$800 Million School Bond Plan Jolted By Resignations
BY BUDDY NEVINS
The $800 million school bond program has suffered another jarring change.
Three organizations are dropping out of the Bond Oversight Committee, the group that was created to insure that the spending of the bond proceeds are on the up-and-up.
Two leading minority organizations – the Broward County Minority Builders Coalition and the Urban League of Broward County – are out. So is the Engineering Contractors of South Florida.
There is no explanation of the withdrawals in the memo sent to School Board members. The memo was forwarded to me after my post about the bonds last week.
Here is the memo:
From: Benjamin Leong May 6, 2015 4:07:22 PM
Subject: Bond Oversight Committee Status
To:
Cc: Leslie M. Brown Derek Messier
School Board Members and Superintendent Runcie,
We are in contact with Florida TaxWatch periodically to facilitate and schedule the first meeting of the Bond Oversight Committee. During our most recent conference call, Florida TaxWatch informed us that the Urban League of Broward County intends to withdraw from the committee, in addition to Broward County Minority Builders Coalition and Engineering Contractors of South Florida, who have already withdrawn. Our next scheduled call with Florida TaxWatch will be after the May 19 School Board Meeting so that we can review and discuss the Adopted District Education Facilities Plan and the GO Bond first issuance.
Ben Leong
Chief Financial Officer
The School Board of Broward County, Florida
Tel: 754.321.1990
Fax: 754.321.1999
May 11th, 2015 at 1:44 pm
follow the money, this is getting interesting, face it tooooo much dineros to build in a fair manner. is anyone watching besides this blog,, hmmmm I doubt it.
May 11th, 2015 at 3:27 pm
So who is left in charge of the chicken coop?
This was an ill-advised bond issue from the word “go”.
May 11th, 2015 at 8:54 pm
Something must be wrong with the game if the players leave the field before the action starts. Interesting!
May 11th, 2015 at 9:31 pm
It’s like a Greek tragedy.
May 12th, 2015 at 3:59 am
My guess is they didn’t get the slice of the pie they demanded or expected as a quid pro quo for lending their names to this “advisory” body.
May 12th, 2015 at 11:16 am
How are we supposed to trust the Superintendent to manage long term improvements with the bond if his staff cannot even keep the air conditioners working in some of the older schools today? I heard my kids school will not get a bond funded HVAC replacement for several years yet its current system keeps breaking down including for the past several days in near summer heat.
May 12th, 2015 at 7:50 pm
The contractor entities are withdrawing as their members may have a conflict of interest as they may be seeking work from the school district. It was hoped that some retired members of the organizations would volunteer but no such person stepped forward. This event is far from jarring and is a good sign that the committee will be independent. People who want to be kept informed should view the applicable website at http://www.browardschools.com/smartfutures#.VVKRcnD3arU
FROM BUDDY:
Attorney Joseph Goldstein was a key supporter and participant in promoting the $800 million bonds.
My belief is that the participants of the committee shouldn’t be announced until they are fully vetted and locked in. Would that be asking too much from the school system?
May 12th, 2015 at 10:07 pm
@5..I think you nailed it.
May 13th, 2015 at 2:43 am
And the beat goes on, and the beat goes on. Laleelaleedeeh, laaleeladeedah. If you recall (hate to say it), I told you so. Very few people are mentally and morally fit to handle such a huge bag of public dough, and knowing what I know about the powers that be, it was (simply) to be expected. Broward County proudly wears its dunce cap once again.
May 13th, 2015 at 10:55 am
I don’t know n have never heard of Joseph Goldstein, esq., but is he the lobbyist at shutts Bowen? But the real point is attorney is digging a grave for his position in that he is saying the only Black builders active want school board business and that my implication that applies to the urban league! This is evidence that government funding is pushed by those who want the cash not people interested in improving public education in Broward co where any White family with two cents they have or can borrow sends their kids to private schools as witness the goings on in parkland for example or, yes. Plantation
May 13th, 2015 at 11:06 am
#5:
Bingo.
May 18th, 2015 at 10:14 pm
I hope someone is looking into the fact that Tony Hunter is being brought back as the CIO… …. The salary increased $22,000 yet the required qualifications remain unchanged. Runcie didn’t hire one of the many qualified applicants. Instead he brings back Tony Hunter who has a Bachelor’s Degree from Western Governors University and pays him $175,000! Tony Hunter returns just in time to spend the bond money. Duped again by the corrupt Chicago politician.
May 19th, 2015 at 10:58 am
Is anyone surprised my four neighbors after renovating their homes have put them up for sale? Two families renovated homes; their dsughters saw the Broward schools and REFUSED to move! The comments comparing Coral Gables HS and Ft. Lauderdale HS by the girls are unprintable!
May 19th, 2015 at 9:13 pm
#12… You hit the nail on the head.