Nov. 2 will be a big day for our nation and will have a lasting impact on our future as a country. It's my prayer that the day will also be the beginning of a new start for the Jones Co. School District. Lester Boyles, school board member for District 5 has two people running to take his seat. In this blog I am introducing one of the candidates, Mr. Robert Neill from Ellisville.
It must be noted that I am not endorsing any candidate in this race. Living in another county, I'm not able to vote. I am simply providing information so the voters of Beat 5 can make an informed decision. The other day I picked up a brochure outlining the platform of Mr. Neill. During this week I will highlight parts of his platform and his beliefs on education. I will then follow with my own comments in light of my own experiences with the school board. I am currently trying to get information on the other candidate to highlight his platform in upcoming blogs.
Below is Mr. Neill's platform on accountability within the district.
* Have a written long term businsess plan for the operation of the Jones Co. Schools.
* Support regular reports from the Board to the parents and teachers------updating them on board goals, and achievements.
* Support parent teacher input regarding Board decisions.
* Open board meetings except on rare occasions.
First, let me say that any board member who reads this will probably have the hell scared out of them knowing they may possibly have a fellow member who wants this type of accountability. Never have these board members had to answer to the public on much of anything. But the surge of the tea party movement has awakened people for the need for such accountability on the national and local levels.
One thing is for sure Mr. Neill will have a battle on his hands if he trys to push this kind of accountability on the Jones Co. School Board. But its high time someone did. The current members of the board have for too long kept things under the table hiding many decisions in executive secessions.
One part of his plan that suggests teachers have input regarding board decisions is especially interesting. Right now teachers are quite frankly afraid of their board members. During the saga of my termination they made it clear in a West Jones faculty meeting that the board could fire who they wanted when they wanted and for whatever reason they wanted. (This was a direct message from the board to the teachers at West who supported me during that time.) For a person running on such a platform, has to be a breath of fresh air for teachers in the district. Knowing that a teacher could actually have a say in school policy has to excite teachers who are frequently ignored concerning instruction and what's best for students.
Asking for regular reports from the Board to parents and teachers is another interesting point. The way things are currently ran on the board, one would be hard pressed to write a report when most of the meetings are in "executive secession." The school board attorney, Terry Caves, is a pro at knowing when to call such meetings to hide the under handed decisions of the board president Dr. Harlon Matthews and his lap dogs.
I give praise and credit to Mr. Neill for such suggestions but fear if elected will have a great battle on his hands. These men will not be very accepting of such transparent policies.
Mr. Neill has some great ideas for the district ones I believe most people are in favor of and would support. If elected a message will be sent that the people of Beat 5 are sick and tired of the crooked practices and shadiness of the current board members. But will they listen? You the people of Beat 5 have to decide. So during the week I'll have more on Mr. Neill's platform and the other candidate as well. So check back here to my blog.
Also new information will be shared concerning things that happened leading up to my hearing.
Note: There are a few of my critics who need to know if this blog is used to campaigne for Lester Boyles, those comments will be deleted. However, it is good to know you feel threatened by my blogs.
It must be noted that I am not endorsing any candidate in this race. Living in another county, I'm not able to vote. I am simply providing information so the voters of Beat 5 can make an informed decision. The other day I picked up a brochure outlining the platform of Mr. Neill. During this week I will highlight parts of his platform and his beliefs on education. I will then follow with my own comments in light of my own experiences with the school board. I am currently trying to get information on the other candidate to highlight his platform in upcoming blogs.
Below is Mr. Neill's platform on accountability within the district.
* Have a written long term businsess plan for the operation of the Jones Co. Schools.
* Support regular reports from the Board to the parents and teachers------updating them on board goals, and achievements.
* Support parent teacher input regarding Board decisions.
* Open board meetings except on rare occasions.
First, let me say that any board member who reads this will probably have the hell scared out of them knowing they may possibly have a fellow member who wants this type of accountability. Never have these board members had to answer to the public on much of anything. But the surge of the tea party movement has awakened people for the need for such accountability on the national and local levels.
One thing is for sure Mr. Neill will have a battle on his hands if he trys to push this kind of accountability on the Jones Co. School Board. But its high time someone did. The current members of the board have for too long kept things under the table hiding many decisions in executive secessions.
One part of his plan that suggests teachers have input regarding board decisions is especially interesting. Right now teachers are quite frankly afraid of their board members. During the saga of my termination they made it clear in a West Jones faculty meeting that the board could fire who they wanted when they wanted and for whatever reason they wanted. (This was a direct message from the board to the teachers at West who supported me during that time.) For a person running on such a platform, has to be a breath of fresh air for teachers in the district. Knowing that a teacher could actually have a say in school policy has to excite teachers who are frequently ignored concerning instruction and what's best for students.
Asking for regular reports from the Board to parents and teachers is another interesting point. The way things are currently ran on the board, one would be hard pressed to write a report when most of the meetings are in "executive secession." The school board attorney, Terry Caves, is a pro at knowing when to call such meetings to hide the under handed decisions of the board president Dr. Harlon Matthews and his lap dogs.
I give praise and credit to Mr. Neill for such suggestions but fear if elected will have a great battle on his hands. These men will not be very accepting of such transparent policies.
Mr. Neill has some great ideas for the district ones I believe most people are in favor of and would support. If elected a message will be sent that the people of Beat 5 are sick and tired of the crooked practices and shadiness of the current board members. But will they listen? You the people of Beat 5 have to decide. So during the week I'll have more on Mr. Neill's platform and the other candidate as well. So check back here to my blog.
Also new information will be shared concerning things that happened leading up to my hearing.
Note: There are a few of my critics who need to know if this blog is used to campaigne for Lester Boyles, those comments will be deleted. However, it is good to know you feel threatened by my blogs.