EDITORIAL: Cronic makes bad move
The dramatic hiring reversal this week by a member of the Jackson County Board of Education was wrong on so many levels that it’s difficult to know where to begin.
Although the intentions of BOE member Michael Cronic in reversing his vote may have been good, his inexperience as a board member in the action sets a terrible precedent for the future.
Here’s the background. On May 10, the BOE voted 3-2, with Cronic in the majority, not to hire three teachers who had retired and wanted to work part-time for the school system. The action, led by chairperson Kathy Wilbanks, was a strong move by the board to rein in the system’s administration, which has created a cozy culture of protecting each other and looking after the interest of fellow administrators and favored employees over the larger interests of the system and students.
One of those turned down in the vote was John Hawley, a retired basketball coach from Gwinnett County whose wife is the curriculum director for the school system. Hawley was on the list to be part-time for the system and the girls’ basketball coach.
After that vote, Cronic says he was contacted by a number of parents of the girls’ basketball team who know Hawley; some threatened to move their daughters to another school if Hawley wasn’t hired.
Cronic subsequently bowed to the pressure and had school leaders put the matter on the agenda at a called meeting Tuesday, where he reversed his earlier vote and Hawley was hired.
The problem?
Let’s count the ways:
--Cronic’s change of vote makes him look wishy-washy. He just sent a message to school patrons that he will bend over to their demands if they badger him enough.
--Cronic’s change makes the entire BOE look weak and wimpy; the earlier vote was meant to reassert the BOE’s authority over a lackluster administration. Now the vote change will emboldened administrators to play board members against each other by stirring up dissension with parents behind the scenes.
--Cronic’s change sent a clear message that athletics in the school system are more important than academics. How should those teachers being laid off read the action except in that light? Would Cronic have fought as strongly to hire a part-time chemistry teacher? We all know the answer to that.
--Cronic’s change sends the signal — correct or not — that system “insiders” will get favors. Hawley’s hiring may not be due to his wife’s employment in the system, but to many people it will certainly appear that way. Bad signal to send.
--Cronic’s change was apparently rooted in the idea that Mr. Hawley will reverse years of lackluster athletic performance by the school. But this administration has had a long time to bring in talented coaches and reverse the school’s fortunes. It hasn’t. One coach’s hiring won’t change that impotent culture at the top.
What’s really amazing about this is that Mr. Cronic admitted the move probably wasn’t in the best interest of the school system, but he supported it anyway because of the girls involved.
What he really should have said was: “I’m your punching bag; hit me enough times and I’ll rollover and do whatever you want.”
Some leadership.
Here’s the background. On May 10, the BOE voted 3-2, with Cronic in the majority, not to hire three teachers who had retired and wanted to work part-time for the school system. The action, led by chairperson Kathy Wilbanks, was a strong move by the board to rein in the system’s administration, which has created a cozy culture of protecting each other and looking after the interest of fellow administrators and favored employees over the larger interests of the system and students.
One of those turned down in the vote was John Hawley, a retired basketball coach from Gwinnett County whose wife is the curriculum director for the school system. Hawley was on the list to be part-time for the system and the girls’ basketball coach.
After that vote, Cronic says he was contacted by a number of parents of the girls’ basketball team who know Hawley; some threatened to move their daughters to another school if Hawley wasn’t hired.
Cronic subsequently bowed to the pressure and had school leaders put the matter on the agenda at a called meeting Tuesday, where he reversed his earlier vote and Hawley was hired.
The problem?
Let’s count the ways:
--Cronic’s change of vote makes him look wishy-washy. He just sent a message to school patrons that he will bend over to their demands if they badger him enough.
--Cronic’s change makes the entire BOE look weak and wimpy; the earlier vote was meant to reassert the BOE’s authority over a lackluster administration. Now the vote change will emboldened administrators to play board members against each other by stirring up dissension with parents behind the scenes.
--Cronic’s change sent a clear message that athletics in the school system are more important than academics. How should those teachers being laid off read the action except in that light? Would Cronic have fought as strongly to hire a part-time chemistry teacher? We all know the answer to that.
--Cronic’s change sends the signal — correct or not — that system “insiders” will get favors. Hawley’s hiring may not be due to his wife’s employment in the system, but to many people it will certainly appear that way. Bad signal to send.
--Cronic’s change was apparently rooted in the idea that Mr. Hawley will reverse years of lackluster athletic performance by the school. But this administration has had a long time to bring in talented coaches and reverse the school’s fortunes. It hasn’t. One coach’s hiring won’t change that impotent culture at the top.
What’s really amazing about this is that Mr. Cronic admitted the move probably wasn’t in the best interest of the school system, but he supported it anyway because of the girls involved.
What he really should have said was: “I’m your punching bag; hit me enough times and I’ll rollover and do whatever you want.”
Some leadership.
In regards to the earlier vote being a signal meant to "reassert the BOE’s authority over a lackluster administration" I don't think the facts support this, and I hope the BOE never sacrifices students or teachers to make a point. If they want to "reassert authority", a decision about hiring a girls basketball coach seems like a strange and arbitrary way to do it.
If they board really wants to reassert authority, there are far bigger fish to fry. I don't believe the earlier vote was a signal -- and if so, it was a very mixed signal given the hiring of two double dippers to fill one principal's job.
