Candidates For Bridgeport Spaulding School Board Seats This November 8th, 2016

MLive has a voters guide out for the November election.  They have a listing of each of the candidates for the Bridgeport Spaulding School Board, including their answers to questions about why they are running etc...  There are four seats open and five candidates running.  Please choose wisely Bridgeport - The future of our district depends on it.

There is only one candidate that I know that I and my family members will be voting for.  That is Marti Sageman.  Mrs. Sageman has dedicated decades to this school district and the future of our children, and also the community of Bridgeport.  I know that Mrs. Sageman is NOT in it for self glorification or power, but is in it for her love for our children and the future of our community.

Bridgeport Spaulding School Board Candidates - MLive

Being A Team Player

Most people think of sports teams when you talk about a team player but it also applies to any work setting, organizations, families, and society as a whole.  What is teamwork?  In the words of Vince Lombardi: "Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work."

What behaviors or characteristics make for a bad team player?  Here are a few that I can think of.

- A team member that shares confidential or sensitive information about other members of their team or situations going on within the team with someone that is not part of the team.  Especially if the goal for doing so is to undermine another member of the team.
- A team member that either cannot or makes no effort to hide their dislike of or frustrations with other members of the team.  When the disharmony becomes obvious to the public, perhaps it is time for that team member to step aside.
- A team member that would rather push aside, ignore, or drive out other team members instead of making the effort to get all members working together as a whole for the betterment of the organization.  Working together as a team requires dedication to the cause, if you can't step up to the task or are not willing to, then maybe you should not be a member of that team.

When looking for new members of a team, these are some characteristics in people that you may want to avoid.

- A person that thinks they are better or smarter than others. A braggart.  Know it all's and braggarts tend to never make good team players, they are a one man show, grandstanders.  If they do become part of a team, they most likely will never be content until they are the top dog, the one running the show.  And they tend to step on anyone who stands in their way.  Know it all's also tend to be some of the dumbest people in the world.  Braggarts also tend to exaggerate the truth especially about themselves.
- A person that says things about others like "We can't control him" or "He doesn't see things our way".  Also things like "I think we have him under control now" and "I think he is seeing things our way now".   Those are not the words of a team player, they are the words of a controlling person that will never be able to work together as a equal with others in a team setting.  It will always be their way or the highway.
-  A person that makes accusations against other people with no facts to back up the accusations, only speculation.  Maybe the basis for the allegations lies within their own goals?  What was their true goal?  If they are willing to make accusations against others with no proof, what will happen when they become part of a team?  Will they continue their ranting, grandstanding, accusation slinging ways within the team?
- A person that inflicts harm on others and then revels in watching their suffering.  Revels to the point that they brag about it to others and want others to join in the revelry in watching another suffer. 
- A person that will not admit when they are wrong or apologize for their actions that harmed others.
- A person that wants to be a team player, part of an organization, should be happy for any successes or benefits that come to the organization.  If they belittle or ignore any good events that benefit the entire organization, then it would appear that they don't really care about the betterment of the organization.  Is it  due to petty dislikes or petty jealousies? Is it because they are not the ones who will get the credit? 
- A person that belittles another's accomplishments or successes in any situation.  Petty shallow people never make good team players.
- A person that will participate in underhanded, backstabbing, backdoor dealing, ethic violating ways with a goal to undermine and destroy others that are members of a team. If they are willing to do those things from outside the team, imagine what they will do if they ever actually become part of the team?  Team members should be very wary of people like this!!
- A person that sees their own glory, their imaginary fame, rather than the truth about a situation as the main goal or result of their actions.  EX: "My video will go viral"  "I'm going to be on all the national news shows"
- A person that is dishonest.  A person that lacks morals and conscience.  A person that shows no remorse whatsoever for wrongs they have committed.  A person that shows no understanding, no empathy, no compassion towards others.

Bridgeport Spaulding School Board Meeting October 24th, 2016

There was another Bridgeport School Board meeting tonight but I only stayed for part of it. There were no speakers during the public comment period. There was an update/presentation by the schools accounting firm of Yeo & Yeo. They also held a workshop for the school board members with a member of the MASB. I only stayed for part of that. I didn't include it with this very brief video because it was only part of the workshop, also probably is of no interest to the public and the audio is too low to hear for most of it. It was going to be a long workshop and the longer videos take too long to upload etc...
There was nothing else on the agenda for the evening after the workshop.

