Subject: Media Asleep at the Switch
To: aemerson@tampatribune.com, denisepalmer@tampatribune.com, druth@tribune.com, JanetWeaver@tampatribune.com, kbrady@tampatribune.com, Brown@tampatribune.com, mbrown@tampatribune.com, mthompson@tampatribune.com, SILVESTRINI@tampatribune.com, webster@tampatribune.com, candy.olson@sdhc.k12.fl.us, carol.kurdell@sdhc.k12.fl.us, jack.lamb@sdhc.k12.fl.us, april.griffin@sdhc.k12.fl.us, jennifer.falierao@sdhc.k12.fl.us, susanvaldes@sdhc.k12.fl.us, montolino@aol.com, doretha.edgecomb@sdhc.k12.fl.us, "Tom Gonzalez"
The board voted 4-2 with only Griffin and Valdes dissenting in favor of a buddy of some administrator--probably Ms. Elia since Blackwell, getting the $158,000 contract without a bid-- worked in her division before she got her job through buddy hiring by the board as superintendent.
Attorney Gonzalez, who sounds so disinterested in your story's quotes today, gave a ringing endorsement of this crony status-quo from which he has benefit ted handsomely. Mr. Gonzalez made it sound as though changing it violated the liturgy of public life and would be as tough to do as mapping the double helix. He did not give equal endorsement to the board's right and duty to change the crony system to a bid system for subcontractors and for advertising flossy administration jobs that now go to Elia's buddies, sycophants, relatives of relatives, and other species of hangers on. Cronyism has flourished at the school board while the "main stream" media has sat on its venerability and looked to the BUCs for news--or tractor pulls.
I also note that Mr. Gonzalez did not advise Dr. Lennard when the latter appointed him in the reigning crony protocol that it would be more beneficial for taxpayers for the board to advertise the lawyer job, also fairer to other area law firms, and as well more ethical all around. Now when you interview for publication of his position, Mr. Gonzalez suddenly comes out with the admission that fairness and ethics get short shrift at the school board and that he has not distinguished himself by pointing it out. He rather gives closing arguments for the status quo. See the rerun of the 16th board meeting to confirm this statement of fact.
The blogs are replacing the "mainstream" press, which are headed for the dust bin of press history. The "mainstream" layabouts deserve this dumping.
lee drury de cesare
lee drury de cesare
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1 comment:
Lee,
I have been reading your blog for several weeks now.
I think I'm in love.
I taught in Hillsborough County about a decade a go. I was in for 18 years when I ran afoul of some of their practices. It was, as the Monkees' song goes, "A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You." The school system decided it was all me. They had bled me dry with department head duties, teaching, club sponsorship, etc., and when they were done they threw me away.
This was after a successful, award-winning career durng which I taught the children of migrant workers, the sons and daughters of college professors and politicians, even current School Board members.
Hmm.
So I relish each tidbit you uncover and look forward to corresponding with you. Please do not post this message, although future message will be ready to go. I wanted to make contact and couldn't discern your email.
I am, by the way, about to put my application back in at Hillsborough County. They have unpaid sick days, after all, although some sources say I can get that without returning to the classroom. At any rate, it may well turn into something worthy of your pages. The story is juicy, but for another time.
Please reply via robertstewart55@earthlink.net. Keep up the good fight and know that there are those of us out here who know what you are writing about.
Sincerely,
Robert B. Stewart
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