Work and twerk session: Adam averts Democratic eyes from Gahan's public housing fiasco by yelling "fire" in a crowded school board.

The Floyd County Democratic Party's delightfully hypocritical cognitive dissonance jalopy went into clank-clank overdrive yesterday.

As Deaf Gahan's channeled his inner Trump via the undemocratic Monday Night Public Housing Massacre (the mayor remained home with his prized toy soldier collection), Mr. Disney took to the facewaves to tout a non-binding school board work session.

Kirsten Clark's C-J coverage recaps the evening, including what we're assuming is the city's official position on the work session, given that the quote is from a city employee and all.

Courtney Lewis, a 31-year-old member of Floyd County Young Democrats who graduated from the district said given how difficult it was to get last year’s referendum passed, the district shouldn’t consider gifting money to Community Montessori. She added that some of the schools within the district are in “disrepair” and need whatever capital project funds are available.

“It just rubs me the wrong way that we would even entertain giving money to an entity that isn’t one of our public schools in the way that the rest of the schools are,” she said.

Transparency in schools is a relative term, redevelopmentally non-binding in the sense of ... "Is Hibbard gone yet?"

By the way, New Albany's Redevelopment Commission spent money to support the school corporation's property tax referendum last November (minutes from the September meeting, above). Note that the President is Irving Joshua, and the Director is David Duggins ... and the secretary taking notes is Adam Dickey.

Yep, the fix remains in.

Now, to the topic of this post.

I'm the first to concede these past weeks have been fractured, to say the least. My head hasn't been in the game, but still, I'd have sworn that something appeared here at NAC about the "open door" complaint.

It's unanimous as the NAFC school board rejects Hibbard's rollover.

We think this means Dickey wants Gahan's bedmate Hibbard to keep his job, but it's such bad writing that it's hard to tell.

Lee Cotner is appointed to a third stint on the NAFC school board.

Maybe it was a Facebook discussion instead.

Obviously, I favor the greatest amount of transparency possible. More daylight and greater openness always are preferable to less.

That said, contrast the chain newspaper's headline with the content; the ruling is "non-binding," and and access counselor himself concedes it to be a "technicality."

Damn, I wish New Albany had a newspaper.

NA-FC school board violated the Open Door Law, rules public access counselor, by Danielle Grady (Hanson Pay to Play Gazette)

Board decided upon a replacement at an executive session

NEW ALBANY — The Indiana Public Access Counselor has issued a non-binding ruling that the New Albany-Floyd County school board violated the Open Door Law during the replacement process of former board member DJ Hines.

A complaint was filed against the school board earlier this year by former board member Mark Boone after the board agreed upon — but did not take a vote on — a replacement for Hines during an executive session on Jan. 18.

It's unanimous as the NAFC school board rejects Hibbard's rollover.

Newspaper poll results indicate "slight" trend
against Hibbard pay raise (2012).

On Monday afternoon, we were feeling a bit baffled by weird Democratic Party smoke signals.

We think this means Dickey wants Gahan's bedmate Hibbard to keep his job, but it's such bad writing that it's hard to tell.

Can anyone translate Adamese?

On Monday evening, I started a discussion thread at Facebook.

Earlier today, the NAFC school board voted unanimously to "not let superintendent Bruce Hibbard's contract roll over after it expires in July 2018." He may or may not be retained by the board, but the vote is being interpreted (fairly or otherwise) as fait accompli that Hibbard's a goner. According to John Boyle of the News and Tribune, principals in attendance stood in support of Hibbard. The Floyd County Democratic Party was evasive as usual, but seemed to be suggesting solidarity with Hibbard, and at Twitter, a city employee wrote, "The NAFC School Board should be ashamed of themselves if for no other reason than the fact that they're willful morons." The passion puzzles me, so weigh in, Floyd Countians; make the arguments and educate me. What am I missing? Yea or Nay on today's action, and should Hibbard remain as superintendent? Thank you.

Go there to read what was said. Meanwhile, here is newspaper coverage.

NA-FC superintendent's contract set to expire, by John Boyle (News and Tribune)

NA-FC board removes rollover option from Hibbard's contract in unanimous vote

NEW ALBANY — In front of a room packed with community members and school officials, the New Albany-Floyd County school board unanimously decided Monday to remove the rollover option from Superintendent Bruce Hibbard's contract.

