I support your comments about Rick Berdine, LKWD’S Treasurer, and his openness to discuss issues has helped me change some of my opinions as well as strengthen some. He is a key part in Lakewood’s schools future and glad that he is working for this district.

I have other feelings and discussion about this and many other issues facing Lakewood as a city and as a school district. I will leave those comments for future discussions.

Thanks LO for this forum.

I hope more people get involved and come to the school board meetings as well as the city council meetings.