Look who's talking - and then not.

Ben Fischer reports:

Before the Christmas/New Year's holiday break season, the Enquirer had a particularly enlightening exchange with Cincinnati schools Superintendent Rosa Blackwell.

On Dec. 19, CPS called a media conference to brag about the district's six new nationally board certified teachers, people who had spent more than a year pursuing the demanding certification. CPS is by far the state's leader in total number of faculty who've earned the prestigious distinction.

A beaming Blackwell went on at length about the teachers' considerable accomplishment, and graciously answered numerous questions from the only reporter who asked them. It was a rare moment of accommodation to the media for the reticent superintendent.

But as the media conference was ending, the same reporter approached Blackwell with a question about J.R. Carlisle, the principal for the School for Creative & Performing Arts, who is under investigation in Ft. Mitchell for an alleged rape.

CPS' response to the investigation has been to say little publicly, barely even acknowledging the accusation. Until the Enquirer broke the news of the accusation, SCPA parents had heard nothing officially about Carlisle, who had been on sick leave nearly two months.

The previously verbose Blackwell, who is the chief administrative officer for CPS turned on a dime once the topic turned away from the positive and to the potentially controversial.

"I would refer you to Janet Walsh," Blackwell said, directing the question to the district's chief P.R. woman. Blackwell earns $203820 per year, along with extensive fringe benefits, to oversee all CPS functions.