http://www.fortbendnow.com/2011/01/06/49801
(exert)...I agree that the community needs to know that Board members are able to work together; however, the community also wants to see respectful debate, discussion and occasional dissenting votes.
As a presidential candidate once said, “If we both (all) agree on everything, then only one of us is doing the thinking.” Basically, we can disagree and still be agreeable. The community needs to know that their School Board is acting as a system of “checks and balances” and that any superintendent is not just being given “carte blanche” to do whatever he or she wants.
Now for the irony I promised. The same anonymous friend (mentioned earlier) advised me that he had recently been contacted by a prominent member of the current Board, who attempted to recruit or encourage him to become a candidate in the upcoming BOT election, thus fueling speculation that there may be an open seat, should an incumbent decide not to seek re-election. The call was received prior to the holidays. In any campaign, such advance notice provides a significant advantage to the forewarned candidate.
Such strategies are not unique to FBISD. During recent training, we learned of another Texas school district that has a tradition of the retiring incumbent resigning his seat in mid-term, so that a preferred replacement could be selected, giving the appointee a tremendous advantage in the upcoming election.
It will be nice to see a day when such strategies are no longer employed and the average citizen had just as even a chance of winning as any other candidate...
UPDATE OF EARLIER WATCH RELEASE:
http://www.fortbendnow.com/2011/01/06/49809
