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Leaks are a slippery-slope
With the resignation of Superintendent Ronny Beard, the Cleburne ISD finds itself in a period of transition yet again.
But official announcement of Beard’s decision to leave Cleburne to become the executive director of the Region 20 Education Service Center was hardly the most troubling development to come out of Central Office this week.
For elected representatives to build and enhance credibility and public trust, he or she must abide by an unyielding commitment to the highest degree of ethical standards.
There simply can be no compromise. A breach of ethics by even one person can poison and render ineffective the whole.
One couldn’t help but wonder if such a breach occurred within the Cleburne ISD Board of Trustees last week.
During Monday’s school board meeting in which Beard tendered his resignation, a gentleman described within the community as a “watchdog” stood to vocalize an agenda and in doing so berated the former superintendent over the coming release of the Strategic Planning Commission’s report.
In doing so, the man quoted the superintendent’s “instructions to the board.” He didn’t cite where he acquired Beard’s remarks to the board, which were made in confidence.
Leaks can be useful, for sure, in helping uncover corruption and wrong-doing. That hardly seems to be the case here, where a few seem to be merely grasping at whatever they can get their hands on to promote some agenda.
Simply put, the superintendent must be able to trust that confidential communications with the board be just that. Without it, the leadership and governing ability of the board is severely compromised. The school board by its very nature is an extension of the community. When trustees are informed, the community is thereby informed.
Where the leak occurred is unknown, but if a board member was the culprit, rest assured that you have compromised not only the board’s ability to govern, but ultimately also the district’s mission to educate.
Where did it go?
And that brings us to the Johnson County Information Systems and Services Department, which provides yet another example of why ethics and morals in business and government are so important.
An audit conducted by the county has found that $151,000 worth of equipment is missing.
A criminal investigation is under way and certainly we acknowledge the sanctity of one’s innocence until being proven guilty.
But we also weren’t born yesterday.
News that leaves us all taxed
The predictable news of revenue shortfalls within the county and city budgets and the resulting need for tax increases sent an already anxious and financially overburdened populace reaching for Advil and/or a bottle.
The county, trying to bridge a $4.5 million budget shortfall, has proposed a 2.61 cent increase per $100 valuation over last year’s rate. The city, too, is suggesting an increase in property and sales tax rates.
The good citizens of Cleburne and Johnson County are no doubt willing to step up to ensure the viability of the people’s work.
Just get it over with. But also remember: You can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip.
The issues, please
The Cleburne Times-Review will make no endorsement in the race between Republican state Sen. Brian Birdwell and Democrat John Cullar.
On Thursday, though, Birdwell filed a response to the lawsuit filed by the Texas Democratic Party and Cullar, challenging Birdwell’s residency and eligibility to run for a full four-year term in November. Birdwell recently won the right to finish out Kip Averitt’s term, which ends in January.
This reeks of the newly formed modern day adage: If you can’t beat them, sue them and hope that 12 justices and a chief justice will overturn the will of 58 percent of District 22 voters who thought Birdwell was qualified to be a state senator in June.
This editorial is the opinion of the Cleburne Times-Review.
