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One slight correction because I feel it’s important to only represent the facts. Teachers in one building have been limited to one ream of paper until cash flow improves…not until the end of the school year, as I stated earlier.

By Back To God

January 27, 2008 11:52 PM | Link to this

Carlisle Graduate, look forward to the spirit returning. There is now a school board made up of people you can respect, with trust to work together and make the right decisions and as one informed citizen said, it is time to move on. The board and probably a lot more people know the reason or reasons why Mr. McLinden was releaved of his job but who wants to cast the first stone,what purpose would it serve now.It is better to just move on,the school spirit is still there,it just needs revived.

By INFORMED CITIZEN continued. . .

January 27, 2008 11:02 PM | Link to this

I’ve recently learned that because of financial constraints, teacher’s in one building have been limited to one ream of paper for the remainder of the school year. Are teachers and/or school boards infallible? Absolutely not. However, “when a long train of abuses and usurpations” occur, it is the community’s right, it is their DUTY to purge and institute a new leader. The CTA made the community aware of the problems. The school board took care of it. End of story. Time to move on.

By INFORMED CITIZEN continued. . .

January 27, 2008 10:54 PM | Link to this

Money had been mismanaged for YEARS and the previous board sat by and did nothing about it.The third highest paid superintendent in Warren County was not offering a portion of his salary back to help solve the financial crisis.He,instead,suggested and forced the board to make cuts closest to the students,in the classroom.He wouldn’t send teachers to receive up to date training and he wouldn’t pay for classroom supplies.

By INFORMED CITIZEN

January 27, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this

A teacher’s strike is detrimental to everyone involved:teachers, children,parents,administration,business leaders,and community members.It is sometimes necessary, however.Yes, the Carlisle teachers wanted more money but that is certainely not the sole reason for declaring impasse and conducting the informational picket.The teachers had not received even a cost of living raise in three years, the board was threatening to raise insurance rates and professional development funds had been slashed.

By Tadlmd

January 27, 2008 9:23 PM | Link to this

Anyone who has attended or watched Board meetings the past few months on cable or listened to the candidates during the “Meet the Candidates” night should not be surprised by the recent decision of the Board. Clearly, the community spoke in a landslide election to replace the two incumbents. The taxpayers wanted change.

By voiceofreason

January 27, 2008 8:47 PM | Link to this

Of course it was a hasty decision! The School Board President didn’t even know that a vote was going to be taken regarding Mr. McLinden’s oust.

By Tadlmd

January 27, 2008 8:01 PM | Link to this

In talking with friends and neighbors who work in the school system, not as teachers but as specialized staff members, problems with the superintendent had been building for the past several years. Staff morale was extremely low; intimidation, fear, and disrespect, were tactics the superintendent used. This is not effective leadership. I think the new Board conducted its research, considered all stakeholders in its consideration, and did not make a hasty decision in replacing the leadership.

By Back To God

January 27, 2008 7:09 PM | Link to this

In reading these comments some have mentioned a failing economey. What failing economy?Stop placing blame where it doesn’t belong.The people of Carlisle should be thankful for this new leadership. The teachers have been picked on enough. The board has been picked on enough. Praise them and help them succeed in taking care of your children. If anyone diserves a raise it’s the teachers. They do what Mr. Mclindens wages was and get paid so much less.

By Concerned Carlisle Booster

January 27, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this

To “leave the supers alone,” teachers do not run the district, however their input should be valued and with good reason. When employees of any business are treated professionally and their knowledge and input is considered important in decision-making, they are more invested. Research of successful businesses, schools and leadership bears that out as well. The Board knows you don’t leave the CEO in charge when he is running the company into the ground. They will work it out.

By voiceofreason continued

January 27, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this

I think we can all agree that the teacher’s union’s strike would have been detrimental to the kids, for no other reason but that the teachers wanted money that just is not there. It’s not the fault of any one person that the school district is in financial trouble; this is due to a failing economy and an inability in the community to pass school levies.

