Comments on: CSD Board Tables Reconfiguration for 30 Days

By: Judd Owen

Judd Owen — Fri, 15 May 2009 14:43:31 +0000

Not public yet, but there is an outstanding person that is seriously thinking about running for the seat that (as rumor universally has it) Valerie Wilson will be vacating.

By: CSD Mom

CSD Mom — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:09:33 +0000

Snowflake put it quite well. I probably couldn’t run for the same reasons, though don’t think I haven’t thought about it. There’s still plenty of room on the parent/community side for those of us who want to monitor the board and keep them honest. I’ll be crushed if they run unopposed again this year. I think we absolutely need the dialogue and openness that a good race will force. Qualifying starts in September, right?

I would make a helluva campaign manager, though, for the right person. Anyone interested?

By: Judd Owen

Judd Owen — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:04:58 +0000

I’m right with you on fiscal responsibility. And from an educational standpoint, what is spent on classrooms may potentially have to come from what is spent in classrooms.

Also a good point about the Decatur tax-payer. CSD is not an island. It affects everyone in the city — taxes, property values, overall vitality. The more clearly decision-makers on both the school and city sides of our government see this, the better off we’ll all be.

By: CSD Snowflake

CSD Snowflake — Fri, 15 May 2009 05:32:39 +0000

Good point about School Board elections. The Decatur tradition is to not have any opposition because the Board members and/or their spouses are such nice people and we wouldn’t want to hurt their feelings. But what’s an election without a debate? Democracy without discussion and choices is not healthy.

So why am I not running? It takes a lot of time, money, and skill. If I had any natural aptitude for the politics, coalition-building, legal procedures, and advocacy, I would do it; I could handle the issues and public-speaking. But family and friends corroborate my assessment that this would not be a natural fit.

Tons of folks with strong feelings about CSD decisions do have these skills–they use them every day at their paid or volunteer work. I hope they’ll consider running. Even if they lose, their campaign will have forced discussions that are healthy to have.

By: Garrett Goebel

Garrett Goebel — Thu, 14 May 2009 22:47:12 +0000

1) I don’t know

2) Using Westchester for the 4/5 Academy was Option #10. In the reconfiguration committee rankings, #10 was finished in a 3-way tie for 2nd.

3) Not to my knowledge

By: GAK

GAK — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:25:19 +0000

Not sure the answers to your questions, foodie, but we’ve got a school board election coming up and if this option, or the whole direction for that matter, is not to the community’s liking, then I’m sure that we will have a ballot full of people ready to change things. Anyone know how many people have thrown their hat in the ring so far?

By: foodie

foodie — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:16:50 +0000

I’m not advocating any construction at Westchester.
I’m for fiscal responsibility and living within your means.
I’m for any configurations that maximize use of existing space and minimize construction.

I expected one of the 12 options to be picked, not a 13th 10-15 million dollar option. If that’s the best option, I would put it against a 14th option – a Westchester, K-5, Citywide Math and Science Theme (not gifted, just theme) School. I see the same disadvantages to both (location, busing) but without the 10-15 million dollar price tag and 2-year wait.

I wonder: Were there any Decatur City taxpayers without school children on the committee? Did the committee represent the range of incomes in Decatur?

By: CSD Snowflake

CSD Snowflake — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:36:08 +0000

With or without the sarcasm?

Actually, I email (politely) the Board and Superintendent periodically. I’ve probably made all of these points at one point or another. Sometimes, I get a response, sometimes I don’t. I have the distinct impression that I have to limit the number of times I email them or speak up at meetings or they will label me as crochety. Sometimes I wonder how people I like so much as individuals can make so many decisions that I don’t like.

Anyone reading may feel free to forward my message on to CSD and comment on what you agree with or not. That might be more effective.