I've received a few cranky little emails from somebody (at least it appears to be the same person based on the consistent grammatical, spelling & punctuation errors!) bitching about unfair treatment, favoritism, etc. related to my comments on the New School Committee.
I'm not sure what some of the comments were actually referring to -- since I've been off the Committee for more than a year (something they should have known -- particularly if THEY are still on the Committee themselves!). I always liked the expression that you can't have a battle of wits with an unarmed person -- and I think our latest correspondent may just have their tinfoil hat screwed on a little too tight.
The reality is we have a new Committee that represents the views of a large number of taxpayers. This was not a one-issue election. Last year, one of the clueless claimed a "public mandate" because a small group turned out to evict those that were threatening their special interests. This year the rest of the Town showed up to replace a 20 year veteran with two complete newcomers by a margin of almost 2 to 1 because they wanted their school system back. They wanted the primary objective of the District to be providing the best education possible for their kids -- not just providing lifetime employment with regular raises and irregular evaluations, or protecting the free use of taxpayer-funded facilities, to certain special interests.
The New Committee is facing some big challenges: an uncooperative (and overly dramatic) union leader, a Community School program that runs at a major deficit, a worsening municipal financial situation, serious deferred maintenance costs -- especially the Wing School situation, a new Administration, and a student population that is declining as parents divert their kids to other school systems.
4 comments:
Mandate. I love the way local politicians use that word to take inappropriate power grabs and truly dumb leadership steps. Tell us how you really feel Bob. That's right you do. Good for you. This town is nutty when it comes to this stuff. I don't see the new leadership on SC or the new members talking about the town giving them a mandate. Good for them. Last year's shift after the election was a non-starter from the get go. Getting elected doesn't make you a leader, it only gives you the opportunity to lead. The actions are what counts. We elected much better SC members this year then in 2010's election results. Now hopefully the whole committee will get back on track.
People were stupid to turn their backs on Bob G. and Aleta B. Those folks like all of us had their flaws and learned their political trade in a small town which can be disastrous. Look at Sandwich! But they clearly had there head in the game for the good of the kids and the whole town! It was stupid of the electorate to be influenced by the union or let their emotional take get in the way of paying enough attention to know who would go the "real mile" where the schools are concerned.
Politics isn't a popularity contest or it shouldn't be. I was glad to see the turnout improve this year. Pay attention parents and citizens! Bob's sighting on this blog of how many days till election means something important! And for God's sake don't believe a word in gossip. Find out for yourself. And don't think it's cool to vote with your friends as a statement. The welfare of our schools is much more important that popularity.
Annonymous 8:28 - I think you may have come up with what should be Sandwich's new slogan:
Getting elected doesn't make you a leader, it only gives you the opportunity to lead.
Amen Anon 1:16. As part of every mistake and misstep is a leadership issue. We can blame the electorate till the cows come home, but leadership is key to everything. In a form of government where leadership starts out with politically motivated boards as a opposed to a singular person who will be held accountable, I think in this day and age you have a system destined to fail depending on the size of the community. Add to that a community still trying to figure out who it is after three decades of rapid growth and over two decades of no full time accountable elected officials, you have...well you have Sandwich.
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