Steve Price New Superintendent of Hazelwood
Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Schools
Forum Name: School Board
Forum Description: Discuss the board individually and as a group.
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2737
Printed Date: Nov 21 2024 at 9:12pm
Topic: Steve Price New Superintendent of Hazelwood
Posted By: John Beagle
Subject: Steve Price New Superintendent of Hazelwood
Date Posted: Feb 27 2010 at 11:53am
 Steve Price, who comes from Ohio and has more than 32 years of experience in education, will take over as superintendent of the Hazelwood School District on July 1. Price most recently served as the superintendent for seven years in Middletown City Schools, a district of about 7,000 students in Ohio, before resigning last July. While in Middletown, Price helped improve achievement levels for all students, while reducing the achievement gap. Hazelwood officials say he is also credited with decreasing the dropout rate, creating a unique mentoring program, upgrading facilities and creating a consortium on race and equity in schools. Source: http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/the-grade/public-schools/2010/02/hazelwood-hires-new-superintendent-to-replace-nicastro-who-became-state-education-chief-last-year/ - http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/the-grade/public-schools/2010/02/hazelwood-hires-new-superintendent-to-replace-nicastro-who-became-state-education-chief-last-year/ ------------- http://www.johnbeagle.com/" rel="nofollow - John Beagle Middletown USA News of, for and by the people of Middletown, Ohio. |
Replies:
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Feb 27 2010 at 4:06pm
| Hopefully, this means that we are finally done with this guy and won't have to pay him on his contract any longer. Feel sorry for the people who have kids in the Hazelwood Missouri school system. They won't be happy in a couple of years. Oh well, he's their problem now. |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Feb 27 2010 at 4:20pm
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Why is there no outrage with the public employees whom are taking over the country, enjoy the best retirement packages, best pay, no stress? This is surreal. Was Dr. Price drawing his pay while also being an Adjunct Professor at MUM and doing consulting work? I remain astounded how either foolhardy or completely brain dead Americans have become, especially in Middletown. He gets a year's salary, pushed by a school board President who does alot of accounting work in the public sector, is at MUM all the time, and lands an Adjunct Professor role, while probably being paid by the school system. I am deeply disturbed by the way the public employees are on a runaway train driving our system into backruptcy. Sorry to disagree with you Vet, please Middletownians had a responsibility for those who knew his poor track record, to inform others. Of course, it appears others helped shield his path by focusing upon Wisconsin. He got an excellent position in St. Louis, and boasts how he lowered drop-out rate (not true), turned around performance (not true), got new infrastructure in place (true- by being dishonest and stating enrollment would increase), and showed no leadership,
The lack of spine in this community just leaves me fuming. He got a better job than he had in Middletown, paid for a year, while also getting paid for his other work. I've had enough, if I have to auction my home, dump it...I'm out of this city for good. Its overrum by the majority of public servants who think they are entitled, and citizens who just could care less about anything meaningful. This is a shameful epipsode.
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Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Feb 27 2010 at 7:39pm
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acclaro- this Hazelwood position hit us all by surprise. The last thing I knew, Price was still in Oshkosh as a candidate to be their super. I had asked about his status in an earlier post this past week.
John posted a link to the St.Louis paper serving Hazelwood Missouri. I have registered with that paper and intend to offer my comments about the hiring of Price. The news article does not accurately reflect Price's performance while here in Middletown. I intend to let the people know another side of things, albeit, too late for the people in Hazelwood. At least they'll know what they have to deal with for the next few years and will know that all was not all peaches and cream as the article suggests. Please join me in posting your opinions about Price to the Hazelwood people. I agree with the public servant positions, the lack of public outrage, etc. I believe this scenario of supers leaving one district to be recyled and reclaimed by another is epidemic. IMO, there needs to be a nation-wide network setup where a district that is shopping around for a super can review candidates on a super search website that allows for the district the super leaves to input concerning performance, weaknesses and strengths, etc. to benefit a potential receiving district. Might save some long term pain for some unsuspecting school districts as to potential problem supers. These are public positions funded by the taxpayers and they have a right to know what their money is buying and the quality of the character of the one running their district. When you go public with your position, IMO, you give up that privacy. |
Posted By: SupportMiddletown
Date Posted: Feb 28 2010 at 12:58am
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Whatever Price did here, I wish the Middletown community would just let him alone. People learn lessons and change their performance. Maybe he will fail in Hazelwood, but give him the chance to succeed if he was hired. People will read website comments and doubt him from day one, which is not fair to anyone. If you wanted Price gone, just be thankful and let him go. This addiction to wishing his external banishing from employment is sickening. Find a hobby. ------------- |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Feb 28 2010 at 9:29am
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SupportMiddletown- the info. we received from the people in Mansfield must have done some good. The person dropped out before selection time and may have saved us some major heartaches down the road. Shouldn't we offer, albeit too late, the same favor that was accorded us? SOME of these supers have a habit of going from district to district, unrestricted, double-dipping, poor performing, without being policed, dragging once proud systems down like the Titanic. Need to have a network with performance histories on them so that the potential receiving district won't make the same mistake again. These are public positions after all.
