Pasco's (mis)communication

For the second time in a month, the Pasco school district's communication office is getting some heat for miscommunication of employee policies.

Three weeks ago, communication director Maureen Moore sent principals a memo telling them to get written permission to speak to reporters. That contradicted School Board policy and was quickly rescinded.

This week, Moore distributed a memo to members of her staff stating, in part, "In the event of an emergency, you are to notify your supervisor immediately of the need to receive or make a personal call."

And like the memo on talking to reporters, this one also got yanked back by the superintendent's office for revisions because "we don't have the policies" to back it up, assistant superintendent Ruth Reilly told the Gradebook.

At least one School Board member expressed concerns about the communication department's performance. "You don't make (rules) that you cannot enforce," veteran board member Marge Whaley said.

Moore said she simply was making a "goodwill effort" to inform her staff about the expectations regarding personal calls. She described it as a work in progress.

See tomorrow's St. Petersburg Times or tampabay.com for the full story.

Comments

[patcon]

"In the event of an emergency, you are to notify your supervisor immediately of the need to receive or make a personal call."

Permission to MAKE an emergency personal call? You have an accident on the job and need to call your spouse to say you're going to the hospital but you'll be alright. But first you must notify your supervisor of the need to make a personal call. MAYBE I could see that.

Permission to RECEIVE an emergency personal call? Switchboard operator: "Hi, Maureen? You're child's on the line saying something about a suspicious car parked outside the house when she came home. Can you get permission from your supervisor so I can put the call through to you?" ... "Your supervisor said it was OK to take the call? OK, I'll connect you. ... Never mind, she hung up." NO WAY!

The word "emergency" implies a certain urgency of response. While a small handful of employees no doubt abuse "emergencies" would it not be better to deal with these employees on an individual basis?

What is the $87K+ Director of Communication thinking of? What kind of power trip is she on? Maybe SHE should be the first one to pee in a cup under the District's suspected substance abuse policy?

[pasco teacher]

I didn't go to college for 5+ years and rack up $30,000 in school loans to be treated like a McDonald's employee. Get real. If this memo crosses my mailbox I will throw a fit to the union. Enough is enough. Next they are going to have the TEACHERS checking their cell phones in at the front office. Geez.

[Mary Ann]

Let's get real. Maureen Moore is most likely attempting to put in motion a directive by the Superintendent. Ms. Moore's actual memo was just not well received. Now, the Superintendent has a scape-goat. Any guesses why the Principal at Moon Lake left, most likely she found out just how poorly run our school district is being run by our Superintendent and her under-educated Asssitant Superintendents; none of which have a doctorate. It just goes on and on... Is it November yet? I just can't wait!

[Heidi]

My daughter had a seizure last year and my husband called my cell phone as the EMTs were loading her up in the ambulance. My phone was on silent, but I heard the MISSED CALL beep and called him back immediately, as I knew it could ONLY be an emergency.

Not only did I not call my supervisor, but I grabbed my purse, quickly explained to my co-teacher that I was racing to the hospital, and I beat the ambulance there. I called the school hours later to let them know that everyone was ok, and no one was upset that I had left.

Emergencies are just that- EMERGENCIES! These policies just get weirder and weirder. Where are they coming from? Is Ms. Moore writing these herself, or is she simply the messenger?

[Heidi]

My daughter had a seizure last year and my husband called my cell phone as the EMTs were loading her up in the ambulance. My phone was on silent, but I heard the MISSED CALL beep and called him back immediately, as I knew it could ONLY be an emergency.

Not only did I not call my supervisor, but I grabbed my purse, quickly explained to my co-teacher that I was racing to the hospital, and I beat the ambulance there. I called the school hours later to let them know that everyone was ok, and no one was upset that I had left.

Emergencies are just that- EMERGENCIES! These policies just get weirder and weirder. Where are they coming from? Is Ms. Moore writing these herself, or is she simply the messenger?

