Wednesday, January 20, 2016

New Planning Commission; Same Old School Board



As 2016 gets underway I am no longer serving on the Chesterfield County Planning Commission. Michael Jackson has been appointed to represent the Dale Magisterial District. He will be known to many readers as the unsuccessful candidate for the Dale representative on the Chesterfield School Board. He would have made a great School Board member and I am equally certain that he will an able, effective member of the Planning Commission. As is Supervisor Jim Holland, who appointed him, and as I tried to be, Michael is a leader who listens to his constituents, gathers all the relevant facts, then makes the decision he believes is in the best interest of Chesterfield County and its citizens.

One of my great concerns has and continues to be the leadership of the Chesterfield County schools. Despite several changes in the makeup of the school board in the last two election cycles, there has been no meaningful increase in transparency or accountability by that board or by the senior administrators of the school system. Combined with the system’s woeful behavior in meeting the educational requirements of special needs children, mismanagement of capital projects and many other shortcomings, stonewalling of senior officials, hired and appointed, has done a great disservice to the children and citizens of Chesterfield County. 

You can expect to see more frequent commentary by me not only about Chesterfield County schools but other issues affecting the greater metropolitan area.