By Associated Press
Birmingham, AL – Several pages of negative findings in a report on Birmingham city schools were removed when copies were given to the public at a school board meeting.
The Birmingham News reported Tuesday that pages were renumbered to hide 20 findings in a think tank's report. The comments included: ''no evidence of coordinated planning,'' ''no sense of urgency or energy,'' ''middle management bulge,'' and ''inadequate financial analysis and reporting.''
Michael Casserly is executive director of the Washington-based Council of the Great City Schools, which conducted the review at the school board's request. He said the organization may not continue working with the city's school system as a result of the altered report.
Superintendent Stan Mims said that he was told not to make public the findings in the report.
Casserly said no one in his organization told school officials to delete about four of the report's 24 pages. He said school board members received the full report, which was also posted on his organization's Web site.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)