Topic: School Board Elections This Fall

[The_Rooster]

I wouldn't go as far to say that a vote for Thompson/Kirk is a vote for Freshwater.  I do wonder though about something.

Back in May of last year, there was a petition to recall the school board.  My question is, were Thompson's or Kirk's signature on that?  If they were I'd have some deep concerns. 

Not that they were trying to unseat the board for the religious reasons, but if they actually read the petition they were signing.

Because reading is a pretty important part of being a school board member.

Now I know that there was an online recall effort, which garnered 11 responses, but I know there was a photo of Cline delivering a stack of papers to the Board of Education.

Though I am just wondering.

[wastintime]

I wouldn't go as far to say that a vote for Thompson/Kirk is a vote for Freshwater.  I do wonder though about something.

Back in May of last year, there was a petition to recall the school board.  My question is, were Thompson's or Kirk's signature on that?  If they were I'd have some deep concerns. 

Not that they were trying to unseat the board for the religious reasons, but if they actually read the petition they were signing.

Because reading is a pretty important part of being a school board member.

Now I know that there was an online recall effort, which garnered 11 responses, but I know there was a photo of Cline delivering a stack of papers to the Board of Education.

Though I am just wondering.

Wow! What a good thought.  At best, if it is the case that they signed, I would view that as a very antagonistic move.  Our school board and system doesn't really need any more antagonism!

[cateyes]

 Let US remember...how we got where we are....is because  past administation did NOT do their job overseeing Freshwater...

#1 there was no clear rules/policies of conduct in the classroom for a teacher..

#2 when there was an issue...it was NOT documented or not correctly..

Neither of those should have happened, but did.

IF these had been done...the Freshwater issue would not be playing out as it is now...

This is 101 in managment ...many of you are fully aware of this...now Freshwater is playing out HIS RIGHTS and yes our community is paying.

The Freshwater case is full reason WHY policies MUST be in place to protect all...BUT they MUST be within legal...and many "think" they know seperation of church and state..but they do not...IF you do not properly apply policy within the laws  of this also..you can end back in court.

So policies need to be within legal and be clear and applied correctly.

So we need people on the Board that will see to it..these people also need to work well with the super..who I dont know..but some here have spoken well of..He also NEEDS to do much to bring this system back where it needs to be..

[dhw]

All the talk is about Kirk & Thompson.  So what can anyone tell me good or bad the other three?

[Bubbleburst]

Hughes is an attorney who grew up in Mount Vernon and then moved to California where he practiced law for many years. He moved back to Mount Vernon a few years back and said he ran for school board because he wanted to give back to the community. He has no children.

At the candidates' night, Hughes said he witnessed the drive-by shooting of a 13-year-old boy when he lived in LA and frequently slept to the sound of police helicopters. He cites his exposure to troubled youth as a key reason for wanting to serve on a school board.

Paula Barone is a retired educator of 30+ years and has a pretty fancy set of educational credentials and accomplishments. Her website can be seen here: www.paulabarone.com

Ian Watson is a banker and current school board president. Short of that, I don't know a whole lot about him.

[The Mothman]

Some of the rules have to be implied too, don't they?  Should the school handbook say something like this?

Rule Number 1,666.  Do not burn crosses on the arms of students with scientific devices that were not designed for this purpose.

Let US remember...how we got where we are....is because  past administation did NOT do their job overseeing Freshwater...

#1 there was no clear rules/policies of conduct in the classroom for a teacher..

#2 when there was an issue...it was NOT documented or not correctly..

Neither of those should have happened, but did.

IF these had been done...the Freshwater issue would not be playing out as it is now...

This is 101 in managment ...many of you are fully aware of this...now Freshwater is playing out HIS RIGHTS and yes our community is paying.

The Freshwater case is full reason WHY policies MUST be in place to protect all...BUT they MUST be within legal...and many "think" they know seperation of church and state..but they do not...IF you do not properly apply policy within the laws  of this also..you can end back in court.

So policies need to be within legal and be clear and applied correctly.

So we need people on the Board that will see to it..these people also need to work well with the super..who I dont know..but some here have spoken well of..He also NEEDS to do much to bring this system back where it needs to be..

[The Mothman]

I'm not picking on you Cateyes, I swear.  I agree that Mr. Kirk should have gotten some kind of a legal opinion and perhaps he did.

