By Antonio D. French
Filed Monday, July 17 at 8:33 PM
A crowd of more than 50 people picketed outside the home of School Board President Veronica O'Brien tonight calling for her removal from the board and the rehiring of basketball coach Floyd Irons.
The crowd, led by local sports personality Demetrius Johnson, shouted chants of "Veronica must go!" and "recall, recall" while O'Brien sat on her front steps protected by nearly a dozen City police officers.
The protesters promised to come out in force at tomorrow's school board meeting. They also said they would return to picket O'Brien's home again.
"It's on," said Johnson. "The gloves are off."
26 Comments:
Those of you that have read my previous posts on any subject should be able to tell that I am difficult to provoke, and am on a rather even kiel, but this just pisses me off. While some ascribe to the take-no-prisoners, it is unprofessional, irresponsible, and counter productive. Public discourse is the appropriate venue through which our democracy expresses itself, but this invasion of one's home, that very likely frightened Ms. O'Brien, her husband, and their school age children, was just inappropriate. Excuse my harsh language, but you fools should picket all you want at the school board meetings, in front of the school board building, or any other public venue, but this was just wrong. Frankly, I hope that the O'Brien family called the police on you.
Monday, July 17, 2006 9:14:00 PM
To Travis, am I to assume that you thought and public said the same thing when they were picketing Darnetta's house!!? Or what about the Mayor's house??!
Monday, July 17, 2006 9:18:00 PM
In the words of Mayor Slay...now "THIS IS A DAMN SHAME!!!!!!" This is not about the children this is about FLoyd Irons. Did anyone protest the fact that Floyd Irons a total of 3 homes valued at over 1.2 million dollars? Has anyone questionesd the fact that Demetrius Johnson lives in West County and the fact that his child attend county schools? Why is he so consumed with what happen in SLPS? Maybe is is receiving kick backs from major companies sucha s NIKE like Floyd Irons. I am convinced they must be "boyfriends". This is embarassing and utterly ridiculous. Since Floyd supposed to be so good go Coach somewhere else. As far as Demetruis johnson is concerned, an apple doesn't fall far from the tree... maybe the children that caled your daughter out on the bus wasn't lying after all.
Monday, July 17, 2006 9:23:00 PM
Yes, I think the picketing of any private residence (not the White House or Governors' Mansions) is beyond contempt and far out of the bounds of decency.
Monday, July 17, 2006 9:23:00 PM
If we could get parents to turn out in droves for something productive as much as they do for foolishness,this district would be unstoppable.
Monday, July 17, 2006 9:30:00 PM
I sure hope none of the protesting parents missed their parent teacher conferences last year. Oh, wait - this isn't about student achievement, it's about that sacred cow called sports. Of all of the fine educators who left the district, we don't see any complaints from parents until a coach goes. Do you think there are any Math teachers driving an Escalade and buying over a million dollars in homes? Did I miss something, or is there a new basketball MAP test? Has the winning team helped Vashon move any students into advanced or proficient on a MAP subject in the 33 years? Where is the outrage over that?
Monday, July 17, 2006 9:51:00 PM
Please - if there are any media consultants out there, RUN - don't walk - to the the Board offices and volunteer your services.
Whether you agree with Williams' ouster or not, you'd have to agree that the Board continues to completely mishandle the situation. The protest this evening shouldn't have surprised anyone. The handwriting was on the wall from the moment word came out of the special Board meeting Friday evening.
Seeing the clip this evening of Ms. O'Brien nonchalantly sitting on her porch was laughable! Far from being "frightened", she looked "bemused". Giving someone a $200K plum - and then allowing her to skip out on what may be the most important Board meeting of her tenure - is equally laughable.
The mixed messages, the "deer in headlights" performances, etc simply causes this wound to fester. In all cases, the principals seem as if they just want this "thing they created" to go away.
News flash - it won't.
Combining the growing emotions with our current heat wave is a recipe for disaster that no one wants.
The ONLY path forward is for the Board to take charge of its PR and communicate with its constituency.
After all, isn't that what they promised - back when they wanted to get elected?
