Recordpub.com - Field board to reconsider arts academy: Group questioned contract; Monday special meeting set

By Matt Fredmonsky

Record-Courier staff writer

The Field Board of Education will hold a special meeting Monday to reconsider the draft agreement for the Field Academy of Creative Arts.

Board president Linda Cooper called the meeting, set for 5:30 p.m. in the Field High School library, after the board voted 3-2 this week to reject a previous draft contract for the academy.

Cooper said Friday she has been working with the attorney who drafted the community school contract following a meeting last summer with previous board members.

“We had our reservations about doing something like this, so we said if we go ahead with this can we do this, this and this,” she said. “When I got the contract a week ago, late on a Thursday ... not one, except for the title, the Falcon Academy, of the things we had discussed last summer” were in the contract.

“If what we talked about to put in the contract at last summer’s board meeting ... If they’re in there, then I will rescind my vote,” she said.

Cooper and board members Allyson Westover and Donna Karg voted to reject the contract.

The district has a total of $500,000 in federal and state grants available to help fund the community school. The grant will be split, making $250,000 available for the next two years.

“If the school doesn’t fly this year, we’re not going to get the second $250,000,” Cooper said.

A minimum 25 students are needed to qualify for the grant money, and so far 69 students have enrolled. However, the district must open the school by Sept. 30 in order to obtain the funding.

Superintendent David Brobeck said there have been a number of incorrect statements made throughout the discussion, but if the board reverses its decision, district administrators will make the new school a reality.

“We currently have an opportunity that’s good for the community and the children,” he said. “We think we’ve done things the right way. Are there some things that aren’t perfectly smooth? Yeah. We didn’t expect not to have bumps. It will be a work in progress. But if you stick with it, the rewards are great, and the students will benefit.”

6.	Posted by why cant we all just get along March 14, 2010
	Brimfield Mom, the teachers that want to teach at the Academy did so voluntarily. It was open to all teachers. I also have the concern that outsiders will look at this mess and not want to send their children. I hope I am wrong about that, just a bump in the road is what it is. Every district should want families from outside the district to WANT to bring their children here. Don't you want to have a school that people are trying to get into. We have always had "our Field" kids going to Mogadore or Lake, well now people want to send their kids here. Our sports programs are right up their with the best of them. Don't we want just another reason for kids to come here ? Open enrolled kids bring money to the District and open enrolled kids will bring even more money to the Academy. We have a community we should be proud of and it shouldn't matter where your property line is. If you bring your kids here you should be a FIELD FALCON. Remember quite a few families that live here send their kids to Hoban, St. V., Mogadore, Lake, etc.. Those are dollars out the door, we need the open enrolled kids to make up that money. The Falcon Academy is a way for our district to make some money.

5.	Posted by youdontknowme March 14, 2010
	Brimfield Mom; You have been mis-informed about several items that you have stated in your post. Field Schools HAS NOT lost the $50,000.00 check. The teachers who have opted to move to the academy are wonderful teachers but the teachers who are staying in their schools are not the "crummy" teachers. I hope everyone will attend the board meeting. Ask these questions to the Board and Administrators and demand a straight answer. It is my hope that we will come together as a community and move forward on this project. When the academy is proven to be a success, we will have to turn students away because of the waiting list!

4.	Posted by Brimfield_Mom March 13, 2010
	Wondering what the changes are that may make it work? Also wondering why it is all such a big secret! From what I know, they already lost the first $50,000 because someone dropped the ball and forgot to actually deposit the check!!!! Also, who are the teachers going to be? I heard Brobeck state that only the "best" teachers from Field would work at Falcon Academy, so does that mean they leave the "crummy" teachers at the Elementary schools? What happens to all the kids from Field that enroll at the Academy - doesn't Field lose that money (about 5,700 per student) and then how do we make up for that? Is Field Local allowed to "profit" from the Academy, and if so - how muc If we need 150 students to enroll (with the majority from out of district)what happens when they don't come? Also, after everyone reads the articles in the paper and see's what a zoo it is - they probably wouldn't want to send their children because it is so unorganized and there has been so much misinformation released. I hope we get LOTS of answers at the meeting on Monday!

3.	Posted by coop March 13, 2010
	You can't. That's my point. If the Board rescinds their vote on the the old contract....it passes. I don't think they want to do that. Ha Ha, but you never know. I will say it again. Let the old contract die (it already has) and simply put the new contract on Monday nights agenda. Concerning the rescind, if it is not done properly, a Board member conceivably could contest it ( I am still not sure where 2 of the Board members are coming from, but you don't need them anyway. ) Because of the application deadline, the last thing you need is for a board member to throw a monkey wrench into it because of a procedural error. I would think that a review of the new contract is a reasonable request. I am sure it falls under the guidelines of a public document paid for with tax dollars.(matter of public record) But once again (Ha Ha ) you never know. I would at least ask try to pin them down for a comparison of the differences.

1.	Posted by coop March 13, 2010
	Whats with all this goofiness about rescinding the vote? A rescind vote is a tactic to stop an action (ie like if the Board gives former Superintendent Timm Mackley a pay raise, and then the Board votes later to take it away) The Field Academy contract has already been stopped. Simply add it as Board agenda item for Mondays meeting and vote it up or down. Wham, bam, thank you ma'am, a 5 minute meeting, back home in time to watch the 6:00 news. If you continue with the folly of a rescind vote, remember 2 things, 1) Since the contract was not approved, you will have to have this on the agenda anyways to vote it up or down. 2) follow correct parliamentary procedure and make sure you are doing it within the rescind time constraints.