Normandy/Wellston vs (D)estroying (E)verything (S)peciallly (E)ducation

This evening I came across a conversation from some of my former Wellston Co-workers via GroupMe (a group chat App for Android & Apple phone users). They were talking about a story that was apparently on the front page of the Saint Louis American. It was in regards to Normandy losing their partial accrediation from DESE. Now my ears INSTANTLY perked up and I went online to find the story. Click here to read it for yourself and another post from the Saint Louis Post Dispatch can be read here.

I couldn't but help to think about the blog post I wrote up in regards to this farce back in 2010 when it originally went down. I knew along with my Wellston coworkers that this was nothing but a load of BS. I can still recall the meeting that was held at Normandy while Education Commissioner Chris Nicastro was standing on the stage in her God aweful blueberry suit. Normandy and Wellston parents were concerned about what would happen with the merger (psss.....it wasn't a merger it was a takeover). Would this help or hinder the school district. How would this help Normandy gain back their full accreditation. Yet to me Normandy has themselves to blame for this F*ck up along with DESE. Instead of your eyes bawling out at the financial possibilites of lining your coffers you should have put on your specs and read between the lines....

What DESE is SUPPOSE to stand for

To me personally Normandy saw the dollar signs overall in regards to the money that would be brought in by assimilating the Wellston students into the Normandy school district. I can still remember one part of Superintedent Lawrence's speech in regards to how the Wellston kids would benefit with being with Normandy. A new workout facility. Who gives a damn about a workout facility if your test scores suck?

DESE and Normandy did not have a sound plan to excute that would not only solve Normandy's accreditation problem but also dealing with the issue of taking over another school district and making sure the whole program was a success. I remember seeing at least half of the Normandy staff just clapping and standing thinking this was a WONDERFUL opportunity for both districts. I can't help but laugh and snicker. From what I know all of my former Wellston staff members have found employment in other districts. Some were able to find it immediately, some within a few months such as myself and even some others as late as THIS year. But overall I think we are doing alright. Yet I have some advice for all those Normandy staff members that were clapping, they might want to UPDATE their resumes because looks like changes are gonna be coming REAL soon....and not in a good way. The last thing you want to find out is that you all have been released AGAIN via the Saint Louis Post Dispatch. Don't hear any clapping now....

Again I will reinterate DESE didn't have any business putting one semi failing school district with another one. Maybe in their jacked up math they thought two negatives would make a a positive out of two flailing school districts. Not in this case. I have no doubt that Supt. Lawrence is telling the truth that he didn't receive enough help from DESE, if any. Newsflash!!! Now you know how we felt at Wellston. Sad thing is you think you are the first one this has happened to? I guarantee, you won't be the last. It's a domino effect that is starting and from the looks of things....unfortunately it won't be stopping any time soon. The only sound start to even MAYBE turning all this mess around is to dethrone the queen off her throne.

Words that Nicastro probably lives by.....

Until the next episode....

 All That MsJazz