WELCOME TRI-TOWN.COM READERS

I've been Dooced on the Tri-Town.com boards.

The post that angry_parent is referring to is These Are the People in My Neighborhood? and I do stand by these words. It would be easy for me to pull the post, apologize, and/or hide behind my computer monitor. Instead, I won't. I truly believe that our school system at large - not just out here in Carbon Valley and not just in our district either - suffers because parents don't care. That was the point of my post.

But with your newly elected PTO president, things should be getting better. Sharon is a terrific mom, a classy lady, smart, generous, and very interested in education and improving her neighborhood. What a boon for your school!

Be like Sharon. If you're so passionate about your neighborhood and school, do something about it. Hold a fundraiser. Complain about the overcrowding to the school district...that's what the folks in Erie do. Attend PTO, town, HOA, and school board meetings. Volunteer in the classroom. Form a committee to better maintain the school's lawn (something neighbors have been complaining about for a long time).

And as far as being the "self absorbed person that feels she is doing all of the work for her school and not getting the high amounts of credit her personality feels she deserves..." I deserve very little personal credit for getting the charter school up and running. It was a huge TEAM EFFORT of our staff, parents, kids, the Carbon Valley community at large, and a handful of board members (and some professional help too - lawyers, consultants, CPAs, real estate brokers, some nice folks at the CDE, et al.)

Honestly, if I had to leave the area tomorrow, I'd be sad that my kids wouldn't be at the school anymore. But I wouldn't miss the board position. It's a ton of work - and a lot of grief, brain damage, and stress - for an unpaid volunteer job.

Finally a response to a few people:

NightHawk - most charter schools in Colorado ARE public schools. However, I'm a big supporter of school choice and whatever works for you and your family whether it's mainsteam public schools, private schools, charter schools, or homeschooling.

Also, per our bylaws, I'm on the board until 2009, god help me.

angry_parent - Why didn't YOU respond on this blog, but felt it necessary to bring it over to Tri.Town.com? Yes, I've emailed Chad about this, too. I refuse to participate in the attack, um, discussion on Tri-Town.com because it's hard for non-members to respond without signing up. So I brought the discussion over here for the whole blogosphere to see and comment on - no logins or passwords needed.

Andie - I wasn't bashing my fellow board members. Instead, I was frustrated, burnt out and exhausted from having to do the majority of writing for the school at that time - press releases, handbooks, letters, email correspondence, and the website. I felt that they weren't good writers - a skill most people lack and that I struggle with even though I do this professionally - not that they weren't intelligent or capable of governing a charter school. Goodness knows they know their way around a spreadsheet much better than I do.

The beauty of our board is that we all bring different expertise to the school. It's made us one of the strongest charter school boards in the state. The situation has finally been rectified and we have another member with strong marketing and writing experience. It's taken a lot of pressure off me and given me time to pursue paid writing persuits.

Finally, should a person who's a member of a charter school board be allowed to discuss her personal feelings and opinions about education topics (or anything else) on her personal blog? I've struggled with it this a bit. That's why I don't mention names of schools or individuals in these posts - though I did link to several newspaper stories, so you'd have to be brain dead not to figure it out.

I've discussed this with my fellow board members and parents at our school. I've also had response from the blogging community at large and my fellow mom bloggers at ClubMom. Their opinion? It's your PERSONAL blog, do what you want. So, I stand by my decision to write about it on my PERSONAL blog instead of airing it on a message board like Tri-Town.com. After all, I'm writing here at A Mama's Rant as an private individual and not in any official capacity.

So folks, here's my PERSONAL opinion. The charter school has been a very positive event in my family's life. It's a great fit for my chidren's educational needs. I love the Core Knowlege-based curriculum as it meshes with with my family's educational philosophy. The staff is wonderful, too. Even though the board made many (minor) mistakes our first year, we've learned from them...and are doing better every day.

Also, if you're happy with the school and your experiences there, why do you care what I think? What's important is that your school choice is working for your family and their needs.

However, it's my PERSONAL opinion that my neighborhood school is in trouble, and that parents are content with the status quo, unlike parents in other communities who complain to the school district's board. It's at 131% capacity and will be at 181% capacity in a few year according to the school district. The principal is doing a good job, but will soon have to put the school on a split schedule to keep class sizes small. Why are parents putting up with that? The trailers in front of the school are an eyesore - along wit the weeds and patchy grass - and affect property values in our neighborhood, too.

Finally, if you don't like my PERSONAL opinions don't read my PERSONAL blog.

