Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Griffiths has excelled during school crisis

[Monroe County School Board Chairman] Andy Griffiths [has shown] exemplary leadership ... through the ongoing financial crisis.

He has skillfully guided the district through one of the most difficult situations a school board can face. He has been and continues to be faced with strongly entrenched interests that wish to retain the status quo on the one hand, and others who demand wholesale reform at any cost. He understood clearly that it was not in the best interests of the students if either side totally dominated the debate or the actions of the School Board.

Andy has demonstrated his courage and leadership by skillfully navigating a path that kept the district running and classrooms teaching while still very strongly supporting the needed reforms. He was and is willing to suffer from critics from both sides, but understands that reckless reform would disrupt the main mission of the district which is educating the children, but that real reform must happen and is sorely needed if the district is to successfully pursue that mission in the long term.

Real statesmanship, integrity and leadership is the ability to do what is right and best even when facing critics from both sides -- unfortunately qualities not often found in many of our elected officials. Andy has demonstrated these qualities and the unique ability to lead a diverse school board through very difficult times. ...

We are fortunate to have Andy as our School Board chairman at this difficult time, and we as a community owe Andy a vote of thanks for a job well done.

Stu Kessler

Key West

A purge is required in the school district

Holding firm to the promises made during his campaign, [Monroe County] State Attorney Dennis Ward has pressed on with a successful prosecution of the criminally corrupted Monroe County school district.

Advancing the cause of freedom, as described in our nation's founding documents, is not for the faint of heart. Since elected as our state attorney, Mr. Ward has led through example and modeled the type of political conduct that one might expect from their elected officials.

Dennis Ward's integrity and respectful response to the concerns of his constituents has increased their access and trust in the judicial process. This refreshingly bold and courageous precedent has shed light upon and exposed the criminal enterprise which had become the Monroe County school district. A much-needed cleansing of this institution, allegedly designed to educate and care for our children, is a legitimate expectation of any civilized society.

The heavy lifting has been done for Superintendent of Schools Joseph Burke. It's time for Mr. Burke to provide some relief and closure to our taxpayers and students. Any school employee involved -- with knowledge of, or through their silence aided and abetted in the commission of these crimes -- must be summarily terminated. Nothing of any importance can be accomplished while this toxic element is a part of the school district.

On behalf of the people, State Attorney Dennis Ward squared off in opposition to an incompetent and criminally flawed system of education that had been failing its students and taxpayers. Responsible leadership requires that the superintendent and School Board finish the job that Mr. Ward has begun.

John Donnelly

Key Largo

Don't choose Symroski for growth director

I hear some folks have seen telltale trails of Moby Dick's (aka Ty Symroski) blowhole gushes on the horizon. It appears Moby has applied for the soon-to-be-vacant Growth Management position. I would hope [County Administrator Roman] Gastesi launches a concerted effort to pick the right candidate for this position. You can be assured if he selects Mr. Symroski, there will be plenty of folks in this county who will have a bone or two to pick with him -- pun intended.

We already have too many worn out bureaucrats serving this county, and this one has a ton of skeletons in his closet. Ask Fish and Wildlife.

Salvador Gutierrez Jr.

Key Largo