Save Hillel

64 responses so far ↓

• 1 Anon // May 1, 2007 at 12:11 pm

  Isaac-you make a good argument and I agree. But there’s one flaw with the logic.
  We assume here that the Board just needs to hear our voices to reinforce all along what is being said on the website. The problem is that the Board knows a lot of what happened. Holden’s credential issue was known at Hillel (and esp. the board) at least a day before it reached this website. I know I shouldn’t pin the tail on Holden, but I know for certain that this is truth.

  It’s not that they need to hear us to get their voices across; they are ignoring us. As such, it spills over to other discussion forums.

  So what should we do?

• 2 Isaac Sapoznik // May 1, 2007 at 12:14 pm

  They need to hear your voices. That is all you can do right now. As many people as possible.

  If you don’t then we will lose.

  There is no time to waste.

  Like I said, “Unfortunately that is not the way it works. The fact that it is possible to use different names from the same people makes the board think that it is only a select few who feel this way.”

  That is why we need to call ASAP.

• 3 mentalhealth // May 1, 2007 at 12:23 pm

  This still leaves the non-renewed teachers and staff out in the cold.

• 4 Isaac Sapoznik // May 1, 2007 at 12:24 pm

  Your right. If you don’t call.

• 5 Parent 15 years // May 1, 2007 at 2:22 pm

  Isaac forget the phone calls. Tell the Board Members to have an Open Meeting. This will stop everything. We had lots of Open Meeting in the past. Please tell your Board Members to just make a meeting and post or send a letter you will see things will get better. I know I am a parent my friends don’t want to call.They want to talk to the Whole board and who ever else is in charge.Isaac We know your mom is on the board so please she will understand people really want a meeting to meet all in charge. We need a meeting before this situation gets out of hand. Isaac keep up the good work. You are just like your mom you have a big heart and the right values.I give you credit. Your parents should be very proud of you. We are very lucky to have your mom on your Hillel Board. I hope The Board listens to her. She has been there long enough to run the whole school. Tell her to just hold a meeting belive me it will happend.

• 6 Isaac Sapoznik // May 1, 2007 at 2:30 pm

  Unfortunately that is not the way it works and they will not do it.

  If you wait we will fail. They will not hold an open meeting. My mom is a board member not the board. I am not my mom and my voice is not strong enough.

  You are the key to making this work. If you don’t call and tell them yourselves we will have failed.

  If you want to wait for the board to call and open meeting you will wait too long and it will be too late.

  ACT NOW!

  If we don’t call we only have ourselves to blame.

• 7 We want to know the Future of our School! // May 1, 2007 at 2:42 pm

  Why Isaac they have done this in the past? Dr.Holden and his people and Board could hold a meeting. It’s not a big deal. Parents just want to talk to all. I know we have had meeting in the past. So see what you could do Isaac its not a big deal to arrange an meeting. A letter is written with the date and time and believe me parents will come .They should try it. Sometimes you need to try something and you get good results. I know you are not in charge but run it by your mom and tell her to tell them all. Let Hillel Parents voice themselves at a meeting. I remember a couple of years ago when Dr.Bloom was in charge we had an open meeting for all. So let who ever in charge call a meeting. If you don’t call a meeting parents will think you are not being honest with them.

• 8 Isaac Sapoznik // May 1, 2007 at 2:48 pm

  Even if they will, they won’t.

  I hope you sence my tone of urgency. If we want this then we need to call and ask ourselves. We need to call the board members and demand an open meeting.

  They need to hear it from you not me.

  Please, call. Ask for the meeting yourselves. If I had the power everyone seems to think I have then I would do my best to get it done. I have no power or say in any matters.

  We need to call the board members and ask them to hold the meeting. We need to call the board members and tell them how we feel.

  If we don’t call we will lose and we will only blame ourselves if we wait for them to call a meeting.

• 9 anonymous // May 1, 2007 at 2:54 pm

  Isaac: Who is monitoring this phone at the school? Whose extension is this?

  I do hear a sense of urgency in your voice and I am not liking what I hear. I hear panic, dismay, and frustration.

  The board member from the past should be enlisted as well.

  It is important to know who is monitoring this. Because, if it can and will be intercepted by the HEAD of school then there is absolutely no purpose of the call.

