wilson, (10/7/2008 6:41:11 AM)

How do we start a recall petition against these board members? This is absurd! What we have in Broken Arrow is the same old small town politics that have been there since the population was 5000.

OKLA, (10/7/2008 6:52:09 AM)

Just try removing school board members. . . it's nearly impossible absent criminal charges.

wilson, (10/7/2008 7:12:04 AM)

OKLA...I have been researching this a little bit and it seems you're right. They are, it seems, completely secure to do anything they want. However, there is NO WAY that I can see that these 3 didn't violate the open meetings act or some other law by meeting together in private. We need an attorney out there to start a grand jury petition to investigate these people.

Cricket, (10/7/2008 7:46:11 AM)

By the comments on this blog and those on this subject in the past it is obvious many patrons have no clue about how schools work. The superintendent is responsible for everything that is done at the school. If he passes that authority on to someone else it is still his responsibility. I don't know anything about this situation other than what I read, but the board makes policy and it's the Superintendents job to follow that policy and follow the law. When it gets to this stage, boards do exactly what attorneys recommend to them. They won't make a move with out legal council.

billsmith, (10/7/2008 7:46:14 AM)

Removal of school board members has been a topic for years. It seems that no one raally wants to address it. They are afraid that if a recall is possible then people ill act on emotion rather than "what is best for the children." Well what the heck do most board members do? Act on emotion! The only difference between the Broken Arrow school board and the Hulbert school board is the size of the school...and that's all. Until there is a recall procedure on the books, this kind of childish injustice will continue happening. It's amazing how some people want to play "God" with other people's lives.

concernedpapa, Kiefer (10/7/2008 8:16:37 AM)

BY playing "God" do you mean having unnamed people in a lawsuit so you can intimidate your boss? Sounds like that was the ploy with that move. I find it hard to believe that everyine at the protest last night represents a majority of the voters in the BA district. Let the process unfold and let's see where this takes us. If they are wrong it will be found,and they can be voted out of office. If they are found to be correct reward them.

tulsa123, (10/7/2008 8:35:17 AM)

I have known Sharon Whelpley for several years and am surprised she is embroiled in this mess. That said, she is usually pretty smart. Flippo, on the other hand. I know her too and she is unbalanced at times, but as nice as she can be normally. Dr. Sisney is also a stubborn man who, by his personality, doesn't like to be told what to do and would take down a ship with him if he was sinking too, but he is also smart and usually good at his job. In other words they are all good but seriously flawed people. The whole mess is a personality conflict between the various people and unfortunuately, the only resolution now is for Dr. Sisney to leave as there will never be a good working relationship between them. At least when the board kicked out Jerry Hill in 1999, he was given a chance to resign. Surely, there were other ways of handling the situation.

TULSEY TOWN, (10/7/2008 9:46:58 AM)

BA get ready for more mess yet to come. Now that you guys got Dougie "Fresh" Mann in your wallet, he is gona bleed you guy dry! Just checkout Tulsa Public School!

zrs, Tulsa, Claremore (10/7/2008 9:59:18 AM)

Well, this is interesting...

Navin Johnson, (10/7/2008 10:42:22 AM)

I more appalled by the fact that the board voted not to take public comments at meetings. What are they afraid of? Who the hell do these people think they work for?

ran96, (10/7/2008 10:50:03 AM)

BA is going to be in the same situation that Clayton County schools in Atlanta are in if they aren't careful. The Clayton County school system just lost thier accredidation this year and where given a year to fix the problems. BA needs to go look into all of it and fix thier problems before the same thing happens to them.

JustaGuy, Tulsa (10/7/2008 11:31:21 AM)

BA does not need that kind of school board. They need a recall policy and if they do have one, they need to start using it and get rid of those good ole boys on the board. I live in Tulsa, but this burns me up no matter where it happens. This is just wrong. You go Sisney, I know you will land on your feet with your head up, integrity does that for people.

wilson, (10/7/2008 12:17:42 PM)

Excuse me Cricket, but you admit you don't know what's going on but then you say we all don't have a clue how it works! The attorney who is giving these people advice is PART of the problem. This whole mess needs to be investigated to see if Dr. Sisney uncovered some illegal billing and was then punished to cover it up.

kma, (10/7/2008 1:11:47 PM)

If only they had a school system the football team could be proud of.

Bluebird48, Sand Springs (10/7/2008 1:53:10 PM)

Navin Johnson, (10/7/2008 10:42:22 AM)
I more appalled by the fact that the board voted not to take public comments at meetings. What are they afraid of? Who the hell do these people think they work for?
---
:-)
They got that cue from UNION SCHOOL BOARD. Geez Louise! See this is what happens when you get some little snooty chicks from across the tracks on the board. I remember we, a bunch of yankee moms, had the same problem at UNION when we petitioned for the UMAC. Board didn't want the thing!! Kathy Burden went with status quo. Talk about pulling teeth...

