The crash and fall of the past school regime in Clayton County is a classic tale of a factionalized panel who had been given power by the people to represent their best interests but who instead focused on their own internal petty squabbles. As a result the integrity of Clayton County has been damaged.
For me as a long time observer of this situation it is not just a matter of doing things to slide back under the "lindo stick" and thus get recetified. It is a matter of having SYSTEMS in place to insure that this never happens again. The educational careers of 53,000 students (mostly Black) ride on such a commitment.
I can only imagine that of the 9 board members of the past there were a few who felt a bit uncomfortable about the lateral battles at hand. Instead of speaking out in true leadership fashion that looked the other way hoping that the particular operatives who were causing the trouble would pass through their time in office and that no one would be looking at their aggregate work. I have nothing but PRAISE for SACS. They served as that external check which was needed to set forth a course correction. Absent their abrupt action - I assure you that many of these same board members would have been reelected and the petty conflicts would have continued.
Sadly, ultimately - much of the blame cannot be dumped upon the school board. They are 9 individuals who were sent forth by THE PEOPLE OF CLAYTON COUNTY. Each of them were deemed fit by their respective constituencies. I can only hope that the voters who have the power to choose will in the future chose to look at the qualifications of the people they send forth. Too many times Black people favor people who "speak truth to power". When there is a board full of "Truth Speakers" - we get the past situation.
I cannot say that I know the character of this new panel. I hope that they work collectively to keep everyone in check as each of them remind the others that we can't go back - Back on our promises to the children.
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