"Call him bold, and independent. Call him fearless or stubborn or even self-righteous. Call him a hero, a villain, a leader or follower" (The Independent, June 17, 2011).
We choose hero.
"If serving as a board member or even as board president means making more enemies than friends he's more than happy to do it, he said. Just as long as he knows he's doing what's best for kids" (The Independent, June 17, 2011).
Because as we all know, with Marshall, it's all about the kids.
Portraying himself as a larger than life comic book superhero come to life in a recent newspaper profile regarding his controversial term on the Massillon Board of Education, School Board President Marshall "Lightning Rod" Weinberg valiantly and courageously stands up for the children of the Massillon School district, sometimes standing alone as a pillar of integrity against those people too ignorant to see his vision for a better school system.
"Am I a little frustrated that people won't stand up and get my back a little more? Sure," Weinberg said.
"But I gave my word as to what I was going to do, and I don't care what the haters say. I am going to be honorable in my actions and continue to raise the level of education in the Massillon City Schools in a fiscally responsible way" (The Independent, June 17, 2011).
Displaying a level of paranoia reminiscent of Massillon's Mayor for 195 days, the Extraordinary One, King Francis the defeated, Weinberg refers those who oppose his vision for the school district as "haters."
Haters.
Of Course.
Anyone who doesn't want the Head Football Coach to also serve as Athletic Director must be a "hater."
Anyone who doesn't see the wisdom of personally driving superintendent after superintendent out of the district must be a hater.
And any fool who doesn't understand that "Recent issues, including an assistant coach and booster club member growing and selling marijuana, could have been avoided, Weinberg said, if the football coach could report directly to the superintendent" (The Independent, March 30, 2010).
Yes, we have a hero fighting for truth, justice, and the Massillon way.
And he always does what is right, because it is right.
Always.
Sometimes we are just too stupid to appreciate his wisdom.
We forgot to add one final characteristic of any good superhero that Marshall Weinberg possesses in abundance.
Humility.
"I guarantee intelligent, educated and trained people in the room connect to me," Weinberg said. (The Independent, June 17, 2011).
Our school district is in good hands.
Heroic hands.
