Special Note: The author would like to thank Keith Ball, Principal of Woodstock Middle School in Cherokee County, Georgia, for all the extra traffic he has been driving to this site.
If Mr. Ball referred you to this blog, please understand that his actions are the result of his personal vendetta against my fiancee’, Allison Burnes. For the record, Allison Burnes does not write, edit, approve, or support what is published here. I alone am responsible for this content.
Mr. Ball’s problem is with me, but he can’t seem to muster the courage to take me to task directly. Instead, he is referring all of Allison’s prospective employers here, hoping to sabotage her career by blaming my writings on her. It’s wrong, and you deserve to know his motives and the relevant facts. If you would like to read all of the articles related to Mr. Ball as of 2-15-2010, please use this link. The posts are displayed in reverse chronological order, so read from the bottom up. Thank you for visiting.
As a part of my effort to see that the problem at Woodstock Middle School is properly addressed, the following letter was sent to all seven members of the Cherokee County Board of Education. When I remembered that there are three contested seats on the school board this year and that there’s an election in mid-July, I sent it to all of the candidates for those three seats as well.
Honorable school board members:
I am a citizen of Cherokee County, and I write to bring to your attention a serious situation. Cherokee County’s school system has an excellent track record and has historically employed some of the finest teachers and administrators in the state. This reflects positively upon your strong leadership, and when something threatens that reputation, I know you will want to be aware of it.
Last year, the principal of Woodstock Middle School, one Richard Landolt, was replaced. I was extremely happy and relieved when I heard of this action, because Landolt had put into place some policies which were at least unethical, and at most illegal. One of these was a 65% “minimum grade” policy, where teachers were required to falsify a nine week grade if it fell below a 65% threshold. This also required falsification of IEP documents. Landolt still works within the school system, but I understand he has not re-implemented the illegal policies at his new school.
I had hoped that Landolt’s replacement, Keith L. Ball, would represent a return to sanity and would bring quality leadership to Woodstock. Sadly, this has not been the case, and there is some fairly serious trouble brewing at the school this spring.
In my opinion, Ball shows clear signs of inexperience and overconfidence. A quick look at personnel records will show you that teacher attrition (retirements, resignations, and transfers) were extremely high during and after Ball’s first year of leadership. This is not a coincidence. Good teachers are jumping ship. Ball seems intent on aggressively establishing himself as an authority figure, but does not seem to understand even the most basic tenets of management. He stifles and ignores experienced teachers from whom he could learn a great deal. He does not listen to his people, even when they warn him that serious trouble might be ahead.
Ball’s priorities are inexplicable. He says that there’s no money in the budget for such things as classroom bulletin boards, even when they’re required under his own policies. He then sends out a flyer to parents and to the community in general, asking for donations not for vital classroom equipment like this, but for repair of tired landscaping, purchase of front office rugs, replacement of window blinds, and the like.
Ball seems to have little or no knowledge regarding special education and the handling of special needs students, and apparently does not care to learn. He was warned by someone expert in this area that his inaction in one particular case could easily lead to a lawsuit. The case involved a child with a diagnosed and documented developmental disorder. He ignored the warning, and now a parent is on the verge of suing.
Perhaps more frightening than the mistakes is Ball’s tendency to duck and cover rather than simply fix a problem. When the open records request was filed, Ball ordered his employees to destroy e-mails which were required to be delivered. He then announced his own formal inquiry (into a situation he essentially caused) and threatened employees with disciplinary action. He so upset these people that one showed up at the inquiry represented by counsel.
Confidentiality prohibits me from knowing the names of the student and parent involved in the above action, nor any more detail than I have already revealed. I believe that the board would be in a better position to investigate such sensitive matters, and I hope I’ve given you sufficient information to begin such an inquiry should you choose to.
I am aware of this situation because my fiancee’ is one of the teachers who decided to leave Woodstock Middle School this year rather than work under Ball another year. I am also the author of a personal blog which came under attack, indirectly, by Ball earlier this year. Unable or unwilling to speak with me directly about some writing he objected to, he instead harassed my fiancee’ and threatened her with disciplinary action if she did not convince me to censor myself. She has no connection to the blog at all. This deplorable action clearly shows that Ball has difficulty respecting boundaries.In short, honorable board members, the principal who will presumably be leading Woodstock Middle School’s staff next year is in my opinion dangerously unqualified for his position. I would strongly suggest that the board take a close look at Ball’s performance and qualifications before allowing him to cause further damage to the county’s sterling reputation for educational excellence.
Scott Johnson
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That’s an impressive piece of penmanship Scott – I hope it gets results.
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I hope it gets results – nice work.
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Scott,
It will be really impressive if the schoolboard, or any prospective members thereof respond…
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I wouldn’t count on a response with the school board elections just a week and a half away. They will try to let it be as quiet as it can (ignore it) until their seats are secure. Then if the board majority is the same old group that has banded together to protect their mediocrity for years nothing will happen or be acknowledged. If enough new faces get on the board they could use these issues as a rally point to flex new muscles in the system.
This may be a strenuous wait and see situation. Waiting is not something either of us do well. Three of the candidates have responded with supportive comments but not binding promises. Then there is the issue of all the things I witnessed/experienced etc, that have not been put in print because of the potential for confidentiality issues. The things Scott cited in his letter (yes VERY well written) are just the tip of the iceberg.
