Lamplighter is a pretty wonderful school, from what I’m told. It’s also pretty expensive. Tuition for kindergarten runs a little over $18,000. This is the sort of place where things are handled quietly, with decorum. It is not the sort of place where you expect Headmaster Arnold Cohen to file suit against the school and two of its board members for interfering with the way he does his job.
Cohen has had the top job at Lamplighter since 2000. His petition says: “Under Dr. Cohen’s leadership, the school has achieved significant success. … Dr. Cohen has taken the school to financial stability bordering on affluence.” Cohen’s attorney is Bill Brewer. Careful readers of the filing will recognize his prose. Cohen recently fired a teacher who wasn’t up to his standards. The incoming chair of the board, Karen Pollock, interceded on the teacher’s behalf. “[I]t is small wonder that Dr. Cohen was shocked by the activities of the incoming chair of the school’s board of trustees, who has wrongfully interfered with Dr. Cohen’s administration and operation of the school,” the petition says. Classic Brewer.
My favorite part of the filing is where, to support Cohen’s decision to fire the teacher for low reading test scores, it brings up a parent survey filled out by none other than the defendant, Karen Pollack, in which she complains about her daughter’s low reading test scores. Again, classic Brewer.
Cohen claims breach of contract, tortious interference with contract, and defamation. He’s looking for attorney’s fees, unspecified damages (including punitive damages against Pollack and another board member, P. David Miller), etc., etc.
Three things about the suit: 1) many of the Lamplighter parents were unaware of its existence until a vague note went out from the school on Friday. 2) Cohen is not in this to settle and decamp. He knows full well that his next potential employer won’t be excited about a candidate who doesn’t mind suing the board. And 3) this coming school year should be interesting. Lamplighter famously has its kiddos raise chickens as part of their instruction. Perhaps it can schedule a field trip to court, too.
88 comments
Somewhere, J. Erik Jonsson isn’t amused. Especially since this note is posted by a Marksman!
Once a Board gets involved in personnel decisions at a school, there is no headmaster. Maybe the other parents at this school should start reading up on how to depose the Chairman of the Board.
This story counters my long held belief that private school problems often remain private. Could this be a sign that digging for dirt at DISD has become unproductive? I could only wish.
Anyway, I want to make a different point about this story and another a few weeks ago announcing that the headmistress at Hockaday was leaving: These private school leaders are garnering large salaries, Lamplighter $200K, Hockaday $400K.
I firmly believe that what they are paid is market driven and none of my business. But since DMN has given us the data, I offer it to those who complain that DISD administrators are overpaid. Consider the following:
Lamplighter: 465 students, 13 acres, $5M assets
Hockaday: 1,080 students, 96 acres $50M assets
DISD: 157,000 students, 20,000 employees, $79 billion assets, $1.4 billion budget, $1.3 billion bond program, > 230 buildings
Tim is not a Marksman! He went to Cistercian, I believe. I miss many, many things from my days as a parent at both Hockaday and St. Marks, but meddlesome parents is not one of them. Oh the aggravation they caused so unnecessarily. Oh how I should trace their kiddos and see how they are faring in life now that mommy is no longer there to insist that little Judy get invited to the sleep-over lest her feelings get hurt.
Oh but maybe mommy is still there?
@Wm. B. Travis: As Mrs. Evans has noted, I am not a Marksman. I will not take umbrage on the assumption that yours was an unintentional slight.
Go, Cistercian Hawks!
It’s a little alarming that a teacher would be fired for test scores at a school that values developmentally appropriate practices and no grades or tests. And how is is that, after 43 years of teaching, this 10 of those years under Dr. Cohen, this teacher no longer “meets his standards”. If the board is not there to hold the headmaster accountable, than who is? I don’t think this is meddlesome parenting. I think these are parents sticking up for unfair treatment of faculty (and, for the record, Miller is not a current Lamplighter parent).
I am ought to have noted that our own Eric Nicholson wrote about the dismissal of the teacher in “Preston Hollow People,” before the petition was filed. I’m sure he will have a follow-up in a coming edition.
If you’re interested, you will have to buy a copy.
The fired “reading teacher”, Sheila Leventhal McCartor, is a strategic asset and Icon to Lamplighter and given the monumental proportion of the mistake made by this termination, the board has an obligation to get involved in this decision. The Lamplighter community demands and deserves a voice. Read what the students and community have to say on Facebook. “Keep Mrs. McCartor at Lamplighter”.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=124245750937288
Whoa. Where is the journalistic integrity and critical thought in this report and follow up responses? Anyone think the facts might ACTUALLY be different than the claims laid out in the original petition? Not to mention the extremely low blow antic of citing information about a child! Is anyone else scratching his head wondering how such an esteemed (according to the lawsuit) head of school could allow the incorporation of that personal information in his petition? In spite of these latest developments, this is a school that has been around for 50+ years and offered a truly remarkable learning environment for the children who attend. I’m looking forward to seeing the facts come out.
Tim. Sorry ’bout that. Your assumption is correct. (Hey, there are other schools I could have mistakenly associated you with.) But I did choose the individual and the school intentionally, if the stories about said school’s founding were accurately handed down to me.
I don’t believe there is evidence that the teacher wasn’t up to his standards. This is a teacher parents wanted their child to experience. What the article failed to mention was the community uproar. Past alumni and past and current parents rallied around the teacher.
