Talk with Tracy: Response to the ole' wise Pearl ;)

I agree with Howard, the BOE members need to try harder or at least demonstrate in a manner that the public can see. They can start by asking questions, not just abiding by what is given to them. Understand the thought processes behind the decisions, to ensure that they match the wishes of Fort Lee Residents. The two rarely match  but having a workable knowledge of both, wishes of the residents and reality of education management will promote better decision making. It does not have to be disrespectful or angry but it should be accepted as best practice. Read the DOE website, look at the law yourself, find a book that explains how schools work and are managed,---educate yourselves on the process of educational management. If you hired business consultants (which is the administration) as experts to help you manage and clear up business (educational)  practices, wouldn't you ask thousands of questions? Waiting for results is not validation of performance at the BOE level, final results are almost too late (ie, Berman, Cecere, curriculum).  Unlike many, I think the administration is doing the best to be expected. I don't  need to like them, I don't need to have dinner or a drink with them, I don't even need to like the way they speak or some of the decisions that are made. What I do need is people who have experience, people who have studied pedagogy and the management of school systems, I need experts in the field, and whether you accept them or not, they are revered experts in the field. They walked into a school system that was a mess, not run by the leaders and needing a shake up, it needs to be managed by a team of education mangers. It is slow, painful, arduous, and sometimes foreign to the unknowing eye but it is being done. No more nepotism, no more non-certified teachers, administrators, and we need creation of personnel policy, job descriptions, curriculum -- along with everything else that needed to be addressed while a school system continues to be managed on a daily basis.

My opinion is slightly different than the masses, I hold the BOE members collectively responsible for the poor, short sighted decisions of late and from years past. They so often procrastinated and ‘didn’t see the forest through the trees’ , and now are strangled by ethics violations being filed. I am not convince that the dynamics of this set of members with their agendas and hidden motives will be able to get things done without strong administration (and you).

 There is good news, I have noticed since Patch.com started, they do read these blogs and responses….and quietly respond to them with action. If you keep your comments constructive and reasonable, you may just get what you want, you may see change. This is your (residents of Ft Lee) chance to be a part of the BOE, you may not get a vote, but you will be heard……

What are you thinking ........... keep it constructive! and get it up here.