Goodpasture Confidential

[JohnHarris]

More than a month ago, Mr. Drake passed away. Although that event should have caused the Board to immediately meet, assess and evaluate the school's status and probably required time spanning more than one brief session, it did not do this. It did meet briefly just a few days prior to the January 8 PTO meeting.

Whatever it is that the Board has done or agreed upon, the Goodpasture community largely knows no more now following Mr. Batson's statements than it could have anticipated with no communications from the Board whatsoever.

I am enclosing a copy of Mr. Batson's January 14, 2008 letter.

Read it. Ask yourself what does it say? As a parent, alumni or faculty member at Goodpasture, what information do you really have that establishes that you can be secure in keeping your child at Goodpasture or in maintaining your employment at Goodpasture?

Did you notice who the board members are that going to be maintaining weekly oversight over the school in its leadership? Did you notice that although there are 2 board members (Hamlett and Jordan) who each have decades of academic experience, neither of them are on that committee? Instead, the weekly leadership committee is comprised of 3 board members who each have more than a decade of board service at Goodpasture. What is the significance of that? Well, these are the leaders who have led Goodpasture to where it is (and is not) now. What confidence does that instill. In me, it makes me glad we pulled out this year.

It is easy to say things. Used car salesmen and others in the "sales pitch" business perfect the technique. But actions speak louder. Competent past performance speaks louder. Look at the issues that have been raised in and surrounding Goodpasture the last two years including, but not limited to, those raised on this site. Substantially all of those issues are the responsibility of the Goodpasture Board either to establish policy or to address and resolve issues.

The history of the Goodpasture Board is one of competence that is marginal at best. Good men when assessed individually don't always make a collective good Board. The school's lowest rankings in most academic comparisons bears out that the Goodpasture Board historically and at present is not committed toward the school's primary mission - education.

[Guest]

John it really does not matter what the school does or says you just have to attack it. Your family no longer has anything to do with Goodpasture so what is your purpose in all of this. Is it revenge or hatred because you did not get your way? Grow up, move on and get a life somewhere where somebody cares. Some of us are happy here and trust that Mr. Batson and the Board will be guided to the right person to come in and continue with what Mr. Drake was trying to do with Goodpasture. We see lots of examples of the great changes that he started and that will continue but all you can do is gripe and belittle. No wonder you were not happy here and you probably will not be happy anywhere because mean people just dont fit in and never will. Instead of complaining you could take the money and time you are putting here and do something good with it. You could set an example of how to support the school not tear it down. You could be helping rather than standing in your own glory and telling everybody else what they are doing wrong. I am sorry that you are this way and hope you get some help.

[Guest]

May I paraphrase?

Dear Cash Supply

On behalf of the Diner's Club, I wish to convey our deep sadness over finding ourselves up of our armpits in the swamp. Gil put a good face on our otherwise poor choice for leader. Although he was a good Christian man (agreed by this editor) he really screwed up. But we can't come right out with that as Janet might start another uprising.

During the Christmas Holiday, the board whispered on the phone, trying to decide rather to spit or wind our collective watches. We decided to just take the phones off the hooks and lay low. It is now our desire to spoon to you anything that might keep the cash flowing into the school.

1. We will continue to make ever effort to support Janet and not pi$$ off Gil's Army.

2. For the interim period, the Dragon and her Three Stooges will continue to run GCS into the ground. Each has a specific area to fool into thinking all is well. These task include handling the PTO, keeping the cash flowing in, preparing response to SACS/SAIS/NCSA inquisitions, keeping up the charade to parents, and overseeing Martin's supply line. Three of the Board members will take all the flak as payment for their otherwise free dinners.

3. In our search for a new Scape Goat, we will hire an independent firm (which need not be capitalized unless it is a formal name) to take some heat off of the board. Even though the choice for President at David Lipscomb turned out to be a disaster, we are going to let J.D. try again to choose a prez. The entire Board will continue to get free dinners by meeting to discuss how much longer we can lead the parents and teachers down this primrose path.

