Good Morning Flint!
By Terry Bankert
01/16/09
http://goodmorningflint.blogspot.com/
LET GOOD GOVERNMENT IN FLINT BEGIN WITH HOW WE DECIDE TO CLOSE SCHOOLS IN FLINT MI USA.
The foundation of "Good Government" requires the involvement of responsible citizens in public decisions. I advocate " Good Government" In Flint, City and Schools. Do you?
MANY FLINT PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL SOON BE CLOSED. DO NOT WAIT TO BE SHOCKED WHEN YOURS IS.
I am independent from the Flint Board of Education. I also feel strongly that to turn Flint around it will take the combined efforts of the Municipal Corporation "City of Flint" and the Flint School System " Flint Board of education."
ARE YOU A RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN?
I consider myself to be a responsible Flint Citizen. I attend community meeting, speak out as our democracy allows and do my share of community service. Within this context I as " What is the role of a responsible Flint Citizen when a dozen or so Flint Schools are to be closed? What is a citizens role if they agree 100% with the yet unreleased superintendents report on which schools to close?
RESPONSIBE CITENS MUST STEP UP AND BE HEARD
Gadflys, politicians, community big mouths will most assuredly howl and attack the Board and the superintendent and anyone that would attack threaten their favorite school with closing. Mixed in with these reactions will be good hard working parents that want just what is best for their kids. There will be single young mothers working 2 jobs who will not understand while the school across the street from them is closed. Others whose school is a neighborhood monument will be equally upset.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A RESPONSIBLE FLINT CITIZEN?
My suggestion is that you consider becoming informed and speak out. Let the Flint Board of Education and the media know the variety of opinions not just the naysayers.
Responsible citizens are encouraged to read the Citizens report recently released on the process and factual foundation supporting school closing. Good report it does what it was intended to.
THE BOARD CREATED A CONTROLLED PROCESS OF CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT
The board has selected its own citizen representatives wedded them to a retained school district superintendent that every body respects, to include this writer, and a report is released.
The Citizens facilities report is part of a controlled process to involve tempered , informed citizen comment. That report was released to the Flint Board of Education, now it is being released to you at the community informational meeting below. The report will not be modified based upon your comments but your comments and questions will be heard.
FORMAL PUBLIC COMMENT OCCURS IN FRONT OF THE FLINT BOARD OF EDUCATION
The real public comment occurs infront of the Flint Board of education. These comment sessions have been quite contentious in the past. Responsible citizens I argue should not set back and let the elected members of the Flint Board of education attacked for doing their job. The agony of school closing hearing should be shared.
THEORY OF GOOD GOVERNMENT
I present a hypothesis that if responsible citizens become involved with tempered discussions and public debate a better , more community sensitive decision will be made by the Flint board of education.
YOUR OPINION IS YOURS, JUST BE INFORMED!
Note I am not advising what your opinion should be, only that you have an informed one and speak out or publish a letter to the media or to the Flint Board of Education.
LETS TURN FLINT ABOUT, STARTING HERE.
Possibly we begin to turn Flint around with how the community involves itself in the school closing issue. My theory of " Good Government" has a foundation this informed temper involvement of the Public in Public decision. Next we may want to apply this same theory of " Good Government" to the City of Flint. SUMMARY: Read the report, form an opinion, get involved in the decision making process.
MANY FLINT PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL SOON BE CLOSED. DO NOT WAIT TO BE SHOCKED WHEN YOURS IS.
The citizens input on school closing began when a Citizens Advisory Facilities Committee was formed quite a while ago. They produced a report on the process for deciding which schools to close giving several options. That report was presented to the Flint Board of education several weeks ago.
Beginning on 1 /24/09 this report will be presented to the Flint community at 4 community meetings. Please consider getting involved in the process now instead of being shocked and upset later. At these meeting you will have a chance to ask questions through a facilitator.
The Superintendent of Schools will be present.
Next the Superintendent working through the process of the Flint Board of Education will present her proposal for closing school and the next years budget.
About this time there will be comment sessions at the board meeting where essentially all heck will break lose as the suddenly shocked parents and community members will say "Do not close my school, close theirs".
The reality is that many Flint Schools have to closed, possibly one near you.
I suggest you learn about the process and information used to create the final Superintendent proposal for closing. Then make informed public comments in support and opposition.
Secondly if you agree with the final proposal of the superintendent consider attending and speaking at the community input meeting before the Flint Board of Education. Often the people who agre do not comment. The media coverage then creates the immpression most at the meetings are against the Board action or the Superintendents Proposal.
We are a diverse and educated community well equipped to understand these issues.