  FYI - the head master is not there today and was not there yesterday either.

  Time is of the essence. There is a lot at stake here!

• 10 Hillel Teacher for 7 Years // May 1, 2007 at 3:01 pm

  Parents: You have less than 48 hours to make your voices heard before this becomes a fait accompli.

  Certain board members need your help and they need it right now!!! Pick up the phone already…June 7 will be way too late!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Go directly to Pam Burd who never breaks confidentiality or call Isaac’s cell right now.

  Time is running out!

• 11 Isaac Sapoznik // May 1, 2007 at 3:04 pm

  1st. I have a final at 8pm tonight and I have quickly responded to everything. The reason is becasue time is of the essence. We cannot sit around and wait for the board to call a meeting- it wont happen.

  2. You don’t tell anything to the person you are calling. They will put you through to a board member or give you a board members number. You don’t have to tell them your name or anything. If you still don’t feel comfortable, it is very very easy to ask around for someone who knows someone to get a board members number. We have to start taking action and look for the numbers ourselves.

  3. If the headmaster isn’t there then no one should be afraid to call now.

  4. We need to act now!

• 12 Anonymous // May 1, 2007 at 3:16 pm

  If Holden is away, people should seize this moment and call ASAP

• 13 sara // May 1, 2007 at 3:21 pm

  Parents, please please call the number OR call SACS re: what we think are violations. Report what we know. We have been told that June 7 is too late.

• 14 sara // May 1, 2007 at 3:22 pm

  Isaac: Is it possible to put your mother’s number on this site?

• 15 Isaac Sapoznik // May 1, 2007 at 3:23 pm

  NO. You guys have to just call the board. Call other people. Call the president. Call the school. Call as many other people as you can. Call people to call people.

• 16 SACS INFORMATION // May 1, 2007 at 3:31 pm

  404 -679-4500
  SACS/CASI
  Dr. Mark Elgart ext. 595
  President and Chief Operating Officer
  melgart@sacscasi.org

  Pat Eddinger, Executive Assistant, Professional Services and District Accreditation
  (404) 679-4500, x553
  peddinger@sacscasi.org

  The following is SACS position on:
  .27 Institutional Integrity

  If a school misrepresents itself, including accreditation status, to the public;

  Has any condition that may be detrimental to the clientele of the school; or falsely reports its compliance with the policies and standards for accreditation; the school’s accreditation can be revoked at the next business session of the Board of Directors of CASI.

  As MIT has demonstrated with the resignation of their Dean due to credential padding:
  Academic Integrity is never a “Non-Issue”.

• 17 Shlomo Bolts // May 1, 2007 at 3:42 pm

  *Finals finals finals finals finals*
  I just called the board.

  Everyone here should call the board, and ask for something specific–a proposal, a presentation, a box of cookies–that you want to see at the June 7th meeting.

  For example, I asked for a specific plan to be presented that will lay out, in detail, the systematized manner in which the general Hillel body will have greater input into the hiring and firing process next time.

• 18 MORE SACS Information // May 1, 2007 at 3:46 pm

  Dr. Judy Flatt, Associate Vice President, Professional Services Phone:
  Email: (404) 679-4500, x549
  jflatt@sacscasi.org

  MAIN FLORIDA OFFICE:

  Dr. Pat Wentz 800 865 9068
  secretary: Mary Thornton

• 19 sara // May 1, 2007 at 3:59 pm

  Shlomo, the point seems to be that certain announcements will be made within the next couple of days…announcements re: 20070-2208 administrators. The expectation is the announcement of the non-Jewish administrators and Holden and Druin continuing in their present positions.

  I am glad to hear that you called, but it appears only parents’ voices will “work” at this time.

  I would like to suggest that if we do not “make” the quickly-approaching deadline (via the phone calls Isaac is so desperately calling for) , then, sadly, our next step is to challenge the Board re: SACS regulations. Putting the accreditation of our school on the line is not a pleasant direction to go in, but…. there seems to be no other choice.

  The Board still insists that what they read here is not valid. They want to discount/ignore what they think are a few people’s unfounded opinions. But there are lots of FACTS posted here. These facts cannot be ignored. Once an outside agency is involved, the 2-day-from-today deadline or the June 7 Board meeting mean nothing. What will matter–what will mean something– is the SACS calendar…the date of its next meeting.