Do you really think he'll change? I've talked to Price. He and I got into it at a pro-levy rally years ago at the old Seniors Center downtown, when I brought along the proficency scores from the last 5 years and asked him why they were significantly lower than any district around here and why we should give him more money to produce the same results that didn't appear to be improving. He became very irate and said to me, "well, I just don't see it that way". I asked again for him to explain how he saw it and got "avoid the issues" talk. Got a hobby....picking on people who need to be banished. Some city leaders come to mind. Some school board members come to mind. Sorry you find external banishment to be "sickening". The public, in all towns, must be protected and informed about these public parasites. An information network for potential super candidates is needed to protect unsuspecting communities from hiring destructive people. JMO |
Posted By: SupportMiddletown
Date Posted: Feb 28 2010 at 10:24am
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But he has been hired. The deal is done. Now it is time to just forget Steve Price. ------------- |
Posted By: Bill
Date Posted: Feb 28 2010 at 10:34am
| I think Price, or any official, may be a good fit somewhere, just not here. Based on his marching orders when he was hired, he made "some" progress. The problem was most of us disagreed with those marching orders and he failed to change over time or play nice with others. The last few years most of us disagreed with his priorities but he wasn't a thief, a tabloid embarrassment, or particularly unqualified. Informing other communities of your opinion may be one thing but if someone is suggesting that he be hounded to the ends of the earth so he can't get another job is over the line. |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Feb 28 2010 at 11:22am
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To me, it appears the lack of proper vetting is a defect which encompasses those elected offciials, who act more as figure heads in positions as school board members and city council members locally, as well as those on the national stage.
In reality, it is obvious he has many references to use in spite of his performance, who all have said "yes" when he repeats actions which were simply falsehoods. That is absolutely wrong, and doing a disservice to another community.
Dr. Price talked forever about that Project with MUM and then Toledo, which never was real, all in an effort to convince the Ohio Commission Middletown offered students a distinct advantage as part of the land grab. That's dishonesty in my opinion, and where I have worked, it would be considered unethical and grounds for termination.
As for performance, the review of performance does not reflect what Dr. Price stated to the St. Louis community. He has a contract, he is safe, but I certainly feel a morale obligation to let others know my opinion and the additioanal facts associated with Dr. Price and his performance in Middletown. That's the problem in the public sector, an underperformer gets pumped up with half truths or no truths. Wasn't the financial manager fired in Monroe or maybe Trenton, sued, and then was pciked up my another district.
As for chasing Dr. Price to the end of the earth, or a scorched earth strategy, that would be futile and a waste of time. He probably has every city council members, the Dean at MUM, and undoubtedly the school board, providing written letters of recommendation as embellishing his performance. Just like the city council did with Ron olson- he thought he was going to be fired and had a job at the West Chester system, and was astounded city council actually thought he had done a good job and stayed. He then ets the heads up...wink, wink---Middletown going down the drain, better be looking elsewhere in spite of having a contract. The bottom line: what Dr. Price said he did---never materialized. He was aided in that belief by the very ones whom fired him. This public sector nonesense needs to stop, cleaned up, and reengineered. Butler Cty has so many inept double dippers it gives me a headache. But, people tolerate. No outrage, no accountability, maybe that's the effect of a union on a community. Just my opinion, but as I have friends in that district, I surely will be clarifying some comments made which do not reflect reality. But those new school buildings are sure doing alot of good in Middletown, aren't they?
