Facebook Page Provides Platform for Community Discourse About School District Woes, Solutions

Mark Galipeau, who has taught at John Reed Elementary in Rohnert Park for the last 13 years, started the Facebook group called "Our Schools+ Our Community+Our Kids=Our Future" last Thursday, with hopes of providing an effective online forum, and an outlet, for teachers, residents and parents within the Rohnert Park-Cotati school district.

The group, with 236 members and growing, has become a hotbed for community discourse. Most notably, people aren't just complaining. There are some optimistic ideas being thrown around about how to prevent a state takeover, and to make the district one that people want to bring their kids to.

Galipeau wrote that the platform is "a group of concerned parents, teachers and community members of Rohnert Park and Cotati who want to see a first class educational system restored in our community. With the future of our district in peril, we need to work together to make sure we have the best for our kids. Skyrocketing class sizes, program and services decimated and a future state takeover are not what we want for our schools community or kids."

"This was a personal project of mine to bring people together to have a discussion about school district issues and to educate the public," Galipeau said.

Galipeau said the Facebook page is open to the public, and he's approving everyone who wants to join. He's also inviting local elected officials and board members. So far, Marc Orloff is the only member to join.

Last week, I posted this: Hello group, this is Angela Hart, the editor of Rohnert Park Patch. Rohnert Park's schools are in peril, and face a possible state takeover. Is there a story here that isn't being told?

What followed was a string of 30 comments. 

One person wrote "The Rohnert Park community seems very quiet. Is it lack of information, or apathy, or what? How will real estate prices be affected by the districts insolvency? Will people want to buy in a community that lacks locally run schools?"

Another wrote in response that "it looks more and more like the State will come in. Not enough people have voiced their worries in public."

But, most of the comments have been positive — hopeful even.

"I believe that parents and the community can do something for us. They can stand by us as teachers and support us in every way, just like we support their children," wrote one person. "Parents are getting frustrated and bailing to other districts. I've seen some parents go that I thought were our biggest supporters. Support your neighborhood school and your teachers. Don't bad mouth our district and schools, or other local districts, talk to others about the good things happening in your school. The district/school/teacher your child is with can make a huge difference in your child's education, but most importantly the parents are the ones who can make a difference in their child's education."

Galipeau said the point is to exchange, not only thoughts, but valuable ideas, concerns and solutions.

"I think this will be a good way to share ideas, vent, get som stuff off our chests, and as a way for us to listen to the public," he said. "Also, if there’s something we can improve on as teachers, we should know about; it’ll be a good way to get some of those things out in public."

Stacie McGwier, the president of the Rohnert Park Cotati Educator's Association, said the Facebook page is a great launching point for a dialogue district-wide.

"It's a place to begin," McGwier said. "That way, we can have the conversation in a more personal way — it's a great jumping off point to become aware of the issues and to share ideas."

Update: According to Galipeau and McGwier, the teacher's union, because the union and board couldn't come to a resolution during contract negotiations, recently offered about $10,000 in givebacks per teacher, per year. 

That's made up of a seven day school year reduction — five class days and two teacher work days, a 2.5 percent pay cut and an offer to pay 15 percent of total medical benefits. Currently teachers have 100 percent of their medical covered, but some teachers pay 10 percent of dental and vision.

The district, on the other hand, wants teachers to pay 25 percent of benefits, to take a five percent pay cut and to take six days off the school year instead of seven.

Editor's note: The next governing board meeting is May 10 at 7 p.m. at Lawrence E. Jones Middle School. Also, Galipeau recently organized a community forum to discuss school issues. The forum, which is free and open to the public, is scheduled for Wednesday, May 11 at in Codding Theater. It starts at 6:30 p.m. Stay tuned to Rohnert Park Patch for updates. Join the Facebook page here.

Correction: this article originally stated that the teacher's union offered to pay 10 percent of their medical benefits. They actually offered to pay 15.