Tonight (2021-02-09) was a meeting of the Honeoye Falls-Lima Board of Education (BoE), and before that the Program Budget Advisory Council (PBAC).
Full disclosure: I sit on the PBAC, so some of these Observations aren’t exactly from the Audience.
Manor School and Pupil Personnel Services shared how they are coping with the challenges life throws at them. As the presentations were recorded, and are available for viewing, I won’t say much on them.
I did find the tidbit about home schooling increasing interesting. Now about 3% of the children that live in the district are home schooled. Not a very big number, and it will be interesting to see where that goes in the next few years. Does it drop back, once the panic is past? Or does it go up, as parents find alternatives to public education?
I found it amusing who was on campus, and how they were spread out between different rooms. Especially in contrast to who wasn’t on campus, but used a background to give the impression they were. It’s the little things in life.
On that note, I’ll steal a quote from Gene (Superintendent), which he in turn stole from an unnamed student (who might have stolen it from elsewhere): “Spread hope, not germs”.
Towards that, apparently 1/3rd of the Manor school staff is now vaccinated for covid, including the second dose/shot/whatever the proper term is. Good for them, should make it harder to spread this particular germ.
Some students are using remote learning as an excuse not to go to school. Gene expressed concern about this. Reading between the lines, I wonder if this is hinting that we are approaching a breaking point? Either we return to ‘normal’, or public education (among other things) fails completely. No idea, ever unknown the future is.
The school wants to hear about amazing things students are doing off campus. They want to celebrate, but since they aren’t together as much as in years past, they don’t hear as much. If you know of something, and want to share, feel free to give the school a yell. Indirectly, this highlights the problem with our panic. In the interests of stopping death (which is beyond us) we have forgotten how to live. And now, as time has passed, we are trying to remember.
A comment was made about only ‘billionaires’ making money in this state. Obviously untrue. After all, school is full of people making money. We call them ‘staff’, or ’employees’. I make money, maybe you do to. I’m sure there are plenty of other people making money too. If ‘billionaires’ are making money illegally, that’s different. But if they are just making more then most? Good for them. While the love of money is the root of all evil, we should all aspire to be helpful enough people want to throw billions at us.
There was talk about quantifying ‘unfunded mandates’, instead of complaining in the abstract. I approve. After all, if you don’t measure it, you don’t know if it’s getting better/worse. Anecdotes may feel nice, but hard numbers are data points you can plan from.
There was some discussion dancing around covid restrictions harming society. How people are getting fed up with them, and want to get back to ‘normal’. While the discussion seemed to beat around the bush, it was good to hear this being talked about, as I think we are long overdue.
And as there is always a silver lining, this panic may be having a beneficial side effect here. Apparently the state legislature isn’t meeting in Albany, so they are more in touch with those they represent. May improve governments responsiveness to the people, as they still live among them. Or not, who knows.
And those are my Observations From Audience Land for the February 09, 2021 meeting of the Honeoye Falls-Lima Board of Education.
As has become the norm for this group, Agenda’s and similar information can be found at HFL’s BoardDocs page. While a recording of the meeting will likely be available soon.