THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 29, 1996 TAG: 9602290001
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Finally, after almost three months, the special grand jury investigating the Virginia Beach public schools has released its report. And what a blistering document it is.
Here are some of the findings:
Former Superintendent of Schools Sidney Faucette: ``reckless approach to spending decisions'' coupled with a ``dictatorial management style.'' If he hadn't resigned last summer, the special grand jury would urge him to quit or be indicted for malfeasance in office.
Former Director of Budget Development Mordecai Smith: ``Incompetent'' to perform these functions and ``lacked the knowledge and expertise'' needed to do his job. Should resign or be indicted for malfeasance in office.
The entire School Board - bar two members who did not sit for the entire 1994-95 fiscal year: ``completely lost touch with reality.'' The culpable board members should ``resign or be indicted'' for malfeasance in office.
This special grand jury didn't mince words. Neither will we.
Virginia Beach public schools desperately need a clean slate. This report couldn't come at a better time: The city has a new, untainted school superintendent in Timothy Jenney. He took office last week.
The city schools need new top financial administrators.
And a new School Board. Two board members have already resigned. Good. Only two of the others, Donald Bennis and Karen O'Brien, emerge unbruised by the special grand jury's report. (They weren't sitting during the 1994-95 fiscal year.) And the report even raises a red flag in relation to Bennis, who, the report notes, voted for the rehiring of Mordecai Smith - one of the most baffling moves ever made by this inscrutable board.
No board members have definitely announced that they will stand for election in May. How can they now? ``Unfit for public office'' is hardly a catchy campaign slogan.
Any citizen of Virginia Beach who cares deeply about the public schools and believes himself or herself qualified to serve should act now. The filing deadline for the School Board election is March 5. Only 125 signatures are required on the petition. What a pity if the voters were confronted with a ballot offering only School Board candidates as weak as the members of the present board.
Another recommendation from the grand jury was that the School Board be made a separate entity and given the power of taxation.
We see no merit in elected school boards. Under the old system of appointed school boards there was a clear line of responsibility. Members were appointed by city council which in turn taxed citizens to pay for schools. The buck stopped at council.
Making an elected school board accountable to the public but not empowering it to tax makes no sense.
Too often when discussing schools, children are left out. But not by this special grand jury: ``It would be difficult for us to imagine poorer role models for our children than the attitudes displayed and behavior exhibited to date by most of the School Board itself, the former superintendent or the director of budget development.''
Amen. by CNB