Had the board not notified Hibbard of a decision regarding the rollover clause by June 30, his contract would have automatically extended for another year on July 1, 2018. His contract is now set to expire on that day rather than roll over.

We think this means Dickey wants Gahan's bedmate Hibbard to keep his job, but it's such bad writing that it's hard to tell.

Can anyone translate Adamese?

This one appears to be written in some sort of geek code. The school board has appointed a new member (actually, he's a Democrat) in a move that may be a sign that maybe something's afoot, so everyone show up and ... do what?

About what?

To whom?

Bonus points if you not only can interpret what Adam is saying, but also relate it to HB 1131, which if passed by the legislature would mandate the inclusion of a school board appointment to municipal redevelopment commissions.

Wait ... it's coming to me ... both Jeff Gahan and Bruce Hibbard don't want a school board unless it's a captive rubber stamp, but the local Democratic Party is somewhat of a rubber stamp itself, and so it's urgent to take action in this instance, but just as important for Adam to say nothing at all when Gahan decides to purge low-income people from The Project ...

Action Alert

New Albany Floyd County School Board set to meet tomorrow!

Recently, there's been a lot happening with our local New Albany - Floyd County School Board. In late January, the school board appointed a new member in response to the resignation of D.J. Hines. Tomorrow, the Board will vote on Superintendent Bruce Hibbard's contract, a move that may signal that the board may be moving to replace Hibbard.

We feel it imperative that the NAFC School Board be transparent in its decisions. Now is the time to take action and let your voice be heard. We're asking community leaders and citizens to attend the NAFC School Board Meeting and express their concern. Here are the meeting details:

New Albany Floyd County Consolidated School Corp. Board Meeting
Monday, February 13th @ 6:00 p.m.
2813 Grant Line Road, New Albany

It's critical that we speak out. Take action today and ensure that our school board represents the best interests of our community and our students.

Sincerely,

Your Democratic Team

Meanwhile, the newspaper says ...

NAFC school board to vote Monday on superintendent rollover, by Aprile Rickert

If approved, Bruce Hibbard would need to renegotiate in July 2018 to continue

FLOYD COUNTY — The New Albany-Flood County School Board will vote Monday on whether or not to let superintendent Bruce Hibbard's contract roll over after it expires in July 2018.

Lee Cotner is appointed to a third stint on the NAFC school board.

Full disclosure: Lawyer and former school board member Lee Cotner, who represented New Albanian Bank Street Brewhouse back in 2013 when the Floyd County Health Department's Dr. Tom Harris was a bit too haughty for his own damned good, and eventually was smacked down vigorously by various state agencies as well as compelling the enactment of legislation to keep him in his place -- wait, where was I?

Oh, that's right: Lee Cotner has been appointed to fill the District Two school board seat weirdly vacated by D.J. Hines, and with the News and Tribune yet again down a reporter, the SoIn newspaper was late to a pre-selection plot line explored by the C-J.

NAFC school board vacancy concerns NAACP leader, by Kirsten Clark (Courier-Journal)

New Albany-Floyd County School Board is expected to swear in a new member Monday evening following the resignation of DJ Hines, ending a process a local NAACP leader says lacked transparency and raises concerns about minority representation on the district's governing board.

"I am disappointed the school board has missed an opportunity to make itself more reflective of the community in which it serves," said Nicole Yates, president of the New Albany NAACP, in an email to the Courier-Journal. "The student population in Floyd County schools is 22 percent minority. Yet there is zero minority representation on the school board."

She continued: "Just last year the school board expressed disappointment that a minority school leader was not chosen at New Albany High School. The recent vacancy would have been a chance for them to lead by example while demonstrating that the same standard that they argued for New Albany High School applies to the board."

The N & T did muster an unattributed preview, and minimalist coverage of the actual meeting.

NA-FC Schools board votes to fill vacancy; Members vote 4-1 for Lee Cotner with one abstention, by John Boyle

... Board members approved Cotner in a 4-1 vote with one abstention. Cotner will serve for two years to finish the term of D.J. Hines, who unexpectedly resigned roughly one month ago.

