A new press release from Republican Ken Johnson:
Ken Johnson, the Republican nominee for Mayor of the City of Bristol, today called for the creation of a Student Policy Advisory Board under the Board of Education.
Under his proposal, the Board of Education would run any and all policy changes through this panel before they are enacted. This panel would not prohibit the Board of Education from making policy changes it would simply add a valuable student perspective to proposed changes in board policy.
Johnson hopes his idea will be considered because in his own opinion it “has been far too long since the Board of Education has looked at, and attempted to understand the concerns of today’s students. We’re good a studying statistics, but why not actually ask the students what they think?” Johnson believes that a non-voting panel made up of elected class presidents from each grade in both of the high schools would provide for student opinion and input to the Board of Education.
“The panel would provide for another viewpoint to the Board as well as encourage discussion and debate about changing school policy which directly affects our city’s youth.” Johnson added, “I think this could be a great learning experience for our student leaders and a great opportunity to encourage youth participation in local government.”
This proposal is not dissimilar from the way the general assembly processes proposed legislation. Prior to each bill or amendment reaching the floor a fiscal note is added from the Office of Fiscal Analysis. If enacted, the members of the Board of Education will have similar input from the new student panel. “Since decisions are being made by people who no longer attend our public schools, I would think that the Board of Education would be interested in student input in their effort to make well informed decisions,” Johnson concluded.
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Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
22 comments:
Yup, the students will vote to abolish homework.
Wouldn't it be a better idea to ensure that the BOE policy changes are run before the PTO's rather than a group of kids?
How about running the K*8 conversion scheme before the PTO's prior to adoption?
About time we got input from students about the education process...
talk about sretching the limits for campaign issues - piece of advice Ken - learn the issues confronting all of us rather than increasing the bureacracy.
Doesn't policy changes in education effect children?
The issue here isn't how the policy changes effect the adults, but rather how do they effect the kids.
What better way to get an impact on the kids than to ask them.
No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers' dirty looks! Yeah, let's ask the students about education policy! And let's ask the taxpayers if they want to pay taxes. Maybe we can form a committee to ask criminals for input about laws.
Ken, you and your team are missing out on the best chance you will have to win this election and capture seats on the council. Every election (well almost every election) there is a watershed issue that can turn the tables on the majority party. Nationally during the mid-term election it was the war in Iraq. Locally, it was the Mall debacle two years ago. This year it's the BOE plan for large, district sized schools with a concurrent conversion (only partial) to a K8 system. All you and the republican candidates have to do is come out in a straight forward and concise manner against the current plan. Not with the waffling comments that you used last night but a clear "NO" opinion on the plan. Your identical waffle position to Art did you no good whatsoever. The position that the BOE needs to "communicate their idea better" is comical. They communicated the plan quite directly. They held forums (which, were not as well attended as they could have been had they been held at a decent time) and then promptly ignored every ounce of feedback from the electorate. The plan is bad. No worst than that it is horrific. On top of which not one BOE candidate is providing any insight as to their position on the subject. That is an absolute travesty. Have you not noticed that the Dems have started bouncing around like a pinball machine on this one? You have thirty days. This topic is without a doubt one of those "atomic bomb" issues. Ward was not a resounding choice by his own party so he needs unaffiliated and republican votes to win this thing. Minor and McCauley are clearly in trouble. There are many Dems like me that want a choice this year. While most of us are not "one issue" voters this issue is a very critical one. Don't miss your chance!
Are you people completly incapable of reading the actual position. The panel would be made up of non-voting members and would have limited input on decisions. Shame on all of you for trying to discourage youth participation in government, and shame on all of you who have let public education in this town run into the liberal decay it has fallen into! This new idea will provide for broader discussion on the BOE and will finally give students a voice in local matters concerning not yours, but their education.
More sex, drugs and rock and roll man!
Seriously Steve, this blog is becoming un-readable.
disgusted democrat is 100% correct.
Mr. Johnson has a messed up sense of priorities.
Better to focus on what is timely and compelling.
Disgusted Democrat is right.
These politicians are equivocating faster than a pack of chameleons running across a field checker boards!
Mr. Johnson has his sense of priorities straight. He fully realizes that downtown, taxes, communication, and safty are primary concerns. You need to look at and read all of his positions, because this is only one very small minute factor in his campaign. Ken is the only candidate that actually has a platform, i suggest you read it.
why do Johnson and MERRICK continue to talk about the k8 school issue when its a done deal THE council and Mayor do not have a say in the structure of the school ie class size lengh of school day or how long the classes are 84 min move on to the real issues
John Boy, stop trying to defend Ellen and O'Brien's ridiculous school plan. The k-8 mega school idea is NOT a "done deal," it can still be stopped if leaders have the guts to do the right thing and listen to the public.
I'm so glad Bristol taxpayers are funding a certain retired Bristol Parks worker all this retirement money to spend his time posting comments here trying to defend Zoppo and O'Brien and a school reform plan most regular citizens are against.
John Boi will never stop defending Zoppo - he is one kiss butt man!
But besides that, Johnson needs to look at the real picture, sure asks young kids about education, etc...how about the parents, taxpayers? How about the BOE changing the cirriculum every year., because this may work, that may work, etc...and yet they are missing the mark. Ask teachers who are in the classrooms everyday. Who teach our kids, who spend more time with them in a day then we all do. You are missing the real issues Johnson, just as Storz did when he came in informing everyone he had the "plan." No more Republicans. We have had 2 years of one and nothing got done! Maybe in a few years when you can attend city meetings and get involved with city govt. will we feel better. But to ride in on that white horse and declare you know it all, over a 14 year council member is a real shame. I was at the debate last night and you came out attacking Mr. Ward. Seems your lucheons with Zoppo is clearly coming through!! Please just take the $10,000 you took from the city and call it a day.
What you see from Ken Johnson is an example of jumping in at the last minute, with no prior involvement and knowledge produces.
He ran four years ago, lost, and dissappeared.
He was a no show at the Water Board, and other Boards.
He is just throwing thoughts out, and hoping one will stick.
Will he ever explain "HOW?
The building and funding of schools is not a "minute" issue", or a "done deal".
The council does have a say in the "stucture" of schools.
They can decide if these mega schools get built or not!
If they don't agree to buy the land, these type of structures don't get built.
How dare this current city council and Mayor agree to buy the land to build these "things" and in effect forward "the K8 plan" BEFORE the people even have a chance to express their will come election day via their selected representatives.
I haven't heard one mother say that they thought that this was good for their kids.
In the last few weeks before Stortz's term expires, he attempts to shove this K8 plan down our throats. How many times is he going to insist that the "land purchase" come before the council before he leaves office? How many more special meetings are going to be hastily called?
Shameful.
Stortz and his administration have been a total disaster.
We will be forever defending the failed policies of his failed administration
ejewkation is gewd man!
I think Ken Johnson has a grammar school kid running his campaign, how else to explain his terrible performance so far and the orange debate wardrobe.
There has been in the past student representation on the governance councils at the two high schools. Also parents and teachers sit on these advisory panels. These advisory panels of parents and teachers also exist at the 3 middle schools. Prior to the last four years, there was a presentation to the BOE by two high school students. These presentations consisted of activities at the schools and no substance.It is sad that more BOE meetings are not attended by the parents nor teachers. As one of the few parents who has openly spoken at BOE meetings, written letters to the editor in the past, and gone before the BOF anf city council, it is a sad commentary that there are not more concerned parents attending the BOE meetings.
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