To Superintendent Caulk: You’re fired!

Donald Trump has so many despicable qualities that it’s easy to overlook the thing or two about him that’s admirable. Say what you will about his imperious management style, but I, for one, respect the decisiveness with which he jettisons underlings who’ve failed to meet his exacting standards. There’s no hemming or hawing, no passive aggressiveness, and no sympathy. The message is clear, direct and irrevocable: “You’re fired!”

There’s a reason Trump’s repeated, emphatic use of that sentence on “The Apprentice” turned it into a national catchphrase. It feels good to say. It’s empowering. Try it. Everyone can do it. Even if you don’t own or manage a company, as a member of the public you have a legion of “public servants” who, at least in theory, are supposed to work for you.

Here, I’ll show you how it’s done…

“Superintendent Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Caulk, the people of Portland hired you in 2012 to oversee our school district. Your performance has been spotty, at best, as evidenced by a lack of significant progress on student achievement, a foolhardy attempt to establish an online public school run by a private corporation, and a well-documented unwillingness to directly engage with parents concerned about their children’s experience in the classroom.

“Despite all this, the school board voted last fall to extend your contract, with its very generous six-figure salary ($137,500 this year), through the summer of 2019. Now we discover that just months after we collectively renewed our commitment to you, and you ostensibly did the same for us and our children, you want to jump ship and take a better-paying superintendent position in Kentucky.

“We read in the paper last week that you’re one of two finalists for the job in the Bluegrass State, which reportedly pays between $235,000 and $255,000. If you don’t get that job, we don’t know whether you’ll try to keep the one you already have here. The Press Herald noted that the news release your office sent out announcing your intention to leave did not address that question and, typically, you ‘did not return messages seeking comment.’

Portland Public Schools Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk. BDN photo by Seth Koenig.

Portland Public Schools Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk. BDN photo by Seth Koenig.

“That reminds me of the time two years ago when I was deeply concerned about the fact your administration was giving iPads to children (including the boy whose guardian I am) without sufficient controls to ensure they cannot access pornography and other inappropriate/illegal online content without detection. You blew off calls and e-mails seeking information and comment for the story I wrote about this, instead providing a brief statement, via e-mail, that basically said it’s parents’ responsibility to handle the problem you created.

“I’m also reminded of the experience of Christine Arsenault, the parent of two students in your district (one of whom has some serious health challenges), whose frustration over your utter lack of response to her concerns prompted her to write a blistering op-ed for my publication last February. You might want to re-read (or read) Christine’s op-ed, as numerous parents in Kentucky have recently read it and have contacted her to get her take on your performance.

“School board chairperson Sarah Thompson told the daily paper she hopes you stick around even if you don’t get the job in Kentucky. I strongly suspect Thompson holds the minority view among parents and teachers in the district, because your decision to abandon your responsibilities to Portland students, parents and teachers speaks volumes about your character and values.

“It’s now abundantly clear that you value money over people — specifically, the money in your bank account over the people you’ve been hired (and, via the recent contract extension, re-hired) to serve. If we let you stick around, what’s to stop you from trying to skip town again whenever a more lucrative position becomes available? You can no longer be trusted, and whatever platitudes you mouth about how wonderful the district is and how honored you are to lead it will henceforth ring as dull and hollow as a cow bell.

“The teachers you oversee aren’t just in this for the paycheck. You know better than anyone how much they work for how little compensation. They have a genuine commitment to our children and our community. For over ten grand a month, plus bennies, I’m sure there’s an equally committed administrator somewhere in Maine who’d be thrilled to take over the job you’re trying to leave, and willing to fully fulfill and honor the contract they sign with the school board.

“So if you don’t get the job in Kentucky, we’ll spare you the trouble of trying to decide whether to stay in Portland.

“Manny, you’re fired!”

Chris Busby

About Chris Busby

Chris Busby is editor and publisher of The Bollard, a monthly magazine about Portland. He writes a weekly column for the BDN.