Comments on: Anger, Threats and Charges of Nepotism

By: karass

karass — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 23:21:04 +0000

Yes, and look who leaves! Some mighty fine and dedicated public servants at all levels have left n the last 8 years. Between no security, furloughs, and lots of abuse from the top, which loves to blame down, staying in state government is foolishness. It used to be that the desire for public service and the security of a job with a pension and good benefits would keep people who would otherwise be able to earn a lot more than a state salary. Now there’s no job security–you can be terminated at will for any reason other than legal discrimination–so working for the state is really a risky thing for anyone with a family to do.

By: Johnny Ego

Johnny Ego — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:38:34 +0000

I didn’t cast any aspersions on Mr. or Mrs. Wilson — in my experience they’re both highly qualified and competent people, as well as nice folks who care about Decatur and the CSD students. But the simple fact of their relationship creates the potential for conflict of interest or a perception of bias in decision making. For example, I can’t help wondering whether the decision to spend millions on a beautiful new stadium and gym at DHS, as well as the new Renfroe gym, might not have been influenced by the fact that the Board Chair and AD are married.

The point is that whether the decision was or wasn’t influenced, there is the appearance that it could have been, and we don’t need that. If this was an isolated small town with a very limited pool of qualified people, I could understand it. But I think the legislature’s decision to bar school systems from employing board members’ family in senior positions is a good one.

By: Deanne

Deanne — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 03:44:08 +0000

Yep. I can’t recall one with her where I thought ” Ooh. This is so not cool!” Don’t know how you’re going to get wrong acting folks to just sit down for the camera.

The “tough questions” thing over & over is just silly.

By: TOK

TOK — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:05:32 +0000

But, as far as can tell, the questions are legitimate.

By: nelliebelle1197

nelliebelle1197 — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:11:07 +0000

I am betting the charges aren’t unfair in the DeKalb case. Mention this to most any teacher in the DeKalb system and he or she will recite a litany of so and so’s sister/daughter/inlaw/church friend and this tangled web of connections. I have several good friends in the system and they all have really interesting stories.