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Posted By: Marianne
Date Posted: Feb 28 2010 at 3:22pm
Acclaro, If Price is being paid for teaching at MUM, I assume he's being paid on a per class basis with no benefits. But perhaps you know better, since you claim he's "at MUM all the time"? How do you know that? Do you have some special information about Dr. Price's contract? The adjuncts I know who teach receive very little pay per class, which is why those who make a living doing adjunct work often teach multiple sections of courses at multiple institutions with no health nor retirement benefits. But hey, what do I know about these things, I'm still learning English grammar. |
acclaro wrote:Posted By: Marianne
Date Posted: Feb 28 2010 at 3:37pm
You make good points here, but you'll be slammed for them here, of course. Although you may not be suggesting this, I wouldn't take posts you read here as representative of the Middletown community though. The people who live around me and the people I encounter in town don't talk about Price. The only place I hear (read) people bashing Price is on this blog. I also trust that residents in Hazlewood who read blog posts here in Middletown have the good sense to make up their minds about Price (or anyone else) based on performance and not the rants of a few bitter people. |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Feb 28 2010 at 3:52pm
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Marianne- "not the rants of a few bitter people"....Bitter?....perhaps.....but with justifiable cause. Look at the record. Look at the accomplishments. Facts are hard to deny.
As to your comment concerning people not talking about Price. I don't hear people talking about Price either but since he is the topic here, I surmise that he will be discussed. |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Feb 28 2010 at 3:58pm
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Marianne, I find your commenst to be rather disingenuous regarding those whom hold a difering opinion thn you, while also using "bitter" in such a grossly exaggerated manner.
To begin, I can assure you, your feelings about the masses supporting Dr. Price is simply stated, grossly misplaced. Of course one man nor woman, can control all aspects of performance associated with a school's perfrmance. But Dr. Price brought it upon himself. He stated for years, the goal of Middletown being rated the first urban district in Ohio to receive an excellent rating. Indeed, its mindsets such as you have expressed, which undermine the city and a continuous effort to imporive, by offering mediocrity is acceptable.
Secondly, as for "bitterness", perhaps the reference is how such mediocrity is the norm within the city, where such little is expected, and performance means nothing. Hence, those whom express an opinion associated with a new position when he floundered in Middletown, while drawing pay, and two contract positions with additional earnings is not "bitter." Rather, it reflects the degree of perks and benefits given for performance which did not measure to the stated objectives of the individual, after being given numerous time to fulfill those goals. One assumes although not stated on the Ohio report card. Dr. Price should be credited to advancing a few points, performance, it just didn't reflect upon the grade. In other words, the D student should be praised for earning a 67 on the second try, after a 64 on the first.
You need to get out more Marianne, you'll hear far more trashing of Dr. Price and others than anything you'll read on this site. And this is from people around me whom are among the most notable and educated within the city. He has his contract, he'll be set for retirement. You need not have any worries about Dr. Price. I wonder if he'll have a Hazelwood Promise?
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Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Feb 28 2010 at 4:15pm
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I did not read your earlier post Marianne regarding MUM. Having a father whom was a university President, I am well aware of the problems associated with Adjunct Professors, and also the benefits. UC has terrific Adjuncts, including one who is a senior executive at JNJ- Ethicon. Another I know is a top clinical psychiatrist with a thriving practice in Blue Ash. My understanding was Dr. Price was paid benefits for one year, so your point rings hollow, unless I misunderstood the plan he was extended. The vast majority of Adjuncts work fulltime in other positions, and therefore have benefits from their employer. I've personally seen Dr. Price on numerous occasions at MUM prior to his contract buyout. In spite of your stereotypical belief, there are actually a few Phi Beta Kappa's on this site (and others), but there is no need nor effort to attempt to always be the smartest guy or gal in the room. Dr. Price didn't deliver. Most know in Middletown those words are foreign, atypical, unfathonable, But in the real world, that's called being succinct and direct.
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Posted By: Smartman
Date Posted: Feb 28 2010 at 4:24pm
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I find this continuined bashing of Dr Price rediculous! You people need to get a life. He is gone, that's what you all wanted, right? Leave him alone and let him get on with his life and take of his family. But I guess that would be too much to ask. I am assuming that all of you have been perfect in all of your posiion that you have held. I can also assume that you were so perfect that if people bashed you the way you have Price that it would not bother you.
Leave him alone and get out of his life. There are more important things in this community that need attention. Maybe if you used the same amount of energy on the real concerns in our community as you have bashing Dr Price we might go somewhere.
He's gone,,,end of story.. MOVE ON!!!!!
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Posted By: SupportMiddletown
Date Posted: Feb 28 2010 at 4:57pm
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^Your screename is quite appropriate with that post. ------------- |
Posted By: Marianne
Date Posted: Feb 28 2010 at 5:23pm
Acclaro, I never said the masses supported Dr. Price. I just said no one I talk with has much to say about him. And why would they? He's no longer superintendent.
