No One Remembers the Ones Who Didn't Stand Up

Think of leaders you most admire. Who might be on that list?

Nelson Mandela
George Washington
Harriet Tubman
Susan B. Anthony

Rosa Parks

Lech Walesa

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Gandhi

One of the things they all have in common is their willingness to stand up for what they believe in. Not necessarily because they were the bravest people out there, but because they realized that they would lose more by NOT acting.

Now is the time to make that decision for yourself. Every choice we make has consequences, both intended and unintended. After examining the possibilities, if you believe that you have more to lose by not acting, please join other non-supervisory SCSD personnel who feel the same way at:

SCSD Be Heard Meeting

St. Daniel’s Church

3004 Court St.

Thursday, February 13th

5:00 PM

Although many building administrators, central office leaders, and community advocates share our concerns, this meeting is open only to non-supervisory staff that work in the buildings. We ask that this stipulation be respected, as this is not a public meeting.

Participants will give input on a plan to address the present safety crisis in the Syracuse City Schools. The meeting will not be about criticizing the superintendent or district leadership. It will not be an attempt to work around STA’s role in protecting teacher’s rights.

We are making the assumption that there is the need for immediate action to make our schools safe and that there is no plan for this. We are filling that vacuum. We are concentrating on one single issue as stated in William Scott's commentary:

Making buildings physically safe for students and teachers.

This will be a proactive meeting intended to develop the framework of a plan that will be submitted through established channels to be considered by the SCSD Board of Education. However, the process will provide for a safe way for participants to let their need for such a plan be known. If you participate, you will become part of the solution to a very serious problem.Together, we will formulate a plan that will be presented to the board and the superintendent. Follow up meetings may include other stakeholders.

We will have some trusted “guest listeners” at our meeting who will bear witness to the integrity of our process and help to carry the story of our efforts forward.

The agenda will be as follows:

1. What this meeting is about, and what it is not about
2. Specific events that demonstrate the need for an immediate plan
3. Data check
4. Input into refining the plan
5. Strategies to keep costs to a minimum
6. Determine leadership to officially refine and present the action plan to the district

If you plan to attend this meeting, please let us know using the email link to the right.