If you ask around, you might find that Dr Cohen was himself quite the bully.
Anyone think Brewer violated federal law by disclosing information about a child’s school performance? And did Cohen violate federal law by giving that information to Brewer? It’s one thing to get in a fight with the board, but it’s something entirely different to start dragging kids by name through the mud!
Word on the street is that AC has been a mental and emotional basket case for a couple of years. Hard as it is to do, trustees have an OBLIGATION to oversee the health of any organization. What has happened is the result of letting things just go along in the vague hope that they will somehow improve. A master teacher with unmatched credentials has been tragically caught up in this mess, and ultimately the trustees are to blame. No one wins here, especially the kids.
This situation is not unlike what you see at at a church or golf club. When your primary focus becomes promotion of one’s self instead of sticking to those things that developed a good reputation in the first place, these types of things can happen.
Also, who in the world has ever heard of a 25+ member Board of Trustees in a PK-4th independent school? Are you kidding me? You need committees to manage committees.
I suggest that JW and others stop hiding behind the anonymity this website provides and stop spreading muck and making unfounded claims against any party. Making such dirty claims is appalling conduct at best. I urge Tim Rogers and the publication to immediately strike such offensive comments from the site or face serious and legitimate lawsuit. It will not be a SLAPP, (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation), but a genuine attempt to protect the reputation of a private citizen or group. I have no opinion on AC or LL, but I do believe in serious protection of the individual and their reputation – whoever they are. GTS
I am not sure Tim Rodgers is qualified to utter the pronouncement “typical Brewer”. I am also not sure Karen Pollack and David Miller are qualified to run LL. It is probably useful to read the standards set forth by ISAS, the Independent School Association. The kind of meddling that Miller/Pollack have engaged in is expressly prohibited. Head of School makes personnel decisions,PERIOD. Let’s look at Miller/Pollack for a moment. Pollack is a typical uninformed and largely unskilled person, who has achieved her current position because she is rich. Private school boards are often populated by rich or socially prominent folks who know not one iota about education or human resources. Being on a fancy private school board is like being Chairman of the Cattle Baron’s Ball for the slightly more intellectual. Miller is a man who made his fortune in the auto detailing products business, a business that was started by his Dad. Try Googling “David Miller Auto Wax”. You will find Miller has a long history of suing, bullying, and intimidating Mom and Pop competitors. Miller also knows nothing about education. Miller co-opted the naive Pollack during the summer when much of the board was absent, and tried to bully Cohen. Miller’s low brow manipulation back fired. Don’t think for a second the LL Board is behind Miller/Pollack. Most are mortified, and really concerned about the damage done. Miller/Pollack needs to remember that the board is to act like guardians, not bullies.
Just as a point of clarification:
Federal law regarding student records applies to schools which receive Federal funds. Lamplighter does not.
Additionally, the information in the brief regarding student performance was a quote from the parent of the child from a school survey not her academic records.
Was it tasteless and tacky to bring a child into a legal brief? Yes. Was it illegal? Not in the slightest.
Dr. C is the one who sought publicity to further his personal cause–exacting a king’s ransom from the Lamplighter School. Dr. C cannot reasonably have expected a treasure trove of love letters from adoring fans for his effort. Moreover, he threw himself into the limelight, made himself fair game (and a public, not private, figure) when he authorized his lawyer to argue his case to the press.
Fred and Clarification, I agree with both of your points. I also wouldn’t want to be the school or administration in this case as I expect there will be a few parents looking for and probably deserving of a tuition refund.
mr cohen is the reason we left this school. mr brewer is on the wrong side of this one. parents are going to rise with many sad tales of his supervision
I failed to mention that 2 of my kids went to Lamplighter. Dr. Cohen is a consummate professional. He was always available, always interested, remarkably astute, and certainly compassionate. I’ve read “The Lawsuit” and am struck by the constant and effusive praise heaped on Dr. Cohen by the Board, particularly members of the Executive Committee, and even by the Board’s outside counsel, Mr. Krakow and his wife Leslie. Dr. Cohen had his contract renewed twice, and a 10 year Anniversary party about to be thrown by the board was canceled at the last minute just a few weeks ago. If the board was so incensed over the Ms. McCartor issue, why were they having a party? The lawsuit contains part of a letter written by the outgoing head of the board asking the entire board to support Dr. Cohen during this difficult time. What suddenly changed everyone’s mind? I don’t think anything changed the board’s mind. I think most of the board is behind Dr. Cohen. My best guess is that Miller/Pollack were so intimidating and threatening, Cohen had no choice but to retain counsel. Any insinuation that Dr. Cohen is some kind of shake down artist who is trying to unfairly plunder the assets of Lamplighter is absurd at its face. I always look to past behavior to understand the present. Does Dr. Cohen have a history of litigious behavior? Nope. How about David Miller? He has a constant and chronic history of litigation. Now let’s guess who drove this thing into the gutter. I’d vote David Miller. Cohen has the integrity and backbone to see this thing thru, not only to keep what is clearly due him, but to say no to people like Miller/Pollack who would otherwise fundamentally violate the rules of the ISAS, for their own petty reasons. I know this might sound a bit overwrought, but I’m going to say it anyway. Dr. Cohen is saying no to Miller/Pollack, and all of those like them. He is doing what is right for LL and all the other schools like LL across this nation. I believe Cohen is brave and honorable, and deserves our support.
