MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The proposed agreement that resolves a long running dispute for control of three public schools in Germantown continues to be the top story of the week. And one reason is, Shelby County commissioners who were not part of the negotiations are grousing about being kept in the dark.
I understand some of their discontent. With millions in taxpayer dollars at stake, transparency should be a necessity. And some commissioners were right to complain.
But then, Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. made his complaint all about him – and his petty beef with members of the news media. As the Daily Memphian reported, Ford was particularly upset that the media got word of the agreement – that also calls for a new high school in Cordova – before he and some of his colleagues did.
He also launched into a nonsensical tirade about journalists being able to take photos of officials in close meetings through a glass wall and he made a reference to a corrupt columnist. I wonder to whom he was referring.
Those who were involved in the talks to get Memphis-Shelby County Schools to relinquish the three Germantown schools are touting the proposed agreement as a win for everyone. Maybe that’s true. Only time will tell.
Now, let’s see what happens next. But one thing I can say for certain is – Commissioner Ford is the last person who should be calling anyone corrupt.