Just get Along (too well)

In both of my campaigns for D11 school board (2001 and 2003), I suggested that the incumbents were not independent thinkers who actually understood the issues or who understood the seriousness of the state of education in D11. My view was that these were people who were hand-picked by the union to maintain the status quo. My view was also that they would simply take the recommendations from the administration on each issue that was placed before them and they would vote accordingly. I do not believe that leaders and representatives of the public should take their marching orders from an administration (or private union). By law, it is supposed to be the other way around.

In a prior post titled "Just get Along," I pointed out that since the 2003 election, the D11 board has not been as "dysfunctional" in terms of voting as some might claim. Most votes have passed with a supermajority since 2003. However, no one can claim that there has not been independent thinking among the four of us who were elected in 2003.

The voting records of the D11 boards from 2000 through 2003 show that my viewpoint about "lockstep" voting was right on target. The 00-01 board consisted of Sherry Butcher, Bruce Doyle, Karen Teja, Lyman Kaiser, Delia Busby, Waynette Rand, and Mary Wierman. The 01-02 board saw the addition of David Linebaugh (replacing Butcher).

The vote totals from 00-01 are as follows:

Total votes on main motions:130

Unanimous votes: 112

6-1 votes: 15

5-2 votes: 2

4-3 votes: 1

An astounding 99% of all votes taken were passed by a supermajority (5-2 or greater). Only one vote during the 00-01 school year was by a split 4-3 vote. A full 86% of all votes were unanimous. D11 had a declining enrollment, increasing dropout rate, and dismal test scores, and no one on the board could step out against the status quo.

* Note: Some of the unanimous votes were by 6-0 or 5-0 margins as Delia Busby and Karen Teja are listed in the minutes as being "absent" or away from the dais for votes on many occasions.

The 01-02 vote totals are not much different.

Total votes: 114

Unanimous: 105

6-1: 6

5-2: 2

4-3: 1

Astounding once again that none of the board members would stand up for the students and taxpayers of D11 by voting against the status quo. 99% of all votes were carried by a supermajority. The board member who voted out of step the most was actually Delia Busby. Coincidently, Busby's seat was the only one that was not purchased by the union at the time.

The 02-03 vote count was even worse.

Total main motion votes: 82 ( apparently a slow year)

Unanimous: 75

6-1: 6

5-2: 1

4-3: 0

100% of all votes taken were passed by a supermajority. Not once could a group of board members bring themselves to show leadership. Instead, they meekly voted on every issue exactly as they were told to do. That is exactly why D11's performance continued to remain flat.

A review of the minutes from 00-03 show that the majority of votes taken during this time period were on resolutions. It appears that the boards back then felt that it was easier to resolve to do something than to actually do anything. Resolutions are safe - they tend to make board members feel good without them having to actually make any hard decisions. These same board members are supporting today's recall effort. They apparently believe that their do-nothing record is what D11 needs to dramatically improve and to avoid having its schools taken over by the state for failure to meet Annual Yearly Progress (AYP).

In my view, there is such a thing as getting along a little too well.