Just another "Day" in School District 11
Back on April 3rd, 2007, I wrote about the hiring of Barbara Day (by Terry Bishop) on a "part-time" contract for $50,000. This is $5,000 more part-time than what the average D11 teacher makes full time (or 35 hours per week based on the labor union contract, which is slightly different than full-time). In that April blog post, I pointed out that Day and her boyfriend Mark Maksimowicz had recently purchased a $527,000 home in Monument together. I also pointed out that since Day was only working "part time" at the time, then you could be certain that Bishop must have promised her and ex-D49 superintendent Maksimowicz a lucrative job in D11 in the near future.
As of July 1st, D11 Special Education Director Robert Howell retired. To no one's surprise, Bishop saw this as an opportunity to provide his long time friend with the income that she needed to pay for her expensive home. Bishop has named Barbara Day to as the new D11 Director of Special Education. I said this in my April post: "We can expect Day to receive a full time job in D11 next year for a six-figure salary, and we can probably expect to see Maksimowicz on the D11 payroll as a contractor or salaried employee about the same time." The salary and benefits that Day will receive will place her nicely into the 6-figure income range.
What qualifications does Day possess that got her this important and high paying job? What licensing does she have that made her the best suited person to fill this slot? How many applicants did Bishop interview before handing this job to his long time friend? Those questions have never been asked by the current do-nothing board.
Day has absolutely no qualifications to be director of special education or director of anything else in D11. In fact, Bishop had to ask for an emergency waiver to allow Day to take this lucrative job because she does not possess the training or licensing to qualify for that position. Her only qualification is that she is chummy with Terry. The watchdogs of the D11 budget, led by John Gudvangen and Jan Tanner, will say nothing about this hire.
Special Education is an area that costs the D11 tax payers hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. Much of this cost is due to lawsuits by parents who believe that their children's' special education needs are not being met. The person in charge of special education should certainly have the experience and training to deal with the very unique situations that arise in the special education arena. Barbara Day has neither the training nor experience to lead the district in special education services. Nobody can argue against the very clear fact that Day was only handed this job because of her relationship with Bishop. Bishop never interviewed any other candidates for this job that was supposed to be publicly posted due to the laws dealing with a pubic entity.
Bishop clearly brought Day back to Colorado Springs as a personal favor to her rather than as a benefit to the students and tax payers of D11. He first hired her part time to be a site based management consultant, even though he was preparing to cancel the site based program that the full board voted to adopt. Day literally never did anything in her role as the site based project manager. Bishop then assigned Day to lead the citizens' committee on school utilization, which is still meeting regularly. Howell's retirement gave Bishop the opening he had been waiting for to reward his friend. As is typical in public education, there is no requirement for any type of proven competence in a specific area for a person to be handed a 6-figure job. The only requirement for someone like Day is that they know somebody in a position to hand them the money, no strings attached and no performance expectations.
The other half of my prediction will also shortly come true. Maksimowicz will likely be discovered on the D11 payroll in the very near future. Who knows, with the level of secrecy that this administration and board have practiced, he may already be on the payroll. Naturally, D11 is not a better school district as a result of these cronyistic hires. That is OK, though, as long as the school board members are getting along.
As of July 1st, D11 Special Education Director Robert Howell retired. To no one's surprise, Bishop saw this as an opportunity to provide his long time friend with the income that she needed to pay for her expensive home. Bishop has named Barbara Day to as the new D11 Director of Special Education. I said this in my April post: "We can expect Day to receive a full time job in D11 next year for a six-figure salary, and we can probably expect to see Maksimowicz on the D11 payroll as a contractor or salaried employee about the same time." The salary and benefits that Day will receive will place her nicely into the 6-figure income range.
What qualifications does Day possess that got her this important and high paying job? What licensing does she have that made her the best suited person to fill this slot? How many applicants did Bishop interview before handing this job to his long time friend? Those questions have never been asked by the current do-nothing board.
Day has absolutely no qualifications to be director of special education or director of anything else in D11. In fact, Bishop had to ask for an emergency waiver to allow Day to take this lucrative job because she does not possess the training or licensing to qualify for that position. Her only qualification is that she is chummy with Terry. The watchdogs of the D11 budget, led by John Gudvangen and Jan Tanner, will say nothing about this hire.
