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Truly Bruce,

You must be sick to death of asking questions, when you already know the response you'll get.

You deserve a raise for the crap that you're expected to cover.

Does the school board communicate? That's what you're really asking. No. There's your answer, plain and simple. Yes, you get your free, three minutes at any board meeting, but you're lucky if you even get eye contact. And Alan's way of saying 'thank-you' and pretending to be grateful for your time, and then calling the next speaker, is almost comical.

I could go on and on about the anti-social behavior of our superintendent and school board but I have to go now. I'd rather be poking myself in the eyes with a cattle-prod.

Bruce,

I'd be glad to give you my comments as you requested.

First, I believe that any group of people, elected to a governmental position with the reponsibility to represent those who elected them, that attempts to ban any comment from their constituents speaking on any related matter is an unprofessional, if not illegal, abrogation of those people's rights. In this case, the board controls the agenda, and in making such change, they control what public comment can be made. I agree with the people in this matter; they are violating rights of free speech.

As regards, our School Board, public outrage is exactly right. All one has to do to understand is to use one's three minutes and experience addressing the Board. Most of them have no interest in listening to what is said. Some of them politely look at you, but it is not clear, when you are completed, that any of them could actually tell you the essence of what you said. There is great doubt as to whether they listen, hear and/or understand. And as for Terry Grier, he's always busy looking at his laptop screen and appearing to be doing work on it. I've never seen any stronger body language. It is obvious that he could give a good rip what anyone has to say, with the exception that someone should heap praise upon him for doing a superior job and being a superior person (which actually happened once by an individual who is a regular speaker at every board meeting).

Teddy,

Agreed, to all your above words. A phenomenal idea. Let's advocate to "buy teachers, NOT buses". A fine bumper-sticker that would make.

In fact, how many teacher raises would fit into the cost of just ONE bus?

I think teachers would relish at the idea of more pay to venture into schools that wouldn't necessarily be their "first choice".

Of course suggesting this idea to a board full of nay-sayers is another thing.

I LOVED John Hammer's analogy of our board driving around and around in circles to avoid possibly taking the WRONG exit. He equated this to their inability to make a decision on anything. I'm guessing that if the "buy a teacher, NOT a bus" idea was put before them, it would be a loooong drive.

I would love to call on all the parents of these board members (rest their soul if they are not living) and tell them to smack their "children" upside the head so maybe they will just snap out of this rut that they are in about bad decision-making and NO decision making.

Anyway, yea, great idea. Money talks. Grier might even understand that.

I appreciate that citizens of Guilford County are given 3 minutes to speak and I understand the time limit. What I have a problem with is that communication is a two way street and at Board meetings, the traffic only flows one way.

I would like to see the Board members have the responsibility of responding to its constituents. When presenting to the Board, it takes alot of time to gather information, write it and narrow it down to a 3 minute speech. After the 3 minutes is up, what is done with the information? Have we wasted our time or are our concerns being addressed?

Why not have a Board Member responsible for follow-up within a week after each meeting? The follow-up could come through e-mail or phone. At least, the speaker could know if the Board is concerned about what you spoke on, is addressing the issue, have no plans to deal with it, etc.

Maybe The Educational Access Channel that carries replays of Board Meetings could be used. At the end of the replay of The Board Meeting, a School Board Member could respond to that nights comments. If that forum was used, all constituents could know what was going on.

With 11 Board Members, it doesn't appear that it would take too much time and it would go a long way in building realtionships with those whom they are elected to serve.

I think what the Durham school board is doing is an outrage. If it's not illegal it is certainly on the border line of unethical. Given the history of our school board I imagine it won't be long until they adopt the same process. They have demonstrated that they don't care what citizens have to say. I agree with the comments from Kay, Public Outrage, and Teddy Ballgame. I appreciate that the GCSB does allow public comment but I feel they are wasting a good opportunity to hear from the public they have been elected to serve. The people who speak at the GCSB meetings are for the most part involved, caring parents and teachers that truly want to help to make the school system better for all children and are a valuable resource that the GCSB is ignoring.

Say what you will about the County Commissioners, but at least they appear to listen to public comment. On many occasions, they even interact with the speaker, ask questions, even set up committees and follow on meetings to discuss. I've often wondered why the school board couldn't do that.

And, let's not forget the public forums. That which is even advertised as bidirectional communication never turns out that way. Again, speaker after speaker begs, pleads with the board and ..... nothing. Not a word.

Bruce - did you ever find out if any of the Board of Education members read this site???

Quest,

I don't know how many board members read the site, but I know that at least Kris Cooke does. She has posted comments here in the past. I don't remember hearing any board members commenting about what is on the Chalkboard, although that doesn't mean that they're not reading it or hearing about it from people who have read it. I'll try to ask next time I run into a board member.

Jennifer,

Thanks. If you find out, please let us know. Perhaps they'll remember what they read since they block out what we say.

Of course they "listen", but they have no ears.

I think we should all tape the best speeches from past school board meetings and play the tapes for 3 minutes if you run out of new speeches (hard to imagine that). It would be like "oldies but goodies". "A blast from the past." I remember some great school board meeting moments. And precendent has been set.....

We have had to listen to Joe S and his tapes at least on two occasions and sit politely. We had to watch a GCS PR video for parents in two languages. What purpose did that serve?

The people who needed to see this tape were probably not at the school board meeting. I think a summary or playing on one language and part of that video would have sufficed.

Get out those oldies, friends.

Is it possible for there to be smaller, non-business school board meetings so that conversations can actually be had? Why aren't the disaffected and unhappy folks demanding such meetings?

Sue,

This has been how it has worked in the past. There are little meetings with little groups. Great PR strategy. Folks are "heard" so it shows that the GCS is "listening".

Also at other meetings, like Community Dialogue in Ed, for example, when problems are discussed and citizens might be planning to appear in mass at a board meeting, the meeting suddenly is held in High Point. Many of these citizens have transporation issues. The CDE is open to anyone;hence, GCS employees, school board members (esp right before election time)can come too and know ahead of time what is going on and what needs to be stiffled at the big meeting.

Just like school board members listen and post on the Chaulkboard.

There is a big difference in listening because you truly care what parents want and just listening to keep things quiet for PR purposes.

It would be great if this has changed but only time will tell.

Barbara Ann,

The board meets about every fourth to sixth regular meeting somewhere in High Point. They tried the auditorium at Penn Griffin for awhile, but now I think they've decided to move back to the English Street offices.

A few times they have changed the meeting location when they see that a lot of people have signed up to speak. Once I remember they moved it to the county commissioners' room and I believe one time they moved it to High Point because there was a lot of interest there.

Anyone who wants to check on the schedule can go to www.guilford.k12.nc.us/boe/meeting_schedule.htm

I'm not sure how often they update that, though. So if there is a last-minute change, I don't know if it would make it on that list.

Have to tell you, Jen, you are just slightly out of the loop on this one.

Barbara Ann,

Huh? I was just pointing people to the school board's schedule and how they meet. Not quite sure how that makes me "out of the loop."