We will present our community better to the media and the world if a mix of informed responsible citizens comment along side the emotional and well intended naysayers.
As always there will be speakers that are not well intentioned attempting to exploit the emotionalism of closing a neighborhood school, sometimes for their own political advantage.
Please note that I am not suggesting what you think or say.
My only suggestion is that you gain as much information as possible about the process, share it with your friends and family.
Several of us are asking Flint Citizen to get involved in this process early by reviewing the Citizens Facilities report on School Closing before the community information meetings and the series of Flint Board of Education meeting that will result in many Flint Schools being closed.
If you belong to a neighborhood group or organization concerned with the Flint school closing consider sharing this information with your group before the community information meeting.
Many citizens worked hard to produce this report.
Now is the time for your opinion.
The Superintendent has yet to submit her report and she will be listening at these community informational meetings.
I feel the better informed the community is about school closing and how recommendations are made the better the final Board decision will be.
Here is the committee report
http://www.flintschools.org/pdfs/FACrpt2008_12.pdf
The schedule of community informational meeting follow.
PLEASE PUT THESE IN YOUR CALENDAR AND ATTEND ONE .
Community Meeting to discuss the citizens report from the Citizens Advisory Committee'
MONDAY, ½6/09, CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL 7 pm Cafeteria.
TUESDAY , ½7/09, NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL 7 pm Cafeteria
WEDNESDAY, ½8/09 SOUTHWESTERN ACADEMY 7 p.m. Cafeteria
THURSDAY, ½9/09 NORTHWESTERN HIGH SCHOOL 7 p.m. Cafeteria http://www.flintschools.org/
You many be in other groups with school interests ,get this information out to your friends.
WHY? BECAUSE MANY SCHOOLS HAVE TO BE CLOSED.
Some may want to dig into the issue deeper.
The following are the video segments of an education workshop I sponsored several years ago. http://www.myspace.com/publicdevelopment Public Development is a nonprofit organization that engages citizens with community issues, ideas, concerns, people, technology & solutions through the utilization & creation of public media.
Part one http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1979914808 On February 10, 2007, concerned Flint citizens again gathered at a workshop sponsored by Flint Attorney Terry Bankert, to address the future of the Flint Public School System. In this installment, Jim Richardson of the Great Schools Initiative outlines the "9 Standards for Great Schools" and more.
Part two http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2002293748 On February 10, concerned Flint citizens again gathered to address the future of the Flint Public School System. In this installment, 2007 Board of Ed. candidates introduce themselves & MCC political science professor Paul Rozycki outlines a history of public schools in Michigan.
Part three http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?useaction=vids.individual&videoid=2011191656
On February 10, concerned Flint citizens again gathered to address the future of the Flint Public School System. In this installment, former Beecher School Board Member, David Grant, outlines how his district addressed many of the same challenges now faced by Flint public schools.
Part Four http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?useaction=vids.individual&videoid=2012925757
On February 10, concerned Flint citizens again gathered to address the future of the Flint Public School System. In this installment, mayoral candidates Dale Weighill & Norm Bryant address the audience. Then, former State Rep. Jack Minore discusses how schools are funded.
Part Five http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2012977945
On February 10, concerned Flint citizens again gathered to address the future of the Flint Public School System. In this installment, former State Rep. Jack Minore continues his discussion of how schools are funded.
Please Consider Joining me on Face Book for daily discussions on how to make this a better world. http://www.facebook.com/people/Terry-Bankert/645845362
Posted Here By
Terry Bankert
ADDITIONAL EVENT INFORMATION
BANKERT BLURBS- Saturday, January 31, A Night at the Races, a fundraiser for the Genesee County Democratic Party, Sports Creek Raceway, $50 per person, includes dinner, racing program and admission fee. RSVP to Jack Minore by January 23. Send check made out to Genesee County Democratic Party, in care of Jack Minore, 610 Commonwealth, Flint, MI 48503. Or via email at jacksonmin@aol.com.
Friday, January 16, Opening Night of the Traveling Museum of Afrikan Ancestry and Research Center's Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King and the Study of Kemet (ancient Egypt) from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. At Pages Bookstore, 132 W. Second Street, Flint. Featuring exhibits, artifacts, speakers, storytellers, artists and musicians. Ongoing through March 2 (Monday-Friday from noon to 6:00 PM, Saturday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM). For more information call 810-767-7243. FREE,
You are invited to Join the Michigan Democratic Partyhttp://www.michigandems.com/join.php-
Trump Picks Burgum for Interior Secretary
-
The North Dakota governor helped strengthened ties between the oil industry
and President-elect Donald J. Trump
1 hour ago
Posts
