In Mourning

I am saddened to report that our friends across the aisle, PAER (Parents for Acont, Acountb, Acntabil, Accountability (phew ~ that was tough) at Eagle Ridge Academy), have taken down their site, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/paer/ . I would like to take a moment to mourn the passing of our frenemy and the loss of their great contributions to society. I am deeply troubled that they have dissolved into the vast cosmos of electronic blips, so that generations to come will not be able to research their archives of deeply profound thoughts and the chilling plot to take down a dictator ... um ... director.

You should not hide your talent from the world! Rejoice in your victory and be proud to own your words as your great spiritual leader has written! "As always I sign my name and personally own my words, David Dikken" If there was no conspiracy, if there was no plot, why do you hide your great works from us lowly peons not loyal enough to be in your club? Why form a new group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/paerdown/ , where only members can view your posts? Do you have something to hide from the Eagle Ridge Academy community?

If two of your members, Paul Middleton and David Dikken, are running for the board, shouldn't they live up to what Mr. Dikken has posted:

That said, it is really important that the newly elected parent Board members be committed to accountability, communication, curriculum excellence, solid administrative operational procedures, and the various items that we have discussed over the past months.

Or what Mr. Middleton has pledged in the Voter Guide:

My intent and pledge as a board member is to keep that focus on communication, so that all constituents of this board are well-informed concerning the activities of the school and the board.

Are you really committed to accountability and communication if you veil your true thoughts in secrecy?

And, yes, I know I write under a pseudonym, but anyone can read what I write, and I'm not running for the board, am I.

All Aboard the Crazy Train

Since yesterday's announcement that Eagle Ridge Academy would be hiring Chris Brucker as interim director, I have been able to do a bit more research.

Just the Facts Ma'am:

Here is the link to Mr. Brucker's license with the Minnesota Department of Education:http://education.state.mn.us/LicenseDisplay/searchAction.do?folderNumber=427756

This license number also matches with the license number of a Christopher Brucker who is listed as a teacher who left during the year at the Academy of BioScience in the annual report for the 2006-2007 school year:
http://www.academyofbioscience.com/AnnualReport2006-07.pdf

According to June 7, 2007 article in the Rochester Post-Bulletin, Mr. Brucker was "completing the K-12 principal's licensure program in September at the Saint Mary's University campus in Minneapolis. As part of the requirements for the program, he said, he's completing an internship at the Mainstreet School of the Performing Arts in Hopkins, Minn."

Additional articles (and including the June 7, 2007 one quoted above) in the Rochester Post-Bulletin of March 23, 2007; May 23, 2007; June, 11, 2007; June 12, 2007; June 18, 2007; June 26, 2007; July 26, 2007 (two articles); and August 9, 2007 detail the mess that Brucker was stepping in to when he accepted the director's position at Studio Academy.

Chief among these messes are:
1. A school in financial difficulty. "The school is required to approve a budget by July 1, and the proposed budget in front of the board Tuesday was based on a projected enrollment of 120 students. Without the 12 students signed up so far for grades 7 and 8 next year, the school's expected enrollment drops to 92 students." May 23, 2007, Rochester Post-Bulletin

"In discussion before the vote Tuesday, board member Scot Schwark expressed concern about the cost of a potential lawsuit for Studio Academy, which is going through lean financial times." June 27, 2007, Rochester Post-Bulletin

2. A school in turmoil after the non-renewal/renewal of a teacher/founder/board member, Kandice Mascotti. "Brucker also faces a board that during its last meeting discussed how it could restore a positive climate among members. At the same time, he joins the school shortly after co-founder, teacher, and board member Kandice Mascotti was let go for what she said were political reasons, a claim Holsen denies." June 7, 2007

"The Studio Academy board voted Monday to affirm the nonrenewal of a school founder's teaching contract, leading the Rochester charter school's other founder to call for a boycott.

