Board Meeting Tonight Should Be Interesting

 Just a couple of quick updates before today's meeting.

One, saw the election results and once again, some parents and most union folks apparently support the district. I think it will be interesting to see what happens in the Legislature. I mean, now that SPS is flush with money again. 

Two, if you are going to the Board meeting, do keep in mind they are having and Executive Session prior to the meeting. Last month, they did the same thing and that ES ran 30+ minutes over. So if you go, there may be a longer wait to public testimony.

Three, the speakers list is full at 25 people, most of who are going to speak on the Highly Capable program. There are 14 people on the waitlist. 

I notice there is one speaker who will be speaking on "community engagement of Dr. Brent Jones /multicultural communities perspectives in contract extension." 

Four, the proposed contract extension for Superintendent Brent Jones. As of this hour, there is still NO documentation on this item attached to the agenda. This might be because the Executive Session will put the final touches on it.

So let's review. Jones got a two-year contract approved - with a raise - in October 2024. For some reason, the Board now feels compelled to add another year onto that just months later. And the agenda item is Intro/Action which means zero public engagement. 

I'm actually wondering if there will even be any public explanation.

Where's the fire? Is he threatening to leave and the Board needs to entice him to stay? 

But that's SPS - always leaving parents and community in the dark about real motives about anything they do.

Comments

Outsider said…
Just a guess, based on no real information, but Jones seems like a team player, who took the job to be the standard bearer for the consensus among the board, mayor, and other local elites. He was welcomed into that role because no one was eager to repeat the process that hired and burned out Denise Juneau. Jones has become something like the permanent interim superintendent.

It's proven to be a thankless job, however, because the board's vision is neither wise nor popular, and they keep wobbling and changing course and hanging Jones out to dry. He must be thinking, he doesn't need this, and if they want him to keep taking blow after blow to his reputation for being their front man, they better make some commitment and pay up.
2/12/25, 1:46 PM
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