tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.comments2023-05-16T02:27:49.807-07:00Look Before You LandJohn Boyackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09733963874439460697noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-89516577312419882492014-12-27T09:06:07.200-08:002014-12-27T09:06:07.200-08:00Love this! You really captured the spirit of Chris...Love this! You really captured the spirit of Christmas and the peace it brings.MaryJane Hewittnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-66983703644010670662013-03-14T08:56:19.336-07:002013-03-14T08:56:19.336-07:00It's part of our nature to seek out the comfor...It's part of our nature to seek out the comfortable. Life knocks us off whatever path we're currently on, and things are difficult. Then we adapt, we change, we grow and eventually we find a sense of comfort again. It's when life pushes sideways again that we push back, but often we have to start over in that cycle with discomfort again for awhile. But then we again adapt, change, grow, and find comfort.<br /><br />Thank you for being the kind of local leader who actually considers the consequences of actions taken. You do your best to analyze the outcomes ahead of time. Sometimes the best overall decision will include difficulties and discomfort. But what makes it "the best" decision is also the positive (or least negative) changes that will result.Ringleaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10633915941108596218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-69253163265603091672013-03-14T08:40:56.786-07:002013-03-14T08:40:56.786-07:00John, you DO get it! I was going to say the only t...John, you DO get it! I was going to say the only thing that I would add is that line about "better prepare them for life" and suggest you add to that, " in these United States." Because we have to mix around and stir our pot of people here and there and immigrants learn to abound in this new home. However, by the time I got to the end of the post, I realized that it does better prepare children for life because CHANGE is constant. Our children will not be well equipped if they aren't coached through this process. Many adults refuse to step out of their comfort zones and that is part of the reason for isolation between genders, classes, ethnicities, religions, etc.<br /><br />John your humility and willingness to go back, review and have the courage to express your heart IS one of your gifts or talents. It's a sad change for your community, but one of the things we in this country need if we are to recover our economy is the ability to look at certain changes objectively. Sometimes people who have a gift for this are seen as detached. Some of them may actually be emotionally detached, but any super successful businessperson/economist would tell you sometimes this is necessary. A little closer to home, any farmer would tell you this as well. <br /><br />A farmer can't keep his orchard the same if its not producing. He must prune. He must cut. As flourishing as a yummy fruit tree looks, he must keep certain branches and sacrifice others. Not because he favors certain branches or doesn't like new ones but because to get the best fruit there must be access to enough sun for each branch. <br /><br />After the pruning what occurs is miraculous, yet natural, the remaining branches give more blossoms the next year and the fruit is more robust and sweet.<br /><br />As your community has done some painful pruning...my hope is that those affected will find inspiration from this phenomenon of nature. Perhaps the new blossoms on the remaining branches are simply the repositioning of the blossoms that would've been. Bit now they are positioned to not only receive more nutrients from the trunk, but are better positioned to receive life giving sunlight instead of shade or flickers of light. May your community heal as the prunes tree and thrive thereby.<br /><br />It would be wonderful to see that place transformed into something that could still add to the coming together of its neighbors. Just like that one tree that remained from your trail or park. I am super sentimental and have had to learn to preserve the memory and feelings and let the exterior change. I know that special memories are in that place for many people, but together something can be preserved that honored and treasured. Put your creative minds together. <br /><br />Thank you, John for posting your heart. Many need this message in many aspects of their lives in our country today. I am re posting this. It's inspired me today.<br /><br /><br /><br />Genahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10530460231991725242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-778688494046819342012-08-29T11:30:28.689-07:002012-08-29T11:30:28.689-07:00I tried posting this on Wendy's post about McK...I tried posting this on Wendy's post about McKay revealing she is moving but it didn't appear to go through so I am posting it here in hopes it will get to one of you.