Citizens in Support of Dr. Williams

First let me say that the reason I’m posting this entry on this site and not the Take Back Perry Schools website is that my opinion may not reflect the opinion of TBPS as a whole. I’m sharing this as an individual that’s concerned about having someone like Nancy Walsh responsible for our school system.

The story goes that recently at Perry Meridian High School there were a group of guys that were caught by police on top of the school building vandalizing property and just some general pre-graduation pranking going on. I’m not interested in getting these students in more trouble than they’ve already been in, which was defined by the school administration as being expelled for 5 days which included their graduation commencement ceremony this past Friday I believe. I’m not sure whether or not any police charges were brought against the individuals, but for me that part’s not important.

I found these photos as I was browsing around Facebook and MySpace pages after initially hearing about the event taking place. My account of the story comes from bits and pieces I’ve heard from a variety of sources as to what occurred.

What is important is that these students had more than likely been warned, along with the entire student body about pulling pranks like this before graduation and were probably told that there would be consequences for these types of actions if they were pulled. They decided to do it, they got caught and the suffered the consequences. I’m not sure if the students were really upset about everything, but I’m sure their parents were pretty ticked off at them. Included in those parents that were upset, was none other than MSDPT School Board Vice-President, Nancy Walsh.

As some point after the event, Nancy Walsh called the school and said that she would be coming in for something acting on behalf of the school board. When she arrived the principal was not available and she proceeded to tell whomever she was speaking to that she wanted the diplomas of the students that were expelled and that they deserved to have a ceremony because of all their hard work the previous 4 years. She reminded them that she was acting on behalf of the school board and proceeded to stage a mock graduation commencement in the school guidance office.

From what I’ve heard, someone hummed the melody to Pomp & Circumstance while someone else read their names alphabetically and they walked to Nancy Walsh and received their diplomas.

Regardless of whether or not you think these boys deserved to walk in their graduation, or whether or not Walsh’s mock ceremony was a disgrace to all the other students who also worked hard and took their education a little bit more seriously than others, there’s a more important issue at hand.

Nancy Walsh arrived on school property, announced that she was acting on behalf of the board and decided to undermine every bit of authority and leadership that the school administration had in handing down their decision against these four students. I’ve emailed every board member and acting superintendent Dennis Nichols asking if indeed, they were aware of Nancy’s actions prior to her arriving at the school. When I hear back from them I will confirm whether or not they were informed of that decision.

UPDATE: I’ve heard back from Steve Maples, Gayle Houchin and Jo Ellen Buffie that they were in no way informed of these actions prior to them taking place. Now the question is whether or not the “board majority” knew about it, if they did then here again they’re making decisions for the district without including all board members.

The crux of the problem is that Nancy Walsh, or any other board member for that matter, have absolutely no power or authority as individuals outside of a school board meeting. There are some occasions where the board would ask a board member to do something, but it’s my understanding if that was the case a motion would have been passed at a meeting and all board members would have voted. Upon the result of that vote, the board member either would have or would not have acted on “behalf” of the board.

Yet, it’s her opinion and will that she can walk into any school in our township and make students, administrators or staff do whatever she wants. If that’s not an example of micro-management, I don’t know what it would be. Then there is of course the issue of undermining the authority of the entire staff at a school. If she doesn’t agree with it, she overrides whatever she wants and forces her will upon others. Could it be these types of actions, while on the board and previous, are exactly the ones she was reprimanded for by Dr. Williams? And could it be that her response to his authority over that misguided behavior is exactly the thing that pushed her over the edge against Dr. Williams?

If anyone has additional details or thoughts they’d like to share, please leave me a comment.