CBS47 Community

Share your thoughts on the possible firing of Superintendent Joseph Wise.

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Brandon Westerman
Webmaster, CBS47

At this point the school board should be fired, not the superintendent. They hired him and didn't do their job very diligently then. The school board had an opportunity to fire the superintendent when FCAT scores showed that all but two of the high schools were failing ( I don't count D's as passing, you can't graduate with a D average. I also don't count the three special high schools because they are stacked with only "smart" students). This was worst than when he started. But now when he tries to do his job and do some of the things he thinks will help, because they don't agree with him, they want to fire him. Or is it because he used his constitutionally guaranteed right to free speech to question the motivations of a school board member that he is fired. Guess who is going to pay? At $275,000 a year with two years left on his contract (that’s $550,000) + LEGAL FEES  that the school board is going to throw away just because they now decide he doesn’t agree with him and they don't like him. They say they have cause to fire him but we all know it will go to court and he will get his money.

If the school board just wants a yes person to be superintendent, then please just save us the money and don't hire a new superintendent and they can do the job themselves. I (we the taxpayers) can't keep throwing away money and not getting results. Make the right decisions the first time or get out. Kind of sounds like building a new Courthouse.

bwesterman:

Share your thoughts on the possible firing of Superintendent Joseph Wise.

The Superintendent had every right and an obligation to write that letter if he is trying to clarify or there is proof in the allegations he made.  It appears another entity needs to monitor the dealings of the school board.  Perhaps its time to clean house. 

INSTEAD OF POINTING FINGERS AND PLACING BLAME IT'S ABOUT TIME THE PARENTS GOT INVOLVED WITH THEIR CHILDRENS EDUCATION AND LEARN THAT THEY AS PARENTS PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN THEIR CHILDRENS EDUCATON. INSTEAD OF PLACING BLAME TRY TAKING THE BLAME. AS A PARENT YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR CHILDREN. BE A PARENT FOR A CHANGE AND LOOK AT YOURSELF AND YOU WILL SEE WHY JOHNNY OR JANE CAN'T READ.

I truly do not agree with the school board. I believe that Superintendent Wise has been an asset to Duval County. He has innovative thinking that will assist students to meet and exceed standards. He is not the blame for the failing schools and the falling FCAT scores. If it is necessary to blame someone for these perils take a look at the parents that are not involved in their child’s education, look at the parents that do not hold their child responsible for what he or she does and does not do, look at the parents that expect miracles but do nothing to support the teacher and the schools. So if blame should be placed anywhere, regarding FCAT scores, student achievement and the like, take a look in the mirror and ask yourself (selves)”, what have I done today to help my child succeed?" I believe that firing the superintendent will prove to be not only a costly mistake but a mistake that will become gravely unfortunate. If the board is looking for a "Yes Man", a "Do as we want person", a person who follows the norms and not have the aptitude to think on his or her own, a person who will not ask questions, and shake the ground, perhaps the job description should state: "Wanted: A brainless, spineless, person to fill a seat but not position. We  desperately seek someone that will do as we say and not ask any questions. SELF-ADVOCATING THINKERS NEED NOT APPLY" Lastly, how can you question Superintendent Wise for questioning what he believed to be true? If the board member used her position to obtain employment for her husband, used her position to gain entrance into a magnet school for her children, and could possibly be living outside of her required district, YES, he should have called her to the carpet on those matters. You can bet, that more than he had knowledge or suspicions of these misdeeds, but he was the only one with the courage to follow-up and follow through. Now, because someone’s feelings are hurt you want to put his head on the chopping block. Yes, he did not follow required protocol but is this a viable reason for releasing a person who has nothing but the best intentions for our children and for our schools and has helped our schools? Leadership is not a popularity contest, everyone will not like you and in the process many will be offended.  

According to new4jax's reports, Dr. Wise didn't need to tell the school board about his plan (the law doesn't require him to do so).  It sounds to me like the board members got their feelings hurt and are responding as children would.  As for Ms. P-J, she has some answering to do.

Since the school board has been hammering Mr. Wise, it seems they have lost sight of the potentially damaging accusations against one of it's own. Where is the outrage or investigation over Preistly-Jackson?

I have lived with a retired Duval County school teacher for 14.5 years, and have had some discussion with him on this issue. From what I have been told, Duval County has a negative record when it comes to recruiting, and retaining school superintendents. One reason being that unlike the city council we do not have at-large representation on the school board, therefore you have an atmosphere where everybody who is on the school board only wants what they want, when they want, where they want, and how they want for the individual district which they are elected to represent, therefore you have a position which no one could ever pay me enough money to get me to accept. There is no way in a situation such as the one  described above that you are going to please everyone everytime, especially with the state weighing in grading the schools, and the current climate in public education which has been created by the no child left behind act. That said I do not disagree with the boards action when it comes to the dismissal of Dr Wise, however I do disagree with the boards inaction in hiring Dr Wise. It is not entirely the fault of Dr Wise nor is it entirely the fault of the members of the board, that the situatiation ended  the way it did, however I would strongly recommend to the board that they make absolutely sure that all of the i's are dotted and t's are crossed when hiring a superintendent and make absolutely sure that they know and get the person that they are truly looking for, and if they can say oh it's about the student's when they terminate surely they can remember that is is about the student's and the taxpayers when they hire.

The whole School board should  be fired, also Joe Wise should be fired for cause for not cooperating with the board. We have a track record of contract buyouts of high paid people. Why shouldn't they come to work  here and then cause trouble and get fired with a  with a huge buy out. I haven't done the math but his salary will be among the highest in the nation by the time he is gone. I wish I could work two years and get paid a half million dollars. Let's all remember the present board members at election time. It is Our money they are flushing down the toilet.