HatCityBLOG THROWBACK THURSDAY MOMENT: THE HISTORY OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND SCHOOL SYSTEM’S FISCAL INCOMPETENCE EDITION

As I mentioned countless times, at the start of HatCityBLOG, educational matters were my primary focus, since the topic received little attention, outside of the reporting from education beat reporters Scott Radway and Eileen Fitzgerald’s excellent coverage for the Newstimes.

As we approach the height of the budget season, despite the hyper-partisan and wildly disingenuous political spin we currently face in the city over educational funding, the history of fiscal incompetence and lack of coherent oversight remains a tried-and-true source of embarrassment for the school system and the board of education, regardless of political affiliation.

From January 2001, here’s an oldie but goodie from Democratic Mayor Gene Eriquez’s last term in office, in which the School system’s gross fiscal mismanagement resulted in an end-of-year deficit.

Many of the primary reasons behind the deficit 25 years ago are the EXACT same reasons the school system recently ended the last three fiscal years with historic and unacceptable surpluses. Take note of the individuals quoted in the article, as their commentary provides insight into their experience with this topic today.

This goes well with coffee...

“School Finances Questioned” Scott Radway, The News-Times: Jan 31, 2001