Do you agree . . . 

Something’s Not Right in Kingston’s Public Schools. 

Feel like decisions are being made to us—not with us?

Parents, students, teachers, administrators, staff—we all want our schools to succeed. But too often, big changes get pushed through by a handful of administrators–taxpayer dollars are spent–without truly listening to the people who must live with the consequences. We end up paying again to undo what should never have been done in the first place.

We believe there is a better way: REAL Shared Decision-Making—a democratic way to run schools where families, students, and educators actually get to help decide between alternatives. New York State mandated it over 30 year ago but our district never complied with the state process. 

We’re calling on the Kingston Board of Education to re-commence the process of writing the district’s Shared Decision-Making Plan, this time led by an independent facilitator, and not the administration, which stands to benefit from the rules it writes and therefore has clear conflicts of interest.

We’ve seen what’s possible. Other New York districts like Syosset and Great Neck do this well. We can too.

We ask the Board of Ed to commit to a process that ensures:

✅ Families, students, staff, and other stakeholder groups choose their own representatives, not the administration
✅ Everyone at the table can propose agenda items, not just those in power
✅ No more vetoes over all decisions—real shared decision-making means shared power on at least some issues
✅ A neutral facilitator, not a conflicted one, leads the plan drafting

✅ Ensure a ratification process (that was needed before the administration just went ahead with its unratified version)
✅ Stakeholders have some say in hiring principals and superintendents
✅ Transparent communication: meeting notes, contact info, and updates should be easy to find on the district website
✅ A culture of safety: structures that prevent retaliation for speaking up and organizing across schools
✅ We follow proven models from successful districts that prioritize collaboration

This isn’t about blame. It’s about balance. About setting things right. About giving taxpayers accountability and our kids the kind of schools they—and we—deserve.

We’re ready to build something better together.
Let’s bring real democracy into our schools.

Sign below to support re-starting the Shared Decision-Making process—with fairness, transparency, and everyone at the table.