Monrovia School Link Preview ~ Number 118 ~ April 24, 2005
The April 27 board meeting will be another two-parter, with a closed session at 6:30 p.m. for collective bargaining with the Monrovia Teachers' Association, then the regular session at 7 p.m. By the way, down below are a couple letters, one about Mayflower and the other about the PTA.
~ brad@sacklunch.net
In the regular session, the board will:
- "Recognize" ("honor," in English) Ulises Gutierrez as a recipient of the California Department of Education Outreach and Technical Assistance Network Adult Education Student’s Succeed Award (Whew! Getting all that on a plaque is going to be tough).
- Approve a new course called - if I'm understanding this correctly - Honors Physics in Automotive Engineering - for high school students.
- Receive a report on how well the Summer 2004 Intervention Programs worked, including a summary of student attainment of target goals, budget, and enrollment.
- Receive preliminary budget projections for the 2005-06 fiscal year.
- Adopt a resolution declaring May 18, 2005, as Monrovia Unified School District "Staff Appreciation Day", May 11, 2005 as "Day of the Teacher", and declaring the week of May 15 through May 21, 2005, as "Classified School Employee Week."
Burning Bridges ~ Dear Brad: I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your news letter. It is nice to hear both sides of an issue. I am sure you also have your own personal opinions but thay do not usually come out. [That's because I'm a shy wallflower. - Brad] I am also a Mayflower parent who loves Mrs. Sellak. She has been great for my kids and I will miss her dearly. That being said, I am looking forward to next year when all this drama is over and we can actually deal with more pressing matters such as Our Children! I understand that some of these parents are hoplessly devoted to keeping Jill around but I think we all need to face facts, We are going to have a different principal at Mayflower next year and it will be one hand picked by Louise Taylor. So people need to keep that in mind for next year when they are burning bridges this year. Sincerely, Sam Jacoby
PTA Not Involved ~ I got this letter of clarification of the PTA's role in the district:
Brad,
Just an FYI for you and anyone else who cares to ask...
A recent letter to the Star-News metioned PTA at least twice. Several of the community members who speak out at the board meetings mention PTA membership.
PTA is not, I repeat, NOT involved in employment issues. Board members of PTAs are not allowed to offer opinions speaking as PTA board members. They are allowed to speak out as members of the community. The information below is taken directly from the California State PTA website.
The California State PTA Bylaws, Article III (Bylaws 327) states:
"The organization shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian, and nonpartisan.
"The organization shall work with the schools and community to provide quality education for all children and youth and shall seek to participate in the decision-making process establishing school policy, recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to boards of education, state education authorities, and local education authorities."
Brad, I don't know if you remember the brou-ha-ha at Bradoaks a few years ago. I was one of "those" parents who was not happy with the turn that leadership had taken. We presented our case to the board, along with what we felt was evidence to support our position. The board took some measures to alleviate the situation. While we did not feel as though the board did what we wanted them to do, some of us took a decisive step and tranfered our children out of Bradoaks. A few families were able to re-locate out of the district. We recognized that, even though we gave it our best shot, the situation was beyond our control and in the hands of the board. Not once during those times did any member of our group mention any affiliation with PTA.
I don't want people to get the idea that PTA is involved in any recall effort, nor is the prinicpal of a school the reason that parents join PTA.
PTA is about enriching the education experience for children. The volunteers who help out deserve to have their names associated with all of the good works they do.
Thanks. I just had to get that off my chest. I don't even know if you can put this in the newsletter [Yes. - Brad], since PTA is not involved in this.
June Richetts
Also on the Web at www.monroviaschoollink.com