Some ideas for Bangor School Committee
Bangor Daily News, January 8, 2007
(excerpt) The contentious debate about the recent Bangor School Committee election is indicative, we believe, of deeper pent-up frustration with the general modus operandi of this committee.
We would like to move beyond recrimination and offer some constructive suggestions that, if adopted, might go a long way toward restoring public confidence and giving the public a more complete and accurate picture of the quality of our schools.
Contact information:The city of Bangor Web site lists each member of the City Council by name with a color photo, a brief biographical sketch, the year of term expiration, an e-mail address and a phone number. The School Committee, which is, like the council, an elected body, should do likewise. A statement along the lines of "Please contact one or more members of the School Committee with your questions, comments, or concerns" should be included. At present, the only online information about the School Committee is a list of the names of its members.
Web site, agenda reports:The agenda of each meeting should be posted on the school department Web site at least 72 hours before each meeting. The agenda should include a brief synopsis of each agenda item. (At the last meeting the agenda had not been posted at noon on the day of the meeting.) All reports given to the board members before the meeting should also be posted accordingly.
Public comment: At present, the School Committee reserves a few minutes at the beginning of its meetings for public comment. The City Council, on the other hand, solicits public comment on each agenda item (other than routine housekeeping matters) as it is being considered. The School Committee, which oversees a $38 million budget funded by tax monies, should do likewise.
Click on the title link to read the whole article.
Bangor Daily News, January 8, 2007
(excerpt) The contentious debate about the recent Bangor School Committee election is indicative, we believe, of deeper pent-up frustration with the general modus operandi of this committee.
We would like to move beyond recrimination and offer some constructive suggestions that, if adopted, might go a long way toward restoring public confidence and giving the public a more complete and accurate picture of the quality of our schools.
Contact information:The city of Bangor Web site lists each member of the City Council by name with a color photo, a brief biographical sketch, the year of term expiration, an e-mail address and a phone number. The School Committee, which is, like the council, an elected body, should do likewise. A statement along the lines of "Please contact one or more members of the School Committee with your questions, comments, or concerns" should be included. At present, the only online information about the School Committee is a list of the names of its members.
Web site, agenda reports:The agenda of each meeting should be posted on the school department Web site at least 72 hours before each meeting. The agenda should include a brief synopsis of each agenda item. (At the last meeting the agenda had not been posted at noon on the day of the meeting.) All reports given to the board members before the meeting should also be posted accordingly.
Public comment: At present, the School Committee reserves a few minutes at the beginning of its meetings for public comment. The City Council, on the other hand, solicits public comment on each agenda item (other than routine housekeeping matters) as it is being considered. The School Committee, which oversees a $38 million budget funded by tax monies, should do likewise.
Click on the title link to read the whole article.
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