Special Education is an area that costs the D11 tax payers hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. Much of this cost is due to lawsuits by parents who believe that their children's' special education needs are not being met. The person in charge of special education should certainly have the experience and training to deal with the very unique situations that arise in the special education arena. Barbara Day has neither the training nor experience to lead the district in special education services. Nobody can argue against the very clear fact that Day was only handed this job because of her relationship with Bishop. Bishop never interviewed any other candidates for this job that was supposed to be publicly posted due to the laws dealing with a pubic entity.
Bishop clearly brought Day back to Colorado Springs as a personal favor to her rather than as a benefit to the students and tax payers of D11. He first hired her part time to be a site based management consultant, even though he was preparing to cancel the site based program that the full board voted to adopt. Day literally never did anything in her role as the site based project manager. Bishop then assigned Day to lead the citizens' committee on school utilization, which is still meeting regularly. Howell's retirement gave Bishop the opening he had been waiting for to reward his friend. As is typical in public education, there is no requirement for any type of proven competence in a specific area for a person to be handed a 6-figure job. The only requirement for someone like Day is that they know somebody in a position to hand them the money, no strings attached and no performance expectations.
The other half of my prediction will also shortly come true. Maksimowicz will likely be discovered on the D11 payroll in the very near future. Who knows, with the level of secrecy that this administration and board have practiced, he may already be on the payroll. Naturally, D11 is not a better school district as a result of these cronyistic hires. That is OK, though, as long as the school board members are getting along.
posted by Craig Cox | 8:09 AM
8 Comments:
I am volunteering my time to help Terry Bishop find people to work in D-11 central admin. Here is an ad he can place in the paper: "Wanted - any friend or acquaintance of mine for job to be determined based on degree of friendship. No experience necessary. No evaluations of work. No accountability of any kind. Raises guaranteed as long as no questions are asked, and as long as you focus on everything except the kids. Remember, adults before kids - always. People concerned about helping kids need not apply."
Mr. Cox, keep this blog going, because some of these people that are parasitically attached are spreading the word about the shining light on them. This "new" administration of partisans is going to be interesting to watch this year, especially with the addition of the Deputy Superintendent "tech director" who has no vast forethought and comprehension in the field of information services and multimedia. It is important to keep the "new" players in the light that they deserve so that the public in D11 is better informed than the snake charmed school board up here in Sheridan. Edmund Burke wrote, "All it will take for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing."
I think that Mark Maksimowitz should be concerned. Barbara Day fell in love with the ex-D49 superintendent (Maksimowicz) whilst she (Barbara) was still married. Who's to say that Maksimowicz isn't disposable now that Terry Bishop is handing her what she really wants, which isn't necessarily an improved D11. It's all about Barbara.
It seems as if we have quite a history of placing philanderers in positions of power in this school district. Sharon Thomas had quite a history in that arena as well, as does the CFO, not to mention CSEA head Irma Vakerio. All of these people are great examples for our kids. The culture of D11, of course, is for employees to simply keep their mouths shut and look the other way.
Disgusted, the only change to your ad should be that the new employee can be a friend of ANY administrator. It is helpful for them to be a friend of Dave Schenkel in HR. For that matter, any employee can hire a buddy in this district on the purple packet plan. No job description, no evaluations, no questions asked.
Anony, I have heard that some of these parasites are very disturbed by this unwelcome spotlight. They are working overtime to stop the leaks. Most rodents do prefer the dark.
One who knows, you are correct on the philandering issue. People need to understand that a lot of this "fooling around" does affect the classroom environment. I guess that the Barbara Day/Mark Maksimowitz affair is widely known. They got a 1/2 million dollar house out of it. What are the students and parents of D11 getting out of it?
I see on the D11 org chart that Barbara Day is Director of "Empowerment for Excellence". What the heck is that? I'd like to see that job description.
Now that is funny, in a very sad kind of way. Empowerment for Excellence? See how these educrats invent these stupid titles and then pat themselves on the backs for accomplishing something? I would wager that there is no job description, even though this "job" should have been posted publicly.
You know that's a distortion, right Craig? Weren't you there when Day was named to head-up the D's implementation of the site-based initiative -- which came to be called Empowerment for Excellence or E-squared? Yeah, I think you were. Too bad you won't at least get the facts out there right so there can be legitimate debate and dialogue.
Where is the distortion of which you speak? I was not there when they came up with "e-squared." I guess if you think that title makes the district look better, good for you. I was there when Day was hired for the site based job. What is she doing these Days, by the way? Remember that Sandra Mann insisted that the "project manager" would be hired for $25,000. Remember how your board chose to pay her $50,00 instead?
My facts are pretty good. Your ability to "debate" would be enhanced if you would offer some for a change.
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