THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9603020098
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editor's Column
SOURCE: Kevin Armstrong
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
The hunt is over. All that's left is for the hunted to come down from the trees.
Members of the special grand jury are to be commended for their pursuit of those responsible for the school district's financial mismanagement. They dogged the trail they were set upon and cornered more of what they were after than many people back at the ranch had expected.
What's more, despite lacking the legal teeth to finish off their task, they barked so shrilly that their captives were left with little choice but to give up their fight.
Those who refuse now risk being smoked out with greater legal force.
Let's hope that those responsible don't cost us any more in taxes and precious court time by fighting the evidence against them. Read for yourself the special grand jury's reasons for their findings, which are excerpted on this and the following page.
How can the accused refute such incriminating facts?
The jury's report sums up its assessment of the accused parties' reactions with this:
``The citizens of this city expect the public school system to help the parents of our schoolchildren to instill a set of values in their young minds. Among those values we expect to be taught in our schools is that there are consequences that accompany the poor choices and bad decisions that we make in life. It would be difficult for us to imagine poorer role models for our children than the attitudes displayed and behavior exhibited to date by most of the School Board itself, the former Superintendent, or the Director of Budget Development.
``These officials have each admitted to us under oath that they have some level of responsibility for spending millions of dollars of public money they did not have. Yet none have apologized to the citizens and the children whom they have let down.''
That may never happen. If not, it will be their loss, not ours.
We must turn our thoughts to who will replace them.
That may prove to be a litmus test on what selection process works best. The board will be replaced in three ways - by the City Council, Circuit Court and the voters. Different avenues are in order given the transition we're making from an appointed board to an elected one.
Unfortunately, the track record of each has been less than stellar.
The council must share responsibility for having appointed five of the board members. We, the voters, are responsible for four. The remaining pair came by way of the Circuit Court.
No one deserves a chance to kick the accused after they've been exposed.
Afterall, in the end, we all share some blame for this mess.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOL BOARD by CNB