Glad that you spend time with "the most notable and educated within the city." I would think those folks would have better things to do than talk about a guy who is no longer Superintendent. But again, what do I know? |
Posted By: Marianne
Date Posted: Feb 28 2010 at 5:35pm
My comment about adjuncts had nothing to do with the quality of adjuncts, acclaro. I know that people who are professionally successful also serve as adjuncts. My statement about adjuncts concerns the pay and benefits they receive. I'm a bit suspicious of the claim "The vast majority of adjuncts work fulltime in other positions, and therefore have benefits from their employer." So you've seen Price at MUM before his buyout. Ok, but you posted how he's at MUM "all the time"? By "contract," I was referring to Price's contract at MUM for teaching. If you have knowledge that he's getting benefits from MUM for a year, I'd be surprised. |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Feb 28 2010 at 5:39pm
| Better to look forward Marianne through glass when driving, than the rear view mirror. Dr. Price is of no concern of mine, other than the impact his actions and others, have had on property values. But what do I know or care, I just watch the city crumble and my investment go down the drain. But, everyone does do some good along with the harm, and we must look at the brighter future. Because...its going to be bright! I know it will, because the city told me so. |
Posted By: Bill
Date Posted: Feb 28 2010 at 8:54pm
| I used to think this town's only hope for a quick infusion of jobs and money would be if we got a casino. Now I'm wondering if we could have used the marketing dollars to entice a producer and network to produce a reality show about M'town. One idea could be to televise contestants operating a few giant wrecking balls -- just leveling the hell out of everything in town. Call it "City in Ruins" or "This Town's A Wreck!". Maybe another idea would be to set off a small nuke in downtwn and see if anything was impacted (or improved!) -- call it "Smoke 'em Out" or "Ghost Town". Another concept would be "Are You Smarter Than These Fools?" where 5th graders from around the country compete in a quiz show against city council members and high school students from MHS in a battle of brains and common sense. |
Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Mar 01 2010 at 9:44am
 WOW!!! I must be smarter than even I, myself, think that I am!!! I didn't think that was even possible!!!
For some unknown reason, I stayed completely out of this Price thingie ever since he resigned. (Even a blind squirrell finds an acorn once in a while!!!)  ------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
Posted By: HSD
Date Posted: Mar 01 2010 at 1:29pm
| Why did Steve Price leave Middletown SD? I have looked on the internet and all I can find is that he left due to mutual agreement. Why was there such an outpouring from the community on wanting him to leave? I am truly worried about what HSD has gotten themselves in for. Demographically our district is almost opposite as yours and is almost three times as large. You all wanted him gone and several school districts he interviewed in did not hire him. This does not sound like it bodes well for HSD. Can we get some answers from those of you who have lived through his tenure in MSD? |
Posted By: sportsnut
Date Posted: Mar 01 2010 at 1:44pm
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Vet, Us folks over in Monroe are trying to tell you about the lying, deceit, and incompetence of SunCoke before you allow them into your city but you just won't listen. Why would another city listen to you about Dr Price? Monroe has shown hard facts of how this company doesn't live up to their promises (like Dr Price according to you) but the people of Middletown are willing to accept them with open arms, yet you want to protect others from Dr Price cause you know his abilities(or lack thereof according to you) better than they do.
