Investigation revealed that the Center could not lay claim to any record of success, above and beyond a laundry list of what “might” come to pass as a result of the information disseminated.
The cost was quoted as somewhere between $300,000 and $600,000, per Dr. Hinojosa. That is a pretty wide spread. Questions were asked of Dr. Hinojosa. “Why are so many people going? How can we judge the results? What is the source of the funding?” None of the questions were answered satisfactorily, yet the people went, despite misgivings by the stakeholders. To the best of my knowledge, we have never been told the final cost, the source of the funding and what, if any, positive results could be seen. In spite of the voiced objections, Hinojosa decided to go ahead and send them, and “the devil take the hindmost.” What was he thinking?
Earlier this year, we learned that Dr. Hinojosa had entered into a contract, without board knowledge or approval, to hire unqualified or under-qualified teachers through a program called Teach for America. Not only did he act without board permission, he pursued a federal grant, along with Teach for America, for funding same. All this came to light through investigations resulting from his going to the board to ask permission to hire 50 of these “teachers.” Because of a public backlash, he withdrew the request for the 50 and the federal funding fell through because he had applied for it improperly.
Further delving showed that Teach for America apparently has morphed into something totally removed from its original mission, of placing “teachers” in schools where shortages existed due to economic or other factors. The question arose as to why we would need such a program when this area has an abundance of qualified teachers. No answer was forthcoming. Nor could anyone determine exactly how Hinojosa proposed to pay for the required “boot camp” cram-session training of these people, training which was to replace, in 12 weeks, the years of education that our certified teachers are required to have.
In March we learned that Teach for America has joined forces with the highly questionable Imagine Charter Schools, rendering them even less desirable, or necessary, for Cobb County. Yet, this newspaper reported, on Aug. 29 that Hinojosa is still very much intent on using these ill-prepared teachers to replace qualified instructors. What is he thinking?
By a vote of 4-3, the board approved the hiring, from outside the county, of an individual to serve as assistant principal at Sprayberry High School who had his teaching certificate suspended for changing student grades. Board members Alison Bartlett, Kathy Angelucci and Tim Stultz voted against the hiring. Lynnda (“It’s a personnel matter”) Eagle, along with David (“If the superintendent is comfortable with it, I will support it”) Morgan and David (“I talked to a number of people, and they assured me he is a saint.”) Banks all voted in favor of the move, as did Chairman Scott (“Boy, is my tailbone sore from straddling this fence”) Sweeney, who would not respond to questions.
Hinojosa will not discuss it, choosing to hide behind the “It’s a personnel matter” dodge. One has to wonder, “What is he thinking?”
These are three examples of Hinojosa acting, in the first two instances, without board knowledge or approval in the planning stages, and in the third, acting outside what common sense tells us is the best interest of the school system.
We also find that we have a school board controlled by a majority that is content to go along with whatever the “out of control” superintendent decides to do, afraid to oppose him.
Folks, it is abundantly clear that we have major problems causing the importance of the calendar issue to pale in comparison. The question is, “What do we do about it?”
Pete Borden is a retired masonry contractor in east Cobb.
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No resolution had been passed - or even contemplated.
Guess words don't mean what they used to mean.
Totally agree with your comment on Banks, Hinojosa and Morgan. I would like to know the rules for a recall, especially on Banks. If it had not been for the TSPLOST turnout, Banks would not be on the board.
If anyone knows the recall process, please post.
Sadly we again elected Morgan and Banks to the board. We didn't elect Hinojosa, it was this board that did not truly do the vetting process.
As a taxpayer, I also support the move to get rid of Hinojosa and would like to know how to do a recall on Morgan and Banks.
Our first step is reining in the board and Hinojosa is NOT vote in another SPLOST.
The answer is so obvious that the question is unnecessary.
Out of control is an understatement.
"Berserk" is a more appropriate description of his management style.
I thnk he is angling to get fired and receive some type of ridiculous seperation package.
In fact it would be interesting to see if there is a seperation compensation addressed in his contract.
I keep remembering how our school board met with him for three hours in closed session, before it approved him as the new Superintendent, with little or no search of his background.
I keep remembering how the vote to approve Hinojosa was unanimous, with one Board Member absent and not voting.
I keep remembering all the articles I read in the newspapers in Texas,where he was previously employed, thanking Cobb County for taking Hinojosa off their hands.
I keep remembering reading, in an interview with our local newspaper about how Hinojosa was having a tough time "getting his arms all of the problems facing the CCSD".
I remember writing at that time about my opinion that someone had made our school board "an offer they couldn't refuae",and that they had acted to approve an outside appointment without considering the unintended consequences.
I now submit that Hinajose is what he is and your only choices for this school board is to accept him for what he is or send him packing.
The time for investigating what he is is long gone. The only answer to our school board's current situation is that "We have found the enemy, and it is us".
Our school board is choking on its own incompetence, while it spends its time debating a school calendar for four years. Imagine that!!!!
In spite of your rants, the Cobb County School District had its best academic performance ever during the past year. Was that because of Fred Sanderson or Michael Hinojosa?
There is a lot more good going on in the district than you have taken the simplest cursory time to illustrate.
Is your solution to forego training?
Is your solution to shrink the talent pool?
Is your solution to personally interview all potential hires?
Here's to presuming you don't have the requisite leadership credentials to lead any school district, not to mention one of the finest in the country.
Despite what this editorial collective does to tear down the school district, academic performance has never been better.
Your portrayal is that you are the district's lifeguard. The problem is that it's Michael Phelps you're trying to save from drowning.
Then go to confession!!
And do you really think that one guy can be given credit for such "improvement" that has been made in only a couple of years? Sorry, you are talking goof ball talk.
Hinijosa is another arrogant and incompetent school administrator who will flip off the community at every turn. That he is here is beyond me. My guess is still that the brainerds of the wonderful Cobb County Chamber of (business welfare & ) commerce had somethign big to do with him being in Cobb county.
You might want to visit the library and return the book of Grimm's Fairy Tales you appear to have been reading. Get a copy of today's Marietta Daily Journal and list all the positive things you find that the lcoal government has done lately.