Broward School Board’s Latest Delusion
BY BUDDY NEVINS
Broward School Board member Roselind Osgood still doesn’t get it.
Despite three years in office, Osgood doesn’t understand her role in the school system. She doesn’t grasp the reality of what is going on.
Giddy with excitement from her election as School Board Chair this week, Osgood posted the following on Facebook to accompany a picture:
“The Leading Ladies of the Broward County School Board and The Leading Gentleman Superintendent Robert Runcie”
The Facebook post was forwarded to me by three members of a Parkland Facebook Group.
Osgood’s description of the Board – at least the five members who march lockstep with Runcie – is way off.
Way, way off.
Board members Abby Freedman, Ann Murray, Laurie Rich Levinson, Donna Korn and Osgood are not leaders.
They are followers.
They follow Robert Runcie and his clique of high-paid administrative pawns. Rubber stamps and apologists for Anything Runcie.
Not masters.
Marionettes.
The Gang of Five this week appointed Abby Freedman vice chair.
Some of the reason was just gals feuding. Osgood and Freedman don’t like Rupert and it is become personal.
But make no mistake. Runcie preferred Freedman, who will no doubt be appointed Chair next year, several sources told Browardbeat.com.
Runcie preferred Freedman to the other choice, Member Nora Rupert. Rupert has the impertinence to question his hiring, his spending and his leadership.
Freedman was named vice chair despite opposition from the public. As the website coralspringstalk.com said: “Broward School Board Ignores Residents: Appoints Freedman.” The article is linked here.
The good news? The 5-4 vote.
Members backing Rupert were Robin Bartleman, Heather Brinkworth, Pat Good and Rupert, voted for herself.
The vote indicates that the School Board is sharply divided.
Runcie appears to know he is vulnerable. The evidence is not one, but two op-ed pieces he wrote for the Sun-Sentinel in recent months defending his policies.
If I was Runcie, I wouldn’t make any long term plans.
One or two big blunders and bye, bye Runcie.
Even the Gang of Five have its limits.
This tiny picture was distributed by the Broward Schools media office Tuesday after the election of vice chair. The body language tells it all. Runcie’s hands are on Murray and Levinson’s shoulders. Close supporters Osgood and Freedman, seated in center, lean together. Rupert, on left in back row, looks away from the scene.
November 19th, 2015 at 9:46 am
There is a clear difference in how some politicians and their minions view the election process. Some politicians realize they represent the needs, viewpoints, and ideas of those who elected them.
Some politicians appoint themselves as “leaders” of their constituents and assume they are entitled to making decisions for the masses.
The “assume” does make an ass out of “u” and “me”.
This division in the way politicians think is clearly visible from the SBBC all the way to the White House.
November 19th, 2015 at 10:07 am
FROM BUDDY:
The true “leading ladies” and men of our school system are the teachers. Believe me, nothing is harder than being a good teacher and making a difference in the life of a child.
Teachers today are not only educators. They are expected to deal with a variety of societal problems that parents abdicate. The bureaucracy is oppressive.
Teachers have all that responsibility for appalling pay.
No, Ms. Osborne. The self-important Board is not the “leading ladies”. Teachers are the real “leading ladies” and men of the Broward County schools.
They shape out future generation every day.
November 19th, 2015 at 11:23 am
Gosh Buddy, WHAT IS YOUR OBSESSION WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD?!?!?! They are your life support…
November 19th, 2015 at 12:02 pm
I am one of the educators who knew it was time to leave. I have my dream job and hold no ill will towards the district. Their success is the success of our county. The disjunction there gave me the courage to leave and for that I am grateful.
This single pictures captures it all. This is not a party ladies. Our county has entrusted the nine of you with our children and a multi billion dollar budget. Yes, you are entitled to acknowledge the appointment of chair and vice chair but following day when teachers arrived to work they discovered two things. You have offered a $0 annual raise and you held your annual election of chair. It is a bit tone deaf to send out a pictures that look like you each had a few to celebrate and are actually Runcie’s harem, not his bosses.
November 19th, 2015 at 12:29 pm
Look she’s a product of the antiintellectual anti-science Black Baptist Church here in Ft Lauderdale that wants to criminalize homosexuality convert Jews n lives off a self-created publicly funded so-called childrens operation n gets her votes from her ethnic group in depressed areas with high crime and drug rates. No one wants to criticize her n be called a racist. Her Ph D is from Nova a political operation like Miami-Dade Community College more than an educational operation. And to be fair everyone has heard of the schemes to Gerryman out her District – mine – so that in a 30 percent Black county there would be no BLACK SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS so I understand why my Black neighbors vote for her n defend Runcie. Its wrong from a White standpoint but for Black voters they see things differently. Shell be a disgrace as School Board head – but remember that great White Christian community activist Commissioner Cindi Hutchinson?