By voiceofreason

January 27, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this

In response to everyone who is expressing discontent with Mr McLinden’s performance as a superintendent, I highly doubt that most of you have the same education, training, and experience in education of young people and the administration thereof. What Mr McLinden cared most about was the education of young people, which the CTA may or may not have at the top of their priorities; they threantened to strike which would have put a hault the learning/education in the CSD.

By voiceofreason

January 27, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this

In response to everyone who is expressing discontent with Mr McLinden’s performance as a superintendent, I highly doubt that most of you have the same education, training, and experience in education of young people and the administration thereof. What Mr McLinden cared most about was the education of young people, which the CTA may or may not have at the top of their priorities; they threantened to strike which would have put a hault the learning/education in the CSD.

By NEW BOARD DOES WHAT PREVIOUS BOARD COULDN'T

January 27, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this

The citizens of Carlisle just voted overwhelmingly to boot out two board members and bring in two new board members. These two new board members took office and within three weeks, we have seen results. Other board members kept talking about change but never produced. A few of the board members that have been booted out are now defending the superintendent but while they were in office, they gave him poor ratings and criticized him.

By CarlisleResident

January 27, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this

Hey John G….don’t tell people to shut up for having their own opinion. If you can’t stand the opinions just move on. Better yet, maybe you should run for school board. In the meantime YOU SHUTUP! The school board can’t work it out because their track record speaks for itself. I think it’s time to change the board when the election comes around. They can’t think on their own because they are controlled by the teachers union. I bet they can’t go to the toilet without a union member!

By unionmember

January 27, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

If an employee is not doing their job, they should be fired. That goes for teachers, administrators, custodians, secretaries, superintendents, everyone. However, if an employee is doing their job, they should not be relieved of their duties without just cause. Looking at it through the eyes of the union; how many bad reviews did this man receive?

By leave the supers alone

January 27, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this

Teachers should NOT be allowed to run a school district. Many teachers do not want to change with the times: use new technology to interest their students; differentiate their instructional delivery methods to meet the needs of the different learning needs of all students in their classrooms; update the lesson plans that they have been using for the last 20 years;etc… Superintendents are hired to run school districts and make sure that principals hold teachers accountable for doing their jobs.

By John G.

January 26, 2008 11:36 PM | Link to this

Our school board is elected by us, the taxpaying citizens. The school board hires the superintendent, ( he is not elected) and the superintendent oversees the every day operations of of what is a large business whether you like it or not. The first goal of all is to satisfy the educational needs, safety and well being of our young children we intrust to them, let them all do their jobs and shut up, the school board will work it out!!

By Carlisle graduate

January 26, 2008 5:52 PM | Link to this

I for one am very happy to have Mr. McLinden sitting at home being paid to stay away from our schools. Thanks to his arrogance and total disrespect for the teachers AND residents of Carlisle, the school spirit is virtually gone. Watch a past board meeting and pay attention to Mr. McLinden’s reaction to residents who dare to speak their mind about anything. He doesn’t even respect them enough to look at them. He some how convinced the past board he was their boss! It is the other way around!

By an INFORMED community member continued

January 26, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this

McLinden used intimidation to offend parents, students, teachers, and community members. He ran off a treasurer, who wasn’t permitted to make decisions on his own, and veteran teachers, whom he forced to retire. He is not from this community, attempted to employ consulting firms and other individuals from his community of Yellow Springs, and is the reason that our district is in financial distress. Tim McLinden’s actions were cancerous…and he was ruining the Carlisle School District.

By an INFORMED community member

January 26, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this

Looking at Mr. McLinden’s performance review, it seems that he received a ranking of 0 out of 9 in some categories. How can one’s contract be renewed if the are receiving 0’s? The problem is not that the board put him on administrative leave…the problem lies in the fact that it took them YEARS to accomplish this. It took two new courageous, determined board members to step up and convince the remaining board members that this was the correct decision.

