Stewart in Strib Letters to the Editor

From a recent issue of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

Stewart's actions prompt questions

As a taxpayer deeply concerned about Minneapolis School Board Member Christopher Stewart's behavior recently, I'm wondering if the school board can address some questions I have:

(1) Why was Burroughs Elementary Principal Tim Cadotte placed on administrative leave, whereas Mr. Stewart has had no repercussions? Can we expect to see any changes in Mr. Stewart's position? It just doesn't seem right that the principal is accused of racism and then is forced to take an administrative leave for defending the claim against him. If someone has to be placed on leave, shouldn't both parties be until an investigation is complete?

Plenty of folks have asked, and of course it is a question that comes to mind easily. However, it seems as though the answer will not appear until the stated investigation reaches a conclusion... and even then we might not know.

(2) Is there an investigation, or fact-finding mission, in place to find out what really happened? If so, does it include placing the burden on Mr. Stewart to justify his claim, as opposed to placing it on Principal Cadotte to defend himself, or is Principal Cadotte not innocent until proven guilty?

Apparently... the Strib and other sources have mentioned it... but what exactly is being investigated is not quite known. We can assume it is the argument that took place between Principal Cadotte and Minneapolis School Board member Chris Stewart (who, if you haven't done a web search, used to use the online pseudonym Rahelio Soleil, and used to write under the name Rev. Rahelio Soleil).

Hopefully, we'll hear something whenever this investigation finishes.

(3) Does the board have a mechanism in which the members either sanction one another or recommend that a member submit a letter of resignation if he/she acts unprofessionally?

Yes... it is the soapbox. You submitted it to your soapbox The Star-Tribune (albeit, one with a questionable reputation) and I'm posting it on this online soapbox ChrisStewartResignNow. If you really want something done, you should bring your soapbox to folks you know in your neighborhood, smaller publications both print and online, school board meetings, and the Burroughs school. Meet people, engage them, and if they are interested encourage them to do the same.

Chris Stewart's fellow board members should hear from you, but obviously in a polite and reasonable way.

(4) Is there a mechanism in place for the community to publicly request his resignation (whether it be a public forum that is scheduled, or a petition that is circulating)?

JOHN MEDEIROS
MINNEAPOLIS

Mr. Medeiros, you are that mechanism. We all are the mechanism. If we weren't there would be such a huge and difficult bureaucracy in the way of progress and common sense that nothing could get done.

You've got paper and pen, a keyboard and an e-mail account, a phone, and shoews and a mouth.

As Red told Andy in "Shawshank Redemption"... get busy living or get busy dying.

We gotta do our own work ourselves.