Kris Holsen, a Studio Academy teacher and the wife of Studio Academy director Eric Holsen, joined the majority in a 3-2 vote affirming her husband's decision to not renew the year-to-year teaching contract of Kandice Mascotti, who helped found the art-centered charter school." June 12, 2007, Rochester Post-Bulletin

"Highlighting recent tensions at the Rochester charter school, two Studio Academy school board meetings -- to be held by different boards claiming to the school's governing body -- were scheduled for 7 p.m. on the same night." July 26, 2007, Rochester Post-Bulletin

"Art teacher Kandice Mascotti will return to Studio Academy to teach this fall, a development that has caused the school's secretary, maintenance manager and dean of students to quit, according to director Chris Brucker. " August 9, 2007, Rochester Post-Bulletin

Kandice Mascotti's attorney is Tammy Pust "Neither Mascotti nor her attorney, Tammy Pust, returned calls seeking comment." August 9, 2007, Rochester Post-Bulletin. Pust conducted the investigation into the claims of former employee, Ms. Susan Reid, for Eagle Ridge Academy.

Mr. Brucker gave Studio Academy a one week notice that he was leaving. "Director Chris Brucker created the opening Monday when he announced his resignation, in order to take a position with Eagle Ridge Academy charter school in Eden Prairie." May 22, 2008, Rochester Post-Bulletin

Mr. Brucker, in his resignation letter to Studio Academy, claims that he will be paid $105,000 (May 22, 2008, Rochester Post-Bulletin) which is more than $15,000 above the salary of current director, Mrs. Judi Ingison.

My Questions:

Why would Eagle Ridge Academy bring in a neophyte administrator? Mr. Brucker was hired at Studio Academy in June but did not assume the reins until August 2007. He has had 9 months experience as a director in a school that resembles ERA only in that it is a charter school and has numerous governance issues.

Brucker left his job at the Academy of BioScience mid-year and has now left his post at Studio Academy with one week's notice. Maybe both situations were untenable, but it's not like the future of Eagle Ridge Academy is looking to be a cake walk. Why would he leave one mess for another? Has Eagle Ridge been negligent in educating him on the mess he is about to deal with?

How did we find this guy? Did he apply for the post or did Pust recommend him? What spoke to the board about his experience and his resume that made them think he was the right man for the job?

Why are we even bothering with an interim director at this point? Couldn't Mrs. Erin Johnson, Dean of Students, have filled this position until a director was found and the board could have focused on the long term? Her qualifications aren't that different from Mr. Brucker's. How long can Mr. Brucker be the interim director anyway? Six weeks maybe? Why would someone quit their job with one week's notice to take an interim position with no guarantee of the future?

If Mr. Brucker is to be believed why is he being offered a salary of $105,000 with only 9 months of administrative experience and for an interim position?

As with the non-renewal of Mrs. Ingison, I'm left wondering why the board of Eagle Ridge Academy behaves the way it does.

Interim Director Announced

From Eagle Ridge Academy's Daily Update:

Introducing Chris Brucker! He will be serving as our interim director and will start on Tuesday, May 27. He will help us through the end of year state requirements and help get us ready for next year. He has also applied for the director position and will be interviewed with the other candidates. Stop in and say “hello” when you get a chance.

Too bad that in the New Era of Communication no details about Mr. Brucker were released.

From Google Searching:

http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?a=343866&z=2

http://www.studioacademy.org/August%201,%202007.htm
"Mr. Joslin welcomed our new director, Mr. Chris Brucker. Mr. Brucker graduated from the University of Colorado. He was the Fine Arts Chair at St. Thomas and has experience in fundraising and grant writing. He also owns a private music studio and is interested in holistic education. He believes in a rich and rigorous academic and arts program with parent and community involvement. He comes to Studio with 13 years of experience and will be a humble leader that will take charge."

"Mr. Brucker stated that it was his job as the new Director to fill the open art position. He held interviews and set up a committee for the position in July. He is unsure if there is a position available and is gravely concerned. He has a vision for the school and this is a place that he wants to be. He stated that this is an incredible school and group of people and is the best fit for him. (Ed. note: I guess it was only a good fit for 9 months.) The Board has important decisions to make tonight. The Board will hold him accountable for recommendations. There are currently 5 staff contracts that are not signed."

http://www.diversitycouncil.org/profile.shtml

http://www.studioacademy.org/

http://www.studioacademy.org/Board%20Meeting%20121907.doc
Check out item #6 ~ the director's report. "A new website being designed by a professional for free. It should be up in mid-January." Well, if their website is the new and improved website, it still sucks, and if Mr. Brucker promised and didn't deliver by January, how ironic would that be!

