By Antonio D. French
Filed Tuesday, January 30, 2007 at 10:20 AM
The St. Louis Schools Watch reports that, as expected, the School Board last night voted 4-3 to authorize the secretary of the board of education, Flint Fowler, to sign contracts for the school district. Labels: Schools
School board member Bill Purdy said when making the motion that there has been a problem with the president refusing to sign contracts that had been approved by the full school board. Up until tonight, the president's signature was required to make any contract valid.
President Veronica O'Brien called Superintendent Diana Bourisaw "a liar" after Bourisaw detailed several contracts that she said O'Brien had returned unsigned over a period of months.
O'Brien, Ron Jackson and Bob Archibald voted against the resolution. Purdy, Fowler, Donna Jones, and Peter Downs voted for it.
The school board also ratified by an identical 4-3 vote recent appointments to principal and assistant principal positions.
13 Comments:
There is such a sad irony in this.
Most people in the area have very little grasp of the details of what has been happening in the slps. A common reaction is "what a mess---those people are all idiots---the state ought to take over."
It is very easy for people with an "I no longer give a s***" attitude like Archibald, Jackson and O'Brien to do things to reinforce that mindless attitude.
The exact wrong thing to do.
1/30/2007 11:46 AM
Star Jones is right! Let's just hope Antonio has the camera on during the meltdown. That will be must-see TV.
1/30/2007 12:11 PM
Gee, I thought she was bipolar (manic/depressive), but the schizophrenic paranoia sounds like a possibility too! Is there a doctor on board, particularly a psychiatrist who can explain the behavior?
If she is ill, as it appears, she has my sympathy.
1/30/2007 1:02 PM
Shame on you all! (or if the shoe fits). I dont agree with Veronica's actions either, but we should never take joy in another's misfortunes, although we're all human so sometimes fail to observe that. Remember, someone must always be in a lot of pain when they act badly.
1/30/2007 2:39 PM
Bill,
You must be in a lot of pain a lot of the time.
1/30/2007 3:15 PM
When someone is obviously not acting in the best interests of the position to which she was elected, she should step aside or be removed. If this is local control, I'm all for state takeover.
1/30/2007 3:17 PM
Is it possible the board will take a similar vote to have a responsible person chair the board meetings?
I don't know what her problems are or from where they stem. All I know is that she makes the meetings painful for all concerned. Her ridiculous and unprofessional behavior would embarass someone who took a School Board position seriously.
1/30/2007 3:21 PM
Bill, it's Veronica who is unkind, unkind to the children by holding up signed contracts, unkind to Dr. Bourisaw by lying about her and harassing her, and unkind to some of her fellow board members who supported her when Slay made aspersions about her.
Truth be said, all Veronica thinks about is herself. Her poor children and husband, how they must suffer along with the rest of this community.
Bill Haas, this is why you are not the best candidate for public office. You fail to deal with reality and fact.
Your antics in the past hurt the credibility of the school board despite a few good things you might have done. But this school district and community needs emotionally stable men and women who can focus on children and not on themselves or their popularity.
Sorry, man, but that's the way I see it.
1/30/2007 3:54 PM
Jules said...
When someone is obviously not acting in the best interests of the position to which she was elected, she should step aside or be removed. If this is local control, I'm all for state takeover.
1/30/2007 3:17 PM
This is the irony of which I spoke in the original post.
The state takeover will prevent the voters from taking action to remove power from the destructive board members----and preserve the appointment power of the person who put them on the board in the first place.
Genius. Use the crazy behavior of the people you appointed or endorsed to preserve your power to appoint some more.
1/30/2007 4:06 PM
I couldn't agree more with the idea that turning over the district to the state is like rewarding Slay for giving us O'Brien. Brilliant.
Additionally, the state's report card for Wellston is dismal, to say the least. They need to figure out what they're doing wrong there before they mess with Bourisaw's work here.
1/30/2007 4:18 PM
We all may have problems but Bill is right - one should never take joy in seeing another downfall. Regardless of the other person's actions.
Two wrongs do not make a right.
1/30/2007 10:21 PM
I'm humbled by your outpouring of love and support for me; I'm deeply touched. Particularly by the adulation of anonymous and pseudonyms; you're too kind, and admire your boldness to be out there with your true identity. I'm undeserving of your praise; undeserving, I say; and intend to stay that way.
And I couldnt agree more with you that I made a great schoolboard member in the eyes of all except Slay dogs (people from the city and district dont re-elect you unless they think so; and could probably still beat union choices had I stayed in) and other horses patoots (if the horseshoe fits we wont acquit), and I'm going to make a great Alderman.
1/31/2007 12:50 AM
I agree with Bill Haas that O'Brien is in a lot of pain. It must be buried pretty deep though because she seems clueless.
Certainly, it simply continues the destruction to make cruel and sarcastic comments about her.
I hope she slips quietly into the background and is forgotten.
1/31/2007 7:09 AM
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