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Home > Blogs > Mason and Kings Schools News and Issues > Archives > 2008 > May > 28 > Entry
Has Mason CARE gone too far?
If you attended or heard about the Tuesday, May 27 Mason City Schools Board of Education meeting, you know what I’m about to say.
Mason resident John Meyer and his Mason Citizens for Accountability and Results in Education group is getting under the district’s skin.
In case you weren’t at the meeting, here’s a brief recap:
Meyer blasted Superintendent Kevin Bright during the hearing of the public for allegedly not investigating Meyer’s inquiries about resigned music teacher Adam Brown’s alleged involvement with a female student at Sycamore High School a few years ago.
He went on to accuse administrators of promoting a teacher who admitted to lying about serving alcohol to students before he came to the district instead of punishing the teacher.
To go even further, Meyer said he didn’t trust board President Connie Yingling to protect students against such teachers because her son, Ryan, had been convicted on four counts of sexual battery of two children under the age of 10 when he was 15 in 1997.
The straw that broke the camel’s back: Meyer to Yingling, “You couldn’t even protect your neighbors from your own son.”
Among other administrators, Bright was visibly shaken by Meyer’s comments to Yingling. He sat with an open mouth and wide eyes before Meyer said he didn’t know why Bright was surprised at the comments.
Board member Kevin Wise asked for a brief recess to allow Meyer to leave when Yingling cut short his participation in the hearing of the public.
Meyer and CARE member Sharon Poe participate in the hearing of the public every meeting, usually the second and fourth Tuesday every month. Poe, who spoke Tuesday just prior to Meyer, said Mason administrators were failing at the task of protecting students.
Many audience members, who were teachers, students or random Mason residents, gasped at Meyer’s comments and had side-bar discussions about his tactics.
“I am literally appalled at Mr. Meyer’s comments,” Bright said. “I wonder at what point this community will say, ‘Enough. Enough of this stuff.”
Some community members have said CARE’s mission doesn’t match its name. What’s your opinion?
The group claims to be in existence to hold administrators accountable for their actions and to ensure the schools are producing students who can compete in the real world.
What are some effective ways for citizens to make sure school officials maintain accountability to taxpayers and the students they serve?
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