Thursday, August 4, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Summer lovin' had me a blast
So, I haven't blogged in a bit. There are a few reasons for that.
1) My life. I love the summer with my kiddos. And as it winds down to an end I feel panicky and I want to spend as much time doing fun things together. Two of my kids attend IPS and start school on August 8th. This week we spent a lot of time buying school supplies and trying on uniforms. And to save you time- NO ONE has white poster board in stock. Trust me, I've looked.
2) There have been a lot of ups and downs with the school board lately. I have been a little negative to blog about the good, and a little too frustrated to blog about the bad.
So what's going on?
Budget-The budget will be advertised tonight. My hope is that there will be a way for the public to view the budget this year, as we were promised. Last year was a nightmare. However the board received the budget in full at least a week ago, maybe it was two weeks ago. A definite improvement from last year.
First Day- School starts August 8th. Bus assignments are going out. Though I had a little hiccup with mine. I had a concern of my bus stop placements for my children. THey are 4 blocks apart from one another, and ten minutes apart in pick up time, which I can't be at both places. One stop is a long walk, and over a working railroad. I called in to talk to someone about my options, and I called transportation like any parent would at 226-4500. My first operator was rude and short with me, unwilling to really listen. When I asked to speak to a supervisor I was told he was on the phone. I stated I would wait. Then I was told he was in a meeting. Long story short I was hung up on. Twice. Eventually I found a great person in transportation who helped me.
State Takeover- Now we know, 6 schools remain on state takeover list. Now this doesn't mean that all 6 will be taken, but all six will have some intervention from the state. They will decide what schools will have what kind of intervention at their board meeting at the end of August. Months ago a few board members shared an interest with the rest of the board in meeting with Tony Bennett. That idea wasn't 100% supported and was put off until after the hearings. After several more weeks of trying to move this along I think we are finally getting somewhere. More to come.......
Board Retreat - The Board and Dr White along with Dr. Giles spent a good chunk of the weekend at the board retreat. This is a great time to catch up on updates. We discussed the Gambold Preparatory H.S. that will open in the fall of 2012, district lines for school board members that will need to change, Budget Reductions, lots of other topics, and this blog. Yep, this blog.
One item we discussed was the IPS School Board Open House. This was my idea, though at the retreat it was said something has been done like this before. I sent an email out a few months ago with an ideas for a way to invite and encourage our parents and community members to attend a meeting and see who their representatives are and see what we do. I was thinking we could set up before the 7pm meeting with food, and give people time to meet their board members. Only 2 board members responded to the email. I brought it up in person as well. I was ignored. Seriously, Jr. High kind of ignoring. Bold faced ignoring. (part of the bad) However, when brought up at the retreat Dr. White was very supportive and offered much assistance in the planning. (part of the good) So set your calendars for October 25Th at 6pm!!!!
My energy- I have felt quite drained the last month or so with the school board. I think because while school is going on I get such enjoyment out of visiting schools and seeing the students. During the summer, it is mostly just the adults in IPS that I have been seeing. I really look forward to getting back in the routine as far as a being board member goes. But sad to say good bye to summer as far as being a mom goes.
1) My life. I love the summer with my kiddos. And as it winds down to an end I feel panicky and I want to spend as much time doing fun things together. Two of my kids attend IPS and start school on August 8th. This week we spent a lot of time buying school supplies and trying on uniforms. And to save you time- NO ONE has white poster board in stock. Trust me, I've looked.
2) There have been a lot of ups and downs with the school board lately. I have been a little negative to blog about the good, and a little too frustrated to blog about the bad.
So what's going on?
Budget-The budget will be advertised tonight. My hope is that there will be a way for the public to view the budget this year, as we were promised. Last year was a nightmare. However the board received the budget in full at least a week ago, maybe it was two weeks ago. A definite improvement from last year.
First Day- School starts August 8th. Bus assignments are going out. Though I had a little hiccup with mine. I had a concern of my bus stop placements for my children. THey are 4 blocks apart from one another, and ten minutes apart in pick up time, which I can't be at both places. One stop is a long walk, and over a working railroad. I called in to talk to someone about my options, and I called transportation like any parent would at 226-4500. My first operator was rude and short with me, unwilling to really listen. When I asked to speak to a supervisor I was told he was on the phone. I stated I would wait. Then I was told he was in a meeting. Long story short I was hung up on. Twice. Eventually I found a great person in transportation who helped me.
