Incredible!!  First, that the School Board would so cavalierly brush off an effort to look into their finances jointly.  Secondly, that all the Finance folks at the Board knew of budgetary items was their numbers. No-one seemed to know what the $30,000 (yearly grant) was for, and few seemed to know what the breakdown of budgetary items was for; the second semester was exactly equal to the first; no reduction for snow-free days, no change in staff. Nada!

But everyone seems to have a Ph.D., sort of like Dr. Jill!  I worked at an international banking institution for years, where at least half the staff had Ph.Ds. or Law Doctorates, and no-one used Dr. (if they had, they would have been laughed at).  I had to prepare a budget for my own unit, justifying each sum and then defending it when grilled. The Supervisors can clearly choose experienced folks with far more serious attitudes than we now have via elections – elections that depend only on how many folks know your name.

We heard–from her own mouth–that the School Board Chairman was “instructed” to not look into finances.  And so  she did not!  Then why would the Supervisors treat her request for budgetary sums seriously!  And anything involving personnel (even “teacher of the year!”) is totally redacted; none of your (and our) business. Our School System top executives remain absent as the system faces a financial crisis.  You could not make similar things up and expect a credible audience!

There is no need to discuss the implications of the FOIA haul; it speaks for itself. I remain amazed at the gentility of the Supervisors when confronted with such a Board.

As for the referendum to have an appointed School Board – where and when can we sign?