I’m Just Wondering
Yesterday I read this article in the Plain Dealer that “the independent Bond Accountability Panel” is being brought back to act as the public watchdog for the building and rehabilitation campaign for the Cleveland Municipal School District. Our appointed School Board has asked the administration of the school district to find the money to finance the committee. Today, I am still wondering how a commission funded by the very institution that they are watching can be considered “independent”.
July 16th, 2006 at 8:36 am
A quote from the article itself:
“However, Mayor Frank Jackson told The Plain Dealer this month that to avoid delaying the commission’s start-up, district money should be used and private support sought later.
Board member John Moss said on Thursday that the mayor is committed to having the commission independent by January.”
This sets another bad precedent. How easy will it be for the indentured board to buy its way to back to freedom, when it’s clear they couldn’t generate enough money to stay in business already? This should be a simple decision for everybody: If the money isn’t there, and from the prescribed sources, then you can’t have the committee.
How did the committee spend its money in the past? Let’s have an accounting and disclosure to see whether we think they were good stewards in the past, and then perhaps we can have a public discussion about why they can’t function now as volunteers, or do the work pro bono…as many of the rest of us do.