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October 31 , 2007
Parent Post 1:
Obviously someone does read the Post! I am happy to report that RU parents received an email from Mr. Vrooman today explaining the portable/mold situation, how it's being handled and laying out a timetable for completion. We just want to be kept informed (school staff and parents alike!). We support our schools and want what's best for all students! Hopefully things will go as outlined and the buildings will be safe and occupied in the next week or two. Thank you for responding!
Parent Post 2:
Have been reading the posts about the mold situation. In one of them someone mentioned that to their knowledge none of the school board members had experience with removing mold. ...As it turned out the bunkers of soil that were around the high school to make it safer in case of tornadoes made the school ripe for mold growth. She [Jan Larsen] was instrumental in getting the dirt removed from around the high school and windows added where the dirt was. Just thought you would like to know.
October 29 , 2007
Parent Post
AGAIN...we certainly do not expect any board member or DC personnel to be disinfecting mold. (I had no idea about the presence of mold until I read an earlier post.) We do expect communication; not a personal call to each parent, but a simple note sent home with students explaining the situation and how it is trying to be resolved. We are not unreasonable here. Our DCMS principal emails faithfully each week with upcoming events and reminders. Our RU principal sends home communications regarding other issues and posts events on a monthly basis, as well. These issues of utmost importance should be handled similarly.
I have spoken directly with teachers and the principal but they do not have all the answers; if they did they would gladly share them. These are the last issues I'm sure they would wish to be spending their time on. I am at DC schools on a regular basis. I have probably sold your child their agenda, supported your child's teacher on Teacher Appreciation Day or sat beside you at PTO meetings. Our teachers and principals have gone above and beyond the call of duty this year, taking trash out and donning gloves to clean up after sick children when a custodian has not been present. I am sure they would love to be fully staffed and have the proper facilities. I'm confident they would share information with us parents, IF THEY HAD IT TO SHARE.
Finally, to imply that someone is a bad parent and suggest they contact a "good" parent to enlighten them is presumptuous and unbelievably self-righteous. I am fortunate enough to be able to be involved at my children’s schools. Because other parents may not be able to do this or may be unaware of some of these situations does not make them less of a parent. Why don't you, "good parent," fill us all in with concrete information instead of vague responses that in no way address the issues at hand? That is all it would take to make this situation better...answers and explanation as to what is going on with the t-buildings at Rose Union. We simply want our children in a safe, clean learning environment that is equipped with the same amenities that the others have. It seems that is too much to expect these days.
October 27 , 2007
Parent Post
The answer lies in holding accountable the person charged with the buildings, their usage and their maintenance: Richard Vrooman. This man positioned himself for a promotion he was not and continues to not be qualified for. He has been notified - this is documented - of various issues at Rose Union (no custodian cleaning the rooms, leaks in the building, possible mold, computers not connected to the internet, lice infestation, viral meningitis reported and no action to sanitize the rooms) specifically regarding the portables. He admitted his responsibility and said that cleanliness/sanitary concerns regarding the occupied portables would be looked into. At this point we are not even sure that he has looked.
Our continued reliance on someone who continues to demonstrate ineptitude is not only unwarranted but I fear dangerous for children, staff and faculty. If there is a current board member who reads this, please respond. If necessary these concerns can be shared with the board directly. In closing, I would like to say the building Principal is accountable; however, it is impossible for her to be responsible for everything. Wasn't that the very reasoning used to create Richard Vrooman's position?
Our Reply
Are these board of health and fire safety issues? As serious as these issues are, if the school administration will not step up, have any of the Rose Union parents thought to possibly call the board of health, www.health.state.ok.us, or the Deer Creek Fire Department, (405) 216-0665?
October 27 , 2007
Parent Post
In response to your reply on the mold and portable building issue. None of the board members have a background in disinfecting mold, (I'm not positive, just a guess). Are you expecting every parent to receive a phone call regarding the situation? I'm sure if you email or call the principal she'd be happy to give you or anyone an update.
Another Post from the Same Parent
In response to "Rose Union Elementary Holds Classes in Closets" If you have a student affected the teacher and principal will gladly give you an explanation an an update on the progress. I encourage all parents to step inside the school once in awhile and have a dialog with their student's teacher and principal. They are easy to talk with and will give you information on any issue. I've found that most good mothers (or fathers) do this on a regular basis. If you are a parent that doesn't wish to do this, you could contact some good parents that have a regular dialog with teachers and principals and maybe they'll fill you in.
