With our local public schools involving the lives and futures of about 39,000 of our most precious interests – our children – and with our schools involving the largest financial expenditures in local government, shouldn’t it be obvious to everyone that we need to “let the light shine in” on our schools?
Unfortunately, it seems that is not always the case.
It appears so me of our elected school board members have not been informed in timely fashion about some important matters.
One issue, for example, involves substantial (and controversial) retirement pay deposited for a former board member. Some board members were left in the dark about the fact that the money had been deposited.
A somewhat more nebulous concern among some on the school board has to do with reports of “low morale” among teachers, who reportedly fear their jobs are threatened.
And there are questions about the support or lack of support by board members for the school superintendent.
We spend lots of public tax money trying to ensure the best educational opportunities for our young people. We should be open and aboveboard about policies and actions affecting the children and us all.
It is OK to express differences. But there should be conscientious efforts for constructive agreements to assure the best education for our children.
Our schools are not proper places for “fights” – among board members, among faculty members, in classrooms or on playgrounds.
Let’s be open, frank and constructive, always seeking to make wise decisions for the benefit of all of our schoolchildren, teachers, administrators, taxpayers – and our community.