Baldrige Award: Did We Win It Or Was It Purchased?

This letter is in response to Saturday’s update from Dr. Holliday. Are questions from stakeholders now considered criticism or are they indeed a necessary part of the process and welcomed as a quality component of Performance Excellence? How much money has Iredell Statesville Schools spent on Baldrige materials, training, personnel, and paper for the purpose of data collection since Dr. Holliday’s arrival? Does anyone outside the school system realize that the Chief Quality Officer and Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources are listed as Baldrige examiners? What training is necessary for the title of Examiner or Judge with the Baldrige Organization, when did it occur, and what was the expense to Iredell Statesville Schools? Isn’t it interesting that the current Associate Superintendent of Learning, Executive Director Leadership Academy, and the Executive Director of Elementary Education (as his title is listed on the ISS website organizational chart) or the Executive Director of Professional Development (as his title is listed on the agenda for The Quest for Excellence Baldrige conference) were all associated with Baldrige or Jim Shipley Associates prior to their employment with Iredell Statesville Schools? When were these positions created? The combined salaries for these three positions for Iredell Statesville Schools in 2008 were over $300,000. One must remember salary information often does not include funds for housing, car allowances, professional development, etc. All of which causes me to wonder did we win the Baldrige Award or purchase it with good Iredell taxpayer money? Who are the fifty spectators accompanying Dr. Holliday toWashington to accept his award? How many administrators will be attending? What is the cost of this trip and all the other conferences our administration has attended just this school year to Iredell Statesville Schools and subsequently, taxpayers?

Lest my feedback be interpreted as all deltas (ISS employees, you know what I mean), I applaud the many positives associated with Iredell-Statesville Schools, beginning with the students, all of them with their unique needs and learning styles that have created the demand for teachers, staff, and the buildings themselves. There are many dedicated, kind, and caring educators in this system. Their missions to their students are not posted on the walls of classrooms but are found in their hearts. They are the ones who understand that students have lessons to provide as well. The churches and community partners who support the schools with volunteers and provide cards, meals and inspiration for staff are truly a blessing. Additionally, the improvements in facilities should be noted and celebrated.

And finally, if this letter assigns me the label of critic by the administration of Iredell Statesville Schools, I will consider myself to be in the good company of other IredellCounty citizens who understand education doesn’t exist without questions, answers, and accountability.

This post written by Renee Dulin