Of course, I would have much preferred it have its day and then be voted to death, but for now, a stay has effectively been given.

Like so many other Northern New Castle Residents you take your knowledge of one district and extend it to the rest of the state. This is a logical fallacy that is taught in Logic 101 to be fallse. In any college Logic intro course, One in fact infers rules about the particular based on the general not vice versa as you have done.

Also, as a resident of Kent County I find it offensive that you infer that my vote and influence is impacted by the opinion of Bill Manning. I know Bill and have known him for 20 + years. Your assertion that he or anyone else from New Castle County has ANY IMPACT Whatsoever on any Board Member in any other School District outside of Red Clay is ludicrous. Until you prove further I am convinced that this is just another case of Northern New Castle County arrogance and bias directed against those of us South of the Canal (this includes Joann Christian)

In the end Bill your problems in Red Clay should be decided in Red Clay and not with the involvement of the rest of the state. How HB 117 will solve your particular woes you have mysteriously left out of your argument?

I think HB 117 is well intentioned but not realistic. Currently, the schools use personnel that would typically be already working that day to administer elections. School secretaries man the polls and other school personnel are available. Since all school personnel are ultimately state employees, I don’t really see the savings. I don’t even see overtime costs as most School Board elections don’t open the polls until 10 am.

As for Joann Christian, I can honestly say as one who has supported her politically and one who has worked in her school district, that Joann Christian is dedicated to the best in education and dedicated to the best in government. Joann pulls no punches and tells it like it is and is bought by no one regardless of their connections to the Northern New Castle Heirarchy.

Man, I’m such a freaking independent!

I don’t know if Joanne wrote this or she’s quoting someone else, but in either case, the writer is either incredibly naive or incredibly stupid.

All the changes that have been made in public education over the past fifteen years, have been firmly grounded in blocks of Board members from up and down the State, pressuring Legislators to move the processes and policies in a direction that is tied to political philosophy for the future of public education. Admittedly, my experiences in Red Clay with people like Bill Manning (ex- President of RC Board, ex-Chief of Staff for Gov. Pete Dupont), Irwin Becnel (Present Board Prez.), Loretta and Vern Rice (past Board member and first President of CSW Board respectively) and Bob Andrewjeski are not necessarily comparable to other people’s experiences with other Boards. Nonetheless, to think Board positions are not political is ludicrous.
As admirable as I think Joanne and I believe some are in accepting a Board position, to many, it doesn’t take to long to begin to appreciate the connections and ties to political aspects of local and State government, and how beneficial it may be aligning yourself to politicians of one party or the other to help the children and schools they are trying to represent. Just as important, if they’re building schools, approving contracts and forwarding areas of interest that cost money, they very much have things to trade, deals to make and items to barter!!! (I can’t believe she wrote that!)

I’ll try to come back to the issue later, but I’m out of time for now.