School Board Meeting Reflection

I attended a regular scheduled Jefferson Parish School Board Meeting on June 7, 2016. This meeting was my fourth in the last three years. One of the first things I noticed was that security had increased. Security personnel scanned every person as they entered the room. The meeting commenced with Roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by award presentations to JPPSS Partners and support personnel. The Power Point illustrating the differences between Charter Schools and Magnet school was presented and was very informative.
After all the presentations ended the board began to discuss the four Second Reading items. The Second Reading regarding Edgear, the grade book software, caught my attention. This system will allow the school

I was surprised and pleased with the level of security, which is important to maintain order especially when some topics are very controversial. It is important that everyone participating in the meeting feels safe and free to express their opinion. In some past meetings I attended, it seemed as if you honestly expressed your concerns then you might lose your job. Those meetings were under the old board made up of mostly business-backed members. In those meeting, teachers were treated as the enemy of the school system. Items were passed so quickly by the Board that it made hard for the audience to understand or even hear the decision made. I realized that several of the Items were discussed prior to the meeting, consequently, making it unnecessary to discuss in detail. The Board conducts business in an orderly manner, making their tough job a little bit easier. All decisions made by the Board affect numerous people in different ways which make their jobs challenging and time-consuming. The public’s ability to speak and challenge any proposal is the most important part of the proceedings. However, sufficient time is not always provided to the public to adequately state their concerns. Each time I attend a board meeting, I get a better understanding of the impact the board has regarding decisions they make about our schools, teachers, and students. As concerned stakeholders,