As expected and probably overdue Paula Wright ascended to the board chair position. Historical the vice chair usually fills that spot and then another board member becomes vice chair while the former chair rejoins the board just as a member. Yesterday however things took a weird turn and it all started when Scott Shine was nominated to become vice chair. Thankfully for the district he could only get three votes, his Cheryl Grymes and Warren Jones, or as they should be known as “The Gary Chartrand Coalition” of non educators.
If Connie Hall had been reelected it is highly unlikely she would have sided with Grymes and Shine, but Jones doing so gives us a clear indication of where he will likely fall in upcoming decisions about charter schools, the nearly unfettered power of the super and the continued destruction of neighborhood schools.
In what had to be an incredibly embarrassing moment for Shine, he seemed to take it in stride.
From the Times Union:
But the vote on vice chair reflects some persistent divisions on the board.
By board rules, board members could vote more than once if the first person nominated didn’t get a majority, which is why Jones voted twice.
Shine said Monday before the vote that he might have made some board problems worse, but he is ready now to work and speak more collaboratively.
I am not sure if that wolf thing is an expression but he is right he has made things worse and not just on the board but in the district as well.
He has voted for the proliferation of charter schools in sections of towns that don’t need them and despite their dubious credentials.
He has supported the destruction of neighborhood schools, which really just kicks the can of academic woes down the road and he is often unprepared and also almost single handily destroyed decorum on the board and those aren’t my words.
Also from the Times Union:
Smith Juarez said this week she doubted whether Shine would restrain himself enough to be an effective board vice chairman.