  News950 Member Username: News950 Post Number: 13 Registered: 03-2008 |
http://www.wwj.com/Calloway-a- No-Show-at-DPS-Newser/2202080 Detroit Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Connie Calloway was a no-show at a news conference Friday morning. WWJ's Florence Walton was among those on hand on the 10th Floor of the Fisher Building in Detroit expecting to hear an announcement that the district was facing a projected shortfall of $45 million. In the past, when DPS faced far greater financial challenges, the superintendent of schools has always made the announcement and weathered the resulting storm of questions, but not Dr. Calloway. Instead, she handed that responsibility off to chief financial officer Joan McCray. | ||
Spiritofdetroit Member Username: Spiritofdetroit Post Number: 946 Registered: 11-2006 |
I dont see the big deal. To me, $45 million is progress for this district which is used to $200 million shortfalls. I would imagine that the CFO has more details and knowledge on the subject anyhow. | ||
Professorscott Member Username: Professorscott Post Number: 1298 Registered: 12-2006 |
This is news? Who decides to speak at a press conference is news? Must be a slow day. | ||
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit Post Number: 1699 Registered: 11-2003 |
The media just wants to come down on everyone these days to paint a picture that all of our officials are slacking. | ||
Dannyv Member Username: Dannyv Post Number: 198 Registered: 08-2007 |
If you couple this no-show together with her no-show for a school board meeting where she was supposed to give the details on the school re-organization then I think you might detect a pattern. What issue is important enough to the Superintendent that requires her presence? | ||
Darwinism Member Username: Darwinism Post Number: 747 Registered: 06-2005 |
Yes, it is a topic that the CFO would have more details and knowledge. But that doesn't relieve the Superintendent from being in attendance. When there is a news conference, and the media is the audience, Dr. Calloway should be available as well. When Chrysler holds a news conference to discuss budget issues, you expect Robert Nardelli to be there. When GM holds a news conference in front the media to talk about financials, you expect Rick Wagoner to be there. This is certainly not looking good for DPS. | ||
Firstandten Member Username: Firstandten Post Number: 189 Registered: 05-2006 |
As much as I think Marie Thornton is a flake I feel she as a point when she says she thinks this is too big a district for Calloway to handle. Calloway doesn't seem to be real media friendly. She gets up tight because a local radio talk show host rips her from time to time. Whats going to happen when Steve Wilson or somebody like him decides to get on Calloway. She is the leader of the school district. She should not only bring accountablity but inspire confidence among the employees of DPS whom I'm sure morale is at a all-time low. Also people are getting tired of the "I inherited this mess" speech she seems to want to give. Having said this I think we're stuck with her. DPS doesn't have the money to buy her out, and without a professional search firm (which I guess DPS can't afford) to find a leader that DPS should have. Any leader the DPS board would bring in probably wouldn't be any better. | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 1627 Registered: 12-2005 |
quote: To which I would add that anyone with big district experience and qualified enough to handle DPS would decline to be interviewed. I think that is how DPS ended up with Calloway in the first place. Hopefully her reluctance to appear at high-tension events is her only weakness. | ||
Michigansheik Member Username: Michigansheik Post Number: 308 Registered: 09-2005 |
i agree with mike g. If Dr. Calloway is working hard while not at the media stops, i'm fine with it. | ||
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 1019 Registered: 05-2004 |
The question is what else was she doing? Public relations is very important with the school system which has had bad pr for as long as I remember. She's the "leader" and that means she is the public face for the schools. She should be around when good or bad news is broadcast. | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 3121 Registered: 04-2006 |
quote: Yeah, not only too big, but also a district in too much trouble. The biggest district she had ever worked at, if I recall, was some district in suburban St. Louis, right? |
