Two things happened yesterday that I want to respond to.
First, I received a mailer supporting what I think of as the Yellow Sign Candidates, because they have placards all over the school district. When people with an agenda clump together and run for non-partisan seats, it's never good, because that's not what a school board is supposed to be. Electing them would continue what we've had for the last two years: chaos in our district.
Before someone says, "Yeah, but--" I'm aware that postcards went out on "my side" as well. I helped with that. But the candidates we support aren't running as a team to control the board. They are individuals who attended meetings and were horrified by what they saw. Our group has no purpose except ridding our board of poor management, negative behaviors, and political agendas.
We support six candidates--Gibson, Porter, Porter, Price, Veal, and Veihl--because there are six seats open. Each of these people is known to the community, and each has stood up to the radical board members publicly, calling for an end to their unethical behavior. They get no financial support from any party or PAC. If you check the bottom of the flier the Yellow Sign People sent out, you'll find that it says, Paid for with regulated funds by Save Our Guns PAC, PO Box 734, Hillman, MI 49746. On the yellow signs, you'll see that LaFave, Bonnard, Kowalski, Palmer, Christian, and Rieger are supported financially by several groups who have nothing to do with our school.
They want the school to run as they decree.
Our candidates want the school to run as it should.
The other thing from yesterday that triggered this message happened at the October board meeting. It went well, with administrators each explaining their progress thus far in the school year and their plans for the future. Listening, I began to feel that the school had survived the worst of the damage the Yellow Sign People have inflicted.
Then John Palmer had his say. I won't quote him exactly; you can watch the live feed if you missed it, but in essence he said he was pleased, even if he loses the election, because the school is better off now that the old administration is gone. Life is bright at the school now, he claimed. People smile because finally, things are great.
As most of us sat in stunned silence, Lorrie Kowalski echoed Palmer's sentiments.
I've heard and read these people's comments several times over the last month. They say how much "better" things are now. It makes me gnash my teeth that they think they improved our school when in reality it's doing what it always does: surviving, even with awful things happening.
Jeremy Veal called Palmer and Kowalski out, pointing out how dedicated and talented Mindy and Marty were, how the school is scrambling now to replace all the jobs they did without complaint.
Palmer immediately claimed he hadn't said what he'd just said.
The Yellow Sign People like to brag that they have "fixed" the school. Here then, are my questions for them.
*When you suggest that our new superintendent should put Bibles in every classroom using school funds, what will he say?
*When you tell our new superintendent that you intend to sit in on classes, examine teachers' grade books, and walk the halls looking for dress code violations, how will he respond?
*When you override the new superintendent's hiring choices because you think you know better, (or if you suggest we put the names of applicants in a hat and just pick one) how will he react?
*When you tell the new superintendent to renegotiate support staff contracts ALREADY AGREED TO because you don't like the details, what will he do?
*When you go on Facebook and criticize teachers, staff members, and administrators, reveal confidential information, and spew lies AS A BOARD MEMBER, how will he deal with that?
The Yellow Sign People did all those things under the "old administration." When they met with opposition based on law and policy, they ran up thousands of dollars in legal bills, calling our attorneys (Note: They could have got the same advice for free from the School Board Association) to try to get their way. When they found they couldn't do as they chose, their response was to harass our staff until some could no longer work for the school they loved. (You might have noticed that two larger schools in the area snatched Marty and Mindy up immediately. They knew how good they are at their jobs.)
It's only a matter of time before the Yellow Sign People start pushing their agenda on the new guy. If he doesn't knuckle under, just watch: he will become The Enemy.
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