Cotner previously served two stints on the NA-FC school board. His first term stretched from 2002 to 2006 after he was elected as an original member of the first school board. In 2012, Cotner was reappointed by board members to fill an opening.

And the selection process?

"The only thing that they had to qualify was that they had to live in the district," board president Becky Gardenour said. "We got 10 letters. I checked with the county clerk to make sure everybody lived in the district, and three people didn't meet that requirement. We got lots of good candidates. All of them were qualified."

Ed Clere proposes changes to Redevelopment Commission and Housing Authority appointments, so it's mute nostril agony for Jeff Gahan as his campaign-finance-loaded wagons are circled around the TIF encampment.

(Historical Update: This post is NAC's 11,000th, since October 2004)

Perhaps it's something about planetary alignment or the daily accuracy ratio of stopped clocks, but News and Tribune management finally mustered a good decision, sending reporter Elizabeth Beilman to Indianapolis to provide a day's coverage of items that actually impact our lives right, here at home.

Rest assured, readers: None of it will displace the ongoing breathless coverage of reality television shows, though it's a welcome albeit temporary change.

Let's begin with Beilman's bylines.

Redevelopment bill would give Indiana schools more voice

If passed, school boards would get appointment on commissions

House Bill 1131 authored by Rep. Ed Clere, R-New Albany, takes one of the executive body's appointments to a redevelopment commission and gives it to a local school board, which would appoint one of its members. The other appointments will remain in control of the fiscal body.

And:

Southern Indiana schools support bill centering on tax increment financing money

INDIANAPOLIS — Representatives from every school corporation in Clark and Floyd counties testified Tuesday in favor of a state bill that would give them louder voices in economic development.

House Bill 1131, authored by State Rep. Ed Clere and co-authored by State Rep. Steve Stemler, replaces one of a municipal or county executive’s appointments on a redevelopment commission with a school board member appointment.

Obviously, HB 1131 is intended to make corrective adjustments to what amounts to mayoral abuse of appointment power, not just in New Albany, but everywhere in the state Indiana. Small wonder the statewide mayor's breakfast club is against it.

However, our own mayor is the veritable original source textbook for these abuses. Jeff Gahan's appointed Redevelopment Commission is packed with slobbering mayoral sycophants, meaning that numerous significant decisions are made offshore, away from elected bodies.

In addition, as with the New Albany Housing Authority commission, Gahan's refusal to appoint members to it in a timely fashion has revealed his naked intent to cripple the NAHA's operations, and eventually to dismantle it. I'm slowly amassing information on this story, and we'll get to it later.

Interestingly, the filing of Clere's bill forced Gahan to expedite the NAHA takeover plan, and so he duly made the appointments he'd been delaying -- and by the way, they're all being placed there for exactly the same reason that Donald Trump appoints department heads opposed to the mission of their agencies, to destroy and not build, so Gahan can queue the cattle cars for the short jaunt to Greenville.

Gahan is neither a Democrat nor democratic, but I digress. The digest of House Bill 1131 provides all the meat and taters.

DIGEST

Appointments to local boards and commissions. Provides that after June 30, 2017, one of the commissioners appointed to a redevelopment commission must be a member of the governing body of a school corporation that includes all or part of the territory served by the redevelopment commission. Provides for the appointment to be made by the appointing governing body as determined in the statute. Removes language providing for the appointment of nonvoting advisers to redevelopment commissions from the governing bodies of school corporations. Provides that nonvoting advisers serve until a member of the governing body of a school corporation is appointed to the redevelopment commission. Provides that if the executive or fiscal body of a municipality does not fill a vacancy in the municipal housing authority before the 61st day after the vacancy occurs, the remaining members of the housing authority shall fill the vacancy. Provides that the remaining members are authorized to fill the vacancy even if the number of remaining members is not sufficient for a quorum. Provides that an individual who is acting as a member of a housing authority 60 days after the expiration of the individual's term as a member of the housing authority may continue to act as a member for purposes of filling the vacancy.

Gahan and his conniving ilk are rattled.

A Southern Indiana state legislator is "optimistic" his bill targeting the balance of power on redevelopment commissions will advance out of committee to the Indiana House of Representatives.

