Roseville Letter To The Editor: Reaction To Former Mayor's Call for School District Openness

Dear Patch,

I read with interest your report on the first meeting of the new School Board, “Former Roseville Mayor Urges School Board To Extend Openness”, published January 13.
 
Kudos to Mr. Gary Grefenberg for his comments at the meeting - the School Board has complete authority to run its meetings however it wants, and I would hope the new Board takes heed of his plea to welcome actual dialogue. 

As a member of the Roseville Planning Commission, we often deliberate issues that are as sensitive and controversial as school concerns, but our format allows for citizen input at the point of an item on the agenda, not remote and limited at the beginning of the meeting. 

And, more importantly, we often engage with someone addressing the Commission, ask questions, actually allow ourselves a chance to understand someone’s position or concern. 

I’ve been involved in public and business leadership groups long enough to know that over-the-top formality and constraints on dialogue tend to arise out of two impulses:  either those in charge are afraid of the people they represent, or they think the people they represent aren’t very smart – or at least aren’t as smart as they are.  They fear that something may be “found out”…or they just don’t trust people to understand something enough to support the “right” decision.  I join Mr. Grefenberg in promoting a postive change in format.
 
And kudos to ex-mayor Kysylyczyn for recommending the Board constitute citizen advisory committees.  There are many of us out here who are fairly bright and have tons of experience who would be eager to provide at least food for thought at the governance and organizational level, in addition to helping with site-specific or topic-specific issues. 

Mr. K’s long history of civic activism have made him a man who sometimes can be a lightning rod for controversy – but when the man’s got a good idea, it’s a good idea.
 
A final comment to those who voted – or perhaps to those who did NOT vote – in last year’s School Board election: two things overwhelmingly attract thriving families and residents to a town and keep them there – good jobs, and good schools.  Well, as citizens we can’t vote to force a Fortune 500 company to relocate its headquarters to Roseville. 

But we DO elect our School Board members, and through them ensure that our schools are not just good enough, but great. 

If we don’t aspire high, we will fall low – and our schools are key to not just the education our kids get, but to the culture and life of our community, and to things as mundane as property values and a strong tax base.  A vibrant, inclusive School Board is the foundation of that success.
 
Mike Boguszewski
Roseville Planning Commission
Former (2011) ISD623 School Board Candidate
mikeboguszewski1@gmail.com