“Integrity in Schools, What a Novel Idea”
by Angel Gomez / angelgomez@thecityofweston.com
When you look up the word integrity in the dictionary you find the following to be the first definition available: adhere to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty. The quality of person we are is determined by how well we live up to the values that are most important to us. Integrity is the quality that locks in our values and causes us to live consistent with them. As mentioned on the Global Dialog Project – Why Integrity is Important Now: “Integrity is especially crucial because it requires truth, engenders trust, supports authenticity, and makes values and principles clear. At its base, it is the matching of word to action, creating the consistency of a clear direction which can be assessed and whose consequences are clear.” No greater engendered trust is required that the engendered trust between the public and those elected officials who serve the most precious and vulnerable part of our society: the children.
On October of 2009 Superintendent of Broward County Schools Mr. James Notter, asked for the creation of The Broward School Board’s Ethics Panel, officially knows as the Commission on Education Excellence through Integrity, Public Ethics, and Transparency. This panel came about after news broke regarding suspended board member Beverly Gallagher’s arrest on federal corruption charges and board member Stephanie Kraft’s disclosure that her husband worked for a company owned by school district lobbyist Neal Sterling. The three members appointed by Superintendent Notter to this Ethics Panel include former Attorney General Bob Butterworth, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler, and Attorney W. George Allen. All three members are volunteering their time to this Panel. Although this Panel is independent of the district, the district will cover all of its expenses.
One of the many important tasks this commission will tackle include the ability to examine how the district spends tax dollars and secures contracts while also looking at the district’s ethics policies and training.
The Ethics Panel has met already two times – the first meeting took place on January 11th at Dillard High School and the second meeting took place on February 22nd at Coconut Creek High School. The Broward Schools Integrity Ethics Panel will convene its third and final public hearing on Monday, March 15th, 2010, from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Cooper City High School Auditorium. The high school is located at 9401 Stirling Road, Cooper City, FL 33328. It is important that as citizens and parents of students who attend public schools in Broward County we take this opportunity to voice our concerns and opinions regarding very important topics such as operational transparency and the allocation of our tax dollars as they are spent to better impact the education of our children.
The district is working with the public by creating the opportunity for all stakeholders to be heard through this pivotal Ethics Panel, it is now our responsibility to take this opportunity and convey our thoughts and ideas. If you do not want to speak publicly about an issue, this Ethics Panel has created different ways to make this possible.
There are alternate options to contact the Panel with your ideas other than at a public hearing. You can visit their website at www.browardschoolsintegrity.org, you can mail the Panel at Broward Schools Integrity, 800 SE 3rd Avenue – PH, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 or you may call them directly at (954) 604-3117. It is important to know that a person reporting to this Ethics Panel may always remain anonymous.
Again, stay informed and until next time I leave you with this quote by Alan Simpson: If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters. – Angel.
