A recent comment by a visitor brought to my attention the Call's recent trashing of one of Mehlville's former superintendants, Dr. Tim Ricker:
Mike--
Not only does the Call not pay their bills, but they are short-sighted and quick to forget also. I point to the recent editorial about how Mehlville, under Terry Noble, is finally headed in the right direction financially. Now, I like and respect Mr. Noble, and feel is has done the best he could possibly do. However, the Call blames Mehlville's current financial troubles on Tim Ricker and the school board of that time, which you were on. They seem to forget, and never mention, Jerry Chambers...you know, that "fill-in" superintendent who the Call LOVED who pushed for a 6% pay increase with no way to pay for it. Or who pushed to spend over $1million to renovate St. John's for SCOPE, or who gave all administrators a 6% raise. And the school board of Jerry Chambers is pretty much the same as the current....So why isn't that mentioned? Could it be because the Call would NEVER admit that they were wrong about that guy? That he was just trouble? Hmm, then is Tim Ricker to blame for the Call's problems? Or maybe it's your fault Mike!!! Thanks to the Call for wanting transparency from everyone but themself.
March 15, 2010 5:43 PM
Now, I'm not familiar with our school district's current financial situation. I'm guessing it's similar to the way it's been for the last 20 years or so. I'm sure that whatever they need to do to balance the budget, they will do it. Our community, fueled by the ignorant bastards at the Call, will be frustrated, point fingers and then push on. We will continue to be a good, but not great district. We don't have the financial resources to be great and the status quo is acceptable to the community. As to Dr. Ricker having anything to do with any financial problems we might have, that's just buffoonery. Notice that any comments like that were in the opinion section. That area doesn't require any accuracy, which is why Mike Anthony generally writes it. The Ricker era was one of fiscal conservatism for the district. He lead by example. In his three years as superintendent, he never accepted a raise. His senior staff all followed suit one year and all asked not to be given a raise. He slashed spending in administration at not only the central office, but around the district. A number of people didn't care for Ricker and they are entitled to their opinion. He wasn't perfect. I disagreed with certain things he did and said. But for the Call to suggest that he wasn't prudent with the district's money, is just absurd.
As to Dr. Chambers, you're probably right. And I know that he purchased food and drink for Call management in violation of journalistic ethics. That's just one more shinning example of hypocrisy.
18 comments:
As for as the Call its the best pen MONEY can Buy!!!!!!!!!! Shame on Anthony and Milligan you two panzies
Looks like they romoved the comic section blog- The south County Truth Spot doesn't work anymore.
Hey
Bimbo White if you think you are going to take us out of the union you better think again: You can't stop us from talking behind your back and you can bet that will go on.
From your friendly Captain's
First of all how can we be part of administration when in fact we have no real administrators. Timmy White was never more then a failed firefighter and now the IDIOT calls himself our leader. Not only is our pretend chief a very poor admin. person but a very very poor fire ground commander that burns down structures. If you put the captains in the admin position they will be more of a administrator then our so called fire chief.
The idea of Timmy passing judgment on someone else's abilities is as ludicrous as the notion of Hilmer, who has never held a grown-up job, deriding the value of public servants. Hilmer has minimal education and no employment background. White is woefully under qualified for the job of captain, never mind chief. The people who contribute NOTHING, who are qualified to do NOTHING are disparaging men and women who have faithfully served this community for decades. They have decimated this fire district and are poised to do even more damage.
9:37: You are such an immature person that all of the "experience" you claim won't change your insubordinate attitude. Cut the grade school antics and do your job - or Tim White will stick you in the unemployment line. You still work for the Board and Chief - live it, learn it - love it.
I may work for the idiots, however I have not respect and I plan on showing no RESPECT away from my job. I will do everything that I can to discredit and shame these s--t heads. I will also do everything that is possible to cause politicaly to show that this group is not quailfied and should be put out of office and of course the chief's job. Keep on guessing who I am, I will talk to you, I will look at you and you have to thought who I am.
Correction: They work for the community; the people who pay their salaries.
And they are trying to do their jobs despite the incompetence of Hilmer, White and the tide of know-nothings they have hired and promoted.
Idiots just happen to be in charge of the fire district right now. This too will pass when residents figure out what's going on...and they are beginning to figure it out.
Here's a suggestion for you, though: shove it.
Looks like Timmy (High Pockets) White is trying a desperate last attempt at control of MFPD. Sounds like an act of a desperate looser just like Stoney. They never had it and never will nothing but screwballs. I hope you have deep pockets Stoney There are some really upset residents that you have made statements about mr TRUTH DETECTOR I Wouldnt want to be you.
