I was reading coverage of the Thursday school board meeting where the 132 gated community liberals signed an A List letter to demand equity in the public schools. What they are really demanding is the implementation of a vague concept called the UnifiEd APEX Project, that has no price tag or proven outcomes. This is perfect for HCDE, who loves these undefined, blank check concepts that fail.
The list of 132 are Chattanooga’s most socioeconomic segregated in application that have stepped up to tell the mere villagers how to live. I would enjoy hearing their complaints about the public schools their children attend, wink.
Do as we say, not as we do, says the list of 132 gated community liberals in the Times Free Press letter.
The entire list with the exception of 30, were comprised of current and former board members of UnifiEd non-profit, UnifiEd PAC, and the funding foundations of UnifiEd, Benwood, Lyndhurst, Footprint, and Community Foundations.
The foundations had their supported non-profits sign that rely 100 percent on the foundation funds for survival. I would have signed too.
There are only 30 non-UnifiEd connected signatures on the UnifiEd A list.
That same day, I learned that Jared Bingham of Chattanooga 2.0 called about every elected Hamilton County official, and none of them would sign the UnifiEd A List letter. How do I know? I am represented as a citizen, and I pick up the phone to tell my elected representatives that UnifiEd is a scam. I can hear them now, “Oh no, she is calling again.”
We are fortunate to have Mr. Bingham of Chattanooga 2.0 here from the Polk County, Tennessee system to bring his experience with the failing urban school system located in the inner city of the Copper Basin.
Back to the UnifiEd’s A List.
All of the current and former UnifiEd non-profit and PAC board members omitted their positions except Edna Varner, who gets an A plus for honesty, in the published UnifiEd A List letter.
UnifiEd founders, shame on you.
This is how you signed the UnifiEd A List letter.
Allison Lebovitz, One Clip at a Time
Paul Brock; Community Member/Business Owner
The IRS 990 filings for Unified nonprofit and PAC, and Foundations, tell a different story.
Let me correct that listing for each of you, if I may,
Alison Lebovitz; President, One Clip at a Time
Founding Board Member of UnifiEd
President of Lyndhurst Foundation provided funding to UnifiEd
Paul Brock; Community Member/Business Owner
Founding Board Member UnifiEd
Board Member Benwood Foundation providing funding to UnifiEd
Board Member UnifiEd PAC
The omissions from the UnifiEd A List are horrific, but why go the full extent?
At the same meeting School Board Tiffanie Robinson stated this verbatim.
"I'm sick of talking about UnifiEd and I'm sick of talking about Chattanooga 2.0...they aren't our tenth board member."
What an odd statement in consideration of all the financial 990’s for the UnifiEd financials from the local foundations. Honestly, the foundation involvement in UnifiEd is rather creepy.
School Board Member Robinson, I have a couple of questions as one mere citizen as a matter of equity.
Question 1
School Board Member Robinson, your name appears on multiple IRS 990 filings for the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga as a member of their Board of Directors that has provided significant funding to UnfiEd annually.
Did you vote to approve funding to UnifiEd in your official capacity as a board of director member at the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga? If so, what years?
Question 2
In 2016, School Board Member Robinson you were heavily endorsed by UnifiEd non-profit against the incumbent of your district, a man of color, George Ricks, and another challenger, Montrell Besley.
George Ricks: No Financial Report
Tiffanie Robinson: $23,646
Montrell Beasley: $3,117
School board races have never commanded that level of financial support from that district, ever. I have lived my entire life, and since the Martin and Rogers theatre in downtown Chattanooga, and shopping at Millers downtown. I also know that district.
I took a look at your financial disclosures. Do you view the over the top support coming from outside your district as equitable considering the economic disparity in those neighborhoods? Address the equity in this issue please.
These are very reasonable questions for an elected public official.
For the record, School Board Member Robinson, UnifiEd is not the 10th school board member, but UnifiEd is certainly close to being 5 of 9 school board members.
In Closing
UnifiEd is a political organization that has successfully veiled themselves as an education improvement non-profit. It is an interesting strategy this veiled non-profit has taken. From day one, UnifiEd’s message has been a political take over strategy of the county school board and commission, accompanied with messaging that to fix education we must replace every elected Hamilton County Commission and School Board member with UnifiEd picks.
As a result, UnifiEd works running interference campaigns and manipulating Hamilton County school board and commission races. UnifiEd is a political organization and nothing more. Education and public good for the under-served is a mere tool to this organization.
The fabric of the foundations and UnifiEd are one.
Be concerned about UnifiEd. They want control of our Hamilton County Commission in a voting bloc.
April Eidson