Regular meetings. Every January, the Board of Education at their required organizational meeting must- “Bylaw 0154 (C). designate a day, place, and time for regular meetings which shall be held at least once every two (2) months; R.C. 3313.15”. Another part of that bylaw says- “Bylaw 0154 (D). establish a reasonable method whereby any person may determine the time and place of all regularly scheduled meetings and the time, place, and purpose of all special meetings; (R.C. 121.22(F))”.
It was real simple. Back in January, the board approved a schedule that set meetings for 7 Pm on the first and third Wednesdays of each month except June and July. Seemed simple enough to follow. But our meetings of late have been anything but regular. In fact they change so much even I am having a hard time keeping track. Throw in all the special meetings, (half of which were wastes of time and money) and it’s amazing the entire board makes it on time each time. Of the last 7 “regularly scheduled” board meetings, 3 have been moved to an earlier time. With another scheduled to. in the future.
Which brings me to my complaint of the day. Plan A was to have the May 21st meeting start at 6 PM rather than the scheduled 7 PM and go over the community survey attempting to tie in community concerns with the “Plan for Excellence”. So I planned my schedule to accommodate. Now it seems another member decide to schedule an out of town trip that same day and can’t fly back in time. So the “board” rescheduled the May 21st meeting to 7 PM and moved the June 11th meeting to 6 PM. My question is this. Why do I constantly have to readjust my schedule to accommodate other peoples bad planning and over extending themselves? I plan around regularly scheduled meetings and make every effort to be present at the plethora of special meetings planned of late. In my opinion this member should have said “I’m sorry that date is bad for me because I have the business of the school district to. How about the following week?” It’s simple. I do it all the time so I don’t inconvenience 10 other people and their schedules.
This board has made it so the public must request an agenda to keep track of meetings. I know when City Council is going to meet. It’s regular. I even know when their committees will meet because they are regular. I don’t have to check the web site or pick up a paper to know when and where to show up. If there is extra business to attend to they do it during the “regularly scheduled meeting”. If it means staying late, it means staying late. Another thing City Council does is letting citizens have input during discussion time on individual issues. It’s hard for a citizen to make comments, have a complete understanding of issues, or have their statement have meaningful impact when it must be given before the actual meeting starts or at the end, after a vote is signed, sealed and delivered. This board could learn a lot about conducting meetings fro CF City Council.
Lastly I want to answer a few of you that have Emailed me regarding the question I asked of our board president at the meeting. I was informed by our board president almost a year ago that she would be moving out of state at the end of this school year. She told me her husbands company was sold and they were being transferred south. She had very valid fears that her opinions and decisions would not be taken seriously if employees knew this and asked me to keep quiet about.
I recently found out that we were sending several district personnel to a program in Kentucky that basically fosters parent and community involvement for the district. I am all for this program It is the Center for Parent Leadership. The part that concerned me was that I was informed that our board president would be attending the workshop. Which normally would be ideal, but if she is moving in a few months I had to question if this was a wise choice or if we should be sending someone who will be here to utilize the information. This will cost almost $1000 per person so I would like to ensure our tax money will be spent wisely. I didn’t think it was an unreasonable question to ask. But each time I asked the response was to just stare at me. ?
If you don’t answer a question does that mean it wasn’t asked. I will ask here because I know she reads my blog, and I will ask her again “at the proper place on the agenda” at the next meeting- “Are we investing our tax dollars in training and workshops on someone who will be in the district to utilize the information for the next school year”? I’m all for bettering ourselves and professional development as well as conferences and workshops that expand our horizons. For everyone. Teachers, administrators, board members, even support staff. It’s money well spent but not if the knowledge leaves the district.
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4 comments:
Kellie, don't forget that Gunter told us she would deny that she was moving "until the for sale sign goes up in the yard." Putting myself in her shoes, I would imagine it's one thing to deny it off the record, but to deny it in a taped meeting with a reporter present could present a rather awkward situation down the road.
Better to say nothing than be recorded and endlessly quoted in a lie. Otherwise, I would think she would just say that her family's plans have changed.
This just goes on and on and on and apparently there isn't anything anybody can do about it. Guess the people in the Falls School District like it this way because they voted for these people and they are running the show.
Kellie,THANK YOU for pointing out the rediculous procedure the BOE uses to limit the feedback from the public. This has always been a pet peeve of mine. The idea that you must sign up before the meeting to comment on the comments made during the meeting (which, of course, you haven't heard yet) is something out of "Alice in Wonderland" not Robert's Rules. The only possible reason for this rule is to prohibit negative responses from the public. Allowing public feedback during the meeting just wouldn't be conducive with keeping control of the information that you want made public. If people can ask questions you might have to answer them.
This is probably the main reason I stopped attending the BOE meetings. The president wants control, not openness.
Wow Tim! I'm so glad we heard from you. I think your reasons are the same reasons many people have for not attending. The "What's the point?" reason. It's valid. I can only hope that some day with a constituent friendly board, this policy will change.
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