How many board members are educators? Leave the education to the educators and the parenting to the parents. GO ARNIE!!!!
Mrs. Pollock’s daughter is going to Hockaday this fall.
Dr. Cohen is a person of uncompromising integrity who has done much to enhance LL’s reputational and education standing in his decade there. Certain meddlesome trustees –distinguished not by their educational accomplishments or intellectual capacity, but soley by their net worth — are undoing what Dr. Cohen has worked so hard to accomplish. Why? Too much time on their hands, apparently. Fred and GrandestParent have it right — having a lot more money than sense doesn’t qualify someone to second-guess personnel decisions. Given the disruption this has created, we’ve chosen not to send our remaining children to LL — at least until the iil-informed, self-absorbed and disruptive subset of trustees are no longer associated with the board.
It is my understanding that test scores for ms mcarter has been unwavering for 40+ years. If you want to get rid of a teacher of that calibre you need to do it tactfully, not last minute (in April). Arnie should have known better that to treat a beloved teacher like that. Have a year of celebration! Arnie lost a lot of funding for this stunt! I am proud of the school board for doing what was right. I did not send my kids to LL because of Arnie. He is no Pat Mattingly!
“Fred” sounds suspiciously knowledgable and involved in his assaults on Miller/Pollack and ISAS rules and practices….
I wouldn’t be surprised if it was Dr. Cohen himself joining us here.
LC also thinks Kennedy was assassinated by 16 leprechauns. LC, please comment on the issues at hand, contribute to the dialogue, and keep your personal problems to yourself.
Sheila McCartor is an amazing teacher who has been lighting up students at the school for 43 years! Her students ARE well prepared for the 5th grade at any school. Why blame the 4th grade teacher when 6 years of teachers came before her? Every student and parent who has had her as a teacher LOVES HER. If you have had her as a teacher, then you understand completely. We can all think of someone who would have benefitted from her teachings of integrity, loyalty, and selflessness.
Fred–if you think your character assassinations of Mr. Miller and Mrs. Pollock “contribute to the dialogue” you are beyond delusional.
Do you know the people you besmirch? My guess is you do, but you certainly not qualified to judge whether someone is “unskilled” or not.
Dr. Cohen should stop his publicity campaign immediately. There may be many with unclean hands in this mess; however, the Lamplighter parents, teachers and students are the only ones who are entitled to be appalled by this situation. If Dr. Cohen truly cares about the future and well being of the Lamplighter School, then he will resolve his case and move on to another phase of his career. Regardless what the true facts may have been (and I have no personal knowledge and express no opinion on that front), Dr. Cohen is now a lightning rod for rancor and dissent; he must move on. The Board of Trustees, Mrs. Pollack and Mr. Miller should also put personal feelings aside and reach a reasonable compromise with Dr. Cohen. To engage in protracted litigation is a distraction that could irrevocably damage the Lamplighter School.
The only character assassination I can see in all of this has been done by Pollack/Miller to Dr. Cohen. I am merely calling a spade a spade. I understand you see Miller/Pollack as the victims. I certainly encourage you to continue to express your opinion.
Dr. Cohen’s handling of the Sheila Leventhal McCartor termination has fueled this firestorm. Her contract was not renewed, she was given no cause and no severance. Did Dr. Cohen have the authority to do this, absolutely. His insensitivity regarding her legacy and impact on Lamplighter leaves one of two options: either he knew the backlash his decision would create and didn’t care, or he didn’t know. Arrogance and ignorance are poor qualities in a Head of School. Lamplighter is at the threshold of a major capital campaign. What chief executive, of any organization, would so callously terminate that organization’s most beloved employee without cause or explanation? I knew the founders, Ms. Murray and Ms. Swain, they were my Heads of School. Ms. Leventhal was my fourth grade teacher. My allegiance is to Lamplighter and the wonderful and amazing place envisioned by it’s founders. They knew our names, not just the net worth of our parents. If there remains a shred of honor or intregity in Dr. Cohen he will go quietly and let the school begin the journey back to the place where “A student is not a vessel to be filled, but a lamp to be lighted.”
Kyle, you nailed it. While Dr. Cohen was within his rights as Headmaster, he certainly was not showing his Lamplighter Spirit. Time to move on and focus on the kids vs. the egos of our Headmaster and Board Members.
You know “Fred?” (above)
I found out tonight he is Arnie Cohen’s brother.
I am Dr. Cohen’s Mother. “Stop picking on my little Arnie”.
Dr. C has now been terminated, perhaps something the Board should have done BEFORE it embarked on contract buy-out negotiations. Hard to say without knowing all the facts. From the outside, it appears that, before he went medieval, Dr. C’s relationship with the Board had been too cozy, leaving the school without the checks and balances that should have been in place.
Hey Robert. Be nice. The mother comment was funny though. Yes “awgeaux”, it is official, Dr. Cohen has been terminated.
Head of Lamplighter is just 1 position that needs to be filled. This Blog needs a Nurse Ratchett to supervise all the crazy people (except me of course). Keep guessing, you are getting warmer. So far we have Dr. Cohen’s brother Robert (or some other Robert), or Dr. Cohen himself, or some unnamed penetrator (a sort of Secret Agent).
