So, it begins again–APS embroiled in another scandal or two or dozen right now. On the heels of taking months to find a replacement for Winston Brooks for Superintendent, boy did they find one that might make Brooks look like a boy scout by the time this is all said and done. Luis Valentino, formerly of the San Francisco School district, in only two months on the job, has singled out APS CFO Don Moya to “go after him” with the supposed help of Education Secretary Hanna Skandera (since we have all seen the infamous text). The next “brilliant” move by Valentino was ignoring the fact that his pick for Deputy Superintendent had not yet completed the background check. Valentino hired him anyway and now we know Martinez has pending child sex abuse charges in Colorado. These are more than just gaffes by a guy who is new on the job. It highlights the overwhelming problems at APS. Too much bureaucracy and the district is way too big. The power that the Superintendent wields in money and political influence is obviously too much and corrupts all who get the job; as the last few people who held the job have shown us. APS needs to be busted up into smaller districts, in sections across the city, and stop paying these enormous salaries to just a handful of people. It may not solve the corruption problems all together but obviously what APS is doing now is not working. They need to be doing the business they are paid to do–educating students.
