Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
First Things First:
What can be done immediately to help restore the public’s trust in the Burke County Board of Education?
Hopefully there will be a majority open to voting these measures through:
REVISE PUBLIC COMMENT POLICY
The first thing that the board can do to help in rebuilding the public’s trust, is to re-work the public comment policy with input from the PUBLIC. My specific requirements for a public comment policy are:
- To allow public comment at least at every regularly scheduled meeting.
- To allow the opportunity for everyone to comment.
- To allow the public to speak on anything related to the educational system.
- To provide “Town Hall” style meetings for issues in which the public at large has demonstrated interest.
- To allow folks to sign-up to speak at the meeting itself, not via a reservation with the Central Office.
- The Chairperson would not be able to prohibit speech based on his/her subjective view.
Public figures are subject to ‘personal attacks’ based on their public performance. It is part of the job. Speakers will be directed to refrain from personal attacks on school employees and to not speak of personnel issues in a public forum, but dissatisfied citizens will be able to publicly disagree with individual board members.
PUBLIC DISRUPTION POLICY
Give me a break. Show some respect to the public and this won’t be necessary.
OPEN MEETINGS POLICY
This would be a new policy that requires the board to meet in a venue that can accommodate the public. If a venue cannot be acquired, the board would be responsible for providing live audio (and video if it can be accomplished cheaply) to folks outside the venue. The board would work with COMPAS to provide live access to meetings through the cable system.
It would be good to figure out a way to broadcast the meeting to those of us who do not have access to high speed internet or cable – like through the radio. (Anyone who has any suggestions about how to accomplish this, please let me know.)
The board would be required to hold meetings after general working hours. Meetings held before 5:00 pm on a weekday should not occur - if it is necessary to hold a meeting before 5:00 pm, the meeting should be limited in purpose.
PUT SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY ON NOTICE:
Regardless of the current board attorney’s credentials or work product, in my opinion, one of the reasons the board has lost the public’s trust is due to their continued reliance on “advice of counsel.” Unfortunately for counsel, he is not able to refute statements made by board members about what was discussed in closed session – so it is not clear to me what decisions the board makes are based on sound legal advice, and which are attributed to sound legal advice but are actually based on the whims of the majority.
So, without having to get into all of the legal/policy areas in which board counsel and I disagree, I think it is evident that counsel has lost the trust of the public. Even though counsel works for the board, it is imperative that the public have confidence in the board attorney.
I would suggest that the board inform the current attorney that his services are no longer necessary, and that the board immediately begin the search for a new attorney who 1) is well versed in school law or 2) willing to spend the time, blood, sweat and tears to learn school law.
Although I can opine as to the abilities and qualifications of lawyers who may apply, I will recuse myself from voting if the attorneys in question are members of the Burke County Bar.
DISMISS SPECIAL COUNSEL
‘Nuff said.
These policies would be the first I would ask the board to pass as soon as “boots are on the ground.” This would be the first step in earning back the public’s trust.
There are a boat load of issues that need to be resolved quickly, and I will post my suggestions as to how to handle them later. In my opinion, the most immediate concern is restoring the public’s trust in the board, and showing SACS CASI that the board can follow the leadership requirements inherent in retaining accreditation.
The next crucial area is giving the school employees the ability to express opinions without recourse or retaliation from the Board, Administration or other employees. In my mind this particular situation is as troubling or more troubling than public participation issues. However, it will take work from all sides (including teacher and staff representatives) to agree upon how to address this serious issue, and to correct it.
My thoughts are that the board and school system must adopt a Code of Conduct, that harassment policies for employees be either rewritten or enforced, and that employees are given access to a "hotline" to which they can make complaints and be guaranteed that there will be no retaliation against them for making the complaint.
I can't speak directly for Wilkinson, Armour and Stroup - but we have discussed the importance of regaining the public's trust, and I know that they, like me, will do all that they can to earn that trust.
That is all for now - thank you for your support.
