Bullis HOS “exit was messier than it appeared” according to the Post

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are new to Bullis. Chosen for small class sizes (vs 30+ at MCPS) and excellent education. The bad apple is out, and things will improve going forward.

The bad apple might be out but the barrel that supported him is all well and good and still the Board of Trustees.

Also, where did you get "excellent education" from? Never been the school's reputation.

People don't seem to remember that the saying about one "bad apple" is that it spoils the whole bunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And that Board is still there and hired the new Head. Glad you can rationalize all the firings but not everyone agrees with your assessment. Morale is at an all time low and especially because the school is asking teachers to return to the classroom. Whether you agree with that or not know that all of the teachers I know are miserable. Having 15 people let go was a major hit at an already down time. There is nothing good about 15 colleagues losing their jobs during a pandemic. And the Post article makes everyone embarrassed to be affiliated with a school whose reputation always suffers and now feels even worse. Bullis is a $@#*show.

This makes me so sad, as a supporter of Bullis teachers and staff.

Here is my question, and I would love some concrete advice: How exactly does the Bullis community get Caulfield out, if he doesn't want to leave and he has such sway over the board members that they won't vote him out?

They cannot, likely.

This is not a surprising outcome at all if you consider how boards operate in general. No need to libel, slander, etc.

Board governance methods are aspirational, not required by independent school associations, and leave plenty of space for this sort of dynamic to evolve. Bullis is not alone in this sort of issue- other area privates have similar problems. Not all, but certainly more than one. You can read more on the websites of the associations of which the private schools are a member. They are not clear on the enforcement because they have best practices and advisory statements but they are not punitive in nature. This is part of why it is difficult for a school to achieve membership in these associations, but they almost never lose it.

Parents can review the best practices and make decisions regarding their affiliations that they feel are in their best interests as they learn more about a school.

I read the article as a non-community member of Bullis but a longstanding member of other independent school communities. It's really not that outrageous. The Post did not indicate that any laws were shown to have been broken. I've heard and seen worse from other schools. They are private after all.

If the board had wanted more privacy in their dealings, they should have been more careful about choosing a school treasurer who would stay quiet or was more involved in what they were trying to do. That's what typically happens and why these stories don't often get out.

Wow, that is depressing. And you are saying a board that knows it is engaging in questionable behavior needs to be careful about selecting officers that will be complicit? Even more depressing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:I just received the following "report":

"Mr. Steele - the topic of this thread is likely the topic of a future slander/libel and/or breach of confidentiality lawsuit. The “whistle blower” ex-Trustee quoted in the article was involuntarily removed from the Board for cause, leaked documents which he agreed in writing upon joining the Board to keep confidential, and has given unsubstantiated allegations to the press in an apparent reprisal. While some of the information in the article is true, I know factually that some of it is false. Specific names and allegations are being posted on this thread, and it seems very probable that they are being generated by or encouraged via proxy by the person who is the subject of this likely future legal action. I request that you scour this string for unsubstantiated personal allegations so that DCUM does not get drawn into the Action as an accomplice. The request has been screenshot for documentation."

Since I don't know which allegations are unsubstantiated and which aren't, I have no intention of scouring the thread. Also, since this report was sent anonymously, I similarly have no intention of taking it seriously.

But all of you should be aware that I do respond to subpoenas so your posts here may be subject to legal action.

Ridiculous that someone sent you this! More ridiculous it was anonymously sent to you! Anyhow isn't DCUM full of "unsubstantiated personal allegations"? (think COVID Washington Ballet thread, the party hostess and her friend got a lot of "unsubstantiated personal allegations" thrown at them and they didn't threaten legal action.) I support free speech ... and a little gossip, so love DCUM! (For the record, first time I am posting on this thread, so I have no dog in this fight!)

Seriously. Passive aggressive threatening of legal action. Just shows you how widespread the corruption is at bullis. If it were only the HOS and his mistress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And that Board is still there and hired the new Head. Glad you can rationalize all the firings but not everyone agrees with your assessment. Morale is at an all time low and especially because the school is asking teachers to return to the classroom. Whether you agree with that or not know that all of the teachers I know are miserable. Having 15 people let go was a major hit at an already down time. There is nothing good about 15 colleagues losing their jobs during a pandemic. And the Post article makes everyone embarrassed to be affiliated with a school whose reputation always suffers and now feels even worse. Bullis is a $@#*show.

