The Blog of Columbus, Georgia

24 JUL 08: CHAMBER OF HELPERS

First came the online ad, on the state Labor Department web site. Then came the hiring of a consulting firm. Now the Muscogee County School Board has a new offer of help, in finding a full-time Superintendent. And thankfully, it does NOT come from Sister Doreen -- the palm reader in Russell County.

WRBL reported Wednesday the Columbus Chamber of Commerce has sent a letter, offering to help in the Superintendent search. Speaking personally, I think Mike Gaymon's corny humor would liven up the school board meetings....

It turns out the Columbus Chamber of Commerce likes to be involved in this sort of search. A spokesman says members were part of the hunt for Columbus State University's new president this year. So it's no wonder a business school dean won the job.

But the Muscogee County School Board decided to select its last superintendent without the Chamber of Commerce's help -- and John Phillips turned out to become a Georgia School Superintendent of the Year. The fact that he left town for hunting trips in the Rockies weeks before Thanksgiving break was simply a personal quirk.

Why does the Columbus Chamber of Commerce want to be involved now? Executive Russ Carreker explained one of the Chamber's top concerns is "workforce development." In the next couple of years, that will mean developing top-quality hammer-swingers to build base realignment homes.

When I first heard the news report about the Chamber of Commerce's letter to the school board, I was a bit surprised. I wondered if the Chamber is trying to put a corporate "seal of approval" on a new superintendent -- or perhaps pay for the criminal background checks on the finalists.

But the skeptical side of me sees something more in this offer to help. Another top concern of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce is making sure the city has a good image. Some people don't think the current school board is presenting that. Of course, others might say a divided and bickering board is downright refreshing in a normally buttoned-down Columbus.

Keep in mind what State Senator Seth Harp said several months ago - that officials in Washington were stunned by the Muscogee County Schools spending so many millions of dollars for a new administration building. That's not a good "selling point" for the Chamber of Commerce, in promoting Columbus. Unless, of course, a big new aquarium can be installed in the lobby....

Perhaps the Columbus Chamber of Commerce wants to play peacemaker, and resolve differences inside a divided school board. A possible school sales tax extension could hang in the balance - although many people seem to have concluded that tax is going the way of the old Rigdon Road School. As in torn down....

Perhaps the Chamber of Commerce simply wants the superintendent search settled as soon as possible. A member of the school board's consulting firm said Wednesday it hopes to have a new superintendent on the job by "next July at the latest." Next July?! Do all the board members want one-month tryouts for the top job, too?

But there's one thing which could be delaying everyone's plans on finding a new superintendent - the upcoming school board elections. If several incumbents are voted out in November, the whole dynamic and atmosphere could change. And if the Chamber of Commerce dares to endorse the outsiders, we know it will.

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E-MAIL UPDATE: A message reached us Wednesday which seemed a bit fractured....

Good morning , I am a concerned citizen. Wondering why certain people cant remeber certain laws and regulations. I suppose you NOW remember nobody has to put a disclaimer on their campaign signs... Funny how the community finds out about the kind of SMART PEOPLE that are ahead of the community. Maybe you should be more interested in finding out about dirty candidates that are having signs removed and thrown away for their own advertising space. As if Columbus was'nt big enough they have to follow Mr. LaJoye around. Once again this is a concerned citizen entitled to my own ridiculous opinion.

Of course you're entitled to a "ridiculous opinion." When we're writing late at night and growing tired, we sometimes have to settle for ridiculous jokes.

Is this writer saying there's no longer a law requiring disclaimers on campaign signs? We looked up the Georgia State Code on elections Wednesday, and it says a name and address is required for "any literature in connection with any political campaign...." Of course, some people think "literature" applies more to John Gresham novels than yard signs.

If this writer has evidence of local campaign signs being thrown away, I'll be happy to consider it. But keep something in mind - if the discarded signs endorse Reginald Pugh for State Senate, that's probably within the law these days.

Now let's see what other signs of the times we found Wednesday....

+ A morning storm dropped nearly an inch of additional rain on Columbus. If this keeps up, our area could be a peacemaker in the tri-state water fight - because all the river water we don't need will flow down to those mussels in Florida.

+ The funeral service for former Columbus NAACP President Leonard Leavell was held in Brunswick, Georgia. But did you see what current chapter President Bill Madison held in his hands on WRBL? The annual "Leonard Lavell Award" - with the last name misspelled on it! [True] Maybe this group needs more awards for educational success as well.

+ WRBL's late news showed a photo of the incoming leader of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation - and labeled him the "New Commandment." If he's really taking that title, maybe a priest like Roy Bourgeois will like WHINSEC at last.

+ St. Francis Hospital announced it's won an award for reducing the number of surgery infections to zero. Isn't this amazing? Somebody's actually handing out awards to people who wash their hands on a regular basis.

+ Southeastern Conference football "media days" began in Birmingham. About 700 journalists have credentials for this event, including WLTZ sports anchor Jeremy Moss. Talk about a surprise! A trip "down South" for Moss normally might stop at St. Louis.

+ Instant Message to the guy who's yelling at the top of his lungs in the latest Bill Heard commercial: Did you ever stop to consider something? Maybe you're the real reason why those car lots in other cities are being sold.

BURKARD'S BEST BETS: Gas for $3.77 a gallon at Crown/Busy Bee on Crawford Road in Phenix City.... "The Romantic Hours" at 9:00 p.m. ET on Troy Public Radio.... and back-to-school sales slowing to a crawl, as shoppers realize the sales tax holiday is only a week away....

In the first half of 2008, our number of unique visitors jumped 23 percent from last year. To advertise to our readers, offer a story tip or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 898 (+ 19, 2.2%)

The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the author -- not necessarily those of anyone else in Columbus living or dead, and perhaps not even you.

Thursday, July 24, 2008