YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING....

I am a parent and a community member, and I currently do NOT have my children attending any of the schools in our district. I have attended more board meetings than I can count, with my kids enrolled and not.

Last night's board meeting was appalling at best. Hunter and the board members ignored comments made from the staff, and back pedaled all of their previous month's votes on re-arranging of their meeting format. They made excuses and shut down vocal objections to call them on making private changes to their own rules that were voted on in public AND shut down any opportunity for the community members in attendance to make any comments at all.

The board literally turned their backs on those in attendance when they grouped themselves together for a "work session" with their backs facing the staff and community members in the room. That litte saying that actions speak louder than words was screaming to the staff and public that the board and super wanted nothing to do with any of us. The comment from the board chair that absolutely NO comments would be allowed from the public also slammed everyone, even after I specifically approached her and called her on the statement she made PRIOR to the work session that the board WOULD allow comments to happen from the floor.

They also were very disrespectful and outright beyond rude when they didnt even recognize the board member who left voluntarily. She has served on the board, in our community and in our schools for YEARS, and the board did not make one mention of her devoted service or even mention her name. Another VERY loud action on the super's and the board's part that they are separating themselves from her for taking a stand for right and walking away from all the garbage. She is a wonderful person, and she very much deserves all of our praise and support for choosing to take a stand. She will be missed very much. I hope that in the chance that miraculous changes do occur and good people are brought in to serve, and when we get a new super, that she might even reconsider and return to do more good for our community. Even if that never happens, she will continue to do what she does best - love children, love education, and be involved in our community, and we will all be blessed because of her devotion and service.

Just a comment about the negative things that have been said recently about the staff seeking the "proper" channels to speak out against the board and Hunter. Right now the teachers in our district are working WITHOUT a contract - mostly in part from Hunter walking away from negotiations and using intimidation and refusal to participate in discussions to get what he wants. So far it is working, from what I heard last night, teachers have given up the things that they DESERVE (raise in pay, prep time, etc) in the hope that they can just secure their jobs and their lives. Hunter has kept them in fear and pain by threatening them with general pink slips - 2 years in a row. Most teachers still came to the beginning of the school year not knowing if they would be here or not. Some still are in that position even a month into school now. They live in daily fear of their jobs with nothing to protect them should they even try to speak out. They dont know whether they should seek employment elsewhere, and now that the year has started, if they do lose their positions, they will have nowhere to even start looking.
When they do speak out it is in hushed tones and the comment of "I better not say this too loud, if anyone heard I would be fired."
I witnessed again last night the board dictating and making choices that directly affected the staff in that room, and watched as staff member's faces contorted in unbelief, shock, anger, sadness, hopelessness - even one staff member who I am pretty sure had to physcially leave the room to go outside to vent his anger and frustration, before he could sit through the rest of the meeting. My eyes met those of teachers with silent messages going between us of just being blown away at what was happening right there in front of us. Never a single thought was given to the staff during this time, no notice was made at all to the huge range of emotions that ran high in that room and on their faces.

Even taking a stand as a large group last night to publicly voice their concerns and requests did nothing but fall on deaf ears. The community members who were there stood with them, but there were few of us there to make a difference. Our teachers need OUR support now, more than ever, to make the positive changes that are desperately needed so they can get back to doing what they do best - give the love and education that our children need and deserve.

I also want to make a comment about how the board conveniently did not mention that letters of intent are due by Friday to apply for the interim board position that is currently vacant. There is info abounding in the community that the board and super have their own agenda about who they are going to put into that position. They will unless we do something to tell them that is not ok. Personal agendas do not belong anywhere, let alone where our children are concerned. We need to FLOOD the district office with letters of intent from anyone that lives in Independence and North of Main Street. Let them know that we care and that we want to have a say in what happens on the board.
After much thought, prayer, consideration, and inspiration, we have agreed that this is important to our family, even with the kids not currently attending schools here. Preston is currently working on his letter of intent packet to turn in on Thursday this week. We hope that it will only be one of MANY to make sure the board and super follow their own policies and rules by allowing the community to apply to fill interim positions. We know for a fact that a contact we have in the district will be marching into the district office to physically see all the letters that are submitted, to make them accountable. We need to give her LOTS to look at. Please, there are only 3 days left submit more letters, prayerfully consider the role that you do and could play for the good of our children and community.

One last comment to all concerned parents and citizens. A letter that will publicly state a vote of no confidence in Hunter's performance as super is now circulating throughout the community. It is going to take all of our voices to finally make the changes that the board should have done long ago. It is going to be up to us - the tax payers, the parents, the community members to finally say ENOUGH and see the changes made now, before it really grows too late to do anything. Things must happen to make the board and super accountable. A community call for an outside audit of the 2008 bond $ must be voiced and heard. Our district teachers need to know that they have our support in their continued efforts to secure their jobs and have their needs met. Our children need to see us be the examples of voicing why it is important to choose leaders who will be honest, trustworthy, upstanding citizens, so that when it is their turn they will continue to choose good leaders and make our communities and country a better place.
You can go to "thecentraladvocate.blogspot.com" to find the contact info for the people currently circulating the letters. If the board will hear the voice of the people, whom they have been elected to represent, then we can make a difference in our community for the good of our teachers and ourselves, but more importantly for our children.

I hope that families and individuals throughout our community will do all they can, now and in May when local elections occur, to choose people and leaders who will keep our best interests in their minds and hearts. If we dont choose to speak for the good of our children, who will?