Tonight's meeting was not that exciting. Yes there was the normal fighting but no real issues came to the front. Yes there were the normal faces that can be expected at the board, but overall the board was not that bad, comparitively speaking. Some of the UT students there for credit for the classes were blown away by certain board member's behavior, I guess this shows how jaded I have become.
There was a 40-45 minute executive session.
There were some comments during comment time that wondered where the district was with the budget, which even Lisa Sobecki questioned the district over.
I talked about open record issues, transparency and marketing.
There were the parental comments about Birmingham and Ottawa River School. There were a lot of Point Place people there for the cute kid chorus group at the beginning of the meeting.
The Union officials criticized Darlene Fisher over her stance on the MOUs. They defended them and said that they are needed. I agree some are needed, but 1800 pages? I don't see how that is a reasonable amount. The Memorandum of Understandings are becoming a big issue, and justifiably so because money and policy is involved with them, but they usually don't get much public scrutiny.
Other than this no big announcements. The Union officials hung around, possibly meaning they expected an announcement (superintendent?).
I will post the actual notes another day (I am really tired tonight). The audio can be dowloaded at:
Firstly, I can see what the MOU issue is all about. It's about hiding the true finances of the TPS from the nosy public. It's about putting a budget more and more "off budget". In short, it's fraud.
Secondly, has anyone here (other than Mags) read Junta's blog "Progressive Toledo" lately? Junta's either brave or foolish to have revealed his thinking (and the fallout of such), to wit (emphasis mine):
Here are the notes. I only did a spell check so I am not responsible for any problems you find ;)
5:34 meeting started.
Otter Choir started off the meeting by singing. They are students from Ottawa river elementary
Honored Libby coach and Libby player for a great season.
Special Olympics state champions
Retirement honors
Citizens input - agenda was changed.
Wade K. - Invited to talk about mentor, wanted to follow the 3 minute rule. Talk about the great Ohio Reads program. Glad said yes to tutoring. Tutors at McKinley school. Glad to be here and talk about the program.
Tom Wsznuski - Spend a few brief minutes highlighting the positive programs. Birmingham school. Development director at Boys and Girls club, 4th club in North Toledo. Extraordinary things going on in the Toledo Public Schools. Every Thurs turns to real life application each student goes and runs business, run mayor and city council. Great program and proud to have spoken on their behalf.
Amy Cotter - School system is great. Called transportation no body followed up. Asked what is the system to notify parents? Told there is no notification, with such a good school system that the bus system has problems. Wanted things to do better and better communication.
Foley said they want to follow up to get a clear line of communication.
Lisa Sobecki - Thank 2 things to talk about what is going on and what is exciting. commended music teacher for help put the choir together at Ottawa Elementary. Great to know that there are people supporting the schools. Parent summit this Thursday at Woodward HS. District has a lot of negative and she gets questions on when to talk about the budget. Please ask the board start looking at the issue early.
Her son, name is likes music and is very nice . Likes his school.
Kevin Edmonton. Mention step daughter goes to Ottawa river school.
Tammy Richard - Parent of Ottawa river elementary student. Talked about the good things going on.
Irene Sacoma - Grandparent of student in Ottawa River School. Proud of school. One of the few schools that provide special services. Believe that faculty loves the school. Biggest concern is the people in the Point Place area.
Andi Wisestuart (sp?) - Take opportunity to thank super admire and respect opinion concern and history time you take spending time in our schools. Families and students will miss your work. Wish you the best.
Foley was very moved by the speech.
Jessica Autrict - Talk about Birmingham ham school. Never saw school work so hard with the community. Faculty is dedicated and reading numbers go up due to staff. One of the students will be doing her taxes next year. She knows that a lot of people think negatively of it. Thank you.
Twila Paige - Moratorium on all suspensions that do not involve violence. 50k days of suspensions are not acceptable. Would like to establish an MOU to get it done. Positive intervention programs. Intention that children have attorneys if they wish to appeal suspension. She said that she wants the same programs in their schools. She wanted a public meeting to discuss the suspension appeal process.
Chris Barwig - Parent of Byrnedale. Disappointed with certain members of the board. Some board members did not look into their special interest groups. Chess tourney at Rogers. Had K-6 out there. 37 trophies kids had a fabulous time. Everyone working together, Rogers custodial staff they were great. Back to Byrnedale, will have idol. Please top out.
Steven Flagg - Sykes finally a plan to complete the plan in 2 months. Presentation to board on may 21st. Latest for input out of all years. Ms. Fisher has been recommending since last fall. Congratulations to go to 0 based budgeting. Two months to finish it is a big task. No institutional knowledgebase, all judgmental and no experience looking past the current budget cycle. Other issue is the legal fees, two firms, 478k in legal expenses every year. Time to hire an attorney, constitutional amendment is flawed and does not guarantee property tax will be rolled back. Major reductions and a bad idea. Time for some fundamental changes, time to get Harner on board.
When Steve Flagg began talking, Larry Sykes left the room stomping loud as he left. He returned when Steven Flagg finished.
Chris Myers - I talked about the disturbing talk trend of wanting to talk in executive session. I also suggested that thier PR committee consider changing their message because I read an article on the Internet from a marketing consultant who said consumers of ads are very picky and they will be turned off of any message that is not backed up and not relevant.
Robert Brundage - Brought a pressure cooker. Talked about his experiences and other general statistics.
Cheryl Catlin - went through her stats on what the problem schools are. Improvement plan with benchmarks, strategic plan to improve Woodward and Scott, develop district pacing guides, teach to skills not to test, sponsor community forums to deal with the issues.
Sykes where did they get this information. You don't know if it is authentic.
