“Unresponsive.” “Distant.” “Unconcerned.”These are just a few of the words that FAMU Developmental Research School (DRS) stakeholders use to describe their top K-12 administrator. It’s hard to find many students, teachers, or parents who have anything good to say about Superintendent Ronald Holmes.
DRS mothers and fathers complain that Holmes is disconnected from the school community and has not worked to develop a strong relationship with the Parent-Teacher Organization. Similar views are commonly expressed among members of the School Advisory Council.
Teachers blame Holmes for not heeding their suggestions to help DRS maintain the progress that improved the school’s Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) grade from an “F” in 2007 to a “C” in 2008. DRS dropped to a “D” in 2009.
Faculty members are also struggling within an atmosphere of fear following a series of highly publicized scares concerning their employment. Back in December, Holmes told nine faculty members that he would not renew their contracts the next month. He explained that the layoffs were necessary because his projected enrollment numbers fell short by 56 students. The jobs were ultimately saved by FAMU’s Division of Academic Affairs.
DRS suffered another employment-related media snafu in June after word spread that Holmes planned to lay off 35 teachers. Holmes had written 35 “visiting” faculty members to tell them that their contracts were about to expire. After a public outcry, FAMU released a press release stating that Holmes was going to send another letter to the 35 visiting faculty members encouraging them to reapply for their positions.
There are also concerns about school safety now that word has spread that the DRS administration has attempted to boost enrollment by admitting students who were expelled from the Leon County School System due to behavioral problems.
These issues are taking a heavy toll on teacher morale as DRS prepares to administer the FACT to its students this month.
Frustrated DRS stakeholders who’ve approached Holmes say he often dismisses their criticism as if he’s “untouchable” and knows he won’t be held accountable by any one. Holmes is the brother FAMU Trustee R.B. Holmes.
So why is he not gone? What is the problem with releasing someone that is not producing the desired results?
ReplyDeleteRattler Nation,
ReplyDeleteWhile I appreciate your efforts to hightlight the problems and concerns re: DRS, I really think you owe it to your readers to cite or at the very minimum reference sources that substantiate your generalizations. You suggest that there's widespread low morale among faculty and staff and that most parents are displeased with the current administration. Please reference the poll(s) that were taken to document this malcontent. If there aren't any polls, cite some type of source besides the broad reference to sources you have spoken with.
If we are giving suggestions, then how bout RN do some old school work and get to the bottom of it all by starting with the Good Dr Rev. and the HORRIBLE College of Education! I'm just saying that would help. In addition, if the parents and teachers and students are so upset then they should stand up or shut up. As far as expelled students, DRS should be the school that takes them. Do you know the vast majority are Black Males that are expelled and usually for nothing!
ReplyDelete9:10...Are you frickin kidding me? A poll...what the...??? One would believe that you are directly affiliated with the
ReplyDelete"clueless" Ronald Holmes based on your post. In fact, is this actually you writing asking this ridiculous-ness?? I am an Alumni of FAMU DRS and have been involved with the school directly in a few capacities and YES I, along with many others, know first hand that the faculty and STUDENT morale is at its lowest. You can't actually be that ignorant of the facts...he/you are so out of touch that you only see what's on the surface. Mrs. Rivers is no better. The students complain about her as well...take her with you/him. Good grief!!
9:59 Trust and believe that the parents and alumni are working hand-in-hand to get some solutions. Firs on the agenda, replace Dr. Holmes and his staff! Next search for someone who genuinely have FAMU DRS in its best interest and wants them to succeed.
ReplyDelete10:09 you're upset with the wrong people. Have you written anyone with perview of DRS? Don't villify 9:10 and 9:10 and 9:59 have very valid points. And NOW, it can be said that you are late to respond to the issues at DRS, alumni or not. What matters most is that you/we have concerns that need immediate response.Wholistic and comprehensive plans can become reality at DRS if we want it too. And if we send our children there.
ReplyDelete10:09 AM,
ReplyDeleteI can assure you that I’m not affiliated with Holmes or any other administrator, faculty, staff member at DRS. As an alum of the University, I often read Rattler Nation to keep abreast of what’s happening on campus. As a reader, I’d appreciate such references whenever an author makes the kind of generalizations he (or she) is making in commentary.