The time will come when circumstances permit more revelations until then we are in a holding pattern at least until July 15th and the elections.
I can say that if all of the parents of special needs children at that school ever got together, Mr. Ball would be facing far more than he is now. Too bad it would breach confidentiality to give them eachothers contact information.
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Allie,
I would be intrested WHO the boardmembers are that are intrested in keeping the status quo, as I fully intend to vote on the 15th, and as a resident of cherokee county I want to be as informed as possible. I for one believe in holding our elected officials ‘feet to the fire’ and make them do the right thing. Else they will hear the words that Donald Trump has made famous ‘YOUR FIRED!’
Good Luck,
Damon
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Damon,
Janet Read and Mike Chapman are the only two incumbents running for re-election. They’re both entirely too comfortable and neither seems terribly motivated to bring about change, from what I’ve seen. If we can get these two obstructions out of the way, we’ll have three new faces on the school board who are ready to make real progress.
Take a good, close look at Danny Dukes, Robert Strozier, and Kim Cochran. I think their vision of the future of this school board and school system makes good sense. I think they’ll be a good start toward fixing what’s broken.
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Damon to paraphrase Janet Read after she recieved this letter and participated in a public forum, “Don’t call me I can’t do anything.” A week before that I spoke to her on the phone and she said she had forwarded my concerns to Randy Martin. I was never contacted by Mr. Martin or anyone in his office. In short I was told to go through the existing bureacracy even if it doesn’t work. Mike Chapman replied that he had to stay impartial and uninvolved.
My point (I won’t speak for Scott) is that when the system is broken it falls to the board to repair it. The issues at this school are well known. I understand that the board cannot address each individual concern that crops up but there is a systemic issue here which is well represented by my experiences.
I am far from the only one to voice concerns. I was expressly forbidden by my prinicipal, in writing, from speaking to anyone outside of the school building regarding my concerns thereby negating the concept of going through the chain of command. If I (as a teacher in Cherokee) can’t bring concerns through the chain of command and as a voter can’t depend on the board members then nothing can change. Parents don’t know what goes on behind the scenes and while employed by the system I couldn’t divulge anything.
Who do you vote for? Your call. Unless someone pulls a rabbit out of their hat I have made my decision regarding how I will vote. My votes will not go to the “uninvolved” or someone who says “don’t call me”.
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Yes, I’m one of the candidates for school board. If you’re not in favor of the status quo, vote for me. I know about the problems in the school system. I have a special needs child, butted heads with administrators for years, and watched the chain of command consistently cover their backsides. I’ve watched special needs/at risk students get railroaded out of the school system. Here is one of the tricks used in high school. Even if a student is passing a class, due to excess absences, the vice principal has final authority over whether the student receives credit for a class or not. Many times, the vice principal leaves for vacation before the credit review is done. When the student comes back next school year, the student has lost credit for an entire semester of classes because the appeal process wasn’t finished within the required appeal period. What happens, students give up.
If your child isn’t a robot or requires extra services, you can bet your backside the school will try to find some way to motivate that child to quit, especially at the high school level.
I have many more horror stories. Most parents have no idea what is going on behind the scenes. Here’s some insight. The chain of command system works like an insurance company that doesn’t want to pay a claim. You call the first person in the chain and they say they will get back with you. They rarely do. Then you climb the chain and receive the same response. The only way to get their attention is to demand an emergency IEP meeting, request county personnel attend, and inform the school you are going to record the meeting. It doesn’t hurt to tell the vice principal that you have contacted the Department of Education and threaten to file a Section 504 complaint with the Office of Civil Rights. I know this sounds extreme, but its the only way to get the school system’s attention. You usually have to repeat this process numerous times.
It worked for me and my son graduated from high school with honors five weeks ago. Fearing retribution, I waited until after he had passed all of his graduation requirements before I entered the school board race.
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Allie – As far as Janet Reads’ comments, that ‘she cant do anything’ as a member of the school board, is indicative of as someone I would classify as a ‘complete waste of air.’
And as far as Mike Chapmans remarks that he has to remain ‘imparital and uninvolved.’ ARE YOU KIDDING ME! Mike I have some advice for you, I certainly hope that you dont take that same approach to your day job, lest you sir will soon be unemployed. If you dont want to do the job, quit! Better yet the upcoming election on next Tuesday hopefully you will get the message.
Robert – You have my vote sir but keep in mind that it is a job as any other, though being a volunteer, the responsibility is no less, and being elected will be much more important. I am aware of some of the woes of the education as my son is a teacher in Fulton County and he informs me of the obstacles that he encounters daily.
Damon
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I worked in Fulton County for five years. When I told people I had taken a position in Cherokee they all but had a wake for me. I was told repeatedly that I had not only jumped out of the frying pan into the fire. I had heaped burning coals upon myself. I had a hard time believing that it could possibly be that bad. I was wrong. Fulton was tough but they were structured, consistent and showed respect for their special ed teachers. There were still issues but nothing like what I have encountered here.
I know it will take a long time to straighten out. The feudal practices run deep. People will get their feelings hurt before this is over with. First we have to have people willing to try to do it.