SSFS HOS leaving

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know many, many people who ( while upset about the chaos) are thrilled Rodney is gone but it seems in the listening sessions the only people who specifically mention Rodney are disappointed he’s gone.

Well it risks sounding like a racist homophobe to say you are relieved he has left when so many people say he is the reason they came to the school, or the reason they felt safe. That isn't my or my kid's experience with Rodney, but it sure makes me feel/seem like a jerk to say that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know many, many people who ( while upset about the chaos) are thrilled Rodney is gone but it seems in the listening sessions the only people who specifically mention Rodney are disappointed he’s gone.

Well it risks sounding like a racist homophobe to say you are relieved he has left when so many people say he is the reason they came to the school, or the reason they felt safe. That isn't my or my kid's experience with Rodney, but it sure makes me feel/seem like a jerk to say that.

It doesn’t make me feel like a jerk (since my reasons for disliking him are entirely unrelated to race or sexuality!) but I do feel uncomfortable saying anything publicly.

[Anonymous]

I'd never say anything publicly either! This is what I had hoped for! Am so happy to move past him as HOS. How can you say that in a listening session?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in one now-badly!

I want to expand on my comment-it’s completely underwhelming and if anything it’s undermining the scraps of confidence I had left in the governance of the school.

It’s a listening session. Meaning the purpose is solely for the school to listen. It’s not a question and answer time. The school is taking questions and listening to what folks have to say and will respond with answers and more information when all the listening sessions are complete.

And by then any opportunity families might have to make a more informed decision to stay or leave for the 24-25 year will be even further gone. To say that at this point the school has NO information they could share with the parent community seems a stretch. We’re just weeks from the start of the new year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd never say anything publicly either! This is what I had hoped for! Am so happy to move past him as HOS. How can you say that in a listening session?

I’m sure there are parents who did not feel comfortable voicing their support for RG when you were vocal about wanting him gone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know many, many people who ( while upset about the chaos) are thrilled Rodney is gone but it seems in the listening sessions the only people who specifically mention Rodney are disappointed he’s gone.

Well it risks sounding like a racist homophobe to say you are relieved he has left when so many people say he is the reason they came to the school, or the reason they felt safe. That isn't my or my kid's experience with Rodney, but it sure makes me feel/seem like a jerk to say that.

Don’t feel like a jerk. It was never about race or gender or how he dressed or anything else. Look at the state of the school. All the board needs to do is share the financial status of the school. That he’s incompetent would be exposed to all. For those who say they came here because he made them feel safe, this school was a safe place before him and will be one after him. But during his time it was less so, with the lack on consistent discipline in the classrooms.

[Anonymous]

I am thrilled RG is gone. I don’t get these listening sessions. I was in one last week. I feel like the school doesn’t get that the remaining parents are watching how they handle things. The administration think they saw a mass exodus this year. If there are not careful, there might not be any students left to teach next school year.

Parents need transparency and reassurance. I have yet to see that. As a result, I am planning to visit some schools during fall open house season. This is ridiculous with a month left for school to start. Not impressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd never say anything publicly either! This is what I had hoped for! Am so happy to move past him as HOS. How can you say that in a listening session?

I actually said almost exactly this in a listening session last week, and in an email to the board right after RGs “resignation.”

[Anonymous]

I’m going to be honest, I don’t understand the purpose of listening sessions. If the board doesn’t by now know the high priority concerns the parents have had for years at this point then we’re doomed anyway. Spending weeks just listening just seems like a way to procrastinate doing anything.

Parents need information. They need transparency - even if it’s bad theyd rather hear that than “we have an amazing year ahead of us”. Many parents are here still only because it seems to late to pivot for next year. But come fall nothing is stopping them from seeing what else is out there. These listening sessions aren’t helping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know many, many people who ( while upset about the chaos) are thrilled Rodney is gone but it seems in the listening sessions the only people who specifically mention Rodney are disappointed he’s gone.

That’s because ppl don’t feel comfortable saying they’re happy he’s gone in a group forum. No one can be truly candid in a setting like that when being candid might brand you as a racist homophobe. Saying you’re disappointed RG is gone, on other hand, won’t get you in trouble. That’s why these group listening sessions are pointless. No one will feel comfortable saying what really bothers them, and you’ll walk away thinking people want RG back.

Why doesn’t the board use the forum instead to TELL the parents why he resigned, what fiscal year 24-25 debt looks like. How they plan to retain students and attract teachers, what pending repairs will get done when, and who is the search committee for all the open positions are and timeline for closing the searches. Actual concrete facts would do way more than contrived listening sessions that are too intimidating for anyone to be truly honest.

[Anonymous]

I'm happy RG is gone. I.am in no need of facts about why RG is gone. What I need to know is what's the vision moving forward. There are many things SSFS can focus on immediately that would have a big impact without a high monetary cost or another increase in tuition. As a parent that's what I am interested in discussing or hearing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm happy RG is gone. I.am in no need of facts about why RG is gone. What I need to know is what's the vision moving forward. There are many things SSFS can focus on immediately that would have a big impact without a high monetary cost or another increase in tuition. As a parent that's what I am interested in discussing or hearing.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know many, many people who ( while upset about the chaos) are thrilled Rodney is gone but it seems in the listening sessions the only people who specifically mention Rodney are disappointed he’s gone.

That’s because ppl don’t feel comfortable saying they’re happy he’s gone in a group forum. No one can be truly candid in a setting like that when being candid might brand you as a racist homophobe. Saying you’re disappointed RG is gone, on other hand, won’t get you in trouble. That’s why these group listening sessions are pointless. No one will feel comfortable saying what really bothers them, and you’ll walk away thinking people want RG back.

Why doesn’t the board use the forum instead to TELL the parents why he resigned, what fiscal year 24-25 debt looks like. How they plan to retain students and attract teachers, what pending repairs will get done when, and who is the search committee for all the open positions are and timeline for closing the searches. Actual concrete facts would do way more than contrived listening sessions that are too intimidating for anyone to be truly honest.

For legality reasons they can't tell anyone why he resigned or why they asked him to leave. That shouldn't come as a surprise - its the same in all termination of employment situations. What they can talk about is the financial situation, teacher attainment, plans for the new school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know many, many people who ( while upset about the chaos) are thrilled Rodney is gone but it seems in the listening sessions the only people who specifically mention Rodney are disappointed he’s gone.

Well it risks sounding like a racist homophobe to say you are relieved he has left when so many people say he is the reason they came to the school, or the reason they felt safe. That isn't my or my kid's experience with Rodney, but it sure makes me feel/seem like a jerk to say that.

Don’t feel like a jerk. It was never about race or gender or how he dressed or anything else. Look at the state of the school. All the board needs to do is share the financial status of the school. That he’s incompetent would be exposed to all. For those who say they came here because he made them feel safe, this school was a safe place before him and will be one after him. But during his time it was less so, with the lack on consistent discipline in the classrooms.

The lack of discipline in classrooms is INSANE! Rodney didn't want kids of color unfairly punished - no one does. With more than 50% of the student body kids of color, it was a madhouse when my DS was there year before last.

[Anonymous]

Parents are in the dark, for the most part. Still. I attended one of the listening sessions and while I understand what that means and what the format was going to be, there was no real attempt to provide any information whatsoever. Even when will we receive more information?