2004-10-18 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Ms. Mary Susan Payne, 1800 Dairy Road, a former School Board member and Chair, said that the former School Board has always supported great teachers and small class sizes. She said the amount of standardized testing now being done in place of instructional time is not needed and is a short-sited approach. She said there has been no input from the community. She implored Council to begin a dialogue regarding School Board priorities. Mr. Karl Ackerman, 1611 E. Market Street, expressed concern about the impact of School Board action regarding program and policy changes which has created low morale among teachers and principals. He said there is an over-emphasis on testing and a climate of fear and intimidation. Ms. Jenny Ackerman, 1611 E. Market Street, read a letter from an unnamed elementary school teacher saying there is low teacher morale and highly scripted programs. She said the Open Court program and Flanagan tests are awful tools. She said teachers are being instructed to teach to the test. Ms. Ackerman also provided samples of comments received from teachers. She said the Schools are facing a crisis of confidence and the School Board is refusing to face the problem. Mr. Walt Heinecke, 1523 Amherst St., expressed concern about curriculum decisions being made by the School Board and Superintendent, especially the Flanagan tests and other high stakes testing. He expressed concern about the accountability of the School Board and said there appears to be hostility toward public input. He said it may be time to think about directly electing the School Board. Mr. Steve Campbell, 1821 Edgewood Lane, a former School Board member and Chair, reviewed problems faced in the schools in the mid 1990s which were subsequently addressed. He said the model schools programs have been diminished by the current School Board, and he asked Council to pay close attention to the situation. Mr. Pat Plocek, 115 Doe Drive, Ruckersville, thanked various groups for their support during his 4 lA years as Parks Manager with the City. He said the Parks and Recreation Director is unprofessional, and asked him to leave. He expressed concern about the advertising of his position. Ms. Patrick McClure, 880 Dorchester Place, owner of West Main Street Restaurant, said that a letter was sent out from the City's zoning department saying that temporary sidewalk signs are no longer allowed on West Main Street. He said these signs are important to businesses, and he has seen a decline in business since they have been gone. He asked that the businesses on West Main Street be treated the same as those on the downtown mall and Corner area and be allowed to have the signs. Ms. Hayley Peppard, owner of a flower shop on 416 W. Main St., expressed agreement with Mr. McClure's comments, and said her business has also suffered as a result of not being allowed to display the signs. Mr. Mark Cave, 2575 Milton Hills Drive, owner of two businesses at 406 and 406D W. Main St., asked that the prohibition on sidewalk signs be rolled back. He said independent business owners have invested a lot of money and they need help getting the word out about their businesses. Ms. Lois Mundie, 1302 Lester Dr., said she has owned a hair salon on West Main Street for 32 years. She expressed concern about the tone of the letter from the zoning inspector. She said the signs generate new businesses. She asked what the justification is for allowing signs on the downtown mall and the Corner, but not on West Main Street. Mr. Frank Hardy, 235 E. Jefferson St., owner of a business on 417 Park Street, pleaded with Council not to turn over a portion of his property to eminent domain. He said the new garage being built in connection with the Juvenile Court renovations will take his 15 parking spaces. He said the 15 replacement spaces he has been offered in the