This makes me so sad, as a supporter of Bullis teachers and staff.

Here is my question, and I would love some concrete advice: How exactly does the Bullis community get Caulfield out, if he doesn't want to leave and he has such sway over the board members that they won't vote him out?

They cannot, likely.

This is not a surprising outcome at all if you consider how boards operate in general. No need to libel, slander, etc.

Board governance methods are aspirational, not required by independent school associations, and leave plenty of space for this sort of dynamic to evolve. Bullis is not alone in this sort of issue- other area privates have similar problems. Not all, but certainly more than one. You can read more on the websites of the associations of which the private schools are a member. They are not clear on the enforcement because they have best practices and advisory statements but they are not punitive in nature. This is part of why it is difficult for a school to achieve membership in these associations, but they almost never lose it.

Parents can review the best practices and make decisions regarding their affiliations that they feel are in their best interests as they learn more about a school.

I read the article as a non-community member of Bullis but a longstanding member of other independent school communities. It's really not that outrageous. The Post did not indicate that any laws were shown to have been broken. I've heard and seen worse from other schools. They are private after all.

If the board had wanted more privacy in their dealings, they should have been more careful about choosing a school treasurer who would stay quiet or was more involved in what they were trying to do. That's what typically happens and why these stories don't often get out.

Wow, that is depressing. And you are saying a board that knows it is engaging in questionable behavior needs to be careful about selecting officers that will be complicit? Even more depressing.

Yes. Happens all the time.

I won’t sign a contact for a private school until I’ve looked at their 990s. If the school treasurer/CFO is grossly overcompensated (which you can check on employment websites), I won’t sign. This is not supposed to be a 200K position. This method does not work for parish schools because churches are not legally obligated to provide 990s. This works for any nonprofit. The compensation norms might vary.

I have done legal, simple background checks on school CFOs at parish schools if I am concerned. If they are going to great lengths to hide themselves, it either means they are covering something up or have been the victim of doxxing, identity theft, etc.

This is not a foolproof method, but it is the best due diligence you can legally do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And that Board is still there and hired the new Head. Glad you can rationalize all the firings but not everyone agrees with your assessment. Morale is at an all time low and especially because the school is asking teachers to return to the classroom. Whether you agree with that or not know that all of the teachers I know are miserable. Having 15 people let go was a major hit at an already down time. There is nothing good about 15 colleagues losing their jobs during a pandemic. And the Post article makes everyone embarrassed to be affiliated with a school whose reputation always suffers and now feels even worse. Bullis is a $@#*show.

This makes me so sad, as a supporter of Bullis teachers and staff.

Here is my question, and I would love some concrete advice: How exactly does the Bullis community get Caulfield out, if he doesn't want to leave and he has such sway over the board members that they won't vote him out?

They cannot, likely.

This is not a surprising outcome at all if you consider how boards operate in general. No need to libel, slander, etc.

Board governance methods are aspirational, not required by independent school associations, and leave plenty of space for this sort of dynamic to evolve. Bullis is not alone in this sort of issue- other area privates have similar problems. Not all, but certainly more than one. You can read more on the websites of the associations of which the private schools are a member. They are not clear on the enforcement because they have best practices and advisory statements but they are not punitive in nature. This is part of why it is difficult for a school to achieve membership in these associations, but they almost never lose it.

Parents can review the best practices and make decisions regarding their affiliations that they feel are in their best interests as they learn more about a school.

I read the article as a non-community member of Bullis but a longstanding member of other independent school communities. It's really not that outrageous. The Post did not indicate that any laws were shown to have been broken. I've heard and seen worse from other schools. They are private after all.

If the board had wanted more privacy in their dealings, they should have been more careful about choosing a school treasurer who would stay quiet or was more involved in what they were trying to do. That's what typically happens and why these stories don't often get out.

Wow, that is depressing. And you are saying a board that knows it is engaging in questionable behavior needs to be careful about selecting officers that will be complicit? Even more depressing.