Let's hope it does. This reform is sorely needed.

D.J. Hines resigns from school board seat, lottery to commence.

Last evening at Twitter, this was posted.

Councilman Al Knable later confirmed that yes, D.J. Hines has resigned from the school board. There has been speculation on social media as to the process for replacement, but I think we should let Superintendent Hibbard pick.

That's a joke, by the way.

Our big fat Hibbardendum emerges fully erect: If all them Democrats got beat, how did they manage this tax increase?

Surprised?

Shocked?

Me, too. With numerous themes of societal disaffection combining to produce an overwhelming local landslide for Donald Trump, who gathered almost 59% of the votes cast for president in Floyd County, the NA-FC school corporation’s Hibbardendum – a shiny object construction bond issue – sailed effortlessly past the post, with almost 54% in favor.

This result is complete flip of the totals from the corporation’s first toss of the beanbag in May of 2015, and as such, it’s the only genuine head-scratcher amid Tuesday’s election returns in Floyd County.

In fact, even the Hibbardendum’s staunchest proponents can’t explain its success against the tide of status-quo-wrecking sweeping the planet. The familiar sentiments prefacing Trump’s rise, Brexit and “change” uprisings occurring all around the world have usually been expressed in heated defiance of hoity-toity “expert” opinion; if the usual suspects are for it, then mad-as-hell voters are against it.

Locally, with every political and economic power elite expressing support for the Hibbardendum that verged on the erotic, voters rose up … and agreed.

Was it the sheer force of money and propaganda?

Was it some sort of inner harmonic balance restoration, in that having offered to tear the system down right here, perhaps voters thought it wise to toss alms in the direction of “those kids” over there, albeit without paying very close attention to the devil lurking in the details?

Beats me. Is there a sociologist in the house?

At the same time, accepting Monty Python’s timeless advice at face value and gazing resolutely at the bright side of life, an obvious effort to pack the school board with handpicked Hibbard toadies failed miserably, such that the superintendent might be wise to keep his back facing the nearest wall, at least until he bolts for greener pastures, an inevitability now likely to occur sooner rather than later in spite of his success at relieving rate payers of a cool $87 million.

The corporation was well prepared, and will appear next week before the Plan Commission’s pre-greased and appointed wheels to begin garnering the necessary preliminary approvals to build, build and build some more.

Okay; fine, but to me, these two years of Hibbardendum politicking represent a profound missed opportunity to stage a discussion about the future of public education in a time of social cholera.

Instead, we’re going to do what we do best: Skip the substantive chat, stroke the power elites and construct bright shiny objects in another orgy of campaign finance trickle-down cash.

I say the sooner Superintendent Hibbard leaves town, the better.

Go already. You’ve done enough here, so please, can you do it to someone else, somewhere else?

Randy Smith for NA-FC School Board: "I think it's important to remember that the superintendent works for the school board and not the other way around."

Thousands of Floyd Countians already have voted, and as with the News and Tribune, the Courier-Journal has belatedly released candidate information.

Couldn't these newspapers go to work a bit earlier, and provide information to the public before voting begins?

Floyd County School Board candidates | Election 2016, by Kirsten Clark (Courier-Journal)

The presidential election isn't the only important race on the ballot. There are nine candidates vying for seats on the New Albany-Floyd County School Board, which evaluates the superintendent, oversees the school district's budget and has the final say in issues of district policy and facility decisions.

Take a look at who's running, and be sure to vote on Nov. 8.

Having already endorsed Randy Smith for the at-large slot on the school board, I'm under no obligation to be fair to the other candidates. Here is Randy's bio and answers, as submitted to the C-J.

---

Randy Smith

Age: 60

Occupation: Bookseller

Education: Bachelor of Science with high honors in public administration, graduate study in law

Family: Wife, Ann Baumgartle

Reason for running: I hope to take NAFC schools to the next level by building a community consensus around public education and the importance of investing in our students. Great schools are made by great teachers, and it is important to show them the respect needed to make their jobs fulfilling.

Biggest issue facing constituency: Two issues present themselves: 1) Teacher recruitment and retention, and 2) restoring trust in the school administration. A lack of transparency and accountability have created a lack of trust which hampers progress. I think it's important to remember that the superintendent works for the school board and not the other way around.