Monday, July 17, 2006 10:31:00 PM
My sentiments exactly. Floyd Irons and Demetrius Johnson and their troupe or "possee" did something similar several years ago when they went after Lizz Brown for criticizing Floyd Irons. Notice that both of these victims are women. So what does that make them in attacking females like this? I also agree that the board meeting is the forum for picketing, not someone's house. But this is their tactic, usually directed against women. When they threatened Lizz Brown, Irons used the same intimidating language. Too bad the U-Tube wasn't there to pick that up to record the similarity.
A Former Slps Female Teacher
Monday, July 17, 2006 11:58:00 PM
It is of no surprise that Vashon is plagued with "posse" type, gang mentality with role models like Demetrius Johnson and Floyd Irons
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 5:40:00 AM
If Irons is so great why hasn't another distict scooped him up?
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 6:09:00 AM
Demetruus Johnson says "the glove are off". What kind of leadership is this?
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 6:11:00 AM
Things that make you go HMMMMM!!!! Well let's see how legitimate this paper is when it comes to my comments.
Firt of all Tavis, let me say that when one places themselves in the public arena that V. O'Brien has done so arrogantly and ignorantly with her recent evident and obvious anarchial mentality, one has to be prepared for the aftermath that follows. How insulting that a commenter could use language of "gang type" when black people voice their opinion in a democratic fashion of. Isn't it their democratic right as long as they are on public property? You worry about how afraid her children must be, what about our children, six weeks before schools opens when the only vision for their future in a very long time is wisked away! In appropriate in your eyes to picket in front of her home but appropriate to cause disruption in our school district that serves our children?
As I read on, how ironic that readers criticize the houses of Floyd Irons and the demographic area that Demetrius Johnson lives in - 2 Black Successful Males - Hmmmmm!!!! - but no one criticizes the fact that the board president lives in the very, very plush side of the city (where she would never see or feel the effects of city life that the children she supposedly services see or feel every day and night) however our tax dollars fund her children attending the Ladue/Clayton school district, whichever one it is. What are you saying to us? Our schools are good enough for you to come in and sabotage , but most definitely not good enough for your children!!!!!!
And you all say we don't read (pick the bones out of that), being a succesful and prestigous coach has its rewards - do the research!!!
Whether parents come out for a sports coach or not, the point is the parents in this community are tired, sick and tired of being sick and tired. Maybe, just maybe that coach has been a ray of light in their child's lives.
My apologies, a lapse in thinking on my part, you wouldn't understand if you don't live what we live each and everyday!!!!!!!
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 6:14:00 AM
hey hey hoe hoe floyd irons ass is starting to show
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 6:14:00 AM
what has the word "gang" have to do with black people. was not al copone a "gang"ster. wasn't the dalton gang white? jesse james? john gotti? lucky luciano?
the word gang has no racial implication. it is a word that describes behavior. if the shoe fits wear it.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 6:19:00 AM
Demetrius Johnson grandstanding again is of no surprise. A while back he made his way into the headlines for getting the field worked on at Soldan when the SLPS crew was already there and working, but getting it done within the normal routine didn't have any glory for the ego fed DJ
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 6:24:00 AM
Travis,
Did you think it was beyond contempt when Darnetta's house was picketed by the teachers in 2003?
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 6:53:00 AM
Yes, I think the picketing of any private residence (not the White House or Governors' Mansions) is beyond contempt and far out of the bounds of decency.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 9:19:00 AM
It's interesting that there are people who actually believe that a person has to live at a certain socieconomic level to "understand" it.
And...that there is contempt for someone sending their children out of the district if they are able. What kind of parent would keep their children in a school that has low achievement, poor morale, and violence, if they could send them someplace else?
It's unfortunate that the public could not spend a day in an SLPS teacher's shoes last year and see just how messed up the system has become since Creg william's arrival: veteran teachers required to reapply for their jobs, a sham interview process, his out of district entourage that came into schools and treated principals and teachers like second class citizens.
Mandatory summer school for 8th graders: The public didn't get to see that the district was so short of teachers the first two weeks that some classes had 60+ students in them. Because of the superintendent wanting to have good attendance in his program, the students are not being suspended and are running amok in the schools. Also, most students and parents don't know that the children are not receiving ANY credit for these classes. The teachers have been told to lie or avoid the issue to them to keep them in school. The public doesn't get to see THAT side, only that the awesome summer school program has 87% attendance. Woo-hoo!
