And so it begins. . .
With the coup on Saturday by the 3 beyond-conservative Jeffco school board members, many Jeffco employees are
wondering what are they going to do on Monday? What are their rights,
who do they report to? The action of the 3 board members have only demonstrated they are not to be trusted. They have lied, they have repeatedly met in secret to do backroom deals, they have been mean and spiteful, they have ignored the wishes of parents.
Here's some questions to ponder:
- When Ken Witt demands access to the district's IT systems, emails, student records & data can he get it? He would love to review every employee's email. He could identify his enemies and review their children's records. Will he have the legal right to do this? If he doesn't, who will have the guts to tell him no?
- When Witt and friends demand that only their choice of textbooks are used, can he do that? Who is representing the students' rights. Who can tell them no?
- Can Witt and friends demand to see employee records without cause, just to harass employees, or to share this information with anyone they like? Who will stop them?
- On Monday will Witt, Newkirk and Williams begin firing people? Will they start dismantling programs and offices that have served students and parents well for years?
- When Witt demands a key to the Education Center or to a school can he get it? He could search through employee desks. Do you think Jeffco security people would have the guts to stop him?
- When they demand to censor communications from the district to the public can they do that? Will staff lose their jobs if they stand up to Witt & friends and say "I will not lie for you." When will Witt and Newkirk shut down the district's Twitter or Facebook page because they are afraid of open communications. Will they send out misleading information to the media?
- When Witt, Newkirk and Williams decide to turn your neighborhood school into a conservative Charter School, who will stop them?
- When Witt, Newkirk and Williams decide to bankrupt neighborhood schools to take money from the budget to start privately-supported, politically-motivated Charter Schools, is there anyone who can stop them?
- Will the district's legal representation, Kaplan & Earnst, get fired. Then who will stand up for the students and staff.
- Will staff be able to defend rights of the community against the new evil masters? Who does staff take orders from?
Honestly, the more I write this the more frightened I get. This sounds like a story from history that no one likes to talk about.
HELP!
BTW, I am not a union member, just a concerned parent.
Regarding emails: fortunately or unfortunately, those are all subject to Colorado's open-records laws and can be requested and read legally. When it's happened at other public institutions where I've worked, usually a third party has censored or otherwise not released private information, like emails about a doctor's appointment or about a student), but emails sent to colleagues and such would be released.
ReplyDeleteThis is why I don't use my email address from that particular institution for anything other than work business. I hope our Jeffco employees already know this. I suspect the ones most likely to be targeted do and have used private emails for some time.