By taxpayerand parent

January 25, 2008 10:40 PM | Link to this

The problem is that teachers wanted a raise and not to pay any more for their insurance.Obviously they don’t stay up on the economy.Everyone is paying more for their insurance and going a year or more without a raise. I’ve been on committees with Mr. McLinden outside of the school and he was always worried about wasting time and doing what was best for the kids.Maybe that’s the problem. He was worried about my children more!Teachers deserve more $ but let’s face it the economy is bad!

By Tax Dollars Hard at work

January 25, 2008 9:35 PM | Link to this

The superintendent is under contract, even if the school board fires him he still gets paid. I would personally like to thank the school board for wasting my tax dollars by paying man to sit at home.

Also a not to all the school board members you all will be fired at the next election I am sure. Enjoy what time you have left and maybe you should all think about your own forced retirements.

By Secured By Faith

January 25, 2008 8:55 PM | Link to this

I am a concerned parent of 3 children and I think we need to get this thing right. If a person isn’t doing his/her job in our school system, changes should be made. After all, our kids are the most important thing, they are our future. I know Tammy Lainhart, James Campbell and Rick Amburgey. They are Christian people whose heart is in the right place. Anyone who really knows them knows they think hard and pray about the decisions they make. I think they made the right choice.

By Unbelievable

January 25, 2008 8:22 PM | Link to this

Yes! Lets applaud the board for putting a man on paid leave while over the past few years he has gotten good reviews. The worst he received was a 6.83 out of 9 and for that a man gets suspended. In the end, Mr. McLinden will get a buyout and the taxpayer will lose. Yes, lets applaud the board and the teachers union.

By Back To God

January 25, 2008 8:11 PM | Link to this

It first of all is sad that some people of Carlisle have ‘let things come this far’ and now they are placing the blame on the two new members,wow. If the teachers and the board members are so bad, where have you been to let this happen, to let it come to this. I have compassion for Mr. Mclindon. Where is your compassion for the board that will go on from here. Where is your support? No one wanted to walk in his shoes but they knew there needded to be change. I applaud the teachers and the board.

By Walk in his shoes

January 25, 2008 7:50 PM | Link to this

How many of the current board members could do Mr. McLinden’s job?� None of them.� How many of you would want it?�The two “new members” were only picked because the teachers backed them. What exactly do you think they are going to accomplish? Thank you Mr. McLinden

By Unbelievable

January 25, 2008 7:31 PM | Link to this

In my opinion, our whole school board looks as if they have no clue about how to do their job. How can one get good reviews over the years and then all of a sudden get dismissed or suspended. Lets get real here because if he performed so bad over the past few years then it should have been documented on his reviews. When this is all done, he will just retire or get a big fat buyout at the case of the taxpayer. He will be the ultimate winner in the end.

By a voter rat

January 25, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this

I TEACH AT CARLISLE SCHOOLS .THE ONE TIME WE EVER WENT ON STRIKE WAS OVER THE WAY WE WERE TREATED BY AN ABUSIVE SUPERINTENDENT. WHAT IS DONE IS DONE. THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS RAN AND EVERYONE KNEW WHAT THEY WOULD DO IF ELECTED. NONE OF THIS WAS A SURPRISE TO ANYONE. I FEEL BADLY FOR ANYONE WHO LOSES THEIR JOB, BUT THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN UNHAPPY WITH THE BOARD AND THEY HAVE SPOKEN. Q MRS. LAINHART WAS THE ONLY MEMBER WHO STOOD UP AND SAID NO- THATS NOT A YES PERSON! THINK! REASONS!

By Back To God

January 25, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this

This lady Tammy Lainhart is one of the nicest ladies in Carlisle. She does not diserve to be called a bobble head or anything else other than a board member that cares about the school as a whole. I have to say that now she has some real true and faithful members (working toward the same goal, our kids and community)to work with and you who have decided to start calling “names” can set back and watch the action of togetherness for the proper reasons. Look again at the title of this article.

By Roland

January 25, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this

Few executives today making $200K and below have contracts; all employment at will. But teachers and administration get one year or five year deals- unheard of! I don’t agree with the Journal even doing these, don’t they do investigtative reporting or is it all gotten from people’s cooments, half of which are employees of the Middletown Journal. Rather hilarious in my opinion, have blogges post so the Journal can get news. Don’t worry abou the superintendent, he’ll retire, and then double dip.

