You are at the heart of the issue there, Tom--we do
need a way to assure that all citizens value public education. All of the
bad press and disagreements don't help us create that reality, I'm
afraid.
There does appear to be quite a lot of conflict
within our district system and between Board, Teachers, and
Administration. Conflict is natural and predictable in public education. How is
it being managed?
I'd suggest that any board members and
administrators and teachers that are able, attend the WSU Leadership Center's
"Crucial Conversations" training. Right now I think that many are in the "fight
or flight" mode which doesn't lend itself to peaceful resolution of
differences.
I know that many institutions are availing
themselves of this model of workplace communication--our Winona Health and
Franciscan Skemp are two I know of personally. What I sense is that folks
on all side of these issues are not feeling understood or like they have an
avenue to voice their concerns. I didn't see the board meeting in question, so
you can take all this with a grain of salt. I just know what I'm aware of
through personal observation/conversation and some of what's been in the paper.
These conflicts are hurting our community and something needs to happen to
resolve them. Silencing stakeholders can't possibly be the answer and I don't
even know that that is what was being done--is it possible that the board is
trying to provide a structure for civil discourse? I would hope so. it is in
their interest to do so. It is their job to obtain community input, but that
doesn't mean that the community should not have to follow some orderly way of
giving unput, just because they are angry about some decisions that were
made.
What is really going on? I can't even tell any
more.
Kathy Seifert
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2006 11:53 AM
Subject: RE: [Winona] School Board
[Winona Online Democracy]
Dick, my apologies for not including you.
Your
approach is one to be respected. I am big on getting
input from the teachers to improve the system. However there is a
problem in getting the true feelings out without a facilitator. The
other issue that enters in is work duties, hours and pay. It seems this tends
to cloud the education issue.
Check out www.tordahl.com and his
work with I think it is the Chaska school district.
Teaching is difficult enough, but education of those who want to learn
is easy. We need to find a way everyone will realize the value of
education. Tom
I too served with Paul and Ruth for many years
and did evaluations for at least 3 superintendents. While I agree the
evaluation should and will be done in private, I also believe the criteria
for such an evaluation is a public matter and the public should be able to
give their input to the board. If the board does this evaluation,
generally it was done with a committee of the board that reported the
results to the entire board.
Also, evaluation criteria change over
time. It seems the current trend in the business world is to do 360
degree evolutions. This means the super does a self evaluation and
those around him including his staff, teaching staff, and others he would
supervise give input into the performance of the person. This is common
practice done in the professional world by most employers. It gives
the person evaluated the opportunity to give goals and suggestions for the
future and receive ideas from others.
I hope the board
will consider this method. It is always difficult to evaluate an
employee and leave the emotional factors out and just look at performance
issues. Did the person meet their goals? Were the employees
supervised performing as expected? I trust the board will be
direct and impartial on all counts.
I agree with Tom. If this was a public
forum, it would be a witch hunt. We don't need that.
We elected the school board to be our voice. Let them do their
job. If we don't like what they do, we have 4 seats up for elections
this fall. Dick Gaffron
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2006 7:15
AM
Subject: RE: [Winona] School
Board
[Winona Online Democracy]
Ruth and Paul were on the school board for a long time and has
been very involved if my recollection serves me well. I always
respect her opinion.
The rest of us who want to criticize the school board for not
listening need to run for the board and get involved.
I may disagree and think there is a better way, but if I am not
willing to commit the time to the board or running for the
board. Things like evaluating the superintendent are
private events which we as the public cannot evaluate effectively. A
public evaluation would be the equivalent of a public flogging, especially
in light of how many people seem to be upset with the system and the
current superintendent.
What good could come of a public evaluation?
Very well said Ruth. I stopped
going to school board meetings years ago, I couldn't take the stress
of being talked down to and not even listened to when addressing the
board. Rude? I think every board we have has been
rude to the public. They are supposed to be representing us but
too often they either do what the superintendent wants or have their
own agenda.
Yes, we should be given the chance to
evaluate the superindentent in a forum besides letters to the
editor.
Linda Fort
[Winona Online Democracy]
I've noticed that they act in many ways
like we who foot the bill are just little unspanked children who don't
understand as much as they do. But, then we rally don't because all
the intelligencia on the board think they know best. Sorry in advance
if I again stepped on someones toes. Bob Kaldunski
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, May 19, 2006
11:47 PM
Subject: [Winona] School
Board
[Winona Online Democracy]
How many of this group watched last
Thursday's school board meeting? I thought Natalie was very
rude to the people who got up and spoke their minds on what is going
on in this school district. Mr Ramsdell was the spokesman for
the group, but was not representing the WEA, just the teachers and
other staff that were there for support. They were not talking
about any contract things, just trying to get people to realize how
this administration is trying to keep them quiet about things many
of us disagree that the top people are doing.
All of the speakers are citizens,
taxpayers and have a right to speak in the 5 minute time allowed as
I do. It is good for the people watching on television to hear
the side of the people who are responsible for teaching our
children. We need more people to get up and tell the
board we are not happy with some of the decisions that have been
made. The fee schedule that has now been passed is not
about the $20.00, but that anyone that is doing a service project
will now be charged to help other people. National Honor
Society, HOPE, Student Council just to name a few that will now have
to pay to be in these groups. When will the survey to the
community be sent out so we can all give our opinion of the school
board. Some are doing o.k., but remember there are 4 members
up for election this fall. I also have said at a board meeting
that I, along with many others, believe the community should also be
given a chance to evaluate our superintendent. Good, bad or
whatever the board would then have more to go on then the few people
who are getting to do an evaluation. Ruth
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