SCHOOL BOARD SORT-OF APPROVES "VAGUE" STRATEGIC PLAN

The Board of Education on Monday gave unofficial approval to the much bally-hoed Strategic Plan after a lengthy discussion in which some residents called it vague, while members of the 27-person committee chosen to create it supported the effort.

We told you on Monday about the plan, which can be found HERE, and offers mostly broad themes and mission statements, with few specifics.

See some of the views below. (Note those who spoke in favor are on the strategic committee)



Superintendent John Ramos, who hired Soarpoint Associates of Rhode Island to help create the plan, urged residents to allow the process to move ahead before being too critical.

But when the board sought to take a formal vote accepting the plan, resident Steve Latz, who also heads the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee, pointed out that a formal vote should not take place given that the plan had not been provided for public review, although it had been posted on the district website.

"It was not publicly noticed, the resolution was not published in advance," Latz said. "I would challenge this tomorrow."

Board Attorney Phil Stern said the board had some leeway in such a vote, but Student Representative Nina Kambili and Board President Elizabeth Baker offered concerns about the legal limits.

"I think it would completely undermine the entire purpose of the document to not subject it to public discussion," Kambili said.

But Ramos said he needed some kind of direction given that plans need to be made to move forward with training and other actions: "What I need from the board not to hold up this proposal is at least a nod of approval." He called it a "significant stumbling moment" if approval is not granted before the next regular board meeting on February 22.

In the end, the board said it would seek to schedule a special meeting before the February 22 session. Baker then went around to each board member and asked if they unofficially approved of moving forward with the plan. Each agreed.