Wednesday, January 24, 2007

School board readies to cede its power to Weast

The new Board of Education is preparing to cede its political independence and authority to the iron-fisted bureaucrat who has run the school system like a personal fiefdom.

‘‘So far, I have not heard from any board member who did not want to renew his contract.” board President Nancy Navarro tells the Gazette.

Navarro received a lot of campaign help from people who want the school board not to renew Weast's contract.

Opponents cite a string of abuses of power, intimidation of MCPS teachers and personnel, bullying of critics, and shady real estate deals that included an aborted plot to turn Seven Locks Elementary School into a high-density development, and the turnover of another school to crooked lobbyist Jack Abramoff.