Tea Party darling rides in style ...

[dgs49]

The WHOLE POINT of vouchers is that they are intended to give the "middle class" the same option that the wealthy class has: to opt out of the local public school if you are not satisfied with the education that is offered there.

There is no hypocrisy whatsoever in a Republican (who supports vouchers) who can afford to do so, putting his kids into a private or parochial school.

I am not sure I agree with the concept that I would not vote for a School Board candidate who does not have kids in the local public schools. Who is to speak for the vast majority of the TAXPAYERS, who have no kids in the schools, but are "vested," nonetheless? In my school district we have had more than one candidate in recent years whose obvious purpose on School Board was to promote programs that benefitted their own (fucking) children. Indeed, much of the agenda of the School Board is taken up with parents basically trying to facilitate a "private school" education for their kids in the local public school.

The Seneca Valley School Board (north of me) had, for many years, a public school teacher from a different district on their board. Cool, huh?

[oldr_n_wsr]

Many school boards around here are (former) teachers, or (former) school admins from in and out of the district they are elected to. Conflict?

[rubato]

Many school boards around here are (former) teachers, or (former) school admins from in and out of the district they are elected to. Conflict?

No, those are people who know about and have an interest in education. How is there a conflict?


yrs,
rubato

[Guinevere]

If they are employees of the same school district for which they are School Committee members, yes, there is a conflict. No Committee members should be making budgetary decisions about issues in which they have a financial interest. In Massachusetts, it would not be allowed, under our conflict of interest laws.

[oldr_n_wsr]

When hubby (on the board) is directly involved in his wifes salary/benefits package there is a conflict. When a member of the teachers union is on the board (even one they don't teach in) there is a conflict as one schools union takes it's cues from another ones negotiated package.

I have no trouble getting qualified people on the board, but with the way things are structured where over 60% of the budget is eaten up with poorly negotiated contracts with the employees of the schools (poor for the tax payer) a good businessman is who I want negotiating, not some educator who has benefited (or still benefits) from the system.


If I hear "but it's for the kids" one more time I'm going to club someone.

[Gob]

Composition

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, every state school has a Governing Body, consisting of specified numbers of various categories of governors depending on the type and size of school. All governors are unpaid for their work, though they may receive payment for expenses such as reimbursement for any arrangements for the care of dependents relatives or costs accumulated due to travel. Under section 50 of the Employment Rights Act 1996] employees must give anyone in their employment who serves as a governor reasonable time off their employ to carry out their governor duties. Employers can decide whether this time off is given with or without pay.[3]

Generally the following categories are applicable:

Parent Governors: parents (ideally of children at the school)
Staff Governors: members of the school staff
Authority Governors (previously known as LEA Governors): nominated by the Local Authority
Community Governors: members of the local community (appointed by the rest of the governing body)
Foundation, Partnership and Sponsor Governors: representatives of any sponsoring bodies

The proportions vary between differing types of school, but as an example, in Community Schools, which are usually owned by the LA, the regulations prescribe that parent governors should be at least one-third of the governors, staff governors at least two places, but no more than one-third, including the headteacher; LEA governors 20% and community governors at least 20%. The minimum number of governors is nine, the maximum is twenty (although sponsor governors are additional to these numbers). Governors are appointed for a maximum of four years, this term is renewable.

The Headteacher of each school is ex officio a staff governor, but he or she can decline to take up the position. Should they decide not to become a member of the governing body, their place is left vacant.

Staff governors (other than the head teacher) are elected by the school staff and must be paid to work at the school, by the school (that is, not under an external contract such as catering or cleaning). At least one staff governor must be a teacher, and if there are three or more staff governors, at least one must be a member of the support staff. If no member of the appropriate category stands for election, the vacant place can be filled by an elected person from the other category (i.e. if no teachers wish to become governors, all staff governors may be support staff, and vice-versa).

Parent governors can either be elected by parents of children at the school, or if insufficient numbers are elected, can be appointed by the governing body to fill any remaining vacancies. Such appointees need not be parents of children currently attending the school - if no suitable candidates are found, they may be parents of former pupils, or of any child of school age. Parents so appointed can be removed from their positions by a majority vote of the governing body.

Associate members may be appointed by the governing body as members of committees, and may include pupils, school staff, or anyone else who the governing body feel could contribute to its work. Their voting rights are decided by the governing body, and are also limited by law to exclude matters concerning the budget, admissions, pupil discipline and the election or appointment of governors. Associate Members are not governors and are not included in the school's Instrument of Government.

By law, governing bodies meet at least 3 times every year, as a Full Governing Body, where the ongoing business of committees, the governing body and the school are discussed, reported on and where decisions are taken by a majority vote. Most of the work of governors, however, is done at committee level.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_governor

[Guinevere]

Businessman?

Dollars to donuts those ridiculous contracts *were* negotiated by men. Let me at them, I don't cave in negotiations, even with the cops.