OZARK, MO— The Christian County Trumpet was honored to have an exclusive interview with the Ozark School Board President this morning.
A LOOSE PARAPHRASE, NOT AN EXACT REPLAY:
CCT: Thanks for taking our call, Madame Board President! (Awkward attempt at small talk and flattery)
President: You may call me Sarah.
CCT: Thank you, Madame Board President.
President: Ohhh Kaayyy…
CCT: So, tell us, why didn’t you guys have a hearing for Major Danny Cazier before he resigned his position as JROTC Coach at Ozark High School in Ozark, Missouri, USA?
President: We were looking forward to the hearing. He had an attorney. The school board cannot know certain information until we know if there will be a hearing. Next thing we know, POOF! he resigned. We didn’t get to hear him during the hearing which we would have. We did see the file and saw things that had been presented that was black and white. (Meaning we saw stuff in his file that Dr. Bauman, the Tyrannical Superintendent wanted us to see and misinterpret without Major Danny boy…)
CCT: Major Danny told us he wasn’t allowed to see what his file looked like, so since he claims he was lied about, he wasn’t comfortable releasing a file without knowing what was in it. He was told by Dr. Carson he would be fired for any reason, because he was on the NAUGHTY LIST, so he resigned.
President: We saw with our own two eyes what he presented to the class. He was asked to stop, and he wouldn’t. WHY DID HE RESIGN INSTEAD OF LETTING HIS STORY BE KNOWN TO THE BOARD? HE COULD HAVE SAID WHAT HE CLAIMED WAS FALSE!
CCT: His resignation letter was effective June 30. He definitely wanted to have a hearing all along. WHY WAS THERE SUCH A LONG DELAY within the first 60 days of disciplinary action? AND WHY ARE WE SPEAKING IN ALL CAPS?
President: WE WANTED TO… sorry, we wanted to expedite the hearing but next thing we knew there was a resignation. POOOOF!!! He GONE!
CCT: His resignation letter was March 2, but his resignation letter said it was EFFECTIVE JUNE 30 NOT MARCH 2. He could have had a hearing in MARCH! (ALL CAPS AGAIN, CAN’T CONTROL MYSELF)
President: I don’t know why we didn’t hear from his attorney. There would have been a hearing within the number of days allowed by state statute.
CCT: If he wanted a hearing, he would have had a hearing, right?
President: I don’t know why he didn’t want a hearing.
CCT: He did.
Pres: Not.
CCT: Did.
Pres: Not!
CCT: DID!
CCT: Okay, let’s step back… (puts away the dueling sword) Madame Presidente, Maj. Cazier is one of 50, I repeat, fifty teachers who feel they are not treated fairly by administration. Whaddaya hafta say bout that, huh? (dancing around with fists doubled up in mock fight mode)
Pres: Uh, well, um, we all put our phone numbers and e-mails out there for contact by teachers. Five or six of them contacted me.
CCT: (Wonders if they got anywhere, cause this interview isn’t going anywhere)
CCT: Major Cazier says it is absolutely false to say that he didn’t want a hearing. He asked repeatedly for a hearing. The superintendent accused Cazier of misreading policy.
Bzzt! WRONG.
The Super then said the reason he was delaying the hearing was because the school was waiting for the Army to reply. Cazier called the Army. Nope again. Then super said it could take up to 180 days.
Why??? Why??? Why???
He wanted to hear from them before his resignation was finalized! He begged for it…
President: I’d be glad to pass that along to our attorney, but we’ve already gone over it.
(Is it possible to see an eye roll on the phone?)
CCT: Major Danny said if you had access to the TRUTH, you wouldn’t have pushed this aside (under the malicious dishonesty of the tyrannical board)!
Pres: (recording or real voice, can’t tell) I wish he’d been available for a hearing and hadn’t resigned so suddenly.
CCT: (Perhaps he was bullied into resigning?)
Pres: Blah Blah Blah
CCT: Blah blah blah back atcha
CCT: I’m embarrassed by Dr. Bauman when he berated Christina Tonsing in a recording of one of the school board meetings. Shame on him! I’m shaking my head in dismay. And he’s even an Evangel graduate (like me)… FOR SHAME!
Pres: He was afraid Christina was going to bring a teacher’s name into the open discussion. He was protecting people.
