Mar
27
Weekly Recap
March 27, 2009 | 222 Comments
- If you’re looking to cure your cheese balls and ice cream fix, you’ll have to find somewhere besides the Cyclone Drive-In. They closed for good on March 23.
- Be sure to attend the Cory Moore Classic tomorrow night in the Stuart gym at 6pm. It’s for a great cause, plus you’ll get to see some old-timers live like we were 18 again. I heard the Iowa coach will be there looking for players.
-The new high school should be completed by May 10, 2010 and the new elementary wing should be done by the end of this year.
Don’t forget to dust off your dresses and tuxes for Ruby’s 80s Prom next Saturday!
Comments
222 Comments so far
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ANYONE READ THE DALLAS COUNTY PAPER? WE MADE THE FRONT PAGE AGAIN WITH OUR STELLAR MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL and OUR OH SO PROFESSIONAL SUPERINTENDANT! First Ridout gets accused of trying to keep people employed in school from joining the union and then Arnold tries to convince Dallas County News from printing a public artical and states he already tried to convince another paper to not print it. Then when Dallas County presses for more info. Arnold threatens legal action about PUBLIC INFORMATION! WOW! I checked the Stuart Herald and the artical wasn’t in there. Doesn’t take much to figure out they are the “other paper” that wouldn’t print it. PEOPLE OF STUART… these are our children!
http://www.midiowanews.com/site/tab7.cfm?newsid=20286396&BRD=2700&PAG=461&dept_id=660759&rfi=6
Union employees file complaint against West Central Valley district
By: Bob Eschliman
03/25/2009
Updated 03/25/2009 10:04:32 AM CDT
hmmm.school employees were talking about ridouts behavior. wonder what is going on over there.
Why put a link to the story on here then cut and paste the whole thing in??? I guess people around here just have to have something to wwhine about and why are all these stores in dallas county news and no where else?
You are an idiot 9:17am
The link was put in to authenticate the story that was copied to the post. I appreciate having the link to the story and the copy with the post.
Same few people whining again! 9:17 I agree.I got news for all of you that want Ridout and Arnold gone, SORRY, They are not going anywhere and thats fine with me. Keep up the GREAT work fellas!
Ya I think its all the east side folks that have it out for our school district…Still upset from our district getting a new and improved school for our kids to learn in and if they would let the teachers do their jobs, maybe the teachers would stay longer in the district…
So why put a link in and post the whole story reading the samething twice… A person can click on the link and see its authenicated. Plus I think there is laws about copying stuff verbatim
They were just citing their source. God, get over the fact they wanted to document their resources. Obviously you’ve never written a paper or done research or you’d know it’s the proper and responsible thing to do. Ask any student who’s taken an English class.
Now, how about you run along and attempt to find a legitimate thing to bitch about?
WOO! i checked online about ridout and arnold. i didn’t see nothin bout ridout but found a whole bunch on arnold. i can’t make heads or tails out of it, but there is a court case in saydel schools and a court case in pennsylvania schools with his name attached to it? Is it the guy we have as a superintendant?
My friend and I read the whole thing about Mr.Ridout. We are in the seventh grade! Isn’t that just great?! Wow, What a great principal we have.
hang in there kids! Our prayers are with you!
half of the kids that go to school are scared to go because he is always rude and mean. He makes us do janitor work. thats not right. he likes to make fun of kids in front of the WHOLE school. he must think that it is realy fun to be rude to kids.
i made an honest mistake once and he fresked out on me and made me cry. he should be fired. just ask all of th middle school what they think of him and let me tell you it wont be nice things. when he is around the teachers he is al nice and likes to act fake. me and most of the 7th graders think that something should be done about it. he also tells girls that they will come to school some day some day being DRUNK and PREGNANT. thats just dumb he also always smiles (as if hes flirting) at the girls . i am a 7th grade girl try to get the community to understand how he realy is.. so do something about it instead of just sitting there.
I read the post and I look under arnold and it says he worked at abington height school district in pennsylvania and a newspaper said he came from iowa. I put his name with the school and added the word case and all be damn, there is a case that everyone can look at. Is this him? It talks about a teacher abusing spec. ed. kids.
You know when this whole thing first started I was on here, made a few posts with MY name. I believe if you have the guts to say something then say it with your name. I understand the whole anonymous thing but when you have people /kids on here posting anonymous accusations that are serious offenses that is serious. I haven’t even been back on here just because it got to crazy and the stress from trying to be shut up wasn’t worth it. You get more things done when you go to higher up people. Higher up than our school district. Things are coming along and the right procedures ARE being done in my case, I can’t speak for anyone else. You cannot censor freedom of speech and you cannot threaten someone with legal action for freedom of press. I am not going to respond to all the comments on here except to say IF we actually have 7th grade girls posting on here alleging these INAPPROPIATE behaviors..Then why in the hell are you not telling your parents/adults/police etc. etc. I advocate for my children it is up to you to advocate for yours. I really hope people listen to your kids and take them seriously IF these sorts of things are going on. As for the the story I don’t get the Dallas County Paper but makes ya wonder what in the hell is gona happen next. I don’t know anything about east verse west siders but I pretty much get along with everyone in Stuart. I think it is great we get the new school, and I am pretty sure if you have children you would want them to be in a nice school not an old broken down one. On an off note, I hope everyone enjoyed there spring break, we ALL needed it. We enjoyed a week at the Lake of the Ozarks with beautiful 80 degree weather. Cherry blossom trees and the daffodils were already blooming made me sad to have to come home to cold 30′s. The first day there Mark caught a 4.5lb. bass so I decided I was done fishin.. He beats me every darn time, but I got him back on the slick track!! Anyways lets hope the school district gets straightened out and we have a great year next year.
I actually have told my mom. I wasn’t trying to be rude, I just want our school to be a good place! Kids come to school, dreading it. That’s sad, I would put my name, and everything. But, I was told not to. So..? I’m not going to. I understand we want better. and want proof of the incidents, but, how?
We just thought we would throw that stuff out there, since this IS what the website is about..
I wonde rif the school board knows about this whole thing. The artical states that the principal told them not to go to the board. Can he do that?
Oh hunny please dont take me as being rude. Thats not what I was trying to get across. If you are one of the students I understand how you feel. And would tell you to never put your name with it either for your own safety from reprocussion. There are people other than the school district you can go to, to get help. You can go to your Iowa Department of Education or the Iowa Board of Education. If these things are happening and you feel like it will get pushed aside go to someone higher up. This should never happen to our kids,you should never feel afraid to go to school.
http://www.pamd.uscourts.gov/opinions/Caputo/06v01898.pdf
WOW! THAT IS DISGRACEFUL:(
No he can’t do that. That is what the school board is there for. If you feel you cannot get something accomplished with your principal as first chain of command then to superintendent then you have the right to go to the school board and ask them for help.
Dont you think our school board woulda done all the background checks before anybody is hired? Sheesh people move on and quit whining about our schools…. We vote for our school board and they make the decisions for our administration so blame them if you blame anybody….
Or you can move to a different district cuz Im sure grass is always greener on the other side… But Im sure you would all find something to bitch about there
So…let me make sure I understand this. If another paper was talking to Dr. Arnold about writing a story on this topic, it’s the Stuart Herald, because it’s not like there are any other papers in the area that would cover this. So…Dr. Arnold convinced the Stuart Herald not to run a story on a topic that’s very controversial, has interest to everyone in the community, and is definitely what all of us would consider to be news.
I think in addition to seriously exploring these allegations, we need to ask our local newspaper why they allowed a school official to convince them not to do their job. Their job is to keep the town informed of news that is happening in the community…not to drop a story because a superintendant asked them not to run it. I mean, if they didn’t run THIS story, which is very controversial and includes serious allegations against a major school official because the superintendant convinced them not to, what else is going on that we’re not hearing about?
Dallas County news ran this story, and they’re covering the entire county. Stuart Herald’s only job is to cover news going on in town, and they failed miserably…letting themselves be pushed around by a school official. I think that’s much worse than what Ridout did.
This is the last post I am putting on here just for the simple fact I have enough going on in my life it stresses me out to see the negatives even though I know that is a part of your right. I am dealing with a spinal cord leak right now and I definatley do not need the stress of all this all over again when my situation is progressing forward, I am just keeping it to myself. I am posting the links below for the parents of the 7th grade girls that are in fear and may have things that have happened. The first link is the Board of Education click on staff directories and it will give you a list of names and there emails you can contact. That is why they are there. Don’t let someone tell you , you cannot contact them because YOU CAN. They will answer your emails very quickly. Usually within a day or two and will direct you to the right person. There is also a link to the rules and regulations of Iowa Schools. The last link is the Iowa Civil Rights Commisioner site. The proper forms and guidelines to filing a report are on the front page. My only words of advice are if you have the proof to back your allegations then do not back down and make several several copies as things have a a way of disappearing.
My only goal here is to help other parents and kids to the resources they are never told about.
http://www.boee.iowa.gov/ click on staff directory.
http://www.iowa.gov/educate/ on the right side is a list of resources and the correct people to contact for your needs.
http://www.state.ia.us/government/crc/
Bunch of parents whining isnt newsworthy to most people
True, but a principal forbidding members of his staff from socializing with each other after work hours is…and a formal complaint filed with the Iowa Public Employment Relations Board most definitely is.
“Bunch of parents whining?” Did you mean to post that comment to this discussion? It doesn’t seem like you are on the same page as the rest of us here…the story has nothing at all to do with whining parents.
i have been in this district for over 10 years and havent heard one thing about any of this stuff going on… So I figure somebody is making up stories. Seems if it was that awful bad, it would be more prominent then it is. Disgruntled parents is what I think
“ask our local newspaper why they allowed a school official to convince them not to do their job.” – This should be obvious. The “reporters” at the paper do not like to stir pots if it’s going to maybe come back and make people mad at them. If it’s controversial, negative towards the school or certain people, or just “unpleasant” they won’t print it. That’s what’s good about the area newspapers. They aren’t scared to actually tell ALL the news. The Herald is a waste of money unless all you care about is the care center, church, school sports, or the past 25, 35, 45, etc years ago.
i have read this when it first started and now this. Let me get this down, we have a principal in 1 of our 4 schools who has a problem with his temper and discriminates against children with disabilities.we have a superintendant who blows it off and tries to convince newspapers into not printing an artical. The superintendant of pennsylvania had a teacher in a building tying autistic children up and beating them and then wanted to move the teacher aides out of their jobs in the room that reported it and didn’t supervise the principal of that building . Now, if this is the same dude, he doesn’t want the paper to report a potentially abusive incident adn he’s letting a principal be a bully to his students and his workers. holly crap stuart-time to start looking at open enrollment for my kid if something doesn’t get done. NO WONDER TEACHERS ARE QUITING. Jump ship before it sinks!
many people threaten legal crap and don’t know the law. public information is public and should be shared. If he gets pissed and hangs up, it is probably because he has something to hide. right?
I feel sorry for the secretary in redfield. she lives in our district and has been with the school for a long time. when my daughter was sick, she called me and let her sit in the office with her. she always has a smile on her face and is always happy when answering the school phone when i called. she’s always at the school dances helping out . she was dixie’s right hand gal and now she is the one in the office. i’m half tempted to send her flowers. could you imagine working in that type of atmosphere. she’s gotta be one strong woman. My hats off to her. I hope she doesn’t leave!