<br /><br />Is it possible that McKay is being abused? One of the first steps is isolation. Isolation from anyone who could help them get out later when they realize what is happening (since in the beginning they have to be nice to get them to stick around). I noticed her withdrawing from her friends last year too. It made me sad but I just thought she was growing away from some people, but now that I know it's her family too, I am really worried. She also didn't seem the same last time I saw her. She used to be so happy, energetic, and open. When I saw her, she was withdrawn and angry looking, not the look of someone in love or happy. It especially worries me since she is going so far away, I know you and your family would always welcome her back but with her so geographically (and possibly socially) isolated, if there is a serious problem she might not feel like she can.<br /><br />http://www.mvwcs.com/domesticviolence.html<br /><br />http://www.turningpointservices.org/Domestic%20Violence%20-%20Warning%20Signs.htm<br /><br />http://www.helpguide.org/mental/domestic_violence_abuse_types_signs_causes_effects.htm#warning<br /><br />I really hope you get some sort of notification and see this. I didn't want to place it on any of the new ones since both McKay and Myles read it. I hope that you do not think I am overstepping, I just really want the best for McKay.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-77073552067651793632011-04-29T10:27:52.290-07:002011-04-29T10:27:52.290-07:00Kudos to you John for getting involved -- we need ...Kudos to you John for getting involved -- we need more quality people getting involved in our schools and making a difference.julenephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09859750728598749809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-8887791347735956062011-04-29T09:19:51.202-07:002011-04-29T09:19:51.202-07:00congratulations! now tell the school district to ...congratulations! now tell the school district to hire another english teacher and you know a really good one :)softhefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05446070627486779629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-68060846425552190902010-12-25T21:11:09.491-08:002010-12-25T21:11:09.491-08:00love your newsletter and love your family more!love your newsletter and love your family more!softhefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05446070627486779629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-63939700103010428612010-10-25T14:05:55.501-07:002010-10-25T14:05:55.501-07:00I just happened to check your blog today John (I g...I just happened to check your blog today John (I guess it's been a while, what up with that?), and by coincidence I just watched that movie 2 or 3 days ago. Strange. Maybe this is a sign I need to do this too. I have the same thought you do about it. I need a gimmick. I like your harmonica idea. Darn, that idea is taken. Maybe I will go feed my chickens (my children), and think on it.ElizabethMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03626778887906471552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-74141458370377118842010-10-06T13:50:06.952-07:002010-10-06T13:50:06.952-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-14507548468317432922010-09-30T10:01:15.952-07:002010-09-30T10:01:15.952-07:00To support your points, see this article.
In addi...To support your points, see this <a href="http://www.peytonwolcott.com/TeamEight.html" rel="nofollow">article</a>.<br /><br />In addition, financial transparency (and accountability) is <a href="http://www.peytonwolcott.com/CheckRegistersReport_2010.html" rel="nofollow">something done in many places</a>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-50521628936206962272010-09-29T11:55:59.316-07:002010-09-29T11:55:59.316-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-48676322364141057082010-09-29T07:32:28.318-07:002010-09-29T07:32:28.318-07:00I support you 100% in getting information out to t...I support you 100% in getting information out to the voter. Ignorance creates an environment where there are no choices. We adults need to be more educated to ensure the education of the youth in our area. God bless America and our rights to speak, discuss, and to have representation for our tax dollar!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-24996205598552446932010-09-29T07:27:15.734-07:002010-09-29T07:27:15.734-07:00Good questions. I want to know the answer too!Good questions. I want to know the answer too!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-82140821004012382002010-09-28T00:42:58.533-07:002010-09-28T00:42:58.533-07:00John & Wendy, You guys are so priceless! No ...John & Wendy, You guys are so priceless! No wonder our daughter & family (Joanna & the Tapasas) love you so much!! Loved reading your blogs! Keep up the great work!! Hugs, Carol JohnsonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-49524915582189300602010-09-27T20:51:36.778-07:002010-09-27T20:51:36.778-07:00Fair enough regarding slim majority. We do have a...Fair enough regarding slim majority. We do have a number of people on fixed incomes who will vote no every time. It would be interesting, although impossible to find, the percentage of registered voters with children in the district who happily voted yes. <br /><br />That doesn't change the fact that this did pass during a recession. We were will into it at that point (and sadly still are but that's another topic). Imagine how it would have done a year earlier?