Radical Transparency & Accountability
Restoring Trust Through Openness, Clarity, and Data-Driven Oversight
Public trust is the foundation of any school system, and transparency is the path to rebuilding it. As a member of the Bibb County Board of Education, I will prioritize policies that make our district more open, more accessible, and more accountable to the people we serve.
My approach starts with a simple principle: trust, but verify. Families, educators, and taxpayers deserve information that is easy to access, easy to search, and easy to understand, without unnecessary hurdles.
Why Transparency Matters
For too long, important information has been difficult to locate or scattered across different systems. When financial reports, contracts, bids, or operational data are hard to find, it erodes confidence and fuels frustration.
Transparency is not about placing blame — it’s about giving the public clear, honest insight into how decisions are made and how taxpayer dollars are spent. When information flows freely, trust follows.
What I Will Advocate For
1. An “Open-By-Default” Transparency Standard
I will support policies that encourage the district to proactively publish public information whenever possible instead of waiting for formal Open Records Requests. This includes categories like:
- Financial transactions and spending summaries
- Contracts, bids, and procurement details
- Calendars for important events, deadlines, and processes
- Non-sensitive operational logs such as phone logs, CAD entries, and workflow statistics
- Board-related documents presented in formats that are searchable and easy to navigate
An open-by-default posture reduces delays, lowers administrative burden, and increases trust.
2. Searchable, Machine-Readable Data
Right now, many public documents are trapped in scanned PDFs or formats that are hard to use. I will advocate for policies encouraging the district to release data in modern, accessible formats that:
- Allow searching, copying, and analysis
- Can be read by assistive technologies
- Can be used by parents, journalists, and researchers
- Can be ingested by independent tools to improve public understanding
Better quality data does not just help the public — it helps the district make better decisions.
3. Open, Well-Documented APIs for Key Public Information
As technology advances, many governments are embracing public APIs to share non-sensitive information such as calendars, board documents, and announcements. I will support efforts to make BCSD a leader in Georgia by promoting the development of simple, well-documented APIs that allow:
- Calendar events and deadlines to appear automatically on community websites
- Better integration with civic organizations
- Improved accessibility for parents, students, and partners
- Volunteer and community groups to build helpful tools on top of district data
These tools are not expensive — they can be created using modern open-source software and maintained at minimal cost.
4. Community-Powered Transparency
I believe the district can benefit from safe, structured involvement from volunteers with technical expertise. This may include advisory groups, open-source contributors, or community partners who can help reduce costs and innovate solutions.
Transparency does not have to be expensive, and it does not require reinventing the wheel. With the right policy support, BCSD can tap into existing tools and local talent.
What This Is Not
Transparency is not about micromanaging the superintendent, second-guessing staff, or interfering with daily operations.
A board’s role is to set policy direction, expectations, and standards, not to run departments.
My focus is on governance, not operations.
My Commitment
If elected, I will consistently advocate for:
- Clear information
- Honest communication
- Public access to non-sensitive data
- Processes that strengthen, not weaken, trust
- Smart, cost-effective use of technology
- A culture that values openness over secrecy
Transparency is not a one-time project. It is a habit, a culture, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
The Bottom Line
The people of Bibb County deserve a school system they can see, understand, and trust.
By prioritizing transparency and accountability, we can strengthen public confidence, support educators, and build a district that works in partnership with its community — not apart from it.