State Takeover- Now we know, 6 schools remain on state takeover list. Now this doesn't mean that all 6 will be taken, but all six will have some intervention from the state. They will decide what schools will have what kind of intervention at their board meeting at the end of August. Months ago a few board members shared an interest with the rest of the board in meeting with Tony Bennett. That idea wasn't 100% supported and was put off until after the hearings. After several more weeks of trying to move this along I think we are finally getting somewhere. More to come.......
Board Retreat - The Board and Dr White along with Dr. Giles spent a good chunk of the weekend at the board retreat. This is a great time to catch up on updates. We discussed the Gambold Preparatory H.S. that will open in the fall of 2012, district lines for school board members that will need to change, Budget Reductions, lots of other topics, and this blog. Yep, this blog.
One item we discussed was the IPS School Board Open House. This was my idea, though at the retreat it was said something has been done like this before. I sent an email out a few months ago with an ideas for a way to invite and encourage our parents and community members to attend a meeting and see who their representatives are and see what we do. I was thinking we could set up before the 7pm meeting with food, and give people time to meet their board members. Only 2 board members responded to the email. I brought it up in person as well. I was ignored. Seriously, Jr. High kind of ignoring. Bold faced ignoring. (part of the bad) However, when brought up at the retreat Dr. White was very supportive and offered much assistance in the planning. (part of the good) So set your calendars for October 25Th at 6pm!!!!
My energy- I have felt quite drained the last month or so with the school board. I think because while school is going on I get such enjoyment out of visiting schools and seeing the students. During the summer, it is mostly just the adults in IPS that I have been seeing. I really look forward to getting back in the routine as far as a being board member goes. But sad to say good bye to summer as far as being a mom goes.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Some like it hot, somelike it not!
A few days ago the board met in a Design Overview meeting. At this meeting we discussed renovations at various schools. We are able to tour several of these newly renovated schools on August 3rd, traveling by bus. I suggested that we ride in a non-air-conditioned bus. This is just 5 days before school starts and 70% of our students will be riding on these buses. I am concerned for the safety of our students in this crazy heat. By riding the bus ourselves we can access if this is manageable, what steps need to be taken to make the ride more comfortable, and how hot does it really get. I barely got the entire thought out before a board member stated she would drive herself if we had to ride without A.C. I am not going to mention names, but 4 board members refused the idea.
I want to remind everyone, these just aren't your kids on these buses, they are mine too. I have a fair skinned little red-head that gets heat exhaustion quicker than we can catch it. I want to see how bad it really will be. But 4 board members feel they are too good to be placed in that situation. The same situation they feel is ok to place your child, my child in on a daily basis. There is something that really gets me about the fact that none of the board members that refused have small children anymore. In fact, one has never had children. So I guess they have no real reason to care. To say the least, I'm a little hot about it. :)
I want to remind everyone, these just aren't your kids on these buses, they are mine too. I have a fair skinned little red-head that gets heat exhaustion quicker than we can catch it. I want to see how bad it really will be. But 4 board members feel they are too good to be placed in that situation. The same situation they feel is ok to place your child, my child in on a daily basis. There is something that really gets me about the fact that none of the board members that refused have small children anymore. In fact, one has never had children. So I guess they have no real reason to care. To say the least, I'm a little hot about it. :)
Monday, July 11, 2011
My time HAS come
Another blow.
Committee assignments came out today. We have 4 committees and a board member chairs each committee, this can not be the board president.
I asked to be given the opportunity to chair a committee. Any committee.
That request was denied. I have a few concerns with this.
1) In just over a year, there will be another School Board Election. If by chance all 4 board membes up for re-election lose, that leaves only three seasoned board members. Two of them, myself included, have been prevented from having any kind of leadership on the board. No experience chairing a committee or running a meeting. If the president of the board was really looking out for the best interest of the students, wouldn't they want ALL board members to be prepared???
2)What are they so afraid of? Seriously! What (or who) are they protecting?
3) This can't be what the people want. I don't hear the public screaming, "Great job IPS, keep doing everything the SAME!!!"
4) We are 7 elected officials and all need to represent the people. If it were meant to only have 4 opinions, then the board would have had only 4 members. Let us do our job.