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-57506653122702261072010-09-27T16:00:43.491-07:002010-09-27T16:00:43.491-07:00Dear person who commented before me. I called the...Dear person who commented before me. I called the County Clerk's office to fully understand how the votes were counted for this bond measure. The Polk County Clerk, Valerie Unger, was kind enough to explain to me that the votes for this particular bond measure did not require a 50% turn out and therefore only counted those people who actually voted. It is not true that 54% of all registered voters passed this bond. Only that 54% of those who chose to vote. Further conversation with the County Clerk led me to believe that is correct to say that this bond passed by a slim majority. I can't say that the community is not behind the school of Monmouth and Independence, but I do believe that many of the people of our community do not support bond measure waste. The kids in our community deserve smaller classrooms, text books to learn from and a safe environment to learn in. Our hard working teacher deserve classes of managable size, text books to teach from and a work environment free from intimidation. Our kids don't need golf dates, lunch dates, and further waste that we can see has been reported as use of our school budget dollar. If our discrtict made these real learning priority we might just have a chance of accomplishing State mandates.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-60868394498305554832010-09-27T09:54:31.420-07:002010-09-27T09:54:31.420-07:00You leave out some critical information about that...You leave out some critical information about that bond passing. 54% of people all registered voters passed the bond, not 54% of those who voted. Remember, if you don't vote, than your vote counts as a no vote. So that means far more than 54% of people who cared enough to vote, voted yes. That is not a slim margin.<br /><br />Also, you are writing some revisionist history here. The recession may not have been officially announced until December of that year, but when it was, it was announced that the country had been in a recession for a full year by that point. Something most of us knew, certainly anyone, like myself, who was a business owner. <br /><br />Please do not downplay the community support of that bond.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-20955733478675226632010-09-26T18:22:30.982-07:002010-09-26T18:22:30.982-07:00Way to go John! You did an amazing job, and it is ...Way to go John! You did an amazing job, and it is good to have another perspective on things.<br />Just an FYI to add to your thought process - the current rescind of the early release thing in the district is due to the fact that the teachers are currently working without a contract - something that has apparently happened since board meeting. The policy is for contracts to revert back to previous conditions, which were signed before the new early release thing was in place - that was 2 YEARS or more ago...<br />things are heating up vs cooling down and if things dont change very quickly they are going to go from the frying pan into the fire. Would love to get your thoughts on that...Rory Baxterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12613512016583127864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-77510691593396783922010-09-19T09:27:33.294-07:002010-09-19T09:27:33.294-07:00WOW! Between the reporting on this blog and the ot...WOW! Between the reporting on this blog and the other one it seems like we have some really serious problems in our district. How can we help fix this?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-91663580322271073362010-09-18T19:37:54.973-07:002010-09-18T19:37:54.973-07:00A member of the Spring Branch School Board was rec...A member of the Spring Branch School Board was recently contacted to confirm the events regarding Mr. Maloney. He said that he could not comment on specifics of Mr. Maloney's leaving because it was a personnel issue. The board member did say that all reports in the Houston Chronicle (check their archives and search Mike Maloney") were completely accurate. He went on to describe that period as "one of the darkest for the district" and said that "the flow of information in the school district almost came to a standstill." Sounds too familiar. This issue has never, to anyone's knowledge, been in any way addressed by the Central School Board. Many presently on the board were not members at the time of Maloney's hiring. This issue has been partly responsible the lack of trust for the superintendant. Many in the district are aware of the situation and it has become the "elephant in the room" which obscures vision and blocks communication. Where and in what way can this be addressed?