December 14 , 2007

Parent Post

Bravo Post!  The service/outlet that you provide the patrons of Deer Creek is appreciated and applauded.  Unfortunately you and your wife take the "bad press" that comes along with offering this avenue of free speech.  The parents of Deer Creek know you are wonderful people and appreciate your efforts.

The free exchange of ideas is exactly what DC needs.  I know MANY more people read this site than actually post, so you are reaching a greater market than you even know.

I have always felt that you offer a very balanced reply to some very heated topics and slanted views.  You do a great job.

Long Live the Post!

December 12 , 2007

Parent Post

Wow! It never ceases to amaze me all of these people out there that love to tell you how "horrible" the DCSPost is yet they are still on there reading it everyday. If you don't like it, STOP reading it.

I don't always agree with everything I read on here but I enjoy reading other opinions. I am always open to hear other opinions. I realize that my beliefs are not always the beliefs of others. I have on occasion read other opinions and changed mine. There are a lot of thoughtful opinions on here and they have made me really stop and think about the entire topic rather than just jumping to conclusions.

So, with that said...Thank you so much DCPost for allowing us to share different views on here. I will make you this promise: If I ever start criticizing every single thing you have on here as a topic I will stop reading it.  You guys are greatly appreciated and there is no doubt in my mind that you are always doing what you think is best to help the district. I feel honored to have your family in the Deer Creek community. Thank you for all you do to help better our community.

December 10 , 2007

Thank you all for your heart warming support, Daphne & Rob Talbot

Parent Post 1: Mr. Talbot, Thank you for your words of wisdom and continued honesty.  My husband and I couldn't agree with you more about this District and the state that it is in.  I am glad we have the Post to voice our opinions and find out information.  Not to "gripe", but find out what is happening and then implement the needed changes.   We too are friends with Coach Tim Draper and know what a good man he is.  The things that are being said about him as a coach and teacher are very unfair.  The majority of people in this district know that ...he has our support and so do you.  Thank you...

Parent Post 2: To "Taking Issue with DCSPost", I took the time to read every word you wrote, and I can honestly say I believe you care deeply for this district and you are passionate in your beliefs.  I too care about this district and feel strongly about my concerns and I believe the DCSPost is giving both of us a forum to discuss the opposing issues with the freedom of speech we all can thank our founding fathers for. 

My family has been in the district for over 20 years and we've seen a lot of changes...new schools, new teachers, new board members.  We haven't always agreed with the decisions that the board members have made either, especially when my kid doesn't get the same treatment as a school board members kid...that does happen and that's not hearsay.   

I support the DCSPost and the opportunity to speak out.  I have read many positive statements on the Post and learned about programs in the new elementary schools that my kids didn't attend.    In closing, and in fairness to the Post, they didn't have to print your comments, or address them, but they did.  To the DCSPost, please don't move or let anyone intimidate you and your family for the work you do on the Post.  Keep up the good work!

Parent Post 3: Dear Mr. Talbot, Did you start the DCSPost on a whim because you wanted to see how much nastiness you could dredge up?  Or, did you, like many of us, have the wind knocked out of you a few years ago when you found out how unethical this board and administration truly are?  Did you, like many of us, believe you could make a difference by meeting with the "leaders" and expressing a viewpoint only to find out you were lied to directly-face to face- or not given an answer at all?  

Anyone can attend meetings, serve as officers in organizations and help at school functions and go with the flow.  Anyone can pat the administration on the back and say "Way to go, I accept that a high number of our kids will not graduate with the basic skills required to function in the world.  What color crepe paper should we use for the prom?"  This is not leadership.         A leader is someone who sees a problem and tries to remedy it.  Being a leader is not easy and is frequently not popular. It is adding something else to your day because you believe it is important.   I don't agree with every one of your opinions but I thank you and your family for the tenacity needed to address these issues.  

December 7 , 2007

Parent Post

Mr. Talbot and readers, I am so disappointed in your contradictions.  First, I appreciate your continued opinions.  However, you claim this DCSPost site that you administer is to "help disseminate information and promote communication amongst the patrons and the school district".  Is that what you are really doing?  Or are you - just like you claimed I was doing - judging? 

Every reply is your "judgment" about the facts.  Most every post does not reflect a personal issue.  I know you and your daughters.  I am well aware that they were not wrestlers for example; yet you feel obliged to report by listening to others opinions about a matter that does not concern you.  Continually, you try to bring it back to your disappointment in the administration.

I find it strange that you talk about the "good relations you have with the Superintendent".  That is NOT what they think - and that came straight from those who work there!  Second, if you have such a great respect for them - why do you "dog" the administration every chance you get when giving your reply?  Those of us who have read the Posts since the installment of this site - are well aware of how frustrated you are in this district.  Why not move?  Or better yet; do exactly what you tell readers to do:  run for School Board yourself.  If you know so much - do something about it!  

