My name is Janet Davis, and I am a parent in this community. In lieu of the recent events concerning our middle school administration, my husband and I have questioned what the role of the school committee is and what it should be within our school district.

In most large, well run organizations a panel or a team of people is selected to oversee the operations of that organization. Not necessarily the day to day functions, as that would be the job of a direct manager or supervisor (usually selected by the panel or team), but the overall operation of the organization. It is their job to support the manager or supervisor as well as note the potential problems or roadblocks that will have a negative impact on the organization and the people within it. That same panel selected by our community to insure that our schools run smoothly. They, in turn, have selected our superintendent to administer the schools in accordance with state laws and the committee’s direction, but ultimately they represent the community’s interest and need to be aware of what the key issues are going on inside the schools. It is evident that our school committee needs to become more aware of the lingering problems (that go beyond current test scores and budgets) inside our schools.

As a parent of three children attending schools in this district, I do not think it is unrealistic for our community to expect a productive plan of action to immediately begin cleaning up the persistent problems, which have dogged our middle school climate for a number of years. It is imperative that an equally active plan of supporting the positive role models we have selected to run our schools be put into place immediately.

Janet Davis

Gorham