Monday, June 09, 2008

West Bend School Board and Citizens Do Good

The West Bend School Board took up a proposed harassment policy this evening.  Here’s my post on it and why I opposed it. 

I didn’t think that I would make the meeting.  I had a prior engagement.  Lucky for me, my prior engagement ended early and I headed over to the school board meeting.  The meeting started at 1900 and I got there at about 1916.  By that time they had already taken down a list of speakers and the first speaker had already spoken on the issue.  Person after person got up and spoke against the proposed policy.  Not a single person spoke in favor of it.  I asked to be put on the list and had my say too.  In all, about 15 people spoke against the policy. 

I must commend the West Bend School Board for their behavior.  Other school boards should ask for the tape to see how to behave.  They were respectful.  They listened.  They asked good questions.  They were not condescending.  The school board behaved exactly as a school board should behave - like servants of the people. 

At the end of the discussion, the board unanimously sent the proposed policy back to committee to be rewritten.  The board members cited many of the reasons that were brought up by the citizens.  They also advised that the policy be simplified to merely point to state and federal laws and administrative rules instead of writing it into the policy themselves.  In this way, if there is opposition to this next time, the fight should really be taken somewhere else besides the school board. 

Beyond commending the West Bend School Board, I’d also like to commend the dozens of people who took the time to show up and voice their opinion on this policy.  They proved that when citizens actively engage their elected officials, they can make a difference in their community. 

It was nice to see government work how it’s supposed to tonight.

(9) Comments
Posted by Owen at 2043 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

  1. Couldn’t have said it better myself!  :::smiling broadly!::::

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 09, 2008 at 2356 hrs


  2. I too commend the West Bend School Board for tonight’s decision.
    Hat’s off to EVERYONE who went to the meeting and spoke. How blessed we are to be living in a country where policies are implemented by the will of the people. For the sake of the next generation, let’s stay diligent.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 10, 2008 at 0010 hrs


  3. And, nationally known Matthew Trewhella came all the way up from Richfield to share the stage with you and to lend his consitutional expertise & vast intellect - I’m sure that is what made all the difference.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 10, 2008 at 0736 hrs


  4. I think I detect some personally-directed sarcasm there!  I believe the input of every single person was valuable, knowledgeable or not.  Everyone counted!

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 10, 2008 at 0741 hrs


  5. Actually what you saw last night was how that board operates and treats people on a regular basis.  They are always respectful of others and do their best to be fair in what they do. 

    On a seperate note, as watched from the comfort of my couch, I noticed that the opposition group felt the need to bring in “ringers.”  This is somewhat dissapointing.  I say somewhat because this was a local issue that was being influenced by outside the district individuals that have no vested interest in the West Bend community.  Don’t get me wrong everyone has a right to say their piece, but I am confused as to why people like Trewhella and Americans for Prosperity need to be a part of the conversation.  These are local issues that should be decided by local people.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 10, 2008 at 0749 hrs


  6. Just to be bluntly honest, this group was not an actual group.  Approximately one-third of that group had never met this other group and did not “bring in” anyone.  One person made a decision to speak and asked others to take an interest in supporting her.  That was all.  If it appears that others were “brought in” to reinforce the point, this is a mistaken presumption. 

    I don’t believe anyone indicated that the board had previously been unprofession, unkind, or disrespectful.  Simply put, accolades were given to this group of board members as they show a positive testimony to others who should take a good look at how they performed - ESPECIALLY last night.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 10, 2008 at 0817 hrs


  7. I have a question for “anon”. If this is a “local issue” to be decided by “local people”, then why didn’t the school board allow “local people” to be on the committee when writing this policy? Why did they use the Wisconsin Association for School Boards to help draft this policy? Big Gun? HMMMMM….......

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 10, 2008 at 0859 hrs


  8. A hearty congratulations to those who spearheaded this effort in West Bend and to those who took time to attend the meeting last evening!  This is a stellar example of what happens when local people band together on an issue.  Good things can happen.  It’s that multiplied power of one in action.

    As the head of a statewide pro-family organization that is always trying to rally the troops to take on these types of issues at the local level, my hat is off to the West Bend residents who made a powerful positive difference last night and whose young people will be the direct beneficiary.

    Posted by Julaine K. Appling on June 10, 2008 at 0941 hrs


  9. For the record, anon, I didn’t see anyone from AFP there, but I could be wrong.

    Posted by Owen on June 10, 2008 at 1216 hrs


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