In regards to being open to meetings: I recall Mr. Watson getting up and walking out on a group of concerned parents with whom he was meeting last year in order to meet with a senior for his exit interview. Why schedule two meetings simultaneously? Was it an escape tactic? Or was it just rude?
In regards to private meetings: That was an utter waste of time. Teacher concerns were ignored. Parent concerns have been ignored. Yes, when the Multi-cultural Parents Association pushed two years ago, the school finally agreed to interview and hire someone to take over Josie Herrera’s position. It took a letter to the Board such as this one to make that happen. The person who was hired was the one least likely to succeed, in spite of excellent credentials. Additionally, I have no idea how much support she was given to actually succeed in her position…but I digress.
I thank Mr. Hibbett for devoting so much time to interviewing people in the community and putting this web-package together for all of us who are too cowed, too scared, or too frustrated by past attempts to try to discuss a variety of issues and concerns with Mr. Watson, Mr. Honneger, Mrs. Lipkowitz. Today’s faculty tells me that too often their concerns have been met with reprisals or punishments. Today’s parents tell me that their concerns have been met with comments like, “Thank you very much, we’ll see what we can do,” (if that).
Finally, if sending out school-related or e-mails regarding the health of the school without blinding the recipients email addresses is an offense, I can share with you a long list of emails coming from aa.edu mailboxes that could be subject to whatever punitive action Mr. Honneger is hinting at.