• 20 Anonymous // May 1, 2007 at 4:02 pm

  Do everything! Call Isaac. Call Pam. Call SACS.

• 21 anonymous // May 1, 2007 at 4:15 pm

  Call parents and encourage them to call.

• 22 anonymous // May 1, 2007 at 5:22 pm

  I have been monitoring this site for quite awhile and I’ve been reading what the people have been saying. I myself attended Hillel and during my time at Hillel there was till issues that where controversial. Looking at the situation that it is today people talk and talk but don’t take any action. If you’re afraid to talk face to face why bother voicing your concerns without reviling yourself. Perhaps Hillel didn’t do a proper job investigating the Head of school before hiring him or perhaps they knew what they were getting into. Everyone has to have the courage to speak up and take risks because nothing will accomplished, everyone is posting Anonymous on this site and technically what you’re saying is off the record. Stop taking this issue to the news and stop making this sound as if it’s the end of the world. Everyone should take a step back and think how the problem can be solved internally and not externally. Everyone shouldn’t jump the gun and start thinking how to solve the problem and if you’re not happy with your results then take your case to the next level. The more bad things you say about Hillel the greater chance people won’t want to send the kids there. Who wants to go to a school filled with controversy???

• 23 Anonymous // May 1, 2007 at 5:39 pm

  I think people have been doing everything you’re suggesting but are getting nowhere

  so they are trying to take various paths to reach the summit

• 24 Parent 15 years // May 1, 2007 at 5:39 pm

  Board Members ,Dr.Holden, Rabbi Druin, Please make sure you hear us all who are writing. I am not sure if all Hillel family will call. But what I keep hearing is that We only want Jewish Educators running our school. Bottom line we need only Jewish Educators at Hillel Community Day School. So Board Members Dr.Holden, and Rabbi Druin I hope you are reading this. I am talking from a large parent body who tells me to tell you We want Jewish Professional Educators. Rabbi Kaplan need to be in charge of Judiac Studies of the High School.This will make our Hillel Students, Teachers and Family very happy. You need to listen.

• 25 anonymous // May 1, 2007 at 5:46 pm

  You are make these suggestions on the internet not to the Head of school go to him directly tell him what you want and how you feel, you hiding your name wont do anything besides people on this site responding with out their names as well responding again I reiterate stop talking and take action internally. This doesnt need to go to the major news networks theres enough bad things about jews going on in this world , we dont need any more bad - news on jews or jewish day schools

• 26 sara // May 1, 2007 at 6:02 pm

  To Parent 15 Years: You are just what is needed RIGHT NOW. Your “large parent body” is what is needed RIGHT NOW. If just one of you called……and even better, if more than one of you called. Or walk into school TOGETHER and ask to be heard. Please!

• 27 sara // May 1, 2007 at 6:03 pm

  Yes, Rabbi Kaplan would indeed be a wondeful Director of Jewish Studies. But that still leaves Holden running the school.

• 28 Hillel Student 0'9 attending school abroad // May 1, 2007 at 6:21 pm

  A parent writing that stuff on a site isn’t going to do anything besides trigger responses by people like you. Never in the many schools that I have attended have I seen such a large protest on the web nor have I heard students chaining themselves as a sign of protest. Not one person is to blame here. I go to a day school here in Israel and here we don’t have Non-Jewish teachers teaching us better yet Non JEWISH ADIMISTRATORS. My school isn’t a yeshiva it’s an Israeli Public school the only non-Jewish employs of my school are the maintenance people. And don’t give me the talk that well that’s Israel, America has just as many Jews as Israel does and you find a Non-JEW to manage a Jewish day school hence here in Israel I’m always asked what school I attended and I start with saying hillel and when I say it I don’t say it with pride because from a overall prospective Hillel wasn’t never clean of corruption. My family members some of which where on the board found indeed corruption and what have we found today more corruption has it taken 5 years for people to wake up and smell the coffee give me a break you guys have to take personal blame because you didn’t do nothing since hilllel started to crumble 5 years ago. What are you guys saying to the World we only step up with there’s something big, that’s wrong big problems start from small things and this is the end result you all put yourself in this situation. Know your calling foul and expect for immediate results and making Hillel look bad if this is what you want then good job because you all have succeed doing this.

