Couple of things
- Like Flack, I think this is a good idea, and the types of ones that I want to see coming from our state Democrats, whether it's the House Caucus or a local party. It takes a surplus from the lottery and designates it toward a need which falls neatly within the general parameters of what lottery funds should benefit. Plus, it's us on the offense, which is nice.
- Likewise, a response to the State of the State speech is another step in the right direction.
- Unrelated to politics in general, how does a movie like Meet The Spartans get the green light? Jokes about The Apprentice? A gag where a Sylvester Stallone look-a-like remarks 'Say hello to my little friend' and a little person jumps out and shoots a machine gun while laughing (to say nothing about the fact that particular was uttered in Scarface and not any of the Rambo movies)?
- A price-tiered water plan is on the table, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I've never been crazy about strict market solutions to this particular problem, but I am definitely open to higher rates for water when you get past a certain, pre-determined consumption level. The latter provides for fair access of water to all citizens, while keeping in place a mechanism to deter high levels of usage (in addition to ongoing conservation efforts).
- I don't know if this is talking about a personnel decision, but Chester Sosebee denies the claims made by Tommy Craft. The former Cedar Shoals principal alleged that he wasn't kept on because he refused to appoint a relative of a school board member to a position at the high school. I found Craft's claim ludicrous as well and stand by my assertion there was probably a list of grievances that built up over time which ultimately led to his dismissal.
- Likewise, a response to the State of the State speech is another step in the right direction.
- Unrelated to politics in general, how does a movie like Meet The Spartans get the green light? Jokes about The Apprentice? A gag where a Sylvester Stallone look-a-like remarks 'Say hello to my little friend' and a little person jumps out and shoots a machine gun while laughing (to say nothing about the fact that particular was uttered in Scarface and not any of the Rambo movies)?
- A price-tiered water plan is on the table, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I've never been crazy about strict market solutions to this particular problem, but I am definitely open to higher rates for water when you get past a certain, pre-determined consumption level. The latter provides for fair access of water to all citizens, while keeping in place a mechanism to deter high levels of usage (in addition to ongoing conservation efforts).
- I don't know if this is talking about a personnel decision, but Chester Sosebee denies the claims made by Tommy Craft. The former Cedar Shoals principal alleged that he wasn't kept on because he refused to appoint a relative of a school board member to a position at the high school. I found Craft's claim ludicrous as well and stand by my assertion there was probably a list of grievances that built up over time which ultimately led to his dismissal.
posted by Jmac at 7:48 AM
4 Comments:
One comment on the Craft firing. The BOE righteously claiming that they don't "comment" on personnel decisions is a little precious, and deceptive.
If the BOE wants to not renew the contract of a teacher, it has to give the teacher very specific reasons, and if the teacher requests it, a public due process hearing.
Because Craft is a principal, he does not have these statutory protections.
So for the BOE to say they "never" comment is not correct.
And it is clear that the BOE, either individually or as a group, can discuss their individual or collective reasons for taking any action. The suggestion that there is some legal bar on an elected official discussing his or her individual vote on a public matter is ludicrous beyond belief, and such a prohibition would be patently unconstitutional.
Bottom line, regardless of whether you are member of the Tommy Craft fan club or not, it is craven cowardice to dump a person in his position without even a semblance of a reason.
The suggestion that there is some legal bar on an elected official discussing his or her individual vote on a public matter is ludicrous beyond belief ...
To play Devil's Advocate, if it's a closed-door meeting, then is it technically a public matter?
Yes, technically it is a public matter. The closed door is for the purposes of discussion, and to protect the right of the soon to be fired. The victim, in this case Craft, can certainly waive the right to privacy, just as a teacher can.
Anything a board member (or other elected official) does in an official capacity is a "public matter".
Contrary to what the BOE is trying to assert, the Open Meetings Law is not a BAR to any individual member explaining their action. What the BOE is doing is melding the collective responsibility of the agency with the individual responsibility of the members.
Let me turn around and throw the question back at you --- does the individual board member not have a responsibility (not to mention personal integrity) to explain any official action to his or her constituents. Add to that the obligations of common courtesy and professionalism to give some reason to Craft for his discharge .
I've looked at all the "reasons we can't talk" and other than the personal convenience and comfort level of individual board members, there is ABSOLUTELY no reason no to disclose the basis for this action.
And I don't even particularly like Dr. Craft.
As someone who has been both a participant and privvy to what happens in these kinds of actions, I can tell without a shadow of a doubt that there are many good reasons why these decisions do not and should not be aired in public.
Here's a clue: Dr. Craft hasn't been calling for a public explaination from the BOE now, has he? In all likelihood, he does not want the reasons for his dismissal to be discussed publicly.
In most of the cases like this that I'm intimately familiar with, the privacy and confidentiality protection is a courtesy to the individual who was dismissed.
As long as there is no evidence of any misdeed on the part of the BOE, I think all this righteous indignation is really more like "righteous curiosity" and meddling in something that is none of our damn business.
And, no, I don't have any opinion of Dr. Craft and I don't know any of the particulars of this case.
If you (and others of the same opinion) are really so steamed about this, why don't you ask Dr. Craft if he really wants this aired in public? You might be surprised at his response.
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