SCASD UPDATE
State High Vision
State High Vision Update
Friday, January 25, 2008
Here we go again. Just as we were starting to look ahead to new decisions, new ways of conducting business and plans for the future of the SCASD, our recent past is coming back to haunt us.
“It’s déjà vu all over again.”
Yogi Berra
Recently elected SCASD board member Barney Grimes has resigned his position on the board to take a prestigious position out of the country. While naysayer’s hint at ulterior motives, those who know Barney and what he stands for understand that his skills and experiences will be valued in his next endeavor, just as they made him a valued member of our School Board. Unfortunately, Barney’s resignation has rekindled the flame of hope for those ran unsuccessfully in both the May Primary and Fall General Election. Thinly veiled campaign letters are already appearing in the Centre Daily Times from supporters suggesting former board members as potential replacements. We also read accusations that State High Vision is again “dividing the community” and pushing the agenda of un-named, big money developers.
"A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on it's shoes." Mark Twain
Did this vocal minority somehow miss the election results from the May primary and again at the November election? The new faces on the board received 89.9% of the vote in the General Election. We believe that democratic principles dictate that Barney’s replacement MUST reflect the views of the majority of our community.
The Process. On Monday, January 28, 2008, Barney will officially submit his resignation at the regular meeting of the SCASD at 7:30 at 131 W. Nittany Ave. After the resignation is received, the board will determine how they intend to go about selecting a new member. Citizens will then likely have the opportunity to submit their names for consideration. If the board is split and can’t reach a majority decision, the vote will go to the Centre County President Judge for resolution.
Ideally, all board members, old and new, will recognize the importance of reflecting the public viewpoint in selecting a new member and will be able to join together to reach an agreeable decision. However, in the event they cannot, precedence has been set by our county judiciary to select a candidate whose views match those of the person who resigned. For example, when former County Commissioner Scott Conklin resigned to accept the position with the state legislature, the judge appointed a Democrat (with prior experience on the board) who would reflect viewpoints of the voters.
Please Attend! We urge all concerned citizens to attend Monday’s night’s meeting, to witness the process, and to voice their concerns and viewpoints on this critical decision. This will be a crucial test of the SCASD board’s promise of open government and transparent decision-making. For our community’s sake, we hope a suitable candidate, who reflects the public’s view point and has our trust, can be agreed upon and seated without delay. Our district faces serious challenges and we cannot afford to have a school board distracted by divisive and non-productive disagreements. Yesterday’s politicians had their opportunity and now it’s time to move forward.