It seems last Fridays football game had a little more excitement than we realized. This is that lovely time of year when the leaves are turning, the air is crisp, and the politicians are swarming like bee’s on a smashed peach. Our State Senator had some people at the game handing out peanuts with his name on the bag. No biggy. Well at least you would think. It seems the president of the board of education ordered the peanut pushers to vacate the property. Strange considering our board president himself campaigned in the stadium last September and October. I’m really ticked because he kicked them out before I got my free peanuts. But even more interesting is how I found out orders were issued. Tuesday the board received an Email from our state senator saying this action was illegal. I’m not sure it actually is but I will agree with him that if his people were not causing a problem, why boot them? But then the disturbing part of the letter happens: "it was unwise to target a member of the legislature for such an action"... "a legislator of lesser temperament may have carried that with him when considering policies impacting the Falls schools."
I think a better legislator would have not said this. Taking money from David Brennan whom makes millions of dollars from our taxes, and touting charter schools as supporting educational choice for parents doesn’t sit well with me. I am for educational choice myself. But a majority of charter schools are not performing well, are not held to the same standards as public schools and have tainted the purpose behind the legislation. They cater to throw away kids and do nothing to prepare young men and women for life beyond graduation. I want representation that understands the problems the people in Cuyahoga Falls face. Not someone who would threaten the funding for my kids because of a skirmish with the pres. Both of these guys need to grow up.
I’m sure it was a shock to see a 5-0 vote on several agenda items this week. I’ll try to go in order and explain without getting off track.
First we amend and approve the agenda. I added an item to employ the Santa Rita Collaborative. It was also amended to appoint a library board member and a resolution to support the library levy. The library appointment went well as it should have. The man we appointed has wonderful ideas for library programming and facility operations, as well as a firm grasp of finances and the need for public transparency. He has experience having served on a neighboring community’s library board, as well as many other professional and civic boards. His appointment is one of many reasons I also supported the library levy resolution.
Do I want to pay more taxes? No. Do I think our library needs a little restructuring and better public relations? Yes. But I also know that if this levy fails hours will be cut even further and I feel it will directly impact the educational quality offered in Cuyahoga Falls. It will cost the average homeowner in Cuyahoga Falls about $5 per month. A small price to pay for what you can get. It will be the first time the property owners in Cuyahoga Falls will be levied for the library.
The Santa Rita Collaborative is in the business of surveys. I have long wanted a survey of the entire community because I feel it is the only way your board of education can understand who we are representing. We all claim we know what the people think but in reality we only know what the people we talk to think. For some reason this item caused quite a bit of discussion, with some members quite concerned about the cost. I proposed a $10,000 cap. The CFO said $12,000 was possible. I find it odd that some of the board members that handed over raises on a silver platter, negotiated not with but for the CEO and CFO for annuities and Medicare and such during their contract negotiations, were the same board members hesitant to pay for a survey that will cost the same as the aforementioned items. Anyway after much ado it was finally put to a vote and much to my amazement, passed 5-0. The "Plan for Excellence" calls for community input. So does the "Pledge to the Community". I’m starting to think that it’s not community input that is desired, but insider input. The Plan for Excellence committees are stacked with teachers and administrators. They need to get used to the fact that the taxpayers of the Cuyahoga Falls School District should have the loudest voice in where our dollars are going. If we want our dollars in the classroom or in a stadium. In an innovative program or in the administrative offices. I think I know but I can’t wait to get results back! Make sure you tell your friends, neighbors, coworkers, and grandma that it’s coming. We were told the typical return on surveys mailed citywide is 10-12%. I’m hoping our community will set a new standard.
Sorry this was so long but there was a lot to talk about. School is back in and volunteering has started. Building tours, late night executive sessions, and general family responsibilities have kept me from posting as much as I’d like. I’ve got my mojo back and Barberton looks like it’s going to give me some blogging fodder. From the looks of my last blog, educational topics are not of much interest.
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8 comments:
To: The Kind People who are concerned about 'educational issues',
WARNING: The following comments will use the word 'problem'.
I am not entirely comfortable with the excellent intentions of our school leaders and other community leaders. Remember, I define anyone who will ask a question -- as a leader.
If we are to compete in the global information-based society then we need to review the words and the meanings of the words that we use.
