February 1, 2016 at 7:17 p.m.
Matters deserve public forum
Editorial
What’s wrong with this picture?
After a couple of years when the potential closing of some schools has been on the table and after repeated calls from the affected communities for a series of “town hall” type meetings so concerns can be aired, the school board responds to the latest request by saying that board email addresses are posted online and that the public can contact them electronically.
What’s wrong with that picture? Just about everything.
The official arrogance is stunning. So is the unwillingness to deal openly with public matters in a public forum.
Finances for the Jay School Corporation seem to be moving out of the crisis mode, and that’s good. But over the long haul, questions about declining enrollment and potential school closings aren’t going to go away.
They may get shifted away from the next school board election cycle, but they aren’t going to go away.
So here’s a suggestion: With the immediate threat removed, let’s have that open, measured discussion school patrons have been pleading for.
Why not schedule a meeting of the Jay School Board at Pennville Elementary, the school that’s had a target on its back for years?
Why not schedule meetings of the Jay School Board at Redkey Elementary, Westlawn Elementary, Judge Haynes Elementary, and West Jay Middle School as well? Those are the other schools that could be impacted by some of the plans that have been floated.
The format would be simple. Because such meetings would be official meetings of the Jay School Board, they would be open to the public. No board action would be planned. The board’s role would simply be to listen and to ask questions. A time limit on each speaker could be set, and each speaker would be required to identify himself or herself.
Would such meetings be tedious for board members? Probably. Would some of the same things be said over and over again? Definitely.
But something else would happen: The families and communities directly involved would have a chance to speak their peace.
And by doing so, they’d remind the board that these potential, looming, tough decisions aren’t just about money. They are about people. — J.R.
After a couple of years when the potential closing of some schools has been on the table and after repeated calls from the affected communities for a series of “town hall” type meetings so concerns can be aired, the school board responds to the latest request by saying that board email addresses are posted online and that the public can contact them electronically.
What’s wrong with that picture? Just about everything.
The official arrogance is stunning. So is the unwillingness to deal openly with public matters in a public forum.
Finances for the Jay School Corporation seem to be moving out of the crisis mode, and that’s good. But over the long haul, questions about declining enrollment and potential school closings aren’t going to go away.
They may get shifted away from the next school board election cycle, but they aren’t going to go away.
So here’s a suggestion: With the immediate threat removed, let’s have that open, measured discussion school patrons have been pleading for.
Why not schedule a meeting of the Jay School Board at Pennville Elementary, the school that’s had a target on its back for years?
Why not schedule meetings of the Jay School Board at Redkey Elementary, Westlawn Elementary, Judge Haynes Elementary, and West Jay Middle School as well? Those are the other schools that could be impacted by some of the plans that have been floated.
The format would be simple. Because such meetings would be official meetings of the Jay School Board, they would be open to the public. No board action would be planned. The board’s role would simply be to listen and to ask questions. A time limit on each speaker could be set, and each speaker would be required to identify himself or herself.
Would such meetings be tedious for board members? Probably. Would some of the same things be said over and over again? Definitely.
But something else would happen: The families and communities directly involved would have a chance to speak their peace.
And by doing so, they’d remind the board that these potential, looming, tough decisions aren’t just about money. They are about people. — J.R.
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