Party hack and Noem appointee Steven Perkins demonstrated his disconnect from the reality of education administration at the Board of Education Standards meeting last week with this response to opposition to the flawed dual-credit formula that he voted to approve:
Perkins said that people who aren’t happy with the state board’s decision should run for their local school boards [Bob Mercer, “State Board Adopts Dual-Credit Uniformity Rule,” KELO-TV, 2023.07.07].
Perkins might as well have told opponents—like Aberdeen superintendent Dr. Becky Guffin, whom he replaced on the Board last February—to go jump in the lake, because a dip in Mina Lake will do about as much to change a Board of Education Standards decision as running for or serving on a local school board. A local school board cannot rescind or revamp a state rule. If you are not happy with the board’s decision on the dual-credit formula, you probably have a good head for numbers and policy and thus would be a great addition to your local school board and absolutely should run next winter or spring when your school district holds its elections, but your running and winning and serving at the local level will not change this state rule.
If you want to translate your unhappiness with this proposed rule into active and effective resistance to this rule, ignore Steven Perkins’s mis-targeted advice. Call the members of the Legislature’s Rules Review Committee, which meets next on July 18 and August 8, and tell them to reject the proposed dual-credit formula.
Can you fellows imagine ol’ grudznick on the RCSB?
You seem like a reasonable fellow, with informed feedback for folks of any persuasion. Just need to kiss the ring, and something tells me your not a ‘ring’ kisser
Grudz, The people best qualified are those with kids in the public schools, or maybe just graduated a few years earlier. Some people get interested in running for school board when they have a particular gripe, as Mr. Perkins seems to be encouraging. Generally, you aren’t going to be a good board member if that’s all you have. Grudz’s S.H. I. T. plan isn’t really a plan, as we found out when I queried Grudz about it.
I have given this some considerable and deep thought. While I feel that despite my granddaughter being way out of high school and not yet creating her own progeny, I know I would be super duper as a member of the RCSB. People tell me this randomly when I am dining out, usually at breakfast but sometimes even at dinner in joints you don’t often see grudznick in.
However, given the limitations on grudznick’s time I have decided it remains best if I continue serving the public as a behind-the-scenes choreographer of the voting members of the RCSB, amongst other bodies.
I do appreciate the thoughtful advice many of you provided here and on the telephones.