This One's For You!

When we began this site, it was with the intention of empowering a dialogue among the residents and voters of our school district, MSAD#46. It was and continues to be our hope that YOU will embrace the potential that this forum can provide. In order for that to happen though, you need to be assured that your privacy, as well as your opinions will be respected. We personally assure you that you can freely express yourselves here in the comment section. The comments can be anything you'd like to express, and can be signed "anonymous", if it makes you more comfortable.

The real opportunity here is the freedom to expose your views on the important matters of the education of our youth, and the cost to the citizens. Regular School Board Meetings occur monthly and are public meetings , but discussions with the Board are limited to the agenda, and often citizens feel alienated by the meeting format.

The articles and links are meant to be resources of information for all to use. The opinions WE post are OURS, and are meant to provoke discussion and solicit responses. This forum allows you to participate in that dialogue without fear of reprisal or loss of privacy. We've seen the difference public participation makes when it allowed or encouraged. Make your opinions known by participating in the discussions now.

They Did What?!?

"Got a minute?" Actually, we've got several! Below are the minutes from the last regular Board meeting (April 5), received in yesterday's mail. (We also received minutes for the largely pro-forma meetings of April 12th and 26th; those will be posted later.) Pity it should take so long to learn how the people's representatives went about doing the people's business! You read it here first. (They'll be posted here after approval.)

These are a draft version, not yet approved by the Board, and so not yet official. As always, click on the image, then click as necessary to bring it to a readable size. Some say page 3 is the "money shot."

Update Monday 5/1: All minutes (drafts) now up here.


Update: Added minutes from April 12th and 26th:

Agenda, Wednesday May 3

To your right and below are three images, the three-page agenda for next Wednesday's School Board Meeting. This agenda will probably be posted here on Monday, but here it is for those who can't wait!

As always, click on the image to open it as a separate item, then click one or more additional time(s) to get it to a readable size. This procedure is a bit gawmy but it works.

Update Monday 5/1: Agenda now up here.

Let's Talk About It!

Welcome to www.votersofmsad46.blogspot.com!

When Mel Johnson and I were Garland's representatives on the MSAD 46 Board of Directors, we maintained a long standing tradition of communicating with our community through our report to the Town, in the Annual Town Report. In every one of those reports, we acknowledged the need for the wisdom of the citizens. One of the benefits of including these in the printed record is that they can be reviewed in a historical context as evidence of our attempts to determine the values of our community in regard to the education of its children. "Both of us entered into this public service with the idea of bringing true citizen participation into the public discussion of education" (School Board Directors' Report, Town Of Garland, Annual Report 2005).

Because we believe that our public schools were created to serve the communities, citizen participation in the discussion and decision process should be encouraged and invited. That is the real purpose of this forum; to provide you with an opportunity to express your support, critique, comments or concerns in an atmosphere of acceptance of your opinion. We hope you will accept our invitation to share your views in the comments sections at the bottom of each post, or email us using the link at the left side of the page.
We've acknowledged the value that we always placed on the wisdom of the citizens. We truly hope you will share yours.

"New SAHS principal says he won't take job "

Today's Central Maine Morning Sentinel has the story (via MDOE Education News).

Superintendent Brent Colbry said Thursday that Bell called him earlier in the week to tell him that he would not be taking the Skowhegan job.

High School Administration Cops an Attitude

Parents of high school students received a letter from the school in the last couple of days regarding math instruction being offered this summer (image at right, click -- or double-click -- to enlarge). You can read it for yourself. It's a small document, but it reveals a great deal about your schools, about how they're run, and about the people who run them.

"The Staff ... is proud to announce..."?? Actually, they're announcing a remedial program that exists because parents and community members pushed hard to do something about a math program that was failing our students. Gerry Rudmin of the Board deserves credit for playing a key role, but without parent attendance at multiple meetings, the math program would likely not have changed and this summer program to try to catch students up would not have been offered.

So why the attitude? Putting it more bluntly, school personnel screwed up and now are "“proud"? Isn'’t this a peculiar stance? "...student enhancement in mathematics"?? No. This is euphemism, a cover-up, for a failure to teach the necessary material the first time through.

"Classes will be filled on a first come first served basis with all others put on a waiting list."” Wasn't there an understanding that these classes were to be available to all students? The school created the need for this summer session by doing such a poor job. Isn'’t there an obligation (ethical and educational) to help all students get back to where they should be?

The school is required to fix the problem they created. (Wouldn'’t it be considerate of those who failed our students the first time through to forgo compensation? What do you suppose are the chances of that?)

"I,___________________, want to be considered…" Just more condescension, just a hint that maybe your child won"’t be found acceptable for participation.

This letter is an exercise in newspeak, where words mean the opposite of what they ordinarily do. So the staff is "proud" of failure. Remediation is "enhancement." Why do they speak and act this way? Because they resent having to offer this program; most of all, they don"’t want to be responsive to the community. We should instead be humble, and grateful for the opportunities they deign to offer!

Your comments are welcome.