$40,000 payraise for Mr Noble what are they thinking either he stays or goes he is not worth 40k. Im a huge supporter of Mehlville School District but I think they just jumped the shark as for as getting any kind of support from me for any new prop or tax increase. same thing with compass I feel cheated. while the kids are sharing books and technology is lacking. The BOE decided to give away 40k I could see 10 maybe 12 but 40 wtf. Ricker never took a raise. Noble should refuse this raise. if he cant live on the amount he gets everybody has it rough right now. dont come asking me for jack. Between MFPD & MBOE Its time for a change both of these entities need to go away. Im embarassed You have no idea what you have just done to the Teachers and the students of this school district im calling for the resignation of Tom Dehl. Mike Ocello Karl Frank and any other idiot that approved this pay raise Do you have any Idea what you have done.
8;36 I'm afraid many people in the district will have the same feelings. I declined the opportunity to comment for the StL PD the other day which, as most know, is difficult for me to do. My rule is simple. Unless I have seriously studied an issue about the Mehlville School District, I will not make any negative comment about it. All I could say was WTF. I just got chewed out two weeks ago supporting the district's budgets because of recent raises of 6% to administrators. I don't think I'll be bringing up the fact that I was on the board in any conversation in the near future.
I like Terry Noble, really. Been looking for someone decent ever since John Cary left.
Ricker was a sad mistake...for God's sake, the Bierbaum parents threw a party the first time he left the district..why was he ever hired back?
Chambers was a disaster. Period.
Terry Noble seems like a reasonable, cordial guy who can communicate with the public. That's his job: interface with the community and encourage the employees.
But HE is not the reason test scores are up. HE is not the reason graduation rates are up.
A raise? Hell, yes. But $40,000? In THIS community? In these economic times? Are they kidding?
Now we have a superintendent at the top of the pay scale and teachers still in the bottom quarter of the pay scale.
No way this works out well. Both the teachers AND the taxpayers will be pissed off.
Watch the Call spin this top. Let's see...who did they endorse for school board?
10:03 It's interesting that you have respect for John Cary but not Tim Ricker. Cary chose Ricker to open the new Haegemann School and then rehired Ricker as an assistant superintendent after he left the district. The reason Ricker wasn't a popular superintendent was simple. He would not kiss Dan Fowler's ass. If you go back to the Call, you will see that Fowler and Milligan adored Ricker when he was first promoted. Ricker refused to meet with Fowler on a weekly basis to find out how he was supposed to run the district. This infuriated Ricker when he had pushed hard for the Ricker promotion.
Then, Fowler turned on Ricker. Either way, as John Cary said when he left, the superintendent is just one man, he doesn't make the district.
The BOe Stepped in it this time
40k ,is way to much money Nobel sould refuse it. if he cant handle 10 k then let him go no district will hire him for 220k a year right now anyway. Jesus Diehl what were you and the rest of the board thinking. What happens now massive cuts in teachers and redistricting of school zones maybe close a few schools and combine students from other schools. Does that 40 k come with promise of Keeping Bus service. Dumber then the .99 cent Tax increase.
He may have stood up to Fowler(hooray; Fowler is way too impressed with himself) but Ricker also alienated other people right and left. He came off as one who assumed questions were challenges to his authority.
8:13 I'm not saying Dr. Ricker was without flaws. I'm just saying that if you'd like to criticize him, use facts. As to alienating people, much of the well was poisoned by Fowler and the Call early in his tenure as the superintendent. Remember such idiotic things as counting how many times he called home on his cell before 5pm in one year. Who gave a rat's ass? It didn't cost the district a nickel. This was the petty nonsense he had to put up with.
No matter what...nothing will ever be good enough for the people of south county. We cry when our fire fighters are raked over the coals: no raises/benefits cut and the fire district hires the most underqualified candidate ever for chief. We cry when the teachers get a raise. We then cry when an experienced superintendent who wants to be here gets a raise. Then we cry that the teachers will be upset because they aren't getting a raise. Which is it?
We cry and say things like: "I will never vote for a tax increase...blah, blah, blah." Is that some major revelation? I can see the headlines now "PEOPLE OF SOUTH COUNTY VOTE NO ON SCHOOL BOND ISSUE" From what year would this headline come? Just because you don't understand something, doesn't mean it is wrong.
BTW...what if the "MAJORITY" of teachers are ok with this?
9:34 I dont have a problem with the raise its the amount of the raise that bothers me. When we as voters allow this is sends mixed signals to the people Hilmer, Stonebraker and those with like minded views. If you dont think they arnt going to capitalize on this you have another thing coming. Undermining the prop S for the fire district claiming it was a scam is how that group took hold of the Fire District. And completeloy ruined it I dont want to see this Happen to the School Dist. Float 10,000 Now. for 2 yrs then if the money situation is better go for another 10 or 12 Do you think Mr Noble would except that.
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