The first item on the agenda, after the opening of the meeting, is voting on a resolution to establish a School Climate and Safety Advisory Committee. The resolution states the committee "shall be comprised of up to twenty (20) members from the District's stakeholders, including but not limited to, Board members, District employees, District students, and District residents, who shall serve on such committee through August 31, 2022 [sic]. The committee will be tasked with "providing a report to the Board of Education on the current climate of the District's schools and making recommendations on activities, initiatives and/or practices that can be implemented to improve the safety, climate, and learning environment of the District's schools." Anyone interested in serving on this committee should submit "a short letter of interest" to the District Clerk at districtclerk@hudsoncsd.org before March 9, 2023.
Next on the agenda, after the resolution establishing a School Climate and Safety Advisory Committee, is the Superintendent's Update on School Climate and Safety. It will be interesting to hear what Dr. Lisamarie Spindler has to say about the situation.
Later on in the agenda, after an executive session, old business items, and a public forum, there's a resolution to approve a security agreement with Snoop Investigations & Security. On Saturday, the Register-Star reported the district has "agreed to partner with STOPIt Solutions to create a healthier place to learn and work." The article continues:
A launch implementing the STOPIt anonymous reporting system, 911 direct panic alert system and enhanced social-emotional learning and safety wellness training for students and staff is planned.
District officials plan to invite professionals to speak about conflict resolution techniques and the process of forming a school safety committee to meet regularly and discuss ways to prevent small disputes from growing into physical altercations. The district is also working to increase staffing of monitors in locations and settings where large numbers of students gather.
How Snoop Investigations fits into these plans is not clear, and the proposed contract with Snoop is of little help. The description of services seems mostly to do with protecting property. The following is quoted from the proposed contract:
The duties of the SNOOP INVESTIGATIONS & SECURITY Security Officer regarding the protection of property include and are limited to:
1. Providing a visible deterrent for property crimes and crime against the client, which include criminal mischief, making graffiti, larceny, burglary, criminal tampering, trespass, and criminal trespass, misapplication of property. . . .
2. Alerting the proper law enforcement authority of the incident immediately.
Tuesday's meeting, as all school board meetings in Gossips' experience, will undoubtedly be long, but it will likely be very interesting. The board meets at 6:00 p.m. in the cafeteria at the Hudson Junior/Senior High School, 215 Harry Howard Avenue.
COPYRIGHT 2023 CAROLE OSTERINK
Am I reading it correctly? The school will be paying someone $40.00 an hours as a security guard? That's around $1,200 a week. While it's one small solution to the ongoing issues, it this one person really going to prevent bullying and fights in the bathrooms? We have had SRO there for years, isn't that what they do?
ReplyDeleteHere's a crazy idea. Maybe expelling repeat offenders???? Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteSorry. I've held my tongue for too long. What about including the students in coming up with a solution to solve the problem! They know why it's happening and might know how to stop it. The last thing we need is one more ineffective committee.
ReplyDeleteWowser - Your point is well taken. However, if you would take the time to read the Board minutes and study the books and actions of the school district you would see front and center that the students presented their opinions in a very well thought out and organized survey on Jan 10, this year. It is called "student Council-One Thing" - based on the book "One Thing" which was apparently summer reading for all up on Harry Howard. The presentation itself was overproduced and confusing but it hit home. The students that did it were very sincere and very focused and actually came up with a brilliant study of the current environment. It is not your fault you do not know this. Of course, the BOE meetings should be Zoomed. That is a no brainer. But secrecy is their weapon. Read the study. The kids are all over the problems. The problems are with us as taxpayers who pay no attention to the school until we have to pay our taxes (or someone gets mauled.). I too was surprised at how many good kids there are at the schools given the coverage.........but I read every word and study every penny they talk about every single week. You should too. There is hope if we all help.
ReplyDeleteAnd I am sure those students would give you a private presentation if you went through adult channels to get it. Contact Dr. Spindler as a start. Ken Sheffer
Ken, with all due respect for your involvement on the BoE and your obvious caring and concern for the students in the district, it's not the community's obligation to communicate with the district. It is, of course, the district's obligation to speak to the community. And, as you point out, "secrecy is their weapon." So when they do speak out it's in some sort of jargony psuedo-speak (it's not at the level of Orwellian doublespeak but give it time) which leaves the reader with more questions than answers.
DeleteHowever, even in my short time in Hudson I've seen really good community based programs do some impressive work in the district. I realize Covid happened. But the district has returned to in-person teaching and should reinstate some of those programs. I think the impediment is that reinstating old and establishing new programs requires management, and the district doesn't seem to be managing, just reacting.
John - You are right. And I owe Wowser a conditional apology. It IS the obligation of the BOE and the District to communicate out to the taxpayers and worried community. But, and here is the condition, if Wowser waits for that to happen, well, then it may test his patience and age. Here's what I think - Dr. Spindler is trying hard. Don't call me soft but can you imagine what is REALLY facing her every day? If she actually told us everything no one would pay their taxes. Or go into those buildings for a meeting. Actually I was very pleased to have you and Wowser write about the schools. More people equals more progress, over time. There is a way for both of you to see where the community can fit into the school system, a policy they claim is a top priority. There are "community Budget" meetings coming up very soon. In the past Suttmeir/Otty would ask themselves questions when no one showed up. This year they should be Zoomed or called off if no one shows....or perhaps Dr. Spindler could take the presentation to the Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Boards, Supervisors of the towns that are part of the District and not wait for people to figure out when and where these meetings are. Board meetings should be limited to ONE hour and no more. 15 minutes should be for the parents and community. Executive sessions (which are normally done deals) should be done some other way. If the BOE wants another $56 million for the year ahead it needs to do things differently. Encourage them to understand this. The disconnect between $56 million and the outcome is just too vivid this year. Also, if only 6% of eligible voters come out and vote....the budget should be re-voted. At a minimum you need 40-50% of voters to show up.....or to vote. Expand voting channels as possible. Last year and the year before and the year before, almost no one voted. I am trying this year to remain positive that we can have a greater role in the fix for this broken system. It's our first post Covid outing with the BOE. So, as they say, the proof will be in the pudding or in this case in how much respect the BOE shows for $56 million bucks and $56 million worth of learning. Stay engaged Wowser and John. They need you. Ken Sheffer
DeleteI would like to see this meeting as a Zoom or at least videotaped for public viewing. Some of us as parents planned to attend, but cannot due to the schedule change.
ReplyDelete