I think you are on the right track! I'm not sure how it is where you are at, but in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, the school board is elected persons. Writing letters, having petitions signed are all great ideas. Also, the idea about going to the budget meetings and stressing your point is great! We had a middle school that was in dire need of repairs but kept getting pushed further and further back on the renovations list, but, by going to the budget hearings and voicing our concerns, it was eventually moved up and the minor stuff was taken care of the following year. Mind you, we were very prepared for those hearings. We had pictures enlarged on poster boards, we had a few parents speaking about the horrible conditions (we made it so much more worse then it really was!), and we also had a few students speak to the board. They ate it up! The crowd loved it and the press loved it! It wasn't so much that we had a lot of parents speaking, we actually only had about 4 total, but we took two bus loads (the PTA paid for it) of parents with us to stand up and show their support after we were all done with our speeches. That was the impressive part. After the meeting, the president herself, came out and personally started talking to us!
It's such a shame that the BOE works like that....that the squeaky wheel gets the oil! It sounds like it is your time to SQUEAK! So, let's hear it! Good Luck!
yes we have considered the petition route only if this first step does not work. We were trying to get all the information we can gather ahead of time so that we would have time to work on it. The super said that they all went to school without any air conditioning and I did too, but the climate has changed and summers are getting hotter and school starts earlier now and it's just too miserable for them to have to try to pay attention when it's so hot.One of our mothers has an uncle that does all that kind of work and our board meeting is this Thursday for the school budget so we are ready!
If you want to do a petition you need to check with you school district on the regulations/rules. Also the person signing MUST KNOW exactly what they are signing, if they don't and the district checks on the signatures that signature will be voided.
I grew up in a school with no air. They still only have air in the 'new' (now 20 years old) and it breaks my heart to hear your story.
Make sure you are armed with temperatures in the classrooms, testamonies, your petition, shoot- I would even have local air guys give you several quotes, I wonder if some would even donate their time...especially if they have children in the school. Most important you have the summer to get organized.
May the force be with you and thank you from a kid that sat in those hot classrooms back in Iowa summer heat!
With the petition, you need temperature DOCUMENTATION (time and temperature reading). There have been studies done on hot temperatures in the learning environment, I believe one was from The Academy of Pediatrics.
Though I have never done one, a petition may be in order. Another consideration is when will the school board members terms end? A responsible letter the editor may raise the awareness of the community and help with a petition, letter writing campaign and/or school board meeting attendance. Hoping for results in your endeavors. Keep going, I am still stymied by the 114 degree classroom.
THERE ARE OTHER SCHOOLS AROUND US-EVEN ONE IN A SMALLER TOWN THAN OURS THAT HAS AIR! ALL OF THE SCHOOLS AROUND HAVE AIR. THE KIDS ARE SHUFFLED FROM ONE ROOM TO ANOTHER THAT MAY BE "COOLER" THAN SOME, AND THEN THEY DISMISS SCHOOL FOR HALF OF THE DAY. BUT IN OUR OPINION THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAPPEN. WE ARE STARTING OUT WRITING A LETTER TO ALL OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND STATED IN A KIND AND PROFESSIONAL MANNER THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND 95% OF THE PARENTS ARE IN FAVOR, AND ASKED FOR A REPLY WITHIN 10 DAYS. IF THIS DOES NOT WORK, THEN I SUPPOSE WE ARE GOING TO GET A SURVEY FROM THE COMMUNITY AND PUT OUT FLYERS WHEN THE NEXT BUDGET MEETING IS AND PLEAD WITH THE PARENTS TO PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT US IN THIS MATTER.WE ARE GOING TO KEEP AT IT UNTIL THEY DO SOMETHING! THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPLY-ANY MORE WOULD BE OF GREAT HELP!!!!!!
