Three strikes and you’re out. If only.

For the third meeting in a row, the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education and its Superintendent, sat in silence rather than admit honest accountability to any recognized code of ethics.

As the senior role models for over 100 thousand students and employees; they will not model accountability to a code of ethics. However, they do still require students to hold themselves accountable to a code of ethical behavior. It would seem that their obligation as role models ends with modeling hypocrisy.

As, would be, stewards of another half a BILLION tax dollars; they are not compelled to guarantee that the money will be spent ethically; in the best interests of taxpayers and students. They will offer I’m sure, an assurance that they can be trusted.

Assurances that money will be spent ethically are meaningless. One system that provides honest accountability is worth a million assurances that such a system is not necessary.

As role models and stewards of the public trust and treasure, the decision to eschew honest accountability to a code of ethics is indefensible. But of course the decision doesn’t require a defense. If you are powerful enough, you don’t have to defend your position.

If you have the cooperation of the Journal and Tribune, non defense is a piece of cake. Despite almost daily reporting of scandals and the need for ethical reform, and almost as frequent editorials encouraging voters to (somehow) demand ethical reform; these newspapers still have not reported on the story. Each has a reporter on scene; they know what is happening. They simply choose to disregard their (unenforceable) obligation to provide for informed decision making by voters.

Albuquerque is victim to an egregious betrayal of trust; by the leadership of their schools and by the newspapers they look to for the truth.

Somebody should do something.

Ched MacQuigg