Hawpe Looks Silly while Doing Good

Courier-Journal columnist David Hawpe had occasion recently to meet with some consultants who were interested in understanding how big charitable givers could help boost the numbers of college degree-holders in Louisville. He recommend the Jefferson County schools as a good place to start. Then, he had second thoughts.

This from C-J:

...So there I was, advising philanthropic advisers, telling them to think JCPS, but then I pick up a couple of recent issues of the Jefferson County Teachers Association "Action" bulletin and find executive director Steve Neal verbally mauling Superintendent Sheldon Berman for alleged mistreatment of his employees. "In the words of the 'Grinch Who Stole Christmas,' " wrote Neal, "I can only describe Dr. Berman's dealings as 'stink, stank, stunk.' We can only hope that he will stop pushing the heads of his employees beneath the cold, murky water…."

Lest anybody think its was just the feisty Neal and not the good and gentle JCTA president Brent McKim who have problems with the current leadership at Newburg Road, they both signed a Feb. 11 "Action" condemnation that begins, "The simple fact is that there is no working relationship." Their piece ends, "In a recent e-mail … Dr. Berman called Mr. Neal a liar. But the facts don't lie."

This produced a point-by-point rebuttal from Berman, who challenges the JCTA leadership's claims on everything from non-renewal of some teachers' contracts to responsibility for unresolved grievances and arbitrations, from the implementation of new sick leave pay procedures and pay schedules to Berman's position on salary increases. They can't even agree whether the district has a big budget shortfall. Each side bitterly insists the other is unwilling to collaborate.

So here I am advising people to advise other people to commit their money to more progress in Jefferson County Public Schools. Meanwhile, the district's administrative and labor leadership has been split wider than a scalded hog.

Don't I look silly.