Opinion: Step Back 109 Board of Education

Let's be clear. I have signed the petition. I have signed the petition put out by the Deerfield Parents for Change asking the Board of Education to either appoint an interim superintendent for 2013-2014 or start a search for a new superintendent but not finalize a hire until the new Board members are seated next spring.

in hiring a new Superintendent. "We have a fiduciary duty, moral duty and legal duty to do so," she said.

It is my position that this Board has a duty to finally listen to the residents of Deerfield. This past year of public teacher negotiations, public spin, divisive Board of Education meetings, parents, residents and teachers resentment of the Board of Education has been overwhelming.

It is time for this Board to do something right before we go through another ugly battle. Listen to this petition. Step back. Appoint an interim superintendent. Start the search, but do not finish it. Either way works.

This Is Our Children’s Future

What could possibly be accomplished by putting a "sitting duck" superintendent at our helm? This is not a game. This is our children's future. My children. I don't think too many of the current Board members still have children that would be directly affected by this decision. I do.  

I'm not sure why London feels it is the Board's duty to fill this position so quickly. My goodness, the Board was comfortable letting teacher negotiations go on for over a year. What's the rush here?

Superintendent Renee Goier has made a lot of changes in this District. Many of which are not in the best interests of our children. Parents are unhappy, clearly the teachers are unhappy—please take a step back, listen to the residents you represent—for once.

Board Members Should Move On

It is time for many of these Board members to move on. We appreciate your time and effort, but it is time for a new regime across the board. . Now, it is the Board's turn to follow suit, or at the very least, take a step back and follow the options on the petition.

The reasons London states for moving the process along are fiduciary, moral and legal. The fiduciary duty of the Board is to make smart decisions about the district’s finances. A smart decision here is to not hire a sitting duck superintendent that might be fired after the Board turns over and then removed and the process has to start all over from scratch.

A moral duty? Seriously? Not sure how this one left her mouth with a straight face. The moral duty of the Board is to listen to its constituents and represent them accurately. Based on the Board meetings I have attended, many of the Board members couldn't even be bothered to look up while their constituents were speaking, so this is a joke. No excuse here.

A legal duty. I have to believe that the Board could fulfill their legal duty by choosing either of the options the Deerfield Parents For Change petition has offered and still meet their legal obligation.

So, no excuses left, Board of Education. Step back. Listen to your constituents. We do not want you making a decision for our children anymore.

I would encourage everyone to read through the petition and make a decision for themselves. It is time for our District to Change.

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