I live in a small California desert community, and we are finding that our local school board has forgotten who they work for and what their purpose is. After running our schools into the ground and depleating our finances with the intention of recieving state aid, they are now trying to save their own positions as they let good teachers go. This lack of foresight and money management at the expense of our children’s and community’s future is unforgivable. So our community is taking action.
I have been selected to organize our community against the school board. Being out of my element in local-level politics, I have a lot of learning to do on the fly. And that has to be combined with managing my own education, work, and family. So blog articles here will be very few and far between as I venture into possibly the most important thing I have ever done.
Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to come here and read and comment on what I have to say. It has been fun. Now wish me luck, as I dive in head first to fight city hall.
Update, 17 May: In a partial victory, the teachers have been saved. It is only partial because they are forced to be directly overseen by the superintendent, who is the man who wanted them removed. Our next step? Remove the superintendent or the school board who hires him. The choice will be theirs.
Update, 6 June: The superintendent seems to be gone. That’s about all I should say for scandalous legal reasons.
Update, 18 June: The superintendent is officially “on leave.” The board cannot say why, and neither can I do to legal reasons concerning an ongoing investigation. However, the Board has called a special meeting for today to discuss “Approval of an Agreement regarding Compromise, Release, and Resignation with a certificated employee – Superintendent” and “Discussion regarding appointment of interim superintendent.”
So it looks like we have won another battle. Whether or not the war is over will be up to the Board.
Thanks for the support.
