School Board Gets Smacked From Both Ends
by Robert Russo
Today the Times-Dispatch reports that the Richmond School Board will not get an appeal of Mayor Wilder's decision to pass funds on to the school system at a time of his own choosing. This is a major wake-up call to the school system which believes it is an autonomous body that answers to no one. When taxpayer funds were available through the books of the Richmond City Council earlier this year, the school board demanded its cut as if the city had no jurisdiction (to decide how much goes toward housing projects, transportation etc.). Then when Mayor Wilder refused, the board sued him as if they were a private enterprise. Their legal counsel made $235 an hour out of the taxpayers' pocket.*
What prompted the decision to delay funds in the first place was a proposed examination of the school system by Mayor Wilder and Chief Financial Officer Harry E. Black, "when efforts to begin an external audit of the school district were rebuked".* Then in April the Mayor offered to hold back on outside assessment if school officials simply agreed to allow the next audit to have some clear definition, with unlimited access to school records.* Objectivity has always been what academicians fear most, because if funding were equated with performance then some other institution would be the dominant education provider in many districts, failing school systems would simply be shut down. Favoritism is their mainstay, spreading the culture that learning takes place in the classroom, instilling this faith over 12+ years and then releasing each student into the world to become parents themselves. To do this an institution must be exempt from examination unless they can conduct it themselves, but also have all the rights of an individual for their defense. Wilder says "the public deserves a complete disclosure of how taxpayers' dollars are being spent and wasted by the Richmond Public Schools", a position which School Board Chairman George P. Braxton called "obviously disingenuous".*
Keith West (who you might recall was the one progressive candidate I rated positively last year that actually won his seat) lambasted Braxton and called for his resignation, saying "(This) is only the latest in a string of unfortunate events authored by the Richmond School Board and its chairman, George Braxton.".* He adds that the Chairman "produced a budget that attacked our lowest wage workers but left intact huge areas (of) waste pointed out by studies and audits."*
Money is the only valve with which local government can balance the school system or any other state service. If that is taken away, we become the servants to whatever self-governing institution thinks is in its best interest. Does the DMV, FCC or Better Business Bureau ever close its doors to scrutiny in the hopes that people will just inherently trust them? (Is this "IRS employees week" on Wheel of Fortune? No, it's Teachers Week.) One would think an institution that takes another government institution to court at our expense would have no good faith left at all. Now they will at least learn they have no special privileges beyond any other public service. One day they will be dismayed to know they are only one of many education providers that share that service.
Having an elected mayor to watch the appointments of government and business has had so many perks so far. Appointment went straight to the top for so long its amazing to see one person actually making decisions, no matter who it is, interfering with these would-be unspoken deals we aren't always privileged to know about. Personally I am also impressed by the presence of an anti-establishment activist within the school board, putting out his own press releases as we libs do, not answering to anyone but the public. (And to think he only won by 15 votes!) The Mayor's antiacademic statements are almost unprecedented, they convey an inherent mistrust of the school board (as would anyone they have tried to cheat). Cooperation between city officials and a growing minority within its own ranks is incentive for our party to participate in the next election cycle. We should take a closer look into this. Kudos to Keith West.
Question of the Week: If the LPHC is represented at the June 18th session at Hermitage High School posted by Leonard Harris in the previous entry, what should be our party's contribution and goals? Send your opinions to henrico@richmondliberty.org.
If you have topics of interest to Libertarians please let us know. We welcome your input!