This blogging is like crack, I can’t stop myself. Consider this, Little Phil walks out of homeroom and sees Bill the mean bully jack up poor little Skinny Tony, throw him against the lockers, throw him on the floor, and stomp him. Little Phil goes to the Assistant Principal and tells him what just happened. The AP says ” Little Phil, you are secretly working for Skinny Tony”. I read the suit, I know some of the folks, I hear all the chatter, this ain’t all that hard to figure out. There are certain things I don’t know are fact, however, the complete absence of any material comments that might make me think again about certain tentative conclusions, just confirms my story about this mess. Don’t think for a second that there is anything particularly mysterious or unusual about all of this. It is just run of the mill litigation I’ve seen a bunch of times. I’ve even been involved in some of it. When it is all said and done this whole thing will fade away for everyone, except those that got their butts beat on. Speculate away to your hearts content about who Fred really is. Nobody has s__t to say about anything else. To tell you the truth, I am flattered.
I find out it hard to believe that Dr. Cohen went from hero to zero in just a matter of days. Maybe he was never a hero but honestly anyone who can manage an institution for 10 years and survive an evolving and enormous board of trustees had to be doing more than a few things right along the way.
With change comes opportunity. Hopefully someone who hasn’t been involved in this mess will emerge as a new leader.
It is so hard to believe that this whole mess started over a teacher-a burnt out, mediocre teacher at that. Yes, Ms. Mc was very nice, but she wasn’t that great a teacher. My kids had her several years ago and she was okay but not worth destroying a school and a headmaster’s career over. I just don’t get it. Why start this huge mess over a teacher who probably should have retired several years ago-do they really think that she will be able to still be teaching another 10-20 years? She’s already been teaching for 43 years!
Dr. Cohen was completely within his rights to fire anyone he wanted to and the board was totally wrong to interfere with those rights. The headmaster runs the school and the board sets policy. The board has absolutely not right to tell the headmaster how to run the day to day business. In addition, the board’s actions of sending out a fabricated resignation letter forged with Dr. Cohen’s signature is outrageous! This looks like an easy case to me. His case is even better now that they terminated his contract. Fred is right, Dr. Cohen is the victim here.
When Dr. Cohen did not renew Sheila’s contract in that manner, he created a hostile environment and damaged the school. Dr. Cohen must have known his actions would be upsetting to all and yet, he had the attitude…I do not have to tell anyone why, I have the power to do this. When he sued the school and 2 valued Board Members, he further confirmed he had lost his way and he should be gone. Yes, I liked Dr. Cohen, but I love Lamplighter more. Dr. Arnold Cohen failed the school and is the worst example of leadership and loyalty to our children.
Ted, I agree with you and am amazed as well. The best run organziations of these types are managed with strong leadership.
Is is possible that the board orginially agreed to the termination of the senior teacher but got weak in the knees when Dr. Cohen executed this? My best guess is the board didn’t stand behind Dr. Cohen’s decision after offering support. Could this be why Dr. Cohen feels he has been wronged? My guess is yes.
Could anyone possibly imagine this goes beyond the teacher issue? Give the Board some credit.
BTW, the LL Board isn’t that big–have you looked at the size of the boards of other private schools in town?
I have no idea if this goes beyond the teacher issue but not one single teacher should be bigger than the system itself.
Any board with more than 10 members is too big in my opinion. Have you ever seen a successful corporation with 27 board members?
I think “Just Saying” has a great point. How could all of this happen over the Ms. McCartor issue? I heard this whole thing is really being driven by Dr. Cohen’s rumored theft of Binder Clips.
Ms. McCartotr could have departed graciously. Instead this “Perfect Teacher” helped lead Lamplighter into one of its ugliest chapter ever. I think her role in this says little negative about Dr. Cohen, and a lot negative about Shelia McCartor. Some of the Board and parents past and present have heaped inappropriate and misguided empathy on Shelia McCartor, and have shown a complete lack of respect and support for Dr. Cohen. I don’t deny Ms. McCartor’s popularity, but Cohen was not running a` Home Coming Queen Contest He was trying to give all the children the best education possible. Any executive makes unpopular choices. I guess many folks wanted a yes man. If that’s what they wanted, Cohen was the wrong man.
Ms. McCartor had nothing to do with with the passion that was created when her firing got around to the Lamplighter alumni, who know she gave all the children the best education possible.
Arnie Cohen “could have departed graciously.”
But then, “Fred” is Arnie’s brother.
My kids had Sheila-she was very pleasant and nice but her teaching skills are not that stellar. I would argue against your statement that she gave the kids the best education possible. Maybe she did 20 years ago but not lately. My kids have had much better teachers since leaving Lamplighter. The Lamplighter alumni sticking up for her apparently don’t really know what a truly great educator is. It is Sheila that needed to go quietly.
Sometimes the one you fire is better than you one you hire.
Common sense tells you that Dr. Coin has to have a lot of things in his corner in this case to put nearly all of his eggs in 1 basket.
