And it came to pass in the city of the short knives where the deer and the coyotes roam free; the local school board had not had a scandal since the Superintendant of Schools Garry Doi affair.
They had every reason to gloat with sanctimonious smugness at the Penticton city council that regularly shocks the locals with their clangers and calamities. City council had recently voted themselves a medical and dental plan funded by local taxpayers: the envy of every other city council in B.C.
Pride comes before a fall because superciliously the school board granted a $17,000 pay rise to its superintendant of schools even though it was cutting back $1.1 million from its budget.
If the superintendant was a true leader, a person of integrity, compassion and vision she would have turned the raise down and reminded the trustees of their responsibility to the children in Penticton.
In effect she has been compromised as the CEO of the school district. She has sold her integrity.
When student services are being cut back this was not the time to reward the superintendent with a champagne pay increase.
Jim Calvert
Penticton