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Published Thu, Feb 23, 2012 02:00 AM
Modified Wed, Feb 22, 2012 02:34 PM

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Tags: news | opinion - mailbag

Superintendent Tony Tata's recent public accusation of ethics violations by two Wake County school board members is not only unfounded, but unprofessional at best.

He describes accepting an award from the Great Schools in Wake (GSIW) coalition as an ethics violation, but had no problem when the Wake Schools Community Alliance heaped praise on and worked with Republican school board members. It is beyond his position to demand that any board member sever ties with any group.

He expressed no ethics conflict when Ron Margiotta served on the board of a private school at the same time as the Wake school board, and has expressed no problem with three members using their office as a platform to run for other offices. Talk about a conflict.

School board members Susan Evans and Christine Kushner have already demonstrated their independence from Great Schools in Wake by voting against delaying Tata's student assignment plan, allowing prosecution of protesters to go forward and extending his contract. Any concerns he had were best handled in private.

When he arrived, Tata promised to put the job first and stay out of politics. Apparently he has lost his bearings.

Perry Woods

Raleigh

The writer is a political consultant who has been involved in school board campaigns.

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