This is the first of a two-part post.
So Dr. Andrew Melin, the superintendent (kommandant?) of Greater Clark County Schools, has started his charm offensive of sorts, aiming to sell the ludicrous referendum plan he and his puppet masters--err, the school board--came up with on a populace he was possibly hoping would be receptive to the idea.
Well. . .
He kicked things off the other night at Spring Hill Elementary, one of the schools set to be closed under the plan. He started off by saying, essentially, "Screw you people, we're going to do this whether you like it or not, I just want to make it look like I actually give two fucks about your opinion". Except the people whom came to hear him speak, and speak to him, weren't having it.
No, Dr. Melin ran into about as much resistance as the Allies did at Normandy. In fact, I'm pretty sure 90% of Obama's plans face less opposition from Republicans than Melin did. The folks around Spring Hill, which is situated in the Claysburg neighborhood--predominantly black, largely lower to lower middle class--made it perfectly clear that they did NOT want to see their neighborhood school closed. I wasn't there, but I've heard that nobody there came out in support, or if they did, they didn't rise to speak.
So last night the good doctor (coincidentally the title of a book about a British physician who serial-killed some of his patients) headed to Maple Elementary, which is another one of the five elementary schools targeted for closure. He apparently tried to head the critics off at the pass, going on the offensive first by lamenting the fact that his integrity was being questioned. I hear he wasn't the most diplomatic about it; in fact, I hear he was kind of a dick about it. And as many expected, the crowd there was equally as receptive to the plan as the folks at Spring Hill.
This superintendent was brought in because the school board wanted a puppet. Word is, he took the job because he wanted the money--we're paying him more than the Indianapolis-area district did. And thus far, he hasn't fought off the "super-majority" (as they call themselves) who want their way. In fact, they're like-minded. The board had no use for the previous superintendent, Dr. Stephen Daeschner--a former superintendent in Louisville--and did everything they could to get rid of him, even though he didn't do anything necessarily wrong or bad. He might have ruffled a few feathers, sure, and he came up with his own plan to close several schools, but once it became obvious that the public opposition was too great, he backed off.
And that's not what Melin and his handlers realize. Daeschner wanted to close Spring Hill and Maple for similar reasons; the difference is, there was no $120-ish million referendum attached. But the people spoke out in opposition, and he and the board in place then backed off--reluctantly, but they backed off. And part of the reason this board now was elected was because people were ticked at them. One is wise to consider the past when looking to the future, so as to keep from making similar mistakes. Obviously that wisdom is lost on the current administration and board. Either that, or it's not lost on them, but they're banking on support that so far they don't have, at least not publicly. Some members on the Clark County Chatter support the referendum and the closing of five schools but they appear to be a minority. This whole thing is going to blow up in their faces and either they don't see it, or they don't care.
And as far as questioning Melin's integrity, he doesn't have to worry about that from me--one has to have integrity before it can be questioned.
Part 2 coming up next!
So Dr. Andrew Melin, the superintendent (kommandant?) of Greater Clark County Schools, has started his charm offensive of sorts, aiming to sell the ludicrous referendum plan he and his puppet masters--err, the school board--came up with on a populace he was possibly hoping would be receptive to the idea.
Well. . .
He kicked things off the other night at Spring Hill Elementary, one of the schools set to be closed under the plan. He started off by saying, essentially, "Screw you people, we're going to do this whether you like it or not, I just want to make it look like I actually give two fucks about your opinion". Except the people whom came to hear him speak, and speak to him, weren't having it.
No, Dr. Melin ran into about as much resistance as the Allies did at Normandy. In fact, I'm pretty sure 90% of Obama's plans face less opposition from Republicans than Melin did. The folks around Spring Hill, which is situated in the Claysburg neighborhood--predominantly black, largely lower to lower middle class--made it perfectly clear that they did NOT want to see their neighborhood school closed. I wasn't there, but I've heard that nobody there came out in support, or if they did, they didn't rise to speak.
So last night the good doctor (coincidentally the title of a book about a British physician who serial-killed some of his patients) headed to Maple Elementary, which is another one of the five elementary schools targeted for closure. He apparently tried to head the critics off at the pass, going on the offensive first by lamenting the fact that his integrity was being questioned. I hear he wasn't the most diplomatic about it; in fact, I hear he was kind of a dick about it. And as many expected, the crowd there was equally as receptive to the plan as the folks at Spring Hill.
This superintendent was brought in because the school board wanted a puppet. Word is, he took the job because he wanted the money--we're paying him more than the Indianapolis-area district did. And thus far, he hasn't fought off the "super-majority" (as they call themselves) who want their way. In fact, they're like-minded. The board had no use for the previous superintendent, Dr. Stephen Daeschner--a former superintendent in Louisville--and did everything they could to get rid of him, even though he didn't do anything necessarily wrong or bad. He might have ruffled a few feathers, sure, and he came up with his own plan to close several schools, but once it became obvious that the public opposition was too great, he backed off.
And that's not what Melin and his handlers realize. Daeschner wanted to close Spring Hill and Maple for similar reasons; the difference is, there was no $120-ish million referendum attached. But the people spoke out in opposition, and he and the board in place then backed off--reluctantly, but they backed off. And part of the reason this board now was elected was because people were ticked at them. One is wise to consider the past when looking to the future, so as to keep from making similar mistakes. Obviously that wisdom is lost on the current administration and board. Either that, or it's not lost on them, but they're banking on support that so far they don't have, at least not publicly. Some members on the Clark County Chatter support the referendum and the closing of five schools but they appear to be a minority. This whole thing is going to blow up in their faces and either they don't see it, or they don't care.
And as far as questioning Melin's integrity, he doesn't have to worry about that from me--one has to have integrity before it can be questioned.
Part 2 coming up next!