New Year Resolutions

At the beginning of a new year people usually sit down and evaluate the actions of the previous year and see what can be changed for the better. Whether its losing weight, exercising more, concentrating on business, or connecting with old friends a resolution is developed and decided upon. Unfortunately in a majority of the cases the resolution vanishes into thin air within a matter of months or even weeks.

The DPS board should consider the same routine. Sit down and look upon the last year (or in their case years) and see what could be changed or improved. However based on past experience this could be a hard task for them. Honesty has never been a strong point with the board. In light of this I had some associates “suggest” some resolutions for the board to embrace.

Board Members should submit to a “test” in order to remain on the board. This would consist of a simple cognitive ability evaluation. Can you stay awake for a whole meeting? Do you understand what is going on? A simple ink blot test would do. We just need something to assure the citizens that rubber stamping zombies have not replaced the board members but that they can still think and reason.

Board members should make a pact to ask questions about proposals and really review financial data. So often they pass resolutions without knowing the financial impact or at worst don’t know how to read financial reports. They simply allow the staff to present overviews without specifics. The result of this is an out of control spending splurge. Where are the tea party people when you need them?

Board Members Need to get a handle on the actions of the administrative services division. Of all the divisions this is the life blood area. Instruction cannot function without the funds to drive the programs. Over the last few years this business area has been allowed to fester into a quagmire of conflicting reports and unanswered questions. Lifes Little Lesson: Its About The Money Stupid! Check the increases in all aspects of the school operations. The areas that previously were under control are now spinning up like the national debt. Check it out.

For God’s sake stop reading the handbook at meetings! Self explanatory.

Make the superintendent speak for the district. Never before have we ever seen a superintendent throw so many people into the fire rather then take the heat for a decision. Time to errrrrr “man up”? Be a leader. Leaders don’t hind behind walls, they stand out front.

Just a few suggestions. Perhaps they may consider them, perhaps not. Either way I would imagine they would be forgotten within a few weeks anyway.