I still think its the parents chasing people away with all the BS going on and bringing up
cant trust them people in PA
jeez nate I think your blog is smokin..LOL..that is meant to be a funny btw..I just have to say to the person saying this is parents bitching..None of this is coming from parents. This is coming from the middle school employees and the union they are protected by. And if your referring to the one parent who I think you are referring to,she hasnt said a word to anybody and won’t tell anyone what is going on. I’ve asked,,she won’t comment..So stop blaming parents and read the newspaper,IT IS THE UNION. and I agree you cant trust PA..LOL..Sad but true but I don’t think the supreme court would falsify documents or all the newspaper reports although news reporters do sometimes twist things.
Amazing…another glowing post on this site. Instead of running wild with rumors and half truths, maybe people should wait for all of the facts to come out. Is there really any question why it is difficult to find good teachers & coaches in todays society? Kids don’t like discipline of any kind. They go to school & many of them have little respect for the teachers or their fellow students. When a teacher trys to enact measures to get students to behave in a proper manner or actually gives them the poor grade they earned, the student thinks the teacher is “being mean”. Teacher then has to deal with parent of student who ran home & told mom & dad that the mean ol’ teacher gave them a poor grade or made them do some push ups or gave them detention for being disrespectful in class. Or the coach who doesn’t play a kid because the kid can’t control his mouth or actions gets parents crashing down on him because he’s being unfair or picking on their kid. Why would anybody want to teach or coach nowadays when they get to see things like this written about them? If the facts are found and brought out to be true then it is certainly nothing to be taken lightly. But what if the facts have been skewed going from one person to another, to another & so on? Obviously kids read this. Does something like this encourage them to respect the teachers at their school? Why is it that in our society it is a much bigger story when something bad happens? What about all the good & great things happening in your community, your schools? Take an active role, but there is a right way and a wrong way to handle every situation. Go through the correct channels, make a difference in a positive way.
the right way is for our administration to act professionally and teachers to spend the hours they have with our children teaching and not belittling and discriminating, bullying and yelling. as for how hard it is to be a teacher…quit complaining, you work 180 days a year..you get a week off at christmas and spring break…you get our summers off….you work an eight hour day job that requires minimal physical labor…you get paid thruput the entire year…you never work weekends and you have “UMPTEEN” so called professional development days with luncheons, tea and crumpets. You are a state employee and recieve benefits. SO YES I EXPECT YOU TO DO YOUR JOB! That is teaching… not abusing.hss-boo. Learn from Sharon Sloss…she is a TRUE PRINCIPAL. She was a kick butt teacher too. She knows our kids and has a vested interest in our community. wait….there might be a point…she is in our community. hmmmm?
I have read the newspapers, blogs, etc etc if these people have been so bad in the past why did our school board hire them? you can dig dirt up on just about anybody if your out to get em that bad…Nobody’s perfect. I do minimal manual labor for work and get paid a heck alot more than teachers and I dont have the worry of parents scrutinizing my every move… Johnny didnt get an A so now the teacher is the most awful person in the school district..
I’d like to meet the teacher that only works eight hours a day, never brings work home over the weekend, and gets the whole summer off. I’d also like to work at a school that serves tea and crumpets at inservices. Just because teachers don’t do so-called “physical” labor, we’re still responsible for students at our job, and when you have to be the teacher AND the parent, it can be a challenge. And since when does a job only count as a job if physical labor is involved? Teaching isn’t easy – if it was everyone would be doing it. In fact, if it is as easy as Anonymous March 29 1:21 A.M. thinks it is, I would think that person would be switching careers in a heartbeat. If you want to take my salary and break it down to an hourly wage, the result wouldn’t be pretty. I bring work home during the week and on weekends. I take classes throughout the school year and in the summer. I teach summer school. I’m not an eight-hour-a-day, 180-days-a-year teacher, and I don’t think you’ll find too many that are.
Well said 10:51 am
How is it that all of you say oh poor johnny didnt get an A, are you that dumb that you think this is about the parents and whether there kid gets a good grade or not. DUH..READ THE PAPER..IT IS THE EMPLOYEES UNION FILING COMPLAINTS, NOT PARENTS..And the damn Union wouldn’t file a complaint if there was not evidence to back up there claims. It just goes to show how little you know about the law. Get off it already.
Change of subject, I bet Debbie Wilson was PISSED when Ridout tried to tell her who she was gona hire for a new coaching position then Ridout shows up in the interview process…Keep up the awesome job Debbie, good for you for opening it to the public. I am sure you have the perfect person that doesn’t involve one of Ridout’s Pets..Ridout needs to take care of his own school and stay the hell away from ours.
What law?
Yes i am that dumb that I think its about the parents, the parents that dont discipline their kids and then when little Johnny gets discipline at school the parents are mad.Since the parents wont discipline their kids the teacher has to and then the parent cries foul. As the parent of a middle schooler i am sick and tired of a few troublemakers at school ruining it for the majority of kids. And i am really sick and tired of their whinny parents!
3:50 I agree, well said!!
Way to go 10:51 how true what you state! Believe me when I say teachers are under paid for all they have to do each day, each summer. What about all the things we buy with our own money because the school doesn’t have the funds to purchase them. And from elementary through high school we have to serve as disciplinarians and in many instances get no support from the parents when their child acts up.
this is confusing…let’s talk about the new school instead
LEAVE Debbie wilson out of this. She is a great principal and very fair. I’m a highschool student and I’m sick of hearing about it. Ridout can stay out of our halls, he has the middle school school. We want to have a good time in highschool and we don’t need this drama.
ridout is a very large idiot!!!!
Just thought everyone would like to have proof for themselves that this is the same superintendent.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JSD/is_1_60/ai_95954368
Abington Heights School District – People
School Administrator , Jan, 2003
Email Print
David A. Arnold
The Abington Heights School District in Clarks Summit, Pa., has a new superintendent in David Arnold. A newcomer to Pennsylvania, Arnold earlier held the superintendencies of the Saydel Community School District in Des Moines, Iowa and the Pekin Community School District in Packwood, Iowa. He also was a principal in Kansas City, Mo.
I heard the Cyclone will be opened back up with new management.
Yeah I heard the same thing I hope they clean the place up!!
Looks like the rats are running off the ship!
http://www.n-polk.k12.ia.us/Newsletter/SuptFinalist01262009.pdf
The address is to a job that Arnold applied for in January in Nebraska. He must not have got the job. darn.
Lindsay, you must be one of a 1000. I have relatives who teach, so kinda know what truly goes on. Also, have friends from college who teach as well. I will trade you jobs anyday you want. Just name it. I don’t make what you do and work my butt off in an office with the spectre of losing my job at any moment because of the economy and sending jobs overseas.
You on the otherhand, have union representation, tenure, the more classes you take the more money you make, no matter how good you are at your job.
So your post and a couple others evidently from teachers is very enlightening. Is this a forum for teachers to espouse their total goodness, and total committment??
I, for one, am so tired of hearing about the poor teacher. Do your job, send the trouble making kids to the principal. Show and talk to the parents, don’t belittle them as whiners. If you are spending your own money on supplies, then it’s probably for bulletin board crap that needs to be eliminated and more teaching done. Read about what the head of Washington, DC’s schools says about just that in Time magazine some months ago.
Your union needs to lose it’s power and surely will, possibly soon. Go try and find a job that pays more than you are making with the benefits you have. I challenge any of you teachers to do that.
There ARE good teachers and if you are as you say, BRAVO, more power to you and THANK YOU!!
But the sad fact is many enter education because they find the course work in their major too tough to get thru. I personally saw that a lot in college.
So if you are soooooo busy how DO you find time to monitor this or any forums or blogs??
Again, I will trade you jobs in a second.
Also, I’ve heard all about the meetings that are supposed to be teacher development. They basically are a pain for parents who have to find someone to watch their kids at or stay home at the risk of losing their job.
Putting the kids first should be your main goal, not espousing how hard you do or don’t work, and along with that trying to work with the parents so they can truly understand.
I truly believe we are headed to a voucher system and education to become privately versus governmentally run. Then see how many perks the rest of us have!! You’re not going to like it.
Now tear into me because I have vented and entered the truly forbidden area of not agreeing with teachers.
What a crock!.!
Nicely put 6:42.
I agree 6:42.
Say what you want, this is a blog. I don’t really care if you agree with me or not. I’m just tired of people saying how EASY teaching can be, when in all reality it’s getting harder and harder every year. I do not want to trade you jobs, because for one, I actually do like what I do. And you know what else? I bust my butt for every dollar I make, just like you do. I am not handed a paycheck once a month just because I’m on the payroll – I earn that money. Many teachers devote their days to children, and heaven forbid I check this blog every once in a while. I’m sorry for not spending an additional five minutes planning lessons and figuring out how that lesson is going to reach my TAG students and yet still make sense for my special ed. students, all the while meeting benchmarks and standards set by the state, and making sure that no one gets left behind. It only takes one bad teacher for all of us to get a bad reputation. I’m not complaining how much I make, I do have great benefits, and more than likely, my job is secure. I’m not going to tear into you for not agreeing with teachers. But volunteer in a school sometime, and maybe you will get a glimpse into the daily lives of educators. It isn’t easy.
“I’ve heard all about the meetings that are supposed to be teacher development. They basically are a pain for parents who have to find someone to watch their kids at or stay home at the risk of losing their job.”
Teachers aren’t babysitters. If you want your kids to get a good education then teachers need to keep up on the new information, teaching techniques, resources, etc in order to provide it. That’s what teacher development is. Not one big party like you assume.
I think 642 must have been laid off and had alot of time to write all that. 6:42 can go to college and get a degree and become a teacher since they have it so easy..
To 10:25—I have to take classes as well as teachers to keep current. BUT, I have to do it on my own time and on the computer. No socializing, no helping the just out of college teacher, no same old agenda, no free food. I can see what you are thinking about me characterizing teachers as babysitters. Unfortunately, as mentinoned, I have relatives and friends who tell me the true story. So 10:25 and probably the other negative respondents, I assume you are teachers as well. It just fortifies my position that you have plenty of time and are very sensitive to your situation, because you know what I’m saying is the truth. I, too, have to bring work home and will go in this morning with a fresh stack of work on my desk, that I hope to get thru. If not, I will get asked why I didn’t and possibly get a warning. So sit back, kick back, relax, your job is not in jeopardy almost no matter what you do or don’t do. Mine and my co-workers are, as are many other peoples’. I hope you treats at your next in-service are good bought and paid for by tax dollars and you have a grand old time. Oh, and of course, that you may help the AEA stay in business by listening to a speaker or something of that sort. Got to get going or will hit lots of traffic. See I can’t start early or work late either. I have to do my work as to the standard set by my supervisor, no questions asked. FYI, I didn’t watch any TV last night. I had a 2 hr. test on the computer to take, no second chances, either. I will find out the results this morning in a meeting that will put me way behind on my work and at even more threat to not getting my assigned work done. So, as mentioned, have a great day in your little castle. You are truly the queens and kings of your own domain. Only in your own mind.
