Two Heads Are Better Than One!

Or in the case of the ECASD, many, many ideas from lots of people are better than a couple of ideas from a couple of people.

Many of my past and continuing concerns about the Leadership of the ECASD Administration and BOE concern the lack of MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION in the process. Decision-making seems to occur among very few people who have minimum specific expertise and most of it is not research or data based decision-making. I believe that our community has a wealth of individuals with education, experience and knowledge that is going completely untapped in the decision-making process in the ECASD.

We have dozens, if not hundreds, of smart and experienced financial people who could be part of a Finance and Budget sub-committee of the BOE. We have equal numbers of individuals who have incredible experience with Strategic Planning and yet not a single one is being sought to help in the Comprehensive Community Planning (CCP) Process that is getting off to a really shaky start. (See the separate posting for my concerns here.) We have many, many experienced people in the Real Estate and Construction businesses who would be valuable as members of a Facilities Planning sub-committee of the BOE. And with all the Technology expertise all around us, can anybody tell me WHY we don't have any third party review and recommendation of all of the ECASD Technology needs? With all of the professors and staff of UWEC and CVTC we have so much expertise on so many subjects and yet NONE are being sought to participate.

I am hoping that this blog will be one way that more people will be informed and then find a way to participate in the process that has been basically a "black box" that has been impermeable to public input for so many years that it is difficult to even imagine a system that is open, inclusive, welcoming, and participatory in every aspect of its functioning.

Any ideas on how to move this along? Please comment here or write to BOE members and ask them!

Maria