Dear Editor:
If Indianola desires to become relevant in tomorrow’s society, it is necessary to recalibrate the city government and leadership for our city and county. I know this will not be received as a positive desire, but it is necessary. We need more participation from the white community. They live here and pay city and county taxes and it is only fair that they participate in the decision and problem-solving techniques.
Our retired professionals are needed also to provide insight. We need to investigate our school system. It appears the school system is dilapidated, like the American Railroad tracks. It is derailing like the city school system did without leadership. It has been unacceptable to me for the superintendent to live in Greenville and we pay for the vehicle and the fuel to commute here daily from Greenville. The Indianola community is not good enough for her to live in. The superintendent should be re-assigned as a teacher because she isn't performing the task we are paying her for. We should not have lost the IPC programs. We should not cut out nine (9) classrooms. We need them. How can we perform the task with nine (9) less classrooms? I think it is time to find a competent superintendent that would be pleased to live in our city, one that obeys government regulations, and seeks guidance from reliable sources. We are paying professional prices; we deserve quality results.
Why are we allowing all of these programs to be lost from the system? Why did the board allow her to deviate from the government requirements? This new school building, Gentry, is under construction and is a disaster. I knew from the start it was a mistake to go with that plan. We should have built it in another location.
We also should have selected a lawyer that would write a contract that would be binding and that all requirements be completed as written. We should not lose classrooms that we had plans for. We as taxpayers will pay for this mistake for years and will not have what we need or what we paid for.
Sunflower County and the city residents should come together to select our best leaders, work together, and solve the problems for our city and county. Our school board members do not possess the expertise needed to conduct this building project. We should have an advisory board, consisting of engineers, building contractors and educators, to meet quarterly with the school board and make recommendations.
I believe the contractor should be proud to get this job. I can envision at least three (3) million dollars or more of taxpayer's money wasted on this project.
Wake up citizens, let's pray together, work together, plan together and we will all benefit. We deserve better leadership.
Sincerely,
Dorsey White