Fred,
I think it’s time for you to end your blogging reign. Your rants have become more incoherent and vicious. It’s clear you have aset agenda and are nothing more than a mouthpiece for Dr. Cohen. Your children may have attended LL but it’s evident you don’t have the school’s best intentions. I am guessing you are hoping Texas Monthly might pull you out of oblivion and ask you to write a column for them. Although, I am not sure any editor at Texas Monthly would understand your blogs either.
Why don’t you let the parents hash this out. Go back to what you do best, baking bread.
It’s my understanding that the Board gave the Headmaster sole authority to hire & fire. Period. And now they want to go back on that? How many Board members are educators? I could easily be wrong, but I THINK Dr. Cohen has had more experience in education than any of those Board members… but maybe they have more money than him. My kids had Mrs. McCartor several years ago and yes, she was very nice, but she wasn’t a great teacher. She’s certainly not worth losing a headmaster – what one teacher is? The Board, and everyone else, needs to take the sentiment out of the issue & get a reality check. Let the Headmaster BE the headmaster. I say shame on the Board for acting the age of the students; it looks to me like they are bullying their headmaster because he made a tough and unpopular call. Hey, it’s easy to be liked when there are no tough decisions to be made. For whatever the parents are paying for tuition now, I would want the BEST teachers for my kids. If the Board wanted a “yes man”, as Fred suggests, instead of a true leader, then I guess Dr Cohen was the wrong man for the position. I applaud him. I hope he is on a beach somewhere, waiting for his attorney to tell him he’s won his case.
Good Night Fred, thank you for the kind words. Do you have anything at all to say about the issues? I understand you wish to discredit and insult me. Try saying something interesting about the real issues. I am actually hoping for “New Yorker”, but “The Journal of Abnormal Psychology” is more likely. Have a nice day.
Testerday, the front page of the New York Times has an article on Cyber-bullying. I immediately thought of my new friend “Goodnight Fred”. GF, you clearly don’t like what I have to say. Rather than discuss the issues on their merits, you are trying to bully me. This leads me to believe you are closely involved with the group trying to destroy Cohen, a group whose primary tactic has been bullying.
There are many people immensely confused, attested by aforementioned comments. As headmaster, Arnie was 100% accountable to the Board. Period. The Board hired Arnie; managed his contract(s); managed his performance. Just as a CEO of a public company is accountable to the Board, a headmaster/headmistress is accountable to the Board. Much to the dismay of Arnie, he was not omnipotent. (See Kenneth Lay, Bernie Ebbers, Richard Fuld, etc.)
The teacher in question is just not any teacher. And yes, this point is of significant importance. With 40+ years tenure at Lamplighter, Sheila holds relationships with alumni that Arnie cannot even begin to understand. Individually, Sheila has tremendous power to influence alumni, and as an independent school, donors!
The Board had (and has) every right and responsibility to question personnel decisions that will have material impact to the School.
Shame on Arnie for his behavior and, most importantly, the damage he is doing to the school and himself.
You said it dallasJAW. Hold accountable are the key words here. The Board has the ultimate responsibility to ensure that the Head of School performs ALL of his/her duties in the best interest of the school. Given a failure on the part of the Head to do so, it is the Board’s FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY to take steps to correct the situation–either by working with head directly to repair/improve any damage caused or by removing the head.
The Board needs to be held accountable. I don’t know why some folks are simply unable to grasp the REALITY that the Board is prohibited by both ISAS and probably Dr. Cohen’s contract from interfering with School Head’s personnel decisions. Why is this so hard to understand? Spouting 10th grade level generalizations about “Board Responsibility” are not relevant.
In REALITY, certain members of the Board have put the school in a dangerous position. The fact that many of you seem to be ignoring is that Dr. Cohen’s Lawsuit is a slam dunk, stone cold winner, because certain members of the board lost control, and violated ISAS Standards and probably Dr. Cohen’s Contract. Certain members of the board got the whole board, and the school, in the soup.
HoJo, you are the voice of reason here. I have been a LL parent for several years now and have never heard of this teacher. I’m sure she was and is wonderful. For what we pay in tuition I fully expect decisions to be made that have the best interests of our children at heart and as you said I will leave those types of decisions to the educators, not the sometimes biased parents (7 days a week and twice on Sundays).
Greetings! I am a former Lamplighter parent and impartial outside observer of this whole debacle. My opinion follows:
Shame on the Board!
Ultimately, the responsibility rests squarely on their shoulders to maintain and improve the continuity of the Lamplighter School. Regardless of who is at fault, by allowing this mess to end up in a public lawsuit is a colossal failure of the highest magnitude.
If the headmaster was incompetent or lax in his duties, the board should have discreetly worked out a transition plan and shown him the door appropriately. Instead, they played into his hands by allowing this affair to turn into a name-calling, he-said/she-said fiasco.
The end result is severe damage to the school community – the least of which is financial.
What a shame.
I think we all need to step back and think what Snoop Dog would say in this situation:
Whass up mah nizzles! I lizzle to rizzle monizzle for wizzle schools and thizzle suizzle thizzle. Fo Sho!
Translates to:
Hello! I like to raise money for wealthy schools and then sue them.
Scotch4me, go pour yourself another one and take your rappin rhetoric to the Old Charter or Makers Mark blog. Like others on this site you have lost sight of the most important asset here, THE CHILDREN.
