UPDATE: Robert Bratton contacted me early this morning to explain that he left the meeting early to attend his daughter's first sports banquet. It was a middle school sports banquet in the Ninth district, where he was with parents, students and constituents in the district he serves.
Brian's Blog commends Mr. Bratton on being with his family for such an occasion even if it wasn't in his district. There are few school board members that take their job as serious as Robert Bratton. Being a husband and father is an added bonus toward his service on the board.
Tonight, the Knox County School Board held their mid-month workshop. Many important items were on the agenda, including the following; Update on Hardin Valley High School, Update on elevator/chairlift installation in Knox County Schools, Update on English as a Second Language Cluster initiative, Discussion of superintendentÂ’s evaluation instrument, timing, and process, Discussion of issues relative to term limits case of County Commission, Superintendent's Report - which included a review of the Charlotte - Mecklenburg School District Evaluation and finally the School Board Forum.
Two School Board members left their respective duties and departed before the meeting adjourned. Karen Carson and Robert Bratton.
Brian's Blog commends Mr. Bratton on being with his family for such an occasion even if it wasn't in his district. There are few school board members that take their job as serious as Robert Bratton. Being a husband and father is an added bonus toward his service on the board.
Tonight, the Knox County School Board held their mid-month workshop. Many important items were on the agenda, including the following; Update on Hardin Valley High School, Update on elevator/chairlift installation in Knox County Schools, Update on English as a Second Language Cluster initiative, Discussion of superintendentÂ’s evaluation instrument, timing, and process, Discussion of issues relative to term limits case of County Commission, Superintendent's Report - which included a review of the Charlotte - Mecklenburg School District Evaluation and finally the School Board Forum.
Two School Board members left their respective duties and departed before the meeting adjourned. Karen Carson and Robert Bratton.
5 comments:
Mr. Hornback,
So?
Have these two done this before?
Is it indicative of their attitude toward their duties?
If the other school board members knew these two needed/wanted to leave early would it still be a problem?
Or, since it sounds like it was just discussion and they felt they didn't have anything to add and felt they previously heard all they needed, why not leave?
Were there any decesions made? Any votes taken?
It sounds like your upset that they left early but there's alot you left out that would help form ajudgement about this.
SteveMule
I am just reporting the facts. Do not care if they do or do not take their position seriously.
However, there was a significant discussion about the school board hiring legal counsel to defend the Charter to protect the school board members (Sam Anderson, this year)from the term limit decision.
The board members present were told to call the board chairman and then the Superintendent and Board Chair could decide to hire legal counsel and have the board ratify the decision later.
The Superintendent talked like he would like to enter into litigation to challenge whether the board falls under the charter, this legal battle was waged 4-6 years ago and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
You really should watch the meetings as they are broadcast live. I proposed the live broadcast when I was on the board and am happy it happens as many of us parents that believe in public education are able to stay in tune with what is going on.
Mr. Hornback,
Thank you. What happened 4-6 years ago? What was the result fo the litigation? Why fight it again?
SteveMule
The School Board sued to have its own way, saying that the Charter wasn't valid toward the operation of the school district ie. the Charter says one thing, state law says something else.
When Mayor Ragsdale was elected in 2002 one of his first initatives was to arrange an agreement that both the school board and commission agreed on some major points and they dropped the litigation. The major point of the compromise was that the Superintendent would not have to go to the commission and ask for every purchase after the school board had already approved it.
There is no reason to fight it again. Even if the charter is declared invalid or valid, the school board should not re-open this litigation, two board members were soundly defeated because of the lawsuit, Margaret Maddox and Diane Jablonski.
Mr. Hornback,
Thank you for the explanation. That helped a great deal!
SteveMule
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