Darlene Fisher statement from Chamber’s Legislative Breakfast
This morning was the Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Breakfast, Toledo Public School Board member Darlene Fisher shared her comments she prepared, but did not have the opportunity to present, for the readers of the blog:
As I begin my 4th year of a 4 year term, I am glad to see the topic of education has moved front and center from the federal level to the recent state proposal by Governor Strickland. There is no doubt we have significant challenges ahead of us and successful public schools are tied to expanded business development opportunities and a successful at large community.
At Toledo Public Schools, we understand the significant role we are charged with in improving the outcomes for our students. The Chamber of Commerce membership can be a real community partner in our attempts to bring greater accountability to our work in public education.
Recently the Georgia State-wide Chamber of Commerce created a commission for School Board Excellence and it is working with state law makers to craft policy that improves the performance of school boards and ensures school board members are thoroughly trained to carry out their important oversight responsibility.
We all know the work of school boards has become increasingly more complex in addressing academic performance, financial planning and strategies and even to the point of creating IT structures that can meet the challenges of an ever changing public education environment.
In fact this Commission is encouraging the following:
* Creation of a uniform conflict of interest and ethics policy for school board members which I have been advocating for some time now
* Clarification of roles of board members and improving relationship with superintendents that lead to a strategic planning process
* A standard or set criteria for school board candidates and that school board members be required to attend capacity building training
Beyond that, this Commission is further working on policy that holds Boards accountable for student success and school performance, which at the end of the day, is our most important task.
Having served for a 3 full years now, it is important that Boards focus on student success and I will continue to encourage our Board and Superintendent to create and engage in a strategic plan that identifies the snapshot of where we currently are as a district, where we need to be in the next 5 to 10 years and what challenges we may encounter and have to overcome to find student success in all areas.
This strategic plan will require us to look at the capacity of our buildings. Do we have the right number of buildings for the current enrollment, are those buildings producing the success that our students need for the 21st century. I understand that education goes beyond the confines of schools and that we need to have a public discussion on the shared accountability required by all stakeholders but what our Board of Education can do is look internally – a thorough and comprehensive review of our policies and practices that we govern to make sure we have a plan that addresses these complex issues. The Board has the responsibility to provide the necessary oversight to ensure our district is operating at a level that is as efficient and effective as possible for 2009 and beyond.
I look forward to your continued support in helping to address these major challenges before us.
This is an articulate, positive, realistic statement to an important community group. I’d love to see more of the same!
February 7th, 2009 at 1:55 amFisher is forward looking and a visionary thinker. She is a real leader who knows change is necessary. She has been great at bringing people together and engaging the community. She is a valuable asset to this community and especially TPS! This is the kind of statement I have come to expect from her. Not only does she makes statements like this, but she works hard to see that these ideas and approaches are implemented and practiced.
February 7th, 2009 at 1:31 pmI can only speak from my experiences that have allowed me to exchange ideas with Ms. Fisher. Since I have been around the block a time or two, I believe that I have developed a sixth sense about those in public office. Ms. Fisher is one, but not the only one, that walks the walk and talks the talk on behalf of the school system and those that are really concerned with it’s success. TPS and the school system would be well served to have more members like her on the board. She has successfully reached out to a very small, seemingly powerless group of activist and contributed greatly to their desires to save one of the oldest high schools in Toledo…Scott High. For this she has our gratitude. And in spite of the overwhelming amount of emails and letters that the public has not been made aware of asking that she be returned to the TPS Ohio State Facility Commission, we remain optimistic that she will still be of value to our efforts.
She does not appear to be using her position on the board as a convenient stepping stone to a higher position before first gaining the confidence of the community that she has been elected to serve. She has not given us the impression in either word or deed that she wants to move on up, while leaving the work of unifying the community to the next in line, while giving the impression that we are to be ignored while campaigning for higher office.
She has not given us the opinion that she has little concerns for the wishes of the community.
She is in constant contact with the community groups offering her ear and guidance on how we should approach our struggle which should not really be one.
It is obvious that she sometimes struggles alone on some issues that we have asked her to get answers to, and that is why many of us fully support her and her efforts. If you were to ask the hard questions suggested by the community, you too might be perceived in a adversarial light.
Remember local politics can be a Jungle out there…
Thank you Ms Fisher for all that you have done for Scott High School. We still have work to do!
February 7th, 2009 at 10:09 pm