Concerned Citizens of Smith County Education

Meeting - Sunday, August 17, 3:00 

at Brush Creek Community Center 

Our group's goals:

We need to turn a new page and begin to move forward with a spirit of caring and responsibility. It is essential that the school board, teachers and community of Smith County work together to work out problems that have been collecting for the past few months. 

 

v    First, we need to get rid of the lawsuits as quickly as possible.  They should not be allowed to take up our time and finances. 

v    We need to wipe out one lawsuit by re-instating Becky Hackett as the principal at New Middleton School with a reprimand in her personnel folder that will remain there for three years.  This should be done as soon as possible, at the latest by January 1, 2009. 

v    Ms Woodard can be reassigned to 4^th grade with the provision that the next open elementary principal position will be available to her.

v    Next, we need to appoint a new negotiating team from the board, or have the board as a whole participate in negotiations with SCEA.  Teachers won’t hold out for the impossible.  Teachers are notorious for being happy with any kind of compromising.  This should take away another lawsuit.

v    Any other lawsuits can be talked through with the people involved with the board.  Hopefully they can be resolved out of court.

v    We need to have a standing policy, as do other counties, that the Director of Schools is evaluated every year by June 1 using the instrument recommended by the School Board Association.  At that point, the community should be given 15 days notice that the contract will be voted on, it will be the first item on the agenda, and then and only then would the Directors contract be extended. (Annually)

v    Teachers and Parents should be encouraged not only to attend board meetings but should have the opportunity to voice their opinions when asked.

v    We should begin to follow all state guidelines concerning board meetings.

v    Children should always be the first priority, not the director, supervisor, principals, or teachers.  The board should always think about and make decisions for what is best for our Children.

v    Teacher morale should be the next priority.  The board needs to make sure the outstanding teachers that are in Smith County want to stay in Smith County instead of pursuing jobs in surrounding counties.

v    The Supervisor of Instruction should consult with teachers and determine a need before spending money to purchase unnecessary programs, since money is so tight and there are so many real needs in our schools system.