Commentary: Why Run for School Board

Why Run for School Board

by Ann Ennis, Candidate for EVSC Board of School Trustees, District 2

In May, I declared candidacy for EVSC Board of School Trustees (School Board) District 2.  Since officially registering July 25, my team and I have been talking to residents of Vanderburgh County about our schools and the staff.  There are hundreds of great traits and programs in our schools. There is also a lack of trust and transparency and missteps in communication at all levels.

The communication errors lead to more distrust, less transparency, and to parents and classroom staff feeling unheard.  Over the years, I have experienced my questions to downtown EVSC administrators going unanswered.  Being disregarded by public officials is why I ran for IN State Representative in District 64 during 2016.  It is one reason I am running for School Board now. 

Dialogue. Conversation.  Civil discourse.  These are the tools of a democracy, but also tools of a solid education.  Before one new idea outshines all the other possible new ideas, an honest conversation, not a survey, must take place, perhaps dozens of times.  And responding to questions promptly is essential.

We hear much media-bashing lately, along with teacher bashing. The fact is that the news media and the general public must have access to all parts of tax-supported decision-making. And they must use that access.  Sunshine Laws assure taxpayers have access Access to study budgets, surveys, and accurate and complete meeting minutes deter corruption and cronyism.  We need more open and less closed-door discussion about how teachers are supposed to supply their classrooms, or how a school corporation adds administrative staff.  

Transparency.  Open meetings.  Accountability.  These are the tools of an honest, team approach to running any large corporation whether for profit or for the community good.  Can the meeting stand up to scrutiny?  Then, be public about it.

Beginning in 2009, I saw how the General Assembly did not trust teachers.  Politicians upstate don’t trust teachers to test, to grade tests, to choose textbooks, to even speak to students without a script.  But recently, I am seeing and hearing sad but true stories about how local school officials do not trust their teachers.  Let me add that I will emphatically stand up and say that local top-down directions that indicate distrust are likely due to the unrelenting pressure of state mandates, but nevertheless. 

These excessive steps to control, monitor, label and pin-down local teachers into a narrow scope or a single-minded method are driving teachers out of the EVSC. It is creating a young more compliant, meek staff adhering to meticulous direction coming from non-classroom administrators. 

Trust.  Having-your-back.  Confidence.  To get a team to work, there has to be trusted.  No great coaching staff is a micro-managing the tone of the quarterback’s voice.  No tax accountant can succeed if she is being randomly observed by six persons while conferencing with a client.  No one hires a preacher and then brings a preacher-coach in monthly to correct him or her during the service.  I am running for School Board with the understanding that a licensed teacher is a professional, just as is my nurse, minister or accountant.  We do not need to over-manage a professional, but we must still expect tangible results at the end of the day.

Trust. Transparency. Dialogue.  We can do even better than we are now when our schools are using these as the models. 

FOOTNOTE: The City-County Observer posted this article without editing, bias or opinion.