So the new tactic for anti SB2 is..... just don’t let them vote!

There is an article in today’s (February 17, 2009) Citizen regarding the Interlakes School District SB2 hearings. The MCA commentary is in blue.

A citizen (from Moultonborough) said “"I was floored, II just walked out of there and I was like 'Wow, my opinion matters, my vote matters.' You wind up in the end with a better product because you know more. That town meeting is part of what makes New Hampshire New Hampshire.". Great. In SB2 Town Meetings (called deliberative sessions,) your opinion also matters, your vote matters and it is a big part of what makes New Hampshire New Hampshire because the rules are exactly the same as Town Meeting.  And we most definitely agree that you wind up with a better product because you know more: with SB2 you will have 30 days to understand and be a better informed voter before voting on all the articles.

A Center Harbor Selectman said, while traveling around the state as part of his job, he has spoken to people in SB2 communities about the process and "nine times out of 10 they'll say it really doesn't work all that well," Really? 9 out of 10? That would be 90%! It only takes 60% to approve or rescind SB2. Then why have no School Districts and only 3 Towns ever rescinded SB2? Two of those 3 Towns by the way are smaller than 400 people. Orange (pop. 300) in 1999 and Dorchester (pop. 353) in 1999.Enfield (pop. 4500) rescinded SB2 in 2001. In the words of a famous cartoon rabbit “That’s all folks”!

"It truly empowers people," said a Center Harbor resident and former school board member “When you leave a school district meeting or a town meeting, you don't feel you're just one 'X' in a box in a voting booth." You will feel the same way after an SB2 Town Meeting. But you know what will be different? Everyone who is registered to vote will get to place an ‘X’ in a box in a voting booth. Can’t do that at Town Meeting. I guess those who don’t get to go to Town Meeting are just not allowed to be empowered.

A resident said that while many people's schedules today are busy, if someone takes enough interest in the (Town) meeting "you're going to make the time to go."  But they don’t because many cannot and do not want to.  In 2006 in Moultonborough a whopping 78 voters (under 2% of registered voters) showed up at the School District annual meeting. 103 showed up in 2007. The town annual meeting was 285 in 2006 and 340 in 2007.
"I felt the people put a trust in me to do (the job) and it's almost as though they're not trusting the people you voted in that position to do the job," a former school board member said. "If you can't make it to the meeting, you can vote for your representatives." Now we get to the heart of the anti SB2 debate. Read the previous statement and then read this one. That’s right. They contradict one another. Make the time to go so your vote will count and then you don’t need to vote, we’ve got you covered. Sorry, I want everyone who is registered to vote to vote, not just a small minority.

Former School Board Member and also Chair said anyone has the opportunity to be informed in the period from when the draft budget is put out and district meeting. He said people can speak opinions, ask questions on the budget and make amendments at the regular school district meeting. It was also said that the budget can be amended and changed any time in the process to the end of district meeting under the current district meeting system. That doesn’t change under SB2. Once the budget makes the warrant it’s off the table for the deliberative session. It can only be voted up or down on ballot day. That’s the same as today except that voting   occurs at Town/School Meeting. This is a common anti SB2 argument that is full of holes.

"To me the great weakness in SB2, you could end up with unintended consequences as the result of an uninformed vote," said a board member saying paying for advertising and mailers on the issues could be too costly and the best way for people to be informed would be to attend the meeting and speak to officials and other board members. Some people do attend all the meetings and workshops. Only some though. In fact, very few.  Sometimes .. really a few… like 2. Has the School Board heard of the internet? There opposition to public access broadcasting school board meetings runs counter to the board members arguments. Being able to watch and re-watch board meetings will get the information out to where it belongs- in public.

"To me, I think democracy isn't just a matter of how many vote," it was stated by an attendee."To  me it's about the quality of that vote."  That’s democratic? I thought all votes were equal. Voting is a privilege.  Limiting that privilege is wrong and not  democracy, it’s preventing taxpayers from having a say in their local government.

MCA