Referendumb

Okay. The CSD is out of money…AGAIN! In all fairness, so are Laurel, Capitol, and Seaford.

Call me naïve. It’s easy to make assumptions as an “outsider” and taxpayer/chump for the CSD that $250 million should be enough, when properly allocated, to run a school district of this size.

I’ve recently been clued into a prime example of wasteful spending and half-assed spin-doctoring within the district (note to the current CSD Board & Schneider: when you piss off the hired help, they tend to turn on you).

It’s common knowledge that Board members take an annual all expenses paid (by taxpayers) vacation to the National School Board Convention. They just got back. Its okay guys, just drink and have a good time; don’t worry, taxpayers will pick up the tab. Now, I can understand the compelling need to experience the wide world of school boards outside of Delaware – once. Beyond the first time, you’re just milking the taxpayer teat. Problem is, it ran dry and it’s getting really chaffed right about now.

So the story goes, Mr. Esquire loves stretching his legs at these conventions. Year after year, he takes a break from making bad decisions at home and goes walk-about. After 25 or 30 years or so of ruining the district, you’d think he’d know everything there is to know about school boarding. It’s pretty simple - school boarding is kinda like water boarding but, instead of interrogating terrorists, it’s used to shake down taxpayers and water down education.

I hear that Mr. Esquire loves the taxpayer teat. Not only does he like these free excursions, but he double dips as well. He is the President of the DSBA. They are throwing some sort of dinner that all of the CSD sheep attended…at our expense. You guessed it, the DSBA is making money by “inviting” all of the DE school board members statewide to a BYDC dinner (bring your district’s checkbook). What a great fundraiser. I guess it was either that or selling Joe Corbi pizzas on The Green in Dover. But that’s not where the story ends.

May is election time for the Squire’s seat on the Board so, at the behest of his supporter (he’s down to just one), he has been trying to improve his image over the past few weeks and distance himself from the massive expense of sending 7 board members to Club Med for three or four days. It’s hard to panhandle for referendum money and gain pity votes right after you submit a big wad of receipts for reimbursement. It just looks bad.

The trip was over spring break. I’ve been told that he backed out at the last minute and sent Schneider in his place. Schneider? Yes, Schneider! Correct me if I’m wrong, but she’s not even a school board member. What the hell need does she have to go to a national convention of school boards? Looking for a new job, perhaps? One can only hope.

But I digress.

He backed out of the trip and his non-refundable reservations under the guise of saving the taxpayers money, because it’s hard to get re-elected as the solution when you’re so obviously a major part of the problem. THIS, my friends is why the district is on the brink of bankruptcy - AGAIN. The man and woman at the helm lack common sense. HOW does transferring plane tickets, hotel reservations, the expensive DSBA dinner purchase, etc. from a board member to a district employee SAVE money? It doesn’t.

Mr. Esquire, I humbly submit that you should have gone on your little happy trip. You just missed your LAST opportunity to live it up on the community dime, buddy. No matter what you do, you have lost my vote and the vote of as many people as I can convince to turn out in May. Thank you for your service. When it comes to another term, however, your service is no longer needed. Our children deserve better.