So, here are the appointments from last year....
And this year.....
I just received this today. So, I decided to call the president of the board and ask why my request was denied.
I was told many reasons. It went something like this.....
There are only 4 chair positions. (Yes, but why must the same people chair every time????)
Your behavior and comments the other night were out of line and rude. (Remember, I told them to shove it next time they wanted to talk to be about being a team. I said this after it was evident the four of the went behind our backs and made all the decisions without including us.)
The others will do a better job. ( how do you know unless I get the opportunity)
Your time will come. (What????)
At this moment I assured the president that my time HAD come. It came when I was elected.
The president of the board isn't doing this for these reasons. I assure you. This is because I am not "with" them. This is because I vote against the Superintendent. This is because I speak my mind and they don't like it.
IPS hasn't been criticized this much by the public in years. Our schools are on take-over lists. And I assure you it isn't because of me. My time has come, and it is now.
Committee assignments came out today. We have 4 committees and a board member chairs each committee, this can not be the board president.
I asked to be given the opportunity to chair a committee. Any committee.
That request was denied. I have a few concerns with this.
1) In just over a year, there will be another School Board Election. If by chance all 4 board membes up for re-election lose, that leaves only three seasoned board members. Two of them, myself included, have been prevented from having any kind of leadership on the board. No experience chairing a committee or running a meeting. If the president of the board was really looking out for the best interest of the students, wouldn't they want ALL board members to be prepared???
2)What are they so afraid of? Seriously! What (or who) are they protecting?
3) This can't be what the people want. I don't hear the public screaming, "Great job IPS, keep doing everything the SAME!!!"
4) We are 7 elected officials and all need to represent the people. If it were meant to only have 4 opinions, then the board would have had only 4 members. Let us do our job.
So, here are the appointments from last year....
| EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE | RESOURCES COMMITTEE | |
| Chairperson - Commissioner Arnold | Chairperson - Commissioner Busch | |
| Commissioner Roof | Commissioner Brown | |
| Commissioner Zaphiriou | Commissioner Roof | |
| Ex Officio - President Gore | Ex Officio - President Gore | |
| LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE | POLICY COMMITTEE | |
| Chairperson - Commissioner Zaphiriou | Chairperson - Commissioner Brown | |
| Commissioner Adair-White | Commissioner Adair-White | |
| Commissioner Busch | Commissioner Arnold | |
| Ex Officio - President Gore | Ex Officio - President Gore |
And this year.....
| EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE | RESOURCES COMMITTEE | |
| Chairperson - Commissioner Arnold | Chairperson - Commissioner Zaphiriou | |
| Commissioner Adair-White | Commissioner Gore | |
| Commissioner Zaphiriou | Commissioner Roof | |
| Ex Officio - President Busch | Ex Officio - President Busch | |
| LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE | POLICY COMMITTEE | |
| Chairperson - Commissioner Gore | Chairperson - Commissioner Brown | |
| Commissioner Arnold | Commissioner Adair-White | |
| Commissioner Brown | Commissioner Roof | |
| Ex Officio - President Busch | Ex Officio - President Busch |
I just received this today. So, I decided to call the president of the board and ask why my request was denied.
I was told many reasons. It went something like this.....
There are only 4 chair positions. (Yes, but why must the same people chair every time????)
Your behavior and comments the other night were out of line and rude. (Remember, I told them to shove it next time they wanted to talk to be about being a team. I said this after it was evident the four of the went behind our backs and made all the decisions without including us.)
The others will do a better job. ( how do you know unless I get the opportunity)
Your time will come. (What????)
At this moment I assured the president that my time HAD come. It came when I was elected.
The president of the board isn't doing this for these reasons. I assure you. This is because I am not "with" them. This is because I vote against the Superintendent. This is because I speak my mind and they don't like it.
IPS hasn't been criticized this much by the public in years. Our schools are on take-over lists. And I assure you it isn't because of me. My time has come, and it is now.
Friday, July 8, 2011
The Broken Board
Yes, I am finally saying it out loud.
A year ago I started this journey of serving on the IPS school board. I knew there were problems and I knew there would be some roadblocks. I assumed there would be personality differences. But I had no idea the board was broken. You may wonder, what does that mean? Well, there are 7 elected officials. Five serving districts and two at large. Each Board member represents those persons in their district. (They are suppose to listen and represent their constituents.) Three of the longest serving board members ran unopposed in their last elections.
