October 04, 2022 Patron Presentation, Damon Barone
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. I’ve come to every last one of these meetings [superintendent search meetings], for the Superintendent search, and I have stated that 85%-90% of our families are socially and economically disadvantaged, and they have difficulties coming to this meeting. Those meetings were scheduled at 5:00pm, and 5:30pm, this meeting was scheduled at 4:00pm.
So, my question is, if you alls intent is really to get the community involved, how is this meeting being held at 4:00pm equitable? How is the meetings being held at 5:00pm equitable? The school board meetings are at 6:30pm and they have difficulties coming.
The individuals that drove in, I don’t know if you all were already here, there is an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school right there on the corner of the administration building, as I was coming in there were cars wrapped around the corner picking up students. So, if they are picking up their students, guess what, the employees are working as well. How are they supposed to attend these meetings if they are still on shift?
How is this being equitable if you are holding these meetings at 4:00pm, and I have continued to show up at every last one of them? I am the only parent sitting in the audience. That ought to tell you something. This is about their bosses, this is about the future of our community, this is about the future of our district, yet the times are getting shorter and shorter, and earlier and earlier. Next you are going to be hosting them at lunch [time].
The meeting was supposed to be held at 4:00pm, there was one trustee [Janet Spurlock] here. There was one superintendent [Gina Tomas] here. The rest of you all was not out here ready to serve, and yall started at 4:05pm. So, if I had taken off from work you still were not respectful of my time.
Again, how are these meetings being equitable to our community? Somebody please explain that to me. Somebody from the search firm, please explain that to me. We got to do better. You say that you want our involvement but your actions don’t show it. That is all that I am asking. I am fighting for our community. I don’t know what you all are doing up there, but I am fighting for our community and asking you all to do better for the community that you serve.
Damon Barone, Alief ISD parent, taxpayer, and alumnus.