Snoop say to all the homies out yonder:
Grizzle idizzle Fo Shizzle It’s eizzle aftizzle and tizzle to stizzle drizzle hizzle (plus its Frizzle to boot). Tizzle for somizzle Gizzle & Juizzle mizzle Nizzle
In other words:
Great idea, Fo Shizzle! It’s early afternoon and time to start drinking heavily (plus its Friday to boot). Time for some Gin & Juice, mah Nizzle!
I am sure that Sheila the teacher whose contract was not renewed is a lovely, kind women. However I know from being a teacher and Reading Specialist for 15 years that Arnie made a hard decision- that any other relevant Head of School would have made. If the children’s scores in her class are consistantly coming up lower than the previous year, even after his introvention he had to make the desion he did to keep Lamplighter the school it is. If he allows the academics at Lamplighter to falter out of sentimentality Lamplighter will no longer be the school of choice that wealthy parents like Karen Pollock send their children to. It will no longer be regarded with other schools with high academic standards like St. Marks, Hockaday and Greenhill. David Miller and Karen Pollock are not qualified to look at the testing and financials and make this kind of decision. No new Head of School of any kind of quality would accept Arnie’s job knowing that he was not in charge of hiring and firing and the other very unsavory details like using someone’s electronic signature without permission. This will be known in the academic community and quality candidates will not touch Lamplighter with a ten foot pole. I am very worried about my child’s upcoming year. Many people instrumental to Arnie’s firing do not have children currently attending the school, are unqualified to run a school and have also perhaps committed forgery- an illegal act.
Current Lamplighter Parent…. Thank you for your objective opinion. You ARE an educator and ARE qualified to make these types of comments. You also have a big picture view of what is happening here.
I challenge the board to listen to people like Current Lamplighter Parent as it seeks to determine what is in the best interest of the Lamplighter School going forward. I dislike the term but Current Lamplighter Parent has the “skill set” needed to move things in the right direction.
Sheila McCartor taught at lamplighter for 40 years. I was one of her many students over the last 40 years. I remember her being wonderful, kind and warm. That said, she signed a contract. I can’t imagine anywhere in that contract was an agreement were she was A) allowed to work at lamplighter as long as she pleased OR B) to be slowly phased out by being offered a new position that other teachers would not be offered. As wonderful as she was with age come certain problems: senility can be one, becoming obsolete is another. I was sad to see Sheila go, however i will be more so when Lamplighter is not able to buy its land from Hockaday due to this scandal/debacle/bs. All of us, Freds and Goodnight Freds alike, can agree, we dont want that to happen
I think everyone is sad to see Sheila go. Again, the issue is the *IMPACT* of Arnie’s hasty decision with no board consultation as to potential fiscal impact at this most tenuous of fundraising times at LL. Any headmaster has an obligation and accountability to the Board.
Arnie using “poor test scores” is a weak excuse for letting Sheila go. If you look at Lamplighter test scores for the past five years, you will see a dramatic decline that starts in second grade ERB scores, continues in 3rd grade with ERB scores, and hits a crescendo with 4th grade ISEE scores. I know this as a current Lamplighter parent and recent alumni parent. Sheila is *not* the singular reason for poor test scores. The entire literacy/verbal/English program at Lamplighter is fragmented. Ask two of the four “elite school” admission heads about Lamplighter student’s challenges with phonics/writing/reading/ and overall verbal skills and you will find the consensus is “problematic”. This is a macro problem the school must face and change immediately. Let’s hope the focus of the school can return to the children instead of this maelstrom Arnie created.
Point 29 in the counter claim disturbs me tremendously as a current Lamplighter parent. I can’t believe the School’s counsel is making this point and am completely angered that the Board of Trustees didn’t step in at this point. If I wanted this sort of excitement and crap I would send my kids down the street to the local PS 141. Am sick and tired of how some are saying Arnie “created” this mess. If any of the Board members knew the information below than they are even more so in the wrong here.
“To the extent Dr. Cohen had a “strategy” for limiting the expected controversy, it was largely to delay the announcement of the decision so as to minimize the time people would be upset before the school year ended. Dr. Cohen decided to delay all renewal/non-renewal announcements from the customary February 1 to April 1, thus limiting the time for any controversy to flame before the school year ended in late May. Senior members of the School’s administrative staff were directed to explain that the renewal date had been pushed back so that the School would have a handle on its enrollment for the next year and thus how many teachers were needed. Some staff members, however, were told that the real reason was to minimize the duration of the expected controversy over the non-renewal of Ms. McCartor.
I believe you have a very valid point and I believe that fixing the reading program is what Arnie was trying to do before the board intervened and fired him. Sheila was not the only teacher who’s contract was not renewed. She just seems to be the most beloved. She must be a beautiful soul- but children in her class had test scores that were consistantly lower than the previous year. My child’s teacher didn’t read with my child for half of the year because he was above level- until Arnie intervened. She is not returning.
My background is public school. In public school you have a Superintendant who is hired because of her experiance and knowledge in the field of education. In private schools you apparently have a board. The board appears to be chosen because they are rich and powerful and have donated a lot of money to the school. I say that not to insult you. I’m sure you are blessed with many, many gifts. My point is education is not your area or profession. This is why Arnie’s contract and the Independant School Association forbid trustees such as David Miller and Karen Polluck to intervene in personel decisions. I agree with you that there are more hard, unpopular decisions that unfortunately need to be made at Lamplighter to fix the reading program. I don’t agree that Arnie created a maelstorm however. Any relevant Head of School would have made the same decision.
dallasJaw……..Read the Lawsuit, the Board WAS consulted, and backed the move.
