Your Opinion: Good stewards of tax dollars?

Dear Editor:

While I am an enthusiastic proponent of the two high school plan, I am not confident that JCPS's newer superintendent, Larry Linthacum, and the board are guiding the district to be good stewards of our tax dollars. I have watched and continue to wait for evidence of this stewardship in action. JCPS paid out two large settlements this past year for employee discrimination. Yes, I acknowledge this is the product of the previous administration; however, the HR director/general counsel at the time of the incidents, who conducted the investigation, subsequently received a severing of her two roles and a pay raise. This strikes me as questionable best practice. JCPS pays dues in the amount of $20,000/year to be a member of the Chamber of Commerce. Relationships with local businesses should be a product of the institution and not require a monetary exchange. The business community should be supporting our schools, not the other way around.

My own experience with the district is troubling. They sent a contracted attorney to attend my daughter's Individual Education Plan meetings, which only escalated the exchanges and increased the need for additional meetings, mediation, and ultimately a child complaint and civil rights complaint. This is not evidence of good stewardship.

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