The board is considering thousands of dollars to get rid of Rick Smith. Question: What has he accomplished to merit the money? Our schools are in terrible shape and the taxpayers will have to foot the bill for his failure to accomplish anything. Those board members that voted for the extension of his contract should resign and maybe they should explain what he has accomplished to have rated the extension.
The new superintendent should have a contract that has specific, measurable goals he/she must meet to keep their job and failure will result for loss of job. Hamilton County is faced with paying out thousands of dollars for a total failure of the present superintendent. Education seems to be one of the several professions that do not require specific results to be accomplished along with politics.
Example of the system: Little Johnny reads on a third grade level even though he is in the eight grade. This year he has made progress and reads on fourth grade level. It seems this has been in place for years.
The board should be very specific on what new superintendent must accomplish to keep his/her job.
Every employee would love a job with good pay without having to accoplish any results and still get to keep their jobs.
One consideration, we should not elect educators to the school board because that is hiring the fox to guard the hen house.
N.D. Kennedy
Ooltewah
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Mr. Kennedy has legitimate comments. The public is paying the bill so why were Smith's contract and terms not made public?
This is a matter of concern and from this point forward we the taxpayer have a right to know the terms and conditions upon which a superintendent is employed. Further, our school board lawyer, along with the Hamilton County attorney, should develop and write the terms of that contract and it should be public knowledge.
This nonsense of the superintendent dictating terms of employment is ridiculous. Certainly common sense must include room and ability to negotiate terms. However, the contract should not include moving/relocation expenses nor compensation for anything other than the duties specified in the superintendent job description. The contract should not allow early contract extensions - in fact it should stipulate that extensions will only be discussed beginning 90 days prior to contract end date.
The entire Hamilton County government, but most specifically the HCDE, must constantly bear in mind that every taxpayer penny spent for expenses other than direct classroom expense does not beneficially aid in educating our children.
I totally agree that we need an experienced business person in charge of the HCDE. The superintendent in charge of curriculum should report to the business manager. The wolf guards the hen house when a curriculum oriented individual has free reign with no oversight in budgetary matters. HCDE in a multimillion dollar business and we the taxpayer expect it to be run profitably with measurable results.
Tom Wheatley
Soddy Daisy