Oh its gets better. He beat an incumbent school board member by a fist full of votes.
So much for right to know requests for documents from the school, the books are wide open to Rich Girard and the public – now.
I am not sure if the progressive handbook for running a school board includes a chapter on dealing with a newly elected member who has a popular conservative talk show. Its safe to say Manchester, NH would be a good place for educrats to learn how to cope with a worthy adversary who will take issue with perennial public school problems. Lets try, for starters, no more secret meetings, no more blank checks, students first, and school administrators are not deities.
There is an old trick tax and spend school boards use to quiet an upstart. Here is how it goes. I will use the name Rich as an example:
Now Rich, we want the school board to show unity. Unity is very important. So when we make a decision as a school board and you are on the losing side of a decision, you will vote with the prevailing side. This will show that we can all cooperate.
If the progressive school board handbook is ever re-written to include a new chapter on how to deal with an incoming school board member who just unseated an incumbent, who has a popular conservative talk show, and who also has experience with municipal budgets, I would suggest they completely avoid that old trick, unless they want to see pigs fly.
Rich Girard brings a whole new dynamic to public education in Manchester. It is what Manchester voters asked for in one of the largest turnouts in a long time.
Published, appreciatively, as received by Ed Naile, Chairman of the Coalition of NH Taxpayers. ~Publius
This isn’t going to be easy. District administrators are holding out wherever and whenever they can on requests for information. The superintendent, rather than fulfill a simple request for a hard copy of the district’s policies, she sent it to the board for their approval. It was received and filed to preserve resources “for the classroom;” this from people who take the district’s taxpayer provided health benefits.
Ed writes, correctly:
“There is an old trick tax and spend school boards use to quiet an upstart. Here is how it goes. I will use the name Rich as an example:
Now Rich, we want the school board to show unity. Unity is very important. So when we make a decision as a school board and you are on the losing side of a decision, you will vote with the prevailing side. This will show that we can all cooperate.”
To this I say, “pigs will fly if they have to!” My fervent desire is to change the dialogue by making the district and the board transparent. While I don’t want to be contentious, I will contend with what I’m given. If common sense matters are stymied like my request for policies, I will ask the questions and make the points that put the perpetrators in uncomfortable positions, which is why I’m asking all who believe in transparency to join the fight and not leave it to me alone. There is strength, persuasion and change in numbers. I’m happy to lead the way, but know I can’t do it alone!
Ed writes “Rich Girard brings a whole new dynamic to public education in Manchester. It is what Manchester voters asked for in one of the largest turnouts in a long time.”
He’s right, but don’t think for a moment that casting your vote alone will do the job. It won’t. You’ll simply have to raise your voices over and over and over again until they get it!
Thank you for your support and know that change will come because it continues in ways that cause those who want the status quo to take notice!