Blog Business

We had a comment from a reader who had several complaints about the blog, largely around creation of threads and the belief we don't cover enough individual school items/topics.

Our reader acknowledges that we create threads based on demand but apparently that isn't enough (even though readers then take control of the thread and the direction of the discussion).    We also have Open Threads twice a week but that isn't enough either. 

Charlie and I regularly get guest posts sent to us and about 90% of the time print them verbatim.  We have had this policy for years.  So if you have a topic you want to write about, please send it to us. 

This is a down time for the district; summer is a time it goes very dead. 

Much of what we could discuss about various topics in the district is, at this point, speculation.  Superintendent Banda has to come in, get the lay of the land, hire the new people for senior positions that are either interim or open (like Special Ed) and then lay out the agenda of what he proposes to do.   I do not believe, for almost any program, that much will change for this coming school year. 

Some things will become clearer, especially when the definitive plan for BEX IV comes out and, of course, if the charter initiative passes.  (I am going to write a thread on what I believe will happen in our district if the charter passes.  All bets will be off for where our district will go and what it will do.)

Charlie and I are activists and so yes, our focus tends to be on the district view but we frequently talk about issues at a school level.  We are glad for any input or information to expand the discussion.

The reader also complained about the coverage of I-1240.  That is not going to change.  The initiative is one that will have profound and lasting changes on our district.  We have always been about information for our readers and I feel strongly about making sure that you know and understand what you are voting on.  If you see the word "charter" or "I-1240" in the title you can always skip it. 

Charlie and I don't have much time together to discuss the blog.  But we are absolutely willing to start a thread topic for someone or post a guest thread.  If any of you would like to become regular contributors on a specific topic that you know well, let us know.  We will give it due consideration. 

The blog has grown and evolved since Beth Bakeman had the courage (fueled by passion for public education which is what drives Charlie and me) to start it.  Not really by design, we have built a brand and we would have to think long and hard about any major changes.   You can understand that we would have to be very careful and very sure of anyone we allow to post on the blog.

Our door has always been open and will continue to be. Contact me at sss.westbrook@gmail.com.