It is no secret that the board is usually split. Sometimes 5-2 sometimes 4-3. The same four ALWAYS being on the same side, the side of the Superintendent. In fact, one board member has said that they will NEVER vote against the Super. And those that do are met with criticism, insult, and are excluded. I am not talking about a Jr. High kind of exclusion, I could care less about being someone's friend. But we have been excluded from emails, conversations, and important information is not being shared.
Most recently I saw how dysfunctional this board is. These 4 board members hijacked the process of electing officers of the board. Two members, on the other side of the split, showed interest in holding the president and vice president spot. Those 4 wouldn't allow that. The same members are just rotating the positions and not allowing anyone new to sit in these seats.
Here is a list of the officers from past several years. It's like Groundhog Day.
2011-2012 President Busch, Vice Brown.
2010-2011 President Gore, Vice Zaphiriou.
2009-2010 President Brown, Vice Gore.
2008-2009 President Busch, Vice Zaphiriou.
2007-2008 President Busch, Vice Zaphirou.
2006-2007 President Campbell, Vice Busch.
2005-2006 President Brown, Vice Campbell.
The public is NOT being represented by this board. Those 4 board members are silencing the other three, in effect, silencing the public we represent. At a time when the public is begging for change and IPS has 7 failing schools, one would think we would think outside the box and try new leadership on the board. This is simply another year lost. I apologize to the people of this city and I fear for our children.
A year ago I started this journey of serving on the IPS school board. I knew there were problems and I knew there would be some roadblocks. I assumed there would be personality differences. But I had no idea the board was broken. You may wonder, what does that mean? Well, there are 7 elected officials. Five serving districts and two at large. Each Board member represents those persons in their district. (They are suppose to listen and represent their constituents.) Three of the longest serving board members ran unopposed in their last elections.
It is no secret that the board is usually split. Sometimes 5-2 sometimes 4-3. The same four ALWAYS being on the same side, the side of the Superintendent. In fact, one board member has said that they will NEVER vote against the Super. And those that do are met with criticism, insult, and are excluded. I am not talking about a Jr. High kind of exclusion, I could care less about being someone's friend. But we have been excluded from emails, conversations, and important information is not being shared.
Most recently I saw how dysfunctional this board is. These 4 board members hijacked the process of electing officers of the board. Two members, on the other side of the split, showed interest in holding the president and vice president spot. Those 4 wouldn't allow that. The same members are just rotating the positions and not allowing anyone new to sit in these seats.
Here is a list of the officers from past several years. It's like Groundhog Day.
2011-2012 President Busch, Vice Brown.
2010-2011 President Gore, Vice Zaphiriou.
2009-2010 President Brown, Vice Gore.
2008-2009 President Busch, Vice Zaphiriou.
2007-2008 President Busch, Vice Zaphirou.
2006-2007 President Campbell, Vice Busch.
2005-2006 President Brown, Vice Campbell.
The public is NOT being represented by this board. Those 4 board members are silencing the other three, in effect, silencing the public we represent. At a time when the public is begging for change and IPS has 7 failing schools, one would think we would think outside the box and try new leadership on the board. This is simply another year lost. I apologize to the people of this city and I fear for our children.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Officers
This year, I am going through my first real process of electing officers. IPS has a President, Vice President, and a Secretary. I decided months ago to run for Vice-President. I didn't really know how to go about sharing my interest, so I sent an email.
I never received any response. So at a training session with someone from the Indiana School Board Association I brought up a few questions. Mainly, when, where, and how do we discuss these positions. I was told to bring it up at a Committee Meeting and discuss it there.
So I did. And when I did I was met with harsh criticism about how this is the wrong time and not the place, and NOT how it has always been done. Weeks later I am calm and collected, however that night I was not. I asked why in the world wasn't this brought up in front of the person from ISBA? Why wait until I bring it up here and make me look like a fool? I proceeded to share that this was the strangest behavior out of professional adults I have ever encountered. Basically, I was mad.
Since then there has been no discussion on the matter. As a group we have not come together to hear one another and our reasons for the interest in a specific position. So what do we have?
3 people wanting President.