• 29 mentalhealth // May 1, 2007 at 6:25 pm

  A lot of help is needed right now!
  There are those of us who see our joy in life: teaching, evaporate…
  A non-renewal…can cause other schools to just say no!

• 30 anonymous // May 1, 2007 at 6:56 pm

  Make the phone calls!!!! Leave messages - get involved - - THERE IS NO BETTER TIME THAN NOW - - IF NOT FOR YOURSELF - - FOR THE SAKE OF OUR PRECIOUS JEWISH CHILDREN!

• 31 parent 15 years // May 1, 2007 at 7:08 pm

  Sara,My friends already went to the Board. In fact one of my friends sat with a few members of the board for 3 hours and told them everything that needs to be fixed. Now we are waiting to see what this Board comes up with on Thursday. I hope they listend to my Friend. We all Want Jewish Educators to run our school. We want to let the Board, Dr. Holden and Rabbi Druin know we want to keep Rabbi Kaplan Principal of Judiac Studies for the High School for next school year. You don’t need to bring somebody from Kansas or anywhere else he is here in your school and knows the students ,teachers and parents.We all know he is well liked by all.

• 32 Write to RABBI FULD AT LOOKSTEIN // May 1, 2007 at 7:49 pm

  ask lookstein to come back to Hillel

• 33 anonymous // May 1, 2007 at 7:58 pm

  Many people have spoken with board members. It is undenyable that the the board is aware of the issues. They are reading the site. They cannot deny the underlying truth and outcry of disapproval they are witnessing from the community (parents, faculty, staff, and alumni). However, they may choose to ignore the site, ignore the information provided but, they cannot deny that by being a board member they have a responsibility to the parent community.

  Part of that responsibility is to listen to the members (parents) who elected them to their roles. They need to listen in whatever form people wish to express themselves (within the law).

  So……to the board members. Do not shirk your responsibility. Take note of the facts and take action to correct these issues.

• 34 sara // May 1, 2007 at 9:14 pm

  To Parent 15 Years: When did the meeting occur? If it was quite recently, then the parents have reached out…they did contact the Board.Then what Isaac has been asking for did happen.

• 35 mentalhealth // May 1, 2007 at 10:45 pm

  Oh, I hope so!
  There is tomorrow to know for certain…

• 36 Anonymous // May 1, 2007 at 10:54 pm

  I believe the board is listening and is even taking to heart some of today’s conversation.

• 37 anonymous // May 1, 2007 at 10:57 pm

  That is refreshing to know. Hope it is true!

• 38 sara // May 1, 2007 at 10:57 pm

  To post #26: What makes you think so. I, of course, hope you are right!

• 39 sara // May 1, 2007 at 10:59 pm

  CORRECTION: To post #36….What makes you think so?

• 40 Akiva Cohen // May 2, 2007 at 1:40 pm

  Well, I’ve called.

  My honest take - I think the best thing that anyone reading this can do is call the board and say something along the lines of the following:

  There’s an obvious disagreement in the Hillel family about what’s best for the school and its future. I’m not sure whether that’s because people have wrong information, or don’t have all the information, or are simply interpreting the same information differently, but what I am sure of is that all of us share the same goal: Doing what’s best for Hillel. And I think that an open meeting, where people can come to discuss their concerns in an atmosphere of mutual respect, would go a long way towards resolving some of the tensions. Even if nothing or very little changes substantively, its important that the Board hears what Hillel’s family has to say - and vice versa. That way, we all can make our decisions and reach our conclusions on the basis of full information and with full knowledge of who and how many people care about particular issues.

  Please call an open meeting; there’s no downside to it, and quite a lot of upside.

  That’s essentially the message I left, and I think it will go over better than making substantive demands right now. Get your meeting, and then talk to each other like human beings and make a decision like a family.

• 41 Anonymous // May 2, 2007 at 1:49 pm

  I’ve heard they’re going to shortly announce plans to call an Open Meeting

• 42 anonymous // May 2, 2007 at 2:14 pm

  That would be refreshing!

