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Ashear
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2001 - 8:44 am: |     |
I'm new to all this and to town and have no school age kids (yet). I read the articles in the News-Record but they were not very helpful. Everyone seemed to be in favor of good schools but that was about it. Can anyone explain what the divisions on the board are about. What are the issues? Thanks. |
Ucnthndlthtruth
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2001 - 8:58 am: | |
Curmudgeon -"It has become quite obvious that Mr. Gold is interested only in grandstanding."
How is it "grandstanding" to try to present a differing view on a subject ? (Notice the use of try. His "colleagues" have not only absolutely shut down Mr. Gold but have also completely eliminated open, honest, and diverse discussion. )
It's quite impossible to do any "convincing" when your thoughts are not allowed to be heard.
A second on a motion by Mr. Gold would simply allow for a discussion on said motion. It is in no way an indication of support for it.
The only thing that is "quite obvious" is that the current BOE is either so fragile and sensitive that they can't bear to hear a dissenting argument or that they are so intolerant of the diversity of thought that they won't allow it !!! |
Curmudgeon
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2001 - 9:45 am: | |
It is grandstanding when he chooses not to participate in the day-to-day operation of the board (which is, by the way, what he was elected to do) but instead chooses to sit on the sidelines demanding that attention be paid to him because it is so obvious that he's wiser, more intelligent, and better prepared than anyone else. Mr. Gold could surely use a reality check here - you can't score touchdowns (or even make first downs) when you won't even enter the huddle.
As for attacking, I think: 1) Bill Gold has proved himself adept at very little else, 2) It's really interesting that those here who claim to want "diversity of opinion" are always quick to tar with the "PC" brush anyone who doesn't agree with them, and 3) It's also odd that legitimate criticism of an elected official's public behavior in the carrying-out of his public duties is viewed as an attack instead of a legitimate criticism.
Is "dissent" on the BOE really so fragile that it can't stand being held up to the light of day and examined for its own shortcomings? |
Twig
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2001 - 1:17 pm: | |
I can't disagree that Mr. Gold's methods often seem to be inappropriate. However, as I recall, during the last couple of elections some incumbent board members identified candidates whose perspectives were similar to their own, encouraged those individuals to run, organized "coffees" or whatever as fund-raisers and networking events, and actively compaigned for their election. Certainly, there is nothing illegal or unethical about doing this and all of the "chosen" candidates aren't always elected. But, when incumbents are so actively endorsing certain candidates, it surely does give the appearance that they are trying to stack the BOE with like minds. I can't say as I blame 'em for it must make getting things done a whole lot easier. Still, it can't be a shock to anyone that the BOE seems to have ended up as a block/alliance vs. the outsider/s. The only thing left to do is to see who gets voted off the island...oops, I mean the board. |
Jur050
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2001 - 3:09 pm: | |
"Stack the BOE with like minds, "says Twig,"it must make getting things done a whole lot easier." It reminds me of the scratch off lottery tickets, "If you get three matching symbols, you win that corresponding prize." No wonder I feel like a winner! And just look at the corresponding prize! Not! |
Jur050
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2001 - 3:15 pm: | |
And "Crumy," I mean Curmy, who do you think is the best candidate? Why doesn't one of the posters offer to serve? It takes committment, time, and desire, but it appears as though someone ought to be passionate enough about their views to make a go of it. Curmy, you seem especially passionate, why not give it a go and put your hat in the BOE ring? |
Curmudgeon
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2001 - 4:48 pm: | |
It's great fun to see how easy it is to get your goat, Jur...just a few semi-coherent words from me and you start in with the name-calling. If you're that worried by what I have to say, you must not have much confidence in the positions you espouse or the people you support. |
Alidah
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2001 - 11:03 pm: | |
Ucnthndlthtruth: What is the true nature of the budget and the special questions issue? |
Jur050
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 10:07 am: | |
Curm, glad to see you have no sense, of humor that is. Oh well, you da man. I admit to falling full folly for your goat getting whimsy! How silly and foolish of me. |
Nan
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 1:04 pm: | |
Well, this thread has been around since Saturday, and I still know practically nothing about Bill Gold. In contrast, Saturday, was also the start of the "sinkhole" thread, a topic I now feel like an expert on although I don't even live in the St. Lawrence Street area. Bill Gold is running for a position that may affect my life directly and this is all I know about him: he is an unhappy "outsider" on the BOE, he wants to sue the state, he wants to eliminate the alternative high school, and the people I usually disagree with on this board about education topics all support him.
