tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post8157802097680638035..comments2023-05-05T03:15:17.710-05:00Comments on D181 Parents for Accountability and Transparency: The Last Curtain Call . . . A Final Message From the Bloggers: An Invitation for Open Forum Posts From Our Readers Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-34524962969774015742014-08-07T10:58:13.861-05:002014-08-07T10:58:13.861-05:00I cannot do other than agree that any sane parent ...I cannot do other than agree that any sane parent / community ought to have grave concerns about many important issues facing the day-to-day and long term operations of our district.<br /><br />The track record of the current BOE majority at D181 {don't get me started on D86...} is extremely troubling. There has been a lack of consistency in how priorities have been set, how staff is evaluated, and an especially galling lack of ethical behavior. <br /><br />While the selection of Dr. White is perhaps a bright spot, it remains to be seen if this is some sign of things taking a turn for the better or merely the good fortune of having a particularity advantageous combination of talented third party search firm and changes in state law that made our district attractive to a superior candidate. It is my sincere hope that Dr. White quickly lives up to the promise of prior accomplishments. To do that he must make some big shifts to the inaction that was all too common under the previous administrative regime. <br /><br />Nothing could be better than to eliminate the "star chambers" that were created to deal with the fiscal and facilities issues the district is facing. There is no reason for these to be "closed to the public". Only distrust, antipathy, and unneeded contentiousness can come from hiding behind locked doors. At least most of the folks serving on these "principal's committees" are well qualified; a whole other level of obfuscation and stupefaction went into the selection of the yet-to-meet curriculum committee. If Dr. White's intent is to create an even deeper and more vehement set of oppugners he could not do worse than conducting these vitally importantly meeting in a setting where the main goal is not enlightenment but from all appearances, the deracination of dissent. I beseech him to immediately countermand the foolish "invitation only" protocol of the prior superintendent. It is my firm belief that if all these meetings are conducted to the <i>standards</i> of existing board meetings, with full access to any and <i>real-time web casts as well as archived</i>, the benefits far outweigh any potential downsides.<br /><br />In this vein I must disagree with the blog owners in their claim that there is any failing in the caucus processes. Having been active in the caucuses not just to find BOE slates but also seeking candidates for the Clarendon Hills Village Board I can speak to the assiduousness of the openly selected volunteers in finding those willing to run for office and the appalling apathy / fear of too many qualified individuals to refuse to get involved is the real problem. I am going to be blunt: <b> Folks that say things like 'Shoot me if I decide to run' and other seemingly humorous efforts to avoid these sometimes unpleasant moments in the public eye are precisely why we have low quality board members that are on the verge of destroying the most precious assets of our communities.</b> The best way to remedy these problems is to <b> PUT FORTH THE EFFORT</b> to either find neighbors that will run or simply show up the Caucus formation meetings so that there is a diversity of opinion / supporters of the values that have made our communities desirable. If only axe-grinders, cranks, corporate climbers and self-interested / bored potential candidates show up for either the caucus slating meetings OR the election then we will only have low quality board members elected.<br /><br />It is my firm hope that the folks that visit this blog for <b>any reason</b>, regardless of how much they may find themselves agreeing with the views expressed or questioning sentiments put forth, engage more deeply in the issues -- if you see a flyer in your mail or a story in the traditional newspapers or a posting on social media or a yard sign stuck in front of neighbor's home or a t-shirt that supports a particular view of how our schools should / should not be run: PLEASE question it! <b>Be a skeptic!</b> Seek out others that can illuminate the controversies. Do not abide hypocrites! Expose the prevaricators!jay_wickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13432309250544319696noreply@blogger.com