Sunday, October 24, 2010

Are you ready to email your newest school board member? (by Joe Payne)

I was going through some vacation pics from a couple of years ago, and came across this series of photos taken of me descending and ascending this steep sand bluff. Click on this link to see the pics.

Like my trip down this sand dune, landing on the school board was relatively painless. But, now that I'm here, I realize there is a climb ahead for me.

There are many issues out there, many concerns. Hopefully some of you will acknowledge that there are some positives too. For instance, just tonight I heard a concert given by the Jazz Scene and the Wavaires. WOW. We are blessed. So we are great in some areas, and may need improvement in other areas.

At any rate, I said I wanted to be a listener. So, with that in mind, I'd like to hear from you. What would you say are the needs of this school district? Some of them are obvious to both of us, but go ahead and state them anyway. Also, think deep about some of the not so obvious ones. I'd just like to read your thoughts, your concerns, your hopes and dreams for our schools. Don't respond here. Just drop me a line at: joepayne@woh.rr.com.

You don't have to leave your name, but I will probably pay more attention to the notes that do have names attached. I look forward to reading what you have to say.

7 comments:

  1. I think it's great that Joe seems willing to start right out with listening. Hopefully, he'll be a good choice.

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  2. Since schools are always crying "separation of church and state" when it comes to speaking anything that is connected to religion within the walls of the school, does that also go for when pastors talk politics from the pulpit? Just curious

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  3. Anonymous 2:29 PM, your question is fair. Here's a very good IRS pub. doc. that explains the do's and don'ts of campaigning for any non profit group.

    http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rr-07-41.pdf

    Essentially what it says is churches cannot endorse or campaign against any candidates for public office. Individual church members and / or Clergy may exercise their right of free speech by endorsing candidates as long as it is not in his or her official capacity as church member or pastor or at any church function.

    On the other hand, churches are free to speak for or against or comment on any public issue.

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  4. I was just wondering if their was any rule pertaining to some one being on the board while a family member was also an employee for the same school system?

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  5. I would think that would depend upon the type and level of position the spouse held.

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  6. If there were any rules preventing nepotism in schools, half of the employees would have to change employment.

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  7. to Anonymous 2:29

    The only possible penalty for politics from the pulpit is loss of the church's tax-free status. If this was enforced, our tax receipts would increase significantly.

    ReplyDelete

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