Gasparello produced some innovative ideas
I found the article, "Grimsley principal quits to prep new schools" (Oct. 26), to be misleading and unfair. The title implies Rob Gasparello quit as principal, leaving Grimsley inconveniently in the middle of the semester. Yet in the first paragraph, the author states that "he has been tapped to prepare the opening of two Guilford County elementary schools," implying that he was perhaps promoted.
Which is it?
In contrast to one student's comment that "digging up the school garden" is a poor choice for discipline, I find it to be a clever way to help beautify the campus rather than having students sit idly in a classroom. Successful principals, particularly those with different or innovative ideas, rarely win popularity contests.
My son graduated from Grimsley in 2006 and, while we were not always in agreement with Gasparello, we both found him in most cases to be fair. Gasparello was unique in that he worked hard to establish relationships with the students — not as their "friend," but not as their enemy either. I think Gasparello is to be commended, not vilified.
Michele Hanley
Greensboro
Comments (11)
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from News & Record at November 2, 2006
Comments
"He was the best thing to happen to that school"
Why?
Posted by: nitpicker at November 2, 2006 08:46 AM
"The article on the former principal of Grimsley, Rob Gasparello, is absurd. It was filled with a bunch of speculation. "
Welcome to the world of the News & Record.
They never let the facts get in the way of a good story.
Posted by: jcackbar at November 2, 2006 09:27 AM
Opinions are truly like rectal cavities, not only does everybody have one, but they're often rather nasty.
Often hell, generally.
I agree with Nit on this one, if you're going to dispute something it's always beneficial to submit at least some obscure iota of factual support for your assertion.
"He was the best thing to happen to that school" doesn't qualify.
Posted by: janherman at November 2, 2006 09:44 AM
There is a lot more to this story than the N&R printed. This LTE was obviously from one of Gasparello's biggest fans, and it should be taken that way.
Being aware of many of the issues, I believe the N&R did a great service by NOT going into much more detail.
Posted by: DemonDeacon at November 2, 2006 10:29 AM
hello demondeacon, are you connected to Grimsley?....i am a parent of 2 children there and one coming up...there are so many rumors swirling about the events that led up to the day where it was announced he was no longer principal, and then there are so many rumors swirling as to why it happened so abruptly on that day...there are no facts apparently out there, so what do you hear or know that can help separate fact from fiction? Go Deacs beat BC
Posted by: marksman at November 2, 2006 11:38 AM
Marksman,
No need to worry as this had been coming on for quite some time. Having attended or watched replay of school board meetings, there was a group from NCAE and even PTA from Grimsley making comments at one of the meetings not long ago.
Some elementary school principals are great principals but ONLY in elementary school situations. Some can make the leap into the lion's den of high school and some are not equipped. Grimsley will be great because of the feeders into its IB program and because of its tradition.
Without speaking out of school, I cannot say much more. But I would encourage you to stay active and to not worry about WHY in this instance. There were fans on both sides, but most of the ones in the know, felt strongly that a change was in order. It is not a bad thing.
Go DEACS!!
Posted by: DemonDeacon at November 2, 2006 01:13 PM
its way too early to claim that 'its not a bad thing'...its definitely a good thing for those, who as you say, who were 'in the know' and who worked so hard together to force him out, but if they are still just exchanging high fives instead of realizing that there was no plan in place for what comes next, then their victory is so hollow and no one really cares to see those people around now...as you wrote there are fans on both sides, so the current landscape is a school (students, teachers, parents) divided and therefore the downtown administration, in its zeal to make the abrupt and unprecedented change, has left the students, teachers, and parents to pick up the pieces...and now with the fiery loss of a high school, a solution for GHS from downtown will move further down the totem pole, but maybe the silver lining is that those who i understand were excellent administrators and staff at EGHS maybe could move right into GHS, where they are so desperately needed...in summary, as the Gasparello story has unfolded and the days have passed since his abrupt dismissal, it has evidently turned into a bad thing with a school divided, and still no plan in place to turn it into a good thing...the only good thing on the horizon is a state football championship...Go Whirlies!
