Sunshine vs. Board of Education
March 13 – 19 is Sunshine Week – a time to bring attention to the public’s right to know what their government is doing, and why – including their local school boards.
Sunshine Week seeks to enlighten and empower people to play an active role in their government at all levels, and to give them access to information that makes their lives better and their communities stronger. The public is encouraged to do something to engage in a discussion about the importance of open government – freedom of information.
Launched in March 2005 by the American Society of News Editors, it continues to be celebrated in mid-March.
Coincidentally, that is the same time Spotlight on the Board – a Web site dedicated to shining the light on Community Consolidated School District 15 Board of Education meetings was launched by outgoing school board member Sue Quinn. The first Education Matters column described the political climate at the time and what happens when elected officials do not trust the people enough to discuss important issues in public.
Answer - the public doesn’t trust them back.
It must be something about the month of March. There generally is a lack of sunshine everywhere those few weeks leading up to the first day of spring.
The sun was behind some clouds last year when the District 15 school board majority voted to approve a resolution to sell $27 million of working cash bonds. That resulted in citizens rallying to obtain enough signatures to put the measure on the November ballot. The hope was to give District 15 officials time to inform the public on the necessity of the bonds and gain their trust that it was the right decision.
That didn’t happen and the bonds were voted down by a two-to-one margin.
Therefore in recognition of Sunshine Week, I ask all current District 15 school board members and candidates in the April 5 election – to pledge to improve communications with the community by providing reasons for major decisions before they are made on behalf of the taxpayers.
The District 15 school board should subscribe to the Sunshine Week Proclamation that “an open and accessible government is vital to establishing and maintaining the people’s trust and confidence in their government and in the government’s ability to effectively serve its citizens.”
This pledge is most needed from the incumbent candidates who have indicated they would like to take another look at a bond issuance of possibly $18 million.
Will it be presented to the public in the bright sunshine?
Or hidden in the depths of winter when the community is hibernating?
In the case of Sunshine vs. Board of Education – the decision is yours April 5.
Early voting for the April 5 election begins Monday, March 14 and ends March 31. Absentee voting has already begun and continues until April 4. Download an application and mail it in – it is a convenient way to perform your civic duty.
Vote Tuesday, April 5.