The NAFC administration has falsely presented this referendum as if it is our only choice. For that reason, I do not expect it will be approved by the voters. I don't believe there is even a Plan B, which makes this do-over referendum incredibly risky. The next school board will need to be prepared to address the most serious concerns facing the district. Dr. Hibbard's solution actually puts limits on what we can do to strengthen the vitally important instruction mission, offering only a construction alternative. I will be voting "no."

"New Albany-Floyd County school board candidates answer questions at forum."

I'l readily concede that yet another Democratic-sponsored event at the Roadhouse (why?) didn't seem the best of times for me on a Thursday night, with so many bottles of booze enticingly reposing over there in yonder liquor cabinet.

I'm voting for Randy Smith. Beyond that, you're on your own.

New Albany-Floyd County school board candidates answer questions at forum, by Jerod Clapp (News and Tribune)

The at-large candidates for school board in New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated schools answered questions at a forum Thursday night. They talked about infrastructure issues, stances on vouchers and much more.

NEW ALBANY — With more people in the audience than a typical school board meeting, most of the candidates running for seats in the New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp. got a chance to answer questions at a forum Thursday.

Among the issues discussed, candidates voiced their thoughts on the upcoming referendum for the district, long-range infrastructure plans and staff retention.

Randy Smith for NA-FC School Board, At-Large.

He has my endorsement and my vote -- and voting has started, folks.

With voting beginning Wednesday, Oct. 12, I humbly ask for your vote. School board elections are non-partisan, so be sure to look for me on the At-Large ballot. Thank you.

Tomorrow evening, Randy is attending this candidate forum.

There will be a local forum for NAFC school board candidates at the Roadhouse on Thursday, October 13.

Each respondent will deliver an introduction, and then have two minutes to address the topic. Please note this is not a debate, but a session designed to inform voters on candidates’ views of issues in education today. After the panel, those participating will be able to mingle with voters and answer any additional questions.

There will be a local forum for NAFC school board candidates at the Roadhouse on Thursday, October 13.

And Amanda herself is moderating.

Is a candidate's position on the Hibbard Referendum about to become a litmus test? Inquiring minds want to know. I intend to attend.

As a side note, I wonder if the Roadhouse has heard about that whole craft beer fad thingy yet? I'm not holding my breath.

BEAM: Learn about school board candidates at local forum, by Amanda Beam (News and Tribune)

... Beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, the (Floyd County Democratic Women’s Caucus) will host a panel featuring those running for the board of the New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp. at the New Albany Roadhouse on Graybrook Lane. The discussion will follow their monthly business meeting which will start 30 minutes prior. The event is open to the public.

Members of the organization have submitted questions, and yours truly will moderate the discussion. Eight of the nine contenders on the ballot have said they will participate.

Each respondent will deliver an introduction, and then have two minutes to address the topic. Please note this is not a debate, but a session designed to inform voters on candidates’ views of issues in education today. After the panel, those participating will be able to mingle with voters and answer any additional questions.

Another tale of two perspectives -- The school board, Bruce Hibbard and Twitter.

I was struck by the difference in emphasis between the Courier-Journal's and the News and Tribune's coverage of last week's school board meeting. The reporter Clapp strikes a very neutral tone.

New Albany-Floyd schools votes on expulsion policy; Board will no longer hear appeals, by Jerod Clapp (River Ridge Revue)

(Lee Ann) Wiseheart and Superintendent Bruce Hibbard argued over the district’s posting of a vice principal position at New Albany High School and whether it gave enough opportunity for minority candidates to apply ...

... Hibbard said the issue of getting more minority employees in education is a nationwide issue, not one that’s isolated to New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated Schools. Wiseheart said she understood, but hopes the district can be a part of changing that trend.

Meanwhile, the C-J's Clark goes straight for the jugular.

Board member questions NAFC diversity efforts, by Kirsten Clark (C-J)

New Albany-Floyd County Schools Superintendent Bruce Hibbard came under scrutiny during a discussion Thursday night about a lack of diversity among principals, assistant principals and central office leadership in the district – which employs only one minority administrator ...

... In addition to initiating discussions in meetings, Wiseheart has taken to Twitter to express disappointment in the schools district’s minority recruiting efforts.

