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| Let’s not forget students’ achievements |
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| Opinion | |||
| Written by Doug Carder | |||
| Wednesday, 04 February 2009 09:00 | |||
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Broadmoor Elementary School Principal Deborah Blancarte has resigned, but speculation about why Louisburg USD 416 Superintendent Rick Doll and the Board of Education did not place her on paid administrative leave likely will linger. After the Herald reported on its Web site Jan. 23 that Blancarte was facing two felony drug charges, we received more than 150 responses from readers. Most called for Blancarte’s suspension, while a smaller group of district patrons remained in support of her staying on at the school until all the facts in the case came out. Points can be made on both sides of the argument. Allowing Blancarte to stay on the job did send a mixed message to students and the community about the district’s zero-tolerance drug policy. But all the facts in the case still are not known at this point. As one lawyer, who had no stake in the case, pointed out to me: “This is a political hot potato, so if it was a cut-and-dry case they would have placed her on leave immediately. Undoubtedly, they (school board) were receiving legal advice, and I have to think that there must have been some mitigating circumstances that warranted holding off (on a suspension).” Regardless of your feelings about whether you thought Superintendent Doll and the school board chose the right course of action in this case, let’s not lose sight of the fact the elementary school finished among the top 5 percent in Kansas in academic achievement last year. Think about that for a moment: the top 5 percent of all elementary schools in this state. When we published an article about the elementary school’s achievements last fall, we received virtually no reader reaction. It would be nice to see readers get just as fired up about positive news as they do when something negative happens. The next time we publish an article about the school district’s academic accolades, it would be refreshing to see 150 responses attached to that article.
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Comments (10)
a guest: ...
I wrote in one of my comments, last week, regarding Debbie Blancarte's case, exactly that! We need to focus on the top notch education that our children are receiving here in Louisburg. People are so quick to talk negative, but we have to focus on the positive! Let it go & remember that our kids are in excellent hands & receiving excellent education!! I am proud to have my daughter attending USD #416!
1
February 04, 2009
a guest: ...
Louisburg finished in the top 5 percent of Kansas last year. Last year Becky Bowes was still in charge of Broadmoor. That accomplishment is due to Becky not Debbie!
2
February 04, 2009
a guest: ...
that's not the point. he's saying that having response to good stuff should happen too.
3
February 04, 2009
a guest: ...
You are fooling yourself if you don't think Debbie had a lot to do with the school's standing last year. She brought many skills to the table. Her learning strategies assisted many, many kids with the test. If you don't know what you are talking about, save it.
4
February 04, 2009
a guest: ...
I am proud of the students at BES! Way to go students! They are the ones who took the tests! And the teachers? I think they are doing a great job! My child is not an "A" student, nor an "F" student. My child is just an average child, but also one who needs that extra help! The Math Club that BES started this year has been such a help! The staff and faculty really seem to care about my child. No one can love her as much as I do, but I am so glad that when she is at BES there are those adults who take care of her, help her, and care for her. Thank you BES staff and faculty!
By the way, my daughter thinks that Ms. Mary Jo makes the best biscuts and gravy! She's even told servers at restaurants that theirs are not as good as Ms. Mary Jo's! I have seen how Mrs. Blancarte worked with students. I believe she really cared about our students. Sure hope Dr. Doll will care as much about my child as Mrs. Blancarte did. I don't want to hear him say he cares about the kids of USD 416, I want to see it. I'm sure it has been awhile since he's been around elementary school children day in and day out. Wasn't he a secondary teacher? It's a whole different world in graedes 3-4-5 than in 7-12! 5
February 04, 2009
a guest: ...
Our schools are one of the top in the state. We have to be damn proud of that! We also have to give credit where credit is due. Debbie Blancarte also had a part in that last year & this year. Her new & fresh ideas & strategies sure have made an impact & have blended in with everything else that was being done. Way to go teachers, staff, & especially Wildcat students!!!
6
February 04, 2009
a guest: ...
I guess responses # 2 doesn't get it !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let it go and find someone else to dog........what a bunch of hypocrites you are........and lets not EVEN get started on BECKY BOWES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
8
February 05, 2009
a guest: ...
I think that Herald pulled a lame one out of their hat when they say the community is always on the out look for negative only. The Lady Wildcats help out a family and their is a positive reply. I guess that doesn't count. If Broadmoor's Principal would have acted like Susan Tinich of Cass-Midway elementary and did something positive for the community, people wouldn't be so disgusted. Maybe Sue Tinich should be held up as a role model for Principals in the community. She is striving to be a positive influence and a true role model to her student and to the community as a whole. Now, if she could help her husband be a better basketball coach, then I would put her up for sainthood.
9
February 05, 2009
tom feehan: ...
We moved down here about 10 years ago. The school system was one of the major reasons we moved down here. At that time it was deemed as good as the JoCo school system. We are very pleased with the education our children are recieving. The Herald writing consistently about each childs accomplishments is an great bonus we were not aware of at the time.
I am very saddened about the Blancarte ordeal both for the school and for her. We met her once and she was very competent and nice. I don't know why the Blancarte publication got more responses then the achievement but sometimes we take the good things for granted and concetrate on the bad. 10
May 18, 2009
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