Update: Mr. Brucker was promising the website since 8/2007 ~ http://cache.zoominfo.com/CachedPage/?archive_id=0&page_id=2097306572&page_url=%2f%2fwww.studioacademy.org%2fBoard%2520Meeting%2520082807.htm&page_last_updated=10%2f2%2f2007+8%3a25%3a55+AM&firstName=Kandice&lastName=Mascotti
Website – Mr. Brucker is talking with companies for other updates to make it more user friendly. He will be talking with Hutman, a Minneapolis company. It can add PTA and School Board links. Students could save their work and the staff could have emails.

Welcome to our world, Mr. Brucker!

ERA Wants You! Part Deux

As a general rule of thumb, one should avoid sequels at all costs. So turn away now if you're looking for hope, redemption of the soul, butterflies and rainbows or anything approaching a sunny forecast or anything worthy of taking up space in the great Internet ether. But I promised you, o great readers, my take on the Eagle Ridge Academy elections.

Succinctly, they suck.

Sigh, let me now apologize for the use of the word suck to Marie Pearson, "Sadly, the posts as of late are full of lies and inaccuracies and it certainly is a sad attempt to avoid the truth. ... I feel much more concern and empathy for those who continue to be dragged through the mud - and the mud keeps getting deeper and deeper." and Tamara Clement "The lies and ugliness being spread by Judi's supporters certainly do not reflect well on the leader who inspires them. Kind of validating the need for a change." And I shouldn't forget David Dikken, "No doubt there will be some more ugliness". (Hey, Dikken, is your ego satisfied now that you finally got mentioned? "I am actually surprised that I have not been personally tagged on the defender’s blog as so many of you others have.")

I should be more eloquent. Suck is such an ugly word. I could dress it up.

Hmmm ... The Eagle Ridge Academy elections suck big monkey ...

Oh crap that's not less ugly. And now I just said crap.

Let's start over.

The Eagle Ridge Academy elections are an exercise in futility.

Really, though, the Eagle Ridge Academy elections suck craptastically.

Why? Do you really need to ask? Look, if you're reading this blog you either like our ugliness or you enjoy checking out what the enemy is doing. I like checking out my enemies, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/paer/. (For fun, here are my guesses for 10 out of the 11 members : Jim Pearson, Marie Pearson, David Dikken, Paul Middleton, Nyla Middleton, Joe Clement, Tamara Clement, Kelly Mullett, Traci Goodwin and Linda Schwirtz.)

Interestingly, they've been much less active since they accomplished their original goal of an orchestrated witchhunt and are now attempting to appear legit.

Let's quote an old favorite, Paul Middleton, candidate for the board, "PAER Members: I have edited the group description for the PAER group to remove any mention of the director. This is because I am considering running for the board. If I do run, I do not wish to make any statements about the director as part of my campaign, and so I should not run a website that makes such statements as a part of its description. Just wanted to let you know why, in case anyone noticed the change. I have not yet decided for certain that I will run. I need to pray some more, and talk to a few more people first. Paul"

Look, you don't have much choice in this election. As it stands now, the two teachers left in the race, Mrs. O and Mrs. Menard are guaranteed seats. Mrs. O, God bless her, loyal and dedicated, yet woefully unorganized. Mrs. Menard, sweet, but naive and no cojones. Mr. Guelich would have been a good representative on the board, level-headed, temperate and experienced, but he has withdrawn his name.

However, given that the new stated strategy of my friends across the aisle, PAER ~ Parents for Accountability at Eagle Ridge Academy (oh, BTW, guys ... you might want to spell "accountability" correctly on your home page. You know, academic excellence and all. Or maybe you were just too rushed while erasing the evidence of your complicity in the plot to overthrow the director to check your spelling.) is to "change board composition to parent-majority with teacher members to achieve long-term proper accountability" with the goal of "long-term health of our wonderful charter school", I doubt that Mrs. Menard, Mrs. O or the other teacher members, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Sommers Tillotson or Brutus are long for the board.

And, while Mr. Capello made the smart political move to seek endorsement, I'm sorry sir, but I've seen you at board/community meetings and frankly, your passion might be a tad too passionate.

That said, the rest of the candidates and their sanctimonious bullshit (Damn it, I said bullshit and damn, damn it!) ain't getting my vote either. Thus, my oh so humble opinion is:

The Eagle Ridge Academy elections suck craptastically. (Or "are an exercise in futility" if you can't bear to ratchet up the ugly factor.)


P.S. ~ Nyla Middleton, in answer to your query, "My question is, are all these people crazy?"

ABSOLUTELY!