McKenney Wants Democracy in District 12

Mothers For Democracy

Apr 27 2007 2:00 PM

Reminds Region 12 Board of Ed: 'In a democracy, majority rules'

To the Editor:

I am writing in response to a letter last week from Jane Boyer of Washington.
However, even though I reference her letter, my rebuttal isn't specifically to Ms. Boyer, but to all who shockingly still think there should be a consolidated elementary school in Region 12.

My thoughts here have nothing to do with the pros and cons of consolidation versus retaining our three schools.

The time for that debate is over. The time for singing the praises of a consolidated school are over.

I think you're wrong. You think I'm wrong. So let's just agree to disagree and focus on the real issue at hand.

Ms. Boyer speaks of how we've been going "round and round" on the consolidation/three schools issue and that the issue should be "put to bed."

I couldn't agree more. Except that the only ones leading us round and round have been the leadership of the Region 12 Board of Education and the only issue that should be put to bed is that of consolidation.

The public has been given the information, the numbers and a hard sell from all sides ad nauseum. We have been given the opportunity to vote (twice? three times? I've lost count) and the results were clear and commanding.
Region 12 does not want a consolidated school. I regret that some don't agree with that, but in a democratic society, majority rules.
Somehow, though, these clear and commanding results were not quite as clear and commanding to the leadership of our Board of Education. Apparently, they did not like the results of these referenda and so they crumpled them up and tossed them in the trash.

And promptly continued to pursue a consolidated project 'behind closed doors'.
In one fell swoop, they managed to disenfranchise and enrage a large majority of voters in Region 12, as well as make a mockery of the democratic process.

Nice work.

Building committees in Bridgewater and Roxbury have been working for months on comprehensive, realistic, fiscally-sound plans that would enlarge/improve our schools.

These 'Build To Suit' plans have been given outrageously short shrift by the Board of Ed.

If the Board of Ed had put half as much energy and money into a plan to retain our three schools as they have put into the folly of consolidation (especially this swampy hunting ground otherwise known as the Mundy property), we might be well on our way to a project we could all be proud of.

But, alas"� we are nowhere. And we have the leadership of the Board of Education to thank for that.

Some think that those of us who are willing to pay more to keep our small schools are fiscally irresponsible.

How about a Board of Ed that continues to blow through taxpayers' money, in a brazen and malfeasant way, on an idea that voters have voted down more than once?

Now that's what I call fiscally irresponsible.

Ms. Boyer invokes the name of Abraham Lincoln and paraphrases him as saying "you can't satisfy all of the people all of the time." Of course you can't.
But here's an idea: How about satisfying a majority of the voters in Region 12?
It's ironic to me that Ms. Boyer brings up Abraham Lincoln, one of the most intelligent, wise and honorable men in our nation's history. He is a real "rock star" in the pantheon of democracy (and so, I am loath to say the words "Abraham Lincoln" and "the Region 12 Board of Education" in the same sentence).

However, as I write, I am looking at his biography on my bookshelf and I am reminded of something else he once said: "Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail. Without it, nothing can succeed."
Foolish is the person (or Board of Ed member) who deigns to fly in the face of this simple truth.

"Public sentiment" wishes to retain their three schools. The current leadership of the Board of Education somehow fails to acknowledge this, act on this, or even care about this.

Perhaps it's time to get some 'new blood' on the board, people who are willing to serve, rather than patronize, the public.

The latest chapter in this merry-go-round we are on is that the board would like to have yet another referendum in June.

And you'll never guess what the question is. That's right. "Do you want a consolidated school in Region 12?"

Wow. Talk about going round and round.

If this referendum happens (and that's a big if), I predict the notion of consolidation will fail just as miserably as it has before.

But before we vote it down again, I would like the board to assure the public that this referendum would actually mean something.

That the board would actually respect the voters and accept the results, that, if consolidation is voted down, the idea would be dropped once and for all.

And I don't just mean dropped publicly, but behind the board's 'closed doors' as well.

Continuing to pursue the idea of consolidation when a vast majority of your constituents don't want it would be indescribably irresponsible, not to mention baffling.

Bridget McKenney is a resident of Bridgewater.