After considerable personal reflection, I have decided not to seek re-election to the Monona Grove School Board this coming spring. Serving for the past six years on the board has been a great privilege, and I will depart the board with mixed emotions. But I will do so with the knowledge that our district is comprised of outstanding teachers, staff and administrators who will continue to work with our school district community in providing the best education possible for all children in the district.
I want to thank the citizens of the district for allowing me to serve on this school board. Serving this wonderful district has been a true honor.
Sincerely,
Phil McDade
This is a great loss for the district. Among the board members Phil has been uniquely and uncompromisingly dedicated to the promotion of educational excellence in our district. You just have to watch a few board meetings to know that he has always brought the most knowledge and insight to board deliberations and has played a key role in realizing many important district initiatives. Phil has been a key player in 4K programming, world languages, RTI and our assessment strategies, some of things that make the MG district an educational leader in the state. Recently he was appointed by the State Superintendent's task force on assessments. While much of the activity of the board plays around the edges, such things as gym usage and bus schedules that often get public attention, Phil has constantly focused on the core issues of education that really improve the quality of the district and that we all should focus on. Phil has also often been the behind the scenes compromiser that worked to bring the factions on the board together on important decisions.
As long as I have known him Phil has never put politics or colloquial views above the good of the district or our communities, even though this has rankled some. But I hope everyone can appreciate the great deal of good Phil has done for the district.
4 comments:
Peter-
I absolutely agree and I hope that your posting this does not unleash a bunch of nasty posts about Phil. Whether you agree with him or not, he has truly dedicated himself to the district and to the educational issues facing us. I am so frustrated that the board, with its current makeup, is so focused on details and small things, that they are not setting out big educational goals and initiatives. The point is for administrators to do their job, and the board to be big picture people. Instead, there seems to be nitpicking and micromanaging.
Phil is the best we have in terms of thinking through big educational issues. It really is a huge loss for the district.
But who can blame him. Thanks for the service, Phil-- now lets see some of the constantly negative posters on this blog step up and run- that way they actually have to make some tough decisions- Anyone???
"I am so frustrated that the board, with its current makeup, is so focused on details and small things, that they are not setting out big educational goals and initiatives."
Funny, I found those traits in the last board or two.
"now lets see some of the constantly negative posters on this blog step up and run- that way they actually have to make some tough decisions- Anyone???"
And what are you doing for the next three years?
As our next President has been saying, people are looking for change. Let's hope this is a change for the better.
he served 6 years-he did what he thought was best for the district.
you may disagree with him-I do.
However, I am certain it was not an easy six years for him or his family.
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