By AnotherCarlisleResident

January 25, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this

The Carlisle School Board is a joke. If anyone knows Tammy Lainhart they know what I’m talking about. She is like a bobble head doll because all she says is “YES”. Too many “yes” people on that school board. Superintendents are hired to do a job and he is doing just fine in my opinion. Leave him alone because he can make the hard decisions where as the school board can’t. Until the school board changes completely, Carlisle schools will suffer!

By Carlisle Resident

January 25, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this

For the record, a school superintendant is hired by the school board and paid by the school district. He is an EMPLOYEE, not an ELECTED OFFICIAL.

By Also a concerned Carlisle parent

January 25, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this

I understand that it was tense between the CTA and Mr. McLindon. I also understand that the board has a right to dismiss him. But if I’m in danger of losing MY job, my employer will take interim steps to at least let me know that this danger exists. It doesn’t sound as though Mr. McLindon was given due process or offered a chance to “fix it”.

By Carlisle Resident

January 25, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

I feel that the decision made by the board was fair and just. I live in this community and have no respect for this person or his leadership skills. I am also a teacher and the treatment that was given to these teachers during contract disputes was not necessary. The letting go of this person is the best thing for the Carlisle school system Superintendents should have the best interest of the school and not himself. He is an elected official and needs to care and live in the community.

By Carlisle resident

January 25, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this

Perhaps Margaret Moore is disgusted by this action because she had no say in it. For all intense and purposes she was FIRED from the school board by the citizens.

The citizens of Carlisle might be interested to know that McLinden’s previous school system releaved him of his duties as well. I see a pattern here.

By concerned taxpayer

January 25, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this

A school Superintendant is not a God and needs to be held accountable for his actions. Mr. McLinden got himself into this mess and it’s up to the School Board to fix it for residents, students and teachers of that district.

By Resident

January 25, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this

Any “man” that can tell a teacher so loved by the community that she needs to retire over the summer and re-start with her same benefits and still guarantee her a job - due to the budget - then waits three years and forces her to resign after more than THIRTY years as a teacher - because she has the LOWEST SENIORITY (HA!)- due to budget, is no MAN at all. Especially seeing as how his large salary was published in the paper not long after. McLinden only cares for himself and his pocket.

By Back To God

January 25, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this

There is no one in- especially the public school system - that should be left alone to do his or her job.Everyone should be accountable to someone if for nothing else but to make sure he or she is doing the right thing for our kids. A single ruler we don’t need. pacfandave, introduce yourself to the members of any school board and know them in a different way than just, generally speaking, about them. They are good people who care.

By another veteran teacher

January 25, 2008 7:39 AM | Link to this

As a fellow veteran teacher, I have seen first hand the damage that can be done by an administrator on a power trip. An administrator that uses intimidation to lead is an ineffective leader and needs to be replaced. School boards and teacher unions are not infallible … and neither are superintendent’s. I have been following this story and it seems that this man created strained relationships in this community.

By pacfandave

January 25, 2008 7:30 AM | Link to this

Superintendents are hired to do what school boards have neither the knowledge nor training to do—provide leadership and direction toward the goal of educating students. Once hired, like fire and police chiefs, they should be left alone to do their jobs. Attempts to micromanage them undermine their positions and render them irrelevant.

By pacfandave

January 25, 2008 7:26 AM | Link to this

As a veteran high school teacher, I can say that there are two things wrong with public schools—school boards and unions. School boards are, generally speaking, lay people, many of whom ran for the board in pursuit of a personal agenda. Unions are into self-preservation, wages and benefits. Superintendents are hired to do what the board has neither the knowledge nor training to do; i.e., provide leadership and direction toward educating students. They should be left alone to do that job.

Superintendent's personnel file shows concerns

Carlisle school board places superintendent on paid administrative leave pending the board's Feb. 25 meeting.

COMMENT: What do you think about the board's decision?

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Comment: What do you think about the board's decision?

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