Would you believe that the CCSD School Board voted for a policy in 2002 that it forgot about until 2008? You would? Me too. [See Board to Set Diversity Goal in Tuesday's P & C.] In fact, if we just had an instrument of measurement for board performance, we probably could create a list as long as Santa's--of policies voted upon and then ignored--by present Board members. Are there not a number of policies that are routinely violated by this Board?
That's why it's so disingenuous of Chairman Hillery Douglas to suggest that now after "forgetting" for at least five years (we'll give him 2003) about its affirmative-action policy for minority and female-owned businesses, the Board should get on with enforcing the policy, in fact, beef it up. He couldn't have a particular relative- or friend-owned business that wants part of the cash cow? Surely not.
Imagine. This policy was so important that no one on the Board noticed its disappearance.
Same goes for fatuous comments from erstwhile watchdog Gregg Meyers, whose votes over the years have oh-so-effectively created a new segregated district in Charleston. He's been there on the Board, meeting after meeting. Figures on diversity were not put forward in the last five years. Now he says, "We should be paying attention to it." How about "should have been," Gregg? What a hypocrite. It's called lip-service.
In his usual fuzzy-thinking manner, Douglas also expands the reach of diversity, now saying that "The school district doesn't have a good record on its percentage of contracts for small, minority- or women-owned businesses." Who said anything about "small" businesses, Hillery?
I'm no fan of such policies, especially for women. Anyone paying attention to how such policies have been manipulated over the entire country has no faith that they work as they are supposed to. Now, as the School Board rewrites the rules to cost taxpayers more money, it should also explain how said policy will add educational value for the district's children, especially the poorer ones.
Sometimes I think education is the last thing on its mind.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
4 comments:
Politics, politics, it's all about politics. Mr. Douglas isn't running for reelection but his protege, Toya Green is. On Monday, it's the forgotten policy for diversity among contractors. On Tuesday, it's the high cost of too many charter schools. Oh, how these people can spin their message of fear and loathing! I just wish the public would do the math and discover that none of the figures being thrown around by these CCSD junkies add up to anything that makes sense. Just like the diversity and choice available to students and parents within CCSD, this is all a fake front. I guess they are hoping the taxpaying and voting public can't do simple math.
Well, Mr. Douglas benefits greatly from the small business, minority-women policy. He opens a business then puts it in his wife's name and viola a minority woman owned business. That is also how his old buddy Barbara Diligard got a cushy contractor gig at CCSD
Speaking of Mr. Douglas not running again (I still can't believe we'll actually be rid of the lunatic), what happened to the rumored harassment suit he supposedly settled?
"...we'll actually be rid of the lunatic".
Don't count your chickens too soon. He's still got time to create more obstructions against reforms. He's also looking to create his own golden parachute by shaping policies designed to give private contractors unfettered access to CCSD's coffers.
And who will replace His Excellency? We may be swapping a witch for the devil. It looks like the Chamber of Commerce is lining up behind at candidates for at least 4 of the 5 seats up for consideration. You might recall that one of them, Chris Fraser, has already said that he's opposed to charter schools because "they take away money from public education".
Mr. Fraser, charter schools ARE public schools. They just don't have to carry the excess weight and baggage of a school board full of tin horn dictators.
He's already looking like a chump with this kind of statement. No wonder the real estate industry is in full retreat with this kind of ignorance being embraced by one of its own. He seems uninformed and looks like he intends to stay that way.
Mr. Douglas isn't the only fool who feels entitled to lead us.
Post a Comment