I am so confused? |
Posted By: Bill
Date Posted: Mar 01 2010 at 7:40pm
| HSD, to sum it up succintly, Price was brought in by the board to (1) improve performance in a decaying, struggling district (failed), (2) increase staff diversity (succeeded), and (3) get new levies passed (mixed results). The public never bought in to #2 and #3. He was able get passage of a levy for the construction of new elementaries and I think a couple operating levies but I think they were just renewals and not increased funding. Many in the community questioned his poor bedside manner with teachers and others in the public. He regarded hiring minority administrators and paying for diversity consultants to "re-wire" teachers' thinking more important than improving state test scores and maintaining discipline. The latter issue became his undoing as the schools rarely expelled or otherwise held students accountable. That said, maybe he is a good fit for your situation. Good luck. |
Posted By: HSD
Date Posted: Mar 01 2010 at 8:43pm
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Thanks Bill....this should prove to be interesting. We are definitely a diverse district and need to improve test scores. However, as I read upon his diversity program it seems he is saying it is the teachers fault students aren't achieving. If this is indeed the case I think staff will have a problem buying into his philosophy.....teachers can only do so much without family support. As far as discipline.....I hope he is not lax. Our district already frequently makes the news with discipline incidents. We do not need anymore news time for fights and such. It sounds like we will be needing that luck you wished us. Again thanks for the info....I appreciate it and so will others in the district. |
Posted By: Pacman
Date Posted: Mar 01 2010 at 9:00pm
Posted By: Pacman
Date Posted: Mar 01 2010 at 9:01pm
Truancy Court referals by school district*2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 total Hamilton 122 185 234 273 265 1,079 Fairfield 71 146 174 12 82 593 Middletown 153 272 362 290 188 1,265 Lakota 45 61 74 66 49 295 Ross 8 8 7 9 12 44 Edgewood 9 27 34 28 26 124 New Miami 12 18 19 17 25 91 Monroe 9 12 13 13 16 63 Talawanda 1 45 39 21 35 153 Madison 2 11 6 1 5 25 *As of Nov. 18 |
Posted By: Pacman
Date Posted: Mar 01 2010 at 9:05pm
http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/middletown-news/middletown-schools-keep-state-rating-266155.html">
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Posted By: Pacman
Date Posted: Mar 01 2010 at 9:08pm
/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/middletownschoolnews/entries/2009/05/31/breakdown_of_crimes_at_middlet.html - Breakdown of arrests at Middletown High SchoolBy 	/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/middletownschoolnews/entries/2009/05/31/breakdown_of_crimes_at_middlet.html#postcomment - Meagan Engle | Sunday, May 31, 2009, 09:59 AM Here’s the breakdown of citations into court issued at Middletown High School: Misdemeanors Aggravated menacing 2 Assault 13 Criminal damaging 2 Criminal mischief 10 Criminal trespass 16 Disorderly conduct 97 Domestic violence 1 Drug abuse marijuana 10 Drug paraphernalia 6 Ethnic Intimidation 5 Falsification 1 Inciting to violence 9 Inducing panic 5 Menacing 13 Obstructing 26 Possession of tobacco 13 Receiving 2 Resisting arrest 4 Theft 10 Unruly 62 Warrant arrest 2 Felonies Arson 2 Attempted vehicular assault 1 Assault 2 Breaking and entering 3 Conveyance 1 Corrupting another 2 Fleeing scene 1 Obstructing 1 Pandering 3 Theft 1 |
Posted By: Pacman
Date Posted: Mar 01 2010 at 9:09pm
/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/middletownschoolnews/entries/2009/06/01/breakdown_of_arrests_at_vail_m.html - Breakdown of arrests at Vail Middle SchoolBy 	/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/middletownschoolnews/entries/2009/06/01/breakdown_of_arrests_at_vail_m.html#postcomment - Meagan Engle | Monday, June 1, 2009, 05:52 PM Breakdown of the 51 citations into juvenile court issued at Vail Middle School this school year: Misdemenors Unruly: 13 Disorderly: 14 Assault: 6 Theft: 2 Menacing: 3 Receiving Stolen: 1 Criminal Mischief: 1 Criminal Damage: 2 Drug Parap.: 1 Drug Abuse: 2 Poss. Drugs: 1 Felonies Illegal Conveyance: 3 Pandering: 1 |
Posted By: Pacman
Date Posted: Mar 01 2010 at 9:09pm
/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/middletownschoolnews/entries/2009/06/01/breakdown_of_arrests_at_verity.html - Breakdown of arrests at Verity Middle SchoolBy 	/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/middletownschoolnews/entries/2009/06/01/breakdown_of_arrests_at_verity.html#postcomment - Meagan Engle | Monday, June 1, 2009, 05:40 PM Here is the breakdown of the 77 citations into juvenile court issued at Verity Middle School… Misdemeanors Assault: 9 Criminal Mischief: 4 Criminal Trespass: 3 Disorderly Conduct: 31 Drug Abuse Marijuana: 2 Obstructing: 3 Possession of Tobacco: 1 Probation Violation: 2 Unruly: 5 Sell of Drugs Prescription: 6 Theft: 9 Felonies Weapons in School, knife: 2 |
Posted By: HSD
Date Posted: Mar 01 2010 at 10:10pm
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If 43 % felt safe then 57 % did not.....not very good statistically.. The article was very interesting as well as the numbers of arrests. Our number of discipline incidents is already two times our states average. This is worrisome. It was also enlightening that your districts truancy referrals were much greater than other districts in the state. I hope we don't see a similar trend in our district. As far as report card grade for your district....I thought he improved scores however your district is still in 'continuous improvement' . I guess improvement is all relative to how it is viewed. I am happy that he is out of your district but apprehensive over his coming to ours. HSD has issues already and I hope they are not compounded under his tenure here. Tomorrow night our BOE will officially approve his hiring and there will be a community reception for him on Wednesday. Thanks for the information |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Mar 02 2010 at 9:35am
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HSD, I find it odd only one person posted on the newspaper blog in the HSD, in addition to one person from Middletown revealing many facts associated with the performance in Middletown. In fact, it reads more to me it was a Middletownian whom acted in his defense (or maybe it was Dr. Price himself) who responded to the initial negative post. So, there are 2 in total on the St. Louis site showing considerable apathy.
