Transparency in Government

How do you define "transparency" in government?  That's certainly the buzzword these days . . . but what is it, exactly?

In very basic terms, no government entity should be doing things "behind closed doors" or in private/secret meetings that affect their constituents and those constituents' tax dollars.  There are laws that spell this out - in Ohio, we refer to them as "Sunshine Laws", and there are clear guidelines as to how a public entity is to conduct public business:  In Public!! 

Of course, a few things fall within the scope of what is called "executive session", where public discourse would be detrimental to the process, but these items are few and very specifically defined in the Ohio Revised Code. 

That is why we must publically post all dates and times of our board meetings - so that the public may be informed and thereby have opportunity to attend.  These same rules apply to the Village, Townships, etc.  Accommodation must be made for members of the public to physically attend these meetings, so sufficient space and chairs etc. must also be provided. 

It is not required that members of the public be given a chance to speak during these meetings, but I can't think of any government entity around here that doesn't.  At our board meetings, we allow time at the beginning for residents of the school district to address the board.  Other entities are a bit looser with their procedures, and that's okay, too, as long as good manners prevail and control is maintained so that the meeting may progress.

While these are the measures required by law, the school board has instituted a newsletter - the Bulldog Bulletin - to keep residents abreast of school district happenings between meeting dates.  The newsletter is mailed to every resident in the district, regardless of whether a particular resident has children in the system or not.  We all have a vested interest in the school district and deserve to be kept apprised of how our tax dollars are being spent to educate the next generation.

I have suggested that digital recordings of our board meetings be made available to the public as well, for those who are unable to physically attend.  We will be looking at that option soon, and if you are at our next regular meeting you'll hear us talk about it.

In addition to these pro-active avenues, a resident also has the option of making a public record request on specific items from any government entity.  This, too, is spelled out in the Ohio Revised Code, which includes parameters for the request as well as guidelines on the process for its completion.

All of these measures exist to protect citizens, and allow an avenue for them to keep informed of the actions of their elected representatives, as well as the reasons behind the decision to take those actions.

The school board is very careful to operate within the letter and spirit of the law - we do not see how we may "legally twist" things to suit any private agenda.

Obviously, public meetings are only helpful to those who are able to attend.  Newsletters are great - but only if you read them.  Digital recordings of meetings would be swell, but if you never take the time to listen you'll be no further ahead than before.

Your school board is doing everything in our power to make our deliberations and actions accessible to the public:  those who voted us into office.  But no matter how many options we use to "get the word out", those options are only good if they are used.

I hope You are coming to school board meetings, and reading the Bulldog Bulletin - and once we podcast our meetings, I hope You will take time to listen in on what your elected officials are doing with your school district tax dollars.

February Board Meeting

Our February Board meeting was held on the 16th of the month at the high school, so that folks could catch part of the game that evening.  We did something new that evening:  we used what is called a "consent agenda".  This allows all routine items to be grouped together for one motion and one vote, to save time.  Any board member is able to request that a particular item be removed from the consent agenda, and thus open it for further discussion.

A little brochure was made available for the first time that night.  It included information on the guidelines for public participation, chain of command, and descriptions of executive session and the consent agenda.  On the back was listed our contact information and upcoming meeting dates.  We will continue to make this brochure available at our meetings.

The new Swanton police chief, Gary Lyons, introduced himself to the Board.  He spoke about the Swanton police department working with the school district and students. 

We passed the items included within the consent agenda:  minutes from the prior January meetings, financial reports and investments and other reports from the treasurer, along with the superintendent reports.

We next went into executive session to discuss some things with our attorney, concerning a pending court action.  After we returned, the superintendent presented some new business for our consideration.  Contracts for the elementary and middle school principals were passed, along with a contract with Quandel Group to clean up the 1904 portion of the middle school. The NWOCA contract for internet services was passed, along with the NWOESC contract for 2010-2011.  We also approved several updates to our district policy manual - which is available online through the district website.  

Kris Oberheim and Michelle Tyson gave an update to the board on the Swanton Recreation program.  Mona Dyke and Michelle Tyson each spoke during the time for board comments.

We adjourned at 10:35 p.m.  Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 23rd, when we will continue our board orientation with information from the superintendent.

I had planned to mention podcasting digital recordings of our public meetings, but I didn't have the cost information yet.  That will need to wait until next month.  When I checked on it two years ago, there was a $5/month option available but no doubt that amount has increased.  If we could have our meetings available online so that those interested could listen, it would be a great option for our residents who are unable to attend in person.  I am especially interested in having the recordings stream live, so that no one would need to download anything.  We'll see what we can find!

 

A Blessing in Disguise

Remember the "Race to the Top" (RttT) federal grant opportunity that we just dealt with?  The one where we were not able to meet the deadline because the Swanton Education Association (SEA - aka "teachers' union") wanted us to sign an additional MOU before they would agree to sign the RttT one?  I have been doing some reading, and have discovered some things of which I was not formerly aware that are tied into this RttT grant. 

But I should have known. If not the details, at least I should have remained cognizant of this very basic fact:  Federal money has Federal strings, and Federal strings are always bad.  Always. 

And I am ashamed of myself.  When I first learned of this RttT grant, I am embarrassed to admit that I fell into that age-old trap of seeing only the $$.  I did no homework on the grant requirements themselves. That was very VERY bad of me, and I will not let it happen again.

Here is what I discovered.  Below is an article by Mr. Allen Quist.  While his is not the only article I have read on the subject, it is the most concise.  

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Obama Administration To Impose Liberal UN Curriculum



by Allen Quist       http://www.edwatch.org/



July 29, 2009

On July 24, 2009, the U.S Department of Education (DOE) announced that the “centerpiece of the Obama administration’s education reform efforts” in its “$4.35 billion Race to the Top,” will include “adopting internationally benchmarked education standards.” These will be national standards, said the press release, keyed to international standards and will be incentivized to the states with federal “stimulus” dollars.


