Psst, Pete — you ready for this? I certainly hope so.
State NAACP chief and serial performance artist Rev. William Barber has interjected himself into CMS’ school closing process. This has clearly emboldened local NAACP honcho Rev. Kojo Nantambu, who has amped up his rhetoric:
Nantambu had the crowd standing and cheering as he accused Superintendent Peter Gorman of promoting segregation and exaggerating the district’s budget problems. Gorman says proposals to close eight schools are driven by the likelihood of large budget cuts in 2011-12.
Nantambu said he is going to demand an independent audit of the CMS budget, and said that “these people have a diabolical plan, a national plan to close all the inner-city schools.”
Hold on there, Kojo. The audit idea has merit, because I don’t think anyone really knows how CMS spends money. But the diabolical plan part loses me.
Still, pull up a chair, pop some popcorn, this is going in some interesting directions.
