[Winona] School Board

Sun May 21 22:25:27 CDT 2006

Kathy makes some excellent points and really gets to the heart of the issues
  Crucial Conversations training is excellent and several of us current
board members have gone through the workshop.  In a perfect world and as
perfect people, we would all use the tools all the time, but we don't.  We
try, sometimes succeed, sometimes fail. 

Natalie pointed out the different avenues that the teachers have to address
the board.  She never said that a teacher, speaking as a taxpayer should not
use the public comment forum, some people have jumped to that conclusion but
I certainly didn't take it that way.  What she was referring to was speaking
as the WEA and taking up public comment time when there are many other
avenues that they have to address the board.  We do welcome dialogue but the
public comment period is not a place for dialogue, it is a one-way avenue
and I think it is always better that there can be back and forth dialogue,
two way communication.

Communication in this district has always been an issue.  The question is
how do we move towards having better dialogue.  Emotions have been high and
I think people are having a harder time speaking and being heard.  I had the
opportunity to attend a diversity workshop this past week that WSU had put
on.  There were some things that I learned there that I thought so well
explained a lot of what I believe is going on here.  The presenters, Joyce
Shabazz and Robert Dungy from NCBI explained how we all have these "internal
records" (like a musical record, cd,...) that we have a tendency to play
around people.  Our records are impressions and beliefs that we have and
they are created as a result of past hurts, mistrust, past experiences.  Our
prejudices.  Sometimes our records are playing so loudly that we cannot hear
 or we hear but it sounds different because our record  is providing the
background.  We need to stop playing the records and start really listening.
 If you look at Linda's post, that's a very good example--" 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. "  Linda has felt devalued
in the past, along with other people, as they have indicated here.  I would
further speculate that it didn't include every board member but now it has
become a description and belief of every board.  Maybe I'm not explaining
this very well, it's late and I'm tired. Anyway, there's a lot of hurts all
around and they are playing very loudly.  Let's first try to stop listening
with prejudice but be willing to listen with open minds and get the dialogue
moving forward.

Susan Brown

-------Original Message-------

From: Kathy Seifert
Date: 05/21/06 16:46:07
To: toms at seversonoil.com; 'Dick Gaffron'; 'LindaF'; winona at mnforum.org
Subject: Re: [Winona] School Board

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]

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]

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]

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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