saavymom
New Member
Reged: 03/03/05
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F.Y.I.
The Sunday edition of the Allen paper published the agenda for Monday's board meeting. One of the items is the Literature Selection Process presented by the superintendant, so I assume this is the official response to the Language Arts concerns that so many of us voiced on the now closed forum.
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vrs
Member
Reged: 04/20/00
Loc: Allen, Texas
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This is probably as good a time as any to remind folks that the Board Planning Calendar, the Policy Manual, the Meeting Notices, and Meeting Summaries are always conveniently available online:
http://www.allenisd.org/web/About/board.html
(complete with a horrible picture of me - driver's license has nothing on this  )
Anyway, if you go from there to the "Board Book" agenda packets, you can find the complete agenda and full board meeting packet in pdf format. Here is the one for March:
http://www.boardbook.org/apps/bbv2/public/detail_wrapper.cfm?MeetingKey=NjA1OA%3D%3D
This has been something people (including me) chafed about for a long time - that you had to go to a meeting to get a copy of the packet with attachments. Technology moves forward!
And the meetings are televised. I am totally embarrased to say I am not sure where. They were on the school channel for the longest, but someone told me they were moved to the city channel. I am sure someone on this message board will chime in with that last detail.
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When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this - you haven't.
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civicminded
Member
Reged: 04/24/02
Loc: Lone Star State
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Yes, I've seen them on the City channel recently.
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Capt. Jack
Member
Reged: 11/10/04
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Has anyone reported back on the meeting and the book removal issue?
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saavymom
New Member
Reged: 03/03/05
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I went to the meeting expressly to hear comments on the literature selection process. Surprisingly, the only person who spoke during the Open Forum was a teacher from the Lowery Freshman Center. By the way, there were several teachers from Lowery , one from Ericson Middle School, and none from the high school (the principal was there). The teacher from Lowery spoke briefly about the rationale behind the humanities curriculum selections. I was a bit surprised to discover no parents attended to voice concerns about the literature . Later in the program, Jenny Preston, explained the district would be reviewing other districts' policies regarding literature selections and challenges. There will be a report given to the board in a couple of months. In the meantime, she said the Spring curriculum remains the same. Apparently, the teaching of some of the challenged books had already been completed. All in all, I think the district has listened to the concerns of all the citizens - students, teachers, and parents - and is making every effort to put policies into place that will allow our children to read multi-cultural literature that is appropriate to the community we live in. I definitely think everyone involved has also at one time or another visited this site and read the comments posted under the Language Arts forum, so even though very few people actually attended the meeting, our voices were heard through the forum, emails, etc.
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vrs
Member
Reged: 04/20/00
Loc: Allen, Texas
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Quote:
I went to the meeting expressly to hear comments on the literature selection process.
You were there???? And you didn't introduce yourself?????? I am sorry for that. I try to meet everyone before the meetings, but I get out of class on Mondays at 6:45 down at UTD this Spring and come screaming into the parking lot on two wheels (that's hyperbole) at 7:20. Anyway, sorry I missed you. I like getting faces and names to go with the nicknames out here. If you did not leave after executive session and stayed for the whole meeting, then I know who you are
Quote:
All in all, I think the district has listened to the concerns of all the citizens - students, teachers, and parents - and is making every effort to put policies into place that will allow our children to read multi-cultural literature that is appropriate to the community we live in.
I am sincerely glad you feel that way.
Quote:
I definitely think everyone involved has also at one time or another visited this site and read the comments posted under the Language Arts forum, so even though very few people actually attended the meeting, our voices were heard through the forum, emails, etc.
I would disagree with you on the first part of this comment. Very few trustees and senior administrators monitor this site. In the case of the trustees, they know I am out here and the rest of them staying away keeps us out of open meetings trouble. The reason I make this point is simply to underscore the fact that if one wants a concern heard and acted upon, then an anonymous posting on a public message board is only one notch above dead silence in terms of its ability to effect change.
The parents and students and teachers who contacted administration directly - phone call, email, conference - are the ones whose concerns were heard.
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When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this - you haven't.
