Unpublicized school board meeting raises eyebrows and concerns
Miami-Dade School Board recently held a seemingly secret meeting with only one item on the agenda: “Minority participation in procurement and board meeting format and procedures.” The problem? There were no minority representatives or Black businesses invited.
The meeting, ironically, was held outside the normal meeting room and only had two attendees, Board-member Danny Espino, a Gov. Ron DeSantis appointee, and board-member Roberto Alonso, who was endorsed by DeSantis, before being interrupted by colleague, Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall.
Bendross-Mindingall was even told by the two board members that she “wasn’t invited” to this publicly held meeting, resulting in the district attorney having to step in and say yes to her participation.
Along with Dr.Bendross-Mindingall came Matthew Pigatt, with the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, and a contingent of members, curious to see what the discussion was about. According to Pigatt, they found out about the meeting through a text.
“We want to make sure all communities are at the table (and) are being represented,” Pigatt told Local 10 News.
Many are concerned that the school board is trying to get rid of programs that champion and assist minority businesses in getting contracted work with the board, an issue that Black businesses have been fighting for years. Ron Frazier, chairman of the school board-appointed Small Business Advisory Committee, believes the board is trying to make these intended programs more “race-neutral.”
According to Local 10, nothing was decided during the pop up meeting and an idea was thrown out about a town hall meeting for more input.
This is a Hy-Lo News Staff Report.
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