⇒ READ MORE
After my interview with the board I was thinking about what might improve the performance of our school board. As a result of that reflection I wrote them :
____________________________________
We did not get a chance to discuss this much during the interview, but I have been selected many times to work with internally conflicted groups to bring both sides together to do what makes sense. Two examples:
-The methanol project in the New Orleans area was one where our joint venture partner put up 100% of the $110 million dollars (probably well over $250 MM today) for a 70% take of the product and I was part of the company that operated the plant for a 30% stake. I managed the process safety review of the plant and successfully closed all the recommendations that were generated. This was a difficult task as many of the recommendations required more capital to make operations safer of more efficient. Time and money were both critical, but we got the job done!
-When I was Operations Manger in the late 1990's we closed the oldest plant in the company. The union local was regarded as the most militant in the corporation. We gave the union workers almost two years notice of the shutdown and had exceptional safety and environmental performance, product quality, and set production records. We shut down ahead of schedule and well under budget. This was accomplished through constant open communication and demonstrated respect for the workers.
I know I have the skills to help folks on different sides of an issue see what they have in common. In light of your continuing struggles, I would urge you to consider selecting me. I do not believe that I have many detractors, and I believe that I would be seen as solid choice that is intelligent, independent, an excellent listener, and someone that may be able to find common ground for a solution.
____________________________________
There are some other things I did not get to in my interview, and did not address to the board:
I have been a deck parent for the DV Water Moccasins for the past 6 years and plan to continue for another 4 as long as my youngest keeps swimming (and Coach Z doesn't toss me in the pool.)
I am proud of the quality of the experience that engineering cooperative students encountered as part of my engineering group, wherever I have worked. I am continually delighted at seeing students excited about learning in a work environment.
I got a little moist-eyed when I attended the wedding of a wonderfully talented engineer (with an MBA from Villanova) who worked for me as a production superintendent. When he introduced me to his father at the wedding, he said, Dad, I'd like you to meet my mentor, Bill Greenlaw. I have mentored a number of young engineers over my career, but I never thought that I was mentoring that very capable young man. I was humbled to think that I made a difference in his life.
As drugs and alcohol are recurrent subjects at DV, let me relate an experience of mine. I once was in a position to fire an 18 year employee for absenteeism. He had a seventeen year history of working up to the threshold of being fired for absenteeism each year for seventeen straight years. We finally had a case that would hold through arbitration. But I was troubled that no one had addressed his real problem; he had a problem with binge drinking. At a meeting with the union, against the advice of the personnel manager, who said the union would never go along with my solution, I addressed the issue. I said to the employee, "I know you want to come to work and have a good attendance record. I also know that you have not been able to do it alone. I am going to suggest that you need help with whatever is preventing you from making it to work." After some more discussion, the union, in an unprecedented move, joined with us to allow this employee to seek counseling and attend a weekly program to help with his problem under a "last chance" agreement. That plant went through some downsizing, and I transferred out of that plant. Then, after more than three years in New Orleans, where my oldest two children were born, I transferred back. That particular employee had been layed off three years prior to my return, but he was still sober, and still glad that he had addressed his problem. I treasured the Syracuse University coffee mug that he gave me after his disciplinary hearing. His niece was a freshman, and on a visit, he picked up a mug for me. That was more than 14 years ago, and I will never forget his gesture.
We need board members that will follow the law, the rules the board sets, and change the rules in a transparent process when they do not meet the needs of the district.
I believe that we need to post video files of the board's meetings on the district website. (We already transmit the signal to two other district sites each meeting, recording the meetings and posting them is an easy task.) I know, as a single parent, it is difficult to get to each board meeting. I also know that transparency leads to better government. We need board members that realize that transparency is good. That plant shutdown taught me that lesson. The better the communication, the better the result.
The DVSD school board has the luxury of choosing from some great candidates. We each bring something unique to the board. Above this, I believe that through Ryan's site, and with the help of the usual active community members, this has been a healthy process for the district and the board. I have been a proponent of continuous improvement my entire career. No matter how good you are you can always improve. Identifying the problem is the start of every solution.
I am absolutely certain the Delaware Valley School District, and our school board, will continue to improve!
Bill Greenlaw
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment