Returning to the business of education

Beginning with the organizational meeting on July 5, the Lawrence Board of Education has meetings scheduled for every month through the 2011-`12 school year except for May. This is a huge change from last school year when only six meetings were scheduled.

“I requested that the Board of Education meet on a monthly basis for my first year as superintendent in case it was needed to move agenda items forward expeditiously,” said Lawrence Schools Superintendent Gary Schall.

Though he sees no nothing being gained by having more meetings this school year compared to last year, Board President Dr. Asher Mansdorf said that the trustees are following Schall’s lead with a new administration in place to get back to the business of education, and working together as a team.

“There is no benefit to having more meetings, but Gary was clear about raising the level of discussion, it is only about education, only about business,” Mansdorf said. “Business is done in five minutes; let’s return to the business of education.”

At times throughout the years, Lawrence school board meeting have been contentious. Thinking that is not a positive environment to sit as friends and discuss what needs to be done to accomplish the business of running a school district, Mansdorf has offered residents the opportunity to meet with board members at their homes. No more than three trustees can be together at one time or it would be a violation of the open meeting law. With seven board members, four trustees would establish a quorum.

“My approach is to create a more caring and educational arena,” Mansdorf said, in explaining why he opened the door to these informal get togethers. “[School board] meetings are not well attended. When they are well attended a group hijacks the meeting.”

That offer, coupled with the district holding town hall-style meetings this school year, is a way to demonstrate that the board and administration is seeking to establish a conversation with the community to discuss the district’s academic plan, Schall said. “It relates to the concept of it takes a village to educate a child” he said. “We are actively promoting greater parental involvement in the academic affairs of the district.”

However, one resident who railed against the district for having less board meetings the past few years thinks the trustees look for ways to reduce parent involvement. “My reaction is, they march to their own tune and they get away with it,” said Barry Ringelheim of the board members.

Ringelheim, who lives in Atlantic Beach, noted that some districts have meetings twice a month, where residents can ask questions. “They have cut back the involvement of public school residents,” he said about the Lawrence district.

The 11-meeting schedule also includes a December meeting that is labeled a work session/special meeting. Though the public can attend there is no public comment. No meeting is scheduled for May, the month that the budget vote and board elections take place, but Schall noted the trustees meet after the vote is counted. “If there are agenda items that require action another meeting will be scheduled,” he said.

The next scheduled school board meeting is Monday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. in Lawrence Middle School.