November 19th, 2015 at 2:29 pm
No, Ms. Osborne. The self-important Board is not the “leading ladies”. Teachers are the real “leading ladies” and men of the Broward County schools.
Roselind Osgood not Osborne
November 19th, 2015 at 5:42 pm
I agree with comment #3. The truth about elections is that there will be a winner and there will be a loser.
That is democracy 101. The only plan of action at this time would be at the next election cycle.
Let us move on and watch carefully as these elected officials execute there duties.
November 19th, 2015 at 5:55 pm
Kudos to Robin, Patti, Nora, and Heather for having the gumption to think for themselves and support the interests of their constituents. The others, who ignored public opinion in favor of their anointed leader will have to face the consequences when their terms are up. I was one of those who allowed myself to be talked into supporting the bond issue. That will never happen again!
November 19th, 2015 at 9:04 pm
Buddy,
The fact that you always attack black elected officials is sick! You have never wrote anything nice about a minority in Broward County. But, you are quick to write about a Katie Edwards, Kiar or whoever… It’s so sad… Its sad..
FROM BUDDY:
Absolutely, not true. I am an equal opportunities attacker.
I have applauded U. S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, for decades. I believe he is a great member of Congress and was unfairly impeached as a judge.
There are others, but I’m not going to get in a debate with you.
November 20th, 2015 at 12:26 am
I am trying to figure this out. What is so big about being the chair or vice chair of the school board this year? Everybody has one vote. Blacks live everywhere here and crime and churches are everywhere hereQ-
November 20th, 2015 at 7:37 am
@10
I guess it depends on one’s perspective about the importance of Chair and Vice Chair of the School Board.
Dr. Osgood’s Facebook posts reveal her values in receiving the winning vote. She thinks it is the pinnacle of her career in public office.
What she does in the position matters. She has not presented the true picture regarding the the
bond issue at several public meetings. Maybe when she gets over her giddiness about the vote she will have time to get to work.
November 20th, 2015 at 7:46 am
It’s about time Ms. Good stepped up.
#10 – Yes, they each have one vote, but behind the scenes, the Chair has a great amount of influence and guides the direction and business of Board and how their meetings are conducted.
November 20th, 2015 at 9:06 am
All her critics should wait because Freedman will melt down at the first criticism of the bond issue or her “Great Man” Robert Runcie while she is chair. I can’t wait to see it on TV.
November 20th, 2015 at 10:24 am
Right on Nostradamus. The woman has as thin a skin as I’ve seen on anyone in public life.
I’ve said before that her wanting to get into leadership on the school board was a mistake, especially at this time.
She will be Vice Chair as the modulars that the residents/City of Parkland got for their students blows up in delays and cost overruns (by the way, they are due to be finished in about 10 months, have they gotten permits or broken ground??? Hmmmm).
And she will be chair when the $9 million addition that Parkland residents/the City gave to the District for a 24 classroom building (due to be finished for the beginning of the 2017 school year) also blows up in their face.
And that is just 2 SMALL projects for around $10 million in her “home town” (that voted 80-20 against her in the last election) that will get blasted during her tenure as Vice Chair and then Chair.
I can only imagine when the $800 million bond starts getting real criticism in the next 2 years as fewer projects get underway than promised, major renovations and schools that are held together with prayer and duct tape have major issues and injuries and property damage, and the botched hiring of the new Facilities Director from Houston (the one that Runcie repeatedly lied about being subject to audits and criticism of handling their own bond project).
Oh, seeing how nasty Abby was during her two elections, I can only imagine her breakdowns on the dais over the next 2 years when things come crashing down around the District, grand juries get opened, investigations of mishandling hundreds of millions of dollars are going on, etc.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, she made a MISTAKE wanting to be in leadership while this Titanic starts to sink.
November 20th, 2015 at 1:03 pm
The SEC does not release the names of people who lodge questions n file complaints. I’ll divulge one thing, I filed the query about the Broward County School Board Bonds. I urge everyone especially in Parkland or Strahan HS parent to do the same! Remember file both in Miami and DC so Miami or Atlanta don’t lose the file!
Blogging is Fun but Federal Investigations can be Funner!