[Heidi]

Oops! Double post. I just wanted to add that once everything had settled down, I made sure I used a 1/2 day of sick time for my early departure!

[Blazing Saddles (????) -ok Blazing something]

"Well that's where we go a riding into town. A whomping and a womping. Every living thing that moves within an inch of its life. "

Is it shoot first, watch the fallout and then make an executive decision?

It seems as if Ms. Moore doesn't need no stinking badges.

[steve]

And to think, the education of my two young children is the responsibility of these people in the district office. I feel so sorry for the mostly outstanding employees of our school district who have to be on the receiving end of this BS.

[Who's running the show?]

I thought Imerson was transferred from Gulf High into that communications position. Who is Maureen? How many communications directors are there any way?

[publicschoolteacher]

No, Imerson is the new supervisor of school volunteer programs.

[Sunny]

Where is the memorandum approval process here? Shouldn't there have been a superintendent/assistant superintendent approval prior to disseminating a directive that could not be substantiated? This is micromanaging at it's finest. Professional development is needed clearly, if not other measures!

[Public Ed]

Another example of the typical use of a shotgun approach to deal with a perceived problem by the District Administration. We need to remember this to the general public come November. Is anyone keeping track and documenting the inept incompetence of the Big Boss Lady?

I can't wait until the Superintendent debates!

I thought HF "handled" the situation when Ms. Moore overstepped her authority earlier this summer. Apparently that trip to the woodshed didn't make much of an impression on Ms. Moore. "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." Seems like HF just had a way to cut $87,000 from the budget handed to her on a silver platter.

[patcon]

In the more complete report written by Mr. Solochek in the Pasco section, it becomes clear that this policy was a response to the actions of a single employee. Rather than simply correcting that one employee, the response was the typical "one-size-fits-all solution" that neither fits-all nor solves anything.

[Karl]

Welcome to Florida, Ms. Moore, I hope you didn't close on your house yet.

[Ellen]

Two mistakes in a row - R Dubose and Moore both from outside the district - and one hired the other

[Whoah]

Yes, they made mistakes, but their mistakes are not because they are from outside the District. Talk about stereotyping. I guess you are going to vote for a prsident based on skin color too?

Jeff, Do you guys at SPT realize your server is slow? I know how computers/servers work so I just wanted let you to know that pages often take forever to open - if they open at all.

[get it right]

Why does everything have to be about race? The problem here is the superintendent has people govong her bad advice. I agree. HF needs to do some house cleaning of old folks and some of her hires as well.

[get it right]

OOPS.. I meant giving

[Kim]

Sonny, you wonder why an assistant superintendent didn't approve of the memo, then say it is micromanaging???
No, it is the opposite of micromanaging!

Instead, it your comment is a perfect example of someone shooting their mouth off before thinking about what they are saying.

[Kim]

To get it right:
The problem is HF trusts the people who hire their subordinates. Unfortunately, she is too busy to get involved in micromanaging who gets hired. Therefore, she totally trusts the people who do the hiring to hire the best candidates. However, we all (even Heather) know that the positions are filled long before the interview process. Here lies the problem, because these people hire their friends and not the best qualified. Then the supervisors have to help cover the mistakes up.

It is simple: hired lesser qualified people = problems for Heather. What Heather needs to do is put her foot down and question the people doing the hiring. She needs to simply ask, was this the best candidate? If so, then the District needs to readvertise. I personally know several extremely qualified people who did NOT even get an interview for various positions, and then to find the person hired was so lesser qualified and experienced in that area.

Oh, but Human Resources will help and cover it up because they should have been working with the supervisors during the hiring process, and when they don’t they will have proven they messed up again. Heather you need to clean house in HR first. It is simple: if Dubose can’t manage her dept properly, get rid of Dubose.

If Heather of Steve Donaldson read these blogs take note and do something about it.

[Mary]

There were no problems from Communications when there was no Director - maybe that is the answer -put noone in charge!

[how]

Too many chiefs and not enough Indians in this district!!!!!