Charlene Hardin

Some time back, Schools Now promised to profile the four Milwaukee School Board members facing election this year. Unfortunately it stopped at only three. Part of the reason for procrastinating is that it is hard to talk about Charlene Hardin without talking about personality and behavior.

She can be charming in person, but at board meetings is often belligerent. A typical example occurred at the committee meeting considering renewal of Afro Urban Institute. Larry O'Neill expressed is unhappiness with her behavior:

At the meeting, we had board members screaming, shouting at the superintendent, pounding on the table. It is false to say there was not help from the administration. The review committee recommended that it was time to revoke the charter. It was well documented. It doesn't help to do some of the things that were done at that meeting. We don't want to set up children for failure.

Oddly, her outbursts often include appeals to the board to work together.

Other than passionate defenses of any group getting funds from MPS--no matter how ineffective, it is hard to associate any set of policies with Hardin.