• 43 Does Rabbi Kaplan have his contract for next year yet? // May 2, 2007 at 4:14 pm

  Board Members, Lets have the Open Meeting like this week or early next week . The school is almost over. We really should know by now who will be running our Hillel Community Day School for next year.Does Rabbi Kaplan have a contract yet? What is his title for next year? All of us parents want him to be Principal of Judica Studies ? Board Members , Rabbi Kaplan will make a better Hillel for you all.

• 44 Anonymous // May 2, 2007 at 4:27 pm

  Thank you to all parents who have left messages on Pam Burd’s cell

• 45 anonymous // May 2, 2007 at 5:12 pm

  Keep the calls coming - it is important not to stop or let up - - time is of the essence and we must seize the moment.

• 46 sara // May 2, 2007 at 6:33 pm

  Parents, thank-you!

  Much being said here about Rabbi Kaplan.All wondeful!

  We need to know about Holden and his credentials, etc.

• 47 anonymous // May 3, 2007 at 7:29 am

  Sara:

  If you want to verify Mr. Holden’s credentials (or lack there of) call the only certifying body of California Coast University since 2005:

  The Distance Education and Training Council in Washington DC. Ask Rachel Scheer, Information Specialist, if a “doctorate in education” from 2001 is or will ever be accredited.

  Her number is 202 234 5100 ext 100.

  When she tells you that degree will never be accredited by the US Office of Education (not now, nor retroactively), then you will know why this degree falls under the Florida Statute 817.567 (making false claims of academic title).

  This Statute has been a Florida Law for over ten years. You can google the online Florida Statutes and read it. Because someone’s lawyer says it doesn’t apply is mis information. (just as the “silly legal note” against the admin’s first ammendment rights is mis information)

  A law on the books is a law to be followed unless it is challenged in court and changed.

  You can call your House or State Legislator and ask about this law. You can also call the State of Florida Education Office in Tallahassee and ask to speak to their education lawyer.

  Oregon has the same law and it is punishable in both states as a misdemeanor in the first degree.

• 48 anonymous // May 3, 2007 at 8:38 am

  Sara:

  You can also check the Dissertation Abstracts database, located through university libraries, for Mr. Holden’s dissertation: it is not there.

  Only scholarly works from accredited doctoral programs are accepted into this database. You would look under his name, and year of graduation.

  To further verify Mr. Holden’s credentials, you can call the Kansas Department of Education in Topeka.

  The number is 1 785 296 3201. Ask for teacher certification. You will find that Mr. Holden does not have a doctorate listed as a credential. If you ask if a doctorate would be accepted by their state from California Coast University 2001, they will tell you NO.

  Even though Mr. Holden was not hired because of a doctoral credential, and it was not a requirement for hire, he still violated Florida Statute 817.567 since he submitted the title of Ed.D.as a credential on his resume: hence fraud in this state.

• 49 anonymous // May 3, 2007 at 8:43 am

  Now, parents and other stakeholders who would like leadership with true academic credentials can, as the very wise, former exec board member suggests, go into the parking lot and have petitions signed to appoint tribal leaders who can find a new chief, preferably one from “the tribe”.

  Academic integrity is never a “non-issue”.

• 50 anonymous // May 3, 2007 at 8:58 am

  Good work, Sara! It is very difficult to understand how this school, board, or whoever is responsible for the hiring decisions did not perform due diligence and validate all items on the CV of these individuals to whom we are entrusting our children.

  THIS IS CLEARLY WRONG AND UNACCEPTABLE!

• 51 worried // May 3, 2007 at 9:38 am

  Any word on the announcement that was supposedly happening at 8:00 this morning?

• 52 Anonymous // May 3, 2007 at 9:43 am

  There’s a good possibility that announcement is being postponed-with good reason

• 53 anonymous // May 3, 2007 at 9:47 am

  There was definitely a meeting this morning! Something was discussed.

• 54 Anonymous // May 3, 2007 at 10:15 am

  Interesting. Keep us posted.

• 55 Anonymous // May 3, 2007 at 2:02 pm

  According to SACS, as long as someone has a Masters in Educational Supervision or Leadership, there is nothing they can do

  They said to call a reporter and demand that the board hold an open meeting

• 56 sara // May 3, 2007 at 3:04 pm

  Anonymous underlined has also made reference to Florida law and misrepresentation– Another angle which should be explored.
  Re: Holden’s master degree– is it in supervision or leadership?
  And what about the by-laws and the semantic game that was played?

