Hi Sharon, Fred, et al.,
Last night's BOE meeting was quite an event. We were supposed
to start at 6:30 since Commisssioner Davy wanted to address the
community and answer some questions. She kind of got lost, so we
started when she arrived at about 6:45 or so. Lots of questions from
the audience (they had been written in advance on index cards, but
she also took a lot of questions directly, too). She had been
scheduled for a half hour, but ended up speaking for two hours.
Sorry to say, most of it was generalities, (in my opinion, which is
not necessarily the board's), but her presence there for the 2nd time
in a few months shows they are watching. She even promised to return
to speak with a group of parents next time at a non-board meeting
setting.
Frankly, again in my opinion, nothing is going to change until
certain people are fired, retired, indicted, or whatever. The meeting
ended past 11:30, which is unusual for a BOE meeting. Robert (who
conducted the meeting extremely well past a few icebergs) offered the
motion--over administrative objections--that the board attorney
investigate the falsification of student enrollment data so that an
administrator might actually be held responsible and suffer the
consequences. Glad to say, it passed unanimously. Maybe I'm being
too optimistic, but I really think that the whole situation is coming
to a head, and heads are what are needed to roll. The Commissioner's
favorite word last night was "accountability", but she, more than
anyone else--again my opinion--is the person responsible for our
being unable to sever the suspended Super. from his continuing
paycheck.
Among the speakers last night was the APEA president who
announced that the staff at the high school had overwhelmingly voted
no confidence in their administration. Having been a union person
myself, I can tell you that such a move is one used extremely rarely,
and indicates how desperate the situation must be. He indicated that
the Middle School might well be next. A parent, very emotionally,
and that was understandable, stated that she could not send her child
to the Middle or High School because of what she perceived as a
chaotic learning environment. Had the suspended Superintendent
offered the board more than lip service three years ago, we'd be well
on the way to solving at least the Middle School problem, since there
wouldn't be a Middle School today, but a 4th K-8 elementary school
there, but one of the charter variety with its own special rules and
programs. But that's a missed opportunity that can never be
retrieved. I do have to say, on a positive (!!) note, that Greg
Brewington and I attended this morning's assembly at the Middle
School about the contributions of African-Americans throughout our
history. McDonald's every year sends a troupe of four very talented
performers. The program was great, and the students in the
packed "cafetorium" could not have been better behaved or more
attentive. It was truly a great experience, especially after a rough
night at a BOE meeting!
Frank D'A.
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