In the past, our culture used terms like 'get an education' and 'go out into the world' and 'get a job'. These phrases were not meaningful in the primal agrarian-based societies. These phrases became meaningful in the industrial-based societies. And, these phrases are now no longer meaningful in our global information-based society.
How do I know? I was born on a farm without electricity, running water, and we used horses to farm. I did not know what the word 'industry' meant until I was about 15 years old.
I see our 'educational systems' as a huge set of complex problems. And, we have the ability to solve the problems in our community! After we work the 'creative problem solving processes' in our community then we can endorse and export our processes to other communities. At that point in time we will have made a 'phase change shift' into the global information-based society.
Does anyone want to discuss this? Please remember, I come across as a threat to some people.
Lou Schott lschott@neo.rr.com
To: The Kind People who want the best for our community,
I have tried for two years to get a five year financial forecast from our library leaders. About two months ago, I attended a library board meeting. I again asked for the forecast. Our library board refused to give me a forecast.
Given the manner in how people will get information in the future via the internet, I can see how people can make an informed analytical choice relative to the library levy. And, I have presented 100s of proposals for spending money to the top executives of Goodyear.
We used a precise format in our presentations. All decisions were data driven.
None of the information presented by our library leaders has been formatted for making informed choices. It has been formatted to persuade people to make an emotional choice.
I have tried at least 3 times to help them format their presentation. They will not talk to me. I can only assume that I threaten them.
I think that our library and our library leaders could be a huge resource in our community in the pursuit of literate problem solving.
I remain hopeful that our library leaders will use a strategic planning process. The Stow library system did. The Akron-Summit Public Library system is doing it. Our school system has the 'Plan for Excellence'.
And, it does not cost any money to plan ahead. In fact, it could save a lot of money if you do not need floor space that now sits unused -- while they have $1,500,000 capital money in their building fund.
In summary, I am unable to make an informed choice relative to our library's future plans.
Lou Schott
To: The Kind People who want to solve problems,
Please see Molly's blog. She has gathered some data and has begun to analyze it. Look at it from a 'cause & effect process' viewpoint. Notice that the analysis touches on 'cost / benefits'.
Notice how Molly included another person's comments.
Ask yourself: What are the key variables in the analysis? Does the analysis need to include more key variables? Could any of the variables be deleted?
How many of you could use spreadsheet software to help build other parts of the systems analysis?
Our key public information organizations (school, library, city council, and local newspaper) coupled with all of the 50,000 community members is a more complex system than the organization that put a 'man on the moon'.
Do you want to be part of the solution statements or do you want to be one of the problem statements?
Are you ready to ask the magic question? The magic question is, "How can I help?"
Lou Schott lschott@neo.rr.com
To: Get-Real-Ok and others interested in the process of solving problems,
Your statement is, "... all you keep talking about is PROBLEM STATEMENTS. What is that going to fix?"
Thank you for asking this question. Please allow me the opportunity to answer your question.
If you are working to solve a problem involving yourself then 'writing down PROBLEM STATEMENTS' may not be useful. The exception to this statement is that mental health professionals recommend using a diary or log to track events in life and corresponding feelings.
If you want to solve problems with a team of people then 'stating the problems' is useful for many reasons. One reason is to make sure that everyone agrees with the problem statements. Can you fix problems that people do not know exist?
A second reason is to capture the problem statement to pair with one or more solution statements. Every problem statement has a 'cost / benefit' attached to it.
A third reason is to enable the problem solving teams to prioritize the problem statements for resolution. The resolution process involves creating solution statements for all problem statements.
A fourth reason is to prioritize the solution statements for action. By informing and involving all of the team members in the above steps then each team member is positioned to act in a useful manner at a useful point in time within an accurate amount of estimated cost.
I have been on engineering teams using the above process to build manufacturing facilities around the world. Our budgets normally involved about $300,000,000 per year.
I also coordinated the implementation of an Engineering System designed to control $1,000,000,000. This system involved training 600 engineers who worked all around the world. We needed to train them in the tools and techniques of using a keyboard to enter their 'cost data' and 'new work order' data.
We also trained them in the process of 'solving problems' in a creative manner. One of the steps in the 'creative problem solving process' is to defer judgments until you have the ability to see both the big picture and the detailed picture.
Some people have trouble seeing the big picture and can see the detailed picture clearly. The inverse is true -- also. The 'creative problem solving process' gives every team member the tools to 'work the problem'. So, detailed problems and big problems get resolved using the same process.