Again, What a crock!.!
Again, well put 6:42!.!
Yep…just what we need. A pissing contest on whose job is the toughest. Until we have some sort of Alaskan crab fishermen or lumberjacks logging onto this web site from remote areas, this is just going to keep going with the back and forth.
Yeah, teaching is a tough job…in the same sense that cosmetology or selling insurance or graphic design is a tough job. I mean, it’s not manual labor, but I’m sure there are tough days. Is it any tougher than anything else out there? No. Is it a cakewalk? Probably not (except for quite literally when the school holds a carnival.)
This issue is about people in the school district fighting..it’s not about teachers or parents or anything else that is being brought up to flare tempers. If I wanted to flare tempers, I’d type something about how Dr. Arnold is a secret priest, how teachers are being too hard on students, how Ridout is running a sweat shop with JR. High kids sewing him Gucci wallets, and how the most difficult part of teaching is scraping dried up glue and glitter out from under your nails. That’s all we’re doing here on this board…just riling others up behind the anonymous mask of the internet.
Come on…who else is going to jump in and say that they have the toughest job? Is Mike Rowe reading out there?
I have to agree with 6:42. I wish I didn’t have too, since I have two kids in school. We as parents as a whole get treated like underlings. Try getting a straight answer. Just like Arnold trying to stop news about a school happening from going public. I’m not sure I get a straight answer about anything from any school employee, including how my kids are truly doing or what is really going on.
Lindsay may be one in a million and a key word in her last response caught my eye.
Quote–”MANY teachers devote their days to children”.
Oops, was that a Fruedian slip, Lindsay?
Don’t ALL of them? Or a better question is how many don’t?
I’m lucky enough to have a job that is flexible, albeit part time. But my kids come first.
I am also frustrated with teachers always saying they are underpaid and they work so hard and don’t get the respect they deserve.
I guess I feel you have to earn respect and bitching and complaining about being underpaid all the time is a sore subject, especially right now in this economy.
They should be happy to have a job. Especially one that has summers off, several weeks at Xmas, a long weekend at Thanksgiving and a week long spring break, just for starters.
If they go to school in the summer, they get paid more money for progress toward a higher degree as I’ve been told. So that is to THEIR advantage. We don’t need every teacher with a Masters teaching HS students.
If we ask questions, we are called whiners, troublemakers or worse. Our concerns go unaddressed most of the time.
Teachers aren’t babysitters, very true. But better planning and all day in-service is very questionable as to whether it is needed or not, in my opinion. Especially so often. Why can’t this be done on their own time? Like 6:42 and my sis who is an RN taking CEU courses. They have to do it on their own time and don’t affect the lives of children and parents. Why can’t they still have the kids in school with a minimal staff possibly working on projects or such?? Also, why can’t they hold them on weekends or evenings? Oh, SORRY, that would be a true hardship I know. MY BAD!!!!
Teachers are the only ones I know who have tenure. Get that three yrs. in, or whatever the time period, and you’ve got it made. The teachers now should be thanking their lucky stars they have a job. I know of two young people who graduated college with plans to teach and now can’t find jobs. They are very bright too, not slugs as many of you probably immediately are thinking.
Isn’t it funny the more money we throw at education, the lower the test scores get and look at DesMoines with a roughly 66% graduation rate. Boy teachers sure are doing their jobs, huh? Throw that info. out their in a monotone, boring way and if they don’t get it, tough.
Culver–I won’t call him Gov.–immediately gave the teachers $40 million dollars when he got elected. That goes on every yr. that wasn’t a one shot thing. Now we have a serious budget problem. If you don’t already know, guess what he did before his Daddy got him into politics. He was a teacher.
My whole premise here is to ask the teachers to stop complaining and stop defending themselves everytime someone makes a comment. They are after all public employees, paid by tax dollars and are in a position to be highly scrutinized.
Plus do your job and stop complaining that you don’t make enough money. Some don’t make enough, but the further my kids get along in school, I truly believe the majority make too much as it is.
8:56, my issue is about teachers and to some extent parents. I know there are bad parents and there are bad teachers. It just riles me to see teachers selling themselves on here as the Holy Trinity, when the majority don’t even know what that is.
Barb,you go girl! You speak for the vast majority. Well done!
Include me in that majority Barb and 10:55. Glad someone is speaking up. Another perk they have is snowdays. My husband might have to fight to make it to work Monday with the forecast as it is. I doubt if the teachers will have a problem. They will probably be online most of the day seeing who is talking about them.
my wife is a teacher. i am not. while the time off and all that sounds good, i don’t think i would trade places with her.
to everyone else, there are a lot of subject matters with a shortage of teachers, especially industrial tech and agriculture. in fact, i know quite a few ag teachers that have gotten out for better pay/working conditions in the real world. and i would think that ag would be one of the ‘less stressful’ teaching areas because mostly you’re dealing with kids who want to be there. also heard this week that there is a major shortage of superintendents.
go get educated!
I am educated and I agree with the three posts prior to yours.
Thank god for Barb’s comment. Because I am not a bad parent at all, my kids wear nice clothes,there not allowed to get away with causing trouble, there well fed, they have a bedtime which I bet 50 percent of the kids in the school system do not, they haqve to do school work when they come home, when we set down to dinner we actually ask our kids how there day was. I know of several kids who are left alone til all hours of the night and are not in middle school. That is sad. Honestly I feel sorry for the kids that are bullies, they are neglected. But the minute you bring up an accusation against a school that CAN be proven and suddenly your the whiney parent and your child is the trouble child, I get so sick an tired of seeing those comments, but that just goes to show who the educated ones are. It is sad what is going on in that school, because the people stepped forward who witnessed things that went on in that school is why this whole union thing is going on. Because those employees have been targeted. That is sad, because Terri is one of the most kind hearted people I have ever met and does not deserve what has happened to her nor anyone else that was envolved. Your jock child can and probably is just as much a trouble maker as the next child, so stop passing judgment especially if you don’t even know the child. Read your bible because judgement will be passed on you as you have passed judgement on someone else.
Boy, I’ll tell ya’ll one thing. Before all the politically correct crap started rampaging, the teachers back in my day rocked!! I got a good education, was disciplined the right way when needed. Sure, not everyone like all the teachers, but I’ll bet I’d be hardpressed to fine one that didn’t work like an ant!! Today’s teachers, in my opinion, are few and far between to find ones who are really dedicated! Always leaving for greener pastures no matter what school district they teach in.
The teachers that I grew up with taught in our district for years and years before they “retired” from this same district. How many of you can say that now?
And we had an inservice day once every quarter, not once a month. I do realize that is a State mandated thing, so the teachers can’t be blamed for that, but come on!
If you want to see a good teacher, check out the ones that have been in the same district for more than 10 or 15 years (for the most part). They are the ones dedicated to our children and make the difference. Again, I’m sure not all of them make us all happy, but they are the ones who stick it out when all this kind of crap happens.
I am a teacher and I agree, there are ones that that shouldn’t be teaching! Just don’t put us all in one category – that’s all I’m trying to say.
boo hoo for Terri? no way! she started all the trouble with Ridout. Now she needs to step up and fix the mess. She knows she was wrong and all this has been hazardous on his family. So if she’s such a good and sweet person then she better fix this NOW!
I agree with you 100 percent Lindsay..There are some excellent teachers, key word is some and I don’t doubt you are probably a very good one and would hate to ever see you leave as we are losing alot. I heard we are losing one more to the five already leaving for next year, ya know what I would like to see is a change to the rule of the teachers resigning. I understand there’s situations where they get better offer’s, but I think the school board should be aloud to interview the teacher and ask them questions into there resignation. Instead they do not even get to see the resignation papers, all they get is a piece of paper with the teachers name on it and asked to vote for there resignation. I think we could keep alot of good teachers by letting the board EXCLUDING ARNOLD interview them and ask if it is a “forced” resignation or if they really just want to go somewhere else. Atleast let them LOOK at there resignation request.
HMMM 6:03 why attack her..She did not start anything. Sounds to me like you are threatening her? Hazardous to his family how about what he’s done to OTHER FAMILIES…so I don’t want to hear your whiney ass bullshit as to this being hazardous to his family. YOU have no idea what he has put kids through unless your an employee at the middle school????..It’s pretty sad when we have 7th grade girls posting on here that they are scared to be around him, and if your gonna attack Terri then you better attack the six other employees who are involved. AND BELIEVE ME IT WILL GET FIXED!!!!
Hey 6:12, I have an idea what he puts kids through, I have a son over there and he thinks Ridout is a great guy! No, he’s not a jock or an A student,he’s just a kid who has been raised right and TAUGHT RESPECT.This school district has been letting the troublemakers run the show to long, and I am glad we have someone who has the ball’s to stand-up and say ENOUGH! Oh, by the way, using profanity to get your so called point across just proves your ignorance.
7:00pm I am glad you taught your son how to wash the lunchroom tables,take out the lunchroom trash,move cinder blocks,do Ridout PE, I don’t know bout you but I send my kid to school for an education. Now who’s the ignorant one.
7:45 it’s, about, not bout, use proper grammar please when you are rebutting my point. Hey, Mr. Ridout could help you with that, he’s a great teacher!
Thank you for revieling yourself as a teacher from the middle school. I bet it sucks you can’t oops..I mean cannot get on the good egg gazette anymore from school don’t..I mean doesn’t it!!
who are the employees that are in trouble.i have a kid there and what makes me mad is a school janitor who yells at kids during a lunch period. i dont mind if a teacher yells but not the janitor.
8:04 you don’t know what goes on behind closed doors with that man. I have been behind those closed doors while I’ve ben called dumb,stupid,loser. And yes I am an 8th grade student at that school and thank god I this is my last year.
I just found out that Gabe is the new football coach
8:07 there was an incident in Febuary and all the employees that were a witness and questioned are the ones in trouble for standing up to the principal.Breaking the so called “code of silence” Kristi Gloede was forced to resign and she was a DAMN FINE TEACHER, another teacher today was given her notice of termination or shall I say services no longer needed next year. Wonder how long it will be before she turns on Ridout? See I love this page people can’t keep there mouth shut. As soon as something happens to an employee in this school district they immediately start telling people and those people tell people and before you know it the entire town knows of the incident within hours. Our school would of never let something like this happen. It shall be interesting in the next few weeks to see what the Union shows.
did anyone think about how fearful the employees of the schools are to loose their jobs left and right, with all the janitorial stuff being done by the kids…are the janitors going to be fired? I’m sorry that all the staff are getting to the point that they feel like they have to move on. I’ve heard the staff in Dexter are fearful and of course menlo and highschool staff are holding on for life to make it thru.
I work at the ethanol plant with people who work at the school. you would not believe the stories I have heard about the middle school.
Boy 8:06 you nailed that one.
Please, stop and think before you post! Use proper grammar! It’s no wonder this school district has problems,the people who post here were never taught proper grammar.
I have a college education thank you. Why don’t you go spend quality time with your kids. I on the other hand don’t have any kids I just think it is hilarious to see how pissed off I am making you.
Boy 8:33, you nailed that one.
Hi Mr. Ridout!
omg you are childish 8:39. Think of your own comeback. I don’t back yours..
