Analysis: Weast's words mean nothing

Blogger's comment: Seven Locks School proponents should take no comfort in Superintendent Jerry Weast's latest flip-flop about the future of the school on Seven Locks and Bradley.

Let's look at Weast's recent statement that has caused Seven Locks advocates to celebrate:

“there are no plans to surplus the current Seven Locks school site now and, during my tenure as superintendent of schools, I will not recommend any such surplusing of that school site.”

Now, let's dissect the statement piece by piece:

1. "There are no plans to surplus . . ." This line is nothing new. County bureaucrats have been saying this all along, from the beginning, simply because the plans are not finalized or official. They have always had the intent, if not the plan. Weast's wording betrays the deception. He begins in the passive voice - "there are no plans to surplus" - instead of in his own authoritative voice.

2. ". . . the current Seven Locks school site now. . ." Again, nothing new. But the operative word is "now," indicating that he anticipates plans to surplus the site in the future.

3. ". . . during my tenture as superintendent of schools, I will not recommend any such surplusing of that school site." This statement does seem new. But does it mean anything? Unlike school board President Patricia O'Neill, Weast does not say he would oppose surplusing the site. He only says he would not recommend it. So he has made no commitment not to support surplusing the site.

4. Finally, his constant references to "school site" indicate that he does indeed intend to shut down the present school on Seven Locks and Bradley, despite the fact that the PTA and community leaders have voted repeatedly to save the school.

Bottom line: Weast's words are worthless. He still intends to ignore the PTA of the very school he intends to shut down.