Who went to the "meeting" at Annadale High School last night?

[Anonymous]

And were you as annoyed as I was about the way it was conducted? Our table couldn't come to a lot of mutual decisions on the ratings because we had completely different interests. The only thing we could agree on was that the way they tried to collect our thoughts sucked. And that they weren't really trying to collect our opinions, just neutralize them.

[Anonymous]

I attended and totally agree with your characterization of the "dialogue."

[Anonymous]

Why on earth would they try to collect your opinions as a consensus? That makes no sense. Please tell us more about what went on. I'm hoping to attend one of the future meetings.

[Anonymous]

Here's how it worked:

When we entered they handed each of us an information packet and on the top of the packet was a table number. you were insstructed to go to that table so it was a random group.

They showed a video aobut the process

They distributed quesionaires asking us to rate how well each of the options met specified goals, and we had to do the ratings AS A TABLE.

They announced that we could just leave when we were done filling in our ratings and comments as a table. There wasn't even a conclusion.

[Anonymous]

So you weren't ever allowed to give your individual feedback? That's preposterous. Was your table able to come to consensus?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you weren't ever allowed to give your individual feedback? That's preposterous. Was your table able to come to consensus?

We could write in comments, so in those areas we wrote in points that each of us made even if they were totally different opinions. We did come to consensus on a few things we all didnt care much about but after splitting the difference for a few questions and giving everything a 3 I suggested that we refuse to choose a number if we all can't agree. And THAT was something that everyone agreed on.

[Anonymous]

Not surprised. You go through the process and then the School Board does what it wants to do anyway, which is probably Door No. 3.

[Anonymous]

According to the post on the Annandale blog, over 250 people showed up. It doesn't seem like many people were happy.

http://annandaleva.blogspot.com/2011/05/parents-sharply-divided-over-non.html

[Anonymous]

That's exactly how it was done a couple years ago when they wanted to change the start times of the elementary schools and high schools. They had us come in and sit at tables and write down our thoughts. Sounds exactly the same. It was kind of frustrating. At least in our case, most of us were in agreement about NOT changing the start times (although for different reasons). So, in the end they did listen to us. They weren't benefiting anyway.