By EDDIE L. JOHNSON
"Dr. Bonner is not the policy maker for the New Bedford school administration or elected School Committee. That is why we have seven elected School Committee members that must operate under the law. Not one New Bedford citizen voted for Dr. Bonner to be the elected School Committee representative. The rules and responsibilities for both the superintendent of New Bedford's public schools and the elected School Committee are clearly defined by state laws, state and federal mandates, as well as city ordinance."
"Dr. Bonner intentionally refused to alert or notify the seven members of the School Committee, who are her immediate supervisors and the citizens' representatives, and to this day has flatly refused to identify or name the schools where two cases of swine flu have been discovered."
"Based upon the action properly taken by the New Bedford School Committee on June 7, making sure that swine flu cases and other serious illnesses within the public school system are reported immediately via media as opposed to a hidden link on the school administration's Web site, and under the veil of secrecy, the public will now be informed of all imminent health hazards within the New Bedford school system."
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090615/OPINION/906150304/-1/NEWS
7 comments:
Eddie, you are right on target. It is the school committee's job to set policy not hers.
In my opinion Dr. Bonner is undermining the school committee.
Where's the pandemonium that was going to take place when the public found out which school?
Well Portia! Wasn't that the "expectation?"
As the World Health Organization has now declared the swine flu pandemic, I am happy we are ending school and get a chance to let this illness settle down. Please remember to practice good hygiene, and I hope all the school buldings will be sterilized over the summer.
A few good things have come from this experience:
1- The school committe has an established policy for informing the public about potential threats to the children, staff and faculty within our New Bedford Public Schools
2- The re-emphasis of good hygiene practices for all in our community... always a great educational piece
3- Through this we have all become health educators, and now (Hopefully) realize the need for comprehensive health education within the district
If all our students had the advantage of health education, they would have become the "educators" to their families and "taught" them why we do not need to panic. Isn't this one of the skills we want our students to emulate? Go home and teach what they have learned? Talk about making it relative and reinforcing by practice!
Which they will need to recall this information as our flu season starts in October. I believe we will see this flu again. Teach the students ( and community) to be proactive, vaccinations, hygiene and general education all help stop the "paranoia"
Well said DSSoftball33.
Eddie makes great points.
http://www.abc6.com/news/semassachusetts/47270537.html?corder=reverse
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