Posted by: marksman at November 2, 2006 04:01 PM
Marksman,
It was not an "abrupt" dismissal except to those folks who had not been paying attention. Complaints had risen to a fever pitch and calls were not being returned etc. for quite a while. All personnel changes can be challenging, but again, Grimsley survives no matter who the Principal is. The Rhino had some good coverage on the issue, so you might want to pick up a copy. Again, this was not a "spur of the moment" decision.
Posted by: DemonDeacon at November 2, 2006 07:30 PM
The one fact that is out there is that is was a 'spur of the moment' decision which does of course then make it abrupt...done on a random weekday which had important events scheduled for even that day and that week that included him, that is more evidence of abrupt and spur of the moment...plus there was no one already selected to take his place (there still is not)...if the complaints had over time risen to a fever pitch, then obviously that makes it abrupt because then all those months/years of complaining would've given the downtown administration plenty of time to have planned a smooth transition....sorry deacon but you are incorrect on this point...powerful gso attorney folks and powerful GHS alumni in this community made sure the end was abrupt; it didnt take too many people to bring it to an abrupt end....its not what you know in gso, but who you are and who you know...and there still aint too much leverage if you are a yankee....
Posted by: marksman at November 2, 2006 07:58 PM
Well, there are two kinds of Yankees and it depends on which one you are. You see, Yankees are like hemorrhoids, if they come down and then go back, they are a blessing. If they come down and stay, they're a pain in the ass! :)
This may have seemed abrupt to you, but it was in the works for a while.
Posted by: DemonDeacon at November 2, 2006 10:14 PM
Deacon - r u M or F?...
Look I understand that these people were working hard to get him out and yes that means 'it was in the works for a while'...but this was not anyone's plan, not even these power-based gso people who took him down with their close ties to school board members....it was not theirs or anyone's plan to take him out on a random weekday and have no contingency plan in place, unless as you wrote above, their plan is 'Grimsley survives no matter who is principal'...because that is another point you are incorrect on, it is a school that is starved for strong leadership and thrives, not survives, on strong leadership, it does not just run itself, even if there is a local power-base that can take out anyone they dont care for...
and as for the possible 'good thing' of a state football championship, ultimately what took Gasparello out ABRUPTLY on that wednesday was his decision to take the players who were averaging D's and F's on their just-released progress reports off the team and back into their books...the power-base took that as the last straw...Yankee went home...
Posted by: marksman at November 2, 2006 11:39 PM
Well, this last comment is fascinating. I know nothing about Grimsley. But I recall that a very much respected (black) Principal was fired from Andrews a few years ago for allowing academic ineligibles to play varsity sports. There was a lot of controversy about whether what he did merited so harsh a punishment. I note that Andrews has had problems, and has not fielded a championship team, since then. Now you are saying that Gasparello was fired for pulling these same kids off a team. If it was right to fire the guy from Andrews, then Gasparello should not have been fired for this. Sounds like a double standard here. Not that I find it surprising, just disgusting. I'm pretty sure that the Andrews guy was not one of Grier's favorites, and that's why he got the fast ax. Did Gasparello challenge Dr. Grier's infinite wisdom?
Posted by: Concerned Parent at November 3, 2006 12:29 PM
I believe Grier would believe that Gasparello did good enough work so far with Guilford County Schools enough so to keep him employed and 'promote' him (he was not fired, he is still a GCS employee as fas as i know) to help launch 2 new elementary schools...I believe if you graded Gasparello on his tenure at Grimsley, he would not receive much more than average marks, a C or maybe a C+...he did one thing at that school that everyone agrees on and really appreciates and will miss for which he would grade an A+, that he kept it safe and sound and under control...on the rest of his reponsibilities as lead administrator though he was average or below average...he ended up consumed with keeping Grimsley operating safely and soundly and under control so that he was there 24/7, and that was not healthy and also contributed to his demise - he was fried, burnt out...another reason why his dismissal was abrupt, because he meeded to be put into a fresh and new challenge, for his own well-being...
Posted by: marksman at November 3, 2006 04:53 PM
Posted on November 5, 2006 9:20 AM
Ms. Hanley,
At least neocon, Danny and Hugh will be glad to know the true identity of Marksman. They are always cooking up conspiracy theories over the nom de plumes being used here.