Our Reply
Let’s take a look at your posts. The original post from a concerned parent goes up on October 22nd questioning classrooms being under-equipped and too small. In the post it mentions that the portables are not being used and just sitting there molding. Now here is where you come in and let’s take a look at your replies.
- October 25, you start changing the focus from small classrooms to mold, attack the dcspost, and never address the original question.
- Your next response (first one above) changing the focus from mold to communication and still not addressing the initial question.
- Your last post finishes with attacking the parents.
You obviously are familiar with the district and school board procedures since you followed them to a "t" - change focus, attack, not address the issue. We all know what is coming next so let’s save you some time. Your next post will say something like “The district is not allowed to talk about these concerns because of privacy issues. While we would love to talk with the patrons about these issues, the law prohibits us from addressing these topics with the public”.
While the similarity between this parent's responses and how the district acts is comical, we should not make light of the direct impact it has on our children’s education. The only anything will change is with a continued change on the school board. John Robertson has been a great addition to the board, but he is only one step in the right direction. Let’s continue the journey at the next school board election.
By the way for those of you who change your e-mail address every time you send in a post, it doesn’t hide your identity and certainly doesn’t make it appear that other parents share your views. For the record if you are not going add anything new to the discussion don’t bother sending it in.
October 27 , 2007
Parent Post
In reply to Parent Post dated October 25, 2007
Isn't the obvious question why Rose Union has portables during it's second year of existence? All we hear is growth, growth, growth-did the administration not understand that growth would continue?
P.S. The word is NEGATIVITY- NEGATITY implies a reverse or negative... well you understand.
October 26 , 2007
Parent Post
We do not expect anyone to "change the laws of chemistry!" This response is totally ridiculous. Our children should not be subjected to dangerous conditions (mold?! we have not been told about!), unsanitary bathrooms and inequitable learning environments (no computers/SmartBoards) for those placed in makeshift classrooms? How about responding to some basic questions? Why is it taking so long to get the portables done?
Now that the post above has substantiated the presence of mold, why have parents not been notified? Where is the mold? Believe me, EVERY DC patron should take notice of this situation. If it's not your child now, it could be in the future. The district ain't gettin' any smaller and if this is how things are being handled now, just wait.
Regarding the DC Post, thankfully it is here to disseminate important info and at least conduct a dialogue, since the DC School District doesn't seem to think that it is important. Our principal and teachers are doing the best they can, caught in the middle of this nightmare - doing their jobs the best they can with little to no support for the district. They, too, are being subjected to these unbelievable conditions. Note to board and administrators: ACTION and COMMUNICATION is needed - NOW!
October 25 , 2007
Parent Post
In response to "Rose Union Elementary Holds Classes in Closets" the board has looked into the situation. (Remember that at election time). They determined that they can't change the laws of chemistry (the discovery of mold) and have trusted the remedy to professionals. Unfortunately the growth of the district makes it impossible to not have to use portable buildings. Hopefully the negatity news website (dcs post) will help curtail the growth situation.
Our Reply
Thanks for the positive feedback. Our reply is "Pthbtthbtthbtthbtthbtthbt".
But seriously thanks for helping prove our point. It is even more ridiculous a situation now knowing that the board looked into it. Wonder why they haven’t communicated to the parents at Rose Union what they are doing to fix the problem. Oh that’s right as the school board has said in the past, they are leaving it to the professionals. What professionals are they leaving the problem of the current classrooms being to small and under-equipped? Isn’t the board supposed to be the professionals who are responsible for remedying that? But then again we noticed you didn’t want to address that subject.
October 24 , 2007
Parent Post
Yes...why isn’t someone looking into students STILL being stuffed into storage closets and small offices instead of adequate classroom spaces? Others are housed in portables that were not ready when they moved in (a month ago) and still are not fully equipped with the same equipment (teachers\' computers, Smartboards, etc) that the other students have? Why is this taking so long? Why does the district not have every available person working to get these students in proper learning environments? A large chunk of the school year is GONE! Is there no one to take responsibility for this, to get things done? What is going on?!!? Who is looking out for our children?
Our Reply:
Hopefully the patrons of Rose Union will remember this when the next school board election comes up. Until the right people are put on the board, these problems will continue to happen.
October 22 , 2007
Parent Post
I was curious if anyone can tell me why Rose Union still has children having class in small (closet type) areas. There are one or possibly two moldy portables still sitting there... unusable. Why has someone not taken care of this issue?
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