Northwest Indiana Discussion

Here are the highlights of the brief meetying:

All board members were present.

Public Expression(1st, no 2nd)

1.Irene Mendoza, a Clark parent, objected to Dr. Watkins renewal of contract. She said that instead of Dr. Watkins getting a raise, Teachers should have been retained. She said Latino Teachers have been let go from the SCH.
2.Shirley Trinidad, who tranferred her child out of the SCH, also objected to Dr. Watkins renewal of contract. She cited a lack of a Cultural Diversity Program/Training for SCH employees. She said there is a lack of response to the concerns of the Latino parents.
3.Naomi Ross thanked the SCH for the good work they do.
4.Collette Whetnick(sp) thanked the SCH for the good work, and brought thank you cards from students.

My Take:

Watkins should have not had his contract renewed. There has been a lot of scandal under his leadership, and the test scores are dismal. He was given a substantial $20,000+ raise with this new 2 year contract, bringing his annual pay up to $158,500,a $18,500 yearly annuity, a 3% of his salary contribution to his retirement, a vehicle with insurance and gas provided, and other perks. When you add up what he has received over the years he has been the Superintendant, it has got to be close to 2 MILLION bucks. The taxpayers, the students, and their parents sure have not got their bang for the mega bucks bestowed on Dr. Watkins.

Wow! Teachers will be lucky to get a couple 100 this year.

What is wrong with the school board members. With all the scandals like you said this is ridiculous!

Why do they keep him? I can't rap my mind around it!

More of the same. The biggest problem in tis city is the school system despite what the other idiots say. Now we will have two more years of people fleeing because of it. UNBELIEVABLE

Mike, Councilman, it's been a proven fact, the gene pool living in Hammond is so dull, they are not smart enough to vote. McDermott got re elected to his 3rd term with 80% of the 11% of eligible voters voters.

Now for the Lake County Democratic Chairman, not to increase the voting pool because it would get him unelected is sure not a feather in his cap.

So the Honorable Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., had to cull city workers, threatening their jobs so city workers would get their friends and family to come out and vote. This just might come out in a pending Federal law suit.

You can't educate a dumbed down gene pool Mikie, you know that as this is how you got re elected right?

And oh, by the way have the boys with gold badges come talk to you about your income taxes?

He should not get a renewal of contract.The scandal at Wallace School years ago should have stopped his renewal of contract the last time.

The Civil City isn't exactly hunky-dory either.

When the residents don't do nothing, a do-nothing will run the schools and the City.

Blah blah blah gold badges. Blah blah blah indictment. Blah blah blah gene pool. Blah blah blah Mikie. the fact that you insist that I am opinker just confirms in my mind anyway how manic you are. How is Sanchez doing? Gearing up for that next election? The both of you are pathetic!