Indiana

Don?t Blame the White Guy

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

I hope you are sitting down for this blog post, but I am about to defend Indianapolis Public School Superintendent Eugene White.

I know it surprised me too, especially since Dr. White has made some rather unflattering public remarks in the past regarding yours truly, but someone has to be the adult in the room.

There’s been some consternation regarding a recent $17,000 bonus White received.  $7,000 was for half the IPS elementary students making ISTEP, the remaining $10,000 was because the board thought IPS was moving in the right direction.

Now personally I think IPS is on the same course as the  Titanic and if the future Mrs. Shabazz and I have children the last place they’re going to school is in IPS.  However, like I said, I can’t get mad at Dr. White,  I can get mad at the IPS school board members because they are the ones who are writing the checks and negotiated the contract.

Of course this is the same school district that was over at the legislature complaining about losing millions of dollars and having to layoff teachers, but it found money to White a $17,000 raise and to hire his son, so I should not be surprised.

This is why I don’t hate the player, but the game.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on July 08, 2009 (boomark / email).