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The Proof of the Pudding


In April I wrote about a partisan plan to control the school board by funding preferred candidates across district lines. 

Here’s the Context

Well, the numbers are in and Howard County Progress Report shows how that plan has played out in dollars and cents.

(River Hill) Money Makes the World Go ‘Round

The big number:

...households in the River Hill/Clarksville area have donated roughly $82,000 to BOE candidate campaigns and CAPA’s BOE PAC in the 2020 election cycle.

Responses to this post have shown varying levels of shock and dismay but one in particular caught my eye.

For context, Columbia Community Care spends $5,000 a week to stock its pantries, feeding hungry people.

It’s all about priorities. Those contributions to school board candidates are most likely seen as an investment to protect valuable assets.

“All I want is what’s coming to me. All I want is my fair share.” - - Sally Brown, Peanuts

In the meantime, there’s a local realtor running ads on Twitter touting his ability to help you search for homes in Howard County by high school, middle school, and so on. The never ending cycle of steering the right kind of people to the right kind of schools continues.

Have you listened to the podcast Nice White Parents yet? Now might be a good time.


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