Hopes for our New Superintendent
Many, both here and in the Times' comments section, have expressed unhappiness that none of the finalists are local. That doesn't mean no locals applied; I know of at least two who did. I don't know if some of the other locals did but there is star power in Mary Alice Heuschel in Renton and Rob Neu in Federal Way.
I just listened to the KUOW discussion about the finalists. The pundits were all struck by the fact that these low-key finalists all come from smaller districts. They were also all struck by the lack of any public meetings for these finalists.
What was interesting was Knute Berger's statement that the Board has asserted itself in the last couple of years for "equal or greater force than the Superintendent." That a member of the media thinks that this was a good thing is telling. He also said that the district "provides the drama, not the superintendent." Hmm.
Joni Balter of the Times thought they should have picked a more dynamic or commanding figure for superintendent.
She also mentioned how the Mercer Island capital bond was resoundingly defeated on Tuesday. She noted that when John Stanford was superintendent, he was stung by the loss of a capital measure in SPS and how next Feb, the district could be asking for over $1B between operations and capital.
I happened to be looking at Federal Way's website and found Superintendent Neu's State of the District speech. I thought it was a great speech and I hope whoever wins out for the SPS superintendent job has this kind of commitment and drive.
I just listened to the KUOW discussion about the finalists. The pundits were all struck by the fact that these low-key finalists all come from smaller districts. They were also all struck by the lack of any public meetings for these finalists.
What was interesting was Knute Berger's statement that the Board has asserted itself in the last couple of years for "equal or greater force than the Superintendent." That a member of the media thinks that this was a good thing is telling. He also said that the district "provides the drama, not the superintendent." Hmm.
Joni Balter of the Times thought they should have picked a more dynamic or commanding figure for superintendent.
She also mentioned how the Mercer Island capital bond was resoundingly defeated on Tuesday. She noted that when John Stanford was superintendent, he was stung by the loss of a capital measure in SPS and how next Feb, the district could be asking for over $1B between operations and capital.
I happened to be looking at Federal Way's website and found Superintendent Neu's State of the District speech. I thought it was a great speech and I hope whoever wins out for the SPS superintendent job has this kind of commitment and drive.
Comments
Renton's supt was very happy to get TFAers, if they were free. Big FAIL!
n...
Frankly, I think a quiet, effective, competent administrator is exactly what we need. We don't need sweeping initiatives, overarching philosophies, and all that happy horse-poop. Get bloated central costs down, get the savings to the classroom, and do the job you're supposed to do. Is that so much to ask?
Watching, it appears that at least two of the finalists did just guide through their districts capital levies.
Of course, $1B+ is a different kind of sell.
One of the commentators said it was a stepping stone move for all 3. It sure doesn't look that way for Enoch at least. And they said it was a big pay raise for all 3 of them. Raise for Husk, cut for Enoch and not sure about Banda. Someone corrected that on air, but really, how hard is it to do some google research?
And I almost fell out of my chair w/ the "the district provides the drama, not the superintendent" comment -- The supes job is to SUPERVISE the district employees. So the district functions properly and so things don't happen... things like financial scandals a la Potter, perpetually misinterpreting enrollment data, property selling issues, permitting insubordinate principals.. True the district is the stage where the drama plays out but with decent management, by the superintendent, perhaps there would be less drama?
And all that nonsense about the overly assertive board... puuhlease.
KUOW, you can do better.
-npr listener
That attitude may not make us a world class city, but I'm OK with that.
S Parent
Joni B is chasing yesterday's bandwagon, as usual from the Times. No surprises there.
As I said earlier, I want a boring, competent, objective-minded person who doesn't make lofty, unrealistic promises. I've had enough of those types already. Steady, responsible & dare I ask: Honest.
I guess what I really want is a grown-up, with morals, scruples, and integrity. Unfortunately hard-to-find in today's SI stables.
My early preference is for Enoch, because he seems the most sincere, which probably means he has no chance, because the powers-that-be can't get enough of false prophets.
How about somebody who meets parents & community members first, instead of the Chamber of Commerce, LEV and the BRT? I must be dreaming. WSDWG
Love it, WSDWG!
Another bold "my way or the highway" type ala MGJ is something we should all agree is a mistake we don't want to repeat. Enoch and Husk have that. I see nothing in Banda that differentiates him from our past mistakes."
I am intrigued. I didn't see a lot in Banda that said "more of our same past mistakes." Can you elaborate on what parts of his cv led you to that conclusion? Similarly, my initial impression was that Husk was associated with more (maybe not a lot more, but more) of the kinds of decisions I have not liked (NTN contracts, fuzzy math, schools run like businesses). I would love to hear why you like her -- because I worry that I am leaping to flawed conclusions.
I still wish he were our supe, but I’m glad Federal Way has him and it would be gross to try to poach him (andI don’t think he’d do it).
That’s what I want. I don’t see that in a cursory view of this line up, but Enoch does strike me as the most promising at the moment.
"But, in the context of the current corporate public school reform juggernaut plus budgets that come with large sucking sound effects, I, personally, am ready for a rabble rouser - someone who will get up in the face of this feckless, shameful legislature."
Do not forget to add our feckless shameful WA Supreme Court .... get it their faces by not reelecting them..... There are several superior court judges who also deserve a careful inspection before casting votes in their direction.
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I am just amazed that the Supremes decided it is OK for constitutional rights to be violated for another 6 years because the legislature has a plan to make things OK by 2018...... gives you an idea of why k-12 Ed in WA .... is in such sad sad shape.
Courts are simply interested in having things run orderly ... if justice gets dispensed it is an accident.
The characteristic of a republic is that "all" citizens are protected according to the constitution and the laws ... last I checked those students in k-12 are part of "all".
admin. budget items to other line
items so he can LIE about the actual cost of Central Admin.
If this could actually be done which has not been in my 22 years with the District the money could actually be helped to address the acheivement gap.
Only Central admin. should take furloughs as they are a responsible for the shortfall the district is quagmired in perrenially.
I hope the new superintendent has a spine.
I suspect we are still at least one director, maybe two, away from being able to hire someone who will feel that the board has his/her bak in really standing up for our kids and their right to learn (as exposed to big business's right to make money off them, experiment on them, use them as political pawns, etc.) and our obligation to deliver to them the greatest opportunity to learn that we can imagine (and afford).
Braessae
Surely these people have contact numbers/email addresses...
At the very least, point them to this blog so they can read our concerns...
There's no rule to say we cant talk informally with them outside the format created by the district...
If the District wants to shut most of us out - or at least control the process for any communication - go around the district...
BTW I heard that South Seattle Community College has asked the Middle College High School program there to leave at the end of this school year.
Does anyone know what is going on (the real reasons rather than the stated reasons)?
--Labor Scholar
-spectator
For those of us who've had the misfortune of being participants, rather than spectators, in the past decade of SPS, let me assure you:
We want nothing more than a competent and honest leader.
I suppose outrage at abuse and lying can look like "hating" to a spectator.
--enough already
I did NOT like Maria Goodloe - Johnson at all. 'Nuff said about her on this blog.
I did take a wait and see attitude with Susan Enfield. I totally disapproved of her supporting TfA and conspiring with Tom Stritikus.
We also need a school board (a thankless job, yes) that does not rubber stamp ed deform tactics such as TfA. After all, when SPS breaks the law, eventually there will be a cost, financial and otherwise.
---Modern Sound (in Rio de Janeiro).