Sally Soriano may have made the most inportant statement of her career as a member of the Seattle School Board when she said the district needs to chage its "window dressing process" of dealing with the public.

The process she is talking about has frustrated and angered a great number of people who attempt to deal with the board only to get the impression they are being listened to but then ignored and dismissed.

Each board meeting includes a time when people can address the directors on whatever concerns, worries or upsets them. The board patiently listens, thanks the people for their comments.

That is it.

No board member responds and rarely, if ever, does district staff respond.

The Seattle School Board is not the only public agency around here that goes out of it way to listen, but then routinely does not give a response, or the reasons for the problem a citizen has with official actions. But the board's policy of politely listening but never responding has caused major disruptions. The recent disaster over attempted school closure was a dramatic demonstration of the reaction of this dismissive process.

There are times when a simple answer or response giving reasons for the action or the process will satisfy the concerned citizen. Sometimes a complainer is just that a complainer, but even that irritating person deserves a response.

Seattle has a reputation of listening to all sides, but just listening is not good enough. Citizens are taxpayers and they pay for salaries. Simply acting like you are interested is not good enough. Answers is what the people want, even it you have tell them they are wrong and why they are wrong.

Don't just ignore the citizens.

- Jack Mayne