Letter: Board of Education Violates Community Involvement Goals

*Local Bob Urbancik emailed this letter to Patch requesting the community to look into the Board of Education's policy on community involvement.

I just went to the web site, then the link to Board of Ed, then the link to Policy Manual. I then went to page 17: Community Relations Goals, policy 1000.

This policy lists 12 goals the Board of Ed set for community involvement.

Sadly it seems that the Board of Education is not following its own policy and has recently acted to further lessen input from the community by imposing restrictions on members of the community seeking to address issues at Board of Ed meetings. The Board of Ed accomplished this by limiting the time a person is allowed to speak at a meeting.

I believe the Board of Ed has violated their own goals especially:

# 6 – to promote a spirit of cooperation among the Board, the schools, and the community

# 7 – to develop and maintain the confidence of the community in the Board and the school district staff

# 8 – to expand the public understanding of every aspect of the school system, and stimulate public interest in the school

# 9 – to facilitate dissemination of information to the community concerning issues and activities in the school

# 10 – to ascertain the community’s opinions and desires with respect to the operations of the school system, and to incorporate that knowledge into actions

# 12 – to develop and maintain the most effective means of communications possible with the people of the district

Numbers 10 and 12 seem to be the areas of most concern. With the loss of the 3.1 Million dollars the Board refused to inform the public of the details. And with the preparations for the annual budget as well as any details of the unsettled teachers’ contract the Board refuses to keep us informed.

About two months ago I spoke at a Board of Ed meeting. After the meeting the Vice President of the Board, Mrs. Theresa Knox, informed me that my statements deeply offended her.

So now the Board limits your time to speak. Board members may criticize you after you speak. And the board does not keep us informed on key issues.

This current Board of Ed seems to be abusing the community by not following their own policy.

Please take the time to read the policy yourself soon as this Board may act to eliminate parts of this policy.

I believe we are entitled to be informed on key issues and our opinions should matter. And besides what I think it is the policy for the Board of Ed to follow.

I urge all members of the community to read the policy and to keep it in mind when the next election for Board of Ed trustees comes along. We are entitled to more than this Board is giving us.

– Bob Urbancik