A board for a private school–or for any non-profit, for that matter–should be made up of individuals representing a balance of different constituents. A close look at LL’s board makeup will show that it has a balance of current parents, alumni, alumni parents, EDUCATORS, and donors. This conforms to BEST PRACTICE. As a side note, it is NOT a group solely made up of the “rich and powerful.” To critics above–the BALANCE of interests serve the school. Should you have a board made up of current parents only–the school might make short term decisions that are not appropriate for the longterm interest of the school. Of course, the same is true for a board made up only of educators, donors or alumni.
All I am JUST SAYING is that 27 members of a board is ridiculous. If the board currently has the diverse representation you mentioned that is great, it just needs to be about 1/3 the size it currently is. I have seen mentioned that other private schools around town have similar size boards as well. NUMBER 1 – LL IS A PK-4TH GRADE SCHOOL.
NUMBER 2 – THE WORST DECISION YOU CAN ALWAYS MAKE IS TO BASE YOUR DECISIONS ON WHAT THE OTHER GUYS (OTHER SCHOOLS) ARE DOING
I sometimes wonder if these boards are trying to impress themselves or “peer” institutions or are they trying to impress the ones that matter most…. the tuition paying parents and their children.
DallasJAW–I’m curious as to where you’ve received these statistics relating to ERB and ISEE scores. As a current Lamplighter teacher, I have NEVER been told that our test scores were declining nor have I been told that they were anything but excellent. Are you getting your information from admissions directors at other schools or are you getting this information from Lamplighter? I’ve heard of other admissions directors at “elite” schools telling parents that Lamplighter does not have a phonics program, but I’ve yet to see those admissions directors actually AT Lamplighter, observing our phonics and literacy programs, which are very much in tact.
“dallasJAW” and “LL Teacher”,
It is time for the Lamplighter School to set the record straight on ERB/ISEE test score and curriculum issues. Rumor and innuendo were rampant on this front well before the silly suit and petty mud-slinging began. Not surprisingly, the rumor mill now churns worse than ever. In the recent past, communication at the school has been superficial and stilted, at best. Hopefully, with Arnie gone, it will improve dramatically. The time to showcase an exponentially enhanced communication protocol is now! If the School does not straighten out this “record” soon, then I fear it will lose the war to restore its reputation, even if it ultimately wins the legal battle with Arnie.
“dallasJAW” and “LL Teacher”:
It is time for The Lamplighter School to set the record straight on the ERB/ISEE test score and curriculum issues. Even before the silly suit and petty mud-slinging began, conjecture and innuendo on those fronts were rampant. In the wake of the suit, the rumor mill churns more than ever. With Arnie gone, communication should improve. The time to showcase an enhanced communication protocol is now. If the School doesn’t clear up this confusion soon, then it could lose the war to win back its reputation and stature, even if it ultimately wins the battle with Arnie.
It is hard for me to believe that communication will improve with Arnie gone. The only reason I know anything about this whole ordeal is from reading Arnie’s lawsuit he sent in an email. I have gotten no information from the trustees – only unprofessional,defensive, crazy sounding emails that explain nothing and defame Arnie- with the schools logo no less! My husband remarked that it seemed the animals were running the zoo. Somehow I find it hard to believe that a puppet of David Miller and Karen Pollock is going to fix everything.
If the information in the lawsuit is true Arnie was doing a great job. If test scores really are problematic then the reading curriculum needs to be examined. That is the domain of Vicki Raney as Head of Curriculum.
However, if certain school board members violated Arnie’s contract and committed forgery an illegal act they certainly need to resign. I and the majority of other current parents are innocent of this.
The Lamplighter Board has an interesting legal strategy. Bob Krakow and his employer, Gibson, Dunn, and Crutcher, represent the Board. Krakow is married to Karen Pollock’s First Cousin, Leslie Krakow. This explains why Krakow showed up on the scene. Pitting Krakow against Brewer is like Little Ms. Moffit vs. Godzilla. It also has the smell (stink) of Nepotism. Krakow’s answer and counter suit was a seriously substandard piece of work. Krakow’s answer might create really serious problems for his client. The board is in a big hole and Krakow is digging it deeper. Maybe the goals of his engagement are unclear to him. Remember Bob, we are trying to help the client, not hurt them.
Karen Pollock and David Miller, the 2 that created this mess, have retained Counsel, for themselves only, that specializes in White Collar Crime. It seems the Board is already trying to distance from Pollock and Miller, who seem to have finally realized that they didn’t just make trouble, but might themselves be in a heap of trouble. What goes around comes around.
Arnie,, I mean “Fred”, stop your scandalous slander campaign. It is beneath you. This case will be tried in court, you will gain no economic benefit from these smear tactics.
Beacon, another Grandiose self-named Sleuth, and in reality, neither a Beacon, nor a Sleuth. Please address the issues…..Whoops, maybe you can’t address the issues. And by the way, talk about an underhanded smear. “In it for the money”. Just let yourself imagine for a second that there might be some issues of principle that are driving this whole thing. If Cohen is such a money hungry man, why in God’s name would he be in education to begin with? Beacon, where did you come up with that name? Self important, and nothing to say.
