In what could be construed as sour grapes, outgoing Guilford County school board member Garth Hebert predicts incoming member Ed Price will last four years:
Hebert said he doubts that Price has the temperament to last on the school board.
“I don’t think he knew what he was getting himself into,” Hebert said. “I’ve had people who know Ed Price say there’s no way he’s going to last. He can’t sit still that long. We’ll see.”
The Rhino says Hebert is “actively lobbying to regain the seat he will lose on Dec. 7,” but perhaps Hebert should take on at-large member Sandra Alexander in 2012, opening the possibility of the Rhino’s win-win scenario where both Hebert and Price sit on the board.
I have little doubt Hebert would rather tackle GCS’ looming budget crisis head-on. But for now, he’s content to sit and watch:
Exactly why Hebert wants to get back onto the school board after Dec. 7, in the face of major funding cuts, isn’t clear. He acknowledged that 2011 and 2012 would be good years to be off the board.
“The next two years are probably the bleakest you’re going to see,” he said. “It’s going to take a heck of a lot of creativity. It’s the best time in the world not to be on the school board. If you’re ever going to create more enemies, it’s then. You will not be loved if you have to lay off 1,000 Guilford County Schools employees. If you’re going to lose $60 million in funding next year – and that’s optimistic – you’re going to lose about 200 administrators and about 1,000 teachers. You’re not going to be a well-loved person.
A dire prediction indeed. School systems are the best at pulling off budgetary sleights of hand, but I don’t see how they can possibly do it next year.
