The right things, the wrong way.

That statement reads true to last nights meeting for sure.

This is the first agenda item I voted against:

5.06 Indianapolis Public Schools Early Childhood Education Program
I Recommended Action I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners accept the proposal to implement a Preschool and Early Childhood Development Education Program in the Indianapolis Public Schools District. Funding will be provided primarily through Title I, Title IIA, and Special Education funds.

Here's the problem. That agenda item is to the tune of about 7.5 million dollars. A year. And where is that money coming from? No, seriously, WHERE THE HELL IS THAT MONEY COMING FROM????? The agenda item says, TBD. That's right folks. The Board was given this info 24 hours before the vote.

Let's put this out there in simple terms. On Monday - here's a plan, there's some gaps, it's millions of dollars, just started the planning process a few weeks back, can't tell you exactly where the money is coming from - a little here, more there. We need you to vote on this. Tomorrow.

I first made the motion to postpone the vote until we bring this item to the Education Committee,like it should have been done. THat motion failed by a vote of 4 to 3.


During the discussion something very ugly happened. The Superintendent accused a board member of having a conflict of interest in this situation and even suggested they not vote. This board member has operated a center with a preschool for most of her life. She is a wealth of information on the subject. And she was ridiculed in public. Why in the world would a board (as a whole) allow the Superintendent to speak to a board member like this. Anyway, the motion passed with three board member opposed.

Please don't be confused by the vote and our lack of concern for preschool. I believe in preschool. 100%. THis is something we desperately need. But this isn't the way to do it. We can not continue to shut out the communities that surround our schools.
I also find it interesting that the three board member opposing both these items are only three of the four guaranteed board members come January. Two of the board members leaving, and the one in a competitive race all voted to spend your 8 million plus dollars.


The second agenda item I voted against:

6.02 Resolution No. 3080-12: Contract Award for the Forum Auditorium/Planetarium Relocation at IPS Arsenal Technical High School - Stuart Hall

I recommend approval of Resolution No. 3080-12 - awarding the contract for the Forum Auditorium/Planetarium relocation at IPS Arsenal Technical High School - Stuart Hall to Glenroy Construction Co., Inc. in the amount of $654,000.00.

There are several reasons I voted against this. I blogged about it before. But the main reason is due to a good Samaritan who came out of nowhere. Or Illinois. Jim Sweitzer spoke at the meeting and shared with the board some valuable information regarding the problems with the proposed plan. He is what one might call a planetarium guru. Apparently it's a small circle and he is well respected. And he has nothing to gain or lose when it comes to just being honest. The main concern in the immersion.
This plan would leave the auditorium in an awkward postion of not being able to be used for community purposes as it was. But worse, moving a dome that won't make a very good planatrium. You know why planetariums are in small round rooms? Because that is they way they work. If the dome sits too high off the floor, you don't feel like you are in space. And that is the point.

The Superintendent seemed to listen to Mr. Sweitzer, they even got his information to contact him later. The Super said he would take a closer look, these concerns were valid, and wouldn't make any decision that wasn't the right one. I assumed we would pull it off the agenda until that research was completed, but no. The promise was made that there would we would explore it all. But I still voted no. And so did 2 other board members. I guess the good news is that there will be some thought to all of this.

I suppose that is all for now. The next meeting will be an Educational Committee Meeting on November 1 at 5:30pm.

In the mean time, please be an informed voter.