Winston Brooks reneges on committment

At the public forum during the regular school board meeting on
September 3rd, I demanded that the leadership of the APS
stand and deliver honest answers to legitimate questions.

Winston Brooks "said" that I would have that opportunity at
any one of "... our upcoming 7 grassroots community meetings
that will be held this fall.

Well I went to one of those meetings yesterday at Jefferson
Middle School.

There was no opportunity to ask questions at all. All of the
questions were predetermined and were asked of those who
attended, and not by those who attended.

Winston Brooks is still unwilling to be simply honest with
stakeholders.

In his monthly Journal column this morning; link, Winston
Brooks wrote;

"That's what I am asking of ... each stakeholder
in the Albuquerque Public Schools; become part
of the process, have a voice in determining where
we are headed and - just as important - in the
process of getting there."

Just don't ask any questions.

Winston Brooks says he is going to change the way business
is done in the APS Financial Division. His goal number 6 reads;

Review, modify and maintain a transparent, sound and
effective financial stewardship with clearly defined,
consistent and well-documented processes throughout
the district.

Yet he will not take a single question on the failures in the
APS Financial Division that precipitated the changes he has
proposed. He will not answer questions even as important as;

Why were two subordinates who should have blown the
whistle on the shenanigans in the Financial Division,
but did not, then promoted to the two most senior
positions in what could be the cover up of missing
millions of dollars, and potential criminal misconduct?

Winston Brooks may indeed have his sights set on reforming
the leadership of the APS. But just as clearly, he intends to
do so without stakeholders finding out the truth about what
has been going on for generations.

He intends to protect the good ol' boys from the consequences
of their corruption and incompetence.

And if that is his primary goal, then every other goal is
secondary; including his purported goal of cleaning up the
APS Financial Division.

If stakeholders ask Winston Brooks if he will tell the truth,
and his answer is; no, why should we trust him?

If when asked if he will be a role model of the student
standard of conduct, the Pillar of Trustworthiness, and his
answer is; no, why should we trust him?

Any answer to either question except yes, means no.

Stonewalling, means no.

Refusing to stand and deliver candid, forthright, and honest
answers to legitimate questions, means no.



cc. Winston Brooks, @ superintendent(at)aps.edu