Please feel free to respond by leaving a comment below. Let's bring out the discussion for the whole blogosphere to see, not just the handful of folks over at Tri.Town.com.

Comments

[Mel]

I read everything. And you win.

Really, the main thing I didn't get is how anyone could equate not being a good writer with being dumb. (You mentioned being one of only two people on the board who were capable of doing the writing.)

Then again, I tend to think people who can't understand good writing are dumb, so maybe I do get it. ;)

Write on!

[QofS]

Look at you! I love this side of you! Keep writing! Keep fighting!

[Wendy]

I'm on a charter board also and I love your blog.

You are right that it is a personal blog and people can decide not to read it. It is interesting that there appears to be energy to comment on you, but little else.

[Kristina]

I think some people just NEED to start trouble. Personal blogs are a place for venting about EVERYTHIGN be it work, family, or friends. If people can't handle that then they should sign off. I'm sorry that this has happened to you.

[HeatherJ]

Good for you in standing your ground. You have every right to vent your frustrations. I have a feeling some folks are just a little insecure and read into everything. Keep up the good work.

[Megan Auer]

A- I am proud of you. Your work with the charter school which was our community's vision has been a blessing from God (OK- you know that's what I believe with all my heart!). None of us are perfect, and we've ALL received some sort of backlash from our personal mistakes following a dream (the dream? AN AWESOME EDUCATION PUBLICLY FUNDED I OUR AREA! I love America!). The great thing is, we're not sitting in our living room, picking our noses, hoping for the best. We tried, stuck our necks out, warts and all, and it was hard! However, our first year was awesome, a learning experience, and we know it's working! The CVA team and our effort has changed this community! Don't let this thing get you in the gut. In the end we stuck together, and amazing things happened (AMAZING THINGS happened!!) because we were passionate and willing to put in the work... I know that! I hope "angry parent" will learn something about life from this whole thing too- I really do. I hope what we don't dwell on is that people can be cruel. The thought has occurred to me after this first year. We have to serve greater purpose than that... Don't let this get to your gut. You've always done what you thought was right and you are a trustworthy, very hardworking, talented person who has a legacy to show for it!
Much love to you, Megan Auer

[Concerned Parent]

As an active parent at PRE (I am not afraid to type the name, everyone knows who your neighborhood school is). I find the comments on this blog very entertaining. I can always use a good laugh.
First: If you can attack schools and individuals on your blog, why do you feel so offended that you become the target of an attack? Just because the forum is different?
Second: Parents at PRE do not feel the Charter school is bad. We are truely happy that the school exists and is doing well. However, we do not verbally trash the school, or the volunteers, or blame your school for any poor scores on CASP tests.
Third: You should have a great number of volunteers at your school, afterall it is required. The volunteers at PRE are there by choice and to attack their committment is rude, thoughtless, and cruel.
Fourth: Do we like the portables? No, but our children are learning, our class size is small, our students are thriving, and our staff is exceptional. Do you like the Charter school being housed in an industrial warehouse building? I doubt it, but if your students are thriving who cares.
FINALLY: Why can't you just share the good of your school, why do you feel it the Charter school benefits from you attacking ours? Are you that petty? As for the school's choice not to accept you as an Usbourne Book rep, why would you think a school you routinely trash would want to help make you money? Is your business sense that poor? Must be, because you added fuel to the fire. You work in a business that courts school business, and yet you are follish enough to trash another school in a forum the public can access?
Write more, give me another laugh! By the way, no one I know at PRE talks bad of the charter school, but many talk poorly about you. Perhaps that is your real problem.

[Anne-Marie]

1)Wouldn't you be offended if anyone attacked you personally for whatever reason? Oh yes, I forgot. Not allowed to complain about anything. Everything is just peachy out here 24/7/365...not.
2)There are plenty of people who don't like the charter school and bad mouth it every chance they get. And there are some people who could care less. That's just human nature.
3)There are a small core group of volunteers at your school who are doing the majority of the volunteer work. That is typical of most schools. But volunteerism should get better with your new PTO president. She's terrific and will inspire people in the community as well as parents.
4)The charter school is in a very nice office building not an industrial warehouse.
It doesn't matter where children go to school as long as they're safe and able to learn. But the portables make the neighborhood look bad and overcrowding and the portables affect neighborhood resale values.
5)I never attacked your school, the principal, or the staff. I attacked the parents in our neighborhood for not caring about overcrowding and getting in the school district's face about it unlike parents in Longmont, Mead and Erie who have demanded answers and action time and time again. Even your principal doesn't understand why parents aren't more upset about overcrowding. Isn't the real "villian" here the school district?
6) My business sense knew there would be a problem with parents because my children didn't go to my neighborhood school. This probably would have happened if my kids were homeschooled, went to a private school, or to another school in the district because the impression would have been "she doesn't think our school is good enough for her kids." And while that is correct, I would have appreciated honest discussion about their concerns instead of throwing me off the account because of something I said about their school two years ago - which was true at the time. The principal has changed and the teacher I was concerned about went to another school. This was the information I received from parents who had their kids at your school.