**updated February 3rd, 2017 - I did add the video that includes the part of the workshop from the MASB.  It is the second video below**

Bridgeport Spaulding School Board Meeting October 10th, 2016

On the agenda:
- Blueprint for Rapid Turnaround Overview begins at 2:26
- Priority School Quarterly Report begins at 19:40
- Curriculum Committee Report begins at 33:41
- Consent Agenda: Payment of bills etc... begins at 49:25
- Personnel Report & Hiring of new Athletic Director begins at 50:20
- Board and Superintendent Comments begin at 54:08
© 2016 Carla Citizen All Rights Reserved

Sorry I am two weeks late in sharing this video here.

Don't Be A Tool

Are you a tool or just being used as a tool by another?  What is the definition of tool?  There are so many definitions and usage for the word because it is a slang term.  Here are a few:

- an offensive comment, mainly aimed towards the male of the species, when one is being particularly nasty, stupid, or facetious.
- A tool is a dick, both in the literal sense (genitalia) and in describing someone who's unpleasant or full of themselves.
 - ...being a tool means being pompous or infatuated with oneself, whereas the urban dictionary and wiktionary write that it means one is being used without knowing it.
- When someone is called a tool, it indicates that they lack personal convictions, and generally go along with what they believe is expected of them without bothering to question the higher purpose. 
- One who lacks the mental capacity to know he is being used. A fool. A cretin. Characterized by low intelligence and/or self-esteem. 


A few hypothetical situations that might involve being a tool:

-  Perhaps someone like a public official, lets call them Person A, wants to smear another person.  They can't do that publicly without making themselves look bad, petty, so they enlist the help of another person, lets call them Person B.  So Person A and Person B devise a plan where A will make a brief reference to something that was said but doesn't follow through on it any further in their remarks.  Then Person B reacts to that slight reference by asking for a little more information and then they plan on requesting something like maybe a copy of a letter or email that may contain the information or remarks or whatever that was "briefly" referenced by A.  Now the plan is that B will then try to enlist another person, lets call them Person C, to use as an accomplice to help A and B publicly smear another person.  The plan is for C to share the "information" on something like a public forum.
So in this hypothetical situation, Persons A and B are "the tools" and Person C is the one being used as the tool.  But if Person C wises up and gets tired of being used as a tool by others just to achieve their dirty little deeds, then the plan fails and Person C is no longer a tool.

- Person A comes in contact with Person B in some kind of situation and sees that B is in a desperate state and needs some help.  This provides an opportunity for A to offer assistance to B and thus they ingratiate themselves to B.  And maybe there is even a Person C.  In both cases A will ingratiate themselves with only a goal of self enrichment in the end.  Maybe their goal is financial enrichment through a crime like insurance fraud, or maybe even theft from one of the desperate persons needing help.
So in this hypothetical situation, Person A is "the tool" and persons B and C are the unwitting tools being used by A.

So are you "The Tool" or are you the one being used as the "Tool".  My advice is to open your eyes and wise up, don't be used as the tool.  Once you wake up and quit being used as a tool by others, they will turn on you.  So anyone who joins in and helps the user, don't cry when they turn on you too.  That is what users do.  And if you are a willing participant in the dirty deeds of a user, you deserve what happens.
 

Thieves and Liars, Liars and Thieves

What makes people steal?  

You can read all kinds of research where they try to explain the psychological reasons for stealing.  Some of it is interesting and may be right:  

"Stealing becomes an issue when the person doing the stealing is old enough to know better. Sometimes children under the age of five take objects that interest them, not yet understanding that stealing is wrong. They might not have enough self-control to resist taking something they want.
For those old enough to know better, there are several reasons for stealing. Stealing may be caused by jealousy, low self-esteem, or peer-pressure. Social issues like feeling excluded or overlooked can also cause stealing. People may steal to prove their independence, to act out against family or friends, or because they do not respect others or themselves,
Sometimes, stealing is a compulsive disorder. This is called kleptomania. In other cases, a person may have come to believe that stealing is socially acceptable. Some people steal as a means to survive due to economic hardship. Others simply enjoy the rush of stealing, or steal to fill an emotional or physical void in their lives."
http://www.healthline.com/health/stealing#Overview1 

 There is an interesting article on Forbes about stealing:
"The research suggests something telling about how we rationalize behavior given changing circumstances: moral behavior shifts when moral standards shift, and we’re chronically unaware of how frequently we shift our moral standards.  Even brief financial deprivation—or the perception of it—can trigger a shift in moral standards.
Alter calls this a shift to “transient ‘new’ moral standards,” and we’re lighting fast at coming up with reasons to justify the shift, even while we’re likely to criticize someone else for doing the same thing.
It’s this human proneness to shifting moral standards that makes deciphering the motivations of questionable behavior less than crystal clear.  Very seldom do regular people—those not sporting a criminal rap sheet—do something “just because they could.” Our justifying brains are busy working out a skewed calculus to rationalize our behavior even if we’re not consciously thinking it through."
Whether Rich Or Poor, Feeling Deprived Makes Us Steal More

What do I think causes a person to steal?  I think some people are just outright low life scum with no morals or conscience.  And from some recent personal experience, that Thieves and Liars tend to go hand in hand.

