Comments on: ANOTHER Decatur Election??

By: At Home in Decatur

At Home in Decatur — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:44:07 +0000

Yup, in local elections, you can sometimes judge a candidate by who they demonstrate themselves to be vs. who they say they are. Just like teachers! I know a certain tall, bald, retired teacher who is much beloved because of the support and encouragement and extra hours he gave so many students!

By: Chris Billingsley

Chris Billingsley — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:18:17 +0000

All comments very interesting. My own experience is that candidates will write off certain voters or neighborhoods because of pre conceived notions. For example, a current member of the city commission was invited to speak to my son’s Scout troop ten or twelve years ago a few weeks before the election. When the candidate said something about banning certain kinds of fast food containers, I rolled my eyes. Even my son, maybe twelve years old at the time, described the candidate’s views as “a little tin foilly”. But a few days later, I received a hand written letter from the candidate saying how much he enjoyed talking to the Scouts and their parents. Two days before the election, the candidate. called me at home asking for my vote. I told him, “You and I don’t have anything in common politically”. He told me that was true but he would always listen to my views and would respect my opinion. Long story short, I voted for that rascal because he worked for my vote.
Every vote counts and so does every voter. Candidates should keep this in mind and be willing to reach out to all voters and neighborhoods.

By: At Home in Decatur

At Home in Decatur — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:59:07 +0000

I have no trouble with both perspectives being on the Board. The quibble is over what proportion is best and who knows? Definitely, the proportion has changed. I remember when Jason Uchitl was the only member without children in CSD and there were even a few years after him when all the members did, weren’t there? So that’s my frame of reference. I’m curious–when was the last time that there was a member with no children past or present in CSD?

By: Marty

Marty — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:35:12 +0000

“But it’s also important for Board members to have a good feel for student, teacher, and facility issues. That’s harder to do if you are no longer actively involved.”

I would think that actually serving on the Board would be far more involvement than almost all parents who actually have kids in the system because, you know, they have dayjobs and meals to fix, etc.

I know lots of people in Decatur who are “actively involved” with our schools who do not have children who are currently attending them. I also think that people without kids in the system can look at all of these issues from an objective standpoint that might be different from parents with kids in the system.

I think we need BOTH perspectives on the board. The parent with kids in the school is important, but not any more so than the community at large.

By: At Home in Decatur

At Home in Decatur — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:11:50 +0000

Given the low voter turnout and the high proportion of voters without kids in the system, evidently all any group has to do to vote in a particular issue or candidate is show up at the polls! Go for it! I was originally a Decatur voter without kids in CSD and will be again! I’m not sure I’ll change my views on what makes a good School Board member when the kids are gone but I’ve been wrong before.