Good Friday Issues and More

I never fail to be surprised by the political posturing and endless yada, yada by our school board members when a controversial issue arises. Even those members who I know and love get carried away with verbiage when an outcome seems predetermined.

During the board’s discussions on next year’s school calendar and the Good Friday agenda, there was more convolution than a Barney Frank meets Bill O’Reilly debate.

April Griffin insists she needs more data to make a decision on whether Good Friday should be a student/teacher holiday. This after 60% of all students, teachers, bus drivers, etc. were absent a year ago on that day. She even went as far as accusing the employees union and teachers union of “promoting truancy.” Strong words from someone who depends on union support for re-election.

Susan Valdes was up to her usual eloquent self by saying she supports families and family values, she supports employee values, she supports babies and children…..and if I heard her correctly, she also has sympathy for the feelings of non-native snakes, fire ants, and Brazilian cockatoos.

Jennifer Faliero was the only board member to make politically incorrect sense. When commenting on the Good Friday issue, she hit the nail on the head by saying, “We have predictability!”

In my mind, Good Friday is not merely a Christian religious issue, it is and always will be a child safety and academic issue. Six members of our board are betting that no child gets hurt or killed next year when a majority of bus drivers do not report to work and kids are left abandoned at some bus stop….and….our board is betting that enough teachers actually show up for work to actually engage students in academic activities.

Seems like huge bets with bad odds.


One good thing about these kinds of thorny issues brought before the board: they generate new board candidates.

I man spoke with me last night simply incensed by the board’s actions. He wanted information and advice about filing for a school board seat. I know another mulling the same possibility.

Both are eyeing the county-wide seat held by Griffin. Both have flexible schedules leaving time to campaign county-wide. And neither would need to embellish their resumes or achievements, unlike some unnamed board members have done……like Lem and Ming.

One Other Random Thought:

I have not doubt our Public Defender’s Office managed my Julianne Holt does a needed and fantastic job. But, can you imagine being the attorney tasked to defend Richard McTear, the young man accused of pitching his girlfriend’s baby out a car window? Now there’s a job to test a nauseous tummy.

posted by admin @ 6:11 PM