During the Hartford Board of Education’s recent Committee of Whole Meeting, Paul  Drummey, the Director of Capitol Projects and Operations for the city of Hartford, was on hand to give an update on the Weaver High School fire alarm fiasco.  Apparently critical fire alarm components were left out of the process of rebuilding the school and Hartford Public Schools is claiming that the project managers are at fault while the project managers are saying, “it wasn’t my fault.”  Kevin Rennie, of the faux newspaper Hartford Courant, recently wrote a piece on the saga (available here).

Following the update on the issue, which is still being hammered like a piece of steel on Forged In Fire, Mr. Drummey took a moment to commend Board Member Shonte Browdy for her work in keeping the feet of those involved to the fire.  Drummey stated that Browdy was “instrumental” in keeping focus on this issue and that “it was nice to see a committed board member.” 

The phrase, “committed board member,” rarely applies to current board members, so this commendation by a city official is, unlike the Magnet School of America Awards (“The Farcical Magnet School of America Awards”), a prestigious commendation.

The diligence of Browdy in this matter stands in contrast to board chair Rigueur, who more often than not looks to stifle board member diligence.

Case in point, during the March 11th board meeting, the group was presented with a proposal to accept a state grant for the district’s Family Resource Center program.  Following the presentation, Rigueur stated that since the services being offered under this grant are mandated by the state, any questions by board members should be on the acceptance of the funds, not the services, despite some of these services being aimed at reducing teen pregnancy, substance abuse, and school dropouts, and for adult education and literacy.  Apparently board responsibility for oversight of district services is lost on the chair of the group.

Without mouthing the exact words, Board Member Walker said “screw you” to Rigueur and commenced to ask a question concerning the disparity in the number of kids receiving certain services at different schools.  However, Walker prefaced his question by telling Rigueur, “I understand your directive…”  What?!  Directive?  No matter what he thinks, the board member/chair cannot issue a ‘directive’ to any other board member.  Bad choice of words.  Do not feed the undeserved and overinflated ego of the beast.

There’s a four-alarm fire at the board of education but there are no working fire alarms!