HSD school board is quite diverse, there are at least 3-4 black members and the same number of white. The school member was on record out of the 30 applicants, he was the one
they knew they had to go after", so maybe Bishop Pringle and others "talked" him up. I agree with the accuracy of Bill's comments with one minor caveot- the school building were built on the premise enrollment would be rising, as more families would be attracted to Middletown schools. In reality, the opposite occurred, and it was not based upon the notion proficiency scores would rise, other than perhaps some slip of the tongue implication, a higher paid demographic would be moving into Middletown with new schools. The dropout rate was among the highest in the state and did not show improvement. The scores were mediocre and school teachers focused more effort on the state testing than education, as many would tell HSD teachers. He also stated to Ohio officials, both Toledo and Miami (state universities) had plans for providing free education to entice students to come to Middletown and graduate with a 3.0 or better, which was never a reality. Well, no one in HSD really cares, or the blog boards would be lighting up after probably Vet's post. I think this one was from Middletown:
Justin_Case http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/the-grade/public-schools/2010/02/hazelwood-hires-new-superintendent-to-replace-nicastro-who-became-state-education-chief-last-year/comment-page-1/#comment-3456 - February 28, 2010 at 5:41 UTC
First off, if he really promised that proficiency scores would improve if all new elementary schools were built, then I blame the public, not Price, for passing that bond issue. Proficiency scores have no more to do with nice buildings than superintendents do. Proficiency scores lie at the feet of the students, parents, teachers and curriculum. Second, when it comes to discipline, I lay that at the feet of the parents. It is solely the job of the parent to get their child to school on time, prepared for the day, engaged in the process, and reinforce what the school is trying to do at home. Discipline begins at home! Also, because they are public schools, they are limited to what they can do in regards to discipline. It would be nice if the school could toss out the trouble makers like private and charter schools can, but that isn’t reality. Public schools have to take all comers, including special needs kids being streamlined. I am sorry you have a poor view of your previous Superintendent. He may be as awful as you say. But I would suggest that Superintendents can only do so much. I would also offer that maybe the district was having a hard time before he got there, so maybe you need to look at other variables before dismissing him entirely. |
Posted By: HSD
Date Posted: Mar 02 2010 at 12:08pm
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I also wondered the same thing you pointed out about the post. I also have been surprised there have not been more people in HSD doing some research on Dr. Price. There are probably many in our area who are apathetic in regards to him coming here but they may change their tune if things don't go well. There is one other article on the STL Today website that has some additional comments regarding the hiring: file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cswhittin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml - http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/education/story/2D4EB11020048E0B862576D700047387?OpenDocument#tp_newCommentAnchor - http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/education/story/2D4EB11020048E0B862576D700047387?OpenDocument#tp_newCommentAnchor Even though there are several more comments....I think a good number are from people in MSD posting on the STL Today website. The board member who knew Price was 'the one they had to go after' did not mention that of the three finalists one withdrew and one took another offer.....so by default that left Price for the job. The other candidates names were never released to the public and the whole hiring process was very hush, hush. I know a search firm was involved and am not sure if that was the reason for minimal information being made public. |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Mar 02 2010 at 6:50pm
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HSD, as the last post on the St. Louis site is as follows, I think the information PACMAN provided is a summary of what was accomplished in Middletown.
As you stated, contracts have been signed, dotted, and negotiated. Cheers.
10) Comments
http://my.stltoday.com/whatsnotinuse@hotmailcom">
 http://my.stltoday.com/whatsnotinuse@hotmailcom - Inquiring March 1, 2010 9:55AM CST
Exactly why did he leave Middletown?...all I find is a reference to 'philosophical differences with the board'. To me its a big red flag when the board agrees to buy him out of his contract. Sounds serious. What has HSD gotten themselves into? Answers please.
