Paul Bass Photo
Board of Education members Ed Joyner & Darnell Goldson at WNHH FM.
Ed Joyner and Darnell Goldson finally had their duel. They employed rapier arguments instead of swords or shotguns, and called each beloved “brothers.”
And they kept it civil, if passionate.
“Can I finish, my dear brother, whom I love dearly?” Joyner implored at one juncture of competitive point-making.
The verbal duel — over Board of Education contracting, the hiring of a school system “talent” director, among other issues — occurred this week in the studio of WNHH FM during an episode of the “Dateline New Haven” program. Their debate reflected the consistent substantive disagreements they have had since winning election to the New Haven Board of Education in 2013. They were the board’s first-ever elected representatives; that year New Haven added the elected slots to a newly “hybrid” board whose members are otherwise appointed by the mayor.
Goldson and Joyner asked to appear on the program to demonstrate a point on which they adamantly agree: That adding elected positions to the board has been a positive development. That disagreement is healthful, even necessary, and can be civil.
They were responding to criticism that adding elected board members has added divisive “politics” to the school system, stretching out meetings by hours, creating personal feuds — like one a year ago that ended with Joyner challenging Goldson to a “duel” and security clearing out the hall — and tying the hands of administrators.
Goldson and Joyner noted that before the change, the school board rarely challenged school officials or questioned decisions, including contracting decisions.
And, they noted, “Democracy is messy.”
Vetting
Christopher Peak Photo
Goldson, Birks, and ed board member Tamiko Jackson-McArthur at this week’s committee hearingon contracts.
The “Dateline” appearance occurred the morning after another controversial board meeting, this one involving a board committee that reviews contracts. Goldson at the meeting promoted a new contract for a program that connects military victims with kids who experience trauma. Joyner sides with critics who argue the program needs more vetting. He plans to vote against the contract, he said; Goldson said he plans to vote for it. (Read the specifics here.)
On the program, Joyner argued that in “sole source” (no bid) contracts like these, the school board should perform a needs assessment, should better analyze prior results, and should look first to have in-house staff do the work.
“We can’t let this be a patronage bank,” argued Joyner.
Goldson responded that the school board should approve the contract because schools Superintendent Carol Birks and her staff requested it.
“They are the paid professionals,” he said. “I want to support them in that.”
Goldson further argued that other sole-source contractors don’t, but should, receive that same scrutiny suggested by Joyner. Goldson specifically named the Clifford Beers Clinic, ACES and the Comer School Development Program.
Those agencies in fact are vetted thoroughly and have proven track records, Joyner responded, accusing Goldson of promoting a “false equivalency.” “The U.S. Office of Education reviewed Comer with flying colors,” he said, while the Beers Clinic has over 100 years of verified community mental health work. ACES, he said, is “a creature of the state legislature” “legally authorized” to provide services to the school system.
Switching Sides
When discussion turned to whether the school system should hire a new “talent director,” Joyner switched to arguing that the board should follow the lead of Superintendent Birks, who wants to create the position to oversee recruitment of new teachers (especially of color), training, and handling labor disputes.
“Every urban district has one,” Joyner argued. “If you don’t have a good one, you can actually lose one.”
Goldson, the school board’s president, questioned whether the school system —which is still grappling with a close-to-$9 million deficit — can afford the position.
“I will make my vote based on the information we receive,” he said. “A one-hundred-fifty-thousand-dollar talent director does not educate children.”
The school board has sought to protect front-line teachers and teaching as it whittles away at a budget that began at near $20 million. Goldson predicted that the board might close another two schools next year; each school closing saves about $2 million, he said. He noted that the new Barack Obama School being built on the campus of Southern Connecticut State University will have room for 500 students; the Strong School, which it is replacing, has only around 200. So that leaves room for hundreds of students from another school that could close, he said.
On the program, the two recalled the days when Goldson attended Hillhouse High School and Joyner worked as a teacher and principal. Goldson was one of his students. Joyner said he used to smack his butt occasionally when he got out of line. That elicited a chuckle of recognition from Goldson — and an agreement from both that it’s possible to work together without always seeing eye to eye.
Click on the video to watch the full discussion on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven” with Board of Education members Darnell Goldson and Ed Joyner.