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-70805018823038766812010-09-15T09:57:40.969-07:002010-09-15T09:57:40.969-07:00Great post! One thing that is different in a publ...Great post! One thing that is different in a public school district vs. a private corporation is the complexity of roles. Teachers and other district staff typically live within the district which makes them shareholders as well as employees. Many also have children in the schools which also makes them customers. Because the Board has been told repeatedly not to talk to anyone outside of Board meetings, staff and community feel they have no other venue for raising concerns about management. That only adds to frustration and anger. Yes, there are grievance procedures in place which seem to work fairly well except when the grievances center on the superintendent. The Board's failure to respond to the vote of no confidence last year leaves people feeling that their complaints will not be heard. That is coupled with rumors that the superintendent has threatened to fire staff members for complaining about his management and his decisions. A lot of it does center on communication and I like your suggestions for informal meetings in which the Board can actually talk with (not just listen or talk at) staff and community members.KShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12265903587233936276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-11132973250528377532010-09-15T09:41:25.344-07:002010-09-15T09:41:25.344-07:00Thank you for being willing to "put yourself ...Thank you for being willing to "put yourself out there".<br /><br />First off, I must say I am sorry I was not in a position to be there to support you. I will try to be more available to attend in the future; of course it is a challenge given it is FHE, etc. No excuse, just a challenge (that is not why I was not there - I was not feeling well that night). I have attended schol board meetings in Philomath when we lived there and it seems that what you described is fairly typical with one exception. There wasn't as much verbal support for the outspoken individual in that public setting as you got even though in private people did voice support for the concerns raised.<br /><br />Now my viewpoints on what you wrote - <br /><br />1) All the individuals from the Board on down to the individual teachers are there to serve the community - public servants. So they have a fiduciary reponsibility to work and conduct their duties for the public good and when they fail to do that they are failing in meeting the public trust that has been placed in them. When this point is reached they either need to correct their approach/behavior quickly (repentance is a good thing!) or be removed from the position that they are in.<br /><br />2) I do not see any real reason that they cannot sit at the same table. Afterall, they are an organization and should be allowed to function as such. If they function in the appropriate manner described in point one above, this can even be helpful. If one or more behave outside the norm of their appointed position this can allow for easier correction as well. Just a thought.<br /><br />3) You mentioned the employees having a means of going above their manager if they have a gripe - in some businesses this is referred to as an open door policy. You referenced whether or not there was such a policy in the district and if the teachers and others felt that they had an awareness of its existence. These are good points but I think there is one additional one that needs to be pointed out. That the employees need to know and feel that there will be no retribution for having aired their complaints. If that trust level is not there, then any open door policy is not worth any paper or web page it is written on. In fact, it is worse as it becomes a lie and the real policy is the practice; not the written word.<br /><br />Again I say "BRAVO" for your willingness to stand up for some much needed change in our school board.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09289054315254835924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-14204583402359228142010-09-15T09:17:52.969-07:002010-09-15T09:17:52.969-07:00John, you did a great job, but it was only ,too, p...John, you did a great job, but it was only ,too, prevelant at the meeting that your comments had little affects with the board. It appears that they did all they could to prevent you from sharing "private" information at a public mtg. Info. that needed to be shared. You think they would be concerned with what the public has to say? It was my first board mtg., too and I walk awway with the same conclusions...but it definitely won't be my last. I will be back next month.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-9765710643290623782010-09-15T09:15:31.947-07:002010-09-15T09:15:31.947-07:00Amen! Yes, board meetings are like trying to get a...Amen! Yes, board meetings are like trying to get a moment in front of the king. The Superintendent having personal relationships with theboard members is a conflict of interest. Yet, it does happen, particularily in smaller towns. The School Board members must be reminded of their JOB. I applaude you, John and supprot you 100%! Go get 'em!Sistah Jonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-20817910121166889192010-09-15T08:37:35.630-07:002010-09-15T08:37:35.630-07:00I think you have really hit the nail on the head. ...I think you have really hit the nail on the head. I appreciate what you are doing - I believe it reflects what many of us are feeling, but haven't been able to put into words as clearly and eloquently as you have. One other thing I would add to your comparison/contrast of the School Board vs. a Corporation is our students ... maybe they are our customers or our shareholders or definitely the end product! The bottom line should be about them - not about the top of the organization.BoyMomof2https://www.blogger.com/profile/00187904911022356378noreply@blogger.com