I smell fish

Curmudgeon caught a whiff of something that smells a bit like fish.

Fish should smell good, like the ocean, salty, briny. But not the stinky, I’ve-been-laying-out-in-the-

sun-on-the-deck smell.

Something smells like fish, namely the “retirement” of Head Football Coach “slash” Athletic Director Jack Welch after 24 years.

Curmudgeon never promised anyone, dear readers, that Curmudgeon would not segue over to CCISD and the “powers that be” over there, but I couldn’t help it. Just this once. Maybe just once.'Cause it smells like fish.

What an eventful month it has been over at the district.

Tell me, O Wise Ones, who gets to “quit” or “resign” from a job with three years left on a contract and get $80,000?

Now, most teachers are year-to-year contracts so Mr. Welch’s contract was a bit different, being an administrator.

But still…. Who gets to “quit” or “resign” from a job and get thousands upon thousands of dollars to leave?

Research contracts and buyouts and you will see it’s if someone is fired from their job.

As in, if the City Council had ever decided to fire Andrea Gardner, they’d have to shell out probably close to half a million once all was said and done, by the terms of her contract in 2008 or so.

Look at sports and not city government, and you will see the same thing: Buyout = fired.

But in the case of Mr. Welch, was this a case of: "Resign or we’ll fire you!"?

Did Mr. Welch and Dr. Burns get into an Alpha-Male-type clash over, ah, something?

Who would want The Welch gone?

Ok, y’all, I know, HALF the town, maybe? Or, a third, or???

Mr. Welch has had his rabid fans, the ones who believe he EARNED the 80-grand check (minus taxes) on May 1. You and I will do NOTHING to convince the rabid Dawg fans (ha ha,  go ‘Dawgs) that Mr. Welch deserves anything less.

Curmudgeon has been a fence-rider where The Welch is concerned.

But, change the name and the district and the situation… who DOES this?

The elected school board did, led by Mrs. Jay Manning.

Did they have “no choice”?

Mrs. Joan Manning and board, you ALWAYS have a choice. 

If one looks at the wording in the terms of the “retirement” agreement, one sees language like “let’s avoid litigation and lawsuits” and “let’s all talk nice about each other, ya hear.”

Have any of you, dear readers, actually taken the time to read the agreement?

It’s a major case of mutual CYA and it stinks, I tell ya.

Not even a Gulf Coast fish market smells as fishy.

AGAIN, who RESIGNS from a contract with three years left and gets a nice, tidy little “BUYOUT”?

Anyhoo, it may seem a bit pointless to hash all this over now…but Curmudgeon has a point. Or several.

Did it escape ANYONE’S notice that the new coach is a buddy/pal of Dr. Burns, and they’ve worked together before in a town called Kirbyville?

DID ANYONE ELSE NOTICE THAT THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN MUM ABOUT THE NEW COACH’S CONTRACT AND HOW MUCH HE WILL BE PAID? NOBODY KNOWS RIGHT NOW.

Well, probably two people do: Burns and Alvarez. But nobody’s saying nuttin’, not nobody, not no-how.

DID ANYONE ELSE NOTICE THAT THE DISTRICT ADVERTISED A MINIMUM SALARY OF AROUND 80-GRAND OR SO FOR THE JOB?

CURMUDGEON ASKS:

WHY WOULD A COACH LIKE MR. ALVAREZ – WITH 20 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE – SIGN A CONTRACT WITHOUT A SALARY?

Let's guess: did it have $81,030 listed, with a "plus" sign and a blank for "someome" to fill in a signing bonus?

 Did he get to write it in himself? Or will his friend, the superintendent write it in for him?

Who does that? 

Wowser, y’all. Just wowser.

Is it legal? Probably? Low-ball the salary and tell your pal to apply for the job so he blows away the competition who are likely trying for their first head coaching job.  Not exactly a level playing field (har-dee-hard)

But, it's perfectly legal, especially if the school board okays it.

Slick. Yup. A way to get your way. Yup.

The kingdom that is CCISD is not ruled by the board. For whatever reason, they bow to what Burns would like to do.

(It's the same thing Andrea-Gardner-haters railed against for years, that the council 'did her bidding' and her haters called the council "Stepford Wives." (snort))

But, hey, if we win football games, it’s alllllll good.

For the mere price of an 80-grand buyout, we can just plead poverty and stuff the bus in August for the needy students. Because, school supplies, y'all.

80-grand to make a problem go away was a cheap compromise. 

And what's the deal with not letting Welch use the stadium in December, as the HOT Bowl has for the past 17 years? He paid to use it. Was his money not good anymore? 

What in tarnation happened that was so bad that for whatever reason, CCISD thinks it will be hosting playoff football games at Bulldawg Stadium, something it has not done in recent memory, or at least for the past 17 years?

Was the rooster-clash between Welch and Burns so bad that one wants NOTHING to do with the other, even professionally?

Geez, Louise, as a teacher o' mine used to say.

Peace, love and bunnies, y’all. Still working up to my Rabbit Fest review.

Curmudgeon PROMISES no more ISD posts.

Curmudgeon might do a Sorry-Charlie Youngs move remind everyone there is a school board election in November. Just sayin'.

Curmudgeon out.