Last one out the door please hit the lights.

Last year when dropping my son off for speech services at Brokaw I saw Mr. Modaff outside in jeans and a t-shirt working on some landscaping out front that had gotten out of hand. When I walked in the building I asked the teacher, "Is that the principal landscaping?" She laughed and said "Yes, we all wear different hats around here at times." While I thought it was a bit odd that no one else was available for this task, I admired Mr. Modaff for getting out there and getting it done...it did make the building look much nicer. While may events in recent months have me concerned about our school district, I am very grateful for the amazing teachers, staff, and administrators we have encountered in 308. I find it very sad that so many are leaving to take similar positions in other districts.

Eh - he's moving to a district that is paying him a six-figure salary. Not uncommon to see. Good luck to him!

Jeff's leadership and spirit will be sorely missed at Brokaw, best of luck to you in Batavia!

Wow Jane. Has it possibly occurred to you that there might be a reason other than money for some of the staff that are leaving to move on? I'm certain that the families and staff of the schools where these Principals are leaving are not dismissing it with an -EH. Many of the children and families in these schools have been directly impacted by the concern, leadership and kindness of their Principals. I feel sorry that you have not been lucky enough to have such a Principal in the lives of your children.

iam sure there are houses for sale in his new dist .good luck in his new job

Agreed Jane, Batavia is a wonderful community and one that's not part of a sinking ship community. We can scream and yell till we have no more voice but that doesn't change the facts. This district is in serious trouble and you can turn a blind eye to think that it's not. We're under water on every level and these people know that. You tell me that you wouldn't jump if you saw the tidal wave coming. They have an opportunity to make more and have job security, why wouldn't they leave.
Doom and Gloom, you're darn right because that's the direction we've already gone. We haven't seen anything yet, wait until we have to file bankruptcy that's when our problems will begin.

Does anyone know if we're still on the states watch list, my realtor says yes?

People don't always leave for $$. We lost Matt Rich at Boulder Hill 4 years ago when his contract expired not for money but because of friction between he and Dr. Behlow and others higher up. He was one of the first "young" principals and some of his ideas were not met with enthusiasm by senior teachers. Some of them left, some of them stuck around and he was loved by the kids. Our old finance assistant superintendent also went to Batavia. They have money, their district is pretty much built out and stable, 308 isn't. $$ seem to be the stated reason, but usually there is more, that's the part we don't hear about

Jane, do you have kids in 308? Your comments always leave me to think you must not. Eh.... What do I care?
A principal can be hired anytime, but a GREAT principal is a treasure. I know as we are losing ours.

Good Luck Mr. Modaff.
Our daughter is better off because if your caring and compassion. This is a HUGE LOSS for District 308!

Good Luck Mr. Modaff.
Our daughter is better off because of your caring and compassion. This is a HUGE LOSS for District 308!

There's really a problem with whomever is doing the hiring of some of these top positions. That at least includes the search firms that have been used in the past. It's unusual for so many of these employees to be leaving so soon for a higher salary. That's especially true in this tough real estate market where many of them are likely to be taking a loss on the sale of their house.

Nothing wrong with someone wanting more money for their position. But if that's their main goal then the District shouldn't be hiring them. It will always be a revolving door.

They need to hire from within the community so that they get staff who enjoy living here and are less likely to leave at the drop of a hat when they are offered more money. It's generally a bad idea to be filling these top positions with people outside the community who have no such attachments.

Wow. Mr. Modaff sounds like a great leader and role model for the kids.

Oh.. but it's 'all about the kids' ... right? Gimme a break..

Its always the dinosaurs at the top that ruin it for everyone else because they dont care and are not open to the new and improved ideas of the new generation. The evidence is clear that younger people can bring so much to the table and be successful because they are not jaded like their seniors. Evidence shows that to be true especially with young mayors who have turned failing citys into prosperous thriving communitys. I think we as a community should be able to have some say as to whom we choose to run our schools and drive out the corrupt people. I want someone who cares about our children and their futures not someone who cares about politics!

Jeff Modaff was my son's Principal. At Tuesday's graduation, in classic Mr. Jeff style, he read a Dr. Seuss story, modified just for the kids, meant to prepare them as they move on. It was just one more example of his hands-on leadership style.

I recognize that he is moving on to a well earned position. I'm just disheartened to see that he wasn't able to remain within our own district, where his leadership and guidance would have continued to benefit our students, families and staff.

Congrats to Batavia, you are gaining a real Superfriend in Mr. Modaff.

@Larry...I think one of the reasons it's so shocking to think someone would leave this glorious district for a higher paying one is that they always say "I'm here for the kids" to me that implies if I'm making $60K and can move on for say $70K I'd probably stay put IF I'm truely here for the kids. Now, if I'm offered say $90K for the same job...well kids are kids in Batavia too right! There's so much crap that goes on around here it's nuts and I'm surprised at how many people just don't seem to catch it. Remember a couple years ago when the assistant superintendents led by Colvin moaned and groaned about having to pay 10% of their own health costs? Does anyone on the Patch pay 10% or less? Gimme a break! Then they made a big deal about how they had "volunteered" to take a pay freeze and made that a presentation at a Board meeting....HELLO..... the Board was going to freeze their pay at that meeting anyway....just posturing to make them look like heros and the public buys it. People, if you are the type of parent who puts your kid on the bus and then picks them up at the end of the day, and do nothing else. You had best take the blindfold off and that applies in ANY school district.

when you have a teacher at boulder hill making 100k a year am i going to feel sorry for teachers NO

As a parent of a former Brokaw student who was there for 2 years with Mr. Modaff, and I myself was on the HSA during that time as well, I can say that Mr. Modaff is a wonderful, hands-on Principal who cared about EVERY single student in the building. He has truly made a difference in the school by bringing in new grant funding that they had never had before, opening the program to include tuition-based students, starting a hearing impaired and bilingual program, and so much more. He will be greatly missed and his departure is another great loss for our district. Good luck to you Jeff! Batavia is getting a really great Principal!

why not just hire joanne hedemann back?