There's not a bad bone in his body. Timoney, who is coming off a week of great success after maintaining order in the city during the Republican National Convention, acknowledged that he has had more success politically. You have to massage egos. Naomi Booker, who leads the Gratz cluster of schools, said she wouldn't have wanted Hornbeck to behave any differently politically. He brought the issue to the attention of the world.
Somebody has to bring that to the forefront.
Hornbeck declined yesterday to discuss his plans, but he has hinted publicly that he probably will not be gone from the public-education scene in Pennsylvania. The battle on school funding is one that put Hornbeck in great conflict with Harrisburg lawmakers and Gov. Ridge. He said he resigned in part because of lack of funding for his educational agenda. His statements came despite concerns by some that his biting criticism of Harrisburg officials and their school-funding policies, as well as his threats to close city schools without additional state dollars, may have been counterproductive. In his farewell speech, Hornbeck continued last night to criticize state funding levels.