Monrovia School Link Preview ~ Number 127 ~ June 19, 2005
It appears the board is dealing with some hot potato items at this Wednesday's meeting. Health aides, budget, something about the "layoff of classified employees," and an update on the attorney general's opinion that schools should let students out of school for confidential medical reasons. Also, some reaction to my question about how open a forum this newsletter should be.
~ brad@sacklunch.net
Closed session at 6:30 p.m. this Wednesday, June 22, regarding a possible expulsion and something about "Appointment / Employment / Assignment - Associate Superintendent Curriculum & Instruction." (That sounds like Joel Shawn. Please keep him, board.) Also, the regular open session is at 7 p.m.
Here are some items (there are more) that strike me as interesting:
~ Item 4.1: The board and Monrovia Chamber of Commerce will recognize four district employees for outstanding service: Fred Saiz, Warehouse Delivery Driver; Karen Meza, Playground Aide at Plymouth Elementary; Shannon Varner, Receptionist at Plymouth; and Tamara Morrison, Site Coordinator for the Village After School Program.
~ Item 4.2: Public Comment for items not on the Agenda. (Open forum. Say what you want.)
~ Item 6.9: Unveil for public review a possible new health textbook, Glencoe Health, 9th Edition, Glencoe/McGraw Hill.
~ Item 7.7: "Receive an update regarding the District's plans for providing health services for students, including site assignments of Health Assistants and procedures for school site personnel as related to medical issues."
~ Item 7.8: Vote to adopt a budget for 2005-06.
~ Item 8.3: Vote on "a Resolution for layoff of classified employees."
~ Item 8.4: Vote on a collective bargaining agreement with the districts various unions.
~ Item 9.2: "Receive an update on information and legal advice relating to the Attorney General Opinion on the release of students for confidential medical reasons."
LETTER: KEEP IT OPEN ~ Please keep it an open forum. One of the problems in our community (world for that matter) is that people are unable to listen to another point of view without taking it personally. We tell our children that everyone has their own point of view, but it's the adults that have the biggest problem with that. Besides, everyone is supposed to know that this newsletter is composed of notes taken by various community members, and the comments are their own opinions.
As for Mrs. Chesley's rebuttal, I applaud her for having the courage to put herself in the spotlight, but some of her beliefs are a little worrisome. I, too, come from a family who was very poor. Although my parents both started out with nothing, they worked very hard to have a modest home and a comfortable lifestyle. I was raised to be Republican/Conservative and still am. I feel everyone on welfare/food stamps, etc. should have to do some type of job for the county to earn them. However, if a parent is lazy, unmotivated, uneducated, or what have you, I don't blame the child. An education is the answer for these children, but if they aren't encouraged by their parents, a lot of them will not seek it. Clare had the good fortune of having parents who got it together and encouraged her to do the same. Sure, there are kids out there who are just born with the spark that drives them to push beyond their limitations. Most are not, though. Should we forget about these kids, because they don't have that spark?
It's a very tough situation. Maybe Clare's right, though. Maybe it's time that our government, school board included, started giving less for nothing. Maybe we shouldn't provide translation so readily. Then these kids won't keep growing up seeing how easy it is to live in mediocrity. When and where do we draw the line? - Anonymous
LETTER: KEEP THEM SEPARATE ~ I love your newletter, but I feel that the writer should report on the board meeting itself and if they have comments they should write a letter to express them. - Anonymous
LETTER: IT'S BETTER NOW ~ I started teaching in 1965 and retired last year from MUSD. I was active in MTA for many years. We had two strikes. We had many employees that were let go every year, including teachers, and then rehired the next year if we got funding. We worked hard to keep the union (AFL-CIO) out of MUSD and keep CTA. We went door to door to get parents elected to the school board. Our pay was at the bottom or next to the bottom for years. We fought to get the right to show up at a board meeting and speak. Parents or teachers were not allowed to speak unless they were on the agenda ahead of time. There was no public comment time at a board meeting.
Things are so much better now. These are not our best days at MUSD, and things do not look good, but we are allowed to express ourselves.
I have not always agreed with what is in this newsletter but I have been getting it for two or three years. I got the minutes of the meeting at school and they gave me the facts. I wanted opinion and enjoyed the different points of view. Even with Ann's letter she gave the facts but also expressed her feelings. I'm glad Ann did not sign it anonymous. If we want a professional writer we can read the newspaper. I once went to the board meeting to speak after receiving a letter inviting me to speak. (The only way to speak to the board then.)
The way I was treated by the president made me so upset I ended up yelling at him as he kept smoking his cigarettes and looking at the ceiling. My picture was in the paper the next day.
I am glad things are better now. - Bob Gollihug
LETTER: DON'T EDIT ~ I, for one, don't want to see you edit material coming in. Yes, some people get very passionate and involved, but I think that's a good sign. and, if they do get too extreme, then they should be ready for rebuttals from the audience, which is us, or a board member....
We have a school board that has one prominent fighter on it, and for all the good reasons. she is violating all rules of political "safe zone" advice and standing up for what she believes -- to be in the best interest of OUR CHILDREN, and that's quite simply going to be controversial. Elected officials "should not" say such opinionated things... Well, thank God someone finally is. But that leads to the next reality: When you take a very vocal, open and opinionated stand, some people are outright not going to "like you" anymore. As for me, I'll take a strong-spine politician over a wet noodle any day... Believe me, I don't always agree with her, but I always know where she stands.
Right now parents are horrified, and rightly so, to see that schools can release our children for a myriad of confidential services without telling us. How I wish people were as passionate about Monrovia's curfew, where police also can detain and question and ticket students and never tell the parent. Anyway, the reality is this: many parents and teachers are waking up and getting involved and not just sitting back in their barcaloungers and letting five people make decisions about our children without our input. and that, I believe, speaks so strongly for the best kind of change a community can see: parents are getting involved...and only good can come of that. - Rosemary Harrahill
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