Opinion: Make your voice heard this Saturday

As we go to press today, the last day of early voting is coming to a close. If you haven’t voted, please plan on taking a few minutes to go vote Saturday, May 11. This may be one of the most important elections we’ve had in many years. Three specific elections concern me: the Clarendon Board of Aldermen, the Clarendon ISD Board of Trustees, and Hedley ISD Board of Trustees.

Howardwick is no longer a concern. They have stepped up to the plate and have many candidates vying for several positions available. Good for them. Seriously! Good. For. Them. The city made a plea for help and the good folks of Howardwick responded marvelously.

Regarding the Clarendon Board of Aldermen, many concerns still need to be addressed. It is my understanding that the early voting turnout has been excellent. Hopefully, this trend will continue through this weekend and most of our citizens will choose to be heard. If the turnout is good, regardless of the results, Clarendon citizens will reap the benefits of a fully engaged citizenry.

The attitudes of the aldermen have for the most part (excepting a couple of aldermen) have become churlish and vituperative as they conduct the city’s business. It’s sad to see, and sadder still to hear concerned citizens speak of their dysfunction. Hopefully, the voices of the people will result in wise choices.

Hedley ISD is also holding elections, with six candidates vying for two places. The incumbents are James Edward Potts and Bonnie Brown – currently the president of the board. After spending a few months watching the board conduct the business of the Hedley Independent School District, I must admit that I’m more than a bit shocked at the attitudes of the board members. With a couple of exceptions, the board seems to be more concerned with making sure the administration, particularly superintendent Bill Sanders, tows the line as delineated by the board.

Rather than focusing on the teamwork needed to maximize the learning experience of Hedley’s students, the board, again with exceptions, seems to be determined to keep a short leash on Mr. Sanders. For example, in Monday’s board meeting, one of the board members (who isn’t running for re-election) rather pointedly reminded Mr. Sanders that he is not allowed to spend more than a specific sum of money without their prior written authorization, never mind that he had not spent more than the allowed amount in a single purchase. She had misunderstood that the amount in question concerned several purchases rather than one specific item. My point is that she was more concerned with controlling Mr. Sanders than with doing what is best for the students of Hedley.

A similar question was raised by Bonnie Brown, wondering why purchase requisitions were sometimes dated after the actual purchase date. Again, this was done to micro-manage the administration, rather than spending their valuable time setting policy and exploring ways in which to create synergy between the board and the administration to maximize the benefits to the students.

Mr. Sanders, Mr. O’Dell, and the rest of the administration do an excellent job of professionally educating Hedley’s students. Yet, they are continually fighting to overcome silly little obstacles that are artificially raised by members of the board.

Take for example, the recent trip of Marijke Tiddens, the first Hedley student to win a medal in the state UIL tennis championships.

Prior to the trip, Karen Watt, a board member who isn’t up for re-election, required Mr. Sanders to jump through an absurd serious of hoops regarding the issue of a properly constituted school concussion team – even as they prepared to travel to College Station. Mrs. Watt even went so far as to remind Mr. Sanders that he would be at fault if Ms. Tiddens was prevented from competing in the championships. Really? Didn’t the board hire Mr. Sanders to handle these issues? Geez! Leave him alone and let him do his job.

FYI: Ms. Tiddens was allowed to compete, which she did very well, and I’m certain that the totally bogus issue of a properly constituted school concussion team was never raised.

Yet, these outrageous interferences by the board continue ad nauseam, and by several different board members. Hopefully, the citizens of Hedley will see the light and elect board members who will be committed to setting policy, and seeking ways to build the teamwork and synergy needed to give the students of Hedley a first class education, which they deserve.

Which brings me to the Clarendon ISD Board of Trustee election? While reading the names of the students who made the “A Honor Roll” I noticed that there was a substantial drop off after the second grade, then there was a drastic drop off after the eighth grade. In high school, we only had five students make the “A Honor Roll”. In the “AB Honor Roll”, there is a steady drop off as the students progressed towards graduation. Perhaps we need to ask our candidates why our students’ achievements seem to decline as they progress through school.

Let’s all go vote Saturday, May 11.