Comments on: School Board Workshops Rob Public Of Participation

By: Ed Wooley, Cooper City resident

Ed Wooley, Cooper City resident — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:16:50 +0000

It sounds a lot like Cooper City with “pablum” minutes, denied/delayed public records requests that might embarrass city officials and staff, residents denied permits because they haven’t closed out old ones ( but the city then not providing documentation of such outstanding permits.) We also are beginning to have a lot of issues that should be the subject of public debate and participation being put on the “consent” agenda wherein several measures can be voted on en masse without commissioners having to take a clear stand on any one of them. In my more cynical moments, CC is beginning to sound more like Chicago Clone than Cooper City.

By: look at the facts

look at the facts — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:31:53 +0000

Sounds like Cooper City Mayor Debby Eisinger and her cabal of Team De Jesus!

By: corrector

corrector — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:35:26 +0000

You missed the irony that it’s the School Board who operates the TV station. There is no excuse for not broadcasting every Board meeting, including Retreats & Workshops. Only meetings dealing with personnel issues & closed door negotiating sessions, which are excluded from the Sunshine Law for good reason, should not be broadcast.

By: Nobody44441

Nobody44441 — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:39:05 +0000

All discussions take place between them at workshop meetings. If something is scheduled for the regular meeting they defer it to workshop. If you’ve ever sat in at one of these, you’ll find them trying to second guess information because the staff is not bringing them the facts. Staff uses the workshops for their own agenda just like the school board members. How can they operate when no one is permitted to correct their mistaken beliefs during these discussions? It’s a joke.
They use the workshops as an excuse. Decisions are made there and never brought to the regular board meetings. Then when one of them finds it useful, they point out that there was never a vote, just a discussion at workshop. Otherwise, the “non-decisions” made there get cast in stone and on it goes. So much for the public being aware of anything.

By: School Employee

School Employee — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:49:09 +0000

Another decision that only took place at a workshop involved preventing Ms. Hope from being the next chair tomorrow. She was inline to win the seat, but members suddenly decided at a workshop to give the job to Mr. Williams. Everybody at KCW knows it was the work of Ms. Dinnen, the witch who believes she can retain control through Mr. Williams.

By: bob thorgood

bob thorgood — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:59:58 +0000

The School Board complains about not getting enough money and then puts out as little information as possible about their budget. I think they talk about it at a workshop so that property owners can’t use it as an opportunity to complain about the waste.

By: InTheKnow

InTheKnow — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:22:42 +0000

As if it’s only the School Board that has no public participation or broadcasting during workshops.

Name the cities or other agencies that do.

FROM BUDDY: Name another city that has as many workshops as the School Board and does most of its debating at them.
Actually, Fort Lauderdale broadcasts its workshops on the web.
The county commission broadcasts not only its workshops, but bid openings and committee meetings on the web.

By: Gina

Gina — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:02:58 +0000

The workshops are another way the power structure and school administration keeps control. Lobbyists like Neil Sterling and school administrators always attend the meetings. Clearly the public are not welcome and at some meetings, there are not even enough seats for the public.