School Board Meeting
Tuesday January 20, 2009
5 PM
Smith County Board of Education
Parents, Taxpayers and Citizens of Smith County attend board meetings, you have the power to make true change in our public schools.I was not able to attend the December meeting but I heard that things are moving in the right direction. The overhead with the agenda was a positive improvement instead of the one page sheet that was handed out. Check out the Board of Education website under Board Meeting Schedule the agendas are now being posted. This is definitely a step in the right direction to share knowledge with the public.
Below are questions that have been asked by other parents that I would like to open up for discussion. I am new about how all of this works so I need some help with answers. Please blog to share information with all our readers.
1. Why does each school have different rules and guidelines? Does the principal write these rules and if so who approves them? Who is in charge of enforcing them?
2. If a student wants to fight a decision made by the principal they feel is unfair and Mr. Lewis has made it a school level decision that does the student turns to for appeal? I know what the policy is but based on my experience and the experience of others if Mr. Lewis states this is a school level problem then you can not approach the board.
3. Does the board work for Mr. Lewis?
4. Why are some classes offered at one school but not the other school in our county? I think they are talking about the high schools having different classes offered.
5. Who bases the salary levels our teachers are paid? Why does our county pay the lowest salaries when our scores are higher then most as reported by the BOE?
6. Why do all of our policies have the disclosure "The principal of the respective school shall have final determination". Of course this has different wording but in some form this line is always added. A rule is either a rule for all or it isn't a rule at all. How do you feel about this line?
These were just a few questions that were emailed to me. I would like everyone to use this blog for questions, answers or to share their stories. I know a lot of you are wondering what is happening with our situation and all I can say right now is I plan to continue to try to help our community with the change our school systems need. We need to work as a community to keep the good teachers we have, weed out the bad and bring in the new to improve the education of our children.
As for # 3. Does the board work for Mr. Lewis?
ReplyDeleteIt is my understanding that the board is "over" Lewis and not the other way around.
As for # 6. Why do all of our policies have the disclosure "The principal of the respective school shall have final determination". Of course this has different wording but in some form this line is always added. A rule is either a rule for all or it isn't a rule at all. How do you feel about this line?
Being the professed "non-conformist" that I am, I have to say that "rules", as we have all seen in this situation, can be tricky, since every situation is not "black" and "white". We have to be careful not to make a new "rule "for every little situation, or we end up with rules for everything, that apply to no one.
What I think is really important, is having someone with the common sense needed to negotiate situations in times of disagreement, which clearly, was not available in this case. That, I think is where your policy disclosure would be helpful. If you had a principle who could stand on principle (pun intended) and do the right thing, then it would be fine for him to have the "final determination".
Jitterbug - On #6 let’s say one student went to SC and one to GHS. One is a child of a school employee and one is not. Do you believe that both students would get the same ruling by both principals? Since the new policy contains felonies shouldn’t one person or maybe a team of people from different schools, administration or even the board be over all our schools. This can be a very grey area and not every situation is black & white, we need leaders that will handle these situations in a neutral fashion or as you stated with common sense.
ReplyDelete4thekids- Sorry, but I am not sure what your question is. I stated already that every situation is not "black and white", and since we are dealing with "individuals" and not "standardized people" as the "system would hope for we have to treat every situation as individual.
ReplyDeleteAre we talking about two students in two identical situations? Is that even possible. Did they cheat on a test or have a verbal outburst in class? What would be an example? If the two student cheated on a test then by all means it is black and white, just follow what the rule book says in both situations. If they had a verbal outburst in class then ask 1. Why did they do it? 2. Is this the norm for this student? 3. Does the student need counseling for a more serious issue? 4. Is the student having trouble at home or with friends? 5. Is the outburst a sign of a larger problem? I would have to ask all of those questions and more before I could come to a decision about what to do. People are people and we screw up, but many times the problem in front of us (especially with kids) is not the problem that needs to be fixed, so I would have to say that those situations should not be handled the same no matter what the rule is.
As for students of school employees, from day one there is a conflict of interest.
Since Smith County has always been my home and I know how these situations have (sadly) been handled in the past, I already have a preconceived idea of how they will continue to be handled. Not only with family members but within the "buddy system" as well.
My 2 cents.
Sorry I was not clear. I was rambling. I was trying to say that in any situation as history has shown it depends on who you are and who you know as to what the punishment will be. This situation could happen and does everyday in both of these schools.
ReplyDeleteHow about this - Both these students get in a fight with each other and convicted with assault. One goes to GHS and one to SC. One is the child of a school administrator and one isn't. Going to different schools they have different principals make the ruling, do you think they would get the same punishment? Would it be fair if one has to sit out and the other gets to return?
Thank you for clarifying.
ReplyDeleteI stated my position on convicted delinquents on a previous post. I feel that if a juvenile can not be rehabilitated to re-enter the system and if a felony conviction stands they should not be allowed to re-enter the normal school population but should be transferred to an alternative school. I do not feel this should be the case if a conviction is not made. Only the court has the right to adjudicate whether or not a juvenile is delinquent, not the school system. I also feel that the term "delinquent" should be used carefully.
That should be policy no matter who your parents are. A policy for such a serious issue should be carefully written and meticulously followed.