Sometimes it takes a constituent to let the Warsaw School Board know what the public wants.
Dana Koors, Madison Elementary School parent, went before the board Monday night for two reasons.
“In February, I brought before the board the reinstatement of the second recess in our elementary schools. It has been over 60 days and yet I know nothing more than what I did before bringing this to the board,” Koors said. “I feel 60-plus days is a sufficient amount of time to have something to go on. Are the board members involved in the decision-making process?
“Secondly, I would like to know why I was denied the e-mail addresses of our elected school board members. I requested this information from both the executive secretary of the board and our superintendent on Thursday, April 12, 2012. The executive secretary of the board told me to please feel free to address the board in an e-mail and return it to her to forward to your e-mail addresses. Is this the school board’s policy, not to be contacted by those who elect them into office?” she continued.
Koors said Superintendent Dr. Craig Hintz told her that her request would be honored.
“I followed up with him on Friday, April 20, 2012. Yet, I have not received anything. Please explain, why I am getting the runaround on both the e-mail addresses I requested and the reinstatement of second recess for our elementary schools. When will I receive the e-mail addresses for our elected school board members? Will this contact information be posted on Warsaw Community Schools’ website for the parents, in which the board represents? And, what date will the reinstatement of recess be resolved?” Koors concluded.
Hintz replied that he recalled responding to Koors when she initially asked for the board members’ e-mail addresses. He said he wasn’t sure of the reason for the e-mail, but assumed it was about the second recess. At the March board meeting, Hintz shared that the administration is working with the elementary principals on restoring the second recess.
Hintz said he believes the second recess will become a reality in the fall. He does anticipate by the end of the school year to know definitely if and how it will become a reality. He will let the board know, and will call Koors personally to inform her once the determination is made.
As to the board members’ e-mail addresses, Hintz said it was his understanding that it’s been a practice that the private e-mail addresses of the board members were not released to the public. He apologized to Koors for not knowing that at the time when he told her that her request would be granted. There has been some discussion with board members about providing alternative e-mails for the board members so the public can e-mail them.
Delores Hearn, board member, asked Koors when the elementary students have their one recess. She said it was after lunch.
Board Secretary Dan Metzger asked if the board members’ phone numbers were on the Warsaw Schools’ website. Koors said they weren’t and there was no contact information for each member on the website.
It’s not that the board members don’t want to be contacted, member Dan Robinson said. His phone number and address are both in the phone book, he said, and most other board members’ are, too. He did say his only e-mail address is his business e-mail, but could provide a fax number.
Deb Wiggins, board member, said the board as elected officials need an available e-mail address “so our constituents can get a hold of us.” She said that would help make the board more transparent. She suggested Koors give the board 30 days to have new e-mails available.
Robinson said he didn’t see why board members’ addresses and telephone numbers couldn’t be posted on the website right away.
Metzger said Koors brought up a good point with the e-mail addresses, and Board Vice President Matt Dick told Koors the recess issue was not being ignored.
