“I'm mad as hell and I am not going to take this anymore!” — Howard Beale [actor Peter Finch], the movie “Network.”



The clown circus that is the Greater Clark County Schools Board of Trustees and the total chaos that is taking place in the school system has yet again made us the laughing stock across educational circles in Indiana. I have talked with several community leaders in the past few weeks. Few are happy with the current situation.

I understand from one of the members of the Greater Clark County Education School Foundation that several prominent members of that board are threatening to resign from their nonpaid positions. All this group has done since Superintendent Stephen Daeschner came aboard was to pledge a $250,000 goal for Advance Placement scholarships for our schools [they are somewhere around halfway to that goal] and they have reached another goal of raising $100,000 to pay for ACT testing for Greater Clark students.

The members of this board are among the most successful community leaders in Southern Indiana. They have financially supported Daeschner’s efforts and have lauded his successes. Oh, and by the way, many are among those in our area that put their money and valuable time where their mouths and bodies are. They do the heavy lifting and their disgust with the current actions of the school board could well be felt by the actions of their feet and their deep pocketbooks.

I suspect a small but vocal minority is behind the recent coup. It is my opinion that our children and all of us will suffer in the long run. I believe that the group and board responsible for the current chaotic condition has neither the expertise nor inclination to steer it in the necessary direction to continue the vast gains that are being made.

I suspect they will be happy to return to higher dropout rates and underperforming schools as long as they keep the power local. After all, Greater Clark has always been the place for nepotism and cronyism to split the lucrative money to be had from a $100 million-plus school corporation. Mediocrity is acceptable when the lucrative overpaid contracts and positions are shared between family and friends.

We had OK schools in the 1970s. Let’s go back there again and see how those methods and philosophies work for our kids in 2102.

As for that smokescreen that it was all about him being overpaid, Daeschner made it clear he would stay as superintendent for less salary. That’s when it was stated that the board and he had “philosophical differences.”

It was not all of the board. It was the witch-hunt crew that was supported by the anti-Daeschner minority group which has found every reason to undermine his work and minimize the unbelievable achievements made under his leadership. They now have total control of your schools.

I would be remiss if I didn’t remind you that four seats are up for re-election this fall — Jerry White, Christina Gilkey, Becca Christensen and Ernie Gilbert.

As for another theme today, it’s an old idea I have kicked around with some others over the past couple of years. It involves succession from the Greater Clark schools by Charlestown and New Washington and joining the West Clark School system. Logistically, it is a good fit. The unusually concentrated political power base in Jeffersonville would not be as centered as it is currently. Charlestown and New Washington could have a much more leveled playing field.

On Jan. 23, the House Education Committee in Indianapolis met to discuss proposed new legislation, HB 1047 — disannextion from school corporation. This bill would allow parents to disannex a portion of a current school corporation and create [and presumably join a portion of a current school corporation] a new school corporation. One commentary I read stated that bill was vague on how this process would occur, especially dealing with taxes and assessed valuation.

When I have discussed this idea in the past with current and former superintendents from Southern Indiana they thought it a proposal worthy of study. Some community leaders from the Charlestown area have been open to the proposal. We need to study the evolution and fate of HB 1047.

Jim Sexton is at Jeffersonville High School for at least one more school year after June. For all that you hear from his vocal critics, there have been some amazing good things going on at JHS since he came. Don’t believe everything you read on the blogs with the one-sided view from a couple of disgruntled individuals with personal axes to grind who take a small bit of rumor and innuendo and often distort or hide any facts.

He has made some mistakes and there have been a couple of controversial decisions. But some of the notable successes speak for themselves. I know it will take a boatload of money to buy him out early — and I am not sure if not a costly legal repercussion.

Sexton knows that if I ever think he is censoring the school newspaper that he and I will have a very personal and public battle. That being said, I would like to express my appreciation for the school newspaper editorial written regarding the Kelly Short situation at the high school. It was credited to editor Zoie Avery. I cannot overstate how impressed I was with the piece. I would hope everyone with an opinion on the subject would get a copy and read this young person’s response. Well done, Zoie, very well done!

— Lindon Dodd is a freelance writer who lives in Otisco and can be reached at lindon.dodd@hotmail.com