BOE Members Push Agendas During Meeting

While last Thursday’s meeting was called to appoint , two board members used the open comments section of the meeting to put forward two proposals from their platforms.

BOE members Mark Friedman and Mitch Slater used the new business section – a regular part of any BOE meeting – to speak out on several ideas. Friedman discussed his proposal on school district management, while Slater discussed the district’s budget.

Friedman, who has been pushing what he calls “reengineering” district management since his campaign this spring, used the appointment of Michael Weissman to bring the subject up. Weissman hade been appointed earlier in the meeting as the district’s assistant superintendent of schools for pupil personnel services.

While saying that he believes Weissman is an “accomplished individual,” Friedman said he would like the board in the future to have discussions about job descriptions before hiring new school executives.

“In general, I think the process could be changed,” he said.

Friedman said the discussion could look at the written job description for each executive position, along with looking at what has changed since the outgoing officeholder had assumed the job. He said the look at priorities and change in the educational environment could then cause a change in the job description and possibly help guide who is appointed.

The practice is common in the private sector. Friedman, who has worked in executive positions for several companies, has been pushing an almost private sector like management approach for the school district since the campaign. During late June’s BOE session to , Friedman the district’s management as a goal. At the time, he said this could be used to focus district management in a way that helps address budget issues going forward.

Friedman’s proposal during the goal setting discussion was not adopted by the full board. The other board members remained silent during Friedman’s proposal last week.

Slater briefly addressed the board’s planned special meeting for July 26, where Schools Superintendent Margaret Dolan is expected to deliver a report on elementary school enrollment. Dolan’s report – highly anticipated in the from parents over what they said was high class sizes in the school and other south side elementary schools – is expected to provide up to date numbers on elementary school class sizes.

Slater said that he would like to see Dolan address budget cuts in the last two years and how they have impacted at the elementary schools. He said he would also like to see a connection between any cuts and the district’s so called “hot spots” in elementary school enrollment.

Slater has been pushing enrollment issues, including the of students from l to , since his election to the board.

BOE President Julia Walker indicated that she would pass on Slater’s message to Dolan, who was not at last week’s meeting.