You forgot the comma after I,hand, and kids.
Hi Mr. Gabe!
Ok I’ve had enough fun for one night. Please let me know if I have the proper “grammar”.
Wow! What I heard at the ethanol plant was true! You people need to get rid of your school’s bad rap…it will kill the job growth and keep companies from coming to the area. It’s not the kids… it is the teachers. The children lead by example.
There is a lady janitor in the Dexter school who should be concerned about her job. One word describes her. LAZY!!!
As an employee at the high school we havent heard much what is going on at the middle school. please inform us and as far as the teachers leaving-here is why some are leaving. Mr Jennings is leaving because his wife going to have a baby down the road so he is going to stay home with the baby.ag teacher is going back to school.Nicole got a principal job close to her home town.cross country coach wife got her degree to be a pharmacist so he needs to go where her job is.
We don’t have any kids in school, Thank God, evidently.
Leadership starts at the top. So draw your own conclusions who should be gone. Hopefully, NorthPolk will remove this schools biggest problem from us.
If the stories of kids doing manual labor in middle school are true, then the authorities should be notified, and child labor laws enforced.
As a lot of us know, WCV doesn’t have a very good reputation at all as a desirable school to attend. I have friends at work in DM who ask me what is going on out here. It doesn’t have to make the newspaper. As one post stated, things like this spread like wildfire.
I get frustrated when I see the test results from the school, and the few I have seen have been supplied by the state to the DM register.
A word common these days is transparency. This school and it’s inner workings need to be just that. If it isn’t then one has to guess they are hiding something. Plus being tax funded, all records should be available thru the open records law, with the exception of personal files.
I know there is a chain of command supposedly in place, but if the teachers are afraid of the principal and the principals afraid of the supt., then my butt would be talking to some board members. If no answers exist there, it’s on to the state level. In my mind, there needs to be a turnover on the board. Some have been on there too long.
That leads to going thru the motions and not doing what needs to be done. Which is represent the taxpayers, Not the staff.
Parents aren’t without fault either. They need to check things out as much as possible before going to see school personnel and be as sure as they can that their student truly isn’t at fault.
Also, when going to see a teacher, be professional as possible and don’t raise your voice or threaten. That leads to getting nothing done and no answer. At least, that’s how it is in the real world.
I know there are bad teachers and some are there just for the money and job security. They can be exposed thru asking for test scores, trends of their students, etc. These have to be made available to you again thru the open records law. If you are told they aren’t available, then start with the state Ombudsman to direct you to the right people to talk with the situation about.
From longtime ago experience, be prepared for the state education agencies to not want to talk to you or side with the local personnel.
Tell them you have enlisted the Ombudsman to look into the situation and they miraculously become helpful. At least, that was our result.
There ARE ways of handling things, just be calm, cool and put yourself in charge of your emotions and don’t let the educators play your emotions to their liking.
Just some thoughts. Again, I’m really glad our kids are not in school anymore. They went thru the sharing and I can guarantee you at that time there was a lot of bullying and misbehavior going on and nothing being done about it. They entered college we guess at probably a one yr. disadvantage as to being prepared. But, they soon caught up with hard work and some hard times. They wanted to quit but are now successful and glad they didn’t.
Of course, so are we.
Monitoring your kids more than they like is well worth it. Monitoring test results and comparing them to the state average is well worth it. Calm questioning and use of the resources available to you is well worth it.
When you lose control, the other side has won that battle. They have you where they want you. Go in with a plan and a list of questions. If you’re told that info. isn’t available or you get the run around, move up the chain of command. If the principal won’t help or as usual gives you the run around then call the Ombudsman and(in our case) it got a lot of questions answered.
Hang in there, and remember they are YOUR kids, not the schools. Do what’s best for your kids at all times, but make darn sure your kids are giving you the straight facts.
9:41am . I really appreciate your post. Because you are right, raising your voice doesn’t get anyone anywhere. I know, I have done it, getting frustrated and they win. I have also asked for records etc. and got nowhere, so as you have advised,go up the chain of command. And the people on here running there mouth about the parents,whiners,troublemakers, they have no clue what is going on, they just like there two cents worth. I as a parent of a children in that school am thankful this administration is finally being caught and investigations are going to begin. It is sad that our school showed all year all these kids on the honor roll, yet explain to me why ALL the WCV students have gotten there ITBS scores back EXCEPT the middle school, and the middle school scores were one of the lowest scores in the state. That’s aweful fishy. I am waiting to see my kids scores?? Because if my kids scores were bad and they have been on the honor roll there is a problem. My kid is going to earn there grade, not have it handed to them. As for the teachers leaving, they all have there reasons, its just sad to see them go. I am praying our administration get’s straightened out for the upcoming school year, and our kids are the first priority, not the administration. They are not above the law.
7:54 be THANKFUL you don’t work here and you have Debbie Wilson for a boss. It SUCKS here and our kids even the good kids get treated like crap. Alot of us are to scared to say anything in fear of losing our jobs. We just have to pray the Iowa Department of Education will step in and protect us.
Through out all the crap during the many bond issues people were saying if we have better buildings open enrollment will stop and we would attract better teachers. With a larg amount of staff leaving it doesn’t appear the chance of teaching in new facilities makes any differnce to those leaving. I doubt we will see a drop in open enrollment. Debbie Wilson still sees everything through rose colored glasses, Sharon Sloss is still “my way or no way”, Arnold still has the board wrapped around his finger, and sounds like the middle school is a mess. Janitors earning taxpayer money and don’t know what the meaning of “clean” is. Some things just never change!
I totally agree with you 2:42.
It’s highly doubtful any influx of people will be heading this way in the near future, if ever.
That was a selling point for two elementaries and a new building.
Very true that the economic crisis wasn’t able to be foreseen, but keeping teachers shouldn’t be a problem because of buildings. It has to be something else.
I also can’t see people moving to this area. I can see gas being $4 again as soon as things turn around and property taxes will keep increasing not going down or even staying steady. Why move here with no amenities or jobs?? The main reason would be parents looking for a great school system. Well guess what? We ain’t got it!!
IMO open enrollment will just continue to happen and very well could increase. We have about the worst reputation of any school I can think of.
It’s my thoughts that it all starts with the board. They are the ones who could get things cleaned up—if they would. But I’m not holding my breathe on anything happening. That is, except more of the same and higher taxes.
A thorough house cleaning of administrators is called for and the board to make it clear that they run the show. Plus strict disciplinary rules should be in place and I think are, how about enforcing them?? Not only for students, but for staff as well.
Arnold runs amock and out of control with no apparent risk of being held accountable. No wonder others think they can do the same thing and apparently are. I don’t think we will be needing to add on any buildings in my lifetime, unless we suck some other school system in with us. Or more likely, the state starts combining districts without taxpayer input. I can see that happening. Thanks Nate for this forum to let people talk and learn things they otherwise wouldn’t know about.
Nate-thank you for giving all of us a place to talk. I have two kids in middle school right now and my kid got pulled into the office before basic skills for a “pep” talk to tell my daughter that she better do good on basic skills or it would be her butt after Ridout reviewed her scores. No threats? talk about test anxiety?…after that spill, I told her to ignore him and she lost all respect.He needs to move on and get out of our district. His fat butt is sitting our new school and our board is spoon feeding him and not doing anything about it apparently. There are a lot of GOOD PRINCIPALS AND SUPERINTENDANTS that could fill Arnold and Ridout’s shoes and it wouldn’t take much for them to make an improvement. As for a new board…the first to go would be Mr. Light who is in Ridout’s number one pocket. Hey Harry, does Ridout call you to do more work for the school? Talk about unbiased?
I am a freshman in high school and I can tell you from experience middle school sucked. Almost eveything you have here is true.high school is so much better and the people who work here are very nice.So guys hang in there-it gets alot better in high school.Ridout is nothing but a big bully and so is his janitor-billy boy-always asking us to do his work or yelling at us PS hang in there terry you were always nice to me
Now with all the charges the Union has filed, and the more people are not scared to talk, and step forward, the faster the bad weeds will go away, and our school district gets there good name back. Step up Board and realize the corruption going on. It’s all about to come crashing down around you.
I have 1 child in MS right now she has had Rideout for 2 years and I have another getting ready to go there next year. I hope Rideout is still there because we have not had any problems! I think he just wants to make the kids have respect I have had no problems so far.
i think the worst thing about teaching would be dealing with un-informed parents…….heck, dealing with parents period.
As an eighth grader here in Redfield it is bad here.My sixth grade here was alot better before ridout came.Now we can’t hardly talk in the lunch room without having to take our food and eat elsewhere.We are getting tired of the name calling.Even most of the helpers arent as friendly as before Ridout needs to quit and so does his janitor helper.he doesnt do much except to always ask us to do his work.He needs to clean the boys locker room it always dirtyand there is never any soap in the new bathrooms either.
With the high unemployment we here about every day there are probably ambitious people out there who would do janitorial work instead of being laid off from their current job. You might find the new hire knows how to work and you could get rid of the current janitors who don’t want to work. Oh I forgot they have a union supporting them.
you know, why can’t anyone put their name with what they say? i know, i know, i’m not either, but, that’s because i’m a student, and I don’t need it. okay? i have actually talked to Mr.Ridout, and I think half of this is lies. People want to start drama on sites like this, because they don’t have to put their names, right? ONE HUNDRED PERCENT!
I’m not saying he’s the best person out there, because he’s definatley not. but, stop bad mouthing him, it’s getting old. he’s not the best, or the worst. can’t you just ask him yourself? and for Terry leaving; BIG LIE!
I’m not saying I’m one hundred percent right, of course. because, you don’t know what to believe, and what not to believe. if you want to talk crap, put your name with it,
personal opinion: there are only two good teachers over at that buliding; Mr.Gabe & Mrs.Gabe!
They treat everyone the same, even if they are one of their ‘favorites’.
Wow well said teacher’s pet! Which one of them put you up to that task?
4:38 hang in there. Help is on the way. And the employees he has managed to silence will no longer be silenced. It just takes time with all the legalities. But rest assured the STATE is stepping in. And all the people who were put up to talking up Ridout or Gabe will look like fools. Ask the teacher who was given notice last week.
April 4 7;47p.m.
What have you got against Gabe. I think he is very good. My kids loved him as a teacher and he was a very motivating coach. His teams did very well. He actually takes time to talk to the kids and encourages them to do better. He encourages them to try new sports and studies their strengths and which positions suit them best. I hope he stays for a long time.
I have nothing against Gabe, but there are things not everyone knows.
hey 4:24 Im a freshman too and I can pretty much figure out who you are. I guess that first day of football was too much when I hit you too hard and you quit.Quit being a baby again. If you had stuck it out you would actually know what a good man coach is. But know you went up to the school and sat on Terri’s lap for 2 hours and ate candy. Do everybody a favor and dont talk!
Does anyone else get the feeling that adults are posing as kids here??
BUT they ARE acting like kids.
11:48–you are the child. If you truly are a freshman you seem to be a bully. So why not do everybody a favor and don’t talk?
IF you’re a pampered jock, then get ready for a big shock in three yrs. when the real world hits you between the eyes.
