School district stonewalls board’s request for information, again

This is standard operating procedure for the school board. In the past, the board majority gives all the power to administration. As long as the teacher’s union gets everything they want, administration and the DFL are happy. There is a difference between micromanagement and oversight. The superintendent works for the board. Yes, Art got some money back, but we still don’t have the damn information requested! It will be interesting to see who gets appointed, as the board is now split 3-3. The chair is part of the problem and should step down.

From my limited experience on boards, it is not uncommon to get push back from staff and other board members when asking for items that have not normally been needed or asked for in the past. It is extremely odd for this to happen when boards change members all the time. I am glad to see that this board has a member who is willing to insist on a change in behavior from the staff and administration. More boards need active board members like this. There is a lot of oversight that gets to be rubber-stamping. I have been amazed at how much oversight is happening with the rubber-stamping method in play.

The RFP is a critical item in oversight. How is the board to know what is being asked when looking for a product to purchase? It’s not needed very often at the board level, but in this case it is troubling to us that pay the bill that 709 would even hesitate in providing this to all board members.

Love the transcription you provide John, it takes tons of time to do this! Thanks!

Bravo, Ms. Sandstad. Too bad you had be such a broken record to get your point taken seriously. You had your unassailable facts in hand. The school board is blessed to have such an intelligent and engaged member.