I was thrown out of the Board of Education meeting tonight for complaining that the board had not scheduled a public commentary session on the evening they intended to vote on a budget for the upcoming school year, which had not previously been presented to the public.
Of note, the Board called this a "special meeting" at which public comment is not required. They held the meeting in a room without TV equipment so it was not available to the public, and they scheduled, with only the minimal public notice, on a night, when several other local events kept interested parents and residents away.
Early in the meeting Board member Sheila Daniels suggested that it was inappropriate to have a budget meeting without public comment.
"Well we didn't," Vice Chairman Bill Boyd said, shrugging. "So we didn't."
The meeting continued apace until both Boyd and Chairman Ted Raczka made speeches in support of the budget in which both indicated that although they were not happy with the cuts the budget made, they would support the budget because they wanted to create the kind of school system the community demanded.
I couldn't hold my tongue.
"How would you know what the community wanted when you conduct a meeting without public comment," I asked.
"You're out of order," Raczka said. And I was.
"Then throw me out, but I want you to know that holding a budget meeting without public comment is cynical and arrogant," I said.
Two or three members stood and made a motion to recess.
"Are you done," Raczka asked.
"Yes," I replied.
"Then you'll need to leave," he said.
I left. The Board of Education passed the Superintendent's budget along party lines.
13 comments:
I agree with your observation 100%. It is thoroughly un-democratic that the Final School Budget can be considered without public comment.
Say, they do have public comment at the BoE meeting next week, don't they?
Perhaps it's time for greater accountability: time to separate our tax bills, one for city and one for the school system. This way all Middletown citizens, not just parents of school children currently in school, will be aware of what the school budget is, who is on the Board of Education, and who is interested in keeping citizens included in the decision-making.
Ed unfortunately you are experiencing what many others have suffered under the regime of Chairman Raczka and the Democratic controlled Board. They are thin skinned, arrogant and refuse to listen to anothers thoughts. In discussion I find that you may not always agree with a person but it makes you wiser to listen to another view. Maybe you were wrong to voice your frustration loudly but quite frankly, its the only way you would have been heard. Keep up the good work, keep the faith and keep on opining. At least the citizens can be assured of one thing, come November elections your voice and be heard and your opinion can matter! VOTE
Kudos to you Ed. I am glad that someone said something. I know that I, for one am frustrated with the board, and I sense that it is a common theme. I think if we were to organize and come together thoughtfully it would be difficult for the board to continue to disregard our opinions. I would be interested in helping to form a citizens action group of sorts.
The BOE won't cut teachers, but they will cut support staff such as secretaries and custodians who just happen to not be BOE union members, while other unions had offered to take furlough days to keep their fellow citizen employed-
selfish.
Ed, thanks for trying to make them see the light!
BOE ADVOCATES/APPROVES LAY -OFFS
As part of the concession packages offered by the unions of the City, the employees were to take mandatory furlough days in exchange for a no layoff clause. The concession packages were not accepted by the Common Council and during their meeting it was indicated that layoffs were NOT considered.
The budget passed by the Board of Education last night removed the funding for 3.5 OCCUPIED positions (2 custodians, 1 secretarial position and .5 of the courier / clerk position). Ms Senges made a point at the meeting to say that no currently employed elementary teachers were losing their jobs; however, made no mention of other employees.
During the discussion at last night's meeting, the need to fund preventative maintenance was pointed out however, nothing was said about having employees available to do the preventative maintenance.
I would love to heard a response from BOE member on that this! But I'll be shocked if we do!
I thought the Democrats stated when they approved the new fiscal budget, that no one was going to be laid off? I guess City employees working at the Board of Education under the AFSCME Local 466 Union don't count as City employees! Once again, the Democrats were wrong!
When I was a member of the Board of Education, I came to believe that citizens who were not on the Board were more effective in drawing public attention to problems in the school system. The events surrounding these budget decisions have made me wonder if that's still true.
Mind you, it isn't easy to effect change as a Board member: budget constraints, union contracts, and the control that the Democrats and Republicans use to keep Board members in line kept my hands tied. In addition, the Superintendent and Board chair control what comes before the Board to vote on. When I was on the board, my view that the Board should not be an arm of the Democratic or Republican parties got me thrown off the slate and publicly denounced by the Democrats then in power.
What to do? Keep speaking up. Go to the meetings and speak during the time allotted for public comments. Go in numbers. You get about three minutes each, but they can't stop you. Go to PTA meetings -- the officers of those organizations have more power than you might think. Speak to representatives of the unions. Call your own forums. Go to city council meetings. There are certainly conscientious and thoughtful city council members who will listen to citizens' concerns. And there are lots of residents who are sick of the control that the Dems and Republicans have over the Board of Education. I know this because of the support I got.
So the Educators Union ( who pushed the BOE to make the decisions they did not the other way around along with the common council) would rather lay -off employees than share the economic burden that our country is in with furlough days-
NEW MATH:
Johnny, Bill & Jo each have 3 apples and the orchard just burned down. So Bill and Johnny being buddies decide that instead of everyone giving up 1 apple for seed, let's just make Jo give up all of his. Jo's family can starve, but its ok no one really noticed him anyway."
This is basically what the Education Union has done laying off 466 employees, instead of accepting a budget where all City employees make sacrifices.
Send a note to school with your kids if you have a problem with the new morals our educators have adopted!
So I guess my honesty was to much. I don't see my post. A email could have been sent.All u did now was fuel a flame.U didn't want tax payers in Middletown to know.Very soon I will be getting involved In many areas.You CAN NOT stop me from voicing my opion or informing tax payers of the FACTS>
To Fallen Angel38. I leave you with this thought--Spell Check!
And so the Political saga of the great City of Middletown continues to bring much animosity to the taxpayers.
I will say this and unfortunately it will not not be received by all, you get what you vote for!
Those who do not come out to vote have no right to complain, those who vote and do not get what they hoped for did not do their homework, those who vote and expect control of a party in return need be reminded that the tides always turn through attrition and anger.
We have lost the most basic principles of community for the power of goverment and the selfish needs of those in charge. It would be unfair to say all politicians walk these paths but it is the ones that travel the same path that become complacent and blind to everyones needs.
Politics are power and when those charged with the task to regulate cannot see beyond the selfish needs of the tight little arrogant circle in which they live then we all suffer, until change is made in the way we conduct business, "think outside the box" then we have to stay diligent and make are voices heard and bring out the travesties that occur within party lines by powerful individuals.
Blaming the Democrats or the Republicans is not the answer, we must hold the individuals accountable for their actions not the party, yes there is strength in numbers but it is greed that drives the numbers up.
I will be up front and tell you I am registerd Democrat and believe in democracy, but when I vote I follow my heart along with knowledge of issues and people and make an educated choice.
Stand tall and speak loud, attack those who attack you, fight the issue and avoid personal attack whenever possible, but do not cower from those who carry a heavy sword and threaten a fair and equitable life in a close knit community. Somtimes people need to be called out and defend their own rights for the betterment of all, if they are morally and legally legitimate then it will show,if not then see you at the polls.
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