Comments on: DMPS SB Meeting 06/03/2008: Elections http://www.arounddesmoines.com/dmps-sb-meeting-06032008-elections/ Blogging Des Moines Iowa Mon, 24 Jan 2011 04:41:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: M.R. Field http://www.arounddesmoines.com/dmps-sb-meeting-06032008-elections/comment-page-1/#comment-6361 M.R. Field Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:25:13 +0000 http://www.arounddesmoines.com/dmps-sb-meeting-06032008-elections/#comment-6361 In regard to Publius' comment, I agree with comments both Narcisse and other school board members have made repeatedly. The school board directors do care about the schools (and the students). Yet, they are too sensitive in reacting to emotional criticism, such as provided by Publius. From what I've observed since covering the school board meetings, it would be more accurate to claim that Narcisse appears to care about a group of students and schools that many people in the district believe have been neglected by the school board, as a whole, for years, if not decades. In regard to Publius’ comment, I agree with comments both Narcisse and other school board members have made repeatedly. The school board directors do care about the schools (and the students). Yet, they are too sensitive in reacting to emotional criticism, such as provided by Publius. From what I’ve observed since covering the school board meetings, it would be more accurate to claim that Narcisse appears to care about a group of students and schools that many people in the district believe have been neglected by the school board, as a whole, for years, if not decades.

]]> By: Publius http://www.arounddesmoines.com/dmps-sb-meeting-06032008-elections/comment-page-1/#comment-6292 Publius Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:29:08 +0000 http://www.arounddesmoines.com/dmps-sb-meeting-06032008-elections/#comment-6292 Mr. Narcisse is the only person on that board that gives a rats behind about the schools in this district. Holding the feet of these imposters to the fire is a beautiful thing. Mr. Narcisse is the only person on that board that gives a rats behind about the schools in this district. Holding the feet of these imposters to the fire is a beautiful thing.

]]> By: M.R. Field http://www.arounddesmoines.com/dmps-sb-meeting-06032008-elections/comment-page-1/#comment-6180 M.R. Field Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:58:15 +0000 http://www.arounddesmoines.com/dmps-sb-meeting-06032008-elections/#comment-6180 At the school board meeting, a member of the public and a board member commented that the legislature could have made the transition to four-year terms by all board members drawing straws. The next morning I had a meeting with a local resident who was similarly outraged. She said board members were voted in for three years and that's what they should serve. She thought a 2010 election could have been held and the two winning candidates could observe the board for a year before taking their seats. I do not understand these venomous reactions. Laws are changed regularly. In order to provide clear directions, there has to be a point at which transitions occur. I remember a news story from years ago that because the price of meat was increased over night at a grocery store, the roast somebody stole constituted a felony because of the price of the item but the previous day it would have been only a misdemeanor. Even the date somebody is born makes a big difference in their tax options, e.g., a person born at 11:58 p.m. on Dec. 31st has a full-year deduction that a person born at 12:02 a.m.on Jan. 1st does not. In addition, there are many stories based on benefits a person can receive if only a divorce decree is not finalized. Similarly, there are precedents for lengths of terms changing after an election. There are laws about how these are handled because the most important point is to maintain a chain of command in leadership that has a claim to legitimacy from the people. Gerald Ford was not elected president, but his authority was recognized because he gained the position through the order of law. When school districts in Iowa consolidate, there undoubtedly are changes in some directors' terms of office. I interpret the authority of law to be that the elected official has the power even if the term is extended. This is the idea behind martial law, which, granted, is not a desireable comparison, but the idea is the same as was before the school board. Extend the term of office until the next election can be held. Having board members elected but not serving, as the one person suggested, would require a whole new set of rules and regulating laws to be possible. What really ticks me off about the school board's reaction is the hypocrisy. One of the End goals for graduates that was established recently is for being aware of the world. What message does a school board that cannot understand the process of orderly transition and votes to sue the state because the board didn't get everything it wanted out of the legislative session give to students? At the school board meeting, a member of the public and a board member commented that the legislature could have made the transition to four-year terms by all board members drawing straws. The next morning I had a meeting with a local resident who was similarly outraged. She said board members were voted in for three years and that’s what they should serve. She thought a 2010 election could have been held and the two winning candidates could observe the board for a year before taking their seats. I do not understand these venomous reactions.

Laws are changed regularly. In order to provide clear directions, there has to be a point at which transitions occur. I remember a news story from years ago that because the price of meat was increased over night at a grocery store, the roast somebody stole constituted a felony because of the price of the item but the previous day it would have been only a misdemeanor. Even the date somebody is born makes a big difference in their tax options, e.g., a person born at 11:58 p.m. on Dec. 31st has a full-year deduction that a person born at 12:02 a.m.on Jan. 1st does not. In addition, there are many stories based on benefits a person can receive if only a divorce decree is not finalized.

Similarly, there are precedents for lengths of terms changing after an election. There are laws about how these are handled because the most important point is to maintain a chain of command in leadership that has a claim to legitimacy from the people. Gerald Ford was not elected president, but his authority was recognized because he gained the position through the order of law. When school districts in Iowa consolidate, there undoubtedly are changes in some directors’ terms of office. I interpret the authority of law to be that the elected official has the power even if the term is extended. This is the idea behind martial law, which, granted, is not a desireable comparison, but the idea is the same as was before the school board. Extend the term of office until the next election can be held. Having board members elected but not serving, as the one person suggested, would require a whole new set of rules and regulating laws to be possible.

What really ticks me off about the school board’s reaction is the hypocrisy. One of the End goals for graduates that was established recently is for being aware of the world. What message does a school board that cannot understand the process of orderly transition and votes to sue the state because the board didn’t get everything it wanted out of the legislative session give to students?

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