School Board - Would you or have you?

[TheGirlNextDoor]

Would you or have you ever run for a position on a school board.

If you have served, what was your experience like....

If you have not, but would like to... what would you hope to accomplish during your tenure.

*I attended a school board meeting tonight and have to say that our current "representatives" need to be ousted during this next election. It would be nice if more than one member actually HAD students attending the district they are supposedly representing in order to practice what they preach (so to speak). I know several people who would be good candidates but was wondering what others experiences have been. Thanks!

 

[jackalope]

No, but someone who holds an elected local office did try to convince me to run.


How was the meeting? Did many attend? I went to a few.

 

[Strucky]

I was told the meeting was 'stimulating' :lol:

 

[TheGirlNextDoor]

No, but someone who holds an elected local office did try to convince me to run.


How was the meeting? Did many attend? I went to a few.

It was actually enlightening. They (IMO) don't run things as they should since they are supposed to represent the parents/community of the school district. They are very secretive, often times retiring into executive session, only to return with no inkling over what it is they discussed.

Hey.. I don't need to know the nitty gritty, but the basic jist of what was just discussed would be nice.

Budget cuts, layoffs, and other various things that affects a district and a community as small as this one - needs to have more transparency and communication in place.

They always open the meetings with the chance to let the general public speak and they have 2 minutes to voice their concerns, praise or grievance. I don't have a problem with time limits as you have to set some standard otherwise we'd still be sitting there... but there needs to be a short time at the end of said meetings where the public may ask questions or ask for clarifications over what was discussed in open forum.

Currently the community at large is treated with disdain... and for elected positions, this shocks me.

 

[TheGirlNextDoor]

I was told the meeting was 'stimulating' :lol:

:mrgreen:

10

 

[jackalope]

It was actually enlightening. They (IMO) don't run things as they should since they are supposed to represent the parents/community of the school district. They are very secretive, often times retiring into executive session, only to return with no inkling over what it is they discussed.

Hey.. I don't need to know the nitty gritty, but the basic jist of what was just discussed would be nice.

Budget cuts, layoffs, and other various things that affects a district and a community as small as this one - needs to have more transparency and communication in place.

They always open the meetings with the chance to let the general public speak and they have 2 minutes to voice their concerns, praise or grievance. I don't have a problem with time limits as you have to set some standard otherwise we'd still be sitting there... but there needs to be a short time at the end of said meetings where the public may ask questions or ask for clarifications over what was discussed in open forum.

Currently the community at large is treated with disdain... and for elected positions, this shocks me.

IA re: the feedback. Ours also allowed the public a chance to 'speak', but it was at the end, and it wasn't Q&A. A member of the public made a statement, then moved aside to let someone else make a statement. The board did not answer questions.

 

[jackalope]

r u going to run, Girl?

 

[TheGirlNextDoor]

r u going to run, Girl?

I was thinking about it. Problem is, I'm sure that would be a conflict of interest since I'm a district employee - at least for now.

Even though I have two children in the district attending school and I'm a taxpayer.

If not me, I know some people here that would be very good at it and at the very least would know where parents/taxpayers were coming from.

 

[ALiberalModerate]

As a Kansan, please tell me your not considering running for the school board so you can ban evolution again.

 

[TheGirlNextDoor]

As a Kansan, please tell me your not considering running for the school board so you can ban evolution again.

*I* never banned any such thing.

I would never ban evolution - but I suppose you're making assumptions based on my location; not on the type of person I am or how I view things.

 

[ALiberalModerate]

*I* never banned any such thing.

I would never ban evolution - but I suppose you're making assumptions based on my location; not on the type of person I am or how I view things.

I was just being tongue-in-cheek based on your location.

 

[Kandahar]

My father served on the school board when I was in high school...let's just say that it wasn't a good experience. Basically the school board went to war with each other. Half of them loved the superintendent and the other half (including my father) hated him. As a result they were always pissed off at each other and accomplished very little.

But that was just his experience. Don't let it dissuade you from running or encouraging others to run. Your experience may be a lot better.

 

[earthworm]

I was thinking about it. Problem is, I'm sure that would be a conflict of interest since I'm a district employee - at least for now.

Even though I have two children in the district attending school and I'm a taxpayer.

If not me, I know some people here that would be very good at it and at the very least would know where parents/taxpayers were coming from.

I question whether or not this is right.
The conflict of interest is questionable.
However important the transparency and openness are, I believe a lot of reform is necessary.
The school board represent a public entity, maybe they should issue "policy papers' to the public(those who trouble themselves to attend meetings). If, somehow the public could unify and act as a force, then their concerns would have weight.
Kudos to those who do attend the meetings.
And many more for those who run for office.

 

[Strucky]

I was just being tongue-in-cheek based on your location.

More like foot-in-mouth :lol:

 

[scourge99]

It was actually enlightening. They (IMO) don't run things as they should since they are supposed to represent the parents/community of the school district. They are very secretive, often times retiring into executive session, only to return with no inkling over what it is they discussed.

Hey.. I don't need to know the nitty gritty, but the basic jist of what was just discussed would be nice.

Budget cuts, layoffs, and other various things that affects a district and a community as small as this one - needs to have more transparency and communication in place.

They always open the meetings with the chance to let the general public speak and they have 2 minutes to voice their concerns, praise or grievance. I don't have a problem with time limits as you have to set some standard otherwise we'd still be sitting there... but there needs to be a short time at the end of said meetings where the public may ask questions or ask for clarifications over what was discussed in open forum.

Currently the community at large is treated with disdain... and for elected positions, this shocks me.

Would you want every hill billy and wanna-be teacher looking over your shoulder and citiquing every decision you make when most of them probably spend less than an hour of their life educating themselves on the issues?

If you don't like the way its run then make yourself heard and/or rally voters to elect new people. But I'd recommend involving yourself more before jumping to conclusions about what ought to be done.

 

[TheGirlNextDoor]

Would you want every hill billy and wanna-be teacher looking over your shoulder and citiquing every decision you make when most of them probably spend less than an hour of their life educating themselves on the issues?

Hillbilly, eh? Hmm.

So the general public of tax payers, parents and the community at large are hillbillies and want to be teachers, eh?

And how did you come to that "educated" guess?

If you don't like the way its run then make yourself heard and/or rally voters to elect new people.

I have done exactly that on several occasions. Why would you believe I have not already? Unfortunately, we have a relatively new board this year and a changing of the guard in our district - that is why I mentioned this meeting in particular to be "enlightening". Not to mention that protocol seems to have changed as far as how these meetings are "run". How are BOE meetings run in your district, out of curiosity.

Giving some particulars over how a meeting is run is nothing more than explaining why I am presenting my question - I know how three school districts conduct their board meetings and I have to say, this newest board needs improvement.

But I'd recommend involving yourself more before jumping to conclusions about what ought to be done.

And how exactly, do you know how much I've involved myself already? I have not "jumped" to anything. I go to the board meetings not only as a parent but as a tax payer and an employee of the school district.

I am concerned about the education my children are receiving and I want to ensure that my tax dollars are working FOR my children and everyone else's children. I don't want to see education dollars wasted and I want to see action instead of apathy.

Is there something wrong with this?

Are you on a school board somewhere? You seem awfully defensive and ready to jump to conclusions yourself.