You were NOT in attendance and took heresay to publish in this site about the State School Board response to Coach Draper.  It certainly doesn't take a brain surgeon to see that he is pressing an issue that is only making him look bad.  He was caught forging a letter that was to have been signed by his boss (Toni Jones) for his personal certification.  Had he not lost his job due to no certification; he would have lost it for lying and cheating.  Forgery is against the law. He was lucky in the fact that the State School Board did not do their job and accepted an unsigned/approved document.  That is the only thing he has going for himself.  He has taken poor advice and chosen to fight this.  The Education field in Oklahoma is a small community.  Teachers move within districts every year.  The truth from those involved and in attendance is out there.  He will be lucky to get the job he wants.  I am not sure what kind of district wants an influence of a person caught forging documents and lying to cover for it?!  I hope we don't!   I do appreciate your response to my letter. 

However, instead of calling me out for being judgmental; why not take your own advice?  You were not involved or in attendance at the State School Board meeting.  You have not taught in Oklahoma's school system.  You are far from heavily involved at the schools.  Should you be putting others opinions down when you are doing the same thing - stating an opinion?!   

We live in America.  We are blessed to be able to choose how we raise our children (within safe means).  We are fortunate to not have to agree.  However, anyone who has a job at all; knows it is their responsibility to do the work to keep it.  My cliche' of "babysitting" was actually a demeaning comment towards an adult who wants an HR person to maintain his responsibility. Like I said before; my kids have to make their own grades, do their own work and keep up with their grades and various school requirements.  I do that and more in my job.

Coach Draper should be held to the same requirements as his peers.  Ironic that all the other staff members found enough time to maintain hours logged to keep their certification active.  I know for a fact (straight from the people directly involved) that Coach Draper was warned of his expiring certification by our administration.  They even gave him ways to meet the needed requirements.  Obviously, you weren't aware of that.  But, it is documented.  Remember, every employee has a personnel file.  And every workplace has a system of checks and balances.  More than one person can attest to his being aware of his needs and simply not meeting them.  Of course he would lose his certification!  He didn't do his job!  It is NOT personal! 

Coach Draper has made it that way by supporting and participating in the slander of our staff and administration for protecting their own jobs! If there is a lawsuit to be filed; it should be Deer Creek versus the OK State Board for accepting an unsigned and forged documentation.  That was all discussed.  Coach Draper should tuck his tail between his legs, bend those knees, repent for his lying and forgery and be thankful for being recertified.  Had the State Board not made a mistake; he might not have ever been allowed to work in Oklahoma again.   I read this site to learn about our district. 

I often leave this site with feelings of people who have nothing better to do than complain.  Like many of your other posts; it is too negative.  You foster that by adding your two cents and griping more.  Instead of continually slandering and naming our board members; why not run for office and join them?  You act like you have all the answers - put your money where your mouth is!   The day that people stop sitting around getting involved in business that is not theirs and actually volunteer, actively participate, and do things to grow rather than tear down our district; we might actually survive.  

You know me personally.  You know that I think our Board members are wonderful for volunteering the time that they do.  You also know that I do not agree with how things have been run.  I am not impressed with our Superintendents actions in many areas.  I have had my own issues with staff.  However, I continue to volunteer in the PTO, PSG, school dances, concessions, calling trees, homeroom mom, adopt-a-teacher, DCCEF, elections, bond issues, cafeteria, playgrounds, fundraisers, welcome committees, band, choir, sports activities, volunteer substituting, chaperone, library volunteer, book fair, carnivals, auctions, academic team coach, academic team host and judge, science nights, Creek Classic, finding sponsors for school projects, testing monitor, art club help, field trip volunteer, and various other donations of personal time and money. 

I also have been a paid substitue in this district and been asked to coordinate and chair many events.  I do this for my kids and your kids and other kids in our district.....NOT FOR MYSELF!   I do not have all the answers. I do believe in telling the truth.  I am so sad that Coach Draper lied and cheated.  I thought so highly of him.  

You have great ideas; but do something with them.  If you have so much time on your hands; we could use a good volunteer! It is hard - I work full time and try not to miss a single kids activity!  But, this is our one chance to raise these kids we were blessed to have in our lives.  If you are so disappointed in the way things are being done - become one of the people who is in a position to change things. Sitting around stirring the pot does nothing but add fire under the pot to keep it boiling.  

Our patrons - new and old - have witnessed a lot of change.  While I agree with you that our Board has not done the best job in many areas.  They volunteer their time.  No job requirement is attached to the job.  If we as patrons decide we need business minded people; then we should elect them.  2 elections ago we overlooked Bryan McPhail who owns his own business and has been a police officer for a friend of another school board member.  Look where that got us! Put your energy and time in to making some changes - not griping about them.

Finally, I do not write anything to the DCSPost or speak to others about something without investigating it for myself.  Your continued comments in many areas are simply opinions.  That hurts people because some read that as factual.   Your point about Coach Draper had to be corrected in your reply to me.  Deer Creek was NEVER reprimanded.  You took heresay and tried to state it as fact.  Continuing to do that will only lessen the respect people have for the issues posted.  I stated what I knew to be FACT.  Coach Draper did something illegal - how can you support that?  It isn't personal!  We should instead applaud the Administration for not giving in to the parents who make a stink like they typically do.  This time; the administration follows the law and the guidelines mandated by their superiors (the State Board and Licensing); and we dare to question that?  

