NMUSD Needs Compassionate Leaders More Than Ever

Dear Members of the Board,

We are now 3 months into the COVID pandemic and distance learning. Its June, budget time, and summer plans and reopening are upon us. At this time of greatest need for our students and families, please reassess your leadership and consider the following decisions:

-Approve a budget focused on compassion correcting inequities. Do this by adding (yes…adding) professional counselors, community facilitators and nurses. COVID should not be an excuse for maintaining our deficient status quo in meeting the social and emotional needs

of students. We have reserves. Use them.

- Technology support for low-income students: Have you made sure ALL our students have internet and Chrome Books? Have you made sure staff has identified these students by checking in with teachers, using facilitators to check on at-risk students and filling the gaps. What has been done for those hard to reach families? Home visits can be made with masks and social distancing if not by staff, by use of known community partners and volunteers. Compassion should drive you to find solutions.

-Have you created a summer school plan in collaboration with teachers? Is it flexible enough to move from distance learning to the classroom and been communicated to parents?

-Defund your army of attorneys. You won’t need them if you ask our leaders to come out of hiding, start listening to the community of parents and staff and develop relationships.

-End expensive consultant fees. Our capable current staff knows our students and can fill the need. Believe in them. Trust them and their leaders who have direct connections to the classroom.

-Eliminate District leadership of fear and control that has stifled staff and students from reaching their full potential. Sadly, it has become more unresponsive, untrusting and insular behind the cover of COVID and Zoom.

There has never been a more urgent time for change in the District’s leadership culture: for compassionate, confident, flexible, and humble leaders who share power and lead by listening, building community relationships, and embracing change.

You are our elected leaders. You must make the change we need to see.

Laurie Smith

Retired Teacher