As with most years, this years school vote is in three parts. There will be a budget for next year, purchase of school buses, and three positions on the school board. The vote itself will be happening Tuesday May 18, 2021 in the Board of Education room (room 129), which is across the hall from the B-Gym. Nearest doors are off Church Street. Make note of the location. It’s not in the foyer as it traditionally has been.
Quick election recommendations:
Yes to Candidates (Pick 3 of 4)
Yes to Buses
??? to Budget
Board of Education
As usual, every one of the candidates should be able to do the job. While I’ll admit I have some concerns about some of them, life rarely has perfect options. As it’s ‘pick 3 of 4’, all that’s really needed is a reason not to pick someone. Then vote for the other three. If nothing else, you could roll 1d4.
As before, I am not thrilled about professional educators serving on the BoE. While I understand it is legal, it feels dangerously close to a conflict of interests. If nothing else, it paves the way for regulatory capture. The existence of public unions is enough of an issue on that front, we don’t need to tempt it more.
On the other hand, I was impressed with Christopher Neff’s background and answers to questions. Of the four candidates, I think he will add the most to the Board.
Unfortunately, I’m told technical difficulties prevented the ‘meet the candidates’ event from being recorded. Is a shame, but we’ll manage. After all, it would have been only the second time that was recorded. Feel free to read my thoughts on that event. And do your own research, however you choose to do that.
Buses
Buses are the easy choice this year. As the plan is to fund this out of regular funds (ie not debt), buses are a necessary tool for the current education model, and this supports a steady replacement schedule, I’m in favor of it. Having said that, if next year goes anything like this year, it may be time to rethink the basic logistics of how education is provided, and from that, transportation. But that’s in a hypothetical future. For now, buying buses make sense.
Budget
If I was uncertain on candidates, I’m outright torn on the budget. On the one hand, they have done an amazing job dealing with the sky falling upon them this last year. Not perfect, but that comes with being human. On the other hand, the skies still there. Above us. Which is to say, life goes on, if you don’t let the distractions drive you into a panic.
To be clear, I’m not denying that the Wuhan virus exists. But from what data I can gather, it’s more like a bad flu (with an aggressive marketing campaign) then an existential threat. In addition, the more we reacted to it, the worse the results. While we can’t go back and change what we did, we can decide what to do in the future.
Which only has any bearing on the budget vote in that I firmly believe the district needs to do what we think is best for the students long term education. When orders from far off ‘experts’ are contrary to that, those orders should be ignored. But pushing back and charting our own course would require bravery. Which, unlike compliance, is not a trait that is encouraged.
So what’s that have to do with next years budget?
This year, I think the budget isn’t about dollars. It all boils down to a philosophical/ideological question: Next year, do I think the district will place educating students (and by extension preparing them for life) as their highest priority and greatest goal? Or do I think they will deliberately sabotage that education, in the name of another priority (such as ‘safety’, ‘fairness’, ‘diversity’, etc)?
As I said, I’m torn on this one. But I’ve got a week to ponder it. As do you.
And as said at the top, polling location is the Board of Education room (room 129), which is across the hall from the B-Gym. Nearest doors are off Church Street. Election time remains 6AM and 9PM.
(and a thank you to the district for producing this image reminder)