Integration. Separation. Segregation. Does any of it matter?

[brianold]

Black caucus objects to school-board measure
By Jim Ash
DEMOCRAT CAPITOL BUREAU CHIEF

Voters would get to pick the leaders of their local school boards under a controversial measure the House approved Tuesday, over the heated objections of black lawmakers.

Rep. Curtis Richardson, D-Tallahassee, warned that the measure (HB 221) would limit opportunities for minority politicians, many of whom, such as himself, owe their careers to single-member districts. Richardson was the first black person elected to the Leon County School Board.

"There is nothing wrong with the current system of choosing chairmen of the boards," Richardson said.

The measure would allow counties that chose to do so to elect school-board chairs in an at-large election. Currently, school-board members chose their own leadership, a method critics of the legislation say increases the chance that a minority will get a shot at the top position.

The idea for the legislation comes from a panel in Orange County that suggested it as a way to make school-board chairs more visible and accountable, said the bill's sponsor, Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park.

"This is about increasing choices and accountability," Cannon said.

Cannon was surprised at the vehemence of the opposition, he said.

The House voted 72-43, mostly along party lines, to send the bill off to the Senate, where a companion measure is sponsored by Sen. Dan Webster, R-Winter Garden.

Rep. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa and one of the most vocal members of the black caucus, warned the measure represents a step backward.

"This will not allow people who look like me to serve as chairmen," Joyner said.

Contact Jim Ash at (850) 671-6547 or jash@tallahassee.com

Originally published April 26, 2006