  Hopefully, Mr. Frier is still monitoring this site and reads/acts upon post #55. SACS says we should demand that the board hold an open meeting.

• 57 anonymous // May 3, 2007 at 3:29 pm

  Standard 3.3 of SACS calls for
  a member school to follow all state statutes:

  Violation of Florida Statutue 817.567 (making false claims of academic title) thereby violates Standard 3.3 of SACS.

  Did you inform Pat Wentz that the Head of School claims title from an institution unaccredited by CHEA and therefore the US Department of Education?

  Did you also inform Pat Wentz that California Coast University was cited by the US Senate and the General Accounting Office in 2004 for providing doctorates to under -qualified, under -educated individuals ?

  Did you call the Board of Education in Topeka Kansas and ask the credentials listed for this individual?

  If you did, you would find that a doctorate is not among his credentials and the Kansas Board of Education would never accept one from a regionally unaccredited institution.

  SACS most certainly would care about a fraudulent degree since in our state, it is a
  crime.

  SACS clearly cares about academic integrity: else they would not have a standard for Institutional Integrity.

• 58 Anonymous // May 3, 2007 at 4:29 pm

  Again, they don’t care. Call Pat Wentz yourself.

• 59 anonymous // May 3, 2007 at 6:05 pm

  His master’s degree credential is a Masters in Education (School Administration) Washburn University Topeka, Kansas - 1996.

• 60 Anonymous // May 3, 2007 at 6:17 pm

  “Masters in Education (School Administration) Washburn University Topeka, Kansas - 1996.”

  Exactly. He satisfies SAC’s Requirements.

• 61 anonymous // May 3, 2007 at 6:26 pm

  Academic fraud would clearly not be ignored by SACS. Academic integrity is a value at the forefront of any reputable education institution and/or accrediting agency. This is why the Dean of Admissions of MIT resigned immediately following the revelation that her credentials were fraudulent.

  Where do you think the information about the violation of the Non Public School Standard 3.3 came from ? This information came directly from SACS. You obviously did not provide Pat Wentz with all the appropriate information.
  Of course an individual with a Master’s degree could lead a school.

  What is at issue is the character of a leader who would cut corners to claim a degree that was not diligently earned.

  Moreover, what can one say about an individual who would not only list a doctorate on a resume from an unaccredited school, but would do so and boast about a perfect 4.00 gpa from such a program?

  Each state has its own educational statutes. Not every state has a statute like 817.56, but our school is in Florida and fortunately, our state does take academic integrity and its violation very seriously.

• 62 mentalhealth // May 3, 2007 at 8:59 pm

  Pay attention, folks!

  A “degree” from a non-accredited at the time institution is never a degree, even retroactively.

  There have been huge scandals in other places about this…including Miami-Dade county (about three years ago)with teacher and principal recertification processes…people lost jobs and careers.

  There are perfectly good teachers at Hillel who have gone to through getting accredited degrees and they are now out in the competative job-hunting teaching world looking looking and looking….just to find a school that will not turn their proverbial nose up at a non-renewal of contract….

