Sauter's Good Deed goes Punished

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   I have allot of respect for John Sauter. He has spend his entire life protecting and helping others.

When teachers solicited him for help on discipline problems that lame-duck superintendent Price was not helping with, he mistakenly thought he could communicate to the entire district of teachers via email. Wrong, school board members are forbidden to get that involved without approval with the entire board. They call it an ethics violation. Heck if there is any ethics violation it is the lack of support provided by Dr. Price. Doing nothing in the face of discipline problems is a ethics violation in my book.

Luckily Katie McNeil will 'deal' with the mess. Glad to have her around to help (eyes rolling). 

Kudos to you John Sauter. You did the right thing, even if the board has to deal with your transgressions. Perhaps you moved the discipline issue off top-dead-center. 

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Middletown News Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Apr 29 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1100	Post Options Post Reply Quote Middletown News Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Sauter's Good Deed goes Punished Posted: Jun 12 2009 at 4:12pm
	I have allot of respect for John Sauter. He has spend his entire life protecting and helping others. When teachers solicited him for help on discipline problems that lame-duck superintendent Price was not helping with, he mistakenly thought he could communicate to the entire district of teachers via email. Wrong, school board members are forbidden to get that involved without approval with the entire board. They call it an ethics violation. Heck if there is any ethics violation it is the lack of support provided by Dr. Price. Doing nothing in the face of discipline problems is a ethics violation in my book. Luckily Katie McNeil will 'deal' with the mess. Glad to have her around to help (eyes rolling). Kudos to you John Sauter. You did the right thing, even if the board has to deal with your transgressions. Perhaps you moved the discipline issue off top-dead-center.
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Pacman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Jun 02 2007 Status: Offline Points: 2612	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pacman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jun 12 2009 at 4:57pm
	The ethics violation was the rest of the Board going along with Price and his form of Discipline or lack thereof, for so long. John Sauter BOE

VietVet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 15 2008 Status: Offline Points: 7008	Post Options Post Reply Quote VietVet Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jun 13 2009 at 8:51am
	I agree Pac and Jonathan- Sauter has given us the first indication in years that someone on the board is thinking clearly about the needs of the district. We now have one that listens to and understands the desires of the people in this town. Clean house when the incumbants are up for re-election with the exception of Sauter. Name him school board president and place "Sauter-like" people on the board. Looks like he is the only logical one of the bunch and is actually trying to change things for the better. Nice job so far, Mr. Sauter! You definitely have the support of the majority of us citizens.

Mike_Presta Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: Apr 20 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3483	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mike_Presta Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jun 13 2009 at 3:56pm
	Chief Sauter: If the BoE censures you, wear it as a badge of honor!!! It's a sure sign that you did the right thing!!!
	“Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012

spiderjohn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Jul 01 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2749	Post Options Post Reply Quote spiderjohn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jun 14 2009 at 9:54am
	There will be no punishment here. By whom and for what? Who is seeking anything in that directiomn? Have there been staff complaints? The school board is here to serve the will of the public, and the public is giving Mr.Sauter nearly 100% backing. I doubt Tyus and McNeil can get a majority vote for sanctioning Mr.Sauter regardless of any possible minor ethics violation. Nothing against Tyus or McNeil, but we need a change at the top. Price is gone, and Tyus/McNeil have served their time at the top. Time to rotate the leadership position and hopefully add one or two new faces to the board come November. As was mentioned at the charter review sessions, these people aren't royalty and were not put in position to lead indefinitely. Rotate the top position to give everyone a chance to exhibit their skills and strong points.Involve everyone equally. Good job, John! The public overwhelmingly supports your action, and you were picked by the same public to serve out their wishes, not the whim of board leadership or the labor factor. Take it above and beyond to the next level--let this only be the beginning! It's about f'n time! Come on, Fiora--speak up and show support! We put you there to make a difference--stand up and do so NOW!

