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What is this?
Give us a break, Givan
Published Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Our system of government has always instituted a system of checks and balances. They work well. Here's how it goes: a policy setting board; an executive to carry out the policies and oversee the day-to-day; a court system to determine legal matters.
Ben Givan, president of the Selma City School Board, should go back to his ninth grade civics class text for a little more understanding of his role in the process of conducting school business.
Givan recently went to school superintendent Dr. Austin Obasohan and asked for the superintendent's resignation. Givan made this move without any authority from a majority of the school board. Givan said he acted as an individual, not as an authority figure.
But how was Obasohan to know?
On Monday night during a school board meeting, a majority of the board said it favors Obasohan and wants him to stay.
Well, what's not to favor?
This young professional has walked knee-deep into Selma politics, but with his eyes on a particular goal — to make the city's public school system the best that it can be. He has begun to accomplish those goals through bringing various groups together to talk about what's best for the children; setting goals and meeting them; working coalitions inside and outside of the school.
In a matter of weeks, we have moved from discussion of working together to see a new high school built or the existing one renovated all the way over to asking the superintendent to resign.
At this point, one can trust only in the system of checks and balances. The majority should prevail over imbecilic moves such as that by Givan.
And as for the president of the school board, he should publicly apologize for such unsophisticated behavior and resign as president of the school board.
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Comments
Posted by nemo (anonymous) on June 30, 2009 at 8:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well said.
Posted by truelight (anonymous) on June 30, 2009 at 9:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Very well said. I think he should publicly apologize to the superintendent, the citizens of Selma for causing this chaos, and attempting to take us off track and then, resign.
Posted by bestofselma (anonymous) on June 30, 2009 at 10:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Absolutely! Thank you for recognizing his ability and what he is accomplishing to make the school system better.
Posted by Ramsey (anonymous) on July 1, 2009 at 6:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You are right on track!
Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on July 1, 2009 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Where is the outcry of the students and parents to stand behind the superintendent? Where is the call for Mr. Givhan to step down? Where's the faculty of these city schools in this?
Posted by bama (anonymous) on July 1, 2009 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Givan should resign.
Posted by Selma (anonymous) on July 1, 2009 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen. Mr. Givan’s true character has been uncovered, and the time has come for Selma City Council to ask for his resignation. If the Council is not empowered to make a request as this, the Board members should review it bylaws pertaining to code of conduct and it there is a violation use their rules to remove him. The community can no longer trust that he will have their best interest at heart, only the interest of "his" special few school employees. Do the students, citizens, and businesses in Selma a favor and resign. You have prevented educational quality long enough. You were behind getting rid of the last football coach. Because of your success with that you want to move to higher grounds and get rid of the superintendent. Well thanks to Barbara Hiouas, your instigation has been uncovered.
Posted by teachme (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Givan may have gotten caught but there is one other board member who stands in the shadows of the board and causes the confusion. She distorts the truth over the airways and if you check the records, she never stays at the board meetings to vote or she doesn't show up. She soaks up all of the information during work sessions and in executive sessions and then leaves so that she can distort it. Minutes are public. If you want to test the validity of this statement, ask for the minutes for all of the current issues that have come before the board. If she is brave enough to speak out on the airways, then she should have the courage to vote!!! This one is also considering running for the elected school board. BE knowledgeable, Selma! It is time for your eyes to become unveiled! Seek revelation!
Posted by freeselma (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 10:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hang in there Mr. Givan!!!! God has your back on this one.
It's evident that Dr. O (truelight) knows absolutely nothing about Selma or the people living here. Forget a buyout, when his cheerleaders find out why you may have talked to him about resigning they are going to run him out of Selma. Hurricane Katrina will have nothing on that rowdy crowd.
Selma, Lord Selma..............
Posted by freeselma (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 10:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
teachme, haven't you heard "YOU CAN'T TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS". Stop hating on people and learn to appreciate them. The blame game can't hurt people who are in God's favor. IT CAN ONLY HURT COWARDS LIKE YOU!
PEACE.........
Posted by savetheplanet (anonymous) on July 4, 2009 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Freeselma, You are really determined to see this man fail, because you could not micromanage him to keep those you "like" and uproot those not in your "good book". What is wrong with him setting up a democratic process to fairly select the qualified?
I don't believe in hiding behind made up names to deform people's characters. If there is any truth in your accusation, be bold enough to identify yourself to those who don't know who you really are, because I do. I challenge you & Dr.O to have a face to face forum discussion.
Freeselma, the truth is, you think you are the alpha & omega. If it's not those you think are "good" you will go to any length to destroy the process and/or the person. It's not all about you. I am sure Dr.O has met with you without the other ten board members present. What is wrong with qualified candidates, not associated with you getting a job? It is not unheard of for employees to contest non-renewal of contracts and transfer. These hearings are all public information. We all know about them, and the dangerous part you played in the whole process.
Freeselma, too many good people are already praying for him, so keep your prayers to yourself, because I believe you really need it. The good people are praying for him to succeed, but your prayer is to see him fail. Another tip, it is about time you change your name from "freeselma" because you have held Selma's progress back for far too long with inaccurate information.
Finally, the academic community has confidence in those candidates that were selected so get over it and take part in the system's vision.
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