Today's letters: Readers comment on the school board, abused children and the comics page
School board conference
"The code on my computer was changed without my knowledge," Marion County School Board President Don Browning said at the board workshop just prior to other members leaving to enjoy the Florida School Board Summer Conference in Tampa Bay. "I've struggled with that for months."
His frustration at watching other members receive their packets for the conference while he was "left out of the loop” reveals problems the board must solve. A disappointing back and forth followed with another member indicating he (Browning) “could pull his email off of his phone.” This exchange at the board's public forum indicated to me that other colleagues and the superintendent were dismissing Browning's concerns. When he said he had not received clerical services “for some time,” he was told, idiomatically, that board services weren't responsible for conference details.
As far as I was able to discern from the virtual replay of this unfortunate session, each board member was allowed $500 compensation that included a $275 registration fee. When I checked the room rate for one person at the 4 ½-star hotel overlooking lovely Tampa Bay, I got back a rate of $198. Browning also asked for information concerning "Timing, Extent, Cost to District" to no avail.
A reviewer of the hotel commented about the "beautiful boardwalk leading to sunset views across the water." Along with lovely amenities, upscale workout, pool, and dining facilities, plus the gorgeous views of Tampa Bay, our school board members attended a conference while leaving their president out of the loop, taxpayers on the hook and conference themes unknown.
Suzanne Eovaldi, Ocala
Abused children
How many times are we to read about children who are abused or die where Social Services/Kids Central is involved? The latest tragedy involved a 5-month-old twin baby girl who was placed with a known unqualified family. Kids Central has proven itself to be an independent organization that should get into another line of work. Also, the person or persons who made the decision to send the twins to a drug house should be fired and escorted out of the building never to have anything to do with children again.
As a Guardian Ad Litem for more than six years, I saw some dumb decisions, but fortunately no children died. Oftentimes there was a lack of common sense associated with how cases turned out. In this case involving these precious babies, it would appear that common sense never entered the picture. Maybe there was a discussion. Maybe it went something like this: “How about we send the premature twin girls, who spent a month in the hospital, to that nice couple whom we know are drug users.” Brilliant.
LaVerne Browand, Ocala
Censoring comics
I see once again your paper did not publish a current "Dilbert" comic strip as you have done before. Whenever there is a slightly controversial topic (like a recent one dealing with preferred pronouns in a humorous way), this paper substitutes an older cartoon. Comparing the paper's version with the original strip designated for each day shows a consistent and deliberate censoring of a comic strip.
That would be understandable if it were done with some kind of equality. But, every Sunday, the "Doonesbury" comic strip, which is openly insulting to anyone who is not a left-wing extremist, is published. But a tasteful, humorous and slightly ironic "Dilbert" is censored and replaced.
Ray Thomas, Ocala
Write to us
Send a letter to the editor (up to 250 words) to osbletters@starbanner.com. Letters must include the writer's full name and city of residence. Guest columns of up to 750 words are also accepted on a limited basis. More information on submitting letters and columns can be found at bit.ly/starbanneropinion.
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Aug. 7 letters: Readers comment on school board, abuse and comics
