Marshall's Not Surprised

Last week, Massillon School Board President Marshall Weinberg told the Independent that "he's not surprised to hear that (Lisa) Carmichael is seeking other job opportunities" (The Independent, February 28, 2011).

Carmichael had interviewed for a job in Belpre, and last Friday we learn Carmichael interviewed for a superintendent's position in Streetsboro.

Of course Marshall is "not surprised."

Weinberg is one of the 'friends of the program' football boosters who is trying to run Carmichael out of town, because she didn't acquiesce to the 'football first' reorganization of the Washington High School Athletic Department.

The plan was that the head football coach would become athletic director, and an assistant football coach, at the time Offensive Coordinator Alex Wood, would be the assistant athletic director. The football program would then be the undisputed king of the athletic department.

Carmichael opposed this blatant takeover of the athletic department by the 'friends of the program,' and has drawn their wrath and ire ever since.

She hasn't been alone. She is joined as an 'enemy of the boosters' by school board member Tom Seesan. Seesan, who many originally thought would support the "restructuring" of the athletic department when he was elected to the board in 2009, supported Superintendent Carmichael instead.

Seesan was then the target of a very nasty campaign geared to forcing Seesan to resign.

Various 'friends of the program' protested school board meetings, and placed signs in their yards demanding that "Seesan Resign."

Of course, these were the 'friends of the program' minions. The head 'friends of the program' had others do their dirty work for them.

As they always do.

It is clear that at least two, perhaps three members of the school board no longer wish to have Lisa Carmichael as superintendent.

But they can't just fire her. She has about two and a half years left on her contract.

The cash strapped school district would have to buy her contract out.

And the backlash from such an expensive move merely for the sake of advancing an agenda solely related to a high school football program would be substantial.

The best option for the 'friends of the program' football boosters is that Carmichael finds another job, so that they may find a superintendent more sympathetic to their desire to control the football program.

Marshall Weinberg had complimentary things to say about Superintendent Carmichael;

"My impression of our superintendent, from the day she walked in the door, is that she is extremely hardworking, does her research well and logs an enormous amount of hours at her job" (Marshall Weinberg, The Independent, February 28, 2011).

What he didn't say is that he wanted her to stay.

Because he doesn't.

Because it is football first with President Weinberg.