Don't let the door hit you on the way out - Superintendent Thane

Don't let the door hit you on the way out - Superintendent Thane.

Superintendent Mark Thane, and others, described himself as the "hometown superintendent". In trying to make this post short let's ask one simple question. Just exactly what did Mark Thane do that was so good for his hometown of Missoula? 

Did he work to re-establish a neighborhood school system that had been so badly desecrated by past superintendents and Missoula County Public Schools Trustees?

Did he work to lower administrative costs throughout the school district?

Did he work to eliminate the UN sponsored International Baccalaureate Program that has taken such a foothold in Missoula County Public Schools so much so that some schools are entirely IB. /Did he do what the nearby CoeurdA'lene, Id. school district and eliminate the IB program?

Did he work on transparency in all school related business, such a on the MCPS website and in conversations on radio programs and at civic events?

Did he seek to include the public in all open houses throughout the district when each school had finished it's renovation using the expensive bond funds? Etc. Etc.

No, no. and no....  Mark Thane,
Missoula hometown boy and now man, did not do a thing for his hometown in a positive manner.

Again, don't let the door hit you, Mr. Thane, on the way out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK6PQsSqkaY



Above is a YouTube video on the origins of the saying:
"Don't let the door hit you on the way out".  Interesting. Maybe we need to use it more when a government official leaves, especially when they leave Missoula County Public Schools (for the most part MCPS officials are really not on board with the Missoula people).

Does Missoula County Public Schools Superintendent Thane deserve his award of the best superintendent in Western Montana?

Since following the school district in 2003 and 2004 and in subsequent years due to the MCPS school district closing my families neighborhood schools I have observed the leadership up close and personal. 

What I and others have found is that Missoula County Public Schools is massively mismanaged! I believe if anyone observed what I have they would have the same opinion.

So -- to my question in the title - "Does Mark Thane deserve his award of being a great school system superintendent?

My intent is to be objective as possible- so I'm asking the most obvious questions to see if the award is deserved. 

Here they are - questions that I believe would be address parent's biggest concerns -

* How many miles a day are Missoula's children traveling on a bus to go to school?"

* How large is the school that our children will be attending? Is it less than 200 for a grade school?

* How many grades are in each school? Is there a narrow grade span or a wider grade span? In other words - are there K-8 schools with all 8 grades plus kindergarten or are there elementary and middle schools with 1st through 8th grade with kindergarten?

* What is the percentage of administrators to non-administrators in the district?

* What is the pay roll of the administrators?

* Is the salary and benefits part of the budget at 80% or less?

* Are the children's scores on reading & arithmetic good or at least above average?

* Is the school district funding programs that are linked to United Nations education programs such as the International Baccalaureate program?

* Is the district funding too many programs so that basic education classes are not funded adequately?

* Is the district supplying children with a textbook for each class subject instead of over use of handouts?

* Is the district supplying the children with adequate school supplies that are traditionally supplied to students or are teachers picking up the bill for some or all of the school supplies?

* I'm sure there are other questions one could ask of a school district to make sure that children are getting a good education. Please write a comment if you can think of more ideas.