GREEN: A Green school board member used her comment time at Monday night’s meeting to publicly criticize President Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of education as “100 percent wholly unqualified for this position.”
Speaking only for herself and not for the board or district, school board member Katie Stoynoff said the possible confirmation of Betsy DeVos “will have a significant impact on Green Local Schools and public education across America.”
A Senate committee decided Tuesday to send the nomination to the full Senate for confirmation consideration.
“If DeVos is successful in her plan to privatize and de-fund public education in this country, Green Local Schools stands to lose over $1 million a year in federal funding, and who knows how much more to underperforming charters,” Stoynoff said. “DeVos has no experience in public education, except for backing failing charters. She has been clear that her plan is to privatize public education.”
The Washington Post and Associated Press reported Tuesday that DeVos appeared to have used quotes from an Obama administration official without attribution in her written responses to civil rights questions from Democrats considering her nomination.
“Upon initial review, many of the responses look copied and pasted from previous statements, or are simple reiterations of the law and not true responses at all,” Democrat Sen. Patty Murray said ahead of the vote by the Senate Health, Education, Pensions and Labor Committee.
Rob Goad, a White House official tasked with education policy, called the plagiarism allegations “character assassination.”
In other business, the board was surprised by a humorous “Thank You” video, featuring their children, administration and staff and other well-wishers as part of the district’s Board of Education Appreciation Month celebration.
The five-member board’s current membership totals 24 years of service to the district, with President Bob Campbell now in his 12th year.
Campbell called the video “pretty awesome, very heartwarming and humbling.”
High school Principal Cindy Brown gave an update on her school’s achievements and activities, noting that the 344-member junior class will take the state-paid ACT test March 21, with the score to go into the district’s state report card.
The board also accepted the retirements of:
• Third-grade teacher and tutor Judy Ellis, effective May 30, after almost 10 years in Green schools.
• High school secretary Maggie Lenart, effective May 28, after 20 years.
• Kathy Ross after three years as cook manager.
In addition, the board agreed:
• To a three-year pact with Educational Funding Group for the district’s E-Rate Consulting Services at $2,800 annually, effective Jan. 6. The program provides rebates to the district for internet, infrastructure, wiring and phones, according to Superintendent Jeffrey L. Miller II.
• To permit Hunter Sports Marketing of Akron to secure sponsorships and advertising on behalf of the district for athletic facilities and possible other marketing options to raise additional funds.
• To a contract with the Stark Portage Area Computer Consortium [SPARCC] for Edmentum’s student assessment, intervention and reporting solutions system for grades 9-12, beginning Feb. 1, at a cost of $9,167 through the end of this year and then $22,001 for each year after.
George W. Davis can be reached at: mediaman@sssnet.com.