(The following testimony was presented to the Board of
Education at its March 17, 2004 meeting)
WHO WILL LEAD IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TONY WILLIAMS
March 17, 2004
Good evening my fellow DC residents. I'm Ron Drake. I'm a
private attorney who represents parents against DCPS.
But more than that, I am a part of the fabric of this
community, and its organizations, and have been for more than a quarter
century. But that you have disregarded. During those years of testimony,
it seemed more important to some members of the Board to be seen as good
friends and supporters of the Vance/Bryant Administration, not as
friends and supporters of Ran Drake, nor of those in my community.
For the past two years I have told you repeatedly about
the peculiar procurement practices of the Vance/Bryant Administration.
That fell on deaf ears. Now you find what they did was even worse than I
had told you. Recent disclosures and events, and those yet to be
disclosed, validate those warnings.
But in my testimony I always differentiated between the
Board and the Vance/Bryant Administration_ I never criticized the Board.
Did that differentiation do any good? I don't think so, or you would
have long ago taken action on my recommendations, and those of Judge
Friedman. My calls are not even returned by the Board member
representing my ward.
Look at the detritus the Vance/Bryant Administration left
us with - a referral to the inspector general, contracts questioned by
the Council, contracts called back from the Council, Raymond Bryant
Montgomery County friends rife throughout DCPS - the list seems endless.
Yet, when I testified, some seemed anxious only to call time.
I have been involved in Democratic Party politics for 50
years. I have believed, and continue to believe, that problems are
redressed by elected officials, not unelected bureaucrats answerable to
no constituency. I have needed your help against the Vance/Bryant
Administration for years. That help has not been forthcoming.
Many of us fought Tony Williams when he sought to seize
control of the school system a few years ago. Now, he's back. He's at it
again.
My question to you is this - when you search your own
hearts and minds, and you remember the deaf ear you turned as I have
pleaded with you for relief from the wrongdoing of the Vance/Bryant
Administration - how can you in good faith ask me, and those who look to
me for leadership, to fall into line behind you, and accept your
leadership, in the upcoming battle to save the school system from the
clutches of Tony Williams?
You now need my help, you need the help of my friends and
you need the help of the very public that you have ignored in your quest
to remain in lockstep with the Vance/Bryant Administration.
But, tell me, what should I tell my friends to persuade
them to follow you in this upcoming war with Tony Williams?
|
