| How Does A Board of Education Build Collaborative Relationships? Building collaborative relationships and keeping the community informed also involves two-way communication and anticipating the future. Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at Rich East High School, is another occasion for one last Hooray for the old board majority to again throw our children and community under the bus. On this occasion, it is recommending an administrative consultant, Dr. Selma McDonald, who will retire in June, 2013 to be given another contract of $850.00 per day for one year to immediately begin consulting the day after she retires. How can the "Party of No to Student Achievement," in their selfishness and continuing abuse and pursuit of private power and profits show such utter contempt for the interests of almost one hundred thousand Americans in District 227's communities, as they scream that "We're out of money?" We cannot have significance in this life, if it is all about just us. As if firing 48 teachers in 2012 based upon foolishness, buffoonery, and fighting the community in court is not enough, hiring an unneeded consultant for $850.00 per day is just too outrageous. At this serious moment in our district's history, at a time when less than three out of every ten of our high school students are at grade level and where restraint and sacrifice are being asked of every citizen, the American people will find it impossible, as I do, to accept such an outrageous situation. And who needs another surprise? With a new school board who is about improving student achievement levels, we don't need more dog and pony shows. We need reality shows. Successful school boards build real collaborative relationships with themselves, parents, community, political leaders, school board employees, teachers, principals, and students. Through transparency, inclusion, free and open direct two-way communication-feedback from staff and community, and informing our community, to properly represent our constituents, we need to hear what all the stakeholders have to say. Only in this manner can we preserve local school district autonomy. It starts with demonstrating and proving to those who would preempt it that the local school board and staff are improving student achievement levels and are doing an effective job in meeting high standards of student performance. State legislatures, often with prodding from the governor and the public, have been active in promoting public accountability where ineffective school boards have failed. That's why effective school boards must make every effort to keep the community and legislators informed about their initiatives and established accountability measures in place to raise student performance levels. Effective community engagement begins with two-way communication. An effective school district's leadership has the essential responsibility of informing parents and other community members about issues and events in the public schools. As leaders, we must listen to what the parents and community think, especially when they disagree with us. Two-way communication is the basis for working together and address issues. As a school board, it is suicide to put a lid on the act of communication with any of our stakeholders, beginning with ourselves, as school board members. As the new school board takes its seat on April 7, 2013, we must look at our district's communication mechanism, including its website, and press releases, newsletters, and other publications. Do they communicate true, clear and straight stories about what our district's accomplishments and challenges are? Are they clearly written and illustrated with specific events and stories to bring clarity, teamwork, commitment, and consensus in addressing our challenges and solving problems. Unlike the past, in our school district, board, community, and readers will be free to collaborate and engage in a school improvement conversation at open board meetings, to address the challenges that we face and the problems that must be solved if we are to move forward into the twenty-first century. The board will be free to remember and retell true stories of majority-student success and of teacher heroism much more than they will recite a policy or observe a board punish those who disagree with a failed gag rule or unfair policy that is not in the best interest of children, employees, or community. We expect our school board communication will invite, not stifle, teacher, principal, parent and community democracy, community and staff inclusion and participation at open board meetings, reaction, and input? An informed public is an empowered public. Engaging our community begins with keeping them well informed and aware that their reactions, free public participation, and feedback are essential and welcomed. Kindest regards, David E. Morgan School Board Member Rich Township High School District 227 Olympia Fields, Illinois 60461 |
