Oppression

To the editor:

This is in response to Armando Ramirez, who stated in the Osceola News-Gazette that the political system oppresses minorities.

Has Mr. Ramirez forgotten about affirmative action, racial hiring quotas, contract set-asides and college programs that advance minority applicants over white applicants, and college scholarships for minorities only. That is not oppression, Mr. Ramirez, that is discrimination.

The definition of oppression of minorities does not include Hispanics. Hispanics are not an oppressed people, nor are they victims. Only African-Americans were victims of oppression. And African-Americans are still victims of oppression committed by Hispanics against them. How many African-Americans work or are managers or CEOs in Hispanic businesses and restaurants? I do not see any.

Mark Cox
St. Cloud

Mean, unbalanced

To the editor:

I’ve had three children attend Osceola County schools since 2000. I’ve always made it a point to watch local meetings for Celebration, Osceola County and the Osceola County School Board because government starts at the local level and local politics effects citizens more on a day-to-day basis than anything happening in Washington.

Recently, I watched the March 15 School Board meeting and one of the main topics was a debate regarding the re-hiring of an architect. When the experts from district staff and another firm (ZHA) that works for the School District spoke about the facts, it felt like Board Chairman Cindy Hartig didn’t listen to or understand what they were saying because as soon as they finished, she immediately went about twisting the facts to fit some totally nonsensical version of events.

When School Board Member Barbara Horn went to make the motion to rehire the architect that had already done a very good job for the School District, Hartig went off saying she can’t do that. It looked like Hartig, as the board chair, was attempting to bully Mrs. Horn into not making the motion. To his credit, Board Member Jay Wheeler was there to shame the rest of the board into doing the right thing despite Hartig’s rants. Later in the meeting, Hartig tried to bully Wheeler and to his credit, he did not engage with her. After all, why engage someone who is just looking to pick a fight?

Horn and Wheeler also deserve credit for having the sense to not allow Hartig to lead the board down a path that would have cost taxpayers an extra $460,000 to build a school in a time that we just can’t afford it. 

I have watched the Osceola County School Board grow in prominence and respect over the past six or seven years where it is no longer a laughing stock. With Hartig as chairman, it is no wonder Dr. Michael Grego has resigned … he is just too classy to say she is the biggest reason he is leaving. I can’t imagine any potential candidates under review for the School District superintendent would consider interviewing for the position if they knew what she was doing to bring the School Board down to her level.

Whether it is running a business, an association, a sports franchise or public and private institution the most important element that will make that venture a success is having an intelligent, well-prepared, experienced and humble leader at the very top. I have serious concerns about Hartig continuing as the chairman of the School Board because we are at a crossroads and this next superintendent will be the most important hire in our county and my experience as a 30-year executive search professional tells me that no high-quality experienced superintendent from another area will want to take a seat next to our current chairman of the School Board.

Now that our county school system has established itself as a leader in Florida education, it’s going to be a long way down to the mediocrity that existed before but it will be an even longer and more difficult way back up if we lose what we have gained over the past six or seven years. It’s time for a change at the top so we can attract and retain the best leadership for this most important position.

Dennis Young
Celebration