This speech was given by Ken Mertz at the school board meeting on Monday, November 27th.
While some people, and many on this board, think that the only people willing to stand up and question the decision to place Dr. Williams on leave are his friends, his henchman, or his hired bullies. I stand before you as none of the above, but as a supporter of his leadership!
I have stood before this board on two prior occasions and I stand before you now as someone who has no personal relationship with Dr. Williams. While I have met him on only 1 occasion, I know him only as the Superintendent and doubt weather he remembers meeting me. What I do know is what kind of a positive impact he and his administration have had on the Perry Township School Corporation.
I have watched the actions of the majority of this board and have been overwhelmingly shocked and disgusted by the lack of professionalism, lack of integrity and the level of planned malice of forethought displayed by those board members in a leadership capacity.
I as well as countless other citizens, parents, teachers and taxpayers support the leadership of Dr. Williams. I would ask all who support Dr. Williams and the Teachers of Perry Township to stand up so that this board may see our presence and realize that we are in this for the long haul and we will stay our course.
In closing, I would like to offer a quote taken from the November/December edition of Success magazine in an article written by a well respected past public official….Colin Powell. Mr. Powell’s article was titled “From the Battlefield to the Board Room….Colin Powell explains how to be a leader worth following.Â
“As a leader, you set the tone for your entire team. If you have a positive attitude, your team will achieve much more. If you’re negative, your team will quickly become demoralized. Be a strong advocate for hopeful thinking. And, when it comes to how to be a great leader, he says Communicate your vision to your team. Celebrate your victories. SMILE. Always look for the bright side of a situation”
These are the traits that I and those who stood up with me demand from our public board room and these are the traits we are still waiting to see!
So I ask the majority of the board….”What are you going to do to become a leader worth following? Voting down Mr. Maple’s proposal is NOT the start!
I found this to be a very powerful and thought provoking speech. I fear for the future of Perry Township schools and my children’s futures in them. I would urge the board members to study what Mr Mertz has said and truly think about the direction in which they are taking our children, their very futures are at stake.