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West fails in bid for Board
01/08/2008 6:33 AM by John M
7th District School Board rep Keith West was spurned in his bid last night to lead the Richmond School Board. Afterward the voting, West said that the board has lost the confidence of the city and that a whole new board should be elected. He further stated that he will not run for the position again and will instead work towards recruiting, training and financing new candidates. [via]
Members voted 6-2 for Braxton to remain chairman, with Joan Mimms not in attendance and Carol A.O. Wolf and West dissenting. Lisa Dawson remains the vice chairwoman by the same vote.
Michael Paul Williams has a taken on this: http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-01-09-0137.html
I agree with Michael Paul Williams. West was totally out of line.
I don’t know about out of line… but it seemed a bit desperate. Keith seems like he didn’t know exactly what he was getting into. Hopefully he’ll be able to get other candidates running next election like he is planning.
Yeah, who who have thunk it!
…posted by b at November 8, 2006 11:00 am :
…I am guessing Mr. West is regretting he did not run for council, he might have squeaked a victory there as well with the vote splitting phenomena we saw in the Board seat. I guess Mr West owes Mr Bond a bottle of wine or something. For without his quasi-presence, those 265 votes would have no doubt gone to one or both of Mr. West’s challengers. But, after he gets to actually sit on the school board, the bottle of wine (or 6) may be owed Mr West. So, good luck Mr West, you seem a political plebe (I guess that is your charm), here’s hoping you are good at learning on the job.
i vote for daniel.
Tobacco Avenue: Battle over School Board Chairman title does nothing to help 10-year-old read gooder
I must admit I am disapointed in West’s behavior.
West said these things after going through proper channels for some time to do what was right, to create positive change. He obviously was fed up. Thank god for folks like West and Wolf for speaking out.
re john m comment: Yes some are “oblivious to the school board or its problems” but there are children and their families who suffer because of the actions and inactions of the school board. I’m speaking on behalf of the 2 percent who continue to attend RPS, Monday thru Friday (but I’m sure the percentage is higher than that). The school board must address the needs of the 100 percent. All children count.
Yes, I am desperate and frustrated.
I am frustrated that the board sits there hour after hour talking about things, and doing nothing to very little. There are very few ideas among the members of the board as to what needs to be done. Those ideas that do surface are often rejected because they would require more work from someone or are simply forgotten because our process is so arcane.
I am desperate because we are only graduating half of our students and our enrollment declines every year due to parents fleeing the system. I am desperate because there is a large group of pre-schoolers in this area whose parents don’t feel they will have a place in our schools.
The easiest thing in the world for me to do would be to sit there quietly and vote on the routine matters like so many of the other board members. It causes me a great deal of aggravation to try to understand the problems, come up with solutions, and try and convince lethargic colleagues to do something (anything even). It’s unfortunate that somethings the only way to call attention to the problems is by creating a fuss.
I don’t ask for agreement on everything I do. However, it would be helpful if more people understood what we are dealing with. Richmond needs a new school board.
At least Mr. West is trying. He is trying to fix some of the problems, and I applaud him for it.
If other members of the School Board would try to fix some of the problems, I wouldn’t be paying so much to send my kids to private school! As a parent, I have very little faith in the City’s public schools. Yes, I am one of the ones fleeing the system. And yes, I feel guilty about it. But I’m just not willing to sacrifice my children’s education.
I agree with Guilty Mom, at least he is trying. He sees what goes on first hand, and due to frustration, is challenging the School Board to do better. What’s wrong with that? Always room for improvemtment. Should be applauded, not criticized.
Thanks Keith for fighting the good fight. Glad I voted for you.
Unfortunately, in losing his bid, West has also lost the confidence of the rest of the school board, rendering him powerless, as well as his constituents.