From the Desk of David Harrington
End the Discord!
The Prince George’s County School Board has engaged in acrimonious and discordant meetings that have left many to wonder whether the business of educating our youth is a priority. Fault is immaterial, what is needed is a system focused on supporting the dreams and aspirations of the County’s children.
The County is fortunate to have a strong, effective CEO in Dr. Monica Goldson who has decades of executive public-school leadership and, with support, is fully capable of driving this school system to be one of the highest performing in the state and the region. Dr. Goldson’s leadership along with having an innovative, public private partnership for school construction, make the future of Prince George’s public education extremely bright.
With a health crisis that has locked our children out from school, parents trying to manage through uncertainty and teachers making sure a return is safe, this is not the time for petty, power politics! When potential residents ponder where to live, schools’ matter! In this highly competitive region, when businesses survey the best place to land, schools’ matter! So, a slow-moving economy or stagnant home equity is directly connected to seeing school controversy after controversy being played out on medial outlets. Whatever the by line, consumers of these stories are left wondering whether the system can govern its most crucial asset.
As the school board engages in an important budget, curricular and school opening decisions- what must be left at the door are vindictive and inconsequential discord where the media is the referee. Instead, the citizens and business community in Prince George’s County demand reasonable and adaptive dialogue that is centered on the best interest of our children.
After all, “Isn’t this why you serve?”
