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Heads up! Our parent watchdogs have scanned the upcoming agenda for Groveport Madison Local. We found 5 items that need your immediate attention before the vote.
| 🚨 HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 10) |
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New $108k Student Surveillance System
The Superintendent is asking the Board to approve a $108,650 contract with ‘Abre,’ a data-mining company. The company’s own presentation reveals this platform is designed to track non-academic information on every student, including their behavior, ‘social-emotional’ status, mental health, and ‘climate & culture’ data. This creates a digital dossier on your child to be used for ‘Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)’ interventions, bypassing parental oversight and turning counselors and teachers into data collectors.
Recommended Action Plan
PACK THE ROOM: This is a data-mining contract disguised as a student support tool. Call Board President Latoya Dowdell-Burger at (614) 492-2520 and contact Superintendent James Grube. Tell them: ‘I do not consent to my child’s behavior and mental health being tracked in the Abre data platform. Vote NO on Item J.1.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: $108,650
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| 🚨 HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 9) |
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Secret Student Handbook Vote
The Board is scheduled to approve the new Student Handbook (Item J.8), but the document has not been made public. This handbook dictates all rules on student discipline, dress code, and technology. It is often where districts hide new policies on gender identity, preferred pronouns, and bathroom access. Approving it without parental review is a major transparency violation.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Call Board President Latoya Dowdell-Burger at (614) 492-2520 and demand Item J.8 be tabled until the full Student Handbook is posted online for public review for at least 30 days. ‘Parents have a right to read the rules before you vote on them.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Undisclosed Policy Changes
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| ⚠️ NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 7) |
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Board Power Grab to Silence Dissent
The Board is voting on a resolution (Item I.8) to appoint a single ‘Board Legal Liaison.’ This person would become the sole gatekeeper for communications between board members and the district’s lawyers. This is a structural tactic to control the flow of information, slow down or intimidate board members who ask tough questions, and consolidate power with the board leadership.
Recommended Action Plan
PROTECT BOARD OVERSIGHT: Call Board Vice President Seth Bower at (614) 492-2520. Tell him: ‘Every elected board member deserves equal and direct access to legal counsel. Vote NO on the Legal Liaison resolution (Item I.8). Don’t create a gatekeeper.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Reduced Board Accountability
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| ⚠️ NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 6) |
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Hiding a State-Mandated Corrective Action Plan
The agenda lists a ‘Review of ODEW Corrective Action’ (Item I.4) but provides no documents. This means the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce has found the district non-compliant in some area and is forcing them to adopt a corrective plan. Parents have a right to know what the district did wrong and how they are being forced to fix it. This is a transparency violation.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND ANSWERS: Call Board Member Libby Gray at (614) 492-2520. Ask her: ‘What is the subject of the ODEW Corrective Action plan in Item I.4? Why wasn’t the document made public? I demand this item be tabled until all related documents are released.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Undisclosed District Failure
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| ⚠️ NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 6) |
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Secret Deal with Teachers Union
The Board is voting to approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the GMLEA, the local teachers’ union (Item J.5). No copy of this agreement has been provided to the public. This secret deal could involve anything from teacher evaluations to curriculum decisions or work rules that impact the classroom. Parents must be able to see what the Board is agreeing to.
Recommended Action Plan
EXPOSE SECRET DEALS: Call Board Member John Kershner at (614) 492-2520. Tell him: ‘No secret deals with the teachers’ union. I demand Item J.5 be pulled from the agenda until the full MOU is made public for parental review.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Undisclosed Union Concessions
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