On Monday night, the Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to send about ten French students to France in June – without any discussion. The proposal was put on the Consent Agenda, which also carried the approval of minutes, changes in non-instructional staff, and business office matters. These items do not usually need any discussion.
But, we see on the news every night the battles going on in Ukraine and Russia’s war machine reportedly destroying schools and orphanages and homes. Countries are cutting travel to European destinations. Nuclear weapons are rattled.
That our school board didn’t even say, “Oh, my goodness. Is that safe?” and discuss it for at least a minute or two, is amazing. This would lead observers to believe that it had been discussed, out of the public eye, perhaps by email, which is a disturbing concept. Parents should be privy to how decisions are made.
At Monday’s meeting, two board members commented on what a perfect board they have since there are no disagreements and everything is “for the children.”
Perhaps, they think since there are no disagreements at the board table that is wonderful. However, it’s not healthy for everyone to agree all the time. Democracy is messy and we should be able to see thoughtful discussions on proposals.
- Previous story VBPS approves students’ trip to France in June
- Next story Demond Harrison places fifth overall in state Individual Wrestling
2 Comments
Weather
No discussion? Unbelievable. A board that has no discussion, and “gets along” is not a board. It is a puppet of administration. So many bad things are happening at VBPS and yet the superintendent gets a rosy recommendation, falling scores, dropout rates, school crime, student protection, high school kids who CANNOT READ are never discussed. Kids don’t seem to be important in VBPS, just a rosy happy board that “gets along.” Total garbage. Parents wake up and look at your school system! This board needs to also wake up and DO THEIR JOBS! The superintendent needs to get his rear into the buildings, look at learning and start paying attention to what children need, not what the community wants to hear instead of the truth. Yes, I am in the buildings, and I’ve never seen the guy. I do see a lot of coverups about learning. A lot of nepotism. A lot of teacher centered thinking instead of thinking about children. Thanks RO for finally waking up and exposing some of this crap.
With everything going on over that way and they have no discussion? Enjoy the hijacked plane full of kids thanks to Russia.