Dear Reader: Before you take a look at this report, ask yourself these questions:
Why didn't I get any notice from SAA of its 2021 Constituency Meeting?
Why isn’t there an official, authorized report published by SAA or Spencerville Church to the school community about this meeting?
Why do I have to go to an unofficial, unauthorized blog to find a report on the important information and Q&A from the 2021 SAA Constituency Meeting?
For more context on the SAA Constituency Meeting and this report, review our series of posts by clicking on any of the following:
Our Summary Report on the 2021 SAA Constituency Meeting
SAA held its annual Constituency Meeting on June 15, 2021. Eyes on SAA has prepared this Summary Report in Sections A through E. Each section gives a summary description of what was presented, asked, or commented. In upcoming posts we will report details on each of Sections A through E, giving you our running commentary as well. Before we begin, we thank our contributors that gathered and provided information, documents, and notes for us to prepare this series of reports.
Agenda for 2021 Constituency Meeting (provided to delegates only):
Official Minutes for 2019 Constituency Meeting (provided to delegates only):
Section A: Principal’s Report
1. School accreditation.
2. School enrollment.
3. COVID-19 precautions.
4. New educational standards.
5. Teachers’ continuing education and training.
6. Inclusivity and diversity training and curricular implementation.
7. Staff changes (separations and hires).
8. Spiritual curricular programming.
9. Academic curricular programming.
10. STEM certification.
11. New standardized testing.
12. Athletics (extramural and intramural).
13. Fine arts.
14. Graduation ceremonies.
15. Marketing and strategic planning.
Section B: Delegate Questions & Comments on Principal’s Report
1. Critical Race Theory (CRT) propaganda was assigned in high school English classes.
2. Why were parents blocked from addressing CRT concerns to SAA Board meetings?
3. Political bias and racial privilege is being expressed by teachers in the classroom. What will be done about this?
4. SAA School Board members are unknown and undisclosed. Why?
5. SAA School Board meetings are not really publicized or accessible. Why?
6. There is a closed and backroom selection of SAA School Board members. Why?
7. There are no term limits for board members. Why?
8. A Parent-Teacher Association is needed.
9. There is a need for restoration and healing of relationships among Freshmen affected by CRT propaganda.
10. SAA’s curriculum must follow Biblical foundation, not insert biased opinions on controversial political or social issues by staff.
11. SAA must pledge transparency by publishing all its curriculum materials in advance.
12. Inquiry was made on the protocol for parental grievances.
13. Proposal of policy/requirement of Teacher/Administrator neutrality on political matters.
14. Suggestions on effectively addressing widespread parental concerns (group meetings instead of meetings with individual parents)
15. We need to be counter-cultural in a sinful world, not follow society’s patterns.
16. Our teachers should be given adequately preparation to address controversial issues in the classroom.
17. A parent’s general reference to a past “racial incident” at SAA (without details).
18. There is a cloud hanging over school because of personnel and curriculum decisions.
19. SAA has a history and pattern of not giving parents chances to be heard on grievances.
Section C: Financial Report
GCAS Audit Opinion of SAA Accounting Statement (provided to delegates only):
1. Finance Committee responsibilities.
2. GCAS (General Conference Auditing Service) Financial Audit.
3. Liabilities.
4. Income/Expenses.
5. Positive Audit Reports.
6. Working Capital Threshold.
7. Financial challenges facing school.
8. Financial aid to families.
9. Tuition freeze for 2021-2022.
10. Personnel salaries make up biggest financial expense.
Section D: Home & School Association (HSA) Report.
1. Introduction of HSA Officers.
2. HSA Events
Section E: Non-Delegate Question Period
1. What consideration will be given to forming a Parent-Teacher Association?
2. How was Judie Rosa’s termination on April 1 in the school’s best interests?
3. Expression of appreciation of SAA Staff.
4. Is there a policy on teacher neutrality on political matters?
Eyes On SAA's Report Card for the 2021 SAA Constituency Meeting:
We will explain our reasons for these grades in upcoming posts that will also report details on Sections A through E along with our running commentary as well.
Eyes On SAA's Report Card:
The Principal’s Report: C
Delegate Questions/Comments: A
HSA Report: B
Financial Report: A
Non-Delegate Questions/Comments: A
Overall Constituency Meeting Delegate Selection, Transparency, and Accessibility: F
We hope you found this Summary Report informative and helpful, and that it raises enough interest for you to stay tuned for the more detailed reporting coming very soon. We think that every student, parent, teacher, and administrator should know about these things. We think that every constituent member at the Spencerville SDA Church should know about it as well. Evidently SAA does not agree since it has provided no such report and did nothing to let the school community know this important meeting was even taking place.
You may show your gratitude by subscribing to this blog, contacting us with news and information of concern to you about SAA’s programs and operations, and finally by sharing the link to this report on social media and directly with other members of the SAA Community so that they can know more about the product that they are purchasing at SAA, and take an active role in making it better with their observations and feedback.
Again, we thank our contributors that gathered and provided information, documents, and notes for us to prepare this series of reports. You are the lifeblood of Eyes On SAA and are contributing to the important work of bringing change and improvement to this school that we all care about. If the SAA of the future could speak today it would say "thank you" and that it is in your debt for your love and courage.
Shining Light. Breaking Silence. Holding Accountable. We’ve got Eyes On SAA.
-Lillian Hepburn-Richmond
(A Cohort of Concerned Parents)
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