Where Did We Go Wrong?

When did the notion of transparency and openness equate to a bad thing? As a taxpayer, I want and demand to know how and where my money is being spent. If there are indiscretions on where the money is being used, shouldn't someone know about it? Many offices and districts are financially irresponsible and this should not continue.
Yesterday, the Missouri School Board Association held its annual forum and I was utterly and truly in awe of what many people were saying.
This was in today's Columbia Tribune:

From the Tribune's former k-12 education reporter, Janese Heavin:

I appreciate Jonathon momentarily letting me share his blog space: I attended the Missouri School Boards' Association's annual forum in Jefferson City yesterday and found some comments worth passing along to Homeroom readers.

In between doom-and-gloom financial forecasts (which you can read about in today's Trib), keynote speakers advised school administrators and board members to essentially keep patrons in the dark.

Independence Superintendent Jim Hinson even praised his school board for not paying close attention to the district’s spending habits. Board members are welcome to talk about long-term goals, he said, but shouldn’t get into details of the day-to-day spending. “The school board hires me to operate the school district, and that’s what I’m going to do,” Hinson said, responding to a question from an attendee about boards that “micromanage.”

Independence has thousands of budget codes that school board members “don’t want to know,” he bragged. And, while board members are welcome to ask about district bills in private, they shouldn’t do it at a public meeting, Hinson advised. Apparently, there are "more important things to do at board meetings" than scrutinize district expenditures.

“The board doesn’t get involved in the daily operation of the school district, absolutely not,” Hinson said. “If they did, I wouldn’t work there.”

Of course, Columbia has a few school board members who do take time to review how administrators are spending tax dollars. Could that be why more superintendents didn't apply for the top administrative position here: because they didn't want board members paying attention to the way they're used to spending money?

Anyway, shortly after Hinson spoke, Rick Nobles, a consultant with Patron Insights, urged school leaders to be vague when trying to get voters to approve bond issues or tax increases. For instance, he said, rather than telling district patrons that bond money would be used to add six classes, tell them the money would ease overcrowding. Patrons just don’t want to be beat over the head with details, he said.

(You might recognize Patron Insights: The district almost hired them to conduct a survey after voters rejected the 54-cent levy increase).

Among Nobles' advice: Don't tell voters "it's for the children," he said. "That doesn't pull heartstrings the way you think it will."

Thoughts?