... At the end of the 15-minute conversation, an exchange between Hibbard and Board President Becky Gardenour became particularly heated after Gardenour called out the superintendent after she felt he had criticized another board member for missing a school event.

“I really would appreciate it if there’s not a dig if a board member doesn’t attend something, I really would appreciate (that) that would be kept out of our discussions,” she said.

“And I would also appreciate if our board doesn’t make tweets about the disappointment of the board and the superintendent,” Hibbard said. “I think that’s inappropriate. It's unethical. If you read Indiana School Boards Association ethics ... (we vote) and we move on from there. We don’t hold grudges. And yet, that’s kind of what the last year and a half has been.”

“No, that’s what it’s been for six years,” Gardenour quipped. “Alright, anything else? Alright. Meeting adjourned.”

Turns out that Hibbard's as thin-skinned as Jeff Gahan. No wonder they occupy the same bed.

NA-FC school corporation cautiously accedes to heightened transparency. May this spread far and wide.

It's a WikiLeaks world in 2015, and transparency as a concept finally is seeping into the consciousness of the New Albany-Floyd County School Corporation. This is a welcomed development, even if there are many miles to travel.

Transparency, as used in science, engineering, business, the humanities and in other social contexts, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Transparency is operating in such a way that it is easy for others to see what actions are performed. It has been defined simply as "the perceived quality of intentionally shared information from a sender".[1] For example, a cashier making change after a point of sale transaction by offering a record of the items purchased (e.g., a receipt) as well as counting out the customer's change on the counter demonstrates transparency.

Monday's article in the Courier-Journal sets the stage:

Floyd Co. school board to discuss transparency, by Kirsten Clark

New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp. board members will vote Monday whether to make audio recordings of its meetings and other public documents more accessible to the public ...

... (Rebecca) Gardenour also said that she — along with the state’s public access counselor’s and attorney general’s offices — believes the board needs to be releasing documents made available to board members in the days before its public meetings. These documents, which often include information about upcoming action items, are considered public documents as soon as they are released to board members, she said.

“The school corporation has acted as though they’re not public until they vote on them,” she said. “That’s not true. Once they’re sent out, that’s public information.”

During the meeting itself, school board member George Gauntt objected to the posting of audio recordings as risky, because they'd be prone to tampering, presumably by Double Nought Spies or DJs-a-sampling.

(We pause to roll our eyes)

For meeting coverage, go to the News and Tribune: NA-FC Schools approves transparency measure.

Rebecca Gardenour, board president, said posting the audio from meetings isn’t out of the ordinary for boards to do.

“You do know that school corporations across the United States do this? They have audio recordings, they have it on TVs, so this is nothing new,” Gardenour said. “I haven’t heard anything about any of these things being abused in any way. This is nothing new, this is what school corporations are doing.”

Needless to say, NAC offers kudos to individuals and institutions urging and enabling transparency. Team Gahan might deign to take a memo.

It must be an election, because there's that ridiculous backward S again.

In case you were wondering: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Sheesh, that's a relief. I thought we had a secular school system. Well, at any rate, it ain't her first rodeo.

Politics: Wiseheart is Republican, will ditch school board, challenge Sipes, emulate Sarah Palin (2009)

Meanwhile, it's time again for the garlic cloves, because Don Sakel's back on the ballot. Actually, the C-J spelled it Sackel.

Top Ten Things I’d Rather Do than Vote for Don Sakel for School Board.

Groan.

School board's forest and trees -- assuming the latter are not felled for additional parking.

Ostensibly, the point in Jerod Clapp's article has something to do with the band director, except that the larger notations of interest are hidden in the folds of the fabric.

First, there's school board member Mark Boone, who really doesn't want to talk about these things aloud before the nagging public, when smoky back rooms provide more privacy.

Mark Boone, board member, said he didn’t understand why Gardenour had asked the same questions she had answered via email earlier this week. She maintained she had a right to ask those questions publicly.

“It’s almost to the point where we do this every month to embarrass someone,” Boone said.

Gardenour said she thought too many issues were discussed amongst the board via the Internet and would like to see more of those discussions happen publicly.

Boone said it made more sense to do one or the other, rather than go over the same details as a courtesy.

