School boards are worried about expanding their power
letter to the editor
School boards are worried about expanding their power
To the Editor:
The truth is school boards are exclusive “clubs.” They may be stepping stones for those with political ambitions, but mostly they are about power. The entrenched members wield great power over the community. They control what and how our children are educated. They control the vast majority of our tax dollars. Far more than the city itself. And there is no room for squeaky wheels in this club – as was so obvious in the last very public exorcism. Naturally, the administration people they hire must back them 100 percent.
That is precisely why there has never been a serious alternative to the grand plan. It is not about the children. It is not about the community. It is about expanding their importance. Expanding their power. Expanding their kingdom. School boards are the perfect examples of what happens in any bureaucracy. It is all about power.
The school board has consistently ignored calls for accountability for past actions. Why was building maintenance not performed? Why are they still using outdated student population projections? (As with the middle school project almost 20 years ago.) Why has there not been a building upgrade and/or replacement plan? Why is it all or nothing? The answer to all these and other questions from residents is the same. Power.
There can be no doubt that our schools need repairs. Some facilities need replaced. The needs of our schools have been manipulated to force a crisis which can only be solved their way and gain more power for the board. At this point, the only solution may be dissolving the school board, firing their hired “yes” men and have the state take over. Perhaps then we can start down a path that truly puts the children, their parents and the community first. If term limits were ever needed, this is the place.
John Sak
North Royalton
To the Editor:
The truth is school boards are exclusive “clubs.” They may be stepping stones for those with political ambitions, but mostly they are about power. The entrenched members wield great power over the community. They control what and how our children are educated. They control the vast majority of our tax dollars. Far more than the city itself. And there is no room for squeaky wheels in this club – as was so obvious in the last very public exorcism. Naturally, the administration people they hire must back them 100 percent.
That is precisely why there has never been a serious alternative to the grand plan. It is not about the children. It is not about the community. It is about expanding their importance. Expanding their power. Expanding their kingdom. School boards are the perfect examples of what happens in any bureaucracy. It is all about power.
The school board has consistently ignored calls for accountability for past actions. Why was building maintenance not performed? Why are they still using outdated student population projections? (As with the middle school project almost 20 years ago.) Why has there not been a building upgrade and/or replacement plan? Why is it all or nothing? The answer to all these and other questions from residents is the same. Power.
There can be no doubt that our schools need repairs. Some facilities need replaced. The needs of our schools have been manipulated to force a crisis which can only be solved their way and gain more power for the board. At this point, the only solution may be dissolving the school board, firing their hired “yes” men and have the state take over. Perhaps then we can start down a path that truly puts the children, their parents and the community first. If term limits were ever needed, this is the place.
John Sak
North Royalton