Yankees pull really hard to get the UMAC!!! We got mega petitions..got the milage on the ballot..the rest was history.

I hope this guy sues the pants off each member. It's all about EGO with these IDIOTS. They can care less about the kids or growth.

He'll take the money and then move back to civilization.

Worldfriend, (10/7/2008 2:21:45 PM)

Sisney is my hero. He sniffed out the corruption, gave them an opportunity to correct the behavior and has been consistent with his high expectations and standards for many years. Obviously the "former" educators we see quoted must not have measured up to these same high standards. The three amigos have now excluded the public views from being heard and have no comments with the exception of the attorney (snake) directives provided at a cost to our children's education budget. The amigos are only lacking a red rubber nose to complete their clown suits. Elections are coming.

Cricket, (10/7/2008 2:51:28 PM)

Again I'll say it. If there is corruption. It is the Superintendent who is responsible. The board hires one person the Supt. He hires everyone else and is responsible for everyone else's actions. The board only takes action when they are in a meeting. That is all public record. If they voted to do something illegal then there will be a record. No one knows all the details at this point, but there is a legal process to follow through this. That is the attorney's role at this point. I would bet there has already been an investigation at this point and the board is following the legal process.
As far as the comment about Clayton County in Georgia. They lost their accreditation because the board turned over all of their authority to the Superintendent.
It will come out at some point. Boards are told not to comment publicly during these type things, where the staff member can say what ever they want.

Jolie, (10/7/2008 2:57:50 PM)

Is it just me or does there seem to be lack of information being provided by the media as to the proper procedures that school board members must follow to take actions against BAPS employees? Someone in the media needs to report on exactly what is the correct, legal procedure to follow. If the Board members are legally required to maintain silence about the nature of the problem(s) with Dr. Sisney's employment, then it is wrong for the public to condemn them.

Come on Tulsa World, BA Ledger--how about it? Please do a little research on the laws and rules of conduct related to this issue and report back to us. Perhaps an interview with Sandy Garrett, state superintendent, would be useful.

concernedpapa, Kiefer (10/7/2008 3:06:57 PM)

yirmin snipe

What happened in your previous life? Union make you ay wages so your workers could survive. To spew that garbage is insanity. Do unions have problems? yes Do all union members react as you say? no Some of us stand up and make ourselves heard. we get elections in unions that had never had an election. We get bad leaders out and good ones installed. But we dont put them all in the same sack and call them garbage. Do you thik the american worker is making the wages and benifits they are today because of the generosity of the employers? It came from the dedicated hard work of union people who fought for what they got. You ar so wrong about this that it is frightening. I hope someday you wake up and thank a dedicated union member for what he has done for all of us.

Cricket, (10/7/2008 3:14:06 PM)

I said boards are told to not talk public in these situations. In fact boards are told to never comment publicly about any employee/employment situation. That isn't to say it is illegal, it's just not advisable, because you can say something that will definitely be used against you. That doesn't mean all board members follow that advice.
One more thing everyone needs to realize. Board members run for election for a volunteer position. Why? So people who don't know the full story and run their name through the mud.

lag1969, (10/7/2008 3:14:11 PM)

You guys think this is bad... (try Jenks).....the state should do a research of all the school districts...you would be amazed at what is going on...it is not about the kids anymore.

Batman, (10/7/2008 3:21:29 PM)

This action is disgraceful. Dr. Sisney has been doing a good job. Broken Arrow schools have strived under his leadership. It is a shame that power grabbing and politics are more important than our children's education.

JL, (10/7/2008 3:29:40 PM)

Crickett said,
"One more thing everyone needs to realize. Board members run for election for a volunteer position. Why? So people who don't know the full story and run their name through the mud."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crickett a majority of school boards are filled with people either trying to further their kids interests (i.e. sports playing time, educational interests, or extracurricular interests)
If you think it is oput of the goodness of their hearts then you are the one being dooped. Money and philanthropy are not the only motivators in the world and apart from philanthropy almost all lead to the trampoling of others rights.

JL, (10/7/2008 3:30:35 PM)

Crickett a majority of school boards are filled with people either trying to further their kids interests (i.e. sports playing time, educational interests, or extracurricular interests)

<----- sorry meant to add or they are on a power trip

Brad, Tulsa (10/7/2008 3:33:34 PM)

"Yirmin Snipe: Be honest... no one in the schools cares about the kids... they are all there because its a pay check..."
LOL, ROTFLMAO!!!!! Good one!!! I can't tell you the number of times that I just kicked myself for not taking a teaching job!! I could be earning less than half what I make now with the same education & experience! I guess it will always be something I regret.

Most (but not all) teachers could make a heckuvalot more with their degree in industry than teaching. Fortunately, we have teachers for whom this job is their passion.

May I say "THANK YOU" to all of my teachers -- & the sacrifices they made for me. I have a comfortable life because of them.

-Brad