I would have done the best job I could have for the school because I believe in getting kids to read and getting schools free books. I don't care if the school is private, charter, religious or public. It's about education and fostering a love of reading.

Finally, I know a small group of people DO talk bad about me. But it's amazing how a little thing like this "tempest in a teapot" has brought out personal support from every corner, from many wonderful, caring people in my neighborhood, and from strangers from cyberspace. I guess I should redefine "neighborhood" to include my fellow bloggers out there in the blogosphere.
7) Finally, please learn to proofread.

[Andie]

Ann-Marie,

I truely have no ill will towards your charter school. I feel there was/is a tremendous need in our community and the school is fulfilling that need. As I've posted before the charter school is a choice and a choice I'm glad I helped work towards. Can you imagine the capacity level PRE if your charter school hadn't met that need. I feel as if you've never really cared for me and I'm o.k. with that. Regardless, I know you are interested in doing good for many and believe the Usbourne book deal would have served you and the schools you serviced well. However, I have a few questions of my own:

1)I would love to know what you and the other BOD's of CVA's stance is on the medical waste facility seeking to start autoclaving biohazardous waste not 4/10mile from your beloved charter school. The charter school is in a very nice office building like you said but per the Town of Frederick it is in a industrial zone.
"It doesn't matter where children go to school as long as they're safe and able to learn."
2)So, why is your charter school not concerned about the truck trafficking of biohazrdous waste/chemotherapeutic waste along the only access road into your school? Just an honest question looking for your honest answer.
3)You said "the portables make the neighborhood look bad and overcrowding and the portables affect neighborhood resale values". Do you not think this would be the case of Medical Systems of Denver? Are portables and weeds more concerning than a biohazardous treatment plant?
4)I find it interesting at your charter school's SWAT conference earlier in the year your school named the Frederick Town Board as their NUMBER 1 threat. Care to comment?

[Anne-Marie]

Here's what I sent Andie in an email in response to her comments:

Andie:

My blog is a personal forum and when I address anything there it’s as a mom in the neighborhood. Not as a charter school president.

The questions you ask are CVA Board related and are better handled at a public meeting for the entire board to discuss with you. The next meeting will be July 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the CVA Building. If you wish to get on the agenda, please email me at anne-marie@carbonvalleyacademy.org 48 hours in advance. Otherwise, you can sign up to speak 3 minutes to the board as is our policy.

Anne-Marie

[MJ]

I just read your answer to concerned parent and Andie. I love that you are so upset about "anyone attecked you personally for whatever reason", come on, you attack everything and everyone for "whatever reason". It is nice to see you getting as good as you gave. Your respons to Andie was a cop out. You comment on everything when you can be nasty and point a finger, but when you don't have answers to honest concerns and questions, you play the professional. If you were so professional you would not attack others as you do. You took the high road on this one, because you have no good response. If you do, pony it up, quite hiding. I too am happy the charter school arrived, it helped the local elementary with the over crowding issue. But after reading your blog, I realize the true gain is that we lost was one difficult, unhappy parent.

[Anne-Marie]

If you have any questions to me as a board member on our policies or the school's position on matters such as MSDI, then come to a board meeting. That’s where official comments, policy, and positions MUST be discussed. Not here on this blog where it’s just me a mom in the neighborhood who is concerned how my neighborhood looks and how the school district treats us out here.

[Andie]

Ann-Marie,

I have yet to read the email to verify if the above comments are the only ones. I will go there next. I can appreciate the PC stance you are taking.

Now, as "a mom in the neighborhood, not as a charter school president","concerned how my neighborhood looks and how the school district treats us out here", how would you respond to:
1)What is your stance a community mom on the medical waste facility seeking to start autoclaving biohazardous waste not 4/10mile from a local charter school.
2)You said "the portables make the neighborhood look bad and overcrowding and the portables affect neighborhood resale values". As a mom, do you think a biohazardous waste treatment facility near your community homes and schools to less concerning than portables and weeds?

I hope this will actually get a response from the "mom in the neighborhood" and not the other hat you wear.

