I am aware of various unofficial meetings between many citizens and board members and Superintendent Van Zant to discuss their positions and behavior and to encourage unity and civility. The board and Mr. Van Zant have attended state sponsored conferences to bring them together and overcome the animosities. Many feel all this has been to no avail based on the discussions, recent board meetings and board actions. Some board members continue to openly display animosity and undue ridicule in open meetings toward Mr. Van Zant. After having discussed the situation with several citizens, including some of you, it was suggested that we encourage attendance of the November 19 Board Meeting and encourage the board to end the strife that has become quite a black eye on our community. We hear it throughout Northeast Florida and even our legislators have said it is a topic of discussion and ridicule in Tallahassee. Some feel that any effort is going to be wasted, convinced that nothing will change the hearts of some board members. But with prayer, respect and encouragement, I think we will accomplish much. The reason for attending this coming board meeting is that the election of one board member to serve as the chairperson for the coming year will take place. Speaking in favor of Lisa Graham for that chairperson position may result in her winning that role. And that is what I am asking you to do. Mrs. Graham is currently the Vice-Chair and would naturally become the Chair but that tradition was not followed the past year. I and many others feel that Mrs. Graham will be able to temper the board discussions and control the agenda and meeting tone, restoring what should be a focus on properly running one of the state’s top school systems without the unnecessary tone toward Superintendant Van Zant. She has shown respect for all in the meetings and I believe she has the county’s best interest in mind and is not biased for or against the superintendant or other board members. If Mrs. Graham is elected to the chairperson role, we will certainly encourage her to hold the superintendant accountable and not be a rubber stamp for his agenda. But her past performance has shown that she will show respect and professionalism to all. At the meeting on Tuesday, the superintendant will chair the first part of the meeting where the election for chair and vice-chair persons will be held. The new chair will run the meeting after the election. I intend to attend the meeting on Tuesday and put in a card to speak. I will discuss the need for unity among the board and its importance for Economic Development within Clay County and how I believe that will be best accomplished with Mrs. Graham as chair. Many of the jobs lost over the past recession in Clay have been in the construction trades that were lost when the housing markets crashed. As that market recovers regionally, Clay is losing in the competition for those jobs because so many home buyers and new young professionals are choosing St. Johns County over Clay due to the image that the school system suffers in Clay. Our Economic Development Council (EDC) has had success in attracting other employers to Clay over the past year but we know that will suffer if the image of the school system conveyed by the board does not improve. That is my area of interest but there are many other reasons to encourage unity among the board that I hope others will discuss. I believe the current EDC chairman is going to speak at the meeting as will a former state senator and Education Secretary, also encouraging the board to select the right chairperson. I encourage you all to go to the meeting and fill out and submit a card to speak and encourage the members to elect Lisa Graham as chair. Even if you just go to the meeting and don’t speak or just repeat the same statement, you presence will convey the message that the community is very concerned with the current state of civility. We only have about 20 names from the May meeting so I ask that you circulate this information or your own email and make calls to others to participate. If we have too many to fit in the room, that will be the message they need to hear. I don’t think this can be understated. I am sending a letter to the board encouraging the same as I believe are some others and you might consider that as well. Thank you for reading this and in advance for attending or doing what you can to help bring respect back to our great school system. The Organization Meeting will be at 7:00pm on Tuesday, November 19. The website for agendas and past meetings is: clay.k12.fl.us/agenda/November%2019%2c%202013%20-%20Regular%20Meeting%20on%20Tuesday%2c%20November%2019%2c%202013/81FBF2B5-77E1-409F-9597-AFB6D46F8F6BAgenda.htm Let me know if anyone has suggestions or information that might be helpful. Prayer is certainly a great weapon and is encouraged. I hope to see you there. Ted P. Ted McGowan Executive Director
Posted on: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 22:07:09 +0000
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