[Winona] School Board
Kathy Seifert
kaseifert at hotmail.com
Sun May 21 12:14:03 CDT 2006
You are at the heart of the issue there, Tom--we do need a way to assure that all citizens value public education. All of the bad press and disagreements don't help us create that reality, I'm afraid.
There does appear to be quite a lot of conflict within our district system and between Board, Teachers, and Administration. Conflict is natural and predictable in public education. How is it being managed?
I'd suggest that any board members and administrators and teachers that are able, attend the WSU Leadership Center's "Crucial Conversations" training. Right now I think that many are in the "fight or flight" mode which doesn't lend itself to peaceful resolution of differences.
I know that many institutions are availing themselves of this model of workplace communication--our Winona Health and Franciscan Skemp are two I know of personally. What I sense is that folks on all side of these issues are not feeling understood or like they have an avenue to voice their concerns. I didn't see the board meeting in question, so you can take all this with a grain of salt. I just know what I'm aware of through personal observation/conversation and some of what's been in the paper. These conflicts are hurting our community and something needs to happen to resolve them. Silencing stakeholders can't possibly be the answer and I don't even know that that is what was being done--is it possible that the board is trying to provide a structure for civil discourse? I would hope so. it is in their interest to do so. It is their job to obtain community input, but that doesn't mean that the community should not have to follow some orderly way of giving unput, just because they are angry about some decisions that were made.
What is really going on? I can't even tell any more.
Kathy Seifert
----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Severson
To: 'Dick Gaffron' ; 'LindaF' ; winona at mnforum.org
Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2006 11:53 AM
Subject: RE: [Winona] School Board
[Winona Online Democracy]
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Dick, my apologies for not including you.
Your approach is one to be respected. I am big on getting input from the teachers to improve the system. However there is a problem in getting the true feelings out without a facilitator. The other issue that enters in is work duties, hours and pay. It seems this tends to cloud the education issue.
Check out www.tordahl.com and his work with I think it is the Chaska school district.
Teaching is difficult enough, but education of those who want to learn is easy. We need to find a way everyone will realize the value of education. Tom
-----Original Message-----
From: winona-bounces at mnforum.org [mailto:winona-bounces at mnforum.org]On Behalf Of Dick Gaffron
Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2006 8:44 AM
To: toms at seversonoil.com; 'LindaF'; winona at mnforum.org
Subject: Re: [Winona] School Board
I too served with Paul and Ruth for many years and did evaluations for at least 3 superintendents. While I agree the evaluation should and will be done in private, I also believe the criteria for such an evaluation is a public matter and the public should be able to give their input to the board. If the board does this evaluation, generally it was done with a committee of the board that reported the results to the entire board.
Also, evaluation criteria change over time. It seems the current trend in the business world is to do 360 degree evolutions. This means the super does a self evaluation and those around him including his staff, teaching staff, and others he would supervise give input into the performance of the person. This is common practice done in the professional world by most employers. It gives the person evaluated the opportunity to give goals and suggestions for the future and receive ideas from others.
I hope the board will consider this method. It is always difficult to evaluate an employee and leave the emotional factors out and just look at performance issues. Did the person meet their goals? Were the employees supervised performing as expected? I trust the board will be direct and impartial on all counts.
I agree with Tom. If this was a public forum, it would be a witch hunt. We don't need that. We elected the school board to be our voice. Let them do their job. If we don't like what they do, we have 4 seats up for elections this fall. Dick Gaffron
----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Severson
To: 'LindaF' ; winona at mnforum.org
Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2006 7:15 AM
Subject: RE: [Winona] School Board
[Winona Online Democracy]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ruth and Paul were on the school board for a long time and has been very involved if my recollection serves me well. I always respect her opinion.
The rest of us who want to criticize the school board for not listening need to run for the board and get involved.
I may disagree and think there is a better way, but if I am not willing to commit the time to the board or running for the board. Things like evaluating the superintendent are private events which we as the public cannot evaluate effectively. A public evaluation would be the equivalent of a public flogging, especially in light of how many people seem to be upset with the system and the current superintendent.
What good could come of a public evaluation?
-----Original Message-----
From: winona-bounces at mnforum.org [mailto:winona-bounces at mnforum.org]On Behalf Of LindaF
Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 7:59 AM
To: winona at mnforum.org
Subject: Re: [Winona] School Board
Very well said Ruth. I stopped going to school board meetings years ago, I couldn't take the stress of being talked down to and not even listened to when addressing the board. Rude? I think every board we have has been rude to the public. They are supposed to be representing us but too often they either do what the superintendent wants or have their own agenda.
Yes, we should be given the chance to evaluate the superindentent in a forum besides letters to the editor.
Linda Fort
[Winona Online Democracy]
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I've noticed that they act in many ways like we who foot the bill are just little unspanked children who don't understand as much as they do. But, then we rally don't because all the intelligencia on the board think they know best. Sorry in advance if I again stepped on someones toes. Bob Kaldunski
----- Original Message -----
From: Ruth Marg
To: winona at mnforum.org
Sent: Friday, May 19, 2006 11:47 PM
Subject: [Winona] School Board
[Winona Online Democracy]
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How many of this group watched last Thursday's school board meeting? I thought Natalie was very rude to the people who got up and spoke their minds on what is going on in this school district. Mr Ramsdell was the spokesman for the group, but was not representing the WEA, just the teachers and other staff that were there for support. They were not talking about any contract things, just trying to get people to realize how this administration is trying to keep them quiet about things many of us disagree that the top people are doing.
All of the speakers are citizens, taxpayers and have a right to speak in the 5 minute time allowed as I do. It is good for the people watching on television to hear the side of the people who are responsible for teaching our children. We need more people to get up and tell the board we are not happy with some of the decisions that have been made. The fee schedule that has now been passed is not about the $20.00, but that anyone that is doing a service project will now be charged to help other people. National Honor Society, HOPE, Student Council just to name a few that will now have to pay to be in these groups. When will the survey to the community be sent out so we can all give our opinion of the school board. Some are doing o.k., but remember there are 4 members up for election this fall. I also have said at a board meeting that I, along with many others, believe the community should also be given a chance to evaluate our superintendent. Good, bad or whatever the board would then have more to go on then the few people who are getting to do an evaluation. Ruth
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