I will check your email. Thank you for your time.

[Anne-Marie]

Hey Andie:

Now this is much better...a mom to mom chat and not a president of the board to a community member chat. That's what I'm trying to avoid on this blog. I don't want people to have the perception that it's the charter school policy blog when it's in fact my personal opinion and ranting site.

First, I'm friends with Bruce and Sara Dakin, and that does influence my opinion immensely. The Dakins are good folks, have strong moral values, are people of outstanding character, and want to make their community a good place for their family. Sara is heavily involved with local churches, moms groups, and charitable causes. Their son goes to the charter school and Sara is there a lot with her little daughter and newborn son as well.

I attended a community meeting that MSDI put on at the school and in my opinion it seems like sound, safe technology. I explained the technology to my husband who is a scientist in the pharmaceutical industry. He thinks it's safe as well and a non-issue in his opinion. He works with much more dangerous substances on a daily basis and because of this has a tough time understanding people's concerns. I've talked to other friends who are biologists, and they say the technology is sound as well. They say the handling of medical waste in the U.S. is heavily regulated, and there is nothing to be concerned with about as long as they're following standard guidelines and best practices.

However, if I lived in the neighborhood over there, I would be concerned about my property values because of people's perceptions of what a medical waste facility is. Perceptions, as you know, are very strong and influential even if they're not correct.

But as a mom I'm not concerned that MSDI is located on one of the two access roads into my son's school. I'm not worried about his health or safety because I've been told by several scientists that there is nothing to worry about.

I trust science. I trust my friends. I don't trust scuttlebutt and rumors.

Call me naïve, uninformed, or just plain stupid, but that's my personal opinion.

Anne-Marie

[amazed]

I've read it all, too, and you most certainly do not win.

I find it fascinating that you feel you can say anything about anyone or any topic as a "mom" with out repercussion to your "professional" positions in business and your charter school. Do you think President George Bush would be afforded the same luxury of bashing his "personal" enemies and airing his "personal" greivances without the media taking hold of those thoughts and saying what a terrible person and leader he was and asking for his head on a platter????

True professionals conduct themselves accordingly in their personal lives as well as their professional lives if they want to maintain any credibility in their professional lives. You have lost all credibility as a professional leader of your school by conducting yourself in an unprofessional manner in your personal life as a "mom." You are not a professional in any way, shape, or form.

[Anne-Marie]

Oh come on. President Bush's personal religious views are constantly showing up in his policies on abortion, gay marriage, fetal cell research, Iraq, immigration, etc. This is the man who runs a county and lets his personal biases into his policies all the time, and gives his personal friends (and friends of friends or his dad's friends) government jobs. Good job, Brownie, indeed.

[amazed]

That is the LAMEST response I've ever heard.

[Anne-Marie]

One more time. This is my personal blog where I talk about personal things. This is not official charter school policy or necessarily the opinion of other members of the board or our charter school. This is MY OPINION and MY OPINION only.

Here's another example. A teacher may personally believe in creationism, but at school he is required to teach evolution. It doesn't prevent him from having an opinion that creationism is the truth, having a Christian fish on his car, or teach his kids Creationism. But at work he's required to teach evolutionism. He can even share his personal opinion with the students if they ask him and he says, "this is my personal belief but this is what we're learning in school."

He's still allowed to have his opinions and is allowed to write an editorial in the paper, a column in a journal or a blog about it.

At the charter school I'm one person among six. If the majority of that board thinks "X" is the way to go, and I think "Y" then I have to go with the majority's wishes.

But I can still have an opinion here and state that I think "Y" is better.

Get it?

[Firestone Mom]

Why don't you ask Jay Bennish about personal issues in a public sphere? I would assume also that you would totally accept a Christian talking about equally controversial issues in front of a captive, underage audience?? I didn't think so. You would want that Christian's head on a platter and you know it.
Your blog is PUBLIC. If you want to keep your PRIVATE opinions private then I would suggest a large diary on your mightstand. Otherwise, I can only assume you WANT people to read this and get upset -- feeding an ego, are we?
However, I do enjoy reading your grossly misguided views on politics, the public school system, and the self-important, "victim status" you feel as a stay-at-home mom. Very entertaining in a frightening way....
Can't write anymore, I might make a spelling or grammatical error and have you go apoplectic.

[Anne-Marie]

My blog is PUBLIC but PERSONAL. If you don't want to read my opinions, don't agree with them, or I bore you, don't come here.

However, maybe you'd be more comfortable reading Ann Coulter or Caitlin Flanagan's work instead?

[Doop]

Booooring...