McKinney to hold 'town hall' meeting
School superintendent: 'If I don't have the answer, I'll tell you, but I'll get you that answer'
The head of the largest employer in the Victor Valley wants to talk directly to Hesperia residents.
"My whole intent behind this is just to reach out to the community," said Hesperia Unified School District Superintendent Mark McKinney said Monday.
Although McKinney believes the district does a "decent job" communicating with HUSD staff, teachers and parents, the district's community also includes childless adults and families that don't have students that attend district schools, and he wants to reach out to them.
"We have a community that's growing and I think they want to be aware, they need be aware," McKinney said. "I want to draw that net a little closer."
To that end, he will be holding a "town hall" style meeting on May 13, reaching out to residents and hearing what's on their mind.
"It really is just an open mic," he said. "If I don't have the answer, I'll tell you, but I'll get you that answer."
McKinney knows some partisans may grab hold of that open microphone and somewhat politicize the meeting. The superintendent said he's ready if the conversation moves on to the attempted recall of three school board members, for instance.
"That was a political process that ran its course, but now it's done," he said. "Now let's refocus on some of the other issues."
Even before this first question and answer session has taken place, McKinney is looking ahead to the next one.
"I'd like to do it twice a year. Really, I'd like to do it east side, west side."
The first meeting, at Mission Crest Elementary School, is located on the west side of Hesperia, the area that has experienced the most growth in recent years.
"This is the first one, and I know I'll make some mistakes," McKinney said. "I want it to be loose."
The question and answer session with McKinney will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 13, at Mission Crest Elementary School, 13065 Muscatel Street. For more information, call 244-4411.
Beau Yarbrough can be reached at 956-7108 or at beau@hesperiastar.com.
