At tonight's 9-R Board meeting, the protest signs were gone, but the presence of police officers is casting a new aura over the room. We're told they've been hired because of threats that have been received. Although these men in blue are quite friendly, business doesn't feel "as usual" with them in the corner of your eye.
During public participation, the board seemed to listen more attentively. Many members mentioned the lack of public inclusion later in the meeting. They got to hear thoughtful testimony about the current public controversy. DHS parent Rick O'Block presented a big picture summary of 9-R missteps and lost opportunities over a period of years. Carefully noting that he would be making no references either about the PAAC or "Shane Voss firing," he asked board members to take the time to respond appropriately to issues some of us in the room have experienced directly. From lawsuits to the still unfinished business of the "Tschirki Report." It was an eloquent plea for board members to try to imagine themselves in our shoes. We will see how this plays out, when and if they respond in March, as he requested.
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5 comments:
So much for Key Communicators connecting the school district to the community! It will take a long time to undo the damage done this past month.
It was rather strange that the SROs clocked off at 7:45 p.m. last night when the school board and administration broke for an executive session. I mean, if someone has really received a threat, then surely, the threat still existed when they went into another meeting room? Or could it be that the threat is as imaginary as insisting the Superintendent is in compliance with all her EL's?
What a disappointment for Durango. We could have the best of the best here and instead our representatives are settling for less than mediocrity. Who would even want to work for this school district with this sad state of affairs?
High School should be the best of times. I hear too many kids say that can't wait to get out of DHS. So sad.
February 13, 2007 9:16 PM
The Central Office Board Room took on a new feel tonight, as we were met by two School Resource Officers (SRO's; i.e. Durango police officers), each sitting on a chair either side of the room. At first glance, I thought they were there to protect and defend somebody's paranoia.
Then I assumed the SRO's were there to protect US! The public! Several members of the community and their spouses received threats after the last work session.
When several people asked: "Huh? Why are there policemen in the school board meeting", we discovered the wonderful SRO's were called to attend the meeting not to protect threatened community members, but to protect a board member who had apparently also received threats.
If this is true, it's a sad state of affairs. In my opinion, one member of the board didn't listen to his peers, whilst overreacting to criticism; and he treated them and the public with anger and contempt. When you are in a position of power, the number one rule is not to abuse your position, especially when elected by the very community stake holders you now fear -- who once entrusted their children's education with you in the first place.
So, dear Community Members, next time you attend a school board meeting, and you really should, because you owe it to your children and their teachers to check in now and then, don't forget to bring cookies and brownies for your favorite SRO!
Put this at the top , put this a the top.
Waiting on the Status Quo ( world ) to Change
"When they own the information , they bend it all they want"
Liar, liar pants on fire!
When did the fire marshall really come by? Lets see
someone(MM)called them. the day of the RIOT. As my friend said. 49 people allowed. Really? they had 70 chairs:)) We counted them. hehe,
I have written letters over the years to the school board and the superintendent. Complete waste of time. Mary Barter has her agenda and that's the bottom line. I wouldn't even waste my time attending a school board meeting because it's business as usual in 9-R and that means parents and community members have no voice.
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