A Message From The Publisher
By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.
‘I soon can learn to do it if you’ll let me see it done. I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.’
I do believe that this stanza from the poem I’d Rather See A Sermon written by Edgar A. Guest is a prime example of the actions of a lot of people in position to make things better for people of color, especially Black people. However, it is highly apropos for the situation at hand in the actions of the superintendent of the Broward County School Board.
On Tuesday, April 19, the Broward school board approved the superintendent’s recommendation for two executive level positions. Phillip Dunn, former Chief Information Officer and a Black male, left the school district shortly after Dr. Vickie Cartwright joined as interim superintendent. He was replaced by Dr. Joe Phillips, a white male.
A 25-year Broward schools veteran, Dr. Leo Nesmith, became the acting Chief Safety Officer after Brian Katz departed faster than a rain drop in the Sierra Desert. You do remember it was a short time after former Superintendent Runcie resigned.
Dr. Nesmith, a Black male, is being replaced by Jamie Alberti, a white male. Alberti is being compensated with a much more lucrative raise from his previous salary as Police Commander for Orange County Public Schools. Alberti got $92,500, $90,000 over his salary from the previous district.
While Dr. Nesmith was only acting as interim in the Chief Safety and Security job, he was, according to what some say, not qualified for the permanent position and thus could not apply. That doesn’t bode well as being very fair considering the history in Broward of people who are cleared to apply for a job that rules previously made them unqualified. Humm, “something, something just ain’t right.”
Nicole Mancini, a white female, became the Acting Chief Academic Officer six months ago and has been approved for another six months as acting. The question begging to be asked is, is she qualified for the position and will she somehow be made qualified somewhere down the line. Inquiring minds do wanna know.
So, here is what we now know.
The eight School Board members consist of seven white females and one Hispanic female. The superintendent is a white female. Dr. Cartwright has made four executive level hires since becoming permanent: Two deputy superintendents, a white female and Hispanic female and two new chief positions that are two White males.
Will somebody ask, where is Dr. Osgood? We know that there are murmurings among several people within the district and stuff is being tossed around in the community like popcorn in an air heated popcorn maker, the kind like at the circus.
I ask again, what will representation for Black students look like in Broward? The Westside Gazette will continue its watchful eye.
