Just an FYI - this is LONG, but wanted to post it here for our journaling and for those who dont have or see FB...
Attended CSD board meeting tonight - I left feeling disappointed as always. Of all the comments made tonight, only 2 (that I am aware of) were made by non-staff, non-staff spouses. Meaning - me and John. The shut downs from the board chair were more intense tonight. Decisions were made and things changed, all without the voice of the community -
and without the voice of the staff because they are living in daily fear that if they say anything at all that they will lose their already precarious jobs....
I watched and listened tonight as decisions were made, all without including or inviting any participation from the staff or community members in attendance. Watching and listening to them (staff and parents) quietly fume and lament the fact they werent allowed to say anything, or even ask questions, about the very things that immediately effected them.
I got the chance to try to express concerns to a board member tonight after the meeting. Trying to express concerns about there still being no responsibility on the part of the board to respond to comments or to allow active participation from the floor DURING the meeting. I was told that staff members are PAID, and they should be glad they are even allowed to say anything at these meetings at all. I was also told that these meetings are not ours or theirs (meaning staff), that it is an official meeting held in public - what? Shouldnt it be OUR meeting too? Isnt it OUR children that are being caught in the middle of all of this? He made the same comment about our current state government - it is a "public" meeting with no say allowed by or from those that are most concerned and affected. This is the thing that drives me crazy the most.
I think that they are still completely missing the point. They got in an uproar tonight about the state level people making decisions about them, that would diectly effect them and us (district families) withouth their input, and yet they turn around and do the same thing to the community - dictating and making decisions without ever listening to, or hearing all the cries from the very people who are the most invested and the have the most to lose - our families, staff and esp our children. People who are making decisions without ever once thinking about the consequences that would come, or the children and families that would be devastated by their actions and choices.
With 9/11 being over the weekend, many comments were made about truth, right and citizenship being lost and needing to be rediscovered and taught - and yet the board, and the current state legislature, doesnt include themselves in the reasons those things are being lost at a local level.
When did parents lose the right to make the best decisions for their own children. When did those elected by the "voice" of the people decide they were in charge of making all the decisions without ever thinking about the consequences?
I kind of think about it in a comparison form - if you wanted to buy a house or a car, or such, would you sign a contract without ever reading it, or knowing the consequences first? Would you take your family of whatever size it is (say 8) to the store or a restaurant only to be told by the owner that the only thing being served or sold wouldnt even begin to cover the needs of your family, but you say ok fine? NO! And yet the education of our children, and the contracts and elections of officals and leaders, supposedly put in place to care for our children and their education, are treated in this exact same way.
Many voices stay silent, many voices do not protest until it is too late, and the few voices left to choose do not have anyone but themselves that they are thinking about. When will things in our district get bad enough for the WHOLE community to make changes?
Will it be when a 3rd party audit (if ever allowed) shows all of the millions of our dollars that were misused, misspent and used for personal gain, instead of buying new computers and safety features, and essential materials? Will it be when our children go to school every day to not be able to learn because there will be no materials, no supplies, no anything for teachers to run their classrooms (guess what one of the things discussed tonigth was?) Will it be when our children cannot even think about graduation or about pursuing continued education because state standards are now only going to offer the submission of "work samples" instead of passing national and state tests (guess what else was discussed tonight?) Will it be when our district is still showing more than 40% of students NOT passing math or reading tests at all? Will it be when our beautiful new theater building (which is STILL not complete) is destroyed because the district will not keep the building secure or hire an outside party to run the building and all of its millions of dollars of equipment?
Will it be when we lose another board member who has significantly contributed to the positive things happening is gone and is replaced by someone else who doesnt care what you have to say?
I have fought - even when I have no reason to. I have tried to make my voice heard, even when I know I am not being listened to at all. I am a member of this community who is very concerned about the significant downturn our district is taking. I am ever grateful for experiences, that seemed devastating at the time, that have led our family a different direction and allowing them to pursue the education that best fits our families needs. I am proud of those other families who have stood up and made a change, even if it means also walking away from our district.
I am just asking that MORE families stand up and say something, or do something, and make your thoughts and wishes known concerning your children. Dont let someone else do it for you. Our kiddos are our most precious treasure, they are the future of our country, and of our world. We cannot sit idly by and allow those in "power" to make horrible decisions concerning our children today and then not be willing to live with the consequences later. One voice alone can almost never be heard, but together many voices and efforts dedicated to right and truth and putting our kids first can and will make a difference. Will you be one of the few, or one of the many?
PS - board meetings are moving to CHS cafeteria starting Oct. along with new format of meeting proceedings.
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