Dear Dr. White
The following is an open letter to Dr. Eugene White, Superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools. I don’t think he’ll respond, but it’s worth a shot.
Dear Dr. White,
I know things are tough for you these days, nearly 16% of your students don’t show up for the the first day of school. Most of your high schools are under-performing so badly that the threat of a state takeover is looming over your head. Your teachers are demoralized and your district has money problems.
With that kind of pressure, I can understand your need to lash out. However, as a friendly suggestion you might want to focus that energy and effort on improving your schools and not going after yours truly. It came to my attention that you had some not so flattering comments about me at Monday night’s public hearing on the budget. They included the following…
- I hate public schools.
- I hate IPS.
- I don’t like you.
- I’m out “to get” IPS.
- I published the salaries of IPS employees on my web blog and it was none of my business.
As I said, you are under a lot of pressure and may not have been thinking straight, so let me help you out on each of your points.
- I hate public schools. – That would be odd, since I am a product of a public elementary, high school, university and graduate school. I went to a private law school, but I think I got a great public education and it’s hard to hate something that’s treated you very well.
- I hate IPS. – No, I have some major issues with IPS, but I don’t hate the school district. Although I don’t think for the more than $15,625 it cost to educate a kid in your school district, the people who work for a living are getting the most for their money.
- I don’t like you. – Well, now that one is true! Just kidding. To be honest, when I go down the list of things that run through my mind on a daily basis, you don;t show up on my radar screen.
- I’m out to get IPS. – Now that is true. As a political talking head I’m out to make the sure the taxpayers get their money’s worth from their institutions.
- I published the salaries of IPS employees on my web blog and it was none of my business. – You’re half right on that one. IPS employee salaries are paid for with tax dollars and anyone who pays taxes has a right to know that information, not just me.
And before you go down the charter school road, yes I am a big fan of charters, because when they don’t perform, they get shut down or are supposed to anyway. And charters are public schools, I notice you tend to conveniently forget that from time to time.
A couple other items you may have forgotten are your own District policies that read…
“the citizens of the District are to be viewed as the OWNERSHIP and clients of IPS, to whom the Board is primarily responsible and for whom the Board acts”
and don’t forget the one that says budgets require
“CRITICAL analysis by EVERY member of the Board prior to approval” and the board is to “direct the Superintendent to present the budget to the Board, along with ALL available information associated with each Fund, in SUFFICIENT time for proper review and discussion and in compliance with Indiana Code.”
Like I said, I don’t take any of this personally because this probably isn’t you talking, just the stress of trying to keep your ship of state afloat. I believe the Captain of the Titanic had that same problem. If you need help, just call. I’ll be more than willing to offer whatever expertise I can. Hey, I couldn’t do any worse than the people you have working for you downtown, right? Of course.
With All the Love and Respect You Deserve,
Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, Esq.