The problem is though that an average citizen cannot obtain a legal opinion from the AG.  The AG only furnishes legal opinions to governmental officials.  They also take a very long time to obtain and they are not binding opinions.

Mr. Kirk would have had to gone to either the Board of Elections and/or the country prosecutor and asked them to request the opinion.  Possibly even the Secretary of State.

Seabiscuit....I agree with most all you said...NOT being from here..I have seen much of the small town thinking...still in a box..but they dont even know it....and yes fresh minds/ideas would benefit...BUT where do you find that?? those running...are much of the same..except Steve Hughes..who is from here..but also has lived in LA and was exposed to several different types of schools..

As far as the others...hidden agenda...who ever really knows the fullness of why someone runs...but Thompson does have business background...and he has been influenced by family members to think different...career center being part of that....so my thinking is he may have much to offer to help guide this community thru a mess others have left to deal with.

Mr Kirk... I think he should have contacted the Attorney General and ASKED for a legal opinion as to his LEGAL right to hold a board position...and I told him after meeting...certified is that...the SIGNATURES are certified to be eligiable VOTERS...but all can be challenged in court...which is expected.

Me...our community is in too much of a mess..to take a chance on wasting a vote for someone that MIGHT be allowed to stay on the board..

[cateyes]

Steve Hughes, I have come to know as ..the son of a WWII father, a attorney and a landlord.  Knowing him in these different ways has given me insight to the man himeself. How he conducts his business..and how he treats people. We have spoken on many subjects in depth..and I have found him to be a caring man and willing to give to others.
 
More recently I have worked with him..to rescue animals that are homeless. That speaks for itself...of his caring and willness to give..even to an animal seen by many as having no value.

 His father and him are best friends...going fishing to Missouri usally at least twice a year. His dad has been a long time landlord locally.  I knew his father, Dick, first then came to know Steve.

Yes, Steve's witnessing a drive by shooting of a 13 yrs old affected him..seeing how many young people have no goals or visions for tomorrow.  Steve understands education is a key to a better future.

 Steve does not have children in the school system..which I dont find as a negative..actually I find it makes him more neutral ...bringing his business sense to the table, but not the got to get it for my child/family thinking, but a balanced  focus on all childrens needs.

 After the meeting, when I was speaking to the candidates...and some to Steve...others had walked up to hear Steve explain how he wanted to do a paticular expenditure that had to be addressed with money that had to be spent and the whys..but the rest of the board would not approve it...he had focued on the present and the future with his thinking...so now down the road it will cost the system thru to nose to address the same again.

The others that listened to this as I were local business men..and they were not pleased with what they had just learned. Each saw how Steve had tried to apply good business sense..but was over ridden by the rest of the board.

 Remember...one board member does not make a full descion by the board...they can vote the way they think best for the system..but be over ridden by the majority. We need a full board with financial understanding..and education needs..and board members that are not afraid to speak their minds and stand their ground when needed.

Mr Hughes does and can still bring common sense to the board for our community good. But he is one vote on the board when they are making descions. He doesnt have any reason to give his time on the board...except to help our community. That I find a positive.

He even belongs to a different policital party then I, but that will not stop my vote for him.

IF you have questions of him..dont be afraid to ask them...he will not run from your questions. And you well may find...his answers very enlightening and not as you may have expected.

[mtnmama]

Ian Watson is a banker and current school board president. Short of that, I don't know a whole lot about him.

http://ianwatsonforschoolboard.com/Home.html

[cateyes]

 The Mothman...I dont feel picked on...am I missing something...think we are just discussing a very important subject for our communty.

 Ok then Kirk should have requested thru whoever a legal opinion....not the we will have to wait and see.

 When we listened to him explain things he really tried to say...he was 'certified' to be running..but a member of the board that oversees the appications to be on the ballot explained their only duty was to "certify" the SIGNATURES of that application they are  to be sure the form was filled out correctly..and the CORRECT number REQUIRED was verified legal voter signature.

I did not find this difficult to understand...75 sigs MUST be verified to be of legal voters..and the form filled out....but that did NOT address the legal issue of can he sit on the board or is there a conflict of interest.

But Mr Kick seemed to be confused with this...and making statments in his opinon he was certified to run for this.