The need to defer judgment enables the team to function in a healthy environment. When the team has a list of problem and solution statements then people can make informed choices. They can plan ahead.
I hope this is useful to you.
Lou Schott lschott@neo.rr.com
To: Leslie and others who want to solve problems,
When people diminish others then the reason is usually targeted to elevate their own position.
I am reasonably sure that the 'Goodyear negotiating team' is highly trained and well disciplined. Given that training they will understand the problems faced by their Union. And, they will have the data to back up their understanding of the Union's problems and Goodyear's problems.
In contrast, the Union people are more likely to present arguments based on feelings. Feeling try to persuade rather than inform and involve. (Our library leaders are doing this.) However, the task of a negotiator is to feel the feelings and listen to the thinking (needs) of the Union. This task includes listening for clues and keywords that need clarification and expansion.
Thus, the challenge is to know how the Union feels. Do they feel mad, sad, scared, or maybe happy that they have a job? The challenge is to build a relationship of trust and respect. A contract joining an organization and a union into a plan for future actions can be a positive relationship.
In like manner, I need to listen to 'Get Real - Ok'. When I read his comments, I felt the anger. But, I thought about it. And, what I really hope for is to benefit the ability of 'Get Real - Ok' to solve problems in a manner that will elevate our community into a 'world class community' -- where the path to excellence is traveled by every community member.
If we do this (and we can) then people will live here because they want to here and not because they have to live here.
I hope this is useful to you.
Lou 330-932-9328
To: GetReal-Ok and others interested in improving the quality of life in our community,
Please tell me how you think or feel that I can be useful to you, our school & library, and our community.
I understand, based on feedback from people, that I seem to be handicapped by some intellectual dis-abilities. At the same time I worked many 18 hour days digging ditch as a student engineer during the 1960s to learn the techniques required to feed my 4 children and satisfy my Union bosses.
Based on comments from GetReal-Ok, I sense a need to create a victim. The victim could be the Union, or the 'problem solving teams' or me.
Every victim game has a prosecutor. Currently, GetReal-Ok wants to play the role of the prosecutor. Sometimes, a highly intellectual person, knows the rules of the game better than most.
If you know the rules of the game better than you can aggressively move into the role of the prosecutor. That is likely to disrupt the previous person who played the role of the prosecutor.
Normally, a third role is required to save the victim role and the prosecutor role from themselves. This third role is called the 'rescuer.
Less-than-functional families, teams, organizations, and communities can play & entertain themselves with this game for lifetimes.
Is this how we want to solve our problems?
Please let me know how you think or feel that I can be useful to you.
Lou 330-923-9328
To: The Kind People who want to solve problems for our school.
Please allow me to suggest that the process of solving problems can be applied to any problem located anywhere and at anytime.
However, let's see if we can focus on the 'conflicts related to Silver Lake and CFO'. Perhaps we can ask ourselves -- what do the people from these two locations want?
Please allow me to suggest a unifying purpose statement related to our school district (one of the key public information systems).
We, the people of Silver Lake and Cuyahoga Falls, want our children and our community members to learn how to effectively compete in a global information-based society -- as follows: 1. We will need to learn how to: manage the quality of our information (educuation) system, the cost of our information system and the timetables for constructing change in our information system.
2. We will need to use meetings, eMails, websites, spreadsheets, and dcouments to share our thoughts related to the required action and the corresponding required results.
3. We will need to access informed children and adults (both inside and outside of our community) to maintain our continuous process of solving problems.
Please tell me how you might propose to change the above purpose statement.
Lou lschott@neo.rr.com
To: The Kind People who want to 'resolve conflict',
My grandkids and their close friends were classmates of Justin. They played senior football together. They say, "Justin was a nice kid."
Please allow me to dedicate the following comments to the memory of Justin.
The ability to resolve conflict is a highly prized process. It is a process that is similar whenever and where-ever used. So, we could use the process on-line/in-person, in Bahgdad/Washington, or our city/village.
Corporations have been sending the people to 'conflict resolution' workshops since the 1980s. It is a highly attended workshop topic. Consultants travel around the country doing 'conflict resolution' workshops. They get paid about $150 per person per workshop and may have 100 people in one workshop.
Have any of you attended a workshop like this?
Is anyone interested in attending?
Can anyone help put together a workshop on the topic of 'conflict resolution' for our community members?
How do you think that I can help?
Lou Schott 330-923-9328
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