1 wanting Vice-President
0 wanting Secretary
How do we serve our students and the people of this city to the best of our ability if we can't even do this? As far as I know this is the first time in several years so many Board Members have ran for the office of President.
This morning I sent an email to the rest of the Board. Here is a small part of it....
"I am so tired of this Board being restricted to "past practice" or the "way we've always done it". Times change, and we need to be willing to change with them to be successful. We can't keep doing the same thing year after year, and expect different results. And we NEED different results."
I may have just lost some votes.......
I never received any response. So at a training session with someone from the Indiana School Board Association I brought up a few questions. Mainly, when, where, and how do we discuss these positions. I was told to bring it up at a Committee Meeting and discuss it there.
So I did. And when I did I was met with harsh criticism about how this is the wrong time and not the place, and NOT how it has always been done. Weeks later I am calm and collected, however that night I was not. I asked why in the world wasn't this brought up in front of the person from ISBA? Why wait until I bring it up here and make me look like a fool? I proceeded to share that this was the strangest behavior out of professional adults I have ever encountered. Basically, I was mad.
Since then there has been no discussion on the matter. As a group we have not come together to hear one another and our reasons for the interest in a specific position. So what do we have?
3 people wanting President.
1 wanting Vice-President
0 wanting Secretary
How do we serve our students and the people of this city to the best of our ability if we can't even do this? As far as I know this is the first time in several years so many Board Members have ran for the office of President.
This morning I sent an email to the rest of the Board. Here is a small part of it....
"I am so tired of this Board being restricted to "past practice" or the "way we've always done it". Times change, and we need to be willing to change with them to be successful. We can't keep doing the same thing year after year, and expect different results. And we NEED different results."
I may have just lost some votes.......
Monday, June 13, 2011
State Takeover
I have attended several of the meetings for State Takeover. But tonight I spoke. I will post my thoughts on the whole topic soon, but for now I will share my brief 3 minute speech.
Greetings Dr. Bennett, Dr. WHite, and members of the Board.
My name is Annie Roof.
I stand before you today for many personal reasons. First, This is my community. I was born and raised in Irvington, and my husband and I chose to raise our family here as well. I am also, and will always be a Howe HS Hornet. My siblings were Hornets, my uncles, and my parents. In fact, if it weren't for Howe I wouldn't be here, as Howe is where my parents met. My children wouldn't be here either, as this is where I met my husband. I graduated in 1995, the year Howe (temporarily) closed. My interest in IPS is more than just my past. I have 3 children. Two who are current IPS students, and one in preschool. THe diversity of programs that IPS offers is unmatchable. No one can compare. My oldest child is flourishing in the magnet school she attends. My son, however, needed something a little more. Next year he heads off to Sidener, the top rated school in I-Step scores for the entire state. And then there's my youngest. She has received special services through IPS and will continue to do so. She works with amazing therapist in hopes to get her ready to start kindergarten in the fall of 2012. Where else can all these needs be met in one district?
And lastly, I am an IPS school board member. To me, it is very scary to take local government from these communities. There is a school board that the community can go to, and meetings where they can speak. I know at times they don't feel they are listened to. Believe me, I know that. I didn't join the Board because I thought it was perfect. But these communities, evident by these meetings, are involved, they care, and they want that voice. Communities ABSOLUTELY should have local control over their schools. It has been brought up before, but I also am concerned with the lack of diversity on your board. That board does not represent IPS and who we are.
But, there are problems. Make no mistake we got in this position for a reason. Poor decisions have been made. IPS and the decisions made have often been described as changing the deck chairs on the sinking Titanic. If that's true, then the State is the life boat. We never thought we needed it, it's never been tested, and no one knows what to do once we all get on it.
Because of that I can't choose any of your numbers. But I have 3 of my own.
1) No matter what decisions are made, the absolute must is putting the needs of children first. Not businesses, not politicians, not someone in a fancy suit. But the children of this city. The children that no matter how many times they are lumped with the likeness of everyone else, I want to assure you they are not.
2) If anyone wants success out of these schools, they have to include input from the community, parents, teachers, but most of all, the students. It doesn't work starting from the top down.
3) Stability. Stability is simply a must.
I want to thank you for your time tonight. I want to thank you for hosting these meetings. And I want to thank this great community for coming.
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