Posted on November 5, 2006 12:54 PM
there is nothing even remotely fictious or theoretical in my posts, but there was a conspiracy albeit by only a handful, most (99%)GHS parents don't really connect with GHS and dont have a clue of what is happening there and most (98%)probably cant even name the principal at any time...and i have an idea of who you are demondeacon and if true, you are a deacon fan, but you work at another ACC school...i am the marksman because i am on target here, i am connected to the GHS football team so i do know of what i speak about...here's another reason why the firing was abrupt as opposed to well-planned- the vending machines Gasparello placed in the main hallway sent those who were working against him to complain as you say, in a fever pitch...
Posted on November 6, 2006 8:41 AM
Marksman, I'd guess teacher, possibly PE? Maybe tennis coach, basketball coach, etc?
Posted on November 6, 2006 9:56 AM
Just ribbin you man. I don't need to know your true identity. And if I were you, I'd keep it under wraps.
Posted on November 6, 2006 9:56 AM
"Gas" prefers the late hours in the school buildings with other...
Posted on November 7, 2006 2:27 PM
ok seeker of the truth, so you are alleging that "Gas" was "blowing off steam" on school premises way after hours?...are you alleging or seeking truth? you have just made the absolutely most vile accusation against Rob Gasparello that any human being can make and he is (maybe was, its still unclear) a Guilford County employee in the school system...so why arent you reporting what you are leading us to believe as homosexual liasions on school premises to Guilford County and the proper law enforcement officials?
personally i believe you are one who only wants to defile him just because you don't like him, as many are on that side of the line....that being said, if you are a truthseeker as your blog handle states, i recommend studying scripture...there is truth on the blogs, but there is absolute truth in the Bible...and may you be forgiven for your vile and despicable thoughts for vengeance against a man you just plain dont like...
Posted on November 7, 2006 5:49 PM
wow, truthseeker hit a nerve with marksman. Marksman, perhaps he is telling the truth, with no agenda. Perhaps the "rumor" is based in fact. Is that outside the realm of possibility? Talk to the SROs where Gasparello has worked. Talk to the teachers. Hmmmmm.
Question everything. Never assume.
Posted on November 8, 2006 9:50 AM
ok 'allknowing' and 'truthseeker' who i believe are one and the same...maybe as soon as tomorrow this thread will be gone and so will i; there are too many, several,tons more things i am compelled to know are true than if rob gasparello was having late night homosexual trysts in grimsley high school...
if there is even a morsel of truth to it, then he will not be a Guilford county Schools employee any longer, and as i wrote above, no one other than him and GCS knows if he really is still in their employ...but if i see at some point soon that he is not an employee, then i could very much believe the evilness of the words you have written here are then true- if he does go ahead and launch two new elementary schools it will be obvious that there is not a grain of truth to what you allege...
since you obviously have decided not to go public with what you know, and inform GCS so as to at least protect our children, then please do us all a favor, and because you are anonymous here, go ahead and state your evidence for the vile ugliness you seem to enjoy perpetuating....i am not going to and would not even consider taking any of my valuable time to "question everything", talk to sros and teachers; this is as much time and effort as i am interetsed in investing so tell us what you know today before the this thread is gone, something/anything that at the least proves that you know something...after today, no one really cares anymore about rob gasparello including me, so it is up to you to keep it going and keep it public, if you indeed do have a smoking gun to divulge just do it and quit jerking us all around with your overtures af the worst kind of impropriety...
Posted on November 8, 2006 2:30 PM
truthseeker, the gauntlet has been thrown...show your cards.
as for me, i have firsthand knowledge of late-night rendezvous between him and others in Greensboro in less-than-reputable areas.
please, do tell...
Posted on November 8, 2006 4:24 PM
if it was you at the rendezvous then it would be "firsthand"...so was it you? otherwise it is second or thirdhand...
define "rendezvous" ...what was it that you have "firsthand" knowledge of? do you mean you saw something? come on already be specific, quit jerking us around...
as to saying "between him and others", define others...(without naming names even if you could)....who are these 'others', give us some sense of what the hell you are alleging already...
and then define "less than reputable areas"....
why dont you just state your facts already? youre still making overtures of something that so far doesnt amount to anything so either put up or shut up already....we only have the rest of this day, clock is ticking...you havent shown any cards yet...nor has your alter ego...
Posted on November 8, 2006 4:46 PM