Regarding the notion that Cronic would not have fought as hard to bring in a chemistry teacher, I would ask how many parents call their school board demanding a better chemistry teacher? I think we know the answer to that too.
Regarding one good coach not changing everything, that of course is true. But you have to start somewhere, and maybe this coach is the guy who can instill a culture of excellence that turns things around. Certainly, Jackson County shouldn't just give up on hiring good coaches. What kind of signal would that send?
I do agree that the hire could send the wrong signal about insiders getting special treatment. Nepotism and double dipping should both be rare events, and call for special scrutiny. In this case I think you can justify the hire. Not many Coaches with a history of success would want to come to Jackson County.
I think the better course here is to examine all the double dipping and all of the nepotism, and not treat this in isolation. Some of it may be justified. Others not so much. How much of this goes on?
1. Education employees are allowed by the state to retire at a much younger age than most private sector employment;
2. People who retire young then go back to work in a school system part-time are, in effect, getting two salaries, their retirement and their current, both funded by taxpayers; if a teacher retires and goes to work in the private sector, however, that's a different dynamic;
3. Some think that kind of system is unfair to younger teachers whose employment may be blocked by that kind of system;
4. On the other hand, sometimes the part-time employment of a retired teacher is what a particular school needs, such as in a class that may only be taught once per day and requires special skills.
It's controversial, especially today when full time teachers face furloughs and layoffs.
Let's keep bashing public servants who make 30,000 - 70,000 a year. They are the real reason for the mess we are in. Keep up to good work Mike. You are an awesome person.
I just think, if he was going to change his vote for one, he should change it for all. At least then he won't look like so big of a jerk. I mean, he'll still be a jerk but it'll be a little better.
Stephens County 21 Jackson County 65
East Hall 33 Jackson County 40
Dawson County 41 Jackson County 50
Jefferson Dragons 26 Jackson County 39
West Hall 14 Jackson County 56
Chestatee 36 Jackson County 45
Thanks.
"I really don't care about all of the reasons it was wrong"
Do I really need to explain what is wrong with this attitude?
"a more experienced and effective coach and Chad Pittman."
Chad Pittman has several years of experience, including some very successful seasons. Not to mention that he's a class act and a very good math teacher.
Sounds like sour grapes to me. Take your daughter to Jefferson already.
You need to register for Attitude 101 class next school term.
Schools cannot win. If they try to do right by the athletes by hiring the best coaches they can find, they are criticized for focusing too much on athletics. If they ignore athletics, they are called pathetic losers by the media and the public.
I'm sure Mr. Buffington would have loved to see more athletes leave JCCHS for Jefferson so he could gloat over any losses suffered by JCCHS and offer up Jefferson's athletic victories as proof of how superior it is to JCCHS, at least in his own mind.
Without mentioning any names, the one gentleman from Madison County. Well...Madison County...Jackson county....okay, on to the next issue.
The coach was hired back P/T because enough parents banded together to attract the attention of the BOE, or at least one voting member, and change his mind. The tactic, threatning to remove their children and send them to another school being much like that of a consumer who threatens not to shop at a certain store if they are not satisfied. Seems reasonable.
The argument about the ethical side of it is a good one. The other two teachers were not hired back. Well, they aren't coaches right? The issue was brought to the board about the coach, be it for 2 years or 10, what is the difference? They want this coach!
Just the fact that there is not enough money to have teachers doing the double dip is understandable as well. However, youth sports programs ARE vital in the development of adolescent youth, both girls and boys. Nothing can be etched in stone in that regard or one becomes shallow and incapable of identifying when a "unique" circumstance requires a particular resolution.
The board member changed his mind. Well, guess what, he was elected to consider the concerns of the people who elected him. Sounds like to me there were plenty of concerns. Mike makes a good point about the issue in regards to the doubledip. I'm glad I don't have a horse in the show frankly as it does seem on the surface a bit unfair to allow the coach to collect twice from the same entity. Fact is though, he earned his retirement, paid his dues. Now he is in demand to fill a P/T job that suits his unique capabilities. Whether the BOE were to hire him or someone else to fill the job, from an expense perspective, there is no difference and I thought that was the intitial basis of the conversation, at least in the other thread.
Laying that aside, the only other concern seems to be the bius shown against the other two teachers. Well, they aren't coaches I assume. Jackson County wants a strong basketball program, okay, well then, where is the problem. Some parents think that is important and some don't. What's new? Go sit on a board meeting in Valdosta one evening and just whisper cutting funding to a sports program and watch how quick they have a hemp line wrapped neatly around your neck while you stand on a shaky chair waiting for some parent to kick it out from under you! Now, while you may react that what I just said is a silly statement, look under the ink first.
Programs like theirs, one of the most successful in the Unites States, I'm sure I'll get no argument, funds huge advancements in their general education of non-sports related programs. Their sciences programs, field trips, academics, better teachers etc,.. are all made possible by a program that is so strong it earns tons of dollars that would not be in that system were it not be for the school's sports programs.
I believe this should offer another prospective for you good folks to consider in this issue.
I certainly hope that whatever does come of the matter, it will benefit the children of Jackson. The passion shown by both sides in this debate seem pretty healthy to me and sure to spark the conscious of the thinking of the other.