Marshalling the Tough Choices

When Marshall Weinberg was running for the Massillon Board of Education, he was going to be a different kind of candidate. He claimed to have spent several years studying the school system before he became a candidate. When elected, he was going to run the Massillon Schools like a business. He was going to use his business management and finance experience to improve the district. He promised to raise educational standards and he was going to make sure our students had the best education possible. The football boosters weren't going to push Marshall around. It was academics first for Marshall Weinberg. This was the Marshall Plan for our schools.

Fast forward two years. Marshall Weinberg's main concern has become making sure that the Head Football Coach became the Massillon Athletic Director. Marshall claimed it was the lynch pin for the entire DREAM (Developing Resources for Education and Athletics in Massillon) project. (The Independent, March 30, 2010). Making the Head Football Coach the Athletic Director would solve the school district's problems. Having the Head Football Coach as AD, according to Marshall, may have even prevented an individual from growing and selling drugs in our fair city. (We are not kidding, we wish we were - The Independent, March 30, 2010).

Unfortunately for the students of Washington High School, the David foundation pulled its support for the DREAM project when this did not occur. Marshall, however, was a staunch supporter of these efforts, and now Marshall is the hero of the football boosters and other self-proclaimed "Friends of the Program." (No names, please, however, one of them could be considered a Tiger friend "for life").

Here is the conundrum for Marshall "It's all about the kids" Weinberg. Many of the football supporters are not happy with the decision of the elected board of education, and the District's Superintendent, Lisa Carmichael. They are angered that the Head Football Coach was not made the Athletic Director overseeing all the sports programs with football at its proper place at the top of the food chain. A number of them are so unhappy, they wish to do something about it. And they have a plan.

Massillon City Schools will have to renew a levy shortly. It's not a new tax, it's a renewal. This levy pays for such things as teacher salaries, instructional materials, utilities, and things one might require in order to educate children. These particular football supporters are planning to work against the levy's renewal. They wish to "send a message" to the administration that properly reflects their discontent.

What is Marshall to do? If it is really "all about the kids," he will support the levy and work to ensure our students have the best education possible. In doing this, he will anger his new supporters. If he works against the levy in order to "send a message," his new supporters will be happy, but the outcome would seriously damage the ability of the school district to educate our children.

What will Marshall "It's all about the kids" do?