The following was e-mailed via the BCSD E-News on January 13th:

The community is invited to an open forum with the members of the Brighton Board of Education on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room, Administration Building, 2035 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, N.Y. There is no specific agenda for the forum, just an opportunity for residents to have some informal open conversation with the members of the Board of Education. For more information, contact Marvin Sachs, President, Board of Education at 473-9731.

ASI Commentary:  Scheduling an open forum with the Board is, of course, a very worthwhile action.  However, ASI is extremely concerned with the timing and publicity.

#1.  Why are we only getting 7 days notice?

#2.  Since this announcement was sent only via the BCSD E-News, the BCSD Community (admin, teachers, and Parents of students) ALONE will know that this meeting is scheduled.  The larger Brighton Community will not be aware of this opportunity.

If the BCSD Board really wants to get input from the larger Brighton Community, then it must make a greater effort to publicize the event.  For example:  Post it on the electronic signs at the High School, the Library and the Fire Station;  Put up a banner at the TCMS corner; Post colorful flyers at 12 Corners businesses; Post an announcement in the local community newspapers (assumes more than 7 days notice).

This lack of notifying the greater Brighton Community is a re-occurring issue.  It happened with the budget vote.  It happened with the Superintendent Survey.  The BCSD Board seems to believe that an E-News blast is sufficient to “get the word out”.  They do not seem to understand that E-News only goes to the School Community.  Maybe that’s the intent(?).

Again, if the BCSD Board is honestly interested in input from the Brighton Community (Vs. simply the School Community), then it will make the effort to more aggressively publicize events that effect all Brighton residents and schedule the events with reasonable advanced notification.