School board plans to set goal for minority business recruitmentBy Diette Courrégé (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Monday, September 22, 2008
The Charleston County School Board plans to set a new goal for the percentage of minority- and women-owned companies with which it will do business. Board members delayed making a decision tonight because they had a number of questions that could not be answered immediately. Most members seemed supportive of the concept. The board adopted a policy six years ago that the district should set annual specific goals to measure performance on this issue, but board Chairman Hillery Douglas said he didn't think that was happening. The school district doesn't have a good record on its percentage of contracts for small, minority- or women-owned businesses, he said. A meaningful goal needs to be set, and 10 percent isn't good enough, Douglas said. "I think we need to go with 30 percent, and the administration can come back with their plans for reaching that 30 percent," he said. The district didn't submit annual reports on its contracts with minority business in 2004, 2005 or 2006, according to a procurement audit, but it does have figures for 2007. Those were not available on Monday. Officials said updated figures would be brought to the board soon. Read more in tomorrow's editions of The Post and Courier. |
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Comments
This article has 2 comment(s)
Posted by Pluffmuddy on September 22, 2008 at 10:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The concept is a good and fair one...unfortunately, the outcome is rarely positive. Minorities are rarely up-to-snuff when it comes to competing in the real marketplace. What's going on here??? More ineffective affirmative action? Sure seems like it...
Posted by jsteph10 on September 22, 2008 at 11:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why not just select a potential business partner on their ability to do the best job at the best price?
Wonder if the kids that these folks are in charge of are learning that color or gender alone can get you ahead?