MMSD disappears more people than that guy in Russia

Where is Jeffrey Copeland?
Where is Carleton Jenkins?
Where is the transparency?
Where is the love?

Former Madison mayor Dave Cieslewicz asks those questions this morning (well, not the last one). So should anyone concerned about Madison’s young people. Jeffrey Copeland was the principal of Sennett middle school until removed two weeks ago. He apparently left the district completely this past Monday 09-26-22. Why? That’s what parents and faculty would like to know. Sounds like he was pushed out because he was doing something right. Wouldn’t be the first time. The WI State Journal reports:

Teachers said the behavioral issues the school had been seeing in recent years, including bullying and damaging school property, nearly disappeared under Copeland’s short tenure, and some said such problems began returning after he was placed on leave.

— ‘Parents, staff question departure of Sennett middle school principal.’

A parent writes: Copeland “appeared to be ready to improve the Sennett community with strong leadership focused on improving students’ behaviors so Sennett would be a safe space to learn.”

In other words, Dr. Copeland was instilling discipline — the prerequisite to learning. Did this graduate of an historically black college run afoul by disciplining too many of the wrong kids, thereby skewing the district’s racial disparity numbers? (Sennett sits next to La Follette high school on Pflaum Road on Madison’s east side.)

We take note of a 15-year-old and his stolen .40 caliber handgun being chased through the backyards of Meadowood last Sunday 09-25-22. (The police report.) A NextDoor social media neighbor tsk-tsks us law ’n order types by demanding that we Educate These Kids instead of incarcerating them! Sounds like Jeffrey Copeland tried. You’re not going to succeed if you don’t learn responsible behavior.

The atmosphere in Sennett brought her “back to the days of (former East High principal) Milt McPike with Dr. Copeland there.” 

“Finally we have an administrator who has our backs.” 

— two Sennett teachers quoted by The Capital Times.

Cieslewicz also asks, Where is Carleton Jenkins? Two years into his tenure, it is fair to ask, WHO is Carleton Jenkins? This “community leader” is more invisible than Maynard Krebs at a job fair. (Dr. Jenkins is MMSD district superintendent, FYI.) But we also ask, where is Ali Muldrow, the school board president? The one The Capital Times says is doing such a bang-up job?

Blaska’s Bottom Line: MMSD spokesman Tim LeMonds has the toughest job in town, covering for this school board and its administration. Meanwhile, the district is busy renaming Jefferson middle school after having renamed Madison Memorial high school. If Madison schools can’t teach history at least they are at least rewriting it.

Where is the accountability?