Issues and negativity just like that are what make it so hard to find good people to come in to our district to work.  (Look at our long search for a Superintendent - we had to just give it to someone we bounced around in the district because their were so many complains about her in every other position - and that is a fact!)  If you worked for DC or were actively participating in the schools at that time - you would know.   If you cannot find it within yourself to stop preaching to others and not walking the walk; move.  No one wants to be around misery.  It brings us all down.   We certainly need changes.  But, we need people willing to shut their mouths and open their minds to figuring out ways and committing to doing them!

Our Reply

Thanks for your post and I will try to address as much as I possibly can.

First for the issue of Tim Draper I do not know all of the facts and will not know all of the facts since I wasn’t personally involved.  I do support Tim as I do any friend of mine.  I will also support Tim if he has done something wrong as I would with any friend.  I would never bail out on someone at a time when they needed support the most.  That doesn’t mean I condone what they have done, it just means I will be there for them when they need help the most.

With that said I find it very difficult for anybody to know all of the facts unless they were directly involved.  As for it not being personal you called the man a liar and a cheat.  If that is not personal and negative I don’t know what is.  My only issue with the Tim Draper situation is how the school board handled it, not the decision they came to.  While I am not directly affected by the situation, I believe what happens to others could eventually happen to me if it is allowed to go on.  I also believe that if the issue of the school board not allowing patrons to speak ever becomes a legal matter we will find out one way or another who is right in their beliefs with this matter.  Until then it will only be conjecture on both sides.

Why do I keep bringing everything back to the school board? Because that is where it all begins.  It is their job to oversee the school district for the people who elected them.  Just because a person volunteers their time doesn’t mean they should get carte blanch to do whatever they want.  For the record they didn’t just volunteer their time. They ran for a political office.  An office that they all knew the responsibilities of before they ran for the position.  As for breaking the law we may find out that they did so by not allowing the public to speak at the board meeting.  So if you are going to be critical of Tim Draper then you certainly should be critical of the school board as well if it is determined either one of them broke the law.  

As for volunteering, you say that you know me but you obviously don’t or you would know that amount of time that I and my family has volunteered at the school over the last ten years.  I would list it out to but don’t see the need to do so.  For the record I have substituted(unpaid) on a few different occasions as well. 

As for running for the school board that is not an option for me.  When I choose to start the DCSpost with my wife I effectively disqualified myself from ever running for the school board for two reasons.  First, since I have openly and publicly stated my opinions, any decision that I would be part of, would leave the school open for a lawsuit which would not be good for anyone let alone the district.  Second, I realize that I have a polarizing effect on the community because of the DCSpost.  When at a time the district needs a candidate who can unify the community, I am obviously not the person to do it.  Remember both points are made with the assumption that I could win, which even I don’t assume would automatically happen.

As for telling people to shut up, stop griping or move.  I find it ironic that you say this even though you keep expressing your feelings.  Why should you be afforded free speech but nobody else?  Why do you get to decide what is a gripe and what is a valid concern?  So if I respond I have all the answers but if you respond you are just stating the facts.  Doesn’t that seem to be a contradiction in itself?  Or should we look to gather as much information that we possibly can and let people decide what they want for themselves.  I do not think that everybody should agree with me but I only hope they can see my side.  I have learned a long time ago that once I understand what the other side believes, we can then move towards a positive outcome.  If we choose not to understand how the other side feels then we will be caught in a continuous negative loop. 

As for my relationship with the Superintendent, that is between us.  But if I am to believe you, she lied to me when we talked.  I don’t believe you because I don’t believe her to be the type of person who lies.  I do believe that there are times that she and I will not agree but that doesn’t mean we are lying to each other.  Over time the both of us have learned that there are times when we are going to have to agree to disagree.  You criticized me for talking about a meeting I never attended but turn around and talk about my relationship with the Superintendent even though you have never been privy to any of our conversations.  Why is that?  Shouldn’t you practice what you preach?  Or again is there a double standard to how we apply our beliefs?  For the record, the district did not have trouble finding a qualified candidate for the position of Superintendent.  The problem was the district did not offer the first two candidates enough money for them to take the position.

Lastly as for disseminating information, not everything that is going to be posted is going to make everybody happy.  We have made some mistakes and have always acknowledged them when we do.  That is why people should openly talk about issues so that the misperceptions can be dispelled when they occur.   As a great Deer Creek teacher once told my daughter, ‘If you never make a mistake, you will never learn anything”.

I do not hope that the outcome of this post will be that you and everybody else will agree with me.  My only hope is that people will learn to accept how others feel and learn that the world is made up of a lot of differing opinions.  Ultimately maybe you and I will learn to accept the fact that we are going to disagree on this topic.  Hopefully we can stop the personally diatribe between the two of us and as always feel free to contact me personally so we can talk about any issues you want.