Thursday Truths

 

Bridgeport Spaulding School Board Meeting September 12th, 2016

On the agenda:
- Citizen Participation begins at 0:40
- Agenda Adjustments begins at 2:47
- Consent Agenda- payment of bills, approval of minutes begins at 4:11
- Tax Rate Request begins at 11:14
- Draft Participation Policy? begins at 13:57
- Board Member Comments begin at 15:10
- Comments by Mr. Lagalo concerning the actions of several players on the varsity football team begins at 32:47
© 2016 Carla Citizen All Rights Reserved

During the citizen participation period Bridgeport resident Heather McLeod introduced herself to the board.  She is running for for Saginaw County Treasurer office this year.  She had some nice things to say about Bridgeport Schools and the impact they had on her life.

They discussed some business items like payment of bills etc..   There was also a discussion about the tax rate request.  It is hard to hear and hard to follow the discussion.  Basically the millage rate  on the winter tax bill will go from 5.02 to 6.0 for one year.  There was also some discussion about other items that may end up on the ballot in the future.

Again I would like to encourage everyone to listen to the board member comments.  They usually share good information about things going on.  Several of the members did share their views on an incident that happened before the September 9th football game.  There has been a lot of discussion online about the incident, some good and some kind of ugly.  I understand the various views on the matter.  The board members had some good comments about it, shared some valid concerns about it.  Mr. Lagalo did address how it has been handled by the school and how the students will behave in the future.  I just hope that people remember that these are kids/young adults and they will make some good decisions and some not so good decisions.  I remember life at their age and though it is a wonderful time in their lives, it is also a struggle.  So glad I survived that period of my life despite some of the bad decisions I made.  For the record - I disagree with the action they took but I also understand where they were coming from, and I fully support their right to do what they did.

Mr. Allen also shared some information about a upcoming contest that will be held by Independent Bank.  It is called Investing In Youth.  Schools can be nominated right now and then voting for the winner will be held during October.  The winners will be awarded a $5,000 grant.  Hope to see all of Bridgeport rally behind our school in October and vote for the Bearcats!!

Bridgeport Township Board Meeting September 6th, 2016

On the agenda:
Cheryl Hadsall presentation begins at 3:10
Special Orders -
1. Public Hearing - Flint River Dike Special Assessment District Roll begins at 7:20
Public Comment  begins at 12:11
Unfinished Business -
1. Resolution R16-08 Flint River Dike Special Assessment District Roll begins at 17:35
Board Member Comments begin at 19:59
© 2016 Carla Citizen All Rights Reserved

I will try to write a blog post about the meeting in a day or two.  Lots of good information shared by Cheryl Hadsall, Larry Ford from the Birch Run/Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce during the public comment period.  Also by the Township Manager Rose Licht in the closing board member comments.

Racism In Bridgeport - Yes, No?

This is a follow up to something that was brought up at the Monday August 22nd school board meeting.  I saw a discussion online over the weekend that made me think more about the subject of racism and specifically pertaining to it here in Bridgeport and from our school board.  I could list the official definition of racism or all the incidents of it throughout history in our world, but instead I will share my view of it.  I believe it is born of ignorance and empty hearts by people that are not "color blind" but instead are "blinded by color".  It is real and has been in existence in our world throughout our long history and used against many ethnic groups, not just one group.

This weekend I saw a discussion on the Facebook page for the Bridgeport Alumni.  The football coach had shared a photo to promote the calendar used for fundraising for the football team.  In the photo you can see that all the players are black.  Let me also add that I don't like the term black or African American or colored -- They are labels, and I don't feel that any person should be identified by a label.  Labels I feel minimize the uniqueness and humanity of an individual.  The only label I do like is "my fellow man".
A Bridgeport alumni made a remark on that photo/post that I think most people would automatically perceive as a racist remark.  I perceived it as a racist remark which is why I took several screenshots of the conversation.  I do not know this person that made the original remark so I do not know what is truly in his heart. Maybe he did not mean it in a racist way or did not believe it was racist.  I heard there was more conversation on this post after I took these screenshots but it was deleted before I saw it all.  I will share here what I did see.  I will say that this is not the first time I have seen a comment on the alumni page that I perceived as racist.  There have been a couple remarks in the past but I will add that it was only a couple.  But to see them, and see them used against children, is heartbreaking.  To see those remarks made by Bridgeport Alumni or parents makes me sad.  Here are the two screenshots that I took of the conversation: click on the photos to see the conversation