+1.

AND, it would not a news article's place to state "that any laws were shown to have been broken" where there has not even been a lawsuit or criminal investigation. At the very least, there were fiduciary duties breached.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:I just received the following "report":

"Mr. Steele - the topic of this thread is likely the topic of a future slander/libel and/or breach of confidentiality lawsuit. The “whistle blower” ex-Trustee quoted in the article was involuntarily removed from the Board for cause, leaked documents which he agreed in writing upon joining the Board to keep confidential, and has given unsubstantiated allegations to the press in an apparent reprisal. While some of the information in the article is true, I know factually that some of it is false. Specific names and allegations are being posted on this thread, and it seems very probable that they are being generated by or encouraged via proxy by the person who is the subject of this likely future legal action. I request that you scour this string for unsubstantiated personal allegations so that DCUM does not get drawn into the Action as an accomplice. The request has been screenshot for documentation."

Since I don't know which allegations are unsubstantiated and which aren't, I have no intention of scouring the thread. Also, since this report was sent anonymously, I similarly have no intention of taking it seriously.

But all of you should be aware that I do respond to subpoenas so your posts here may be subject to legal action.

Ridiculous that someone sent you this! More ridiculous it was anonymously sent to you! Anyhow isn't DCUM full of "unsubstantiated personal allegations"? (think COVID Washington Ballet thread, the party hostess and her friend got a lot of "unsubstantiated personal allegations" thrown at them and they didn't threaten legal action.) I support free speech ... and a little gossip, so love DCUM! (For the record, first time I am posting on this thread, so I have no dog in this fight!)

First timing posting on this thread as well, and that anonymous threat is a) pissing me off; b) making me believe that things were/are actually worse than described in the article.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, conditions are probably worse than they appear here or in the article.

I imagine many privates will struggle during covid, but the financial malfeasance displayed by the hos and the board and utter lack of moral integrity displayed by the head, makes me think families will abandon bullis quickly.

Bullis will probably lay off more teachers b/c that’s the MO vs addressing substantive issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That school is ALL SHOW NO GO!

Including that big building with HIS OWN name on it - who does that?

I safely assume he raised the money and orchestrated financial instruments for it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That school is ALL SHOW NO GO!

Including that big building with HIS OWN name on it - who does that?

I safely assume he raised the money and orchestrated financial instruments for it?

I think the pp was being sarcastic. According this thread the board claimed it was the wish of a big donor. M’kay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting how the Post defines every expensive private school it covers as "elite". Bullis, St, Andrews. Come on man.

I'm no fan of their sports obsession – however, prime location, nearly $50k a year, very plush campus and facilities, $100M endowment, very generous donors, and 1320 median SAT makes it objectively elite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That school is ALL SHOW NO GO!

Including that big building with HIS OWN name on it - who does that?

I safely assume he raised the money and orchestrated financial instruments for it?

I think the pp was being sarcastic. According this thread the board claimed it was the wish of a big donor. M’kay.

...because safe bet the "discovery center" wouldn't have been built without his efforts? Nearly every private school would eagerly name something after the person who rallied donors and used whatever instruments to get a nearly $30M project complete.

[Anonymous]

I’m surprised parents aren’t bailing from there. Or maybe they are. Those of you who say you are staying because your kids are happy - while I totally get what you are saying, we all want our kids to be happy at school, I don’t think I could stomach this level of corruption, greed and mismanagement. Don’t you want your kid to be in a place with good values and where staff is treated right? It is not easy to switch schools, I get that, but if you don’t want to leave, I would make sure to make a huge fuss with the board and the new head so they know how displeased the community is with their shenanigans

[Anonymous]

Why does a school need a full-time lawyer at all? That seems weird from the outset, never mind the compensation issues.

[Anonymous]

The "Dr" on the building is making me physically cringe. The hack has an EdD "doctorate" from super prestigious Nova Southeastern University.

There are literally no admissions standards for this degree at NSU, and it can all be complete online. Essentially if you have the $70k-80k, you'll get an EdD "doctorate." It probably cost all of maybe $15k and a pulse when he picked it up decades ago.

[Anonymous]

Strip the hack's name off that building a-sap.