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Rhetoric Gets Outrageous in Fresno

Fresno County's top educator blasted Fresno Mayor Alan Autry on Thursday for saying the education system "commits socioeconomic murder on our children."

County schools Superintendent Pete Mehas said he was "sick and tired of political pandering" by Autry.

"I would expect the mayor to apologize after using that kind of rhetoric," Mehas said.

But Autry defended comments he made at a town hall meeting, saying his criticism is nothing new.

"This is like a broken record with the defenders of the system," Autry said. "There's nothing that I said [Wednesday] night that I haven't been saying for the past four years."

The exchange renews the simmering feud between Autry and many educators.

Autry has made improving public education a key goal as mayor. He persuaded the Fresno City Council to pass a truancy ordinance but has been unsuccessful in his bid to hand-pick Fresno Unified School District board members.

He criticized the public education system at the town hall meeting Wednesday night at Centennial Elementary School in northeast Fresno. He said there are good teachers, principals and administrators, but the system is failing.

"I will not be silenced while this system commits socioeconomic murder on our children," he said.

Autry also took swipes at Fresno Unified on Wednesday and Thursday.

He said the district hired the consulting firm of a former Fresno Unified employee to audit its bureaucracy. He likened it to the fox guarding the hen house.

Autry questioned why the cash-strapped district hired a private investigator to learn who "influenced" 500 Fresno High School students to march on district offices last month to protest school conditions.

"It couldn't be the kids were really tired of the rats and the textbooks and the sitting on the floor," Autry said.

Fresno Unified Superintendent Santiago Wood did not return phone calls Thursday night.

Mehas said there's plenty to criticize about the city, including trash left in downtown after weekend events next to the county schools' offices and a surge in graffiti.

Mehas said educators have tried without success to work with Autry.

Mehas questioned the wisdom of the city's hiring education liaisons who, he said, do little more than hand out certificates.

"What has the mayor's two education positions contributed to Johnny in the third row?" Mehas asked.


— Jim Davis
Mayor angers schools chief
Fresno Bee
2003-12-12
http://www.fresnobee.com/local/politics/story/7887477p-8766168c.html

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