---

---

Published: January 20, 2010
Amy Condra

Last year at this time The Gazette’s opinion page often spun around one topic: A lack of transparency in county government.

This year, and this month in particular, many are questioning the murky methods of our school board.

There have been two public hearings on next year’s proposed budget, and at each one several parents have asked the same questions: Why are employee health insurance increases so high? What will be the fate of Tender Tots and the gifted program? And, why are so many administrative positions listed in the instructional category?

At each meeting, as these questions were either slowly answered or answered not at all, those parents’ frustrations have deepened to the degree that many of them have joined together to form an advocacy group.

It has been stunning to watch how the superintendent’s and the school board’s reputations have devolved so quickly; last fall, parents stood at Board of Supervisors’ meetings to show support for a school system facing a bleak budget year.

While parents are still supporting the schools, they have become increasingly critical of the elected and appointed officials that support those institutions.

At last week’s public hearing several parents said that there has not been an honest effort at open communication, and that their questions are not being openly answered.

And several parents have said that teachers have told them that they are afraid to speak out for fear of retribution by school administration.

I don’t know if that is true; however, I have found it odd that teachers haven’t been vocal at recent meetings.  When I covered school budget hearings in Hanover, teachers came out in great numbers to support specific programs; in Goochland, we haven’t heard from our teachers at all.

One parent said that there is now an “atmosphere of suspicion” hanging over the school budget process. Last week that suspicion hardened into anger when, after announcing that a proposed superintendent’s budget now exists, the school board announced that it would not be revealing the budget at the public hearing; instead, parents could go home and view it online.

For those who had sat in the auditorium for about three hours, waiting to hear highlights of next year’s budget, this was a pretty low blow.

“The only word that comes to my mind is cowardice,” said Belinda Bowles.

Only after several parents requested it did the school board agree to read aloud from the budget’s narrative.

And only after parents requested it did the board agree to another public meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, January 19, before the budget is submitted to the Board of Supervisors.

This economy is presenting brutal challenges to our government and to our community. I think people, many of who have either been laid off or who know those who have, some who may have had to foreclose on a family home, understand that these are tough times requiring tough decisions.

But I also think it’s become clear that what people in Goochland won’t grasp is a reluctance to tell the truth.

Many have lamented that deep cuts to our school system could permanently damage its ability to function. I would add that those who are disingenuous while making cuts, or who are patronizing or dismissive during that process, will also lose their ability to function for the good of the county: They will permanently lose the support of those they serve.

---