Citizens of MSAD 46
A "sister" site to the Voters of MSAD 46 site.Archiving and making available documents and resources in support of discussions on the important issues before us.
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5/12/2006
School Board Directors' Report, Garland Town Report for 2005, January 2006 [+/-]School Board Directors' Report, Garland Town Report for 2005, January 2006
In our school administrative district it is the voters who elect the members of the School Board (Board of Directors). These members, in turn, govern the business of the communities' schools. As your elected representatives to the board, we try to keep you informed of the state of our school system.
During the past year, a number of notable changes have occurred in the management of our School District. As we reported last year, Superintendent Les Butler resigned, effective June 30, 2005. The School Board conducted a search which invited participation by all groups of District employees and by officials from all towns in the District. In June, Kevin Jordan, the high school principal in Guilford, was hired as the new MSAD #46 Superintendent. Both of us were enthusiastic about the prospects of Mr. JordanÂs future and what it could mean for MSAD #46. Since then, however, concerns about his leadership have dampened our enthusiasm. We are, more than ever, acutely aware of the gap between talk and action. Our purpose here is to convey to you that we hope to see improvement in the quality of our DistrictÂs leadership.
At the July meeting of the MSAD #46 Board of Directors, Chairman Mel Johnson and Vice Chairman Art Jette, were replaced by John Parola as Chairman and Shawn Lancaster as Vice Chairman. Since then, there has been a different focus on the part of the Board; it will be up to the citizens to decide whether or not the Board represents the communities' values.
In August, the School BoardÂs Negotiations Committee successfully concluded its goal of a new three-year comprehensive teachers contract, which included changing the cost sharing of insurance premiums to 80% District cost and 20% teacher share. The new contract was overwhelmingly ratified by the Teachers Association members. It has also effectively settled the previously outstanding issues left over from the earlier contract dispute. The last unsettled issue is the question of whether the salary increases granted by the contract should be retroactive. The Board has maintained that retroactive pay was never proposed, nor insinuated, and is not required. While this question is negotiable, the Board has the right to its position of nonacceptance of this demand. The legal process regarding this issue is almost exhausted, and perhaps by the date of Town Meeting, the entire episode will be a matter of history.
Additionally, last summer approximately $400,000 of local taxpayer bonds was spent on the Dexter Regional High School paving, parking, and drainage improvements project, which the voters had previously approved. The quality of this work, as well as the quality of the materials, is inferior, in our opinion, and whether by negligence or ineptness on the part of the overseers of the project, our citizens are not getting the value they are entitled to. In addition to quality issues, the resulting new parking area was shortchanged by 22% of the originally-planned parking spaces.
It is perhaps a commonplace that you can Âmake a difference when it comes to the quality of the school system, but you must make your concerns known. The schools do not belong to the school administrators, they do not belong to the teachers, and they do not belong only to the parents of the children served there. Public schools were created to serve the greater public good, with the intent that they represent the communityÂs needs and values. More than anything else the system needs the wisdom of its citizens. There are many questions requiring the participation and advice of those of you who must support the schools. There are principles long forgotten that need to be rediscovered and goals that need to be defined. These should be decided by the community. As your elected representatives we have concerns that require your advice. We ask that you assist your future representatives in this endeavor.
What do you think is wrong with the current system, and where do we need to go to correct it? What do you think our schools should be teaching that they are not now teaching? Should the schools be placing more emphasis on areas such as the visual and performing arts? Are you concerned about coaches who push students to engage in their sport on a year-round basis, as opposed to seasonal participation (which allows students to experience a variety of other activities)? Should there be so much emphasis on athletic competition? Do MSAD #46 schools support and reward academic progress with the same enthusiasm as they support and reward competitive sports? Do you believe that the public schools should include a program for pre-kindergarten (4 year olds)? If so, what should be the content of such a program, and how many hours a day? Do you believe that the school system we have is attempting to be too many things to too many people? Are you concerned that the schools are involved in areas (social work, psychological intervention) that should be reserved for parents?
Does it matter at all whether the Towns have their own school buildings or do you think that a district-wide, K-8 consolidated school, located in Dexter, would provide a more equitable, efficient method of educating our communityÂs children?
We are not hopeful about the direction of our District. Academic aspirations are not well-supported, least of all by some of the professionals who are supposed to be working for the best possible outcomes. As well, the effort for a new school has avoided the citizen engagement it needs to be successful, both as a project and as an educational enterprise.
The proposal for a new middle school, discussed in these annual reports for the last several years, has now evolved into a proposed combined elementary and middle school. An implication of this is that the combined proposal, if supported by the District as a whole, will result in the Garland and Exeter schools being closed. In both instances, the affected communities will be able to think of creative uses for these facilities. However, the larger questions, such as school culture, the relationships of the schools with the communities, academic quality, and transportation concerns need to be addressed. The School Board has refused to address these issues in a significant way with the affected communities. Does the Board expect that a Âpro vote from Dexter will roll over any opposition from the outlying towns? Some cynics might say yes.
Finally, but not least, there is a strong element in the present school system of - there is no other word for it - corruption. The system takes care of its own. There are many dedicated, hardworking employees in the District; no slight against them is intended. As well there are those who are just cruising, and worse. We entered into this public service with the idea of bringing truly representative voices into play. We have been disappointed.
More than one observer has noted something to this effect: ÂThe interesting thing about systems is never how they perform when they work as they're intended to -- it's what happens when they fail (Cory Doctorow). The system is not now performing well; indeed, by some measures it is hardly working at all.
Both of us are choosing to step down from the Board, effective at Town Meeting. We have been honored over the years, Art since 1995 and Mel since 1997, to represent all the citizens of the town, to the best of our abilities. We thank you for the trust you have placed in us. Our feeling is that for now we can best serve the cause of a "fair and appropriate" education for all students from outside the Board.
Nevertheless, it is important that the town be well represented. It is our hope that interested and enthusiastic citizens will step forward to pick up the responsibility.
Respectfully submitted,
Arthur Jette
Melvin Johnson
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