While there certainly has been a failure in the management of
our schools and their resources by MHSD Superintendent Carolyne
McKeenan, the responsibility does not end there.
While there certainly has been a failure in the management of our schools and their resources by MHSD Superintendent Carolyne McKeenan, the responsibility does not end there. Many others share culpability for the unique problems we face in the MHSD (i.e. those that are not part of the general underfunding and neglect of public schools in California). We can specifically look at three groups whose failure to perform adequately opened the door for the abuses of this administration.
First on this list would be the school board, elected by us and charged with overseeing the adequacy of the management of the system. The second group would be district employees as a group; including the teachers and their union, administration employees and all other employees who service the system.
The third group consists of all of us; we who have buried our heads hoping that someone else (the school board or school employees or parents) would see that things are done well. There are exceptional people in each of these groups, but collectively we have been lazy and inadequately involved.
I’ve served on many non-profit boards over the years. In veterinary school I was on the local Big Brothers/Big Sisters board. In Morgan Hill I was recruited to sit on the Board of Western Homes for Youth, serving as president for two years. As a founder and board member/president of Furry Friends Foundation and the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center, two successful ongoing organizations, I solidified my knowledge of what is needed to work effectively – especially with limited budgets – in a non-profit setting.
As the owner of an veterinary hospital, I have gained insight into for-profit business decision making. These thoughts come from information garnered and mistakes made by me personally.
At Western Homes for Youth board I was part of a naïve, rubber-stamp group that had no idea of what oversight meant. A year into this tenure we gained a board member who was a better business person than the rest of us. He began to ask questions many of us found embarrassing; questioning the judgment and truth of what we were being told by our administrator – who had personally recruited most of us. The line of “embarrassing” questions resulted in revelations of misappropriation, nepotism and virtual theft from the organization.
Ultimately, the director and his overpaid wife were fired, and the organization began to function efficiently and effectively. In the time prior to this, while the inefficiencies persisted, the indirect result was a much lower level of service and success in serving the children in this system.
Here lies the issue at hand for the school board. They have acted like a rubber-stamp organization on way too many occasions.
Disclaimer:
n The issues facing the board are complex and often technical in nature.
n It is a time consuming job if done well. The reading, thinking, questioning, interacting with the public and seemingly unending meetings can consume the life of a board member.
n As a result it is often difficult to get conscientious and knowledgeable citizens to run for the position.
The other side of the coin is that these are all known facts for those who choose to run; therefore, if you run successfully, you must be prepared for the sacrifices. If you are not, you were either lacking the foresight to understand what you were doing (is this the kind of overseer we want?) or you were insincere and overly ambitious – wanting power and recognition more than wanting to serve the public and the children of the school district. People using the school board position as a step toward other offices are often in that category.
It is my feeling that lack of preparation and lack of oversight and advocacy for the children and the public has too often prevailed in our school board. This and the lack of the ability to overcome personality issues like “embarrassing the administration” (something I believe is a natural part of any board’s job) have been at the root of what is rotten in the MHSD.
This Nov. 2 we will elect three new board members. Each of us who want things to improve or who would complain if they don’t, have an obligation to attend election debates, read up on the issues and the candidates, make decisions on who to support and why, and then to actively support those we believe will do the work needed.
In a democratic republic, (we are not a democracy – we have others micro-manage for us), this is the minimum standard of involvement. Sadly, in this country our participation as citizens in this process is appalling. An average of approximately of the eligible voters actually vote in the USA – and Morgan Hill is not an exception. If you want a better system, get out and do your share – at least by becoming knowledgeable and voting.
If you do not, we will continue to be disappointed by those who are too selfish, lazy, timid or philosophically opposed to do the work we want from them. Either way, whether we do this work or do not, we will get what we have earned.
