13 Responses to “West fails in bid for Board”

1. posted by tiny at January 9, 2008 12:40 pm :
   

   Michael Paul Williams has a taken on this: http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-01-09-0137.html

2. posted by eric at January 9, 2008 1:46 pm :
   

   I agree with Michael Paul Williams. West was totally out of line.

3. posted by Daniel at January 9, 2008 5:20 pm :
   

   I don’t know about out of line… but it seemed a bit desperate. Keith seems like he didn’t know exactly what he was getting into. Hopefully he’ll be able to get other candidates running next election like he is planning.

4. posted by b at January 9, 2008 6:25 pm :
   

   Yeah, who who have thunk it!

   …posted by b at November 8, 2006 11:00 am :

   …I am guessing Mr. West is regretting he did not run for council, he might have squeaked a victory there as well with the vote splitting phenomena we saw in the Board seat. I guess Mr West owes Mr Bond a bottle of wine or something. For without his quasi-presence, those 265 votes would have no doubt gone to one or both of Mr. West’s challengers. But, after he gets to actually sit on the school board, the bottle of wine (or 6) may be owed Mr West. So, good luck Mr West, you seem a political plebe (I guess that is your charm), here’s hoping you are good at learning on the job.

5. posted by alicia at January 9, 2008 7:26 pm :
   

   i vote for daniel.

6. posted by john_m at January 9, 2008 8:28 pm :
   

   Tobacco Avenue: Battle over School Board Chairman title does nothing to help 10-year-old read gooder

   Despite the political wranglings, there has been not a whiff of ramification on the fact that roughly 24,000 students - nearly 98 percent of whom are completely oblivious to the School Board or its problems - continue to attend school on a Monday-through-Friday basis.

7. posted by tiny at January 11, 2008 10:08 am :
   

   I must admit I am disapointed in West’s behavior.

8. posted by mom w/ RPS kids at January 11, 2008 2:11 pm :
   

   West said these things after going through proper channels for some time to do what was right, to create positive change. He obviously was fed up. Thank god for folks like West and Wolf for speaking out.

   re john m comment: Yes some are “oblivious to the school board or its problems” but there are children and their families who suffer because of the actions and inactions of the school board. I’m speaking on behalf of the 2 percent who continue to attend RPS, Monday thru Friday (but I’m sure the percentage is higher than that). The school board must address the needs of the 100 percent. All children count.

9. posted by Keith West at January 13, 2008 9:14 am :
   

   Yes, I am desperate and frustrated.

   I am frustrated that the board sits there hour after hour talking about things, and doing nothing to very little. There are very few ideas among the members of the board as to what needs to be done. Those ideas that do surface are often rejected because they would require more work from someone or are simply forgotten because our process is so arcane.

   I am desperate because we are only graduating half of our students and our enrollment declines every year due to parents fleeing the system. I am desperate because there is a large group of pre-schoolers in this area whose parents don’t feel they will have a place in our schools.

   The easiest thing in the world for me to do would be to sit there quietly and vote on the routine matters like so many of the other board members. It causes me a great deal of aggravation to try to understand the problems, come up with solutions, and try and convince lethargic colleagues to do something (anything even). It’s unfortunate that somethings the only way to call attention to the problems is by creating a fuss.

   I don’t ask for agreement on everything I do. However, it would be helpful if more people understood what we are dealing with. Richmond needs a new school board.

10. posted by Guilty Mom at January 13, 2008 11:24 am :
    

    At least Mr. West is trying. He is trying to fix some of the problems, and I applaud him for it.
    If other members of the School Board would try to fix some of the problems, I wouldn’t be paying so much to send my kids to private school! As a parent, I have very little faith in the City’s public schools. Yes, I am one of the ones fleeing the system. And yes, I feel guilty about it. But I’m just not willing to sacrifice my children’s education.

11. posted by Bob at January 13, 2008 12:41 pm :
    

    I agree with Guilty Mom, at least he is trying. He sees what goes on first hand, and due to frustration, is challenging the School Board to do better. What’s wrong with that? Always room for improvemtment. Should be applauded, not criticized.

12. posted by Daniel at January 13, 2008 2:39 pm :
    

    Thanks Keith for fighting the good fight. Glad I voted for you.

13. posted by edg at January 16, 2008 1:56 pm :
    

    Unfortunately, in losing his bid, West has also lost the confidence of the rest of the school board, rendering him powerless, as well as his constituents.

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