Candidate Shawn Miller Says Board Has Lost Public Trust

After last week's Madison Central school board meeting, board member Steve Nelson approached me under the guise of seeking my input. I quickly realized from his lack of listening that his questions were just a pretense for justifying the board's arguments and denigrating mine. Nelson acted as if suspicious perceptions of the school board are all my fault for making board actions out to be "a big conspiracy."

Perhaps board member Nelson needs to have a conversation about public perception with candidate Shawn Miller:

Miller acknowledges, as has pretty much everyone who has seen the building, let alone studied and worked in it, that Madison High School needs some repairs and upgrades. But Miller says that back in 2007, when some people questioned spending six million dollars on a new gym instead of making repairs to the high school, the school board and administration said that the school was fine and that building a new gym was the priority. Once the gym didn't pass, Miller says the board and administration suddenly realized the school is "completely dilapidated" and has all these major isues. At the same time, the board decided we could build a new gym to boot for three million dollars. Miller says these turnabouts caused a lot of people to lose trust in the administration and the board.

Steve, I get the impression Shawn is an independent thinker. He doesn't take his cues from grouchy bloggers or anyone else; he makes up his own mind. And his independent mind identifies a widespread perception that the school board doesn't give Madison residents the straight facts (a point proven by activities director Bud Postma's admission of rhetorical tricks on the actual cost of the new gym building).

Steve, and everybody else, come join us to continue the conversation about open and honest local government at the candidates forum, Tuesday night, April 5, Madison High School lunchroom, 7 p.m. (city commission candidates first; school board candidates start after 7:30; also broadcast on KJAM!).

Bonus Public Trust Flag: The Oldham-Ramona school board isn't inspiring my confidence. The O-R board is holding its second straight meeting in executive session tomorrow to discuss possible school budget cuts. The baord claims they are meeting in closed session because the cuts include possible personnel reductions, and personnel matters are one of the few topics for which boards are authorized to close the door to the public. But why, then, have numerous other South Dakota school districts discussed their budget cuts, including possible personnel cuts, in open session? If Oldham-Ramona is discussing specific teachers and their qualifications, o.k., but if the conversation behind that closed door turns to any non-personnel budget matter, they'd better declare themselves out of executive session immediately, lest they run afoul of open meetings laws.