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Posted By: HSD
Date Posted: Mar 03 2010 at 1:55pm
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Dr. Price will be in HSD for at least three years with a bit of a raise: http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/the-grade/public-schools/2010/03/hazelwood-sets-salary-for-new-superintendent/ - |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Mar 03 2010 at 2:23pm
| Nice gig. He makes $235,000, or about $110,000. more annually than in Middletown. I don't know many executives whom had less than stellar performance, terminated before the end of a contract, that get Mercedes car allowances and a salary almost 2X what they were making for underperforming. I guess Superintendants are just like politicians. They run horrible camapigns, lose an election and nd up making $100 Mm, aka Ala Gore, Sarah Palin, He had numerous interviews in Ohio where he had no success, and gets a salary which is probably higher than the best paying district in the state of Ohio, after not moving the bar forward in Middletown. The life of a public servant. |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Mar 03 2010 at 2:45pm
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$235,000 in salary????? What???? This guy created a cluster for us at the $123,000 we were paying him. What would substantiate this mega increase in the eyes of the Hazelwood people based on his performance here? Is this a standard salary for the St. Louis area for supers? Did the Hazelwood School Board check this guys credentials at all before making this decision?
If I were the Hazelwood taxpayer, I'd be livid about this decision. But, as many have said......it's their problem now....just let it go. You're correct.....just hard to fathom any logical thinking here, that's all. |
Posted By: Smartman
Date Posted: Mar 03 2010 at 3:07pm
Really, Really? You got what you wanted, HE IS GONE!!!! You all need to get a life, because you have way too much time on your hands. The man has a family, maybe things will be different in St Louis. Just leave him alone and let him ride off in the sunset. I here carerbuilder has jobs for people with too much time on there hands! Geez 
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Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Mar 03 2010 at 3:20pm
Thanks for the repeat post of Feb 28th above Smartman. We acknowledged that he is gone and it is their problem now. We are just reacting to the most recent news of the salary offered. It is surprising, wouldn't you agree? We will wait for your approval before posting on the Price situation in the future, since it seems to upset you that we are picking on Stevie.  Were you a friend of his? Is there a reason why you constantly want to defend him?
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Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Mar 03 2010 at 3:20pm
| Smartman, I recall you were the consummate cheerleader on the Middletown Journal for levies and teachers. It takes a minute to review one's opinion, and offer an opinion. Glad you were the happy cheerleader for the MCSD, but your enthusiasm certainly doesn't qualify you as an expert on organizational behavior or scholastic evaluation. It takes a minute to post, hardly giving a lifetime on this subject. I have a suspicion you are a public employee, you seem awfully defensive. |
Posted By: Smartman
Date Posted: Mar 03 2010 at 10:10pm
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Once again you acclaro and vet you are boyth wrong. I an==m not a public employee. Yes I was one of Dr Price's friend and yes I am a supporter of the MCSD. That does not mean I agreed with everything he said or did. We are friends that agree to disagree.
My point is, let him alone to get on with his life. ( Thanks for the reminder vet about my other post). You see I dont have time to keep track of all the posts,,,I have a life. Sorry you dont.
Dr Price is gone, why not channel all of you energy into supporting the new super? Oh wait a minute, he has not given you anything to bitch about!
You all say you are concerned about the schools and the community. Prove it!!!
As far as Dr Price goes, if it were one of you in his position, would like people chasing you around and not letting you move forward? I think not!!!
acclaro, maybe I am a cheerleader for MSCD, but I have good reason. I have the opportunity to be associated with some very special kids. If you doubt what I am saying, contact ne and I will take you around them. Not all is doom and gloom in MSCD
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Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Mar 03 2010 at 10:53pm
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Dr. Price's outrageous salary exemplifies the public sector's pay and perks which is simply out of hand. In today's economy, a top litigator Partner at a top firm would make the pay he is getting. The same for an executive, his salary is the equivalent of an SVP running a division of a Fortune 500. Its outrageous and entirely unjustified. Just like Middletown, laden with layers of overhead, Communication Directors, Finance Directors in every district, Assistant Superintendants. In Greece, the government today, pulled the stop on all public servants, freezing their pay (now the union is already started the strikes).
If I performed in my Fortune 50 role as Dr. Price did, I'd be terminated, no year salary, no grand review, and no company would not thoroughly vet my previous performance. These superintendants spend tax payer money for consulting fees which tee them up for consulting work when they leave, so the firm can say, well, he used us when he was at Middletown.
I frankly pity HSD, not only in having a school board which obviously is insane, and did no vetting, making reliance entirely upon the search firm which probably also conducted Middletown's great search, but for getting leadership which begins with these unrealistic expectations that are not close to being met, and then moves on. That's my opinion, and its backed by results which speak for themselves.