I have always viewed Bridgeport as a open and welcoming community.  I suspect that racism does exist here more than I would like to believe.  I don't personally see it because I don't associate with people that are racist.  This year I have not been able to attend a single community event, have not been out and about speaking with people in this community.  Just because I or other people don't see it doesn't mean racism does not exist.  I am sorry for anyone in our community that has had to suffer because of the ignorance of small minds and hearts.

So yes racism is real and no acts of racism should ever be allowed to stand unchallenged.  Racism should never be minimized either.  The word racist is a very very powerful word and it also should never be used lightly. That word has the power to permanently tarnish or destroy a person. To call a person or an act racist when it may not be the true case, I feel just succeeds in marginalizing the true and serious acts of racism.

Now back to racism and our school board.  There were several meetings that I was not able to attend and the terms "race based"and "racism" where used there. One of the meetings I heard even had the term "racist" used towards other board members.  I have had to ask around about these incidents and so the information I am sharing here is second hand.

First there was a regular school board meeting that I was not able to attend.  I don't know for sure what date this meeting was held because I have missed several.  I believe it involved the hiring of the new assistant principal for the high school.  My understanding is that this woman is black.  I don't know the whole backstory to who all may have applied, what their qualifications were, why this woman was chosen.  What I have heard is that she was hired by a vote of 4 to 3.  One or more of the  3 members that voted no were then accused of being racist by another of the school board members.  This was done publicly during this meeting.  I feel that it was a highly inappropriate and irresponsible thing to do!!  I suspect the lack of communication and the division that I see as a real problem with this board plays a part in all of this.  If one or more of our school board members request more information, wants to know what an applicants qualifications are, and those board members just happen to be white -- That does not make their request or decision to vote no a racist act!!  That is ignorance to assume it is automatically racist because those board members were white!!   I would expect all of our board members to make sure that they are well informed and are making the best decision possible for the future of our school district.  If they are going to be accused of being racist every time they do something that another board member does not agree with, that will make this board nonfunctional.  One or more of these board members may have felt that way personally but it never should have been said publicly during that meeting.  I would ask that board member to truly check their heart and think long and hard before they ever make that kind of accusation again.
I have also heard that a board member said something along the line of "we should be hiring more blacks" or "we should be hiring only blacks".  I don't know the exact words spoken or the context of the statement.  I agree that diversity is a good thing.  But what if the minority person being hired is not the best person for the job?  What good is achieved in the long run then?  Bridgeport schools are at a critical point in their future and they need the most qualified people that will have the most positive impact.  Every applicant should be hired based on their qualifications only, not the color of their skin. We are right back to being blinded by color.  I believe that we are all human, brothers and sisters, all God's children.  I judge people by their heart and soul, not the color of their skin.  Until all of mankind can view their fellow man color blind, we will not make any progress.

There was also the workshop/retreat that the school board members participated in back in July of this year.  Four of the board members were able to attend, Pat Nelson, Robert Lange, Dempsey Allen, Tedi Morris.  Three members were unable to attend, Marti Sagemanm Larry Long, Jay Bruns.  Some of the things discussed at this retreat were their concerns about and plans for the future of  the school board.  At the August 22nd school board meeting Deb Macon from the MASB gave a presentation and shared many excellent things and also the "concerns" expressed by those board members in attendance at the retreat.  The concerns expressed by some of the attending board members were their own opinions and perceptions.  Once they share those thoughts publicly and especially once those thoughts were shared by the MASB member during the meeting on the 22nd, they are then being perceived as accusations.  When it is shared and becomes an accusation, and being made by someone that is a person of authority, or someone held in esteem, like our school board members, then that accusation will more likely be assumed to be true by the public.  I don't feel that those thoughts about "race based" or "racism" should have been shared publicly during that meeting on the 22nd.  That was perceived by me and others in this community as accusations being made against some of our board members and whoever those comments may have been directed towards were unable to defend themselves against it during that board meeting.
JUST BECAUSE AN ACCUSATION IS MADE DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MAKE THAT ACCUSATION TRUE!!  All you have to do is look at recent events over the last year involving our school board and even in our sad national politics to understand that an accusation is not the same as the truth!!

I would like to remind every one of our school board members that your words and acts are setting an example for our children here, so choose your words wisely and set an example that will be good for them to follow.