There will likely be at least one new member of the state Board of Regents Tuesday, now that incumbent James Jackson has announced his resignation. The contest to replace him may be close, however. Lawmakers brought in a final applicant on Monday after grumblings that they weren’t overly impressed with the candidates for what would be Jackson’s seat, which is defined by the judicial district centered around Albany and running into the Catskills.We kept hearing how members of the legislature weren't too impressed with the people who were looking to get elected to the Board of Regents.
The last applicant, Monticello-area lawyer Josephine Victoria Finn admitted to legislators that she wasn’t steeped in details of the Common Core controversy but said she was a quick study.
Somehow Ms. Finn's name got entered into the contest on Friday, she got a quick interview on Monday and then was selected to replace a member of the Board of Regents yesterday.
We found out later that she runs a "spiritual entreprenuerial website" for weight loss that costs a few grand a year for her guidance.
A couple of the members of the Assembly were heard to say "What did we do? What did we do?" after that news broke.
The more embarrassing news for the legislature ought to be the news that Finn is not "steeped in details of the Common Core controversy," yet somehow got elected to the Board of Regents.
A disgraceful episode in Albany politicking, this Regents mess.
Three Regents re-elected despite widespread misgivings from the public over the Regents reform agenda, and now a new Regent selected who isn't sure what the CCSS controvesry is all about.
Meanwhile, here were some candidates who the Assembly wasn't too impressed with (here and here.)
I don't know about you, but I'm wondering why the legislature wasn't too impressed with some candidates but was impressed by a candidate who acknowledges she doesn't know much about the Common Core controversy?
No big deal. All the other members of the board of Regents are unqualified political appointees. It sure helps to be the wife of a billionaire without appropriate experience to become the Regents Chancellor. Skill, competency, educational background are irrelevant in the NY state crony culture of Regents appointments. What matters? Do you have a billion dollars in assets. Are you friendly with Shedon Silver? Are you ready to rubber stamp everything Cuomo wants? Are you in favor of charter school expansion and do you agree that public schools are failing "our" kids? If you are willing to answer yes to all of the above, then you can be appointed to the Board of Regents.
ReplyDeleteUsed your comment for another post. You're absolutely right in what you wrote. Just do what the plutocrats want and you're good to be a Regent.
DeleteI have watched medical shows on TV, I believe that should qualify me for whatever the New York state equivalent of surgeon general is.
ReplyDeleteWhen you say doctor shows, do you mean like Dr. Oz or Quincy MD? Because I think I would trust the person who learned their medicine from Jack Klugman over the one who learned it from Dr Oz.
DeleteFunny you said that.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing.
Now, I'm going to build a rocket....
Cool!
Delete