She explained that she had a good discussion about Central Office (not
chop, chop, but to have a thoughtful reconstruction debate), with community
that wants to be heard, and overall expressed the view that if the experience
she had can be engaged in more often for transparency, the Board can make
a lot of progress on challenging issues. She said the proposed Amendment
of the Resolution was not a perfect document but represented a compromise,
transparent way, based on engagement experienced, heard and believes it is
in interest of students. She gave a huge shout out to Tara Gard and Jenine
Lindsey regarding discussion. She said the proposed Amendment is a
compromise for her.
Director Bachelor, endorsing Amendment, like Director Brouhard, stated she
is a doer, does not wish to stand in the way of progress; stated, however, that
the original Resolution did not make progress toward community schools one
wishes to see, community engagement that she wishes to have. She said
that she reached out to constituency including teachers, principals and other
administrators to check in, to see how they were thinking, felt. She said that
she got mixed messages. She said that the engagement helped her to better
understand things that she still does not understand about the District's
budget. She will be asking more. She, meantime, wants to learn more but
currently wishes to take a stand on a few issues.
Director Bachelor further said: that we have to stop coming from central office
and stating that x amount of schools are going to be closed; that closures
need to be a community decision: engage community around what schools
will look like: demographics are shifting; less folk having kids; less folk
engagement in our schools. She said language in Amendment is reflective of
community engagement around schools. She also said that she is excited to
have the language around TSA as well as Special Education but TSA's are
excited but exhausted from being asked to do every single job in this District
every day; continuing to look into them; that our students are being served by
them. She said that she appreciated the work of other Directors are to move
the District forward.
Director Davis expressed an appreciation of the proposed Amendment
language; that he, having heard the proposed Amendment, now deems it
more of an acquaintance amendment rather than unfriendly, as he had initially
characterized it, because he is now getting to know it. He acknowledged hard
work Directors Bouhard and Bachelor had put in crafting amendments. Davis,
acknowledging that the timeline was compressed, in this instance, after last
week's "No" vote, that he asks colleagues - Brouhard and Bachelor, in future,
to make every effort to at least get amendment language posted 24 hours in
advance for community and Board Member digestion.
Director Williams stated no matter how the Amendment is voted on, we
(Board) as elected officials are looking to listen; be thoughtful; push District
to do better; to bring thoughtful choices; that we are trying to set a new
direction for school district. He said that he has often mentioned that it feels
that we (Board) make decisions at the last moment; short sightedly; so use
to this crisis way of thinking. He said this budget adjustment came last
moment. He said that bargaining begin in October; that he does not recall
any substantial discussion. He said after Board rescission of school
closures, things really picked up. He said for new Board members to get in
place with understanding issues, impacts, issues with kids, all those
discussions should be had; that it is ok for a member to state not ready to
vote because of a lack of information and the need to speak with others:
constituents; staff; school sites. He said he expects District to do better, to