• 63 anonymous // May 7, 2007 at 9:53 am

  Tremendous, deep and incalculable damage was done here in Kansas at the HBHA to our best teachers and many of our most promising students by this former “head master”.
  AH is charming, handsome, deceptive and deeply destructive. For the sake of your children I pray that you have the courage and integrity to unite and fire him before he ruins your school, traumatizes students, teachers and parents who see what he is doing clearly.He is clever and slippery however destruction will indeed occur if you sit back and do nothing to stop him. Fire him and his sidekicks as soon as is humanly possible. This includes Mr. B, who while “very nice” is indeed merely a loyal H flunkie. My heart broke when I heard he was also heading to your school to join his good buddy. The stage is again set and the both of them are unfortunately quite effective. Like a chess game the damage is more difficult to stop when their strategies are well planned, already several moves ahead, coordinated from several directions and have been practised . Like us, you also realized what was happening after the stage was already set.
  Our best teachers begged for our help. Teachers were either continually intimidated or fired. Our children suffered deeply ( particularly those whose families were not the from the wealthiest power players to whom he cleverly catered) and many continue to suffer even after leaving the school. Parents deeply devoted to providing their children with a Jewish education were forced to withdraw their children. For many of us this decision was devastating but necessary to keep our children safe and not be stuck and helpless in a milieu of lying, intimidation,utter destruction and devastation . Parents dedicated heart,mind and soul to educating our children as clear thinking and kind human beings and Jews who would -with a good education and menchlich(decent) behavior- be able to continue our heritage , traditions, history and ethics. It is our job to teach our children . Check out the words in the Shema. Read Exodus and Deuteronomy in English (and if possible in the original Hebrew as translation is an interpretation) with your children . Read it as a family at the family table and put in full context and meaning of the words in the Shema. Pray that HaShem guide you and help you.
  We failed to do that. As a result many,yes many, of us are still suffering.
  The Board of Directors were at best either deceived or were incompetent. They created a wall and blocked any reasonable conversation . For that behavior I have no full understanding or explaination. Frankly, their behavior was inexcusable. Conjecture as you will within your particular set of circumstances. If your Board is not listening- as was the case here as well- then you also have a very serious problem.
  Unite and wake up your Board. If they are decent human beings they will meet, listen, hear and find out the truth about what happened here. They will not get the truth from our Board. They will get the truth from many highly articulate and intelligent parents and teachers most of whom withdrew their children from the school with heavy hearts. All we can do is hope that there is a greater lesson to be learned from this issue.
  I applaud your efforts and work to do this. You are a stronger healthier community because of your efforts.
  Please let us who have been witness and been personally hurt by this man’s cruelty to teachers and students help you before more damage is done. Teach your children by example to have the courage to see reality and know that bad things happen when good people do nothing. You have no time to waste. While this may be construed as Lashon Harah it would be a far greater sin to withold this information.
  We pray for the highest good for you, your children, teachers and the integrity of your school.

• 64 Avi Frier // May 7, 2007 at 9:52 pm

  At this point it’s not looking like I’m going to have a story for this week’s paper.

  It’s not uncommon that we start (or even finish) working on a story only to have it end up not going to print. Ordinarily, it is not our practice to provide any kind of public explanation as to WHY something like this has happened.

  However, many of you took the time to contact me when I said that I was looking for information. Additionally, many of you intimated that you were counting on this story to help further your cause. For these reasons, I would like to provide an explanation, and also tell you how your cause may have been furthered anyway, if only a little:

  It turns out that the Florida statute that makes it a misdemeanor for Holden to call himself ‘Dr.’ was found unconstitutional a number of years ago. I heard this initially from a Hillel board member, and confirmed it myself with the state. In other words, despite the statute, no enforceable laws are being broken.

  To write the story without that element would amount to nothing more than airing a school’s dirty laundry in the community. Such a story would probably hurt the school, and would not help your cause.

  However, there is a bigger story here, one that I will continue to follow very closely. It has to do with a small group of alumni that have mobilized a community to effect change in the school they love. You know who they are; they know who they are; there’s no need to go into further detail in this forum.

  Suffice to say that if you are able to turn your words into actions, I will have a big writing job ahead of me when I wake up on the morning of June 8. Furthermore, I plan to continue watching for any attempts to shut down this web site. Freedom of speech is something we media types take quite seriously.

  Prior to my meeting with some of the board members last week, I spoke with a number of teachers who shared with me some anecdotes that illustrate the frustration many of the teachers are currently facing. Those stories that I was able to confirm with more than one or two faculty members, I shared with the board on Friday. As promised, I did not share any names (or other indicators of who my sources were, such as gender, grade level, etc.) with the board; I simply made it clear that I had checked the facts with more than one faculty member. It was told to me later on very good authority, that the board members present were upset by what they heard, and are taking the implications of these anecdotes very seriously.

  Your stories made an impact, however big or small it may have been. I recommend that you continue to use any avenues possible to make sure the current board knows what’s bugging you and why.

  I hope I have done a satisfactory job in explaining my position. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call me at 954-987-2720 ext 18.

  Thank you, and best of luck.

  Avi

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