The invitation goes to all candidates and those currently in office. There are those who don't get out and this is an opportunity to let a few more people know where you stand on things.
I'm amazed. This district spends so much time and effort primping that it fails it's students. A new logo on the wall, a new vision statement, new tracks, new press box, but then to be one of 31 districts to not meet state standards. Shame on 204 for not focusing on students but instead how it all looks. Priorities please !!! For the sake of our children.
You can bet it's someone else's fault. Most of the teaches I have dealt with in USD 204 have been very good and caring people. Mrs. Mitchell, in my opinion, it top notch. But there are those who just don't get it, those that will always blame the child and not even consider the posibility that it is them that are failing. I would submit that being one of 31 districts across the entire state of Kansas to fail, cries out the fact that this district needs new leadership. It seems very easy to blame certain groups for the districts own issues. It's the Hispanic kids, it's the special needs kids. Well sometimes it's the administration, sometimes it's the teacher that deserves that failing report card.
"Van Maren attributed the enrollment numbers to the housing market and the economy.
"It appears people are losing their houses and some families are going back to Mexico," Van Maren told the board."
I'm trying to follow this thinking. So what Van Maren is saying is that illegal aliens that came across the border with a bag of clothes and nothing else, are returning to Mexico because our economy has slowed down a little. Aside from the racial implications of the statement, this has got to be the most ridiculous theory I have ever heard.The idea that some are returning to Mexico shows a complete lack of understanding the real world situation. A complete lack of understanding the motivation that drives people to cross our border and leave friends and family behind. It's little wonder that our schools are in the condition that they are when the man at the helm doesn't have a grasp of how the less fortunate survive. It does help to explain why the emphasis is put on the frills instead of the people. Van Maren understands the frills and the public perceptions, he just doesn't understand anyone who lives outside his glass bubble.
So nice to hear that we can improve the baseball field and build a ticket kiosk, but we still can't handle the special needs of some of the students. Priorities. The school board needs to look up that word in a dictionary. Just out of curiousity, what percentage of the student population will benefit from an improved baseball field ? How will the students benefit from having a ticket kiosk ? All this at the same time that many families find it very hard to come up with the financing to pay for books. But I guess they can always go visit the new BASEBALL field.
The focus of the leadership is on the exterior. It's all about what looks good.
"Parents need to get their priorities straight. If you can spend thousands of dollars on a play set for your back yard, or hundreds on video game systems, you can very well afford to pay $100 or so for your child's education. Quit whining and live up to the responsibilities you assumed when you decided to have a child (or several children)."
I guess this means that we should also ALL be able to donate to the endless fund raisers that go on every year.
While I am sure that there are some students in our school with Autism, I am also personally and painfully aware that there are those that certain teachers and administrators want to get out of the building. There are those that, through their extensive medical training, the current staff has decided by a look in their eye, that it is not the disability that is causing the issue. It all depends on how the disability is manifested. What is ignored is that it is still a disability.
Council debates house demolition, pulled funding for Tiblow Transit
I wonder if the city could get volunteers to demolish the house if they were allowed to keep the materials.
November 14, 2010 at 7:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Candidate has eye on future development
I would extend a personal invitation for Mr Broman to state his positions and to counter his critics in a local forum.
http://theisland.heavenforum.com/foru...
The invitation goes to all candidates and those currently in office. There are those who don't get out and this is an opportunity to let a few more people know where you stand on things.
February 26, 2009 at 4:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Incumbent will seek re-election in USD 204
Perhaps I should run. The board does need some new blood.
January 8, 2009 at 4:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
New mission, vision statement adopted for USD 204 schools
I'm amazed. This district spends so much time and effort primping that it fails it's students. A new logo on the wall, a new vision statement, new tracks, new press box, but then to be one of 31 districts to not meet state standards. Shame on 204 for not focusing on students but instead how it all looks. Priorities please !!! For the sake of our children.
September 25, 2008 at 9:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
School district fails to make adequate progress
You can bet it's someone else's fault. Most of the teaches I have dealt with in USD 204 have been very good and caring people. Mrs. Mitchell, in my opinion, it top notch. But there are those who just don't get it, those that will always blame the child and not even consider the posibility that it is them that are failing. I would submit that being one of 31 districts across the entire state of Kansas to fail, cries out the fact that this district needs new leadership. It seems very easy to blame certain groups for the districts own issues. It's the Hispanic kids, it's the special needs kids. Well sometimes it's the administration, sometimes it's the teacher that deserves that failing report card.
September 25, 2008 at 9:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
USD 204 students numbers trail off
"Van Maren attributed the enrollment numbers to the housing market and the economy.
"It appears people are losing their houses and some families are going back to Mexico," Van Maren told the board."
I'm trying to follow this thinking. So what Van Maren is saying is that illegal aliens that came across the border with a bag of clothes and nothing else, are returning to Mexico because our economy has slowed down a little. Aside from the racial implications of the statement, this has got to be the most ridiculous theory I have ever heard.The idea that some are returning to Mexico shows a complete lack of understanding the real world situation. A complete lack of understanding the motivation that drives people to cross our border and leave friends and family behind.
It's little wonder that our schools are in the condition that they are when the man at the helm doesn't have a grasp of how the less fortunate survive. It does help to explain why the emphasis is put on the frills instead of the people. Van Maren understands the frills and the public perceptions, he just doesn't understand anyone who lives outside his glass bubble.
September 1, 2008 at 7:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
New district logo to give schools unified identity
Will the new logo mention District 500 for picking up the slack in the special needs department ?
August 22, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
USD 204 students numbers trail off
So nice to hear that we can improve the baseball field and build a ticket kiosk, but we still can't handle the special needs of some of the students. Priorities. The school board needs to look up that word in a dictionary. Just out of curiousity, what percentage of the student population will benefit from an improved baseball field ? How will the students benefit from having a ticket kiosk ? All this at the same time that many families find it very hard to come up with the financing to pay for books. But I guess they can always go visit the new BASEBALL field.
KIDS FIRST !!!!
August 22, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Fees cause frustration with district parents
The focus of the leadership is on the exterior. It's all about what looks good.
"Parents need to get their priorities straight. If you can spend thousands of dollars on a play set for your back yard, or hundreds on video game systems, you can very well afford to pay $100 or so for your child's education. Quit whining and live up to the responsibilities you assumed when you decided to have a child (or several children)."
I guess this means that we should also ALL be able to donate to the endless fund raisers that go on every year.
August 14, 2008 at 7:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Autism confusion
While I am sure that there are some students in our school with Autism, I am also personally and painfully aware that there are those that certain teachers and administrators want to get out of the building. There are those that, through their extensive medical training, the current staff has decided by a look in their eye, that it is not the disability that is causing the issue. It all depends on how the disability is manifested. What is ignored is that it is still a disability.
August 14, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )