Aliyya Swaby Photo
Goldson, at left, voted in Harp for president; Joyner did not.
The new Board of Education took no time before demonstrating that internal divisions — and a controversial even-numbered count — can stymie action.
Edward Joyner and Darnell Goldson, the first-ever elected members, joined the board for its first meeting of 2016 Monday night at L.W. Beecher School’s cafeteria. They immediately dove into the proceedings — moving two new motions and contributing to a vote hold-up — illuminating the growing divisions among a once-unanimous board.
The new year saw Mayor Toni Harp retain her board presidency in a 5 – 3 vote, against challenger Alicia Caraballo, revealing a level of opposition on the board that didn’t exist until recently.
Then attempts to vote in a vice president and secretary flopped and were postponed to the next meeting.
The new year also brought back board member Daisy Gonzalez. The Board of Alders sought to rectify a glitch in the city charter by voting last month to un-appoint her to the Board of Ed, but the Harp administration and Board of Ed argued that that vote was not legally binding, so they could ignore it.
The result: The board this year has eight members, not seven. Which means it will be harder to pass measures, with five, not four, members yes votes needed. Especially given already existing divisions.
And in fact one of its first votes — for vice-president — saw the vote split 4 – 4.
Gonzalez Seated
The language in the 2013 charter revision switching to a hybrid board of elected and appointed members did not account for how to drop from eight to seven members, as required under the charter. The Board of Ed passed a resolution in mid-December proposing a gradual shift to seven members by January 2017. A week later, the Board of Alders voted to dump the most recently appointed ed board member, Gonzalez, to preserve the seven-member board. The Board of Ed is preparing to legally fight to keep Gonzalez if necessary, and voted for just one year to have an eight-member board until another board member’s term expires.
Parents addressed board members Monday to back Gonzalez and weigh in on how the ed board should handle the disagreement.
“I’m asking the public to bear with us as we transition into what the charter revision committee and ordinance meant …This is our transition here,” Mayor Harp told the dozens of people who filled the cafeteria.
Harp Challenged
One-routine votes for officer roles of president, vice president and secretary for the year got jammed up in the transition.
Joyner immediately nominated Caraballo (shown at right in above photo)—the sole vote against Harp’s taking the presidency in September—seconded by Carlos Torre.
Board member Che Dawson nominated incumbent Mayor Harp, seconded by Gonzalez. In the 5 – 3 vote in favor of the mayor retaining the presidency, Joyner, Torre and Caraballo voted for Caraballo.
Goldson, Gonzalez, Dawson, Michael Nast and Harp voted for Harp.
Joyner handed out a typed press statement at the end of the meeting explaining his decision: “My vote tonight was not a vote against Mayor Harp, whom I supported to become the mayor of our city, but rather a vote that I believe supports the interests of the students, parents, and citizens that urged me to run for this office. My vote for Ms. Caraballo is for someone who is qualified, retired and thus has the time to devote to such an important and monumental job …
“Secondly, the school board is an entity of the state, not the city. With the Mayor being the president, it makes the board a de facto department of city hall. I do not think we should expect our mayor to take on yet another job given the gravity of her duties running our city especially since there is a person willing and qualified to take on that responsibility.”
Caraballo was a school social worker and then principal of Hill Central, which she said makes her a good candidate for board president or vice-president. “I’ve worked in this district. I have experience,” she said after the meeting.
Goldson said he voted for Harp to give her the “opportunity to finish up a full term,” because she “hasn’t had enough time to prove that she’s the best person for the position.
4 – 4
The vote for vice president was even more disputed, ending in a 4 – 4 tie between incumbent Dawson and contender Caraballo. Again, Joyner (pictured above right) nominated Caraballo, seconded by Torre. Nast nominated Dawson, seconded by Gonzalez.
Joyner, Torre, Goldson and Caraballo voted for Caraballo — showing that new member Goldson, a former alder, may be an unpredictable vote on the board.
Nast, Harp, Gonzalez and Dawson voted for Dawson.
“That vote fails,” Harp said, once the count had been double-checked.
They moved on to vote for a secretary. No one made any nominations.
Mayor Harp decided to move the vote for the other two officers to the next board meeting.
8, Not 7
Acting City Corporation Counsel John Rose told alders who voted to rescind Gonzalez’ appointment two years before her term ends that the Board of Ed had no legal responsibility to follow that decision.
Alders hired their own lawyer W. Martyn Philpot Jr., who disagreed with Rose. Philpot is also a lawyer for the Board of Ed, doing work on expulsions.
Superintendent Garth Harries said the Board of Ed is prepping for legal battle and is working on hiring a lawyer. In the meantime, Gonzalez will keep her seat.
Goldson asked whether Philpot will face repercussions in his job with the Board of Ed for helping the Board of Alders oust Gonzalez. Harries said Philpot was “put in a very difficult position” and wrote his position for the alders “without reviewing the resolution the board passed.” He did not breach his contract, Harries said.
Jennifer Ricker, who heads the Citywide Parent Team, submitted a letter Monday night asking that Gonzalez keep her seat and that the Board of Alders and Board of Ed use mediation instead of a “costly lawsuit” to figure out how.
“With current opposing views between the Board of Alders and Board of Education, our hope is that the decision is made to use mediation to resolve this concern without a costly and lengthy lawsuit, which will directly distract all parties from focusing and advocating on our children’s behalf,” the letter states.
“As the school district and city work to implement and teach restorative practices to youth, it is imperative for our adults to lead by example to mediate and resolve conflict through discussion.”
Ricker said Gonzalez has “continuously stood up” for parents and should remain a board member.
Gonzalez thanked Ricker and the Citywide Parent Team: “I appreciate my moms.”