11/7/98
The Auburn Bulletin11/7/98
Letter: Process not working; just say 'no'
I attended the Auburn town meeting on Oct. 12 with hope of having my questions regarding year round school (YRS) answered. I gave up my evening with my family and rushed through spelling homework with my daughter to attend. I wrote my questions on the paper provided and included questions by family and friends who were unable to attend the meeting which was announced with such short notice. I submitted seven questions (I have many more) at the beginning of the meeting. I came away disappointed. Not one question I submitted was answered. Not one.
I then attended the Board of Education meeting on Oct. 13 to express my concerns regarding YRS and the "Process" in which I have been told to place my trust. Again, I decided to sacrifice my family time to try to use the "process" to gain information. Two nights in a row my two-year-old did not have play time or reading with mommy. Two nights in a row, I rushed through spelling and math homework with my seven-year-old.
At the meeting, I waited while several Auburn City School employees and YRS committee members expressed opinions regarding YRS. Then, Ms. Carolyn Pittard (president) abruptly called for a stop to all comments on YRS. No warningÛjust stopped. It seemed to me that there were not many of us left who wished to speak. I left disappointed and angry.
I have waited for the "process" to hear my concerns. It's not working. I have heard Dr. Michael Martin expound on the "process." Ms. Pittard discussed letting the "process" work. Ms. Carolyn Matthews, at the last City Council meeting, asked that we work with the "process." I have read articles criticizing concerned parents, like myself, as ill-informed. I always believed questions to gain information were welcomed by educators. My questions continue to go unanswered. Well, now, I not only have questions about YRS in Auburn, I am extremely concerned about a process which does not seem to be fair, unbiased, informative or receptive to my concerns.
The information presently provided by ACS does not justify conversion to YRS in Auburn. I ask the school board to vote against Year Round Schools in Auburn. I also ask the elected officials on the city council to note that the "process," of which I have been told repeatedly to "let work," is not working.
Mary Ann MacKenzieAuburn
Letter: Community presence needed at meeting
The Auburn City Schools Board of Education will meet Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Auburn High School multi-media room. This i9 the last meeting before the superintendent's decision on year-round school will be given.Please come to the meeting and make your views known. Your presence is very important whether you speak during the meeting or not. If you plan on speaking, please fax your request to speak to
Superintendent Martin, 887-2107 before the meeting, or mail to take your request to:Dr. Martin, 855 E. Samford Ave., Auburr AL 36830.
This is an issue that affects everyone in Auburn, not simply parents. Year-round school information is available at
http:/www.auburn.edu/~enebasa.
Myra ThomasAuburn
Special Announcement: Community to be surveyed about alternative calendar for ACSSpecial to The Bulletin
As part of the process of investigating an alternative calendar for Auburn City Schools, a survey will be conducted of parents, Auburn City Schools employees, students grades 8iX through 12, daycare operators, and the community as a whole. The Auburn Chamber of Commerce has already conducted a survey of its members. When all the surveys have been collected, the accounting firm of Machen, McChesney & Chastain will calculate the results.
Specific timelines and surveying procedure have been devised for each of the various groups. Green colored survey forms will be mailed to parents on Nov. 12. Parents can return their completed survey to any school within the school district on Nov. 18 and 19. Parents may bring their completed survey, sealed in the attached ACS stamped envelope that was mailed with the survey, to a school office or send that sealed envelope to school with their child. Sealed survey boxes will be placed in school offices on Nov. 18 and 19. All boxes will be picked up at 6 p.m. Nov. 19.
Students, grades six through 12, will complete yellow colored survey forms with the distinctive stamp lettered ACS at their school on Nov. 19. Students may respond and place their survey in the sealed survey boxes in the school office.
Auburn City Schools employees will receive an orange colored survey form with the distinctive stamp lettered ACS on Nov. 19. They can submit their form throughout the day to their school office or at the office of Transportation and Maintenance.
Only residents of the City of Auburn will be allowed to submit a completed survey. Surveys to be used by the community will be published in the Opelika-Auburn News and the Auburn Bulletin. Citizens wishing to submit a survey may clip the instrument out of the paper and bring it to the Auburn
Board of Education office on Nov. 19. A sealed survey box will be set up in the lobby. Those citizens wishing to submit a survey will be required to present a photo ID and . proof of residency and sign a registry. Surveys will be received from 7:30a.m.to 6p.m.
Members of the survey subcommittee will deliver survey forms to Auburn City daycare and preschool facilities on Nov. 12 along with a self-addressed stamped envelope. These surveys may be mailed but must be received by Nov. 19. Any survey received after that date would be rejected.
Building principals and Directors of the Transportation and Maintenance will be responsible for securing the survey boxes at their building. Any survey form received after the survey period set forth above will be rejected. All extra survey forms shall be returned to the central office and kept in the district's vault. Machen, McChesney & Chastain will account for these surveys.