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 10:11:00 AM
Too bad the press didn't cover 4X as many people that protested a Clinksdale house.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 11:26:00 AM
Wow, looks like a lot of you people need to be reminded of a few things:
1. Ms O'Brien represents the school board. Her home and her family, nor anyone's family should be subjected to this, and she did not put THEM in the public arena.
2. There were several comments made by the protesters on the news relating to;"we'll do it again, we'll follow them wherever they go, we'll dog them..." and then there was a guy that screamed "with a house like that, how does that represent the people in our district"-who was it that first brought the value of someone's home to the issue? That was the protesters on the news. Funny, they never brought up Floyd's home or DJ's home value or show them on the news! But apparently it's OK for them to represent our district. Sounds like a double standard to me.
3. This disruption in our district has been going on FOR A LONG TIME! Ms O'Brien isn't solely responsible for this current disruption. The school board didn't fire Creg Williems-HE RESIGNED. They simply accepted his resignation.
4. What exactly do you people want the board to communicate? Creg Williams and Floyd Irons personal reasons as to why they no longer have a job? This is a Human Resource issue-it would be irresponsible for the board of education to comment further. It is up to the two individuals to tell us any additional personal information they choose to tell at this point.
5. Creg Williams has already made a statement to the press that he RESIGNED.
6. Would any of you people want your boss to divulge your personal information on the news or in the newspaper, after you had already made your own statement?
7. Most of the schools have had summer programs all along, good ones, that my children have attended on several occasions, not because they had to, because I wanted them to, for transitional reasons etc
8. If any of you people put half the effort you did in the protest, to coming to PTO meetings and really getting involved with the schools your kids go to, you might actually have a clue.
SEE -I DO LIVE THIS EACH AND EVERYDAY. I attend 2 different schools PTO meetings-WHERE ARE THE REST OF YOU? BECAUSE YOU"RE NOT THERE!
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 11:42:00 AM
Mrs. O'Obrien is a priviate citizen who has taken on the Mayor+friends Board. She has a right to privacy. When her intentions prove suspect, one can state opinion. Unitil then, wait and be patient.
Veronica is a woman of her word ... she is honest and truthful - I should know - I was her teacher.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 1:41:00 PM
I agree with Travis and many other comments in this blog. I usually do not do things like this but I am going to lower myself to Floyd Irons level and play the race card. Why is it among black people who have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar they always claim it wasn’t their fault or someone else did it first? Or as we seen on the news if one person starts a fight a group of people joins in to try and finish the fight. The next is this north, south, east, and west side thing that if you are from one of these areas and I am from another I am suppose to fight you. This is nonsense, life is not about revenge. Many of you blacks out there are die hard Christians (not to mention self proclaimed reverends) but if you believe in this kind of behavior you better go back and read your bible again. We have our military fighting Muslim extremist maybe we should have them here to fight those who want to stand behind the bible as well. All to often I have caught students doing things they were not supposed to be doing and claim they did not do. Even the student who was caught on videotape trying to kick down a door during a hall sweep claimed it wasn’t him.
Oh, I know what it is (here is my trump card) it is all about getting back the evil white American government for allowing slavery in this country. If you want to blame someone for you laziness, lack of motivation, and poverty look to the Egyptians. They are the people who started this whole slave thing to begin with. When other monarchs and people of wealth see King Williams has slave(s) then Prince Irons should have slaves as well. Next thing you know it is the late 1800’s and the United States is the only country trying to end slavery. Get over it.
If Irons didn’t do these things then he needs to show proof. The auditor said there was not enough information to prove innocence or guilt. What I want know is how he can afford these houses and cars on a salary of $90,000 a year. I cannot see how a person making $90k can afford a $800k house? If family is helping let us see who is supplying most of the money.Irons is no dummy, after all he did have to get a degree from some college but then again he probably intimidated his teachers to get the grades he wanted (or his degree could also be one of those mail-order type degrees since this was before the internet). I can manipulate accounting books to make it look like I was a millionare but when it comes tax time I better have the right numbers in their place. Show me where the money came from. Plus after thirty-three years of education I would have expected a few more Ironites to come to his defense instead of one. That is if Irons truly educated his students about becoming successful citizens. Or, are the others in prison because they didn’t listen to the Irons in his Embezzling 101 class. But hey in prison I get a bed and three meals a day.
