Who's running this circus?
Where do we even begin when it comes to the disaster that was the first day of school in Trenton?Hundreds of students show up for the first day of school, and are corralled into the gym to twiddle their thumbs because ... AGAIN ... the school district was unable to do something as basic as schedule classes for everyone.
And that's after the district spent $500,000 of taxpayer funds to hire an outside firm to handle scheduling.
Apparently, the scheduling of classes ... something that's been done in every school district in the country every year since the beginning of modern public education ... is too complicated for the bozos running the Trenton School District.
And that's why we ran with the front page you saw on today's Trentonian. Hard-hitting? Yes. But also well-deserved.
And if we did anything to help create an environment that led to Mayor Doug Palmer going ballistic and ordering an immediate fix to this problem, that's great.
His outrage today and our front page are an understatement of the anger that this situation ... the latest in a long string of failures by the Trenton School District ... has sparked among parents and taxpayers.
Labels: Doug Palmer, Rodney Lofton, Trenton School Department
posted by Trentonian Editor at
4:43 PM
5 Comments:
I agree with Palmer that the administration and Lofton are responsible for the lack of student schedules not only at the high school but at other schools in Trenton. However Mayor palmer is also to blame. Palmer permitted a culture of ineptness and incompetence that has continued while the children suffer. I also agree with the Trentonian that Lofton is a clown. His words and actions are those of a clown rather than a serious educator.Trenton deserves better.
Regarding the circus and who's running it, I disagree on where the responsibility lies. Lofton faultered because the board as usual agreed to his idea of hiring an independent to do scheduling for the next school year. It gave them carte blance to do what they do best, throw money at a problem. Let's not forget, the board has to give the approval and vote for anything a Superintendent recommends. However,let's just take a wild guess and say Palmer runs this circus and has been the ringmaster for some time. Palmer laid the grown work for every error to come. Palmer has been Mayor of Trenton for the last twenty years, with at least four different superintendents. During his tenure the schools have been in a steady decline. Not only have the grades faltered, so has the administration, several of which are his hand picked cronies.
His board created a large salaried job for his former city hall staffer. Least we forget, the board is also hand picked by him. To date at least three board members have been dismissed. In addition several administrators ave been fired, one retired, yet another good riddance, as fast as possible. To this,Palmer is mute. As City Council fights to have them charged criminally, surprisingly, Palmer speaks, only long enough to grant autonomy to King Lytle. During Palmer's tenure, the Trenton Board of Education has been investigated by the Mercer County Prosecutors Office, for malfeasance and the Jones sex scandal. Abbott funds have been audited by the state, records of student violence were consistently hidden by administration, and board members become world travelers on Abbott Funds. While few additioinal teaching materials were purchased. another predator arrested, sloppy record kept, deceased employees remained on the payroll, administrator misconduct charges filed and least we forget Palmers chosen one. King James H. Lytle. Lytle ran the district for years, leaving no stone unturned with regard to disrepair and disruption in a system already desperate for hope. He changed grade level schools. As the parents became increasingly frustrated about the safety of their children, King Lytle refused to hire additonal security, and continued to increased administrative salaries. During which time, Palmer's hand picked board continued to give Lytle bonusus. Lytle was around when the contaminated dirt was discovered at the Jefferson School site. However, Palmer did nothing more than push the responsibility of the clean up to the parents to lobby the State House and convince the legislative body to see things their way. All the while the community remained exposed to contaminated soil. Palmer in all his righteous indignation and $2000 suits was aware, when the Sherman Avenue Scandal broke, and child abuser Jones, walked scott free from a crime that Palmer (the education mayor) should have demanded criminal charges be placed against him long before the story broke. If Jones hadn't been apprehended by Morrisville Police, he'd still be employed. The so-called tenure charges, filed by Palmer's, board attorney, would have gone on forever. None the less, Palmer's been around for twenty years, Lytle at least five. I would say Lofton should be given a few years in his attempt to clean up a mess made by a mayor and the man he appointed King.
D. Wallace said...
Regarding the circus and who's running it, I feel that the Editor was disrespectful and out of line. This Editor owes Mr. Lofton an apology. Yes, there are problems with the Trenton school system and yes, there are those that are accountable. How is disrepecting them in such a manner going to help! The picture of Superintendent Lofton as a clown is just "wrong."
Also, anonymous needs to spell check!
Anonymous probably learned to spell within the Trenton school System! True, showing Lofton as a clown is disrespectful, funny, but disrespectful. If you want respectable, read the Times Mr. Wallace - you clown!
Emil Slaboda is turning in his grave over this stunt you pulled with Lofton's picture. You should return the Pulitzer. Today's Trentonian wouldn't make a pimple of the ass of the paper that won the Pulitzer 40 years ago. Truly one of your worst performances
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