I agree 12:15. With the record of our athletic teams, I wouldn’t be too proud of myself and talking about hitting someone too hard.
Bullying is a big problem and like you say IF this is a kid he is no doubt a troublemaker and needs to be dealt with.
But ya see 11:48–is probably the star athlete and can get away with crap like that. That is what pisses alot of parents off. Because it DOESN’T get dealt with. They get away with whatever they want and it’s WRONG..This kid is on here laughing about what he has done to another child, that is sad in so many ways, but we all know that is part of the real world. But if a child who isn’t a star athlete would do something like that, they would get the book thrown at them. It’s sad, but it’s politics. Hopefully Gabe if I heard correctly is the new coach will straighten that kind of behavior out. We all know how bad that hurts our school reputation as well as all the other things that are going on. But if we have a coach that steps up and says NO, this will no longer be allowed, that will set an example for the kids to come. Our kids need to know if you do the crime you do the time. No grades, no play, you fight, you set out, you run your mouth you get suspended thats the way it should be. Calling names only gives them low selfesteem and we have enough of that going on already,but if you suspend them or bench them, then their gona get the picture. Thats gona do more damage than yelling at them,calling them names, and still letting them play.
The funny thing is all of us parents already know how the real world is gona smack em straight in the face. These kids think they are all that in high school, or even middle school, but we parents already know after school, is when the real world starts. Its not about who’s talking about who anymore, it’s not about is mommy and daddy going to buy me this or that, it’s not about am I going to be the star player, it’s not about being the bully, it’s about “SURVIVING” on your own. And alot of these kids will never make it if we don’t buckle down, get our school system straightened out, and everyone get on the same page. We have to start preparing our kids in middle school, heck probably even elementary school, nowadays. With the advancement of America, the recession going on, these kids have got to have a college education to EVER make anything of themselves. Some of these kids that are on the football team,basketball team, etc needs to also have an education to fall back on, because MOST likely you will never make it to the professional league no matter how great you think you are. It’s reality. So coming on here and laughing how hard you hit someone is not funny. Instead of being on here, maybe you should be studying.
Back in my day in school, when you misbehaved or disrespected a teacher, you didn’t have to get punished by manual labor, you new if you had to go to that office and face the principal you were scared &^*&less and did what ya had to do to make sure you were never there again. Our administration never called us names because we knew what was going to happen when we got home and it wasn’t a slap on the hand. It was hard labor by dad, you were taken out behind the wood shed, and you were lucky if you got to eat that night. THAT was punishment enough and dang sure insured we never misbehaved in school again. Today, you get DHS called on you for spanking your kids, that’s what ALL of these kids need. If the parents had more rights on punishing there kids in the PROPER way, and, I’m not saying beat your kids, but jeez if your kid got a spanking every now and then and sent to bed without supper, don’t you think they would sure be alot more respectful and a little less spoiled. I know I am a guilty parent for spoiling my kids and that is no one’s fault but my own. It’s not the school’s job to punish our kids, but, it is there job to say this is NOT acceptable, and the proper punishment in accordance with the law to be done.
I hope the rumor I heard of the Gabe’s leaving isn’t true, I am hoping and waiting to see how he turns around the football program. I do know from seeing him firsthand with kids he does treat all kids the same whether they are the star or a child with special needs, I just think from some of the things I’ve heard, he should distance himself from Ridout. He’s to good of a teacher and his wife is to good of a teacher to loose..
Anyways if you feel the need to attack anything I have said, that is your right..And I won’t lose any sleep over it.
I have a question about the janitors? I know the kids who serve detention are NOT allowed to just set and look at the clocks. If they get their work done in detention, then they have to read a book. The rule states clearly that they have to use that time along with their time in study hall for academic development. How in the world is pulling the kid from study hall, to do janitor work, academic development? And the last I knew in the child labor laws, you had to be 15 years old to use chemicals, that is with the proper training. I seen on an earlier post about 8th graders sewing Ridout “Gucci” wallets. Is there any truth to that? If Arnold is a secret priest, then please post as to where? That would be some interesting information for the board members. Nothing can get done unless you can provide us with proof.
If the kids are volunteering to do this then that is one thing, but this should NEVER be going on in form of punishment. This violate’s the Iowa Codes and Regulations along with the Iowa Child Labor Laws. If these kids are leaving study hall to volunteer to do this then it is up to the school principal/study hall teacher to be saying no this is NOT allowed, you have to use that time for educational purposes. Apparently from the scores I’ve seen all these kids need to be studying as much as possible. And it is NOT the janitor’s place to be yelling at ANY child. They are there to make sure our schools are sterile and clean and if there is a problem with a child then you are to go to your supervisor. You are all mandatory reporters in that school and failure to report any of these things going on, including witnessing events between the principal and the kids, teachers and kids, etc. etc. then all your jobs are in jeopardy when the state comes in and does there own investigation and finds you have not done your job.
Okay, Me saying Mr.Gabe & Mrs.Gabe were the best teachers I have had, doesn’t mean they ‘set me up’ to it. Because, why would they do that? I’m pretty sure Mr.Gabe doesn’t care.
& For the people saying they hope Mr.Gabe doesn’t leave, I AGREE! He need to stay here for a long time. He treats everyone the same, and doesn’t care who they are. Best athlete, anything.
Mr.Gabe knows when to be serious, and when you can have a little fun, and I love his classes.
He really wants us to get some where.
He tells us to have character, and everything.
++ Janitor Work!
Wow, I agree. I thought this was what the janitors were for? I mean, really. We don’t need that much help that we have to take the kids out of classes. I mean, it’s just study hall, but, JANITORS!!
++ For people saying Mr.Ridout has done nothing but BAD for our school district,
You are wrong! He has got us where we are today! I believe that anyways.
I mean, we all have our own opinions, but, that’s mine.
4:38!
– I agree. We can hardly talk, and if we are too ‘loud’ we have silent lunches.
One day, I was sitting there,
and someone told Mr.Ridout to do something,
and he said.. “I got in trouble for it the other time.”
So, I really have no idea what that man is up to!
So what your saying is you really have no clue? I mean on one hand you think he is so great but on the other hand the more you learn the more your confused. And I totally agree about Gabe’s. I’m the one who wrote that comment about them being good with kids. They are really great teachers, just keep an open mind when it comes to Ridout. One thing you don’t know is everytime the Union files charges it costs this district thousands of dollars. Those charges are against Ridout and the Union as I have had experience in from years ago, will not file charges unless they have concrete written in stone evidence to back those allegations up. So all I am asking is do not take one man’s word who is trying to save his butt. We can’t let one man crash our district which is what is happening. keep an open mind.
The administration building caught fire tonight. That looks suspicious after the big deal in the meeting minutes about adding the new administration offices to the high school which the voters were not told about. Now it catches fire?
the furnace motor quit working dumbass. don’t start rumors where none are deserved. it was only smoke.
Thank you for clarifing that for me. You did not need to cuss to let the people no what happened. Hince the question mark. I was simply stating it was suspicous.
Again your dispatcher reported on the scanner fire on the first and second floor of the building so maybe the fault lies within. Regardless glad to hear it is out.
what’s suspicious is why you think a furnace motor burning out is suspicious. hiding something?
the buildings are old…it’s smokin like this blog. lol! thankfully none of our kids were in class and it was a weekend!
We used to get out of study hall to change lightbulbs in the gym, set up chairs for concerts, etc., and thought it was fun. We were glad to help out. Everyone in also school took a turn working in the cafeteria washing dishes and cleaning up after lunch. We treated the adults, even the lunch ladies and janitors, with respect. That is what is missing in many of today’s kids.
You sure are right about that 1:52. I wander if Josh Stanleys mom would like to know her son is being made do the janitors work instead of being able to work on his study’s in study hall. The janitors get to own him for the week! Thats really helping our kids get good grades isn’t it?
# stuart on April 5, 2009 8:11 pm
Again your dispatcher reported on the scanner fire on the first and second floor of the building so maybe the fault lies within. Regardless glad to hear it is out.
The dispatcher did not say fire. The Fire Alarms were going off reporting smoke on the first & second floor is what they said.
gabe may be a good teacher but plays favorites when it comes to sports its very obvious…
Gabe plays favorites to the kids that come to the weight room, kids that work hard at practice, and kids that have good attitudes. If you don’t like it then you need to apply for the job.
yes, Gabe’s favorites are the sports that do the best, show up in the weight room, have a good attitude and are assets to the team.
that is how all coaches should play favorites.
6:51 not sure if that comment is positive or negative..However, I do agree, I was the star catcher for my softball team growing up and do know from experience every team always had the two or three kids that were bench warmers. But that was ONLY because they LITERALLY could not play, I think it was more of a forced parent wanting them to play. Thats what it boils down to when parents whine about coaches. I believe either your born with it, or your not, so if you are one of the parents that force your kid to play but they really have no talent, then you really have no right to bitch about the coaches. You can only do so much with a kid who doesn’t want to be there. I hated being in the last inning and we had to play a bench warmer then end up loosing the game. Whatever happened to tryouts. Either your good enough to make the team or your not. Or do they not do that anymore?
i think we all need to have a prayer chain for all of these problems. If everyone could say one small prayer who has commented so far I bet you these problems will lift off our shoulders. Trust our Lord. Give this a chance. the next comment I would be tickled pink to see a prayer.
5:02 and 6:51 that may be partly true but i hence to say its not correct for all kids involved… have seen it since he has been here.. sorry to say.
i wouldnt apply for that job… would have to listen to whining parents all the time
6:51 you are right.You know what happened to tryouts? Whinny parents who think their kid, who has no talent or desire to play, deserves the same playing time as the kid who is dedicated and wants to play the sport.I remember when I was a kid the best athletes played and if you wanted to be a starter or sub you had to worked for it.Now every parent thinks there should be equal playing time no matter how talent or dedicated the kid.This way nobody gets their feelings hurt.I got a news flash for these parents,it’s not all equal in the real world and the sooner we teach our kids that the better.
When I was a kid, I went out for sports, I was not good, but not bad. I was at every practice. I probably practiced harder than most. But back then everyone played no matter if you were good or not. Even if it was for a minute or two. Now you have to have a certain name or you don’t play. I have seen that when my kids were in school. You could not pay me enough money to be a teacher nowadays. All they are now, is a glorified babysitter for the parents during the day.
lol 8:43. You are correct. 20 years ago when I started out in sports I never missed a practice and worked hard and earning my place as the starter in every game. And as I said in my previous post on 7:52 the “bad” players got there two minutes of fame and would sometimes loose the game for us. But it all boils down to the pushy parents making those kids play. They didn’t want to be there. I coached softball before I came here and I will tell you the girls that didn’t put forth the effort, missed practices or didn’t want to be there anyways, NEVER played, and if a parent who pushed them to do it anyway didn’t like it, TOUGH. Thats how it should be!!!
Right on 12:02!
Ireally with Nate would shut down this blog. Seems like it doesn’t get much action unless someone is getting burned at the stake. It only causes bad feelings and gives people a chance to slander without proof. This kind of behavior only causes trouble in a community, and we all know it. I think Peg had the right idea. At least for now, she disappeared. Nate should do the same. Publish his thoughts in the paper as usual, and let the ones who wish to reply, do it as a letter to the editor. Time for all this backstabbing to stop.
