The first 120 days, if you were counting . . . .

I rarely post here now because, well, I believe if you want to know what's going on in your town's schools, you should come to board meetings occasionally.  My problem - and a big reason I asked to serve on a school board again - was that you really couldn't learn anything from attending a Wharton meeting and if you did and asked questions, you couldn't get a straight answer anyway.

"The first 120 days" or so since I was sworn in have been largely consumed with the search for a new superintendent.  This has been a very good experience.  Naturally most of this process takes place behind closed doors, but what can be shared is how well this board has worked together.  Everyone deemed eligible to participate has been: every member has been able to contribute, share questions/concerns, and as a result there has been consensus at every step along the way.  This alone does not ensure a successful outcome, but it does go a long way.

I have been very concerned about the ability of one person to effectively fill both roles as superintendent and a principal (see this post).  There seems to be some acknowledgement now that the new teacher evaluation system is going to have a huge impact on the time demands of school administrators.  For this reason alone, let's see how this proposed new principal/superintendent configuration ends up being implemented.

Making sure that board deliberations can be viewed publicly, though, has been a priority for me.  I'm grateful to see board meetings better attended recently, and hope this continues.  What I have found is that this board's by-laws include measures to ensure board transparency.  Most notably, committee meetings may or may not legally be held in public - generally speaking they should be.  But regardless, board by-laws require a written report from each committee, and that this report be shared publicly with the entire board.  This has not been the board's practice - at least not consistently.  I have proposed revisions to existing by-laws where those by-laws have been either unclear, or at odds with each other.  Specifically, Committee Reports should be added to the Order of Business for regular board meetings, consistent with existing by-laws but not specifically an agenda item.  Also, board members should have an opportunity to raise issues from previous meetings that are still open/pending - Old Business - or new concerns either to be discussed or included on the next meeting's agenda - New Business.  Again, all of these would simply serve to make board decision-making more transparent.

What will these changes cost the board?  I can't think of any.  Will the board approve these changes?  I don't know, I'm only one vote.  But if they are not approved at the next two meetings (May 16, May 30) I hope you will be there to hear the explanation as to why.