Updated version Jan. 29, 2010

1. Dear MSD board members,
The Office of the Auditor General has conducted a
performance audit of the Murphy Elementary
School District.

2. The District’s administrative costs were
significantly higher than costs of comparable
districts primarily due to a higher number of
administrative positions. ( June, 2003)
See full report by clicking here:

3. Ever since this audit took place, the Murphy
School District student population has
decreased by almost 500 students.

4. During his administration, Dr. Mohr did not reduce
administration costs and in the spring of 2009, he
justified his decision by blaming crime and
demographics.

5. The declined in student population is the
equivalent to a whole school.

6. Dr. Mohr has been placed on administrative leave
pending investigation. Current district administrators
have announced major cuts across the board.
Unfortunately, they have not practiced what they
preach.

7. Proof of this is that in the middle of the school year,
they replaced an instructional coach as if this was a
priority. They did not replace the PE teacher at the
same school.

8. In addition, they did not replace the 5th grade
teacher that moved up the ladder to become an
instructional coach. Talk about priorities!

9. Who will make the greatest impact on children? A
classroom teacher, a PE teacher or an Instructional
coach? The reality is that you don’t need a degree to
know the answer to this question.

10. Now, if you are wondering about the job description
of an instructional coach, this might be best
description:

11. Instructional Coach
Someone who assists school administrators. They
spend 70% of their time assisting the school
principals and 30% of their time supporting
teachers.

12. We believe the current Murphy administration is
MOHR of the same. The District’s administrative
costs are significantly higher than costs of
comparable districts.

13. Further, the pay for some administrative
positions is much higher than for comparable
positions in other districts.

14. The sad news is that the four schools have failed
to make AYP. We think is time to face the brutal
facts. Good intentions are not enough.

15. Poor management in schools translates to
underperforming schools. The children of this
community deserve an excellent education.

16. Recognizing the problem is the first step down
that long and difficult road. It’s a fallacy to
believe that the current administration will meet
the challenges we face.

17. Murphy teachers are enmeshed in a political
web, which means school reform is often not
about children, but about power.

18. Many teachers care deeply about kids; they want to
do good. But the nature of the job and the trade-off
involved are built-in roadblocks to change.

19. We believe some existing school administrators
cannot solve the problem [of low-performing
students], because they are the problem.

20. We do not dismiss the good use to which money
can be put when used wisely, but the racial gap
in academic achievement cannot be traced to
inadequate school funding.

21. The educational foundations of our society
presently being erode by a rising tide of
mediocrity that threatens our future as a Nation
and people.

22. Fundamental change in the Murphy School
District is necessary―change much more radical
than that contemplated by the most visionary of
today’s public officials.

23. Unfortunately, rules, regulations, politics, and a
culture hostile to reform all constrain those
who want change.

24. Those in charge of the current system―those
with vested interest in the status quo―have the
power to prevent fundamental change.

25. Those in charge of the current system―those
with vested interest in the status quo―have the
power to prevent fundamental change.

26. In sum, the Murphy School District has been
investing a great deal of additional money in our
public schools over the past generation, and yet
the test scores of the students attending our
increasingly well-funded schools have been
essentially flat.

27. During the last elections, Murphy Community
Voters approved merging Murphy Schools with
other school districts.

28. The voters believe this will create more
competent schools: a sense of belonging to a
wider community and a feeling of solidarity
with other Americans.

29. Through a democratic process, the voters seek
out a system that required all children, rich and
poor, to go to the same school so that they
would get an equal chance regardless of who
their parents happened to be.

30. The voters see the schools as the central and main
hope for the preservation of democratic ideals. A
good general education in the early grades is the
necessary foundation for citizenship.
Truthfully,
Your community