Because of an error made while gathering the required signatures to run for re-election, 3rd district school board member Carol Wolf is now off of the official November ballot — which is an unfathomable loss at a time when we need her voice and steely determination more than ever.
As detailed on these pages and elsewhere, Wolf has — almost singlehandedly at times — been the city’s premier advocate on behalf of Richmond’s public schoolchildren; an independent voice who knows how to effectively use her bully pulpit to cut through RPS’ often-clannish, sometimes-wasteful BS. She’s fought the hardest for ADA compliance (often over the objections and willful obstruction of outgoing School Board Chairman George Braxton — wanna read something truly moronic? Click here), she’s been pushed under the bus by her fellow school board members for daring to speak forcefully on behalf of school accountability and basic common sense, and she’s gone to war with city and school adminstrators for failing to place valuable resources where they belong… in the classroom.
Now Carol Wolf needs our help. Here’s a mass-mailed letter that she sent out over the weekend:
Dear Friends & Citizens,
I need to decide by this coming Wednesday whether to mount a write-in campaign or to sit this one out and allow Norma Murdoch-Kitt to have a “walk-on” to serve as Northside’s School Board member for the next four years.
I have already heard from so many of you who have called, dropped by or sent e-mails urging me to battle on for a multitude of reasons. Many of you have offered to help.
Serving on School Board involves far more than simply representing one’s district, therefore I am asking to hear from citizens throughout the city. I would appreciate it if you could let me know what district you live in when you post a comment.
In addition to asking for your help with this decision, I would most appreciate hearing from citizens across the city concerning their thoughts are on what the SB’s priorities should be during the next few months leading up to election.
Please weigh in with what you think of the Richmond School Board and what you would like to see happen to improve the quality of education in the City of Richmond for the next four years.
Respectfully,
Carol A.O. WolfThird District Member
Co-Chair Student Disciplinary Committee
Member, Finance Committee
Member, Legal, Legislative, Policy and Communications Committee
Personal e-mail: Wolfies@aol.com
It’s time for a “re-do,” parents and taxpayers of the 3rd district. Do you really want to lose the most effective bulldog that the Richmond Public School system has? Best begin practicing your write-in skills.
(And if you are one of those apologists who think we don’t need someone like Wolf speaking truth to bureaucracy, and believe that things have been just peachy at RPS under the stewardship of departing Superintendent Deborah Jewell-Sherman, check this out. As well as this. And this. And this. And this. And this. And this. And this. And this. And this… I could link all damn day).