Respectfully,
9:10 AM
Dr. Ammons, Dr. Hughe-Harris and the Board of Trustees are asleep at the switch on this one and the train is 'bout to crash.
ReplyDeleteDaryl Parks, isn't this school in your neighborhood?
Some of you are getting a little wrapped around the axle. This is a blog, not a newspaper. Investigating? Polls?? If there is any of that, consider it gravy. Great information for one to ponder, but not to rely on as the gospel.
ReplyDeleteWOW! TWO COMMENTS REMOVED I WANT TO KNWO WHY? THE POSTER HAD SAID 4 PEOPLE WERE TO BLAME 1) AMMONS 2) PROVOST 3)DEAN OF COLLEGE OF ED 4) 83 YEAR OLD WOMAN WHO GOES TO DRS AND TELLS THEM WHO THEY CAN AND CAN NOT TALK TO! ALL FAIR GAME AND YET RN REMOVES THE POST! AND THE SECOND POST ASKED THE FIRST POST WHO WAS THE 83 YEAR OLD? WHY WERE THEY REMOVED? THIS IS NOT RN THIS RATTLER SPIN!
ReplyDeleteJob performance criticism is fair game. However, the first post you referred to was removed because it included attacks of a personal nature against one of the individuals who was named. The other post was removed because without the first, there was no context for the question.
ReplyDeleteand that is what moderators are for, 9:14. No censorship here.
ReplyDeleteScore one for Big Rattler!!!!!
Meanwhile, 9:14 get back to work, those kids need you to be effective in spite of the circumstances
At some point, we have to throw the towel in on FAMU DRS. We cannot allow this underachieving school to drain the university's resources. At one time, FAMU DRS was a feeder school to FAMU. Now, they send their most talented athletes to white colleges and still want us to leach off of FAMU. Enough's enough.
ReplyDeleteHistory tells us that at FAMU, we expect our administrator to make lemonade out of rotten lemons, and when the lemonade is too bitter we are quick to criticize. On the other hand, when these same administrators ask for our help in planting a new lemon garden, many of us sit back and watch them plow the field, plant the seed, water the crops and then when the harvest comes are quick to say---That’s FAMU’s/OUR lemon field. In the words of the President of the United States, it is not only his time, it’s OUR time.
ReplyDeleteMost of us do not follow the political process close enough to determine what the impact on FAMU will be.
Alumni many times take their position on various issues from the leadership. If the university governmental affairs people do not educate the FAMU community as to how certain policies will impact the university then how can we take certain stands?
That is the university's job to inform us as to these practices and how best we can impact the process. You do not want alumni interfering inappropriatey either.
One of the biggest problems at FAMU is a really good communication venue about issues. Sure we get the press releases, but that does not really focus on the day-to-day operations of the university. Our alumni association is in such a poor state that you cannot call on them to help inform the populace regarding impact.
Where are the new ideas for FAMU? What does FAMU do with these new ideas? I have heard several ideas mentioned on this blog. How many have been implemented?
What we SHOULD truly be doing is holding town hall meetings, forms, chats, blogs, etc., on how to increase revenue, either via more research dollars, corporate donors, and alumni giving. We all have the opportunity to be great for our University, will we answer the call and stand by and serve a commentators?
9:10 has a point. otherwise people who can and WILL help will respond as if its gossip opposed to a crisis. Smartie, your outrage can be used for good rather than dismissed. Firing and hiring is but a revolving door. We need a scalpel not a machette, so we must have as much detail as possible. Take pics and video testimony. Evidence please? That is how those of us who aren't in Leon may know where we are in the battle and what we EACH can do.
ReplyDeleteBring kids who are discipline problems in Leon County schools to DRS is definitely NOT the answer. Those kids are kick out for a reason, and it's not just because they are black males. DRS does not need those discipline problems.
ReplyDeleteDRS does not need to lower its standards just for numbers, if they do, they will be an F school again.
If the university would support the school and put funds in it to pay quality teachers, they could attract the better students. Just like Florida High, and the University of Florida's schools.
Having 3 administrators for less than 600 students with those salaries is ridiculous. Put some of that money into teacher salaries, and resources.