A Message From The Publisher
By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. In this case, it may be worth closer to a million. I believe I received the most recent picture of the Broward County School Board members and the superintendent at least two dozen times. Understand me, I could go back through the pages of history and compare what this picture could have represented then and what governors and others who fear the teaching of the truth in history might fear. PLEASE, understand me clearly! I am not calling anyone in the photo of The Broward County School Board racists or supremists. I am with precaution asking that in this day and age is it possible in the educational arena to have leadership at the top to resemble those precious scholars, who learn from not only the books and programs, but also by seeing those that influence and care for them.
If the constrictions that have been put into place and you can choose to label those constrictions however you may, were taken away and you looked at this picture, what do you see?
In a school district where 41 percent of the students are Black, the picture of the Broward’s Board and Superintendent is a real shocker. There isn’t a single Black person, one Hispanic female, Patricia Good, and not until recently no males. The only male was just appointed to the board by a governor who, with all his might, is trying to dumb down the entire Florida Educational System by banning books and wishing to make those who are not his “type” invisible and only teach his-story.
In the past, the School Board picture consisted of District 5 Board Member Dr. Rosalind Osgood and Superintendent Robert Runcie. While two of 10 members were Black, a mere 20 percent, the fact that both Runcie and Osgood stood more than 6 feet tall may have provided some level of balance for the portrait.
Governor Ron Desantis has appointed Daniel Foganholi to serve out the remaining time in Dr. Rosalind Osgood’s District 5 seat. Mr. Foganholi hails from Brazil. Foganholi, who lives in Coral Springs, is not eligible to run for the School Board, District 5; however, his campaign website details that the Republican has thrown his official hat into the ring for the Florida House of Representatives District 97 seat that will be on the August 2022 primary ballot.
But, back to the million words that I have to write about this picture. The picture represents a great shame, but the shame does not lie squarely with the Board members and Superintendent. The wakeup call and walk of shame sit with those of us who do not show up to the polls to speak truth to power with our vote as well as for those who go along to get along. There is no reason why a minimum of three of the six6 board member seats that are on the ballot in August cannot bring the racial and gender balance necessary to represent the students and families in Broward County.
The responsibility doesn’t halt there.
It is then the responsibility of the voters to ensure these Board Members represent the needs of our children with a sense of dedicated purpose and deliberate speed.
In the most recent Special General Election for the Florida Senate District 33 seat, roughly a dismal 12 percent of Broward’s registered voters showed up to the polls. In fairness, I will compare apples to apples for our upcoming August 2022 primary. Two years ago, the August 2020 primary produced 26 percent of registered voters who came out to vote. While this percent more than doubles that of the Special General Election for Florida Senate District 33 race, it still represents a very depressing voter turnout. There is no reason why that 26 percent turnout in 2020 should not double in 2022.
Having one Black Board member does very little to bring about the necessary changes for our community. But three Board members who look like and have shared values with the people they serve would go a long way in building the necessary coalition to ignite the people and move the work forward.
Districts 1, 5 and 8 give us that opportunity and give our children hope.
Current School Board Member Ann Murray is retiring and a Black male, Paul Wiggins, has filed for the open District 1 seat. Wiggins has three opponents, one being the daughter of Ann Murray, Marie Murray Martin.
With the departure of Rosalind Osgood to the State Senate, three Black males: Antonio Burgess, Jeff Holness and Jimmy Witherspoon and two Black females: Ruth Carter Lynch and Gloria Lewis have thrown their hats into the race for District 5.
At large Board member, Donna Korn of District 8, is being challenged by the current student representative to the school board, Raymond Adderly III. Adderly is a young, Black male high school senior currently attending Fort Lauderdale High. One other candidate has declared in this race with Adderly and Korn.
I strongly encourage residents to do two important things:
- VOTE. Register to vote. Register others to vote. Show up to vote. Bring others along to vote. Vote in every election for every seat on the ballot. Vote.
- Hold each and every official responsible for the vote you cast in their favor. The time is now.
Let us be smart and learn from our past mistakes! Not voting will cost us, having the wrong people will cost us, and not knowing will certainly cost us! And you better believe that leaving people in office that mean you or those you represent NO GOOD is costing us more now than ever.
There is no time to waste. Our children’s lives depend on it.
The Westside Gazette will be watching.
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