CCT: It looks like you’re catering to an administration. My opinion is you aren’t doing your job very well.
Pres: State Law prohibits us from knowing everything until a hearing. What we saw from his presentation in class was black and white and we all agreed he should not be allowed to continue.
(This is the problem. It wasn’t black and white. It was a made up story…perhaps…a story in black and white…)
CCT: Please meet with Major Danny…
Pres: We can’t. We have to play by the rules, you know that, you pesky journalist!
CCT: I am pesky. I agree.
CCT: Would Major Danny’s attorney meet with the school attorney?
Pres: Good question.
CCT: Well, the reports from concerned parents’ groups and the way you and the administration handle it looks dysfunctional. I would say you are passing problems along and not addressing them or satisfying their concerns. This is the tip of the iceberg. Major Cazier had 13 questions in writing that you saw and ignored from an email he sent you on May 10. Shame on you! BOO!
Pres: (for sure sounds like a broken recording now) We were hoping we could have the hearing. As far as concerned parents’ group, I have only been in contact with one or two in the group, so it’s hard to know details of what they want. We don’t know who they are.
CCT: One concerned parent, Christina Tonsing, has been trying to get through to you, but you don’t respond.
Pres: Au Contrare, Mister Trumpet, We spent a lot of time talking with her.
CCT: Last night you weren’t honest with her at the board meeting. You said their topic would be addressed later in the meeting, and then you pretended you never said that.
Pres: Our meetings are business meetings and we arranged for a certain Ms. Hill to speak. Ms. Tonsing wanted to speak under that same agenda item, which is great. But it’s up to each individual board member to discuss… (voice trails off, because she’s forgotten how to dodge the issue)
CCT: (assuming random hillbilly accent) What ’bout them teachers afeared ta speak up?
Pres: If teachers are unhappy, they need to reach out to us.
OK, class, here’s how you get your problems addressed to the school board president:
sarahadamsorr@yahoo.com
phone: 417-766-7447
Pres: (Board member) Shane Nelson also gave out his number at the meeting last night.
CCT: You appear to act like Dr. Bauman runs the show. Why don’t you do your own leading?
Pres: The Superintendent is the CEO of the school district. We run the meetings along with the administration, but they are the experts. We’re just volunteers. (SO DON’T BLAME US, RIGHT???)
CCT: It is odd to have political elected positions for volunteers.
Pres: Indeed.
CCT: Odd is what I am, too.
Pres: Indeed.
CCT: You aren’t gonna say anything helpful or useful about this problem, are you?
Pres: Indeed!
CCT: Indeed, indeed!
NOTE: I had fun and took obvious liberties writing this. I am a long time friend of Sarah Orr. (Which she may not agree if she reads this!) Anyway, I mean her no disrespect. But, it appears the board will pretend to not be able to help Major Danny.
You, the Christian County voters and taxpayers, have been informed! Stay involved!
CCT will keep you posted… PLEASE WRITE to us if you have ideas for articles… ChristianCountyTrumpet@gmail.com
2 responses to “Ozark School Board President Opens Up to Christian County Trumpet”
I know this is a satire site, and the author says he had fun and took liberties with this, but it portrays soooo accurately JUST what we parents have been experiencing for the last EIGHT MONTHS in trying to deal with this issue!!
The board could STILL have his hearing, if they wanted!
President Sarah Adams Orr:
Your volunteer position involves more than “trusting the experts!” You are in the know on the issues, but are not stepping up and addressing tyranny in the Ozark School District.
The Importance of Local Governance in Public Schools
There are six key reasons why local governance is the best way to advance public education:
Education is not a line item in a school board’s budget—it is the only item.
The school board represents the community’s voice in public education, providing citizen governance and knowledge of the community’s resources and needs, and board members are the policy-makers closest to the student.
The school board sets the standard for achievement in the school district, incorporating the community’s view of what students should know and be able to accomplish at each grade level.
The school board is accessible to everyone in the community and is accountable for the performance of the schools in the district.
It is the community member’s right as a voter to select new board members who will work diligently to provide an opportunity for students to receive a high-quality education, which will enable them to succeed in their career, college, and life.
The school board is the community’s education watchdog, ensuring that taxpayers get the most for their tax dollars.