So tho he brings great credintuals to the table...I have issues of the legal..and how it will affect our community and for how long would it take to address it..even if he is elected.

[The Mothman]

I think that's a good point.  Mr. Kirk should address this issue correctly and soon.

The Mothman...I dont feel picked on...am I missing something...think we are just discussing a very important subject for our communty.

 Ok then Kirk should have requested thru whoever a legal opinion....not the we will have to wait and see.

 When we listened to him explain things he really tried to say...he was 'certified' to be running..but a member of the board that oversees the appications to be on the ballot explained their only duty was to "certify" the SIGNATURES of that application they are  to be sure the form was filled out correctly..and the CORRECT number REQUIRED was verified legal voter signature.

I did not find this difficult to understand...75 sigs MUST be verified to be of legal voters..and the form filled out....but that did NOT address the legal issue of can he sit on the board or is there a conflict of interest.

But Mr Kick seemed to be confused with this...and making statments in his opinon he was certified to run for this.

So tho he brings great credintuals to the table...I have issues of the legal..and how it will affect our community and for how long would it take to address it..even if he is elected.

[Steve.Deserved.Better]

Is there a site that keeps track of the board and their voting record as well as their reasons why for public viewing?

 

[cateyes]

Taken from his website:


What is the biggest issue facing the district?


    Financing our students’ education is the biggest issue presently.  It is difficult to run a district when the revenues from the State are not known two months into the fiscal year, and knowing additional expenses have been legislated for next year while State support will likely be less than this year.


How would you address this issue?


    It is difficult to impact the State’s budget in the situation the State finds itself.  I can help make the legislators knowledgeable about the funding problems we are encountering.  It will be more productive to focus on what we do control locally, and that is our cost structure.  Although most of our expenses are fixed in the current year, many become variable over several years.  By focusing on those expenses today, the impact of the State’s difficulties in coming years will be muted. 

This makes good sense...our state level is out of order for our financial support of our school system....many do not even know...property taxes for the schools is seen illegal by the state constitution...but legislation has not addressed it, which it is THEIR responsiblity.

So state level and local financial issues need addressed..but only local can the SB really address other than make it known to state level what is or is not being addressed by the state to meet the needs of our community.  I belong to a local Law Club and this issue  of property taxes has been discussed and researched.

There needs to either be a change to the state consitution to address this (gee they want to add to it all the time for other stuff) or the legislation needs to do whatever needs done to bring us within legal boundries.

Ian Watson is a banker and current school board president. Short of that, I don't know a whole lot about him.

http://ianwatsonforschoolboard.com/Home.html

[cateyes]

Mothman.....and yes getting a legal opinion can take much time....BUT it can be requested to be addressed quickly so not to cause a hardship upon our community. Of course, that doesnt mean it will happen.

I dont know when exactly the conflict came to light...or when Mr Kirk realized this was a LEGAL issue..but I find it HIS RESPONSIBLITY to address it..so we the voter could know better if we wanted to cast a vote his way.

As I have said...our comminunity does NOT have time to waste on our financial issues so we need people in place on the board..that can go forward and do what needs done.

Now when one talks about a levy..seems our education needs address in our community.. for the future of us all.

By the way, I do not have a child in the system now..but when mine was...I found our school system far behind other states. Old thinking, old ways of doing.

Tho the board doesnt address many things I think need addressed...it can at least be an influence to those that do have other responsibilites in our school system.

[cateyes]

Paula Barone is a retired educator of 30+ years and has a pretty fancy set of educational credentials and accomplishments. Her website can be seen here: www.paulabarone.com

Anyone remember her when she was on city counsel...how did she address financial issues??

She comes as a teacher..which is not all bad...but not enough...our fininacals are in such a mess that must be understood and tackled as best they can for our schools/students survival and benefit.

She at this SB candidate meeting...spoke of the need of the arts...which I personaly love..having taken my first art lesson when only 5 yrs old and having at least one art class all thru school even into college...and understand the good affect the arts have on our students...BUT our basic education MUST come first..and with the financials as they are...I question how all can be addressed in our tomorrows..and not take from the basics.

I would hate to see any of the arts lost...but when push comes to shove...just as in our home lives...sometimes something has to be not allowed..for the survival of the rest of our life.