"Being There"

by Don Wheeler

That was the title of the last Peter Sellers motion picture (what an anachronistic term) where he went from Chauncey, the White House gardener, to President Chauncey Gardener - through his ability to inspire others via his vacuous non-sequiturs. Sound familiar?

But I'm thinking of a different case of being there.

Last night's public meeting of the South Bend School Corporation was a very strange experience for me.

I got there a bit late, and didn't find any copies of the agenda. It was standing room only - that was fine with me. I did know a major business item was taking public comments about proposed remedies for schools on probationary status - and that seemed to be just getting underway as I arrived. It was done school by school; residents would identify themselves and their address, then make their comment. A buzzer would sound if their allotted time expired.

There were many thoughtful comments. Many of our fellow citizens, clearly nervous, spoke their hearts. They spoke of their efforts, the dreams they had for their children...Some spoke of ways they felt at least somewhat defeated by the system. Parents spoke, teachers spoke and childless citizens of the community as well.

One young mother had some comments which particularly reached me. In essence, she wondered aloud why things seemed to be going well for schools near the perimeter of the corporation, but not so well for those in the interior. Gulp!

I've chronicled our Kindergarten Odyssey, and how we settled on our neighborhood Primary Center - Forrest G. Hay. By any measure, it is a great success story. But it's as close the perimeter as any school could be.

It was clear many people in the room had made something of a habit of attending these meetings. For the less initated (like me) not knowing the customs and procedure of these meetings added some mystery. And since I'd read the evaluation had been completed on Dr. Zimmerman's performance as Superintendant last week, the subsequent agenda item to dump him took me completely off guard.

Being there, I was able to feel the varying moods in the room. I could not detect a single individual there who was pleased with the decision. My guess is some people expected it, many (if not most) did not. My recollection is that a collective gasp was uttered, then the boos began.

I was surprise how upset I was. But I think everyone's sense of fair play had been violated. I don't know of anyone in the community who enjoyed more public support than Robert Zimmerman. But he was fired (I don't care what they call it) and we don't know why. That rankles.

I hope Dr. Zimmerman will follow Board member Bill Sniadecki's suggestion that he release the evaluation. I'm assuming that was a friendly suggestion.

I saw Carolyn Peterson for the first time. Ms. Peterson is President of our local NEA chapter - the union (and bargaining agent) of and for our teachers. Their contract is expiring, on top of the mess our School Board has created. But that wasn't what she was there to talk about. Again and again she wearily made her way to the microphone with important information - throughout the roll call of probationary schools. She was there as an advocate for teachers, but much more as an advocate for our children. At the end of the meeting, when the public was allowed comment on "non-agenda items", Ms. Peterson (clearly heartbroken) took her turn expressing bitter disappointment with the Board's action.

Ann Rosen's and KimberlyBarnbrook's (at-large) terms expire at the end of this year. They were of the five. Every resident of the South Bend School Corporation can help sponsor retirement parties for them by voting for successors.

Tonight, the Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a program for people with an interest in running for School Board. The venue has been changed (I suspect) due to a higher than expected demand. I will be there, April Lidinsky will be there along with people I saw last night and other motivated citizens.

"Can we fix it?" (Bob the Builder)

"Yes we can!"