A couple of thoughts about the recent revelation that local businesses were helping out with former GCS Superintendent Terry Grier’s retirement buyback.
For starters, board member Kris Cooke has it half-right when she says Grier’s outta here, let’s concentrate on Mo Green:
Cooke said Grier’s contract is a dead issue, since he’s left for San Diego, and that the board has made a conscious effort to start its financial relationship with Green on a clearer, and simpler, basis.
“That was something that we were aiming for,” Cooke said. “We wanted it to be plain and simple. We’re dealing with Dr. Green, and I think he’s got a straightforward contract. We’ve closed that chapter. We’re on to different times.”
Fellow board member Garth Hebert found it troublesome that the money was being run through the GCS’ budget, though the attorney N.C. Department of Public Instruction says “she doubts” any laws were broken.
Board chairman Alan Duncan justified it like this:
Duncan said what he remembers as “the commitment to excellence group” – presumably Action Greensboro’s Commitment to Excellence committee – provided money that went toward Grier’s retirement buyback. Duncan said the contributors included VF Corporation, AIG United Guaranty, Lincoln Financial and his law firm, Smith Moore.
Dozens of other local businesses belong to the Commitment to Excellence committee, including Duke Energy, Greensboro College, Koury Corp., the News & Record* and Wachovia Bank.
Duncan said the private contributions to Grier’s retirement buyback go through the Guilford County Schools budget.
Duncan said the Commitment to Excellence committee contributes millions to the school system in other ways, including sponsoring a summer camp for high-achieving eighth graders and the annual Celebration of Excellence at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Millions, eh? My gut reaction is Duncan could at least come up with better examples of where those millions go. If they exist.
*Explains the constant cheerleading. Honestly, I don’t mind the N&R cheerleading for the Wyndham or even the ACC Women’s Tournament. What’s more bothersome is when they go rah-rah for an incoming school superintendent. It will be interesting to see what type of scrutiny Mo Green gets from the local paper of record.
