Reply to SMOB should be non-voting: HOCO parents are right

Forum Index » Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)

Reply to "SMOB should be non-voting: HOCO parents are right"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]HoCo resident who does not support this lawsuit. The SMOB isn't tying things up. Any of the other members of the BOE could change their vote and the deadlock would be broken. The problem is having 8 voting members with no procedure to break the tie.

That said, an argument can be made based on the statute prohibiting the SMOB from voting on certain matters, including personnel decisions, redistricting, and collective bargaining, that this unprecedented decision about the delivery method for education during a pandemic would fall into the areas for which a SMOB vote is not permitted. However, the appropriate channel to pursue this interpretation would be through legislative action. This lawsuit comes off as an unjustified personal attack on this SMOB, minimizing both the role of the SMOB generally as a voice for students and the competence of the current SMOB. It is such a mistake and so insulting (and embarrassing).

As to reopening decisions, there is a lack of understanding on all sides stemming from poor leadership and poor communication. There is a lack of clarity in many BOE motions. Instead of giving the impression that the Board is making difficult but informed decisions to protect students and staff under the existing circumstances, the tie votes come off as a refusal to consider a return to school at any time in the future regardless of changing conditions. There's no plan for students not included in small groups to return until the pandemic ends, the same as there was during the summer. Many parents would feel better if a majority of the board voted to  keep schools closed for the year rather than having a yearlong closure because there was an an unbreakable tie on every motion to explore ways to reopen. Remaining closed should not be the default resulting from tie votes.

As a result of the non-action associated with the tie votes, the board looks petulant, dysfunctional, and unresponsive to stakeholder concerns, not to mention at odds with Dr. M. and his staff. This is not the SMOB's fault, although he shares blame with all of the other parties for not working to build consensus or better articulating the basis for votes.  I respect him enough as an active, capable board member to say that he is part of the problem.

People are losing faith in the Board because its decisions are not being made through a transparent, accessible process that informs the community about what decisions are being made and why. This ill-advised lawsuit reflects how disconnected the board has become from community members who feel they have no voice in the education their children are receiving. Without capitulating to any particular parent demands, BOE could do better assuring parents concerned about the impact of long term distance learning that their voices have been heard and their perspectives considered. [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics