Transparency, Accountability, and Community

By Marti Gastel

As I talk with people in the communities of the MASD, I find that voters can't figure out what the heck is really going on.

As I talk with people in the communities of the MASD, I find that voters can't figure out what the heck is really going on.

We need greater transparency from the MASD School Board. Parents, taxpayers, and voters must be better informed about major developments. Proposals that are under consideration by the Board should be documented for community review. In matters of significant spending, the School Board ought to first conduct due diligence investigation, publish the results of their findings, and then open those results to a specified community comment period.

The Board has spent the past year or two talking about building new schools. Results? So far, they hired an architectural firm, paid them a substantial sum, and subsequently fired them without the review of the board's solicitor. Yet, no formal site selection process has been put in place, the community as not been asked for input about site selection, and there is no overall vision for future building development.

It's time to put the kids, families, and taxpayers of MASD at the top.