Principal’s organization

I am one of the biggest supporters of educators there is. My kids are told to answer yes ma’am and no sir, do exactly what they ask you to do, and have the upmost respect for your teachers (adults in general); as parents, that is the least we can do for them. Teachers are held to standards by parents and principals. Principals are held to standards by parents and superintendents. Any where a principal represents their school, shouldn’t those standards travel with them? If they are getting paid by our tax dollars, that answer is ‘without a doubt.’

Let’s have a conversation about the “Principal’s Led Organization” which does not have any ethical standards. I know more than most about this situation only because I used the Freedom of Information Act to access emails from the 2016 Executive Committee. Why did I do it? ‘Things in general’ did not seem right. At worst, I get a bunch of boring emails discussing school related information.
Unfortunately, for the student/athletes of our state, that did not occur. The information obtained from these emails are unbelievable. One email calls for a ‘truce among each other’ so that they don’t talk about one another in public; another is attempting to get a ground swell to get rid of the Executive Committee President; three or four communicate back and forth with a former commissioner asking how to fire Mr. Bonine.

Add that to the 2013 proposal that is unconstitutional and was swept under the rug. In 2016, when the LHSAA legal team told the membership and Executive Committee, the 2016 and 2013 proposals are null and void because they are ‘out of order.’ The public-school membership requested the Constitution be changed to reflect what the principals want!!

The LHSAA Constitution is in place to protect every boy and girl in our state. The LHSAA’s Mission Statement echo’s that same message. By interpreting and enforcing rules, making eligibility rulings, and promoting a high level of sportsmanship, the Executive Director also protects the student/athlete. The Executive Committee is made up of a majority principals who are elected by their peers. They can “Act for the Association on all matters during the interim of its annual meeting;” the Executive Committee can also “make special rules to effect the spirit of fair play and good sportsmanship.” They too, protect the student/athlete.

“This is a principal led organization,” but, yet why aren’t these principals held to any standards, especially ethically? This past annual convention, a group of public-school principals wasted a lot of valuable time because 1) They don’t understand the bylaws, 2) They don’t understand the powers of the Executive Committee, and 3) They admittedly do not read emails from the LHSAA. Yet, they come into the convention saying ‘there is a lack of transparency,’ and the LHSAA is doing things without allowing the membership, a principals organization, have a voice. I propose ‘if you want to call yourself a principal’s organization, then carry the same standards when dealing with the LHSAA as you do in front of your faculty.’ If Principals can’t held be accountable for the things they do and say, the student/athletes are the ones that suffer the consequences.

The truth is the action of Executive Committee in September was an attempt to correct an intentional breach of the Constitution 10 years ago. This was led by public school principals. In 2016, it was public school principals who wanted the proposals to stay out of order instead of doing the right thing. In 2020, public schools again and last week, it was again, public schools. I don’t care what proposals you put up or what you vote on but bring more character to the table when you have a concern. Pointing the finger at others when you are the one in charge of your emails is disappointing and careless. The fact principals act like the lost their sense of right and wrong is unacceptable. Be accountable. This entire rant, unfortunately, applies to a lot of the membership. To say there are none that operate with high character and integrity would not be true.

In 2016, after I received most of the FOI emails I requested, I decided to speak at the Executive Committee meeting. My request was for the Executive Committee to make decisions with integrity. Do the right thing for the student/athlete. The Committee was given an opportunity to address me. Winnfield Principal, Jane Griffin took this opportunity to say “You are saying things about me to make me look like I have done things I didn’t do. You said I emailed a former commissioner asking him how to fire Mr. Bonine, that did not happen.” I had the emails sitting right in front of me; everyone in that room knew she lied in front of God, her peers, and the media.

Is the LHSAA membership to the point that saying and doing anything you want is ‘ok’ because you believe “We are a principal’s led organization!” If you are a principal’s organization, then it’s time you start acting like it.