Yesterday’s Wicomico County Council budget session had two slots scheduled that promised high entertainment value. One was the Pollitt Proposal. The second was its meeting with the Wicomico County Board of Education (WCBOE).
After their last meeting, many citizens were expecting another brouhaha. Reports from last week’s “secret session” indicated that Supt. John Fredericksen and the board were coming to the GOB girdled for battle. Instead, we witnessed a boring, and less arrogant WCBOE.
No whining. No pointing fingers. The WCBOE saw fit to answer council’s questions and argue a policy point rather than obstruct our county’s legislative body. While it pains me to admit it, I actually respected the guy playing the role of Fredericksen (I’m still not convinced that it really was him).
While I continue to support not allowing the board to use school construction fund monies to fund operations, I will also admit that they made a valid case for being allowed to do so.
How did the council behave? As well as always. While I am confident that they had received the same information we had regarding the WCBOE’s plans to go on the attack, they never showed it. Instead, councilwoman Gail Bartkovich had a meaningful discussion regarding her proposal to abolish the school construction fund. Councilwoman Stevie Prettyman worked out the potential impacts of not allowing the board to tap the school construction fund balance as well as some questions regarding one proposed maintenance project.
We should all hope that the WCBOE has learned a lesson from their recent travails. If they are responsive to the council’s questions; if they are honest; if they can manage to keep the arrogance locked away down on Long Avenue; they can look forward to a solid working relationship with this council. If not, they will learn who really controls the purse strings.
At this stage, one good meeting isn’t enough. The council needs to “trust, but verify”. However, I feel confident that the council is hoping that the group that appeared before them yesterday will continue acting as though it really is about the children.
8 comments:
Trojan Horse.
Strong arm tactics did not work, so let's try this method. Time will tell.
Anon 1709 -
You are right. "Trust, but verify."
We've all seen this before. Dr. F. believes in the right of the central office not to answer any questions fully and forthrightly. He hopes his manipulative social skills will mask his total lack of educational skills. If jargon were gold, his office would be Fort Knox.
Maybe some of the construction money could be used to install air conditioning in the schools that do not have it? Pretty pathetic that inmates are treated better than our students and teachers!
Anonymous said...
Maybe some of the construction money could be used to install air conditioning in the schools that do not have it? Pretty pathetic that inmates are treated better than our students and teachers!
June 1, 2011 9:05 PM
That's what you get when you vote for a Democrat!!
What in the world is that supposed to mean, 9:48? I'm a Republican who agrees with 9:05, though it would not be financiallyfeasible in most cases to add air condition, particularly at Bennett Middle.
Most of us probably went to school with no A/C and no days off or early days off due to heat. Stop spoiling the elite.
So East Salisbury and West Salisbury are considered the elite?
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