SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
May 29, 2014
Sullivan’s
Salvos 5/27/14
In this edition:
*RIP Tom Salm
*Phone Problems
*ICCSD, Part I
*ICCSD, Part II
*ICCSD, Part III
*Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC)
*Safe Summer Kick Off Carnival
*Did You Know?
*RIP Tom Salm
RIP Tom Salm. He did a fine job as Mayor of North Liberty, and
was an all-around great guy.
People often forget
that Salm arrived on the scene and basically rescued North Liberty from itself.
The place went from 100% unbridled development, including some corruption, to a
“holier-than-thou” regime. Things changed every day. Huge political fights went
on. The place was ready to fall apart. Tom Salm came in, applied hard work, a
calm demeanor, and common sense, and put things on track. He kept the growth
going, but learned from the folks who put on the brakes. He made the right call
almost all the time.
Tom Salm will be
missed. My prayers go out to his family and friends, and to all the people of
North Liberty.
*Phone Problems!
I recently had major
phone problems, including the total loss of my calendar. If you had an
appointment with me in the next month, please message me the details as I
attempt to re-create my calendar. I apologize for any inconveniences. The
wonders of technology…
*ICCSD, Part I
It
has been some time since I have written about the redistricting efforts at the
ICCSD. So here I go, losing future votes…
The
whole redistricting/Diversity Policy issue reminds me exactly of Obamacare. We
have serious problems. After years of neglect, we get elected officials who are
finally willing to address the problems. The elected officials address the
issues awkwardly. The opposition attacks the imperfect plan, but offer no
suggestions for addressing our serious problems.
We
need not look to Washington, D.C. for bad politics. We have it on display right
here!
Don’t
get me wrong – the redistricting/Diversity Policy process has left much to be
desired. But doing nothing is no longer an option. If you oppose these efforts,
it is incumbent upon you to come up with a workable plan.
*ICCSD, Part II
I
have had plenty of disagreements with ICCSD Board Member Tuyet Dorau
(see the previous segment), but I want to
applaud her motion at the last Board Meeting. Director Dorau moved that all
Administrators in the ICCSD have a pay freeze next year.
The
motion was defeated 4-3, which boggles my mind! When facing cuts, the people
who earn the most should be asked to sacrifice along with kids who enjoy
German, choir, and football.
A
quick look at ICCSD salaries shows 44 Administrators earning at least $95,000
per year. If they get just a 2% raise next year, it would cost over $100,000.
That is the equivalent of 1.5 classroom teachers. Which do you choose?
How
could this motion fail? The Administrators should have proposed this in the
first place. When they failed, it was incumbent upon the Board to demand it.
They voted to comfort the comfortable. It is simply not OK.
A
salary freeze for Administrators is a no-brainer. I'm really disappointed that
this motion failed, and I appreciate that 3 Directors supported it.
*ICCSD, Part III
The
City of Iowa City recently sent a letter to the ICCSD Board requesting that the
ICCSD consider “walkability” as part of their criteria for redistricting.
I’m
not on the ICCSD Board. But if I were, I know EXACTLY what I’d say: “You pass
inclusionary zoning, and we’ll include walkability standards.”
You
see, the School Board is attempting to clean up a mess created by past City
Councils. Had Iowa City passed inclusionary zoning when it was on the table in
’94, we would not be in this situation. Iowa City could have passed it any
other time in those twenty years. But every time, they caved to the developers.
EVERY time. (In fairness, Coralville faces the same issues.)
Iowa
City should not be able to pretend it had no role. They CAUSED the tremendous
disparity we see from one census tract to the next. It is unfair to put fixing
things solely on the back of the ICCSD.
*Disproportionate Minority Contact
(DMC)
If
you have never heard the term “Disproportionate Minority Contact” (DMC), you
will be hearing it soon. Unfortunately, DMC is ubiquitous in Johnson County.
What
does DMC really mean? Johnson County is about 80% Caucasian, 6% African
American, 6% Hispanic, and 6% Asian. So, in theory, if you have 100 people in
jail, 80 should be white, 6 black, 6 Hispanic, and 6 Asian. In reality, we see African
Americans making up over 30% of the jail population, with Hispanics over 15%.
This is an example of Disproportionate Minority Contact.
Unfortunately,
we see DMC in many of our institutions. In the ICCSD, students of color are
overrepresented in special ed and behavioral programs. Students of color are
suspended and disciplined more frequently than their white peers, and are
overrepresented at Tate High and the TREC program.
In
the world of children’s services, children of color are reported to DHS more
frequently, and end up in foster care at a much higher rate than white peers.
Once in the “system”, children of color have a harder time getting placed, and
families of color have a harder time getting out.
I
already touched on the jail, but that is but one of the examples of DMC in the
criminal justice system. People of color get stopped more by police, searched
more by police, arrested more by police, and jailed more.
Obviously,
DMC is wrong. We know it is wrong. We are working to change things, but we are
not doing nearly enough.
You
have an opportunity to learn more on Thursday, May 29 at 2pm at the Johnson
County Health and Human Services Building. There the Johnson County DMC
committee will report the results of DMC work in the juvenile justice system.
The public will have an opportunity to ask questions and share concerns.
DMC
matters. And fixing it requires all of us. I hope you can join us on May 29!
*Safe Summer Kick Off Carnival
The
Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County (NCJC) is holding a Summer Kick Off
Carnival Thursday, May 29 from 3-7pm at Wetherby Park in Iowa City.
There
will be food, drink, games, and prizes for the whole family! This is also an
opportunity to learn about the summer programs that will be available in
Johnson County this year.
*DID YOU KNOW?
Garner Elementary in North Liberty is named for Buford Garner, who
served as Superintendent of the ICCSD from 1952-69. During that time,
Coralville, North Liberty, University Heights, and Hills joined Iowa City to
form the consolidated ICCSD.
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"Sullivan’s
Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a
brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
These messages
come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the
whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise
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As always,
feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to
serving you!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 3:48 PM
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