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Capt. Jack
Member
Reged: 11/10/04
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Quote:
I would disagree with you on the first part of this comment. Very few trustees and senior administrators monitor this site. In the case of the trustees, they know I am out here and the rest of them staying away keeps us out of open meetings trouble. The reason I make this point is simply to underscore the fact that if one wants a concern heard and acted upon, then an anonymous posting on a public message board is only one notch above dead silence in terms of its ability to effect change.
Perhaps the trustees and administrators should listen more. It can't hurt.
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vrs
Member
Reged: 04/20/00
Loc: Allen, Texas
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Capt Jack
I have said numerous times before - I have a name, an address, a telephone number, and an email. I am as available as I know how to be. So is every other trustee and every administrator. If a person has a legitimate concern that needs to be heard, then he or she needs to directly contact someone associated with the school district.
It is misleading at best for me to allow people to think that an anonymous post on this message board substitutes in any way shape or form for mature direct communication about an issue with a person who is actually empowered to do something about it.
It is, however, a great place for a chat - to air and exchange ideas. (Or is that to err and exchange ideas?) 
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When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this - you haven't.
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MsAlyce
Member
Reged: 04/03/04
Loc: Allen,Texas,USA
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You mean that our school board should listen to those people who do not identify themselves? That those who can hide behind nicknames and anonymity are truly concerned about our school district? Sorry, but if I want the board to make changes I will go to a meeting introduce myself and tell them face to face. (or at the very least I will write them a letter and sign it with my name address and phone number.)
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Before & After Activity Center for Children 972/390-7162
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Capt. Jack
Member
Reged: 11/10/04
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vrs
Quote:
Capt Jack
I have said numerous times before - I have a name, an address, a telephone number, and an email. I am as available as I know how to be. So is every other trustee and every administrator. If a person has a legitimate concern that needs to be heard, then he or she needs to directly contact someone associated with the school district.
It is misleading at best for me to allow people to think that an anonymous post on this message board substitutes in any way shape or form for mature direct communication about an issue with a person who is actually empowered to do something about it.
I did not say anything about anyone not being available or responding to any comments. All I said was it would be a good idea to listen to the comments. How could simply listening be misleading?
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vrs
Member
Reged: 04/20/00
Loc: Allen, Texas
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Capt Jack -
Sorry I was unclear. Let me try again. It would be misleading for ME to let anyone who reads this board THINK that an anonymous complaint in this forum will generate ANY positive actions to address their concerns.
The best they will get out here is the name of the individual they should speak to in person. Posting on Allen Online will not get ANY results. Not even from me. I do not act on anonymous complaints. No exceptions.
The earlier implication - whether intended or not - was that district response was triggered at least in part by opinions expressed out here. That is just not true. I know people think it is true, but it really is not. I promise. So if a person has a concern, they really do need to communicate directly with someone in the district in order to make a difference.
It is precisely because I do value people's input so much that I want to make sure they know what is and is not effective.
Now, if you would like to have a conversation with me - personally - about the myriad reasons for the "no anonymous complaints entertained here" policy, please write or phone me and I will buy you a cup of coffee while we chat about it.
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When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this - you haven't.
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civicminded
Member
Reged: 04/24/02
Loc: Lone Star State
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Hi vrs, here's a fun suggestion. Picture this...we grab the coffees, and carpool back from the Campus to the Meetings. These mini-conferences would last from oh let's say 6:45 to 7:20. This way you're accessible to community, and not going to an extra meeting, haha. Okay, so it may be awhile for coffee car conferences to catch on...
Just trying to be lighthearted here. Thanks for your Board service! 
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Capt. Jack
Member
Reged: 11/10/04
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vrs
I guess I am the one that appears to have been unclear.
My original post said, �Perhaps the trustees and administrators should listen more. It can't hurt.� I was kind of thinking about the advantage of being a �fly on the wall.�
I don�t want a conversation with anyone to explain anything to me. I know how to contact the trustees and administrators if I need to. I do not have any problem or issue about officials not responding to anonymous comments. All I said and I�ll say it again, �Perhaps the trustees and administrators should listen more. It can't hurt.�
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