The Coalition of Concerned Citizens for African American Children and two local chapters of the NAACP are blasting the Wake County school board majority for its "act of retaliation" for Tuesday's meeting on ousting Superintendent Del Burns.
In a Sunday night press release, the South Central NAACP, Eastern Wake NAACP and the CCCAAC say Burns has the First Amendment right to have criticized the board majority last week. They're also saying the board is wasting money by hiring attorney Thomas Farr and potentially paying Burns more than $100,000 to leave ahead of his June 30 resignation date.
"The parents and citizens of local NAACP and the CCCAAC request if you are committed to ensuring equity/equality for all children that you leave the diversity policy intact and allow Superintendent Del Burns to finish out his contract," according to the press release.
Here's the press release:
CITIZENS Groups Comment on WCPSS BOE Closed Door Meeting:
The NAACP and CCCAAC believes that the WCPSS BOE Closed Meeting designed to ouster our superintendent is an act of retaliation. Dr. Burn’s comments about the board majority’s direction are aligned with his right to Freedom of speech protected by the First Amendment of the United State Constitution.
Secondly, the board majority continues to waste taxpayers’ money by hiring two attorneys, and will waste additional funds/resources to end the contract with Superintendent Del Burns. Why waste taxpayers’ money if the board majority’s primary concern is student achievement?
The local NAACP and the CCCAAC want to remind the board majority that their actions/decisions to segregate our school system by dismantling the present diversity policy and by ending mandatory year round school will gravely impact student achievement. Abandoning these policies will have harmful effects/severe consequences on our schools, community and most importantly, our children.
The parents and citizens of local NAACP and the CCCAAC request if you are committed to ensuring equity/equality for all children that you leave the diversity policy intact and allow Superintendent Del Burns to finish out his contract.
Comments
Citizen's Arrest! Citizen's Arrest!
Tue, 02/23/2010 - 20:11 — ApexterDear Ms. Wright:
The word "ouster" is a noun, not a verb.
Sincerely,
The Grammar Police
Gomer Pyle, Grammar
Tue, 02/23/2010 - 21:02 — jenmanGomer Pyle, Grammar Police. both GP. :-)
That's my second favorite Andy Griffith Show moment. The first is the 'giraffes are selfish' soliloquy.
Burns can't keep his mouth shut
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 14:20 — Taxpayer2008Del Burns ran his mouth and shot himself in the foot. These groups should petition him to keep quite...but the well is poisoned now. He has to go...in the disgrace he deserves.
I wish these two groups
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 13:34 — CaryCurmudgeonI wish these two groups would get their facts straight before launching missiles. Burns is going to get paid exactly the same amount of money whether he is relieved of duty early or not. The $100K number is being thrown around to inflame emotions, they shouldn't fall for that.
Burns said he wanted to stick around through June to ensure a "smooth transition." Then, on Thursday, he held media drama day which NOBODY can argue is part of a smooth transition plan.
This is the man who sat on the SAS report for five months, and would probably still be sitting on it if two board members had not known to ask for it.
Correct, we can pay him to
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 14:32 — woodstockCorrect, we can pay him to (a) continue to be a rabble-rouser and obstructionist while he sits in his office, or (b) we can pay him to begin an early retirement and go sailing. I vote for "b." It is a better use of funds.
I wish these two groups
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 13:34 — CaryCurmudgeonI wish these two groups would get their facts straight before launching missiles. Burns is going to get paid exactly the same amount of money whether he is relieved of duty early or not. The $100K number is being thrown around to inflame emotions, they shouldn't fall for that.
Burns said he wanted to stick around through June to ensure a "smooth transition." Then, on Thursday, he held media drama day which NOBODY can argue is part of a smooth transition plan.
This is the man who sat on the SAS report for five months, and would probably still be sitting on it if two board members had not known to ask for it.
The NAACP and CCCAACC are
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 12:57 — red_balloonThe NAACP and CCCAACC are mistaken that a demonstration of commitment to equity/ equality for all children requires the current busing policy or for Dr. Burns to continue as the supdt. I would argue that given the discrimination of non-magnet students, anyone truly interested in equality/ equity, would take a look at all students, across the SES and magnet/ non-magnet spectrum. Anything else is a narrow and selfish interpretation of equality/ equity.
"Act of retaliation?" The
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 12:50 — woodstock"Act of retaliation?" The meeting to discuss what to do has not even been held yet?
Having said that, my view is to go ahead and relaliate away. Why continue to keep Burns around to continuue to be a distraction? What happens when the board votes to implement more policies that Burns disagrees with? Does he again use the power of his position to speak out about it from the WCPSS board room?
He is an obstruction. GET RID OF HIM NOW! The man wants to go sailing, let him.