It was nice to have a cordial meeting between the Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education the other night. I think we are all looking forward to seeing what Evergreen Solutions is able to discern from their review of the system. My guess is that there will be few surprises, and that they will confirm most suppositions that the Superintendent and citizens already have. Having glanced through their 200 page review of Wayne County, it is evident that they will do a thorough job.
It was also great to see that Representative Hugh Blackwell attended the meeting. I think we all appreciate our state elected officials' participation in local matters. I know Mr. Blackwell has his hands full in Raleigh, but I hope he returns to the meetings and doesn't hesitate to offer advice where he sees the need. I understand that Mr. Blackwell was an exemplary board member when he served (no, I am not being patronizing – he is a smart, thoughtful, person) and I am sure he has insight that newbies like me don't. (Actually, there are several former board members from waaaayback who have privately shared their concerns and advice, and I am grateful to them, too.)
I have been told that I ought to discontinue this blog so as not to expose myself to criticism for my opinions. I guess the thought is that if I make allegations or ruminations that turn out to be wrong, I would "lose face" with the public. The notion of "saving face" is probably really important to those who take themselves too seriously, or those who have bigger political aspirations than I do. It is not very important to me. I have been wrong many times before, and in my opinion, being "exposed" for being "wrong-headed" is just part of life.
Regarding those of you who have left comments on my blog in the past couple of days that I have not published: I do not disagree with you. There are bad apples in most organizations. However, I must be mindful of the position that I am in and the parameters that school board members must work in. In my opinion, I cannot criticize the previous board for micromanaging the school system and running people off if I turn around and do it myself. I cannot and will not "go after" people. That does not mean that I will not insist on holding people accountable for malfeasance or misfeasance.
I have been told that the Central Office is in a state of high tension because of decisions this board has made, and pressure that has been brought to bear by comments and criticisms that I have made. (No, I did not hear this from a mole. I was told this directly by an administrator.) To the good folks at the Central Office, I apologize for any undue stress I have caused. To the rest of you - this ain't no disco. Territoriality and fiefdom may be prevalent in school systems, but it has no place there. Get over yourselves. It is my fiduciary duty as a board member to review how money is spent – and I have crossed no line by requesting minimal information. This is part of my learning process. The fact that my queries about the Energy Contract would cause so much discomfort and panic speaks volumes.
And, to those of you trolls who have engaged in a campaign to harass me and my family: you lose your relevance when you become redundant and mean. You might have had some influence if you hadn't overplayed your weak hand (I do have a soft spot in my heart for the underdog – it can be my downfall). Regarding your constant communications, Shakespeare said it best in Macbeth:
"it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."
