Jan, in the total scheme of things, noone would care. It happened only a couple of years ago, but outing them would make no difference at all. I am very cynical now.

I agree, Abaco. It was clearly illegal. It was also clear to me that the lawyer who was there representing the Attorney General (who is there to make sure all procedings are within the law) had no intention of doing anything about it. There was one board member who ran the board as his own personal little fiefdom, and everyone else but me just voted as he told them to. When I made the objection I mentioned above, he literally ended up screaming at me.
As I said, I learned so very much from the whole experience. I actually was able to do some good in the beginning, then this little petty tyrant figured out to contact the other members before the meeting in order to insure the vote and block my efforts. I am SO glad to be off that board. I am 100% cynical about government at this point.

Always a good idea for everyone involved to have a digital recorder running. It's pretty difficult to change the minutes with a digital record. Not so hard with only written minutes.

I was a school board member for 8 years. Real world people giving real world examples carry lots of weight with board members who typically hear a constant drone of "eduspeak". I agree with YNGH- go speak to the board, and remember, they are there to represent the public interest.

From what Mamaemma indicates, it was illegal to change the minutes to conceal an illegal act...at some point, they just stopped caring.

I guess that this is what the internet is for. If it had just happened, one could Out Them.

Jan

Yeah...I'm surprised they could erase minutes of the meeting. If it was a State board that was likely, clearly illegal.

Another example of playing on people's stupidity. Most people would go, "Oh! OK!" Our society is rife with this kind of thing now. The worst part?...Often, even the minions who are assigned the task of hornswaggling the customer like that often don't know better. I once worked at an establishment where they took the lowest-level clerk from Personnel and had her write and send letters to many of the employees saying the employees needed to write the employer checks for taking too much vacation. They hadn't, the Personnel office had just screwed up their database. The poor lady was so stupid. They eventually just canned her, too.

God...we're really in trouble...

On a very small scale, it was what is wrong with our country today. I had to try, and I at least wanted it on the record that someone objected. I was amazed that they could actually vote to change what was in the minutes of the meeting. Like I said, I learned a lot.

Absolutely I would talk to her about this issue. Maybe there is something I am not aware of, but this seems borderline unethical to me. In any case, it's important that you know what her reasoning is, and that she knows what you think about this waiver. I'd be interested to hear what she says. My thought is that she will say, we just want to make sure that if you don't buy it here that you will fill the prescription elsewhere. Let me know what happens.

LOL! No, I'm alive and that one is probably dead.
search "plusaf" silly, or go to www.plusaf.com or go to the Falk's Laws link, above and click the upper right on that page to go to my site's Home Page.
It's been there for, oh, only 19 years or so...
:)

It makes me feel good that you stood up for what was right. If the Board had been playing with a decent set of cards, you should have had a good chance of changing their minds. Much of the time, I find that if someone contests a poor decision, it collapses because it could only have been maintained by not being noticed.

So I do not think that it was a futile gesture. It might have worked.

Jan

I find this erosion going on as well. Recently, the receptionist at my vet's office told me I had to sign a waiver in order to buy my dog's drugs from somewhere other than 'their own pharmacy'. I told them that I believed that it was my legal right to have a prescription filled anywhere that was licensed to do so.

I refused to sign the waiver. I took the prescription out of the receptionists other hand and walked out - drove to Walmart and got it filled. I had words with the vet personnel the next time I went in. (NB The best veterinarian I have had in recent years works there. None of this took place in her presence.)

I still want to set up an appointment to go back in and talk to that (good) vet in person. I believe that she is the chief honcho there and I may be able to convince her that the waiver is borderline in legality (and marginal in ethics). (Normally if I have a problem like this, I just change vets...but this vet has Common Sense and I would like to keep her.)

Do you have any advice for me on this issue?

Jan

Went searching.
I'd like to know more about just who the falk your Falk is.
It sure can't be the dude I found~

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falk_Laws

http://www.plusaf.com/falklaws.htm ...

after many decades of observation...

Squeak carefully and carry a big... [i don't know what... :) ]

Jan, here was the situation. It had recently been decided by the state attorney general that it would be legal for dentists to perform Botox injections to the face. So these idiot board members decided to make a rule that a dentist had to make formal application to the dental board to deliver Botox, and a subcommittee of 3 people would approve or deny them. Well, that's illegal as hell. Those 3 people had no damn right to be high and mighty and allow or deny the dentist the right to perform legally approved procedures. No wonder our freedoms are shrinking every day, when that kind of crap goes on.
And here's the kicker. Every one of those 3 dentists on the subcommittee were barely functioning alcoholics. And they presume to pass judgment on others. Oh, well. No wonder I love the Gulchers!

Thanks, Jan. I respect you and your strength, so that means a lot.

Yes you should confront them on this and other matters! We need to reshape these boards and the only real way is to be involved.

Good for you, MamaEmma. Screw them - with a broken screwdriver.

Jan

Abaco -

I would say, "Address the matter. Do so bluntly and at a meeting that has good attendance by parents." (If you know ahead of time of other parents who agree with you, be sure they attend.)

Do you think that all of the parents agree with Common Core? Many of them probably do not, but lack a catalyst. The members of the Board will not care what you say, but if a large number of parents chime in, agreeing with you, the Board will care what 'they' say.

The most probably direct outcome is still homeschooling, but there is a chance that you could trigger a massive reaction from other parents and actually effect a change. And even if you do not, you have stood up for rationality and free choice.

Jan

Well, plusaf, that's enlightening.
Alas, come to think of it, I've seen some squeaky wheels lose their jobs over the years..
I survived a cutthroat career with so many says to screw up to now enjoy my full retirement.
It appears I chose my times to squeak wisely.
So I've already have had my good luck.

... and no milk, toilet paper or other staples...
But the gasoline is dirt cheap...

I agree that you should speak to the board. However, I am hoping you're in a small district somewhere with a small quantity of schools. The reason i say that is because I live in NYC and there are just too many schools here and it would take more than 1 person or 1 family to change their mind. I too despise the common core and my son is having a hard time with it as well. He already is one step behind because of his autism but the common core completely trashes him. I understand some of what they are doing for the common core only becasue I am dyslexic and the common core was created by a dyslexic person to make the testing easier. which has totally confused the parents who try to help their kids learn this backwards way. It would seem that kids with dyslexia should do better but they don't mainly because we are bad test takers, and have been for a while. yes there are some who excel at taking tests but most do not. Sorry to be so long winded to answer your question. Go to the board but bring lots of other families with you. maybe that will be the spark that lights the fire under the education system to evolve a change.

and one of Falk's Laws points out that often, the 'squeaky wheel' is removed and replaced...
Good Luck. YMMV...

I have heard from parents the these boards are party line, and may be in on the graft built into testing.
I might do both, say something...see how they respond and at the same time...teach your kid the right way...that goes for history, science, morals and the values of hard work.

Yup, and it is all about the kids so people vote for referendums that grow the public monster.