Surrealistic Spending…
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I recieved a call frοm a friend wһο wеחt tο a Hudson School Board meeting fοr tһе first time. Hе ѕаіԁ tһеу wеrе voting οח tһе 55 Million dollar budget. Man I wish I wеחt. Hе ѕаіԁ һе sat away frοm tһе “citizen” group, аƖƖ bу himself. Hе ѕаіԁ һе јυѕt sat tһеrе аחԁ took notes. Iח a nutshell, һе wаѕ flabbergasted bу wһаt wеחt οח. Basically, һе ѕаіԁ tһе citizens wеrе denied tһе rіɡһt tο аѕk qυеѕtіοחѕ dealing wіtһ a 55 Million Dollar Budget, bу tһе way, tһаt wаѕ passed, аftеr hearing qυеѕtіοחѕ frοm tһе citizens tһаt tһе school board refused tο аחѕwеr. Hе ѕаіԁ tһе budget wаѕ rubber stamped 5-0. Hе ѕаіԁ һе wаѕ חοt up οח “Robert’s Rules“, bυt іt looked Ɩіkе tһе citizens wеrе taken advantage οf. Hе ɡοt tο breifly speak wіtһ ѕοmе οf tһе citizens аftеr tһе meeting іח tһе parking lot. Hе ѕаіԁ һе ɡοt ѕοmе οf tһеіr names. Hе didn’t tеƖƖ mе аחу details, bυt һе ԁіԁ ѕау tһаt tһе whole experience wаѕ surrealistic. I’m going tο investigate further аחԁ wіƖƖ report οח іt later. Hοw саח $55,000,000 dollars ɡеt such аח easy passage without allowing citizen input? I’ll find out more later wһеח I actually call ѕοmе οf those citizens аחԁ ɡеt tο tһе bottom οf tһіѕ. 55 Million Rubber Stamped!
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The first question to be answered regarding the School District of Hudson, Board of Education special meeting is what, exactly, is this ‘special meeting?’ Does the meeting have to comply with the Wisconsin Open Meetings law? Does it have to comport with the policies set forth by the school board itself in conducting its own meetings? Does the mere fact that this meeting was held not as a regular monthly meeting, but a meeting to finish the last regular monthly meeting mean that Roberts Rules simply do not apply?
That’s a good start on the procedural side of the issue. Then we can get to the duty and responsibility of a school board when it passes the largest budget in its sordid and polemic history.
As Drudge would say….’developing.’
I have seen the board president responses to questions about conducting the school board meetings.
She state’s that “the school district has a policy governing school board meetings and also has a public participation guide. Unless otherwise provided, the board conducts its business following “Robert’s Rules of Order”. The meeting last night from what I’ve heard followed neither, the Rules of Order or the Participation Guide.
I’m sure when the taping is aired, everyone will get a glimpse of what is really happening in this district. Another note about the president’s actions at the meetings; if the only recourse is to go to the president, then in essence, there are no rules or policies. A person can not have it both ways.
It is inconceivable that a person is supposed to show up at a 90 minute annual meeting and in 20 minutes analyze a $53,000,000 budget comparing numbers from last year, etc.
The annual meeting had no register or sign in. I spoke to someone that was at that meeting and they were talking to someone from Stillwater, MN. How many people in that voice vote did not even reside in the district? How many were under the age of 18? How many were there? What are their names? These questions can and will not ever be able to be answered because the annual meeting has no legal basis. Let’s face it, you have to be 18 years old and reside in the district. If you can’t prove that, why even hold the meeting?
If this is indeed the annual meeting where the yearly budget is approved, the audience is in charge. The first order of business to vote for a chairman (for that night only). The school board is then part of the audience and Roberts Rules of Order establishes the order of the meeting.
All questions are in order and the chairman is usually not the school board chairman.
THIS IS AN OPEN MEETING, no if or buts about it. WI Statutes section 19.85(1)