Let's talk about "user fees"

[MAlibdem]

Last year my school imposed a $180 fee for a parking space at school. Largely, the money is being used to fund other programs the town won't, and the parking lot is a POS.

Now the School Committee, at the Superintendent's behest, is poised to INCREASE the cost of this and other (busing, athletic) fees.

So today, being the good activist I try to be, I posted signs encouraging my fellow students to go to this evening's school committee meeting to voice their disapproval. 15 minutes after they went up, an overzealous teacher, perhaps believing a teacher job was at stake, tore down our signs. Then we were told to talk to the Principal.

The Principal explained how students must get an advisor's approval to post signs. I told her I never heard of that, and she insisted it was in the School Handbook. Of course, it wasn't and isn't. So she apologized, and sent us on our way. And no one knows there's a meeting tonight, and the fees will be raised unopposed. Awesome.

Ideas?

[Xithras]

1. Leaflets

The ones most affected by this are the people that park there, right? Print up some leaflets and tuck them under the windshields of the cars. If the athletes will be affected, drop leaflets in their lockers.

And if all else fails, poster the school AGAIN. The principal has already acknowledged that there isn't a rule against posting signs, so draft more and do it again. Make sure you put the BIGGEST poster in front of the classroom of the teacher that tore your old signs down :)

[MAlibdem]

3. ya, unfortunately the meeting to decide the cuts/raises is tonight

nt

[tkmorris]

4. Attend the meeting

And delay the process. All interested parties have a right to have their voices heard and in this case, you were prevented from informing those same interested parties about the meeting, which is something that the school admin should have done themselves.

Insist that of all the people involved the ones who most need to be heard are the ones being asked to pay the fees, and since they are not present the matter MUST, in the interest of justice, be tabled until the next meeting.

Beyond that you need to play it by ear. Only you know whether there will be any sympathetic ears to hear your pleas, and whether they have the spine to agree with you. Also, as a student, you have to be concerned about retribution. Can you afford this battle? Again, only you know that.

Good luck. :)

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. Civil disorder may be the order of the day

Get everyone with a car to fill the lot and block the whole damn thing in protest.