One more thing…if all these people have real issues that they are describing as “abuse” of one kind or another, then go to the proper authorities instead of posting it on a blog. They would have more credibility that way.
Mr.Gabe treats everyone the same.
He doesn’t have favorites, bud.
He just fully respects the kids who put forth effort.
Mr.Gabe-Head Varsity Football Coach,Things are getting better here at WCV. Good Luck Coach Gabe, this program,and school, needs teachers like you and your wife.
Looks like another 1 or 2 win season this year in football… Hard to win when you play the same 11 on both sides of the ball for all 4 quarters ( WCV is good at playing the same people the whole game and wonder why they lose at the last of the game hmmmmm
Not sure what 4:10,4:13 problem is but the subject actually did get changed. We were all just explaining how it was in the old days of playing sports, when you actually had to work hard and earn your spot on the team. And I beleive we were backing up that now maybe since Gabe is head football coach , that it would go back to the days of actually showing up to practice and working oyur butt off for that starting spot. So if you can’t read into what we are saying then don’t respond. we weren’t slamming anyone. As a matter of fact I beleive we were standing up for certain coaches not letting the poor players play, and to bad if there parent didn’t like. Now anyone who has responded to our last few comments, correct me if I’m wrong?
thid blog wasn’t about slamming someone. It was letting the community know that have children in the school system for 30-35 hours a week, caring for and educating the children, what is happening with their children. If you sent your child to a sitter and they were locking them up in a cage…you would want to know. It doesn’t affect everyone, but it is the communities responsibility to be aware. Ridout has issues and arnold doesn’t have the ability to supervise his administration staff. It appears arnold has skeletons in his closest also. The school district needs to be transparent for the community. With all said, we have numerous teachers in the district that are super and we have two administration people that live in the district and care about the children, Sloss and Wilson. I understand it is hard to hear things have been happening right under your nose and no one knew…but to turn your head on a child is no different than doing the act itself.
To 10:11, you need to read again, I was not referring to the sports. I was referring to the asault on teachers/and accusations of abuse. If that is so, they need to go to the authorities, and not on a blog. If Nate allows things to get so heated that it goes on and on and on, it becomes a real catalyst for all the negativity and pesimism in the community, which so many feed on. That is not good for any community.
The Dallas County News just posted a new story about Ridout and WCV on its web site right here.
OMG!!! I just read the story and if our board members do not step up and do the right thing in protecting our kids in this district then they will lose my vote amoung several others votes come re-election!
WOW!!! Thank you Dallas Co News! Arnold and Ridout need to go!!
Does anyone other than me think its odd that a child with that many health issues is attending a public school? Shouldn’t he be in a school where they can treat his many health/behavior issues? And if a teacher/administrator had my wife in tears two times I guarantee you that the school board would have been notified immediately and action would have been swift.These allegations dont add up, if Ridout was acting like that I think you would have had an uprising of the teaching staff not just one secratery. Mr.Ridout, there are many on your! side
Ya 2:58 seems fishy to me too. Sound like a few people have a personal grudge against Ridout.I support Ridout too,my boy thinks the world of him and no my son doesn’t play sports.
I don’t appreciate comments directed towards my son and his health issues. You have no idea of his health concerns, only what you read. He is a normal kid like the reest of your children, just because he has to take medication for his migraines doesnt mean he’s a special child. And just because he has to take medication for his ADHD , how many fricken kids in this district have to take meds for that disorder. I can start naming names of how many kids. So leave my son and his name out of it. He deserve’s a public education just as your’s! And your comment about you better beleive you would be in there if your wifes employer made her cry is rediculous. You or i do not know what is going on to those employee’s in that building, so unless you have been there, don’t say anything at all. I am pissed you have the nerve to bring up my child doesn’t deserve a public education!
2:58 Hi Ridout! Enjoying your day off!
Why don’t you stop hiding behind your screen and post your name 2:58. As you can see I really don’t care who knows my name and my First Ammendment Right, to Freedom of Speech!
2:58 i agree,it is a odd.
3:28 we know you are the same person posting. You are giving yourself away! And for you to mention the boy and gee not deserving to have a public education, I would be careful to consider those comments as those can be taken as charcherized as defamation of charchter.
The funny thing here is the last 8 comments are from just 2 people. I appreciate that you both want to comment, but I don’t think it’s cool to try to mislead other readers. I’m talking to you anony1, anony, stuart, 6:17, 4:02, redfield parent, amused, wcv parent, menlo, and the other couple of names you’ve used in your recent 71 comments.
WOW! Just got done reading the DCNEWS about the troubles at WCV. Seems awfully one-sided and almost like a witch hunt.Mighty shaddy journalism. Just my opinion, I am sure someone will tell me how stupid or wrong I am.
Valerie Blunt is passing around a letter of support for teaching staff to sign and write positive comments about Ridout and what he has done for the middle school, yet intends on offering the information to Mr. Ridout…to let him know who “is” and “is not” in support of his performance. As a middle school teacher, I felt obligated to sign in fear of losing my job. He is already planning on letting go whoever he fells is not in support of him. Help!
You know what I would like to see printed in the stuart herald? I would like each teacher in the middle school to write about what THEY have done to make the middle school experience a positive one. I would like to see Mr. Ridout step down and let his staff take credit for what they have done. There are a lot of good teachers in the Middle School. They have the students interests in heart and I believe that they love their careers.
I am from Stuart and I also support Mr. Rideout I think he has done a great job! I think everybody just needs to chill out! Also Mary why when your son was sick as you said before in the hospital why didn’t you go to the school and get his work that he would be missing? I just think maybe you and him could have worked on it so when he got well he could have been all caught up. Please don’t get all pissy I am just asking I know when 1 of mine are going to be gone to a appointment or sick I get the work so they don’t fall behind
Can someone please tell me why the Stuarat wwipe which is our OFFICIAL SCHOOL PAPer lets Arnie run them. Our board should switch papers next year and make the dc NEW THE NEW OFFICIAL PAPER. tHEY WON’T BE BULLIED AND WILL PRINT THE NEWS…
If your talking about when my son was hospitalized at the beginning of the year? My son was in a life or death situation and was running a 105 temp for five days. He couldn’t open his eyes let alone try to make him do work. Im sorry I wasnt leaving the hospital to get his work. He wasnt even aware of his surroundings for the first five days in the hospital. I wasn’t leaving him. And I called the school and Mr. Ridout told me my son’s work was the last thing I should have on my mind, and to not worry about it. So why there was an issue is beyond me.
Here’s what this story boils down to. He did some shitty things to my son. Yes he APPOLLOGIZED. I really do believe he is trying to learn from his mistakes. As I read the newspaper article and read the statement where he walked up to Terri and told her he made a breakthrough with my son because he made him cry. I was instant pissed. Why would you be happy about making a child cry. I will not allow a teacher or anyone who THINKS they have power, intimidate my son by making him cry so you can feel good about yourself. My son doesn’t need a dad, he has two darn good ones. Anyways, I came home and found a email attached to my door, no name, nothing, so I opened it and it was an email he had sent out to the entire staff of the middle school giving them permission without my consent to look at my sons letter from his psychiatrist. The consent form I signed from WCV mental health states one person and one person only is to have my sons information and it states very clearly anyone who is not authorized on this form is in violation of the individual privacy act. The school nurse was the only name I gave consent to , so she could make sure and have a health plan in place, so that is why I am outraged over that. I did forward a copy of that email on to both Senator’s office,and the board of education, other than those few issues I have no idea where all this other stuff is coming from. I do know after I filed my complaint with Dr. Arnold none of the witnesses on the list but 2 were interviewed and you can guess who that was. See I have been in constant contact with a board member , the more the board sees him do all these allegged things then thats what it is going to take to get something done. But what is scary is I asked the investigator doing the story about the allegations and he said the Union has the proof and he was given copies of the proof to back up every allegation they have made. The only other thing in that story that I have knowledge of is I walked in Monday to pick my son up around 230 or so and there was the janitor, she came in the office and sat right down after ordering Josh Stanley to clean the railing all the way around. Shocked me to see a kid doing that during school hours. I mean I can see it if its after school and the kid wants to help , but from the looks of things I don’t think Ridout has anything to do with it, I think the janitors are doing with these kids what they want. And the dang janitors need the boot. Actually Ridout wasn’t even in the building or at school that day,so I am sure he had no clue the boy was not in class. If that was my kid and I found out he was being pulled from class to do JANITOR WORK, and was failing his grades,I would slap a lawsuit so fast,then transfer my kid. I think the district needs to rethink some policies. I feel for the teachers, if it is true and he is retaliating on the ones that stepped forward who witnessed the account between Ridout and my son, it is ethically wrong. But that isnt for us to set on here and bitch about, lets just let a dead horse lie and let the State Departments handle it. I have been in constant contact with both Senators and there resources. Things will get done it just gets done the legal way. Take whatever shot you want at me but leave my son out of this. Until you have walked in my shoes you have no idea what he has gone through. So ya can call me whatever you like cause as I have stated several times, words dont hurt me. I set here and laugh. And as for Arnold, he has no idea what goes on in that building,he gets told what he wantdds to hear. Everyone from the sounds of it is to scared to tell him. Hell I was to scared to call and tell him about Josh doing the janitors work while she was sitting in the office. And I can tell you the statement that I was in the process of filing a complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights is not completley true. I have not filed the papers. I do have them filled out but honestly I really dont want the hassle of this thing over and over again. I have a life, again it comes back to leaving the dead horse lie. I mean ya can only do so much. And the only thing I would seek counsel for is to file an appeal of arnold’s findings to the board. And thats just standard. As for the whole Union thing, I dont have a clue and dont want to know. I am just as much in the dark as the rest when it comes to that. So I guess everyone will see, I have been told the state is going to conduct an investigation. But that has nothing to do with me. That has to do with the union etc. Hope you all get what you want whether ridout stays or goes. I do beleive he has learned his lesson for his actions with my son anyways and my son hsa been doing well since. I get regular reports from glenna stamps pleased with my sons behavior and work. So something is working.
To the teacher who is afraid to sign a paper supporting Ridout get ahold of your union.Even if you dont sign ridout cant do anything about it Also get in touch with a school board member especially Cary Gilman.He might listen to you.Good luck.
To Mary VanEaton,
It is important for you to finish what you started. If Mr Ridout gets away with this Abuse, he WILL become a repeat offener, if he is not already. That he BULLIES the teachers and staff is bad enough, but the children, that is truely child abuse. The adults can remove themselves from a bad situation, kids are stuck. The adults should not be forced to deal with his explosive behaviour, but at least that can stand up to it. The kids are the ones on an island all alone. I know that kids are not perfect and there are always people that are more difficult to deal with than others, but this is no excuse to just be on a power trip and be an @$$hole! Kids are just not equiped to handle this kind of ABUSE. As for the staff that did document and report the abuse, WAY TO GO. And as for the cowards that looked the other way, SHAME ON YOU! You are all manditory reporters. This is required by LAW!
Who is the Janitors in Redfield?