I know that this is a tough time for both you parents who are asking tough questions and the board which is dodging them as best as we can. This letter is sent in the hopes that you still won't understand what we are doing and will feel too stupid to give us any trouble for a while longer. Be assured that the the Board and the Administrative Team are doing their best to keep you mushrooms in the dark while we continue to feed you manure.

We solicit your prayers and your support (but mostly your support in the form of a cash donation).

Sincerely

Frank Batson
Captian
Titanic II

[Doris]

This site has now sunk to the lowest pit.

[justme]

[Guest]

[Guest]

[JohnHarris]

Here is the last list of board members that I have based upon current information as well in the 2007-2008 student handbook.

Frank Batson (chairman)
Catherine Bennett
Eli Bennett
Dr. James Bush
J.D. Elliot
Gilbert A. Drake (now deceased)
Dr. James Gray
Steven E. Gregory
Conn Hamlett
Michael Jordan

Note: John Ezell and his brother Roy Ezell both retired prior to start of 07 school - see student handbook.

Indicators are that perhaps 2 more members will be retiring/resigning based upon prior statements and/or affiliations.

With the death of Mr. Drake, the Board has less than the number required in the school original bylaws. With the resignations of the Ezells, the board is actually 3 members short now. Replacing those 3 seats should be done in the near future but then the Board probably should have replaced the Ezells long before now.

[Guest]

Frank Batson in charge! That is part of the school's problems. Actually, I do not see a single board member that I know who should be in charge of the school.

[Guest]

[Guest]

[Guest]

[Guest]

Mr. Batson needs to leave and let the new president run the school without old baggage.

[concerned parent 1972]

After perursing this site for several days now, I have to ask myself how could any parent that presently has a child at Goodpasture actually think John Harris has a personal vendetta with anyone at the school.

I find him to be a man of integrety. At least he is not afraid to speak the truth as he knows and believe me I do not believe that John, knowing the law as he does, would slander this school or anyone. Nor do I believe he has made it his mission in life to see it go down like a sinking ship. I have not personally met Mr. Harris, but I have the upmost respect for him. He is fighting for a great cause. Our school, our children and the future of Goodpasture. I can assure you when Dr. Ruhl started this school in I believe in 1965 and if I am wrong ( the spell check police will surely get me), his projected future of this once great school was not how it is being run today.

Of course John removed is child from Goodpasture. If any of you new parents out there think his daughter would not have suffered any ramifications, I sadly assure you you'd be wrong.

I myself am ashamed to say until my children have graduated, I will not openly speak out. You see not all children can see what is going on. They are only trained /taught their parents beliefs. Therefore, there would be peer pressure as well.

Now, if we would all ban together as a family and we are a family WE CAN see a change. We can make a difference.

Please let us continue to pray. This school was founded on Christian principles and Education first. Let it not succumb by greed or power hungry people. They just might need to be reminded how their saleries are paid.

Also, Since Rick Perry is now here, do we really need Diane Sturdivant? Wasn't she hired because Gil didn't have the academic experience etc. Be that the case, her services are no longer needed. Imagine the money Goodpasture could save? The BOD could tell themselves each month that it's a tax free donation. It would be the best interest of the school he she were gone. Let's face it. Goodpasture is not that big. Just the Egos.

[Another Parent]

[85]

It has been a year since we lost Mr. Drake and that letter was sent. Reading things written during the last year here and from the school its hard to believe its the same school. The school has had some changes but not much has really changed. Sports come first and classes are there just so its a school. I have sat back and watched Mr. Perry and I like him. Comparing him to Mr. Drake you have to agree that Mr. Drake was unqualified as a leader but he was a nice man. The dragon lady is still here and I think she and Mr. Batson still run the school on the important things. Maybe Mr. Perry will not renew their contracts and he can bring in his own people to get things fixed. If all you want are sports for some of the kids and a place where spoiled children in fancy cars can buy and sell drugs and alcohol while nobody does anything about it, Goodpasture is just right. One bad apple was the old saying but Goodpasture has a lot of bad apples ruining a good place for a lot of good people.