Morgan Hill – Respect for each other and for staff members was a major topic of discussion during a special Board of Education workshop Sunday morning at school district headquarters on Concord Circle.
The workshop was held to give board members a chance to evaluate themselves, how they function as a group, and to talk about how the board operates.
“Its’ important for the board to discuss these issues, to take the time to discuss the issues outside the confines of regular meetings,” said School Board President Peter Mandel. “It is very valuable to have these kinds of conversations. The community would expect us to take the time to have these discussions.”
Superintendent Alan Nishino and his executive cabinet, Deputy Superintendent Bonnie Tognazzini and Assistant Superintendents Jay Totter and Michael Johnson, also attended the workshop.
Mandel gave trustees “homework” to complete before the workshop, asking them to finish a survey expressing their opinions about how the board functions; he then compiled their answers so that during the workshop, trustees could discuss them.
Trustees said as a board they were not respectful in their dealings with groups including district staff, parents and others. Trustee Mike Hickey told his fellow trustees that their questioning of district staff during board meetings called into question their competence.
Other trustees suggested that the tone of voice when asking questions was important. Trustee Shelle Thomas said her role as a board member is to ask questions, but she intended no disrespect.
Tognazzini told the board that she felt comfortable answering questions from trustees, and also felt comfortable talking to them after the meeting about questions that were possibly inappropriate.
There was also agreement among board members that, in discussions among themselves during meetings, they need to be more aware of tone, body language and common courtesy.
“It was good; we didn’t solve everything but it was a step in the right direction,” Trustee Don Moody said. “We really don’t have much of an opportunity to have these kinds of discussions …. I think we all agreed that it was a positive thing. We have to have the time to get to the meatier part of some of these issues.”
During the early part of the meeting, trustees discussed concerns and perceptions they are receiving from the community and from district employees. Two of the biggest topics were equity between schools and school staff involvement.
“We have as a board two things we have to look into, and those are how to best educate our kids and how do we as a board operate,” Mandel said. “We have to continuously look at how we are doing.”
The board will get together for another special meeting probably early in the summer, Mandel said, to look at board goals.