Thoughts on Saturday's Gazette Piece

The piece reproduced in a post below ("“As a public service..."), in the words of the poet, "contains multitudes." As ripe for explication as Paul'’s Letter to the Corinthians and as ambiguous, at times, as Bill Clinton'’s famous deposition for the grand jury, it is a remarkable piece of writing, on many levels. Because time, space, and patience are limited, we'’ll make a few salient points here, and leave it to you to continue contemplating the wonder of this rich document.

Let's start with what it is, what it is not, and what it could have been.

It'’s a response to Art's letter to the Gazette of April 8; a defense of the District* against his charges of inaction, evasion, and exclusion (of the people). Even with Art'’s written words as a clear target, with the aim being to blunt the effect of those words and, if possible, to discredit them, the piece fails to develop a message; it'’s remarkably muddy. A’s an attempt at justifying the District'’s stance, it fails miserably.

Here'’s what it's not: It is not informative. It is not communicative. It is not an invitation to dialog. It does not convey the sense of a process open to those who wish to participate.

It could have been the following: An admission of past mistakes. An opening for discussion -- now, not later.

Instead the attitude is: "We'’ll let you discuss this, but on our terms, and not now! Soon! When we need your vote."”

Do I exaggerate? You decide.

Let's look at the rhetoric:

• "...voters are allowed an opportunity to make an informed decision..."
• "...a new state of the art district school or continue with the status quo."
• "...public input will be sought and debate encouraged...."

Read the next paragraph's representation of this project's history, which includes this hint:

"Board members reminded the audience that an earlier attempt...was rejected and all major building projects were put on hold."

Gosh, what was the purpose of that paving and renovation bond we approved a little while back? What about the projects funded in the previous bond? For having a moratorium on major projects, there's sure been a lot of activity!

*Really, in this case, the administration and the Board.

Informational Updates

A few days ago, in "Little-Publicized Meetings" (below), we wrote:

On Wednesday evening (the 26th), the School Board meets at 7 p.m. in the DRHS ATM room to approve the warrant of the District Budget Referendum (June 9th) and to approve notice of the District Informational Meeting (May 24th, 7 p.m., no location specified).
As far as I can tell, notice of these meetings does not appear on the District's web site. (Or if it's there, it's pretty well hidden!)

The agenda for the meeting of the 26th (yesterday) is now up, as is some more info on the budget process, including the location of the Informational Meeting, and polling places and times for the June 9 referendum.

Your elected representatives ...

are undoubtedly waiting to take your calls. Here's their contact information. (Some citizens say you can contact Board members via email. Others say "No! Impossible!")
Update Thursday 4/27: Email addresses now up! Thanks!

Skowhegan Principal Search Re-Opened

The job listings at servingschools.com reveal that, as of yesterday, the high school principal search in Skowhegan (MSAD 54) has been reopened.

Principal Search in Guilford

From time to time, we’ll convey news of developments in “adjoining or neighboring” school districts. It’s only human, after all, to be curious about one’s neighbors! The next paragraph is based on a short article in yesterday’s Bangor Daily News (p. B5) and an earlier article.

SAD 4 (Guilford) has eleven applicants for the position of high school principal (Piscataquis Community High School). They’re interviewing four of the candidates this week. There are no in-house applicants. [The incumbent’s resignation announcement was reported in the Bangor Daily News of March 16 (p. B3).]

The job listing at servingschools.com was placed on March 20, with a closing date of April 21.

An Interesting Timeline

The principal of Dexter Regional High School is retiring as of June 30.

Most of us, and most of the rest of the world, learned of this retirement around Saturday, April 1st, the day an article about his resignation appeared in the Bangor Daily News ("Dexter Regional High principal submits resignation," p.C2)

In that same issue of the BDN, the position advertisement (right) appeared. It appeared again one week later, in the issue of Saturday April 8.

To review, here's the timeline:

March (last week) retirement announced position advertisement placed
	April 1 retirement reported in BDN position advertisement appears
April 8 position advertisement appears again
	April 14 application deadline

Here are some questions that arise:

• Isn't this a short turnaround for such a significant position? Replacing a principal is an opportunity to revitalize a school, bring in new ideas, and consider new approaches. Should we be so quick to decide such important questions?
• Is it possible that a short deadline favors insiders?
• Will a potential applicant look at this advertisement's specifications (familiarity with Promising Futures, Great Maine School[s] Project, and Breaking Ranks II) and conclude that the District already has a particular candidate in mind? These specified programs all apply only to high schools, not to middle schools or to elementary schools. They are programs best known to people in high schools, high schools undergoing some type of "reform." Indeed , those most knowledgeable will come from high schools that have been successful in gaining grants from these programs.
• How many very gifted educational leaders does the narrowness of these specifications exclude?
• Of potential inside candidates, are some favored by the way this advertisement has been written?

Let us know what you think.

Awful rumors reach our ears. We won't repeat them here, or in casual conversation. Are you hearing what we hear?

Stephen Bell Hired in Skowhegan

Stephen Bell, Assistant Principal at Dexter Regional High School, has been hired as principal in Skowhegan. The following item is quoted from Education News Briefs (a weekly electronic digest of Maine education news from UM's College of Education and Human Development), which here summarizes an article originally appearing in the Central Maine Morning Sentinel (here).

