I reported on the Be Heard! Discussion portion of the
COMMUNITY/GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE meeting last night.
I want to discuss the reactions after Dr. Steve Patz gave his list of six points regarding the Be Heard! sessions and then move on the final agenda item of the evening.
After Dr. Patz announced his #6 item of the need to Move Forward in the district, he gave a few ideas/points on how he felt we could do that.
Those points were:
By putting a plan together and taking a look at future needs
Looking into a land purchase
Address the master plan of the city
What might we need in 20 years?
Again, look to the future
Go through the buildings...keep the cart ahead of th horse
It might take two years to get a building built
Look at trends
Look at the student population
Look at space needs...are they growing?
Here is something that dumbfounded me.....
Dr. Patz said, and I quote
"We never talked about redistricting. We never talked about another referendum."
What?
Did I hear that correctly?
Yes, I did.
Now at the last regular Board meeting I was at, Dave Szychlinski stated that there would not be talk of a referendum for a while, so I'm okay with that.
But, "We never talked about redistricting?"
Well, I guess it depends on the definition of what "we" is. (If I can borrow that tactic from a past President of ours.)
I distinctly heard Dr. Patz "mention" redistricting at the first Be Heard! meeting.
There is redistricting talk in an email of Dr. Ward's.
There was unofficial redistricting talk between Dr. Ward and Scott Bauer.
I guess the "we" must mean officially as a Board around the table.
I guess "we" as the public need some clarification on that statement.
School Districts "redistrict" all the time. It's a school fact of life.
I'll move on ....
Next, Mary Karolewicz said people still needed more information regarding the referendum. Many people didn't make meetings, or didn't call Board members. How do you address busy families? Busy community members? Things can get lost.
Dr. Patz said we do need to get information out. Not everyone uses a computer. Not everone reads the newspaper. People are busy. We need to utilize the parent teacher conferences, athletic events, be visable to answer questions. Venue is important.
Mary Karolewicz said this is not limited to referendum issues. All things in the district and the budget are important. We can't lose site of why we sit in these chairs. We're here for academic success too.
This is where I can just link you to her emails she sent because she started talking about the environment and advocates, and....well, it's all in here .
Dr. Patz said people want to cut taxes. They don't want taxes to rise. People will support us if we show people need. We need to show evidence.
Sue Huhn said there has to be a constant look at the Communication Plan. The Internal and the External Plan. We need to move forward. Don't repeat history. Learn a lesson from past referendums.
Patz said not to forget to reach out to the community for financial donations. The community wants to be involved.
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Next we moved on the the final agenda item...the Communications Update.
Tanya Ruder had done an internet survery regarding the website. I beleive she said 221 people replied to the survey. Most of those who replied had children.
Tanya said the most disturbing issue to her was that people felt they did not receive information frequently enough.
She said perhaps in the future the district could try more tri-fold flyers, Points or Pride, continue Be Heard Sessions (they are not just regarding a referendum), Key Communicators Sessions (the website will be discussed next Wednesday). She said "we are not a perfect district."
Sue Huhn asked if there was a way to determine if the people who said they didn't get enough information were the people without children. Tanya said she could, but not easily.
Dr. Patz said there were other venues to use for surveys. Again, we need more communication.
Sue Huhn mentioned Voice Poll.
The meeting was adjourned.
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My last comments are observations of the meeting:
The first part of this meeting was The Committee of the Whole.
Our students were present.
Jeff Traylor strolls in wearing shabby jeans and looking like he just rolled off the couch.
We want students to look decent at school.
You are elected officials.
At a formal meeting , can't you dress appropriately?
I was embarrassed for Traylor.
Debbie Larson, who was on the Communications Committee, barely said one word.
She basically called the meeting to order.
Like the last meeting I was at, she sat there and scowled.
Traylor never spoke.
Can they speak?
Do they contribute?
Are they the silent minority or what? I'm just asking.
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I'll have one more report and it will be about the Committee of the Whole.
This one will be for the students.
What all of this is about in the first place....