Sykes said something about rude people interrupting. Do we have a program to address under performing schools. The UT students were surprised by Mr. Sykes' attitude at this time. All of their mouths were open.
Foley Starr schools and star plus program asked for more detailed school improvement plans to address issues.
Sykes how many schools on academic watch not to be quoted, school improvement committees, bring each school identified in that way. Finally get approval in committee. Saw success in schools moving up, in actually have had plans to address under performing schools. Decline in schools in academic performance.
Fisher, appreciate comments, stats are on ODE, our goal will be to move each school to excellence rating and how do we do that?
Torres - what we are looking at is 05-06 school year and if we can see 06-07 school year. Let's authenticate where they come from.
Barnett - can we request a report?
Foley said we can give you the numbers and can show where suspensions are concentrated.
Claudia Cooper - Begin interesting that Lisa commended a teacher, it is good to be acknowledged. Left a good position to teach, went to inner city, went extra mile, no pay, her reward was told not to return to the Toledo Public Schools, every teacher wrote a letter of support. How many recommendations are being followed? Barnett this was directed at you. Former speakers report, there are only 84 african-american students in schools that are succeeding.
Sykes I thought I received information on the last speaker. Has someone responded to the question?
Foley it was several minutes ago.
Organizational input - invite everyone to come out to the parent summit.
TFT I could not help but notice that the pledge had a youthful tone. Begin by speaking about Mr. Strickland's K-12 plan. Committed to working on equitable funding. At essence and core it is good. Increase funding by 2%. Projections to schools will increase by 2.9 million. First glimmer of good news from state. A report card for charter schools and a commission to submit them to review. Committed to all and all kinds of good stuff about the Governor. Other issue is MOUs. Permit both parties to respond to unanticipated situations that occur mid contract. At which the district could not respond. They are authorized by TFT contract collective, one MOU that occurred last year, how do you think a faculty will move from one place to another without having an understanding. Think about all of the assembly, with all challenges and problems why a school board member would focus attention on MOUs and appreciation should be shown to the employees.
TAAP - Word of caution, budget proposals are not budget results, cautious raise expectations beyond what we will see. Lose money to charter schools. Be cautious at the numbers. MOUs, I have 3 barg units in TAAP, common practice, we have not had sign barg contracts in a long time. There are things that come up that need changed. The only way to get some things to accomplished is to have MOUs. Sometimes people get scared if they are afraid to submit an mou. Did their own PR campaign, you can't continue to have gridlock and get things done. We spent 30 years, do you think we want kids to fail, like we are the enemies. Amazed at the dysfunction that occurs and the moral is at an all time low.
AFSME - happy with what the governor said, happy to have a plan to come up with MOUs, what is the plan for the district to move forward for employees who have not got pay raises. People do not stay if they don't get paid. This is affecting their pensions big time, worked 30 years been affected by lack to have a plan. Yes the moral is at an all time low, what is the plan to do something?
Chair reports -
Torres move to go to executive session to discuss the contract of an employee.
Executive session lasted 40 minutes.
Finance committee meeting. Update on budget process, going toward a zero based budget process, but cautions on governor's budget. Although lot of percentages, they make a full impact, going through community engagement initiative, investments in front of board. Talked about tax abatements and how it costs the district. We will have a budget for the may meeting-Fisher
Barnett before meeting, will we have an update.
Kilbride discussed title one dollars and concern with annual review of parent involvement policy. Paper to evaluate policies, need to look at recommendations.
Policy to have legal representatives.
Fisher - questions regarding the policies. Law states that they must have legal rep. Child may be represented by parent, how do we actually work with parents. How are we going to address family situations. Said legal representatives are required by law.
Romano - Board was provided information on reviewing guidelines on responsible bidders, not being brought to the board this time. Additional administrative meeting, partners being involved in the School district and the OFSC.
Foley said there was a meeting with the construction planners to make sure everything is successful.
Sykes also discussion of Min Part, would like to have a meeting with the individual they contracted with.
Torres - meet with contractors? Sykes said we have a contract to monitor the program.
Foley seen some increases in minority compliance.
Barnett - Community and public relations, parade on July 14, AA fest. Board agrees that is a good opp to spotlight the district.
Heard presentation from 4 companies that could provide Web site, once receive the committee responses to presentations.
Fisher what is the costs? Any other questions, suggested time frame?
Barnett, not yet.
Curriculum and academics. Steel several staff shared programs around social and emotional learning. Partnership with United Way show support of all aspects of children, understanding of social and emotional support for children to succeed.
presentation on all-American dads program. Went into discussion on importance of program and to help implement it into our schools, replaces the BIC program. Could there be continuity of the program.
Steel - Ways to find funding to help expand programs. Has a challenge day program for middle schools. Good discussion on how to implement them into our schools.
Fisher - question on success.
Steel - lots of those things are a process.
Fisher - when children are diagnosed with special education. When a student is referred, sent to an intervention team, determination of need, testing with parents, what level of services are needed. What would be the trigger - Fisher - There could be something on our Web site.
Approval of minutes
Gifts and contributions approval.
High School graduate approval
Approval of other board business.
Fisher - covered what change means, is there an advantage, rates have stayed the same the cost for additional insurance has gone down. - Romano
Furnishings and equipment packages approval
Supplemental funding approval
Thanked for the kids singing and congratulated the special ed performance.
Sherman elementary ground breaking.
Woodward parent night 5:30-7:30. Career day.
Treasurer report
Board comments - Sykes - congratulate on new front and back of program
Adjournment was at 8:38
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If you're here to tell me it's my fault - you're right. I meant to do it. It was alot of fun. That's why I have this happy smile on my face.