I respect Sheila- who I don’t know but I’m sure is a beautiful soul that blessed many, many lives of precious children. She did an honorable, hard job and should hold her head high. I respect all the people that love her. Your love for her is a beautiful really sacred thing.I respect the trustees and their love for her. I cannot respect the trustees actions however. They had a sacred trust to represent and be a servant of the current children of Lamplighter school. This they have not done. They have put their love for Sheila over the best interests of the children.
Arnie is not a bad man. Any head of school whether it be Hockaday, St. Marks, Greenhill- would have balked at being forced make up a job and pay a six figuire salary for a teacher who needed to leave the classroom because of problematic test scores. My prayer is that you put yourself in Arnie’s shoes. His goal was not to hurt Sheila. It was to best represent the children in his care.
I agree with the points above. It is sad that Lamplighter would ruin a good man’s name, and create fear and financial concerns for Cohen,who has done so much for Lamplighter. Might it be that Cohen had no choice but to sue? Why the Board doesn’t give him his due, and let everyone go down the road, is hard to understand. Is the goal to ruin Cohen? For God’s sake why? Who is driving this cruel process? Cohen’s treatment is just down right mean, in fact, worse than mean. Is Miller also in charge of the legal strategy?
By the way, where are the good people on the Board. Is there not a single member of the Board who will stand up, and say enough is enough. Someone must be opposed to Cohen’s treatment.
I just learned of Mrs. Leventhal’s firing and I’m more than saddened and exasperated to hear of this. I haven’t called the school, so I don’t know the current situation concerning her job. I have boasted throughout the years to friends and family that I once upon a time had a favorite teacher whose name was Sheila Leventhal, when asked. She was the most kindhearted teacher who brought to life The Chronicles of Narnia and other works during my senior year at Lamplighter. The treatment of who is now Mrs. Leventhal Mccartor sounds ridiculous and it infuriates me that headmaster would treat one of the all round best teachers in the history of the school in such a manner.
I think Lamplighter has wonderful teachers and pray that some good will come of this whole situation. I think there are good people on both sides of the debate. I was mistaken in thinking that the teacher my child had last year didn’t have her contract renewed. She’s a lovely person and I wish her well.
P.S. Considering that love for two wonderful people – Arnie and Sheila and also the school is basically what has fueled such passions on both sides it makes me hopeful for a resolution. None of the people involved that I have encountered are bad people – quite the opposite. No one can feel such a love for another person or school and be all bad! Since what is done is done I am hopeful for a settlement that is satisfactory to all parties.
Certain substantial pledges have been withdrawn since Cohen was fired. If I am not mistaken, Ms. McCartor is busily working away in the Development Office raising money. Is Ms McCartor raising any meaningful dollars?
I know someone that went to a “Fundraising” dinner in part hosted by Ms. McCartor. My friend reports Ms. McCartot seemed to think the dinner was not for fundraising, but was instead a dinner whose primary purpose was a tribute to Ms. McCartor.
As the months roll on, just what have Miller/Pollock achieved? Seems like lots of destruction, loss of pledges, ruined the name of a good man who has done so much for Lamplighter, and for what? You got me. Finally, Ihear it’s pretty easy to get in to Lamplighter these days. Inalso hear a meaningful number of familes are fleeing.
Again, I ask, has no one the gumption to stand up to Miller and Pollock? How can the Board allow this to go on? Miller/Pollock should be fired, Mc Cartor should go, and Cohen should be rehired. My guess is you won’t find a better head around. You might have a hard time finding a Head period. The fact that Miller is still allowed in the building is amazing. Pollock just did what Miller said. It is a shame someone so passive and lacking in both leadership skills and just common sense ended up where she did.
Miller’s history is to bleed people he opposes. He’ll try to force Cohen into financial ruin. All you fine Board Members who are supporting this travesty better hope this ugly and cynical method of Miller’s works. If this thing is ever tried on its merits, the magnitude of damages plus punitive damages will be a shockingly big number, and remember, Lamplighter pays ALL attorney’s fees.
What are you people thinking?
Wow! As an outsider reading all this,I am appalled. Is anyone thinking about the school’s mission and the children?
So the case has settled out of court, Dr Cohen has taken a position as Headmaster at a school in Anchorage, and Lamplighter is fumbling around looking for a suitable Head. They should also be looking for a SUITABLE and objective Board Chair.
I worked at the lamplighter and the best folks are always treated poorly there. I believe if you look at 2 sisters there it is easy to see where the problems lie yes lie. I am not surprised Arnie has issues there as all men employed there do for some unknown reasons. Anyone can see this place can be very private with directed decisions the board deems necessary. Maybe a shake up in their board and employee’s will be just what this school needs to remain a great place for the kids and future leaders their parents are . This school can be replaced but I think we all just need a change from the top down and stay away from the productive employee’s that work there and love what they do. This can be a great place once again with the right strategic moves. Don’t give up it IS obtainable!
Sincerely,
They know who
Well guess what this guy is in Alaska now at Pacific Northern Academy in Anchorage and has let go several people already. Arnie Cohen as stated by his office Manager is a dick. His attitude is very bad. Alaska is better off without Arnie Cohen.