Fair amount of buzz out there about the new blog GCS Uncovered, which is “dedicated to exposing the gross mismanagement of Guilford County Schools (GCS) in an effort to hold those at the helm responsible for the management of taxpayer dollars.”
In particular Ed Cone expresses concern about the blog’s “repeated attacks on GCS COO Andy LaRowe” by an anonymous writer.
I don’t think it’s any secret that the GCS facilities department has been in a state of disorganization for some time now, and from my perspective LaRowe has been slow correcting the ship. He did, however, sit with the Rhino —which has never been shy about criticizing GCS —- for a “lengthy interview in light of the controversy surrounding $1.4 million paid to contractor Dennis Cole —at the very least a gesture of transparency.
I’ve watched a lot of public meetings over the years and I’ve seen more than a few staff members appear as though they’re way in over their heads. But I try to step and remember they’re just average guys like you and me, working a difficult jon best as they know how. They’re not necessarily fair game as are politicians, who inject themselves into the public arena offering various and sundry promises about how they’re going to make everyone life better.
I remember watching a GCS staff member make a presentation to the board and frankly it seemed as though he had no idea what he was talking about. He stammered and shuffled his papers as board members asked questions, and he eventually just gave up, saying he’d back to them. I was seriously tempted to call him out by name, but I backed off. When I ran into him at church soon thereafter, I was glad I did.
Which is not to say staff members should not be held accountable. That’s the politicians’ jobs, and unfortunately they fall short when performing that duty.