In another way I am not surprised at the number of people who showed up for this little rally. It is just like the attendance for a parent conference day. Lets see we have approximately 35,000 (depending on the status of the moon and the day of the week) fifty show up for a protest equals the number of parents I see who actually care for their children. People it takes a community to raise a child. This involves parents, neighbors, church (if you go to church), and teachers. If one fails the other cannot do their job. As we have seen with Irons and company if we wish to have do we want more students to follow this type of behavior of learn how to become successful citizens?
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 3:01:00 PM
Stand corrected anonymous, I too attend PTO meetings in two different schools, do homework evry night and have to gifted (tested proof) children who are a part of this mess!!!!!!!!! Whether you like it or not, you HAVE TO LIVE IT EVERYDAY, if not the only thing you can possibly do is EMPATHIZE! (check the district meaning)!
What makes the word gang affiliated with color - the media - evidently we are not the only ones who don't read!!! Just like O'Brien can use the words "swat team" - what implications are there - since SWAT teams are used to decipher out criminals.
What's wrong with putting your kids in other school districts if you can when the one you live in is failing? Npthing, nothing at all aslong as you are not the one sitting at the head of the Board that is perpetuating the foolishness in SLPS. Ladue/Clayton schools will open and run effectively.
To teh teachers on here who talk about the classroom size. Stpo bitching, get off of your lazy ass and TEACH!!!!! I am tired of doing your job at Home!! Teaching requires more than eight hours a day, it requires planning that cannot be done by a union schedule, it requires dedication that cannot be dictated by a union schedule - IT HAS TO COME FROM THE HEART - I should know, I have been doing it in a classroom for fourteen years and four years at home at night when you all fail to do your job during the day, because your so busy complainig. OH! and by the way I have been a union rep so I now both sides of the story. Think about why you became a teacher from the start - IT DAMN SURE weren't for the money!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 4:02:00 PM
Previous Anon. I agree with what you have to say up to the point of classroom size and homework. Study after study after study you read the optimum class size should be no larger than fifteen students (I will discussing high school classes). The state has set a maximum of thirty-three students per classroom. During the years I have been teaching I have anywhere from fifteen to thirty-three students in a class. The smaller classes allowed me to give more individualized attention that all students need. The class of thirty-three may take a couple of days to get to each student. Rarely do I sit at my desk or stand in front of the class and lecture. I get in with the students and quite often when other teachers or a possible visit from an administrator they sometimes have trouble finding me.
The homework is for the student to do not you. You claim you are a union rep, which should mean you are a teacher as well. You should know that he best way to learn is if you do it yourself. You need to make sure that your child is doing their homework not doing the homework. You complain that you are doing our job but I am also tired of doing yours. For example, coming late into class while I am lecturing talking on their cell phone or saying hi to their friends in class. Another on teaching your child how to clean up after themselves, leaving wrappers or soda bottles on the floor under their desks. My favorite one is not doing their homework and wonder why they get an “F” for the class. Why haven’t you taught them about consequences for their actions (actually the lack there of)? I can now add another reason to my list of contradictions of how “union teachers who have tenure and experience are better teachers.” Education is a team effort between students, teachers, community and most of all PARENTS.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 5:47:00 PM
For the sake of our children, please do not encourage adults (so called professioanls) and parents, with their children to picket anyone's house. It was a disgrace to our race and school district. Read between the lines people, what goes on in the dark will soon come to light and that is just what has happened. Eventually, dirt will surface-Floyd and Williams.
I believe that Williams was bringing about some major changes and we all should know that change is good. However, for him to resign, there was something that was not right with him that the Board knew of that cannot be disclosed by the board-on Creg Williams.
Just believe and things will get better because they surely cannot get any worse.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 9:55:00 PM
To the Anon on Tues @ 5:02. Electricity came on a few hours ago, thought I'd catch up. The post directly under said everything except for the fact that you should have had one of your "tested proof" gifted students proofread your letter before you posted it. More spelling errors than a Friday morning test. Have a good day!
Friday, July 21, 2006 4:05:00 PM
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