As for the new superintendant, it speaks volumes. Dr. Price did not get a position in Ohio, in spite of intervieiwng for at least 5-6 I can recall. The same with Middletown. Both schools ended up with those outside the state and virtually the last man standing. That's unacceptable smartman.
This process and the salary are exactly what is wrong with the public sector today. This overwhelming sense of entitlement and I'm going to get mine, is bankrupting the country and the national school system is a failure, thanks entirely to the NEA and union. What saddens me smartman is you not only tolerate this sort of behavior, but you appalud it, and defend it. Subpar performance should never be rewarded or excused. Jack Welch should be named Secretary of Education, and the excuses would cease.
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Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Mar 04 2010 at 7:23am
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Just to show you that you are just "bumping your gums" and that you know nothing about me, Smartman, I have a full time job just as you do. I work around very smart research people up here at Wright-Patt doing work for the Air Force. Then, I go home to my other full time job taking care of my wife who is paralyzed from a stroke in October, until I stumble into bed around 10PM to get a few hours of shuteye before I get up to do it all over again the next day. As you can see, I "have a life". A full one with limited time to myself. You should try it sometime- it ain't that much fun nowadays.
As to the reminder about your post and you "not having time to keep track of all of them"......I simply used the scroll wheel on the mouse and .....voila......scrolled up a few posts and ......imagine that.....there it was! Your post. How about that! Channel all our energy to the new super? Be glad to. Glad he's here. Will support him 100% UNTIL or UNLESS he demonstrates that he is a Price clone in his ideas. Then, the hammer comes out. And why wouldn't it? Haven't we had enough misery in this school system the last 20 years? And why is it, that we keep doing the same failed things over and over again with each new super candidate? If you find out that it hurts when you hit your big toe with the hammer, most would stop when they felt pain, wouldn't they? Not this school system. The ones running it keep saying "maybe if I hit my toe the next time, it won't hurt" Nothing ever changes even though there is ample evidence that the current operation isn't working. "Not all is doom and gloom in MCSD". Perhaps, but for every success story you can cite, we can cite two or three problem areas that have been identified years ago as problem areas, but have been ignored through many administrations. "You all say you are concerned about the schools and the community. Prove it!!!" Been to Council meetings. Spoke during citizen comments. Been on a committee for the roads. Written Letters To The Editor, Been to school board meetings, vote every election, E-Mailed Councilmembers, participate in sites such as this, attend some forums when time allows. Was born here 61 years ago. Could have located anywhere in the area in 2005 when we returned from Arizona. Came back to Middletown- my hometown that I care about. Yeah, Smartman, I give a crap about my hometown and it's killing me watching what they're doing to it. I want most of them out of here before they totally destroy what little is left- both the town and the schools. You have a good day now, you hear?
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Posted By: John Beagle
Date Posted: Mar 04 2010 at 10:59am
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Price Almost gets a Double No, not double dipping, double the salary he had as the Middletown, Ohio School Superintendent. Middletown Schools paid Dr. Price, $123,00 per year, he now will make $235,000 in Hazelwood. The Hazelwood School Board on Tuesday evening officially hired Steve Price as superintendent for a three-year contract with an annual salary of $235,000. Source: Stltoday.com This is a surprise since Middletown School Board forced his resignation. As one poster put it, "We had the lowest proficiency test scores in the SW Ohio area for the 7 years he was here. We also had discipline problems and admin./teacher relationship issues. It finally caught up with Price." ------------- http://www.johnbeagle.com/" rel="nofollow - John Beagle Middletown USA News of, for and by the people of Middletown, Ohio. |
Posted By: lrisner
Date Posted: Mar 04 2010 at 8:01pm
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I guess all you CEO Bonus supports will now have to say the Price was worth 235k. Right? I guess that makes him one of best, right? All the criticism of him here was unfounded, right? |
Posted By: plum8up
Date Posted: Mar 07 2010 at 12:37am
| im gonna have to go with smartman.was steve price perfect heck no!but he is a human being, with a family, and in his mind he truely believed he was doing what was best for the students in the middletown school district. we can hope he learned from his experence in middletown and he can improve and get on with his life.and we can all move on |
Posted By: lrisner
Date Posted: Mar 08 2010 at 9:09am
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My whole point is that there is no accountability for poor performance any more. Even in the Private sector. Look at the CEOs now a days. A CEO can run a Company into the Ground an will still get a big Bonus because "it would have worse without His great Leadership". I actually saw that quote a few years ago about an under performing CEO who got a huge Payday. I don't remember the details,however. |