Via a Ken Syke email:
To support parent organizations in their work, the school district is now providing a vehicle to communicate with one another — an online forum. It’s meant to provide support and assistance so that you can communicate about whatever issues you wish.
It’s also something that you can use, or not use.
It is intended for those who are presidents of school parent organizations. This can be one, two or, in some schools, even more persons.
This is being sent to all persons whom the Public Information Office has as a “Parent Group President”. If you are not in that role this year, let us know and tell us the e-mail address for the current leader. We will be adding and deleting names as new presidents are determined.
Here’s how it will go from here.
Chris Burch ( cburch@madison.k12.wi.us ) in the Public Information office of the district, is the administrator of the Parent Organization forum. After he creates a forum account for you, you will receive an e-mail message from him with your Username and Password. Please hang on to this information. The message will say that your account is inactive.
Once Chris activates your account, you will receive another e-mail message from him letting you know that your account is now active, and you can log in with the information contained in the first e-mail.
The forum is located at:
http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/parents/forum/
Only members of the forum can read, write and reply to posts in the forum, and accounts will only be created by the administrator. This assures that your messages will be read only by fellow parent organization presidents/leaders. Chris is the only MMSD staff person who will have access.
You can Log In at the above address using the last link at the top of the page. Once you log in, you can change your password by clicking on the “Profile” link at the top of the page. Enter your old password, and then your new password 2 times.
Also, if you would like your posts to have some identifying information on them, such as your name, enter what you would like in the “Signature” text area. The text in this box will be added at the end of your forum posts.
Once you are done making changes to your Profile, click on the “Submit” button at the bottom of your page. YOUR CHANGES WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL YOU CLICK ON THE SUBMIT BUTTON.
When you are done using the forum, you can click on the “Log out” link at the top of your page, or simply close your browser.
If you have any questions on how to use the forum, please e-mail Chris at cburch@madison.k12.wi.us or call him at 663-1916.
If you wish to give us some feedback on this concept, now or in the future, please e-mail me. Thanks.
Ken Syke
Ken Syke
Public Information
Madison School District
voice 663 1903; cell 608 575 6682; fax 608 204 0342
I think this is a fabulous idea! It will be great for PTO’s around the district to have a resource for ideas and sharing concerns.
As the program progresses, depending on the focus or ideas shared, I hope to see the district expand the forum. There are many parents and leaders within each of our schools. I would like the communication to expand if it goes well.
You’re right, Marisue. Improved communication among school leaders should improve the MMSD.
Isn’t this forum similar to a meeting and isn’t it required by law that it be “open”? In other words, why can’t others “read” if not “participate” in the forum if they are taxpayers in Madison? I understand the difficulty of everyone being able to “post” because it would defeat the ease of “presidents” to be able to communicate with one another due to large numbers of posts. BUT, I do believe that they are conducting a meeting-so everyone should be able to “listen in”. I may be totally wrong here, and if I am, I stand corrected.
On that note, I think it’s an excellent idea to have open communication. Does this mean that someone in the “district” will also be able to read (and share) the discussions? I’ve been reading posts for awhile, so I may just be getting paranoid and a bit cynical.
Unless PTO leaders are “elected officials” as defined by Wisconsin Law, then no, I don’t think so.
BOE meetings need to be defined as you state unless closed sessions are necessary.
I’m assuming this can be for PTO elected officials alone. I guess however, this may be dependant on the bylaws defined by each organization and how they have defined their organizational status. If so defined, I guess the individual PTO’s could opt out, but that would be disappointing. I’d like to see communication develop across the district. This is one way to get it started.