Common Sense in Education

11/07/2018

Common Sense in Education extends congratulations to those who have been elected to serve on the Williamston Community Schools Board of Education.

Our desire is Board members will be successful in writing policy that will always include parental rights and protect all students. The work ahead will be difficult, but we have confidence they will work together as one Board to bring the community together again.

11/06/2018

Today is Election Day!

All the hard work, sweat, and tears will pay off today. Don't forget to vote and tell your friends, too!

Our endorsements for Williamston Community Schools Board of Education are:

Karen Potter, MA Ed., CSP for Williamston School Board
Hagelberger for WCS School Board
Hutchison for Williamston School Board Member
Walter Holm for Williamston School Board
Julie Conley for Williamston School Board

11/05/2018

Great interview this morning with a WCS District parent on The Steve Gruber Show.

Listen about the history of the flawed policy passed by the Board of Education, the efforts of parents and citizens in the community to have our voices heard, and the revelation of how this was nothing more then an agenda driven and politically motivated issue by people who don't represent our community.

Lori Johnecheck, spokesperson for the school board recall efforts in Williamston, MI, gives an update. Concerned residents have been fighting for parental rights, student privacy and representative local government since October 2017. They hope to unseat f...

11/04/2018

Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 6!

We want candidates who will restore trust in our community, bring back common sense in education, and not be motivated by outside groups or organizations who don't represent us in the WCS District.

11/03/2018

The divide in our community is detailed really well in this WILX News 10 story done yesterday.

It's an unfortunate situation brought about by a Board of Education who disregarded the concerns and broke the trust of parents, students, and caregivers. Worse still was the political and outside district agenda driven motivation which steered the recalled Board members decisions.

This isn't who we are as a community and that trust can only be restored and healing begun with a fresh start. It's why we support Karen Potter, MA Ed., CSP for Williamston School Board, Hagelberger for WCS School Board, Hutchison for Williamston School Board Member, and Walter Holm for Williamston School Board for WCS Board of Education this Tuesday on Election Day.

Long-time political observers say America is as divided now as it's ever been, and it's not just national and state elections. A local race that has a small town divided. The school board recall elections in Williamston are so divisive that we're told some family members are barely speaking to each....

11/02/2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEv8YJAW-24

Common Sense in Education was able to catch up with the candidates on the campaign trail. This is the video that we streamed and answered questions live on Thursday night.

10/30/2018

Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 6!

We want candidates who will restore trust in our community, bring back common sense in education, and not be motivated by outside groups or organizations who don't represent us in the WCS District.

We endorse Karen Potter, MA Ed., CSP for Williamston School Board, Walter Holm for Williamston School Board, Hutchison for Williamston School Board Member, and Hagelberger for WCS School Board for WCS Board of Education. In addition, we also endorse Julie Conley for Williamston School Board, Jeffrey S. West- Retain Trustee for Williamston School Board, and Scott Gaffner.

10/25/2018

We agree!

Parents must be involved in all aspects of their children's lives - no matter the topic. 18 year old students and emancipated children are already protected by law to make their own decisions. "And/Or" language in policy 8011 is not needed and only opens up negative interpretations for the rights of parents and caregivers.

Parents are NOT optional when it comes to their kids.

10/23/2018

As absentee ballots are being filled out and mailed in, we thought we would lend some helpful advice to those who have still not voted. The Secretary of State has some tips about absentee voting which you can access in the link below.

The recall election portion is a little different as the laws changed recently. It used to be a 2-step recall process but now there is just one election and you vote for the person you want to win.

We want candidates who will bring back commonsense in education and we endorse Karen Potter, MA Ed., CSP for Williamston School Board, Walter Holm for Williamston School Board, Hutchison for Williamston School Board Member, and Hagelberger for WCS School Board for WCS Board of Education. In addition, we also endorse Julie Conley for Williamston School Board, Jeffrey S. West- Retain Trustee for Williamston School Board, and Scott Gaffner. See the image for an example of the ballot and how it should be filled in.

https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_8716_8728-21037--,00.html

10/22/2018

Common Sense in Education is proud to announce more support from a long time member of our community:

"As someone born and raised in Williamston, this community will always be my home. As a former WCS Board of Education member, I know how important it is that policy is crafted correctly and without ambiguity. Those who sit on the school board are entrusted with the responsibility that parents will never question whether or not something is happening without our knowledge. It is unfortunate that policies were passed that have brought so much doubt about this very thing.

As a result, I wholeheartedly support and endorse Karen Potter, Craig Hagelberger, Walt Holm, Debbie Hutchison, and Jeff West for WCS Board of Education. I believe their past experiences and leadership will serve them well on the Board and restore trust to the people of the Williamston community.

Tim Grant
Former WCS Board of Education member"

10/22/2018

The current WCS Board of Education has failed at being a good school board. The Michigan Association of School Boards has published 17 points that make a “good board member”. Of the 17 points set forth, the four recalled board members have failed at 8 of them (see the image to read for yourself or visit the link below). If they were being judged like our kids via a report card, their score would be 47%. That's failing and another reason why they need to be replaced.

The community has spoken and the current Board did not encourage community input, they did not safeguard the school for ALL children, and they missed the fact that their decisions have a tremendous impact on the District. THEY SURRENDERED TO SPECIAL INTERESTS AND POLITICAL GROUPS (e.g. Equality Michigan). The Board did not heed the community's words and it impacted the districts image and integrity in a negative light. They did not listen thoughtfully nor act respectfully toward others.

The recall is done and now it is time to vote in the candidates that will truly make a good board. Common Sense in Education supports and wants the community to vote for candidates that will help heal and move past this divisive time.



https://www.masb.org/Portals/0/Member_Center/Publications_and_Media/Toolkits/Filling_a_Board_Vacancy.pdf

10/20/2018

Supporters of the recalled WCS Board of Education members often say there is not an overwhelming opposition to Policy 8011. This, despite the FOIA'd communications to the Board which clearly demonstrate a 80-20% rejection of the policy from residents within the District.

The reason they challenge the facts is because they are trying to misguide people and normalize something that the public just does not want in the schools. The truth is, not only are these figures confirmed, but came from the Board itself.

Listen for yourself.

Listen to the entire conversation here: https://youtu.be/FdGOIvciCwU The board... not the "re-callers"! The board knew that they did not have community suppo...