Continuing Ed
So here’s the thing. I want to give a huge shoutout to Mike McMahon for the time and effort that he puts into his website and in the same breath suggest that the School District should be providing much of the information that Mike provides. I find it odd that as of yesterday at 12:00pm, the district still did not have copies of it’s board packet, when PDF creation programs are available free on the internet. I’ll take the optimistic view (and this is a sad statement to make) that the cuts to admin staff over the past year are taking their toll, and this lack of available public information speaks to the non-top-heaviness of the administration side of AUSD. Yay us for not funding public education very well!
That said, it’s remarkable that the district can’t get copies made for board packets more than approx. 24 hours before the meeting, it’s more remarkable that given the proliferation of the internet, they don’t use it to provide information in a timely, and usable, fashion. I do not think this is nefarious, I think this is institutional resistance to changing times. The board, as the representatives of the public, should see that the same minimum standards used by the Alameda City Council and Planning Board are used. Packets and agendas are available 72 hours before meetings as required by the CA Brown Act. They could even use the broader guidelines that the Transportation Commission uses, which is one week notification and packet availability.
Having personally run into issues with getting information regarding board agenda items in the past, this is more than a kindergarten enrollment policy issue. Thankfully, Mike McMahon has always made needed information on his website (and is willing to post more based on requests). David Forbes and Tracy Jensen have also always been responsive to questions and info requests. (not saying anything about the other members, I’ve just never asked). But at the end of the day, the district itself should be making this information available, board members should not be carrying the burden of public dispersal of public information.
kate quick
August 14th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
In keeping with its posiitons on open government and adherance to the Brown Act, the Alameda League of Women Voters is addressing the issue of the timely posting of the Board Agendas and information on the web site, as well as the use of “code language” rather than plain words to describe agenda items.
Addiitonally, if one sends e-mail to the addresses listed on the web site for contacting Board members, they will all bounce, so there is currently no way to electronically contact the Trustees or staff.