As I sat through Tuesday’s 2+ hour Work and Study meeting, which discussed the OFAC findings, I could only wonder if this hiring and certification nightmare would ever end. The frustration, disgust and/or embarrassment of the people attending the meeting was palpable. People were demanding answers, yet were limited to 2 questions by the President of the Board. People wanted some straight talk and solutions, but were met with the CSA’s double speak and criticisms of the investigation findings. Current and past board members even spoke of everyone needing to work together and become unified, although 4 of them were informed of this situation by Dr. Bailey and did nothing and 7 voted “no” to RICE the CSA in order to get to the bottom of this mess as a unified board, without the state intervening. Where has their unity been with this community?
Under the current CSA, job titles and descriptions were changed and lowered, forcing out valuable employees, who were knowledgeable of the issues facing our city. Qualified members of our community and employees (50 applicants) were overlooked for positions that would later be filled by 2 Miami women, who did not possess the proper certifications or qualifications from DAY 1. New positions were created without approval from the County Supt. and given to the 2 Miami women investigated without ever posting the positions for current staff or members of the community to apply. Reimbursements and travel were approved at a cost that could have gone toward hiring a new teacher or much needed textbooks. The Assistant Superintendent was convicted for assaulting an administrator and ordered to forfeit her position (no proof that she has). Qualified and dedicated members of our community resigned from both administrative and teaching positions from physically becoming ill from all the deception and corruption occurring in PPS.
I know this physical pain all to well. I resigned on 6/30/2009 from my tenured position as the speech therapist at PHS, Maxson, Barlow and Evergreen after a 33 pound weight loss and illness brought on by the stress of hostile working conditions. The decision was not easy. The economy was bad and working less than a mile from home, was a perk for this mother of 3 PPS students. But more importantly, this decision meant leaving the students, who referred to themselves as my kids from another mother, and co-workers, who worked tirelessly to educate our students despite the madness. This was my second time working where I lived. There’s nothing like seeing the fruits of your labor grow in your own community.
Many people have been negatively impacted, financially, physically and emotionally from these decisions. Our community’s name has been run through the mud on television, newspaper and radio because of the actions of the CSA, the ladies he recommended from Miami and the complacent board members, who stuck their head in the mud, rather than handle this situation as a unified board. If the members of the B.O.E. truly want to see this community work together and be unified then they can start the unification process by asking for the resignation of the Superintendent at the April 13th B.O.E Business meeting. Next, the 2 ladies investigated and found not to have possessed the proper credentials and qualifications from DAY1 should be fired IMMEDIATELY. As for the 3 current board members, who were informed of this situation by Dr. Bailey and did nothing, they should resign. Councilwoman Bridget Rivers, who was the past President of the board, acknowledged being one of the 4 members warned by Dr. Bailey. Our district is about to terminate 100+ workers, we’ve wasted over ½ million dollars on this fiasco and the councilwoman believes the investigation report was a good thing! Unbelievable! I suppose the other 3 feel the same way.
I feel these 3 steps are the only actions that will bring closure to this matter and help to unify our community. These actions will demonstrate that the B.O.E. is serious about their hiring practices, serious about having certified staff, serious about being fiscally responsible, serious about addressing the concerns of the community and most importantly SERIOUS ABOUT LEARNING. No alibis, no excuses, no exceptions. The B.O.E. must have forgotten those mottos when the CSA came along with his “Yes, we will.”
The Plainfield community can take action as well on April 20th by casting their votes for Wilma Campbell, Renata Hernandez, Rasheed Abdul-Haqq and me, Keisha Edwards of A Grand S.L.A.M for Plainfield. Four individuals, who’ve been fighting for months against this corruption. Four individuals that will rid Plainfield of this wasteful spending. Four individuals, who will tell Dr. Gallon, NO, “WE WON’T!”
Keisha Edwards
Candidate running for 1 year unexpired term on the B.O.E.
Member of A Grand S.L.A.M. (School Leadership Advocacy Movement)
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