Responsible Government

School Boards and other local elected positions are often taken for granted as being somewhat unimportant. Voter turn out is low and folks don't usually pay attention to what is happening. That is a mistake.

As we are learning, school boards and other local units of government can have a huge impact on our communities. These positions are also the training ground for elected officials who may want to run for higher office at some point. It is no wonder that if they are not held accountable in the "little" things, they will not expect to be held accountable in the big things.

Your decision to send me to serve on the school board is still an amazing honor for me. It has been more demanding and character building than I ever could have imagined.

Here is what you have allowed me to learn:

1. Elected officials need to stick to their values.

2. If you want to be popular, don't run for public office and say what you actually think.

3. Every elected official needs to be held accountable.

4. If every elected official would govern like they are not running for re-election, they may make better decisions.

5. Being on a school board is about the kids. Every decision should be preceded with the question, "Is this good for kids?"

Being a public servant is a great responsibility. Some of you have been disappointed in me at on point or another. Others of you have sent me great notes of encouragement. Overall, I hope that I have failed forward and shown consistency of character.

But this isn't about me. It is about you. You are paying attention. You are demanding better from your elected officials. Our freedom will not slip away if folks like you continue to demand good and limited government. Our liberty is not lost if you exercise your right to vote and demand a redress of grievances. Thank you!

Please continue to e-mail me and call me. I appreciate the feedback, both good and bad. I need you to hold my feet to the fire when I stray away from what is best for kids. Happy Independence Day!

Great Video!

What now?

For the first time in three years I can't see how we are going to pull out of this unless something drastic happens on this board. After reading the story today and listening to the audio again, there are a few things I want to make sure don't get lost on in this circus.

1. Because of union bullying tactics and lack of board leadership, our district is now overstaffed by several positions for next year. That translates into $300,000-500,000 in extra expense. In fact, it has been reported that the administration had to create positions we don't need to make sure the board couldn't shake their fingers in Mr. Gardella's face and shout, "ah ha," thinking they had caught him disregarding a board directive by actually hiring the staff we needed instead of the number of staff the union wanted.

2. If you went to the balloonfest you may have seen the "Howell Extras" banners and t-shirts or stopped by the Howell Public School booth or food court. You also may have seen our fantastic choirs in action or watched the livestream of the event on the internet. All of those things happened because of Mr. Gardella. What should have been a triumphant one-year anniversary for this district has instead been a weekend where the district was set adrift at sea.

3. There are two contracts coming up in the next year for negotiation, both the MEA teachers contract for our district and the contract with the Chamber. Both of these will be important contracts for our district if we want to continue to be fiscally solvent and put kids first. Is board leadership going to be negotiating those contracts now? I hope not!

4. July 13th is the board meeting where we vote in new officers. I predict one of two things will happen. Either the four people who voted to out the superintendent will elect themselves as officers, which makes no sense; or more likely, they will vote to move the reorganization meeting to January, citing the change in school board elections to the November as the reason. This will be a ruse to keep their positions until this all "blows over."

5. This is it. The community needs to step up and be heard. The time for back door deals and catering to special interest groups is over. If you take back your schools and hold our feet to the fire, they we can make a true and good change for our community.

So many of us are frightened for our country. It is overwhelming as we look at what is happening in Lansing and Washington and feel we can't do much to change it. But we can. If you throw a pebble into a pond, the ripple starts at the middle and spreads out, getting bigger as it goes. We can use that same principle to change our country. Here is how:

1. Start with ourselves. We need to have integrity and live transparent, honest lives to the best of our ability.
2. We need to take care of our families, both immediate and extended. Marriage is hard and families are messy, but sometimes chaos is beautiful.
3. Help our neighbors. The government can never do what strong families and good neighbors can.
4. Take back our communities. That means taking back our local government as well. Run for office, help on a campaign. Attend a July 4th Tea Party and let your voice be heard!
5. Demand better from our State. (more on this later)

If we all do this, we may turn around in the not-so-distant future and find that we have changed our country in ways that are more meaningful and positive than Lansing or Washington ever could. It won't be easy. It won't be fun. But this week as taught me, again, that doing what is right is not about easy and fun.

We are at a crossroads in this district. If we want the union and special interest groups to run the district, then we are headed in exactly the right direction. If we want the schools to reflect the community and focus on kids, we have a lot of work ahead of us. Let's get busy!