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| School Board Races; Is it May yet? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Nov 10 2006, 11:14 PM (738 Views) | |
| fyi | Nov 10 2006, 11:14 PM Post #1 |
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Principal
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http://www.edreform.com/parentpower/electi...board_races.htm Why School Board Races Are Important Whether you're a parent of a child in public school or other types of schools, school boards affect you. School board members determine the cost of education and how much they'll ask of taxpayers. Beyond money, school boards determine what kind of Superintendent to hire, whether or not to permit parents a choice between public schools, whether to grant a charter if permitted by the state, or whether home school children can participate in a class or two. They even control what textbooks to buy and organize committees who advise them, which unfortunately more often than not are composed of more administrators and teachers than parents. Many education observers have noted that school boards are more sympathetic to the demands of school officials than parents. In San Diego, California, parents frustrated over the school board continually rubber stamping the Superintendentant's textbook picks organized to help influence the outcome of the elections, so that the curriculum that had been held up as the main reason for inadequate instruction could be changed. In New York City, parents supported the mayoral takeover of the public schools and the elimination of the school board in order to bring about much needed reforms to a broken system. The mayor of Los Angeles is slated to take over that city's failing schools this January and a school board takeover is a very popular topic in the DC Mayoral election. School boards don't have all the power, of course. The power for education is splintered across local, state and federal levels and across schools, districts and other bureaucracies. But the local arena offers an opportunity for concentrated influence. The challenge to all parents, then, is being engaged in school board politics when there are so many other important things tugging at you. The key is to know clearly who is running for school board, what the important issues are and how to distinguish what simply sounds good from what works. There's nothing better for a community than to have a reform-minded school board that takes nothing for granted, asks questions of the school leaders and demands accountability from the system. Make sure you know when school board elections are. Many assume they take place at the same time as the general elections, but many times that's not the case. Some take place in the spring, at a time when most people are not thinking about elections. Does the candidate believe parents should have a larger voice in school decisions and that your decisions about how your children best learn should get first priority? Ask them what they would do if a parent wanted to send his child to another school in the system or perhaps to an independent, public charter school. Does the candidate support the concept of parents having greater choices in education? What are the important issues facing your community right now? What should they be? If your reading program hasn't been reviewed in years, is this something the candidate will pursue? Make sure he/she is not overly focused on bricks and mortar. There's much more to being a good, responsive school board member than whether the football field needs better grass. There are lots of other questions to ask and many more ideas that will relate only to your community. There may even be groups in your community already focused on a parent-friendly agenda that you can seek out. The bottom line is that parents need to take that extra time to understand what's happening at the schools and how to effect change through school board elections. The age-old institution of local school boards have often shown themselves to be defenders of the status quo in local communities, and parents need to stake a claim on the policies that emanate from school boards not only to help their own child, but to help all children. |
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| Anna Krome | Nov 11 2006, 08:30 AM Post #2 |
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Principal
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Nanc! Nanc! She's our Chance! IF she can't win No one can! Okay, I tried--that was my attempt at cheerleading. AK |
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| professionalmom | Nov 11 2006, 12:23 PM Post #3 |
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Principal
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Hmmmm. I wonder how that happens.....the mayor just takes control? |
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| livoniamom | Nov 11 2006, 01:20 PM Post #4 |
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Principal
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There is guy that speaks frequently at school board meetings that mentioned running. Anyone else?? |
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| Grant1 | Nov 11 2006, 01:29 PM Post #5 |
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We have just begun to fight!
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That would be John Grizbek, former PTA prez from the now defunct McKinley Elementary School Have not heard of anyone else who has made any mention of running... Even the incumbents - unless you take into account the campaign sign from Freeman that was up at the Frost school function a week ago |
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| fyi | Nov 11 2006, 02:07 PM Post #6 |
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Principal
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http://z14.invisionfree.com/Hull_Neighbors...?showtopic=2227
Maybe New York City doesn't "elect" their school board? |
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| Mrs.M | Nov 11 2006, 02:10 PM Post #7 |
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Principal
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October 19, 2006 LO Grzebik already stated he would NOT be running... Keep kids focus of actions I appreciate growth in the way the board operates. Communication has been improved, the board's role on ad hoc committees reconsidered, policies reviewed, and other procedural improvements. I learned a lot over the last year and I have met many new friends with very different views. Board elections only come once a year. It's important to participate but it is just as important for us as citizens to be involved in decisions and we will not always agree with each other nor should we all the time. But we should all agree to keep kids the main focus of our actions and words. I spoke of running for the board before. I'm not interested in challenging the board. I would like to work with them and those with opposing viewpoints to move forward. When a seat opens up in the future I will consider running. I hope when that comes you will support me. I also wanted to talk about school funding. Schools in Michigan are funded primarily by the state. They call this state shared revenue. Proposal A limits property taxes. We levy a property tax to make up our full foundation allowance and the sinking fund in L.P.S. In recent years the state cut or froze revenue sharing. Health care costs and other costs have absorbed the increases we have received from the state more recently. In the past the governor proposed a cut to 20j funds. We continue to need to look at our budget to make every penny count. Voters will decide the fate of Proposal 5 this fall. We recently observed 9/11 we should realize how lucky we are to speak freely about government as we have over the last year. John Grzebik Livonia unless there was an open seat |
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| jodygirlh | Nov 11 2006, 02:29 PM Post #8 |
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Principal
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"Many education observers have noted that school boards are more sympathetic to the demands of school officials than parents. " This couldn't be more true than in our own circumstances here in Livonia. What a big lesson we all have learned about involvement in school board elections and truly understanding the role of BOE trustees. Hopefully this BOE will be learning a big lesson soon too! |
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| CKlockner | Nov 11 2006, 02:51 PM Post #9 |
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Principal
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Accountablity is the key word here. The administration, this includes the BOE, must be held responsible for the loss of over 500 students from this district, and the hundreds of disatisfied parents currently in LPS. Those who are running for reelection in May are going to have a rude awakening. As Ms. Morgan did this past year. |
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| Mrs.M | Nov 11 2006, 03:01 PM Post #10 |
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One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors. ~Plato |
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| Elisa | Nov 11 2006, 03:04 PM Post #11 |
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Principal
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The school boards of most large cities are appointed by the mayor. |
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| Zeke | Nov 11 2006, 03:37 PM Post #12 |
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Principal
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This should be on a sign. Right below "Welcome to Livonia". |
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| cmic | Nov 11 2006, 06:36 PM Post #13 |
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Principal
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I thought I heard him say he would run at one of the meetings. |
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| bee | Nov 12 2006, 08:26 PM Post #14 |
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Principal
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My understanding is that it is one of John G. goals, is to be on the board. I'm not too worried about him getting much support, specifically because he has supported the current board all the way throught this LIe. Only after Steve was elected in did he approach CFLF for support, and began trying to bridge the gap between the two entities. What ever happened to JAM? Has she fallen off the face of the earth? Really shows how much she cared about LPS. I'm sooooooo happy not to have to hear her on Mondays. 1 down, 5 to go!!! |
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| fyi | Nov 12 2006, 08:33 PM Post #15 |
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Principal
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Geez.....I forgot all about her :lol: :lol: :lol: |
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