Much has been written lately about the Hamilton County School Board. Most of it has been critical and at times harsh. Today, the School Board is expected to appoint the interim HCDE Superintendent. That person will be charged with continuing operations, assessing needs, and making recommendations until the permanent Superintendent is selected. The vote will be telling in that it will indicate what board members currently view as more important - HCDE experience or a new perspective. Regardless of the outcome, I believe that each member is serious about their responsibilities and understands the weight of their decisions.
So, before we decide to drag them into the streets and stone them for a decision with which we disagree, let’s consider who they are: citizens, neighbors, friends, business owners, employees, spouses, and parents - and they hear complaints and opinions from their constituents all day, every day, and in every form imaginable.
I am glad they are willing to serve.
I think it is safe to assume they make decisions based on their best information and judgement and on what they believe is best for educating students. I don't believe any board member would make a political decision to the detriment of the school system. We can disagree with their votes, but let’s not impugn their motives.
Every decision the School Board makes is an important one. Today’s vote matters greatly. But, to select the permanent Superintendent during the next few months is perhaps the most consequential act the Board will take; it presents an opportunity to move our community in a direction that the public requires.
As it has been chronicled, we live in a renaissance city. Presently, our town is thought of by many as one of the best places to live in America. We have natural beauty, a thriving job market, a bustling downtown, and are one of the premiere destination spots for tourists.
Many believe we can also run one of the best public education systems in the nation. The necessary components are present: 1) parental interest is at an all-time high, 2) community and business support has never been greater, and 3) support at the state level allows us to hire the people we need. Additionally, the school system currently employs qualified, talented, and motivated individuals who serve as administrators, teachers, coaches, IT personnel, etc. The parts are in place.
Leading organizations hire great people and utilize proven and best practices. Their employees are empowered to make decisions, solve problems, and achieve results. In order for us to build such an organization, we must do similar things.
Our system is a diverse one, and the needs of one school are, in many cases, vastly different from the needs of another school located just a few miles away. Accordingly, each school requires a plan unique to its own circumstance.
The next Superintendent will face a challenging and invigorating opportunity. While he or she must be capable of managing the operational aspects of the system (finance, facilities, human resources, etc.), it is most important that he or she creates a culture and environment conducive to success.
To find the person who possesses the vision, experience, skills and personal characteristics necessary for the job will not be easy, but I believe our Board is up to the task; it is their responsibility after all.
Regardless of the vote today, I am optimistic about the future of the Hamilton County Department of Education. As we move forward, I hope those who have been the most critical remain engaged and skeptical and continue to investigate and report. The facts uncovered about our the current system have been and will continue to be significant and useful. In spite of the recent headlines, I fully expect to be reading a different kind of narrative in the not too distant future.
Rodney Mitchell
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Mr. Mitchell,
While I would wish that your sentiments regarding our current school board were true, I believe they have proven beyond any doubt that they are truly an inept, and self-serving bunch. Of course, I don’t believe this to be the case for every board member, but obviously the bad apples are in the majority. If not, then we wouldn’t have such a dysfunctional and inept school board. Just look at the recent history of horrible decisions that were made and tell me again how they are “doing their best”. If this is their best, then shame on the electorate that placed them in their positions to begin with.
Personally, I place the responsibility for the state of our schools squarely on the shoulders of the school board. Who hires the Superintendent? The school board. Who does the Superintendent report to? The school board. Who votes to give raises/contract extensions to the Superintendent? The school board. The bottom line is that the school board is the ultimate authority for the school system and the buck should stop there. If the school board isn’t getting results and transparency from the superintendent, then they should actually do something about it rather than do nothing then complain about it later.
I think the real question here is whether the school board actually even cares about what is in the best interest of the students of this county. You certainly couldn’t tell that they do based on their actions. We’ve seen board members rail like a petulant child against the “public lynching” of our recent superintendent. Never mind the fact that the schools have fallen to some of the worst performing in the state under the supervision of that superintendent. Then we find out that that there was a very damning report that was apparently being withheld by the same superintendent. If he had not resigned, my bet is that he would still have the backing of those same board members.
To top it all, we witnessed a very childish personal attack on one of the school principals by a board member in another opinion piece. A principal, mind you, that by any objective measure has done an exceptional job. Good Lord.
If this is a school board that is “doing their best”, I would truly hate to see one that is displaying their worst. God help our children because this school board certainly isn’t capable of doing it.
Jason Wells