Journal headline; "Intimidation, retaliation claims preceded Brooks departure"

no shit!*

*Expression said to people who state the obvious. 

Our Journal comes this morning, link, with blockbuster coverage of problems in the Winston Brooks administration.

Talk about a day late and mile shy.

The dollar short; the Journal concedes;

APS has refused requests by FOG and the Journal to make Padilla’s report public, citing attorney-client privilege and the personnel matters exception to the state’s Inspection of Public Records Act.

There has never been question or doubt about the "how" APS relentlessly refuses to be candid, forthright and honest with the people whose resources they spend and whose power they wield;

• attorney-client privilege and 

(drum roll ...)

• "personnel" matters

The question is not how they hide the truth.  The question is why they need to hide the truth?

Why do they refuse to be (as) candid, forthright and honest with the communities they serve (as the law will allow)?

Why won't he ask, why?

Why don't school board members have to justify hiding the truth from stake and interest holders beyond the requirements of the law?


Why won't Journal Editor in Chief Kent Walz ask them why they refuse to provide as much candor, forthrightness and honesty as the law will allow?

Whose interests are being protected by legal weaselry and it's journalistic equivalent?

School board members don't have to justify their public service because they have the press in their pocket; they are in cahoots.  That, and they don't answer questions at school board meetings.

"A stipulation of the district’s resignation agreement with Brooks says the report will remain in a secret file and that neither side will make disparaging comments about the other."

Why not?  Not, how not? Why not?

It isn’t clear whether Brooks and his attorney were made aware of the report’s contents during the closed meetings in which they negotiated his buyout and resignation with the board.

Why not? Not how not? Why not?

"APS attorney Art Melendres said ...
Melendres wrote ...
In his letter, Melendres said ...
Melendres said ...

Every time "Melendres says"
dollars that could be spent in
classrooms, flow into his and
Modrall's pockets instead.

... cha-ching ...

... cha-ching ...

... cha-ching ...

In the best interests of students,
how exactly?




photos Mark Bralley