Part 2: Most of Us Donʼt Care…
Most of us donʼt care enough to know enough
to vote for the best Board members.
Especially among those who regularly watch the Board and Admin, there is a general
concern that too many Board proceedings are conducted in Executive Session, in
private, away from the public, in secret.
Itʼs natural to wonder why meetings are hidden away from the eyes and ears of the
public. By the way, to be fair, our Board generally does open up many discussions for
public comment.
But they donʼt have to. If the public doesnʼt listen, watch and ask to be heard—well,
then, it makes it too easy for the Board to hide.
Most folks feel:
• some of the Boardʼs work is accomplished without
meaningful public input
• some of the Boardʼs work is accomplished too privately
• some of the Boardʼs decisions are inappropriate or just plain
nuts!
Three nuts-n-bolts facts:
1. an elected School Board is responsible to conduct School District business,
specifically, by directing the Superintendent and proposing an annual budget
for subsequent public ratification and implementation by simple majority vote
(there are some exceptions)
2. an elected School Board is responsible to conduct all School District business
in public, with very few exceptions (such as when the subject discussed may
materially impair safety, fiscal considerations or the ability of the Board to
perform its best, or when staff must be protected)
3. the elected Board may make decisions based on closely-held knowledge and
they do not have to reach out to the public for opinion, discussion or any other
input
Note: if you wish to read the entire NYS Educational Law as regards school districts and
school boards you may go to BoardDocs (go to Policies tab) or directly to the NYS
Education Department website.
We want a school district that transparently and successfully educates our children. It
must anticipate and mitigate change, promptly and honestly deal with day-to-day issues
and not waste our time or resources.
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Want to make sure our school district is just such a district?
We have to care enough to vote for the best Board members.
Three Board-member facts:
1. we have a 5-member Board, each with a 3-year term
• every year at least one seat is open for election
• some years 2 seats are open
• on our current cycle:
• Dawsonʼs and Campʼs seats are up for election Spring 2012
• McCannʼs and Gradosʼ seats are open in Spring 2013
• Whitneyʼs seat is up in Spring 2014
2. the number of School Board Members, currently 5, can be changed
3. the method of Board-member selection method we use, candidate-initiated,
contested public elections, can also be changed
After several difficult years of skinny budgets and wobbly leadership, our studentsʼ
excellent scores as well as impressive record of college admittances still attest to the
fact we historically have and currently do provide a successful, beneficial education to
the majority of our public school students. We are a high-achieving district in a high-
achieving county.
Our costs, on the other hand, tend to be mid-range—in other words, weʼre getting
decent bang for our buck relative to other Westchester taxpayers. Letʼs be grateful for
that.
But weʼve been coasting. High-achievement is in danger.
Aerodynamic drag, gravity, a changeable, uphill terrain, worn-out parts needing
replacement and constantly climbing operating costs all serve to slow us down—and it
isnʼt hard to imagine stalling soon, quickly followed by rolling backwards, out of control,
down the bumpy, twisting hill.
How to keep moving forwards (as well as stay on the road)?
This year (SY 2011-2012) we have to successfully accomplish 2 crucial tasks:
1. successfully attract, select and empower a satisfactory new
Superintendent
2. elect two Trustees who will restore our Board to a functioning, corporate,
united, effective voice of leadership
Sadly, in the last 3 elections weʼve managed to vote in a fractious Board.
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This same Board presided over the final disintegration of our last administration team.
Currently this Board is in the middle of engaging new IUFSD Superintendent.
Think about it: do we want the same ineffective, split Board to direct the new
superintendent, too?
Cultural change is slow. Weʼve successfully coasted for several years—weʼre still OK—
but which way do we want to go now? Where do we want our new superintendent to
take us?
Itʼs obvious—we need a substantially different board next year to properly guide our
new superintendent. Remember, the new superintendent will have a 3-year contract and
likely stay longer.
So, even though we canʼt affect the new IUFSD Superintendentʼs selection very much,
by voting well this Spring we can affect the superintendentʼs overall course.
We have to care enough to vote for the best Board members.
There are 2 seats open this May. We need 2 new Board members to form a strong,
clear, pro-school majority. Whitney, Grados and McCann will continue as Board
Members.
So, whatʼs the public to do? How can we ensure our needs are well addressed?
To vote well we have to know whatʼs going on. Suggested:
• watch and listen and question by attending more bi-weekly Tuesday evening
School Board meetings (see schedule on Edline (check http://www.edline.net/
pages/Irvington_UFSD/Board_of_Education for exact dates
• tell the Board to use secret Executive Sessions as little as possible
• canʼt attend? watch the board meeting videotapes on Edline
• canʼt attend? read the documents instead—especially the Board Meeting
Minutes on BoardDocs
Short list. Maybe an hourʼs investment per week, maybe more, but at least you can get
the information you need to understand whatʼs going on in our District.
By reading the minutes? You bet! Not only will you understand the issues, but youʼll
know who voted for or against on every motion.
Thereʼs no better way to decide who our Board Members should be. Luckily, access to
board records has recently improved quite a bit! BoardDocs is now active.
BoardDocs is a system where almost all the written material that the Board works from
will be available online to the public for reference and review at all times. Find it now at
Edline, under Contents (in the yellow block), category BoardDocs.
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Nothingʼs more important than knowing. Keeping tabs on District information and
attending Board meetings prepares us to vote well.
In the long run, the most important thing the public can do is carefully, intelligently
decide whom to elect to the Board.
We have to care enough to vote for the best Board members.
Nothingʼs more important. Nothing.
Weʼre a democracy—but we donʼt vote on issues.
After Board Members are elected we cross our fingers and trust that theyʼll do the right
things, the right way, keeping the majorityʼs best interests at heart.
Weʼve got 3 years to watch and decide how theyʼre doing—what they think, what they
propose, what they say, what they write—and, most important, how they vote and
conduct themselves. Members running for re-election have a record. Knowing the
record is key.
Did they do what you wanted them to? Did they succeed in areas you deem important?
Do you agree with their posture?
Because this Springʼs open 2 seats are so important this year, Diligentsia will report on
John Dawsonʼs and Robyne Campʼs 3-year voting record. It is their seats that are up for
election in May.
We want the IUFSD to remain excellent.
We care enough to know enough.
We Care to Know to Vote
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