The Examiner 8/8/13 Editions Editorial by Don J. Dodd CULTURE OF CORRUPTION County Judge Jeff Branick’s statement to Channel 12 that he had an engineering firm with 38 engineering positions choose not to relocate to Beaumont because of the school district has received much attention over the last several days. Is this a new revelation, or is it a verification of what has been known for a very long time? We all know at least one realtor. Ask them why people are not moving to Beaumont. Ask them what they say when someone asks about our schools. They can drive them around and show them very nice facilities but hope they don’t catch the local newscast or read a newspaper if they’re considering relocating to our area, or they might as well tell them straight up they need to be in Hampshire/Fannett, Lumberton, Mauriceville, Bridge City, Sour Lake, Port Neches, Groves, Nederland … hell, just tell them anywhere in Southeast Texas except Port Arthur or Beaumont. It’s not about our kids, though. They, like all children, have every capacity to learn and be future leaders. It’s not about our teachers. We have wonderful, committed teachers that are selfless. If not, they would simply run to another district and leave the store to others less committed or qualified. It’s about a culture of corruption that plagues the entire district. It didn’t start at the bottom, with the students. It didn’t start with the teachers. It started with a corrupt administration. It is empowered by a board majority with a riot mentality. They have locked themselves in a bunker of belief that everything is about race, and that parents and teachers should not concern themselves with the scandals so prevalent in the district unless they want to be deemed racist. They have empowered one of the most prejudiced people in the district with the title of communications director and special assistant to the superintendent. Jessie Haynes, who regularly touts her public relations credentials, could well be the worst choice this district could have ever made for “communications director.” Just exactly what is she supposed to communicate to the community? Hate, lies, more dissention? If that is her mission, she deserves a raise. Branick’s statement about losing this one company is a drop in the bucket when you consider the companies and individuals who choose not to locate or start a new business venture in Beaumont. If you were tasked with finding a new location to build a plant, expand a business, or start a new company, would you recommend Beaumont to your board of directors? If not, then you must help to make a change, starting at the top where the culture of corruption starts — the BISD board of trustees. If you are so inclined to believe the rhetoric being spewed by the board majority or their puppet communications director, that the distention in the district is all about race, ask yourself one question. What exactly are the white people trying to take over when only 16 percent of the students in BISD are white? Could it be that it is not about race at all but the desire to have a good education for all children, regardless of color? Could it be about getting rid of this culture of corruption so our community can grow and prosper, giving our kids a reason to stay and not leave us rocking on the front porch all alone in our old age? Maybe they just want to punish the criminals and celebrate the accomplished. That would be the right thing to do regardless of your heritage.
Posted on: Thu, 08 Aug 2013 05:02:45 +0000