They are Bill and Jamie i think
Everyone from Arnie to Ridout is mad about the union.. They have no one to blame but themselves and the board. If Arnie would treat the community and staff with respect he might get some in return. If the board would do something about him but nod their heads that would help also. THey had their chances but Arnie nor the board did anything so now they can deal with the union. It says so much about our district. Super and the board would not listed so they have to hire a union to do what we elected our board to take carae of. Shame on you board members for doing NOTHING!!!!
Our official school paper is a JOKE!!! Kristie will print trash about people who were not infavor of the school but she won’t print what is going on in our school unless Arnold tells her she can. What a waste of time and money with that dinky newsless paper!!!!
I agree with 7:58 pm, the board should be hanging their heads in shame, along with the Herald. Arnold is not your boss, the community is. If any children are abused, whether it be physical or mentally and you do nothing about it, you are as responsible as the abuser. Did you really think that Mary VanEaton was just imagining that her son was having problems or that the the staff was making up things for the hell of it. Your job was to investigate and hear both sides of the stories, not to ignore what people are saying because you don’t have the backbone to stand up to Arnold or Ridout. I think that if you had any morals at all you would resign and let someone in there that would actually do some good.
As far as the staff who think that none of this should have been brought up, in order to protect the “good name” of the school. I consider you in the same catagory as the board. You are the front line, you are responsible for the welfare of the children, not to turn your head, afraid of being reprimanded, you are adults.
The parents that think that Ridout and Arnold are great; what if they arn’t? Are you willing to put your children at risk without even looking into the situation. The union and the DC News would not make statements as they have unless there was facts to back them up.
The staff and parents that are speaking out, should be honored not treated as outcasts, they are trying to protect their rights and the rights of our children, as they should.
You call that one-sided article in the DCNEWS investigating? That was about the most inept piece of reporting I have read since I last read the DMREGISTER. And as far as the Stuart Herald goes, I say bravo. Thanks for waiting Kristy, until ALL THE FACTS AND TRUTHS come out, before reporting on this story.Oh,by the way, I have a son in middle school and a daughter in high school and yes i trust Arnie and Ryno
I have not read the DC News yet but I will. I skimmed through all 172 post and just have a couple comments. First I believe things are not right with Ridout and Arnold. I just hope things are better before my children get to MS. I wanted my kids to go to school where I did small town and all but lately not so sure!! Or maybe just not this small town. There was a comment about Nichole getting a priciple job closer to her home town. Yah, she was supposed to be Dexter’s principle what happened to that? Now she’s leaving I don’t blame her. Pretty crappy the things that go on around here. I wish her and her boys good luck!! And it’s crap that our own paper doesn’t print stories about the district. Let other papers do it so we can be the laughing stock!! Way to go Kristie. Hope my grammer is correct for everyone.
6:38: Well said and spot on with your comments.
12:03: I’m guessing the article was one-sided because Arnold and Ridout refused to comment to the allegations (which are both factually-based, formally registered with authorities, and currently under investigation). Bravo Stuart Herald? For letting a school official tell them what they should and should not be printing? Wow…really? If you were in charge of the newspapers, I’m guessing we’d just today be seeing a headline that said something like “Pirates capture ship, captain held for days, pirates killed, situation ends”. Now THAT’S the timely reporting I like to get!
Really, I’m surprised that you’re defending the Stuart Herald so adamently. I took a couple of journalism classes in college, and this is YOUR local publication. They’re supposed to bring the truth out to the public and let YOU decide…precisely what the Dallas County newspaper did…they told the allegations, they told of the complaints filed, and they left it alone. They can’t make Ridout or Arnold talk to them, although I’d be willing to bet they asked for comment. Meanwhile, the Herald didn’t bring this information to their public because the superintendent asked them not to. That’s negligent at best and corruptful and deceitful at worst…either way, it’s the exact opposite of community journalism and an absolute disgrace to what a small town paper should be. I’m interested to see how they handle (or blatantly ignore) what happens next. Either way, it looks like you’re one of the only people left with any respect for the paper, 12:03. Me? You won’t catch me reading it unless it contains a sincere apology from the publisher and editor for deliberately witholding news from the public.
To April 11 10:48, I just want to thank you for supporting what I am doing. I am just a parent who believe’s our kids have the right to a free and safe education. When I seen the things that I did that were above and beyond even the moral aspect of things, I was determined to get the right people involved. And that’s exactly what I did. I followed chain of command. I went to the board, I called Harry Light the Sunday after the incident happened and the response I got from him was to let Arnold handle it. Well you see where that has gotten me. NOWHERE. He had already made his mind up to his findings before I had even got the complaint forms to fill out. I even sent him a copy of the email that was on my door, which was a CLEAR violation of my sons privacy act. He has the copy of my sons waiver from his dr as to who was to have the information. He knows the school nurse’s name is the only name on that release form. So I am seeking counsel to appeal those findings to the board so they have a chance to actually interview the witnesses and do there own findings. I have some medical things going on right now so that is kind of on the back burner. After reading the Union’s allegations about Ridout yelling at special education kids in the special ed room, what TYPE of person would do that? That is so morally wrong, can you imagine what those poor kids were thinking?
And to the other person who posted about me not making things up, THANK YOU , anyone who knows me , knows for me to take it to the level I have , I sure as heck wouldn’t have done it on hear say. I am the first one that would back up a teacher before I would my own son. I know how kids are. Heck I came to Ridout’s defense on numerous occasions instead of my son’s, until I found out what he had been putting my son through,and it’s not just my son, you have to realize there are dozens of boys over there that has had some sort of abuse or another. That’s why I took it to the level I did, there are 750 some kids in this district who should feel safe when they go to school. If you have even one child who is scared or who doesn’t feel safe to go to school then there is a problem that needs quickly resolved, and I am not trying to place blame on teachers because our school system has a HUGE bullying problem that never gets dealt with. The Senator’s, the Governor, the Board and State Department of Education would not even look at it unless I or the Union could back it up. Lets just hope the right thing gets done at the school board meeting. I have done all I can do,I have 300 days to decide whether I want to go through with the Iowa Civil Rights Complaint, I have the papers filled out but I have been so stressed from all this that I just don’t know if I can go through anymore. I am hoping the right thing gets done especially with all the allegations that have proof to them, have now come out, and I am positive there will be more to come. As teachers feel safe in going to the Union now I am sure we are going to see an explosion of allegations, I don’t know,just my personal opinion. Our kids deserve a heck of a lot better. They don’t deserved to be scared into learning. I’m sure there are alot of people out there who hate me, because I brought all this to light, but to you haters, do you REALLY think it is ok to let children be taken out of classrooms and do janitors work, instead of there studies? I along with not just the office but several other teachers witnessed that on ALOT OF OCCASIONS. Do you HONESTLY believe it was okay to pull students from class to yell at them a second time? If it was your child having to do RIDOUT PE would you be so willing to jump on someone, or would you open your eyes to what has happened in this school? I know there will be more articles to come but I will say if the news gets involved I won’t. I will not subject my son to the stress involved with news media. I can keep him from reading the newspaper, which we have, but I cant keep him off the news. So hopefully that doesnt happen. I DON”T want to deal with them.
I will say I got awesome reports from AEA Friday. She told me Brady has no behavioral problems in school, he does not cause problems in the classrooms, so Im sure that didnt go over well. His only issue where he needed extra help was organizational skills and who doesn’t need some of those..LOL…I know I do..Whatever the outcome, I tried to do what was best for not only my son and daughter, but for your children as well, and I appreciate ALL the support I have received!!
All I have to say to the “person” from the school, who told people who are my friends that I would look like a fool when this was all said and done,who looks like the fool now?
I appologize for any grammar mistakes in advance.
Maybe so 8:20, but the reporting was still inept and hamhanded. You of all people should know this, after all, you took a few journalism classes.
Nice to know that the staff at the DCNEWS reads these posts. Looking forward to next weeks objective reporting on this story.
Mary-
thank you for being honest. WCV PRIDE!
9:37..
We do disagree on the style of the reporting (“inept” and “hamhanded”…blowing some dust off of that thesaurus?). Care to elaborate?
Ahhh, the expected jab at being someone directly involved with an incident…and in such a clever way, too. I can’t count the number of “Hello Mr. Ridout!” and similar comments are in the past 170+ threads. But, no, I’m not from DCNEWS, or any position in the media for that matter.
I’m looking forward to future articles from them on the subject as well, however I’m a bit surprised that you are. If you’re so disgusted with their coverage on the issue, why are you following it and buying their paper? Why not just sit back with an issue of the Stuart Herald and enjoy some light, happy reading? Then you can catch up with the rest of the town on this situation in a few months or so, when “ALL THE FACTS AND TRUTHS come out.” Which, I guess will just consist of Arnold and Ridout being removed and the entire saga being complete…which I suppose will warrant an article from the Herald…now late and old news. Better late than never, I guess, but I just don’t see what point, if any, you’re trying to make here.
Are you just an Arnold or Ridout supporter that’s upset, or do you really believe that not publishing a story about a school administrator because he asked you not to is acceptable? At least with the first option, I can see where you’re coming from.
10:29 if you go from the cory moore thread and look at the time there this same person posted at 9:35 then came here and posted that comment. Its funny because even thou in the beginning I did post anonymous I decided to show who I was.Only problem with that is there are several teachers/parents here that get on here an post anonymous, so I am sure some people think it is me. I won’t hide. I will put my name with it. Anyways my point is that I believe the site administrator can see which town the posts come from. So it is only obvious. Why hide when the site owner even though they may not be able to see your actual name can pretty much pinpoint your location/town. I know the website I run, I can see my traffic log and the towns/states of the hits on the website. Im willing to bet he has something of the same. And the investigator from the DC News did tell me Arnold told him he threatened legal action not only with him but with the stuart herald if they ran the story. As you can see the DC News does not like to be threatened.
DC News at least digs into things to find the truth. The Herald doesn’t want the town of Stuart tarnished by any bad news. As far as somebody commenting about kids doing janitorial work for punishment. I don’t see anything wrong with it up to a point. Many times it is just a way for lazy janitorial staff to get out of doing any work. It is the same in every building. Anybody checked out how clean some of our building actually are? Soap dispensers empty etc. With high unemployment I think the district could find some ambitious caring people who know what the meaning of a building being clean really means. They expect the teachers to do more for less pay. I suppose the teachers will be expected to dust and vacum their own rooms soon; while the janitors set around drinking coffee and taking it easy.
DC news hasnt asked me for my opinion. Oh yeah they wont I dont live in Dallas County so they dont want to hear my point of view. Do people here actually believe everythin that is written in a newspaper, on the internet, anywhere?? come on people…Common sense is dead around here I guess
For what the school pays I wouldnt want to do that nasty work anyway…
I will be looking forward to attending the school board meeting tommorrow!
If you want your opinion heard, call Bob, better yet, why dont you send him an email through the dallas county news website. He would be more than happy to hear your opinion.
right on j
I dont live in Dallas County so he wont want to hear it anyway…Im Pro-school.. which is unusual in this district it seems
Harry Light,
When your children were in school you were the first one to confront the school if you did not think that things were right. You did what you thought was right to protect their welfare,no matter what.
