When folks run and get elected to public office, what exactly should the people expect of them?
Should they be responsible for reading documents associated with the actions they take as a board? Do we know if they actually examine these documents? Seems they should, doesn't it?
If you'd look online at a Crow Wing County agenda, you'd find just about everything the board will be discussing. Brainerd City Council, same thing. Brainerd School Board, not so much.
The School District proclaims they're transparent, and ostensibly provides all documents associated with their agendas online.
Since January, the Brainerd School Board has approved three employee contracts, and yet, these contracts weren't provided to the School Board.
ADVERTISEMENT
The employment contract approved in May wasn't posted on BoardBook, so I requested it. I implied it must've been an oversight, seeing as how the board was being requested to approve it. Here's part of the response:
'You expressed your opinion that a copy of the Contract should've been posted on Board Book in connection with the School Board meeting. With respect to your inquiry Mr. Sinclair's presentation took the form of an oral summary.'
I wonder if it's entirely coincidental, but ever since that particular request, all four recently approved employment contracts in June were posted on BoardBook.
Perhaps the District has somehow formulated a similar opinion, that employment contracts "should" be posted on BoardBook?
In April, the school board approved a purchase agreement for $250,000. The documentation was finally posted on BoardBook that Monday, as it wasn't online Sunday afternoon when I requested it. A 22 page purchase agreement posted the day of the meeting?
No law requires public officials read anything regarding their decision-making. However, if you run for school board, it appears you'd better learn to read very fast.
Jeff Czeczok
Brainerd