Aspirations Promoted -The newest principal at Skowhegan Area High School hopes to convince more students to attend two- and four-year colleges. Stephen Bell, 38, grew up in Dexter, which, like Skowhegan, has lost many mill and manufacturing jobs in the past three decades. Bell said he will work hard to raise aspirations and make sure that all students are prepared to continue their education after high school. "My number one interest is making sure that all kids are college-ready when they graduate," Bell said. Bell was hired by the SAD 54 board last week. He will take over for retiring principal Gilbert Eaton III in July. Superintendent Brent Colbry said Bell has a wide variety of administrative experience. For the last seven years he has been assistant principal and athletic director at Dexter Regional High School. Before working in Dexter, he spent seven years at Piscataquis Community High School in Guilford, where he taught history and government, and also coached three sports. As an administrator he has a "student first" philosophy and believes in building relationships with everyone in the school community. -- Morning Sentinel, April 13

(Please send comments and requests for information about the electronic News Briefs service to Kay Hyatt, Editor, (207) 581-2761; kay.hyatt@umit.maine.edu)

SAD 46 Project Information Meetings

Superintendent Jordan's, and the Board's stated goal " of keeping the public informed" is the standard by which public projects should be conducted, but the fact is that the "SAD 46 K-8 Project Information Meeting in Garland" submission in the Eastern Gazette on April 22, provides no information at all other than the fact that a meeting with the Selectmen occurred. Meetings have been held with the Dexter Town Council as well as the Selectmen in the Towns of Exeter and Ripley. It is notable that the Selectmen were invited to ask questions of "the presenters and board members". It is important to the citizens of the MSAD communities however to learn what the questions are and -- most importantly: WHAT are the ANSWERS?

A Cheery Thought

Here's a cheery thought for a gray day: "Godzilla vs. the Board of Education" (a phrase in today's Garfield comic).

Little-Publicized Meetings

On Monday evening (the 24th) there's a meeting with parents at the Garland School concerning space issues. On a letter posted at the Garland Store, the superintendent states that the District needs to plan for five K-2 classrooms. The Garland School has four classrooms.

On Wednesday evening (the 26th), the School Board meets at 7 p.m. in the DRHS ATM room to approve the warrant of the District Budget Referendum (June 9th) and to approve notice of the District Informational Meeting (May 24th, 7 p.m., no location specified).

As far as I can tell, notice of these meetings does not appear on the District's web site. (Or if it's there, it's pretty well hidden!)

As a public service...

we make available here a communication published in the Eastern Gazette yesterday, April 22nd.

SAD 46 K-8 Project Information Meeting in Garland
With new district superintendent Kevin Jordan and a largely new school board membership, the SAD 46 Board of Directors voted unanimously on Wednesday April 5th, at a publicly held meeting at Dexter Regional High School, to move the proposed K-8 building project process forward. This unanimous vote ensured that district voters are allowed an opportunity to make an informed decision as to whether or not their children will attend a new state of the art district school or continue with the status quo. In keeping with current board member's and superintendent Jordan's stated goal of keeping the public informed, he and board members are meeting with local town selectmen to conduct question and answer sessions. As the process moves forward, public input will be sought and debate encouraged with no final decision made until a referendum is held and the public's decision honored.

One such informational meeting was held in Garland between SAD 46 Board of Director members, Superintendent Kevin Jordan and Garland town selectmen. This was held in the Garland Town Hall on April 10th at 7:00 P.M. to provide current project status and to address questions. The long studied project consists of several state-mandated milestones that have to be met before a final recommendation is made by the board to present to district voters. An overview of the district building project history was presented by Board Chairman John Parola after which, Superintendent Jordan presented an up to date presentation of the proposed K-8 project. His presentation included proposed siting and the rationale for the proposed site. Board members reminded the audience that an earlier attempt at building a new regional middle school was rejected and all major building projects were put on hold. Additionally, board members explained, all major building projects languished for over a year while a state-mandated study was conducted that required an earlier board review of the feasibility of joining another school district to build a consolidated High School. At that time, after lengthy review, it was decided that no adjoining or neighboring school district was ready to move forward with a new regional high school, so discussion returned for the need of new primary and middle schools. After that brief historical perspective was shared, Garland selectmen were invited to ask questions of the presenters and board members.

This information presented by SAD 46

This transcription preserves the punctuation, capitalization, and syntax of the original.

Commentary on this remarkable document will follow in a separate posting.

Welcome!

We'll elaborate more on principles and purposes as we go along, but in the interest of getting this site up and running, we'll state its purpose concisely right now: to encourage meaningful efforts at reforming the way "business is done" in MSAD46. It is our belief that the current administration and Board are out of touch with the voters, and that the District is being run by insiders, for the benefit of insiders. Has it always been this way? No. Does it have to be this way? NO!!

How can we seek redress? How can we create a situation where all citizens (and all children, regardless of whether they have the "right" name) are treated with respect? How can we mobilize citizens to care about what happens in their schools?

Posing these sorts of questions is the purpose of this forum. Please feel free to contact us through the email address listed here (link to the left). Your privacy will be respected.