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Post by alexsaitta on Mar 2, 2016 16:19:50 GMT -5
Speak out based on what? Your comments, accounts on Facebook or the news media? I don't have any facts nor have I talked to anyone who has first hand knowledge. I'm sure I'll hear some at the next meeting. In order to speak out, take action, whatever, the board would have to hear both sides, get firsthand accounts, and question the administration and the employee. The board would only do that in a hearing.
I hear this all the time, and you have echoed it here -- the board should not be involved in management. When there is a decision the managers make and someone doesn't like it, then there is a call for the board to step in and play manager.
The bottom line is, if we hire principles and department heads to run their schools and departments, part of that responsibility is to allow them to manage their personnel. Some may not like a decision they make, then is it right for the board to take a management role by reaching over that manager's shoulder every time and over rule their decision? No.
Like you said there is a grievance process, and through that grievance the board has a role in reviewing, supporting or overruling a management decision. But like the Supreme Court, the case has to be brought by the employee or the plantiff. The Court would never go down an grab the case and say, we feel we must jump in and over rule this or that decision.
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Post by geraldgarrett on Mar 2, 2016 23:24:27 GMT -5
Alex, you continue to misrepresent the intent of my comments. I did not intend to attack you personally or the School Board. But since you insist otherwise ...
Speak out based on what? Well, my friend, how about just giving us your personal opinion on the overall issue (ruining careers and lives over a stray word or two that offends an individual or two. free speech, etc.) Lord knows, in the years I've known you, you've never been shy about expressing an opinion about anything and everything that doesn't directly affect you. Who's put the muzzle on you, and why?
Again, for the third time in my past three posts, UNLESS THE TEACHER FILES A GRIEVANCE, IT'S OVER FOR HIM UNLESS IT GOES TO THE COURTS. Do I need to use shorter words so you'll understand that we agree on that? I cannot be any clearer in that statement than what I just said, using not a single word of more than two syllables.
The Board actually can (but certainly shouldn't) just reach down and overturn an administrative decision. THAT would be micromanagement. But perhaps the Board could use this as a learning experience to put in a place a reasonable policy to protect the opinions of its own employees in the future. It's never too late to learn something new and act on it, you know.
On the other hand, if a grievance IS filed, overturning an administrative decision on appeal is NOT micromanagement (the word I think you actually intended to use.) "Management" is actually part of the job of the School Board. Even you have said many times that we need more board members who understand how to "manage" our resources effectively.
The possibility of having an administrative decision overturned is really the only reason anybody would file a grievance in the first place. If there is no possibility of having an administrative action overturned by an elective body whose responsibility it is to conduct the grievance hearing, then why don't you just eliminate the entire process and move on? Because it's the LAW that employees deserve such hearings? Does anybody really think that law requires only a sham hearing with a pre-ordained outcome, as in, "Oh, gosh, our all-knowing administrators made that decision; how can we possibly pretend to know more than they know and overturn it?"
I think not. The Board already seems to know more about what's needed in classrooms and what teachers should be teaching than even those teachers and administrators know. Sometimes, I think we all seem to. Why show cowardice hide behind the fear of being accused of "micromanagement" when it comes time to stating a personal opinion on a thorny issue that doesn't make a good campaign slogan, letter to the editor, 30-second soundbite or Facebook post?
I guess it would be difficult to campaign on the slogan "Protect the F-word" in the Buckle of the Bible Belt, wouldn't it? Maybe that's why I'll never be elected to public office.
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Post by conservative on Mar 15, 2016 8:48:11 GMT -5
Alex, Now that the vote is done, was the real goal to get rid of you and move power to the southern portion of the county? That is the result. I hope you dig in and continue your excellent representation. You are the epitome of an elected politician evidenced in your effort to provide all the information available to encourage and justify your position on this last vote. We lost the battle to keep all schools open, but the war to keep the school district excellent, accountable and constrained continues.
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