Now I hear that you are Dr.Arnold’s “lap dog”. I have heard from other board members that when it is your turn to vote on an issue you look at Arnold and he nods his head yes or no, and that is how you vote. And that you won’t even listen to the staff members that are trying to do something about this problem.
You do know that Arnold is not your boss, don’t you. If anything, you are his.
I am wondering if these staff members, that are trying to do what is right, have stolen your “kahunas”, because you seem to have lost them.
I heard Mr. Ridout resigned. Is that true?
resigned or chased away like lots of educators around here
HE was smart he RESIGNED so DO not say he got FIERED NOT
glad people dont critique my job like they do the teachers
It’s not about the teachers. They are GGRREATT! It’s the administration that needs fixed.
its a team or should be anyway
There is NO “team” in “DICTATORSHIP”
U guys suck
all for one and one for all
HARRY LIGHT, CARY GILMAN, JANICE BELDEN, MIK ASKREN, JEFF BAKER, DOUG WILES, MARTY DOUD….
Come On School Board… Ridout resigned, but your letting him finish out the year. Are you nuts? That is a bad action to take. Do you think that this will going away? You still have Arnold… you know the man who sits at the board meetings and runs them, while you nod your heads like sock puppets in a side show. Then, you cut him a 107,000 dollar salary to do it. Pull his hand out of you butts and quit letting him control your mouths and speak up. You all have children or know children in the district and you WANT To risk the potential of one of them getting abused while the supe. turns his head and instructs you to do the same thing. As a parent, I am asking you a question…why are you letting him stay one more day to be around my child? What about your children? Why is Arnold allowed to stick around after he has shown no supervision ability with Ridout and the similarity between Abington Heights, Pa. and what is occuring between Ridout and the Community is clearly uncanny…not to mention, Arnold has more federal court cases to attend as another parent has come forward in Abington Heights Pa. regarding their child. Did he tell the board about it when it occured in the MS? Did he put on his job application for our district that he had federal court cases pending against his ability to perform his job duties in Pa…the same duties we are paying him for at WCV. If not, I was under the thought that lying on a job application for the STATE OF IOWA was immediate grounds for termination and fraudulant. Did he put it on his application, can you prove it, can you show the public a copy, because right now…I don’t know if I trust you, and I’m scared for my children’s safety when I go to work and they are at school. I know there are a lot of great teachers in our district, but it is instances like this that make me nervous about the supervision my children are recieving, the “administration” has my concern. Where are the procedures for a school board? What policies do they have? This will not go away. I have heard from people in Waukee, Adel, Desoto, Earlham, about our school. They read the paper and it comes back to..”what’s the board doing about it” There isn’t any big huge case right now, so you can talk about it. Screw Arnold when he tells you to stay hush hush. When he tells you what you can and cannot do. When he tells you how to feel and acts like he is a lawyer and a judge and has all the experience in the world. HE IS A COWARD, who hides behind his title and his grey suits and has court cases all over the place, jumping school disrict to school district to avoid the frying pan. Harry Light- you better get on the district side and quit spending your days over at the middle school with Ridout trying to figure out how this will go away and keeping on your phone with Arnold….your the biggest puppet of them all, Jeff and Doug…comeon boys-get me a glass of water Doug, because your getting fed a lot of s#*t, your wife works in the middle school and is one of the best teachers over there…don’t let her reputation go down the drain. Jeff-be proud to coach those kids…not the guy who does what someone tells them to do. Cary-pick the district or Arnold, but quit swinging back and forth. Mick- your too smart for all this crap, get down to the bottom of it and put your fiss down to protect your two children. Marty-do the math..how much is is going to cost the district in lawsuits because your told to be quiet. Janice-you’ve got children, let those momma instincts kick in and kick butt. Nows not the time to be wishy washy board.
man everybody on this blog is so much smarter than our board
at least for every bad thing there comes a good thing. Yes we are losing a wonderful principal, but the teachers have gotten closer from this whole experience. Terri and Darleen may feel like their heads are about to be put on the chopping block, but that is because they deserve it. Thankfully the teachers have figured these women out and well this is still not over. Im proud of the teachers, Mr. Gabe stood up and said alot of good things and Mr. Ridout was well supported.
I have had so many people ask me about what is going on in the Middle School. some of these people live in our district and some live in Dallas and Madison County. I am not sure what to tell them. I do not have a kid in the Middle School and am not sure what to beleive of what I read. The Dallas county News has not been a reputable paper in the past.
I would hope that our school board is doing their job and taking the action needed to protect our kids from Mr. Ridout, if needed.
Dr. Arnold is another matter. He has such a controlling way that I do not think the board is able to stand up to him, and that is sad. Although, I have a lot of faith in Mick. He is our only hope of getting to the bottom of anything. He will stand up to anybody he needs to.
“I have a lot of faith in Mick. He is our only hope of getting to the bottom of anything. He will stand up to anybody he needs to”.
Our only hope? He’s been on the board how long and hasn’t said anything!
The same groups of people have been on the School Board and City Council for years. That’s why we are in such a BIG mess!
Mess comes from parents whining about their kids getting looked at cross eyed and run to the administrators and complain.
I was not aware our city is in a big mess.
Stuart is in deep trouble it will all come out soon
To WCV Staff, Please think before you act. Our kids deserve to get an education, be safe and not have to worry who is doing what to whom. Just drop it. You were all aware that Mr. Ridout and Dr. Arnold have been looking for jobs since prior to xmas break. They must not have been happy in the first place, or they would not be looking. To you teachers: I suggest you look around before you speak, I don’t think that you are all in agreement and students do pay much more attention then you may think. They can read body lang after all you have taught them.
Duh, why do you think they are looking for new jobs? Whinny parents thats why.
9:57 must be one of the teachers. And the way I hear it from one of YOUR OWN is the only reason they went were because they were scared for there JOBS. And tell the truth, there were only two people who got up and spoke on behalf of Ridout out of all of you. So don’t try to make the public believe something it is not. You all are exhausting. This is old news!!! BTW I spoke with the Sentaor’s office yesterday so keep up the good work on trying to convince everyone this is all lies.
Well, well, well…time for this door to open and let the rest of the state take a peek, don’t ya think?
Thought you started the crap so you should have been there Mary darling
yes two people spoke on his behalf, but there were 15 teachers there backing them up! I trusted the two people who did speak and I trust the board. They did not want to accept his resignation. Everyone in the room, except Naven,wanted him to stay.
9:22 Do you REALLY think the teachers were going to say anything or not show up and let Arnold be on their case??
I believe most of us are smarter than that, even some on the board, I hope.
Most don’t like confrontation and/or are not wanting reprisal on their children nor themselves. Bottom line it’s easier to keep your mouth shut, which plays right into Arnold’s and the board pres’s. hand.
But for sure, you can count on it that Arnold was taking names and would have filed insubordination or some other charge with the union, against any teacher who said something he didn’t want.
So let’s be real, you have a person who has gone to the politicians and other sources.
Do you REALLY think she is not telling the truth?
Perhaps a damning article in the DM Register and action taken by the state DOE would let Arnold know his management technique and huge ego–ala “DR”–were not wanted nor needed here.
Trying to get any info. from a board member is like trying to pull teeth with tweezers.
It isn’t going to happen and they aren’t listening. Several have been on there WAAAAAY too long. They need replaced and a new day started at WCV. We have the staff, we need the communities support(which will be there when things become transparent). We are, after all, the ones paying the taxes and should at least be kept abreast of what’s going on. Whether we have children in school or not.
6:50 if you don’t like the way the school board act’s why don’t you run for school board next election? I’ll tell you why, because people like you run your mouth and don’t know what your talking about that’s why. And like 9:22pm said 99% of the people and 100% of the board members at that school board meeting were standing WITH RIDOUT! How’s it feel to be in the 1%.
It feels DAMN good to be very honest with you.
Tell me YOUR qualifications!!
You don’t think Arnold didn’t have that outcome already played out??
HaH!! I feel sorry for your naivete. You must be a board member or someone who REALLY doesn’t know what they’re talking about.
I can’t run for the board for several yrs. because of their staggering or terms.
Yeah, that was fair. Just like your assumption no one knows anything but you. And your assumption that because no one said anything or acted supportive actually meant they are.
If you know so much let’s hear some facts and words of wisdom from you about how the board runs and rules and laws.
OHHH, sorry!! Your mouth is the only part of you that functions.
I don’t have the qualifications but you must, because you seem to know it all. And all my internal organs function too otherwise i wouldn’t be alive, a know it all like you should know that.
HAHAHA TOO FUNNY 4:40! I think 8;04 assumption is that the Ridout critics where to gutless to state their case infront of the teachers,board, and majority . Typical cowards.Good luck Mr. R in Boone.
Wish I was in the Boone District… dont have to listen or read all this crap from parents who children get disiplined in school
4:40 I expected better from you.
Evidently your only capable of calling names and running people down who don’t agree with you.
What qualifies a person for the board?
Is there a class you take? Answer NO!
Just a desire to see the district educate their students and succeed. Plus, represent the people’s interest in their district.
You have the desire to make decisions based on a false premise(that almost everyone supports Ridout and Arnold). You know the board and Arnold were taking names and Light wouldn’t have let negative comments come forth. Or you should.
Too bad you don’t have those qualifications to be on the board. You would get an education in itself if you were. Or maybe, you’re a follower. Then please do NOT run for the board. We have way too many of those on there at the moment.
build a bridge and get over your woeful selves
MAN-I work with two people from Boone and they have school kids in the district and they are HOT!!! they are reading this blog and the one guy bought the paper and he has been calling his neighbors. BOONE SCHOOL BOARD better tighten their shoe laces and lean forward… just their going to get blown over if this man starts the 09-10 year there. One parent stated that they have no problem throwing a lawsuit at the district! GOOD RIDANCE RIDOUT
sue em for what?? Hiring a good educator???
What happens when you have 2 women working in the m.s office that kept secretly informing parents of false stories? You have a bitter woman who was fired from being the librarian because of so many reasons its impossible to list. How would you like to find out your secretaries were haveing “secret sister” meetings at Pease’s? Mr. Ridout didnt have a chance when all these women and secret meetings started happening. They sunk his boat before he even knew what was going on. They think the union is going to protect them. Even if they continus to work at the m.s believe me they will eventually get their’s. The teachers who supported Mr. Ridout also know who was in the middle of this. So Barnett, Naven, Fillman, Pease, I cant wait to see you go down. all your backstabbing gossip and accusations may have given you pleasure at the time, but we will have pleasure to watch the table turn. Everyone of these women cause so much trouble for others. So i dont blame Ridout for leaving at all. We lose the good ones and now you know why. PATHETIC!
What employee’s do on their personal time is their business.
Members of the union are protected more than you can imagine.
Teachers can come to board meetings and chew on board members in the name of being taxpayers.
Want anymore examples?
Don’t get your hopes up. And if what they said is true, it should have been brought up.
Evidently it is or they wouldn’t have filed a formal complaint. Those aren’t to be taken lightly.
You have the right to type names indiscriminantly, teachers and employees also have rights, especially under union protection/and representation.
You’re so much in the know, you must be one of the inner circle who wasn’t invited.
what does any of this have to do with cheeseballs and ice cream. Small town never changes. Get a grip.