Good luck to whoever is picked. Its not an easy board to be part of.

You have to wonder *why* these people want to be a part of such a dysfunctional board, especially considering that there must be other ways to be a part of the Whisman School District process.

Then again, "reality" TV shows seem to find people to fill the necessary spots...

At the end of this article, the Voice seems critical of the current school board for not releasing the applications as they are submitted. My understanding is that it is common practice for a public entity to wait until all of the applications for a public office are received before releasing the information to the press or the public. If this is the school board's approach, I agree with it because potential candidates might be dissuaded from applying when they see who the competition is. Maybe the Voice is inconvenienced by getting the information later than it would like, but in this way, we have a fuller democratic process.

@Victoria of Cuernavaca

"At the end of this article, the Voice seems critical of the current school board for not releasing the applications as they are submitted."

The MV-Voice is our only meaningful neutral arbiter for researching the relevant biographical and political (not to mention behavioral) backgrounds of the applicants and publishing this information. In this case, they have a very very short time-frame to get the names and do careful research and publish accurate information about each applicant.

I understand their desire to get the names ASAP so they can spread out the work and get the job done properly rather than trying to do a rush job on all the names at the last minute.

I will have to go look up what the MV-Voice had to say about candidates in 2012 and those who ran in 2014 as well.

"My understanding is that it is common practice for a public entity to wait until all of the applications for a public office are received before releasing the information to the press or the public."

I would assume that practice works well when there is significant time between the application deadline and the selection date for the people to get to learn about their applicants. In this case the time-line is very very short.

"I agree with it because potential candidates might be dissuaded from applying when they see who the competition is."

Since 10 applicants already met each other at the informational meeting, it's seems unlikely that the MV-Voice would have much effect on this point.

"Maybe the Voice is inconvenienced by getting the information later than it would like, but in this way, we have a fuller democratic process."

I would assume that giving the media more time to do their proper research and interviews and publish a meaningful profile of all applicants would be more important.

Giving the public enough time to read these profiles and think about things and then to give the public time to email their thoughts to the Board members, I think that is far more important to "a fuller democratic process".

Don't you?

Forum shut me off twice already. Those at first meeting were potential applicants. As were any who might have attended tonight's second meeting. The district should provide all who apply with the same amount of public notice. Wait until the application deadline to discuss the applicants.

Smells like district had made there section based on this artical.

There should be focused outreach for a Latino trustee.
Lambert suggested this would be the case.
Half the district with no representation.
How about Oscar Garcia? Long time resident, committed to the community

@ Old MV Parent The Board, or individual Board members, will not be doing focused outreach for recruiting any particular candidate(s). The community needs to get together and recruit people like Oscar Garcia to apply, if that is the desire of the community.
Board President Ellen Wheeler posted a note on this process earlier.

SN is an elected Trustee of the MVWSD, and this is his opinion.

Of course, recruiting a new member for the Board will be made MUCH easier if a certain Trustee would exit, stage left.

Yes, you know who you are.

We will get a much higher caliber of candidates if people know they will not have to serve with you on the board.

Do us all a favor and resign SOON!

Say what you want about Nelson, but he wasn't the one who quit mid-game. I just can't respect that.

To all you Nelson haters, show a little class. At least
Mr. Nelson sticks to the issues here. If I'm not mistaken it's an elected position, the board. One more point isn't it best to let someone seek the position because they want it. Rather than you recruiting.

It's getting stale, repeating resign Nelson!

Steve Nelson is an aberration who does not posses the skills needed to act like even a marginally polite human being. I'm sorry you're tired of hearing that, but until he is voted out, we will continue to call for his resignation.
He is injuring MV schools. Sorry if that message irritates you, but some of us actually care.
Bullying people who do not agree?!?! Really? Yah, keep apologizing for this broken person, but in my opinion he's a pathetic cowardly half-ling.

Also, I'm glad he reads this board, but I still plan on discussing the matter with him face to face if I have the chance. I reeeally hate bullies and bully behavior. To have it repeatedly happen in our board meetings is disgusting.
I personally don't think he can control his outbursts. I don't think he is in full possession of rational behavior and might not even know what rational behavior really is.

@his bed he lies in it
You sir sound like the bully. You say Mr. Nelson is.

I agree Nelson should resign. I encourage those who feel the same way to be respectful in their comments. Like everyone, Nelson has strengths and flaws. Unfortunately, board service does not show him in his best light. He has repeatedly behaved badly and exposed the district to negative press and financial risk. His resignation is the best path forward for the district and for himself. I hope he'll take it.

No Bud, we're actually calling out and then standing firmly against a bully.
That's very different from bullying. Steve Nelson used bullying to try to get his way in the meetings.
The only agenda the bully defenders have is to have the bully stop his bully behavior. The bully is actually trying to intimidate people in the board meetings. Calling them out as a bully and telling him he's acting like a 3 year old is simply standing up to the bully. Big difference. Seeing someone act like a jerk on the road, and saying "Hey, quit driving like a moron" is not bullying. Seeing someone act like Steve Nelson does and saying "Knock it off, you're an adult, stop acting like complete baby" is also not bullying.