Unfortunately, no one in my household was available to go to candidates' forum. Is there going to be another one before the election?
I know I'm not the first on this thread to ask this, but since it has not been answered yet...can someone please present his educational vision in a coherent, understandable form including explanations for each item? Perhaps it would be helpful to imagine that the other members of the Board have just won the lottery on a group ticket that Bill was excluded from (naturally). They have all left town permanently to celebrate and he is the only one in charge! What happens next?????? |
Nilmiester
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 2:10 pm: | |
Why does it always seem that it is a 7-1 vote from BOE when it comes to important issues? We should not worry about Bill Gold, he is always outvoted; we should worry about the other 7. I find it hard to believe that 7 people would consistently agree. It's not even mathematically correct from a statistics point of view. Anyone know of any close important votes that didn't come out 7-1? |
Jem
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 2:14 pm: | |
To greatly oversimplify, it's my impression that what separates Bill Gold from the rest of the board is the fact that the other eight board members are willing to work with Dr. Horoschak and support his vision for the district, whereas Bill Gold is apparently unsupportive of the superintendent, outright hostile to the other board members, and would prefer to micromanage the district according to the issues nearest and dearest to his heart. I believe that Gold has expressed fondness and respect for Marilyn Davenport, and that he was enthusiastic about her school in Albuquerque, but that he is suspicious and unsupportive of the demonstration school in Maplewood. Go figure!
I would guess that campaign flyers for all of the candidates are out there at this point. Whatever it is that Gold stands for will be encapsulated in his campaign literature.
I would bet that there will be candidates' coffees in many neighborhoods over the next few weekends. Ask your neighbors if they know of any upcoming, and go listen to the candidates. There will be a candidates forum at S.O. Middle School on April 4th.
Besides that, I would say, go with your instincts as far as who supports Gold. Doesn't that say it all? |
Ucnthndlthtruth
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 2:31 pm: | |
As for the budget , try mymaplewood.com
Then on the right, under highlights
"BOE approves budget on preliminary vote" |
Nilmiester
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 2:44 pm: | |
Who supports Gold and what does that say about them? I don't know but still find it hard to think that 7 people would agree all the time. Not in meetings I go to.... |
Mck
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 4:13 pm: | |
Nan, Alidah, et al: You should call Bill Gold and find out from the source what his opinions are. His phone number is 762-0508. I'm sure that he'll be glad to talk to you, and you can ask the specific questions that you want to ask. He is one of a couple of Board members and TC members that I call, and believe me, it is a lot more efficient to ask the elected officials themselves "what gives", than to ask Maplewoodonline folks. |
Deadwhitemale
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 4:21 pm: | |
If a block of Board members was elected after being secretely managed through their campaigns, and financial aided on the sly too, by a board member, and then voted as that member wanted, is that O.K.?
And what of the current candidate who is the next Stepford member? Will [s]he distance h[er]self from that member?
And, Gold wanted a drastic change in Math curriculum, was on the official district review committee, butted heads on the merits, but, as you really know, merit takes second place to "diversity" in all manners educational.
And to vested interests.
So, he is a nasty, insufferable, highly motivated person.
We need his knowledge, and his experience, and his independence!
DWM |
Melidere
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 4:42 pm: | |
Twig
i'm not sure it's a matter of 'making getting things done a whole lot easier.'
I think it is more a matter of 'making getting things done POSSIBLE.' |
Ffof
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 7:52 pm: | |
DWM - a response to your rhetorical question...I don't think a Stepford would bite the hand that feeds it! Ffof |
Deadwhitemale
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 8:40 pm: | |
"The hand" is scouting for coffee hosts for the candidate, why?
Maybe the Stepford wife bites the hand that feeds it, but only nibbles.
Hannibal Lector lite?
DWM |
Alidah
| | Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2001 - 9:49 am: | |
Thank you Mck. I'm just starting to get the hang of this board. What I need to do is talk to Bill Gold and THEN come here! |
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