Pacman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Jun 02 2007 Status: Offline Points: 2612	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pacman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jun 14 2009 at 11:00am
	Spider I don't think the quoted passage from the MJ sounds like he is going to be given Outstanding Board Member of the Year. But I do think Public agreement with his email and pressure will stop any Public admonishment. Spider Says: "There will be no punishment here. By whom and for what? Who is seeking anything in that directiomn? Have there been staff complaints?" The MJ Reports: "A day after Sauter sent his message, board President Greg Tyus sent an e-mail assuring employees Sauter’s message was not a sanctioned communication from the board. “Should the board deem (that) any procedural or protocol issues have been breached by this board member, the Middletown City Board of Education will effectively deal with this issue,” Tyus wrote. Board Vice President Katie McNeil said she was not notified by Sauter or Tyus of their intent to send an e-mail. She said Sauter’s action is “an ethics violation that we’ll have to work with.” “New board members have no idea how other people perceive their comments,” said McNeil, a veteran member of the board. “As a school board member you are an administrator. You have to look at it that way.” The Ohio School Boards Association said a board can discipline a member by issuing a resolution to censure that member of the board."

John Beagle Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List MUSA Official Joined: Apr 23 2007 Location: Middletown Status: Offline Points: 1855	Post Options Post Reply Quote John Beagle Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jun 14 2009 at 12:27pm
	Spider Says: "There will be no punishment here. By whom and for what? Who is seeking anything in that directiomn? *Have there been staff complaints?"* Really only 2 board members are making an issue out of this. Is this an attempt to besmirch Mr. Sauter's good name by others on the board? Well if it is politics as usual, I think it just might be. I could be wrong. There is nothing to see except a freshman school board member "best intentions" mistake. But within this 'mistake' the truth lies. The school board has been so distracted by non issues that they overlook the real issues. Issues like behavior on school property. If we taught our children about morals and personal responsibility, we wouldn't have major discipline problems in our schools. With discipline comes an understanding that the students are there to learn. With discipline comes better academic achievement. There is nothing wrong with our kids. Its the way they are allowed to behave at school that corrupts them. We can hold parents accountable for so much. And certainly there are parents that are good and bad at disciplining their children. School Transforms Behavior Its ok to act that way in school translates into a new societal norm. By being lax on bad behavior, we are sending the wrong message to our school children and their families. Children must be allowed to learn in an environment that is free from threats and disruptions of the learning process.
	John Beagle Middletown USA News of, for and by the people of Middletown, Ohio.

spiderjohn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Jul 01 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2749	Post Options Post Reply Quote spiderjohn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jun 14 2009 at 1:57pm
	Correct Mr.B Kids haven't changed at all. PARENTS have changed.

Pacman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Jun 02 2007 Status: Offline Points: 2612	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pacman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jun 14 2009 at 2:55pm
	Hey Spider I think you missed this part from Mr. B's statement, As he is right on with this: "There is nothing wrong with our kids. Its the way they are allowed to behave at school that corrupts them. We can hold parents accountable for so much. And certainly there are parents that are good and bad at disciplining their children. School Transforms Behavior Its ok to act that way in school translates into a new societal norm. By being lax on bad behavior, we are sending the wrong message to our school children and their families. Children must be allowed to learn in an environment that is free from threats and disruptions of the learning process." Discipline at school is paramount to a safe environment conducive to learning as there are untold peer pressures at school that are not present at home. If you fail to maintain a discipline environment at school you basically end up where Middletown is now. Parents are not operating the Schools.

spiderjohn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Jul 01 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2749	Post Options Post Reply Quote spiderjohn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jun 14 2009 at 4:49pm
	Didn't miss anything, pacman The kids that are taught from the beginning(at home) to behave, show respect and be mannerly aren't the kids that are getting in trouble at school. Subsequently they are also not the repeat offenders accounting for the majority of incidents. If students come to school acting properly, the system doesn;t change them. Kudos to John Sauter. Maybe it finally paid off to have a board member with a spouse as faculty in the system. It is past time for someone in position to stand up and buck the system's "business as usual--don't make waves or cause discussion--just move'em through quietly to help out our #s". I hope this out of the box effort is only the beginning, and instead of allowing his wings to be clipped, Mr.Sauter takes the issue forward. He should defend his position by writing a piece for the MJ and demanding those noe in charge to change direction and eliminate bad behavior. Price isn't gone for NO reason, and the discipline situation has been a major concern/obstacle for quite a while. Perfect timing to change direction in a big way. We have all summer to establish new guidelines on acceptable behavior and consequences for repeat un-acceptable behavior. Maybe two new candidates will step forward backing Mr.Sauter and championing his concerns.

