2021-10-25 - MPS Board Meeting Renita and Joe's Talks

Here is a link to the whole MPS Board Meeting and documents: https://midlandps.communitybydiligent.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=77

Here is a rough transcript of my talk:

My name is Renita Bonadies. I have attended the past three school board meetings and stayed at each until the end.

Per the Bylaws - Responsibilities of the Superintendent, Section 1000, Code po1230, letter K states "work cooperatively with parents and community groups concerned with programs in the schools." I have heard at prior meetings and seen multiple FB group’s messages about requesting special meetings and for the mask mandate to be put on the agenda, yet it does not happen. How does this indicate that the Superintendent is fulfilling his responsibility? Is the Board not to hold him accountable to doing his job? Ignoring a request should not be an option. The people are the bosses here, not the School Board Members and Superintendent. Our taxes pay for everything you oversee and your salaries, and the children certainly do not belong to the collective 'you.'

The discussion at the last meeting that something needs to be on the agenda in order for the Board members to interact with the public speakers. Furthermore, Code po0166 states: "The order of business may be altered and items added at any meeting by a majority vote of the members present." So the board could add an agenda item at the meeting by a vote of the board members.

As far as the mask mandates, which you act as though you have no choice in, I attended a township meeting on Wednesday night where the Commissioner stated that the School Boards are responsible to make the decisions about the masks, as the Health Department has no such mandate enforcement. It seems the Board is using the Health Department to abuse the children with these mask mandates. There is nothing in the Bylaws that gives this Superintendent or the Board the right to put out any medical mandate for the children, the staff or bus drivers. You can suggest it, but not mandate it.

You owe it to the parents and people of this community to give them a voice and a chance to interact with you, the board members and the superintendent. You need open dialogue, or this will only get worse. It really is your choice. Stand up or resign and let those willing to have that difficult discussion with the parents and community take your place. The board is no place for cowards.