Gardenour said she disagreed and wanted the most up-to-date information possible public.

“We’re going to make a game show of meetings going forward guys, because I can do this, too,” Boone said. “Go ahead.”

However, if a game show were the real objective, a better one would involve spinning a wheel of condemnation to see which house the board votes to demolish next. Does Boone (or, for that matter, any other school board member) ever attend meetings of any downtown group charged with bettering neighborhoods -- or is the planning better done on high, in back, and on the down low?

The board unanimously passed the purchase of 1813 Shelby St. for $31,500. The district has bought several properties in that area to help expand parking for New Albany High School.

Expand parking, destroy the neighborhood for the sake of cars. I hope the kids are paying attention.

Support swells for New Albany band director: Decision on employment not yet before NA-FC board (N and T)

BTW, the new Hanson Ads are really something, aren't they? As soon as you clock through to a story, another window opens with no back spacing, and your original portal becomes an ad, also with no back spacing. Publisher of the millennium? Whatever.

Nash: "Will the school board once again give in and pony up some extra cash to make sure (Hibbard) stays?"

Every time I think about the school board, I recall the "Top Ten Things I’d Rather Do than Vote for Don Sakel for School Board" and it makes me happy he didn't win.

But seriously: NA-FC does not have a superintendent problem. It has a school board problem, in the sense that the board itself, though changed in composition since the previous round of Hibbard's escalated pay packet antics, has a clear record as enabler. Follow the link to get the rest of Matt's story.

NASH: Are we getting our money’s worth?

Over the last couple of weeks it has come to light that once again New Albany-Floyd County School Corp. superintendent was looking for a better job. During his relatively short tenure, Dr. Bruce Hibbard has on multiple occasions applied for jobs other than the one he currently has. Since his arrival here in 2009, it has become an all too familiar pattern.

Children First? Well, of course ...

 ... followed by the main entree, and then dessert. After that, a glass of Port is nice.

For more on the school board race: Floyd school board candidates blast superintendent raise, worry over tight budgets, by Grace Schneider (C-J)

Oddly, Schneider reports that Don Sakel "declined to give his age." In his 'Bune on-line candidate survey back in 2010 (when he lost a bid for the school board), Sakel reported his age at 77. Readers can do the math.

Vote Lee Cotner, folks.

Top Ten Things I’d Rather Do than Vote for Don Sakel for School Board.

Top Ten Things I’d Rather Do than Vote for Don Sakel for School Board

10 Receive a “free burger a day for a year” gift card from Rally’s

9 Drink Miller Lite straight from the bottle

8 Visit the Creation Museum

7 Drink Bud Light straight from the toilet bowl

6 Root for the New York Yankees

5 Drink Corona with extra lime slices

4 Have a good, old-fashioned, holly jolly Christmas

3 Drink Coors Light from cold-activated cans

2 Shop at Wal-Mart

1 Vote for Mitt Romney

Once upon a time when I was a substitute teacher in the NA-FC schools and Don Sakel was the principal at Floyd Central, he had the opportunity to right a wrong. He chose instead to permit me to remain lodged under a bus, and if you think I’m in a forgiving mood after 26 years, think again … and pass that tankard of ice-cold Pabst this way.

In the NA-FC at-large school board race, I believe you should vote for Lee Cotner. Jessica Knable and Sue Barlow are the other two candidates, and you can flip a coin there.

But Sakel?

Please. Anyone got some garlic cloves?

The new math, as taught by our superintendent.

In 2010, based on Hibbard administration recommendations, the former NA-FC School Board closed three elementary schools (including two in New Albany), assuring the community that demographic projections supported the decision.

In 2011, a somewhat revamped school board, with the support of the Hibbard administration, sold both closed New Albany elementaries for a tenth of a pittance compared to what the community had invested in them.

This year, the very same school board is developing a facilities master plan and the Hibbard administration is already warning that at least three elementary schools, including two in New Albany, are facing difficulties due to limited available space with demographics suggesting such space issues will increase.

Hibbard, of course, was recently given a raise alongside significant cuts in other areas owing to fears that the board would be unable to find anyone else as competent. Given his gift for numbers, it's a wonder whether he noticed.