Whose schools are they anyway?
In the most recent board agenda that has been released to the public Superintendent Abbe Boring has proposed a policy that would prohibit all school system facilities from being used for multi-day or long term use.
Here is a link to the board agenda and the policy can be read on pages 19-23.
In this policy the Superintendent actually strikes out the language that the board encourages public use of the facilities. The real question that needs to be answered is who owns these buildings? In drafting this policy Dr. Boring has subscribed to the liberal view that these buildings are owned by the “board” and that they should be for the exclusive use of students or student related groups. I believe that these buildings are “owned” by the people of this community and that it is the job of the board to manage these assets for our citizens.
This proposal is a direct attack on the community, civic, educational and religious groups who use these facilities for the enrichment of our students, employees, and citizens. This policy is clearly out of touch with both the values and the will of the people of Bartow County. We cannot ask our citizens to support us with their tax dollars only to tell them that they have no access to these facilities after the final school bell rings.
A careful review of the history of this country will show that schools have always served as mixed use facilities. From the inception of public education school buildings served as churches, city halls, community gathering spots, and of course institutions of learning. It is only recently that revisionist judges have interpreted the Constitution to mean that outside groups should have limited access to school facilities.
We as a community cannot allow the values and traditions of this county to be attacked by those who fear lawsuits or complications that may never arise. Real leadership means never allowing the potential exception to drive the entire decision making process. Those in favor of this policy will try and take cover under the umbrella of the law. The truth is that the courts are all over the spectrum on this issue. School systems all around Bartow County allow these types of use as a matter of routine course. It is these types of bureaucratic fear-mongering decisions that have devastated the reputation of public education in this country. This policy is wrong for our children, employees, citizens and moves past protecting our facilities and towards hurting the people of this community.
I encourage the citizens of Bartow County to contact the other members of the school board and the superintendent and ask them to reject this policy. I will fight as hard as a I can to preserve our schools as community buildings that serve as educational tools to both children and adults. I need your help! Here is a link to the email addresses of the other board members.
Filed under: Education, Leadership, Politics
Here are some links to court decisions on this subject:
http://alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=3597
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2001/august6/14.24.html
http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/08/calif_church_shut_out_of_libra.php
http://alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=3653
http://alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=3635
Matt,
Get real. School facilities belong to the citizens to be used primarily for learning. Temporarily — note the word, Matt — they can be used for civic purposes, such as polling places, etc. But, they should NOT be used for weekly meetings of civic groups, churches, or non-school clubs. If those groups cannot raise the money to fund their own building, they need to disband.
Talk about revisionist judges, it’s misguided souls such as you who are the revisionists. You cannot use our public facilities - schools, courthouses, libraries and the like - to foster your particular religion. If your church has so many members, why don’t you build your own building like all the other churches and religious groups in our community and stop sponging off the public! Don Kordecki, Veteran
This policy is not just about churches. This would also not allow colleges and universities to use our facilities to provide training to our teachers. It would not allow the Boy Scouts to use the schools to meet in. This would prohibit the use of school buildings for funerals of students as they have been used in the past. It would also not allow the school buildings to be used by veteran groups as they have been used in the past. Don are you against these things as well? Maybe you should read the court cases I highlighted in my first response. Most of what you said is simply not accurate. All of the groups pay to use the facilities so nobody is “sponging” off anyone. There are other churches using county facilities so this has more implications than simply trying to connect this to Oakleaf.
An additional web resource on what the courts have said:
http://www.aclj.org/Issues/InDepth.aspx?ID=24
[...] vote may come sometime in the next 1-5 weeks on that. Matt Schultz, a board member and Oak Leafer, writes about this on his blog. I’m praying that the school board would come down with a decision that would allow us to [...]
From the Daily Tribune’s website:
“The ultimate purpose [of our facilities] is for educating our children,” board member Greg Bowen said. “I don’t think [taxpayers] want us to rent them out to raise funds.”
OK, Greg-so you think the taxpayers DO want our children peddling horribly overpriced candy, cookie dough, wrapping paper, magazines, Krispy Kremes, cheesecakes, pizza kits and nacho cheese dip twice a year because the schools are strapped for cash?
Interesting post. I had heard that the proposal was to ban religious groups from renting school facilities, which is pretty much absurd since that policy would be unconstitutional and all. The broader policy of not renting to ‘anyone’ might pass constitutional muster, but is a pretty ridiculous policy. If outside groups can use the facilities without interfering with the school’s use of the facilities, it seems pretty foolish to turn down what is essentially ‘free’ money. Frankly, Ms. Boring’s proposal calls her judgment into question.
It is certainly not community friendly!
Here is my thoughts on this, and I have two children in the county school system.
If the system doesn’t need the additional money that this brings in then I propose the following:
1. Stop asking every child to provide copy paper, tissues, sandwich bags, dry erase markers, etc that should be supplied by the school if the items are not for personal use.
2. Stop sending home all the crap that you want us to sell in order to raise money for the schools.
3. Stop adding charges into field trip fees to pay for bus drivers and bus use.
The school system needs more money, and the smartest way to raise these funds is to allow organizations to rent the facilities.
Look at it from an environmental standpoint…does the community really need another mega building, another big box taking up space, land, cutting down trees, using more infrastructure, and draining more resources? Or would it be wiser, cheaper & much more eco-friendly to utilize existing buildings, generate more revenue for our schools, & ultimately help our children?
I so agree with the comment from markgarland…also we are asked to donate paper towels, and hand sanitizer….I often have wondered if the city schools ask the parents for these items? …My child has always told me “Mom, there is never any soap or paper towels in the restrooms at school”. This bothers me and should bother everyone, hand washing should be a priority. As a parent, what do we do?…I keep my child supplied with individual sanitizer or wipes and anything else that is needed and if my child is sick enough to use a box of tissues in one or two days, then I keep my child home. I have donated a lot of these items to the school in the past; however, I stopped about two years ago. If you have a child in the county school system then you know it is a true statement. As far as fund raising for the school…forget it..we do not participate, much to the dismay of my child, who by the way comes home all hyped up raring to go sell, sell, sell….acting like an atendee at a sales meeting…wanting that prize for selling the most. The whole prize thing is disappointing..I actually gave in and let my child participate one year, a see for yourself experience…a ride in a limousine? … where do they come up with that?… The extra funds are clearly needed for our county schools.
I would like to see a continuation of the topic
Do you have specific questions?