Living on the southside of Indianapolis is always an interesting proposition. When we moved here from Columbus Indiana, the township’s school system was being run by an interim superintendent. A new superintendent named Dr. H. Douglas Williams (aka Doug Williams) was hired, provided with a 3 year contract, and the township moved forward.
Fast forward 13 years.
At the first bi-monthly meeting in November this now-distinguished superintendent who was rewarded with a new 3 year contract (approved unanimously by the school board) and a raise in June of 2006 was placed on indefinite paid administrative leave by a board that remains deeply divided on key issues in our township.
I cannot imagine how these developments are being handled at the classroom level by the teachers who wonder what direction the school district is heading, but I do know that parents, teachers, and the media are wondering what this man has done to go from a well respected and regarded administrator to someone who must be replaced to ensure the district’s school system’s continued ability to educate our children.
One board member has found that Dr. Williams is hard to work with. I have no personal experience working with the man beyond what I experienced at the PTA level.
Now I am finding myself going to school board meetings trying to discern what is happening in the school district and hoping that this craziness passes before someone’s career is severely compromised.