06/01/2023
I would like to start this post out by saying this page is for open discussion and voices from all sides are not only welcome but encouraged. As Wendy Jade once said, "An environment that is not safe to disagree in is not an environment focused on growth-it's an environment focused on control." We all need to come together on this topic no matter what side of the fence you stand on as it will only effect our children's future.
The recent school year at Crescent Public Schools has been a roller coaster for many parents and students. Over the school year I have heard from many parents and school employees of very concerning topics and issues all stemming back to the school administration. I feel these topics need to be addressed and discussed among parents and the tax paying citizens of Crescent Public Schools.
I would like to start with the retention rate of the educators at CPS. Approximately 40 educators have quit or chose early retirement due to the administration. One of the most notable effected my household. A teacher of 20+ years, a coach of state champion athletes and a wonderful woman deeply rooted to the community quit halfway through the year due to the administration. Some would call this “career suicide”. Why would a teacher choose this option? Why are educators so miserable? What can we do as “we the people” to help our educators? I saw one notable citizen of Crescent say, “who would want to come to Crescent to be a superintendent? NOBODY, that’s who.” Can’t we say the same thing about educators? How on earth are we going to be able to recruit good new educators to come to CPS with long time educators deeply rooted to the community quitting in droves? It’s already hard enough to recruit as it is. This is something worth fighting for.
The next topic I would like to touch on is the open records request at CPS. I recently heard hearsay Courtney Knapp was/is driving the schools new suburban back and forth to Piedmont. This sparked curiosity for me so I called the school to ask about open records request. I was going to request Courtney Knapps contract to read over it. I was curious to see if it was in her contract she could drive the suburban as a “perk”. When I called the school and asked about the process, they told me it was going to be $15 request fee and $25 a page plus $15 an hour for research of the documents I requested. This is INSANE! I called the Oklahoma State Department of Education to see if this was even legal. After some research, it should be no more than 25 cents a page. The CPS has weaponized the open records request act to deter the citizens from poking around. The open records request act was introduced and passed to create transparency for all government and state funded entities. Transparency is our RIGHT as tax paying Oklahoma citizens.
I heard a heart breaking story the other day of a little girl in CPS which wanted to grow up to be a school teacher. She now no longer wants to be a school teacher due to the issues looming around the school she attends. There comes a time in history when the people of any community need to band together and fight for what is right. And I do believe this is a fight worth fighting. This fight is not for Merits or bragging rights, this fight is for the growth and prosperity of our children. Our children are the future of this community. Our children deserve our conviction and dedication to their better future. And the only way we can give them a better future is to fight for a betterment of their future.
For the people that believe this is not worth the fight, when did this outlook start? Just in the face of standing up to a corrupt school administration? Or should Moses told the children of Israel to live in slavery under the pharaohs? Should Christ have refused the cross? Should the patriots of Concord Bridge thrown down their guns and refuse to fire the shot heard around the world? Or should the Egyptians gave up to their government on July 3rd 2013? Taking the fight to them does not mean violence. This can be handled by showing up to school board meetings and making your presents known.
I encourage everyone to attend the CPS school board meeting on Wednesday June 7th and let the school board know your point of view. Everyone needs to be kind, but firm.