spiderjohn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Jul 01 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2749	Post Options Post Reply Quote spiderjohn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jun 17 2009 at 7:04am
	I am spending far too much time here. Concern or simply self-gratifying addiction? The truth is sometimes scary. I was stunned by the verbal presentations by Ms.Bronson and Dr.Ewers at Monday's school board meeting. I don't see why we cannot have both diversity and discipline, and wonder if they became intertwined, we might blast out of this situation much sooner. If Ms.Bronson(NAACP) is so concerned about protecting the students, why doesn't she and her organization go to the root causes of the disciplinary situation and continual classroom disruption? Go to the root source of the problem and direct your efforts to changing things for the better BEFORE these problem "students" ever walk into the door of our public education system(which is here for everyone who can function properly within)? Dr.Ewers should know better. If students had become a continual disciplinary and disruptive presence at Miami-Middletown, he would be the first person raising his voice and holding the exit door open. What has become of the many highy-publicized and acclaimed "mentoring programs" that he has championed for many years? Why haven't they produced better results? Mr.Sauter did the right thing, in the opinion of the vast majority of citizens. He represented the concerned majority, who wants their children to be properly educated without fear or disruption. Not really asking for anything that they should ever have to request, is it? Simply put--the school board/admin hierarchy had their protocol feathers ruffled, and that is now behind them. Now is the time to follow up on Mr.Sauter's action with the proper direction to have in place with the beginning of the next school year. No trouble--no excuses. Get the job done by greatly reducing the problem. If we are going to have "resource officers"(policemen in our schools), end the buddy buddy situation with students, and make them law enforcement officers like they have been trained. Get the violence and the disruptive repeaters out immediately with finality. Odds are slim that these "students" will change for the better at this late time of their academic career. Elimination and enforcement first--buddy buddy when the situation has become under control. Time is up--end of rant part I.

spiderjohn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Jul 01 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2749	Post Options Post Reply Quote spiderjohn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jun 17 2009 at 7:36am
	oops stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues so an abbreviated part deux: Put the proper plan/procedures in place for the beginning of the next school year, with student/parent mailings outlining everything going out by late July/early August with plenty of time for discussion/clarification(but NOT changes at the beginning). That way everyone knows what to expect. They don't HAVE to like it, but will be held to the situation. Any displeased organizations or groups will have to live with it. We don't all get what we want, but we will get exactly what we need for now(another great song!). The rule-abiding good citizens' majority has been held hostage far too long for such a small % of disruptors. Hopefully this issue will sprout new school board candidates, and a leadership change will follow. No more hiding behind Dr.Price as a poor excuse. Let's move on and do it properly,definitively and quickly. The student we save may well be your own. Face it--a great part of our negative community perception is the overall performance/perception of our school system, and it ain't because of the new buildings. There are far too many wonderful students within our system, doing a myriad of good things and accomplishments. Let's eliminate the problems and showcase those so talented and deserving! Ultimately THEY are the ones worthy of so much attention. We have good faculty. Let them perform to their optimum by being able to control the classroom with a clear understanding that disruption and bad behavior now has zero tolerance(I know a scary word/concept--even to spiderman).

spiderjohn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Jul 01 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2749	Post Options Post Reply Quote spiderjohn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jun 18 2009 at 12:42pm
	After challenging Dr.Ewers' comments at the Monday school board meeting, I must commend him for a wonderful pertinent piece in today's MJ. HOWEVER discipline issues within are schools are much more broad than black males. Eliminate the word "black" from his editorial, and the writing should apply to EVERY family and neighborhood. Thanks Dr.---! knew you would step up to the plate on this one!! Now maybe a companion piece from the NAACP, and a release from the school board about "disclinary" procedure changes for next year?

MerrellWood Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Immigrant Joined: May 14 2009 Status: Offline Points: 36	Post Options Post Reply Quote MerrellWood Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jun 24 2009 at 7:26am
	What ever happened to Garfield Alternative School? I would have included it as part of my column last Sunday had I remembered it used toexist. I had a few emails about that ussue

AKBobby Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Resident Joined: May 18 2009 Location: Middletown, OH Status: Offline Points: 103	Post Options Post Reply Quote AKBobby Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jun 29 2009 at 8:24am
	Merrell, I dont know you but I have a great amount of respect fro you from the discipline editiorial you wrote in the Journal. Nice work!
	AK - What is going on with that?

spiderjohn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Jul 01 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2749	Post Options Post Reply Quote spiderjohn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jun 29 2009 at 8:36am
	Garfield was little more than a very expensive(per pupil cost) baby-sitting service to isolate the bad actors from the other students. The concept was fine, however the results weren't very good. The system couldn't afford it any longer. It has been gone for years, Mr.Wood.