The following is a video published on the South Washington County District 833 Schools website. It was filmed at the "Back to School Event" prior to the 2013-14 school year. Included in the video is Superintendent Jacobus, several school board members and Dr. Jacobus's administrative cabinet, along with presumably the entire District 833 teaching staff attending teacher workshops prior to starting the school year.
This video leaves me shaking my head in dumbfounded disbelief that the very school district that had so many controversies last year would begin this new school year with this performance. If the vision of the very short man surrounded by what is only to be assumed to be a group of...bodyguards? Secret Service? Thugs? Goon Squad? - isn't enough, three of the men are also sporting large Afro-style wigs, for absolutely no apparent reason. Ironically, or perhaps, intentionally, one of the Afro-wigged men also happens to be the East Ridge High School Principal, who was at the center of one of the major controversies last year when he failed to vet a school-wide presentation commemorating the Black Panthers on Valentine's Day. But here he is, sportin' a huge wig, "protecting" his superintendent's walk into ERHS's gymnasium.
What exactly was the goal of this performance? What was the district leadership attempting to portray with this stunt? And how could the members of the school board sit there and watch this without serious concerns over the image or perception such an act was producing of the district and its leadership, especially when there are five school board seats opening up this fall, with thirteen challengers running against four incumbents, and the district is asking the voters for more money in a levy referendum as well?
These people have too much time on their hands! Is this a wise use of our hard earned tax dollars. If the referendums pass, they can "kick it up a notch" with a few special effects. I wonder where this would fall in the budget matrix. We should ask Dennis Cheesebrow of Team Works International.
ReplyDeleteLooking at this, it probably took a whole 10 minutes to plan... And they easily could've planned it on their own time. It's not trying to send a message; it's just a bit of fun to get a back to school workshop off on a fun note. Chill...
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrea!
ReplyDeleteOkay... First off, I promise you that NO taxpayers money was spent on this. What, do you think the volunteer video editing, and wigs were done by a professional special FX company? Second, the 'body guards' were a joke about his height, bringing a bit of humor to the presentation. You of all people should be able to laugh at Dr.Jacobus.
ReplyDeleteThe wigs, we'll call them wigs, actually made them look silly. It was basically a pep fest of sorts to get the teachers and support staff revved up for the new school year. If you've ever been to any corporate all staff gathering, you will have an entire auditorium filled with people, and the CEO will come out and usually make an ass of himself. It's meant to be in fun, but almost always, all you can do is shake your head and wonder what the hell they were thinking.
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