THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 8, 1996 TAG: 9603070176
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
A strong bias on my part is certainly acknowledged, but the description as ``unfit, reckless, incompetent and a poor role model for our children'' surely does not fit my son, Joe Taylor.
As a former Naval officer, I am familiar with command responsibility and certainly understand that the final accountability for this shortfall rests with the ultimate authority, the School Board, but I take serious exception to some of the language the grand jury chose to use and to the severity of their decision as regards the board. Shouldn't there be some consideration of the fact that these people are citizen volunteers, certainly not in it for the small compensation they receive but rather attempting to serve their community? Are they not entitled in this capacity to rely on the information furnished by their staff and superintendent?
I don't make light of the very serious shortfall nor do they and in hindsight they should have exercised a stronger oversight. Until late spring, however, along with the rest of us, they had confidence in the superintendent and were unfortunately swayed by his continual reassuring pronouncements. I venture to say that a large majority of us would have have done things very differently. I feel sure that they each feel a deep remorse and accept that it was their responsibility, but I submit that at this point, after what they have each gone through, that you could not possibly find a more fiscally responsible group of individuals to serve.
I can attest to the many long hours and late nights away from his business and his family that Joe has put in on behalf of his city and its children, both on the School Board and as a very active participant in the Adopt-A-School Program for many years. In my estimation and that of countless others he has served with distinction and I am indeed a very proud father.
He holds his head high and will survive this, but our community has lost the service of a very dedicated competent young man. Naive? - Not anymore.
Dawson Taylor
President,
Taylor's Do-It Centers by CNB