Friday, July 19, 2013
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19 comments:
Well done...I am glad I don't have a "horse in this race". I do not know enough to comment on whether O'Brien should be kept. I do know this is a powerful piece for the one side presented. Glad I am not on school board that will have to rule on the decision to re-instate or let go!
Coach Hunt
Who can vote at the board meeting?
That is just nut's. Along with Mahmoud Moussa tranfers from Arcadia to Gig Harbor
As a coach who has been fired on flimsy rationales myself, I can sympathize with Coach O'Brien. Sure, I'm sure he is prickly with administrators and a bit short with meet managers and a bit cocky with other coaches, but that is all a function of his relenteless determination to help his team get as far as they can. God help us, but the short-sighted and the easily-offended drive the ship and make these asinine decisions. Why is it that the administrators, who have taken special classes in personnel management, are so inept at that job? Of course single-minded individuals can be abrasive and abrupt. . . delicacy and diplomacy are not the traditional hallmarks of successful coaching.
"The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other @$%@#!$ die for his." Gen G. S. Patton
Leadership does not come in teddybear, politically correct packaging.
Hope these kids and parents get what they want.
Really good video!
Unfortunately this thing has happened a good amount of schools before, even in the CCS :(
We went to a Unified School District meeting and protested too. We had alot of people there. They couldn't do anything apparently. We signed a petition with literally EVERYONE on the cross country/track people except about 2 people (70+ total). When we gave it to the principal, she said, "Oh, Thanks." and put it under her desk (probably in the trash). We had meetings with the AD. Next season, they hire the WORST coach I've EVER seen (Stole money from the school, made everyone run 15 mpw max, told people that they had no chance against their competition, threatened to not let us race at Section Finals if we did any outside workouts etc.). At least he's gone now. But it really showed me how little the staff at our school ACTUALLY cared/ did what's best for our students. It was one of those personal agenda issues by the staff. The team success has since gone downhill and tons of people quit.
Of course, this is a 2x National Championship team coach. I don't see why the Superintendents can't just say WHY they fired him. It's obvious they are NOT doing what's best for the students and that there's a completely illegitimate reason behind this. Thanks for spreading the message even more, hopefully they will reinstate him as they rightfully should, and hopefully that staff at the parents meeting gets fired. The more we all speak up, the more our voices will be heard.
My second post on this issue. Very emmotional issue when it comes to letting a successful and popular employee go. I have been coaching community college and high school for the past 13 years. Prior to retiring I worked in large corp. Over that time I managed people and taught mgmt class in the corp as well as 10yrs at CCSF/Skyline. From personal experience I have fired employes for cause and was unable to share reason with their fellow employes. Their may be a surface issue all could see or a reason given by the person let go. That said the underlining cause could not be proached in public by mgmt as it could lead to a law suit based on a character issue. Since I have know knowledge of the facts in O'Brien's case I share the hopes he is reinstated. However,the school district and District Board of Trustees may have other compelling reason for the action taken beyond the "destruction" of school property by painting defective lockers. If they up hold the decision to dismiss there is most likely other issues they are addressing by dropping him! I have probably said too much ...just my opinion.
Coach Hunt
Couple of spell cks to my 2:29 PM post
"proached" should read "broached".
"know knowledge" should read "no knowledge". And I used a "their that should have been "there"....
So much for not previewing before posting!
Coach Hunt
It is really sad to see a successful coach fired. It is the athletes that are hurt as Coach O'Brien has touched many lifes as a mentor as well as a coach.
Good luck on July 23.
In response to Coach Hunt’s statement, if the School Board does have an underlying reason for dismissing Coach O’Brien, then that reason should be disseminated to the athletes, students and parents. I cannot imagine the School Board would dismiss him because of painting X’s on defective school lockers, that makes absolutely no sense at all. Unfortunately these bureaucrat school board officials in general know nothing about athletics and probably don’t care about the importance and positive influence that Coach O’Brien has on so many young lives. I hope I read that he is reinstated on July 23rd.
local news coverage
http://landing.newsinc.com/ktla/video.html?freewheel=91045&sitesection=77695_Video&VID=24968952
issue unresolved, but sounds like the board will make a decision themselves to discuss the matter, i hope
Two comments - first, a great video...production as I understand it by Sergio Gonsalez who is now at Portland University. Great kid and a really compelling piece of work on the video. Second - folks, when an employee is fired, its a confidential conversation between the employee and employer. The employer is bound by confidentiality not to say much. That the public is asking doesn't really matter - confidentiality is confidentiality.
J.O.B addresses the board and superintendent
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0X_Gu0aeK8
"I can only address the issue at hand, and that is that I'm hoping in my heart of hearts, that if we can keep an open dialogue between myself and the superintendent and the board, that we can resolve this issue and any issues for which they are concerned. I am absolutely willing to adjust my behavior or my actions so that I may fit into the protocol that they're looking for, and I'll do that for the good of the children here. I very much want to be the coach of Arcadia High School boys cross country for this upcoming year and beyond."
Good to see the post of Coach O'Brien's address to the school board and trustees. His statement implies a willingness to change behavior. Good for him it need to come from his lips. Also note he states "...that we can resolve this issue and any issues for which they are concerned.". This statement does indicate there was more to this than just painting lockers. And I agree with the "confidentiality in emplyement issue" post above. Siad very nicely. I try to state that in one of my previous post but did not state as clearly.
Coach Hunt
Arcadia HS must have a killer digital film class. This is an excellent video editorial.
Can't find any word about a decision change yet.
nope, just a bunch of smart kids. this was the first video production from the people that put it together
'course they are smart kids - they are XC aren't they?!
Knowing administration they use a delay stall technique in an effort to calm the forces that be. They will sit on it for a few weeks, a month, then tell you "no" after it is too late anyways.
He's done!
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_23767787/arcadia-school-district-wont-reinstate-fired-cross-country
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