[Winona Online Democracy] Years ago when we met in the lower library, there was a sound system available with mikes for everyone. What ever happened to that system? Also, it was then required that all school board meeting be at least audio taped. Finally, for those of us in the rural areas, we would really like the meetings, both study sessions and regular meetings, to be televised. Charter provides them to us at least in Rollingstone on our government access channel. I would encourage the board to hold all their meetings at City Hall so all of us can be a part of your discussion. Dick Gaffron ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Schild Winona Online Democracy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Steve Kranz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2003 3:16 PM Subject: cc: re: [Winona] School Board Meeting Format
[Winona Online Democracy] I attended the most recent meeting in the Media Center of Winona Middle School and found it nearly impossible to hear what was being said. At the very least, the board should use microphones so that those in the audience can hear what's going on. Though that's a significant issue, I think there are still bigger ones arising out of the new format. First, I think everyone in the school district is better served by having both meetings (study session and regular meeting) televised. When you consider the importance of the deliberations and decisions undertaken by the school board, and combine that with the difficulty many people have in getting out of the house to attend a meeting, I don't think there's any question but that more people will know more about what the board is doing if both meetings are televised. And more people knowing more about school-district business is a good thing. As far as the board members being "on stage," that's part of being a public official. Board members SHOULD be in the public eye--which tv makes literally possible--as they make decisions that will directly or indirectly affect everyone in the community. Elected officials must be willling to speak candidly with the public watching. If they're not, they're not doing their job. A third point: I don't see how the new format is going to make dialogue among board members any more productive. All I see as a result of the new format is less public awareness and understanding of issues being discussed by the board. Likewise, the new format will result in citizens knowing less about stands taken by and statements made by individual board members.There is, to my way of thinking, nothing about the old format that would interfere with productive dialogue. Mr. Kranz said that the board sometimes argues a bit; given the nature of the issues it faces (or any public body faces, for that matter), it seems that argument or disagreement is inevitable. In fact, it's the disagreements and the way they're resolved (or not) that are often a citizen's key method of determining whether the public body and individual officials have done their job well or not. The public must understand the arguments that are at the root of the issues, and I believe the best way for the public to understand those arguments is to see and hear them as fully as possible. As far as the length of the meetings, that's something for the board itself to deal with. If the meetings are getting too long, then the board should find ways to limit discussion without locking the public out or making it harder for the public to stay abreast of what the board is doing. In times such as these, we need more openness and transparency on the part of public officials and public bodies, not less. I say bring back the tv cameras and conduct all school-board meetings in ways that give as many citizens as possible the broadest chance to watch and participate in all aspects of board business. Steve Schild On Wednesday, October 08, 2003 10:34 AM, Steve Kranz wrote: > >Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2003 10:34:15 -0500 >From: Steve Kranz >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [Winona] School Board Meeting Format > >[Winona Online Democracy] > >Greetings, > >I was hoping to get some input and ideas from W.O.D. members on the format >of school board meetings. (for those on the list who may not know, I >currently serve as Chair of the school board for Winona Area Public >Schools). At the beginning of this school year, I decided that my personal >focus this year as a board member would be "board governance" -- I want to >focus on helping the board function as best as possible and set up >structures that promote constructive dialogue between board members (as well >as, between the board and community) and good decision making. > >Recently, we made changes in our meeting structure in an attempt to: >- create a more constructive dialogue (we've been known to argue a bit), >- reduce the length of meetings (which tend to run upwards of 4-5 hours) >- and, in general, create an environment that is more conducive to good >decision-making > >Our traditional structure is comprised of two meetings a month (the first >and third Thursdays) which take place in the City Council Chambers and are >broadcast on cable access. The first meeting of the month is meant to be a >"Study Session" in which the board does not conduct business, but only >discusses issues. It has evolved over time, though, into pretty much just >another business meeting. > >The new structure includes the following: > >1. We have created "board committees" in which 3-4 board members discuss >issues with administration and make recommendations to the board. >Currently, there is a Budget Committee and a Board Operations Committee. >These meetings are not televised, but are open to the public. The reasons >for creating the committees was (1) to provide more opportunity for >board/admin dialogue during the formation of policy (rather than having the >board only see the "finished product" at board meetings) and (2) to >contribute to shorter regular board meetings by transferring some of the >discussion to the committee meetings (which can then be summarized in a >recommendations to the full board). > >2. We changed our study session to become an "actual" study session. It is >now an untelevised meeting that is open to the public and takes place at a >less formal setting. The agenda is limited to a few topics and issues are >not voted upon (unless there is a time constraint involved). Board members >also discuss the agenda for the regular meeting and indicate what >information they will need from administration at the meeting. The purpose >of these changes is to (1) to reduce conflict at regular meetings by >allowing board members to participate more directly in setting the agenda >(2) to allow board members to get a feel for other board members' views on >issues before we need to vote on them (3) to encourage more constructive >dialogue by providing an environment that is less formal and "feels" more >like a discussion/dialogue, as opposed to our regular meetings which tend to >feel more like a "public hearing". > >At the first "new" study session we had difficulties with the public hearing >the board. We will provide amplification at the next meeting to try and >alleviate this. > >I am sensitive to keeping the operations of the board as open and >transparent as possible. I think it is a balancing act to try and allow the >board opportunities to discuss issues in a format that doesn't always feel >like they are "on stage", while still providing the public with access to >the process. Issues such as televising meetings are important, but I also >think the public has an interest in the board members being able to work >together constructively. I think everyone would like to see "less >entertainment and more good decisions" by the board (well . . . almost >everyone ;-). > >In addition to the changes described above, we are also going to hold a >board retreat in November (or late October) in which we will have a >professional facilitator guide the board through a goal setting process and >try to help the board develop a common vision for the future of Winona Area >Public Schools. We are also considering holding "listening sessions" every >three months for the sole purpose of the board receiving public input. > >So -- for those who have made it this far into the email -- what do you >think of this effort? What else can (or should) we do? Do you have any >suggestions regarding the changes and/or how the board can function most >constructively? > >-Steve Kranz, Board Member >-Winona Area Public Schools > > >_______________________________________________ >This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy >All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. >No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. >To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit >http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona >Any problems or suggestions can be directed to >mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at > http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