November 21st, 2015 at 9:33 am
Dear Peter,
Karnack says I know you try hard to diffuse any and all issues and concerns the public has regarding your precious leadership at the SBBC. Karnack says I know this because you are one of the hand picked apologist tasked to spin the many missteps they have taken. Karnack says you always say let’s wait and see what they do. Karnack says let’s analyze what they have done.
Karnack says RunDMC fired Sailor squid with the announcement that things would get better in facilities. Karnack says whoops that didn’t happen. Karnack says then RunDMC announced his plan to outsource a major portion of facilities under the leadership of the melonious using URS. Karnack says that botched effort took a year to hire URS during which time nothing was done at facilities. Karnack says oh by the way the during this entire time nothing was being done while RunDMC kept insisting he was going to hire a new chief.
Karnack says in an ironic twist of fate nothing getting done to the facility infrastructure, despite many planned projects, helped his argument that the district needed a bond issue to repair/replace aging facilities. Karnack says after 18 months of the failed URS plot RunDMC finally brings on his hand picked chief from Chicago.
Karnack says oh by the way the carpetbagger from Chicago had no construction experience so for the next 6 months leading up to the bond vote nothing got done by in-house staff or URS. Karnack says in the short year he was here the carpetbagger promptly proceeded to bastardize the needs assessment data with previous planned projects, embroil the district in an alleged bid rigging scheme that fortunately for him ended in the vendor violating the cone of silence, and never got one real project off the ground. Karnack says oh by the way this entire time the district continued to employ an in-house staff and URS.
Karnack says then RunDMC after in his own words spent more time vetting his new chief managed to hire an administrator embroiled in a critical, negative audit of a school bond program larger than ours. Karnack says oh wait a minute in a completely spun diatribe in the sun-sentinel RunDMC is still “delusional” insisting there was no audit.
Karnack says all during this now more than three year fiasco of nothing being done the harem continued to insist they would hold RunDMC accountable for his performance. Karnack says in this case by any account a complete failure to properly manage the district’s infrastructure and finance. Karnack says so Peter how much longer should the public sit back and wait for something positive to happen. Karnack says so Peter just based on poor decision after poor decision and inaction by those elected to preserve and protect the public’s assets should we wait. Karnack says should we wait like last time until the money has all been spent and the public has no recourse but to come out of pocket some more.
Karnack foretold you are the apologist asking the public to be patient with no history of anything good coming from those you apologize for. Karnack foretold that the train scheduled for holding those accountable has left the station. Karnack says the train gets closer and closer. Karnack says what was once 8 to 1 is now 5 to 4. Karnack says the train goes clickity clack, clickity clack, clickity clack.
November 22nd, 2015 at 11:59 am
The beat goes on, the beat goes on
Drums keep pounding a rhythm to the brain
La de da de de, la de da de da
The beat goes on, the beat goes on
Drums keep pounding a rhythm to the brain
La de da de de, la de da de da
The beat goes on, the beat goes on
Drums keep pounding a rhythm to the brain
La de da de de, la de da de da
Will Broward voters EVER see the light?
November 22nd, 2015 at 2:52 pm
I have been calling the “first” ladies of Broward the futile ladies of Broward. Crazy, but more and more, people are beginning to wake up. With Osgood, that idiot, as the chair…let’s just say….let the lawsuits begin.. they already have wasted millions defending the undefendable!
November 23rd, 2015 at 9:47 am
U can guess what I think of Dr Osgood’s use of “Ladies” in reference to the School Board members n “Gentleman” referring to Dr Runcie but I’ll give you a clue, until the mid-19th century the word “gentleman” Was short for the phrase Gentleman of coat of arms” as was “Lady” until the late 18th century, i.e. “Lady with the arms of” or “Lady of X”.
November 24th, 2015 at 3:30 pm
I am blown away by some of the comments above. Intelligent people have a balance perspective. Is there anything improving with the schools? @18 I goggled you and watched you perform at School Board Meetings. You are obsessed. In some of the meeting you were literally begging for attention from Dr. Osgood. Your adjective better describes you. My question is this. How do we help the children and how do we get raises for the principals?
November 24th, 2015 at 6:39 pm
Wow says lets help children. Great! Then says how can we raise principals salaries. DOES ANY REALLY THINK RAISING PRINCIPALS SALARIES IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP TO BETTER EDUCATION? Raise salaries for good teachers is a priority NOT Administrators who do NOT teach!
November 25th, 2015 at 5:43 pm
Broward’s principals are the highest paid in the state of Florida and nearly the highest paid in the country. Broward teachers meet neither of these criterion. BTU should elect Lisa Maxwell to be their president. She clearly has more influence with the superintendent than Sharon.