By the term “education standards” DOE means content standards; meaning curriculum-the content schools must teach. By “national education standards” DOE means that schools in all 50 states will teach the same content. This will create a de facto federal curriculum The Department of Education will financially reward those states that teach what DOE wants taught. The Department can be expected to insist that the values taught in the national curriculum conform to the very liberal ideology of the Obama administration.

According to the announcement, this federal curriculum will consist of “internationally benchmarked” standards. The only extant comprehensive “internationally benchmarked” education standards are those developed by UNESCO, the UN’s education arm. The UNESCO website clarifies that its education standards conform to the treaties and agreements of the UN. This means that its curriculum includes, for example, the requirements of the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which says, “Education shall . . . further the activities of the United Nations” (Art. 26:2).

American schools used to teach the fundamental values of the United States–including the inalienable, God-given rights of life, liberty and property, as guaranteed by our Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Not any more. Now our students will be indoctrinated in the UN’s definition of human rights. As clarified by the UN’s UDHR, our rights now may not “be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations” (Art 29:3). Our children will be taught that they have only those rights the UN says they have.

The UNESCO standards also include the UN’s Earth Charter which further defines internationally benchmarked standards. The Charter says these standards must entail what it calls “sustainability education” (Art 14:b). The Charter explains that “sustainability education” entails the “promotion of the equitable distribution of wealth within nations and among nations” (Art. 10:a), nuclear disarmament (Art. 16:d), gay marriage (Art. 12:a), legalized abortion (Art. 7:e), adoption of an “international legally binding instrument on environment” (The way Forward), and indoctrination in pantheism (Art. 14d and Art. 16:f).  (emphasis added)

The National Governor’s Association is enabling the Obama administration’s plans by calling for “voluntary national education standards.” Goals 2000 of 1994 was “voluntary,” too, but most legislators were unaware of the fine print in the companion bill, HR6, which required that states would lose all their federal education funding if they failed to comply. That is why all 50 states joined Goals 2000. The Obama administration has made it clear that it views “voluntary national standards” the same way.

(Editor’s note: The DOE press release fails to mention that national education standards have already been written, having been composed during the Clinton administration. For a thorough description of what these very liberal national standards say, see Fed Ed: The New Federal Curriculum And How It’s Enforced, by Allen Quist, available from EdWatch.org or Amazon.com.)

[For more on the fundamental values of the United States, see Cmods.org, Unit I, Module #3, The American Creed.]


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So as you can see, the fact that we missed the deadline and therefore do NOT have a shot at that potential thousands of dollars of Federal money over four years is truly a blessing in disguise. 

And I pledge to the residents of the Swanton Local School District that I will never again be so lazy in my elected position as School Board Member.

Gentle Reminder

I continue to be surprised that anyone finds this blog, let alone READS it. But for those of you who do, and who wish to leave a comment, please feel free to do so.

Just remember that no comment will be published unless the writer has been mature enough to include his/her full name. No anonymous posts are allowed, and a first name alone is just as obtuse as no name at all.

Thanks for your understanding!

Early Observations

Just a few thoughts, as we begin a new calendar year . . .

It is obvious which of the new board members does their homework - and also who doesn't. This is an important job, and it does take work - no doubt about it.

Also, some comments have been made about the Recreation Program that bother me. Here's the thing: the changes that were made to the rec program were not done lightly, nor arbitrarily. Countless hours of research and meetings and study were done by at least 3 members of the former board (and probably more), along with more hours by the Treasurer and Superintendent. The decisions that were made were not made without a thorough look at both sides of the issue.

I understand that those not privy to all of the information we had at our disposal during the time of restructuring might not fully appreciate what was done or why. I am certain that either Cheryl or Paulette would be willing to more fully explain it to anyone who would ask.

It is true that Swanton's original Park & Rec program had morphed from its original core values into something unrecognizable, and that an entitlement mentality had overshadowed the purpose of the programs. But that doesn't mean we should just throw up our hands and say, "oh well - that's the way it's been done for years and so we can't change it, because that's just what people expect - if we try to change it, we won't get any cooperation".

Baloney!!

Here's a simple analogy: when Mrs. Smith first enters the classroom of Mrs. Jones who has left to have a baby, and the kids say, "but we ALWAYS did it like THIS", what will Mrs. Smith say? If she's a teacher worth her salt, she will keep the things that are appropriate and jettison those that aren't, regardless of the desires of the students. Right?

At the risk of repeating myself, let me state it again. NO other recreation program in the state of Ohio pays their coaches or directors like we used to do, with a school district tax levy. None. Nowhere. Nada. The programs are self-sufficient, running off of gate receipts, concessions and fees. The person in charge of the entire rec program, the Head Honcho, if you will, is likely to have a salary - but that's the ONLY person who does. Each particular sports director (Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, Football, Cheerleading, etc) is a volunteer, and usually a parent of a participating child, as are the coaches. Parents are expected to help out in their child's chosen sport.

Why did that become such a foreign concept here?? I don't know. But now that we have finally turned things around and are beginning to see positive results - the last thing we should consider is a return to the former, inappropriate policies, no matter who liked it that way.

I realize that being a director or a coach takes time and work. I did it for my own kids, when they were involved in rec program sports. That is what a parent DOES for their kids! It is a sacrifice of time and money, but that's part of what parenting is all about.

And I'm just enough of a hard-nose to say that, if we don't have any parents willing to step up to the plate without being paid, then that particular sport can be eliminated from our program until we get some parents who will gladly volunteer their time.