Well, If It Isn't the Consequences of Their Actions for the Seattle School Board

 Once again, hell has frozen over as I absolutely agree with this Times editorial on the search for a superintendent for Seattle Public Schools. They entitled it, "Seattle Schools vote cheats superintendent, community of clarity." No kidding.

What's even more interesting is that the overwhelming majority of comments agree with the Times, with some saying there needs to be an effort to support the huge job of being a school board director (and I agree). 

Here's their best line about the situation:

Government bodies can’t fast-forward through transparent processes just because they think they know the right answer.

The Times doesn't call out the issues around violating an RCW about public involvement for meetings nor the directors not following their own policies. I still say they did both.

Also, Director Chandra Hampson has stated twice at Board meetings – laughingly -about how what the Board does sometimes upsets Legal. That’s how a district gets sued, by ignoring the law and their own policies. I suspect for the disappearance of the "special meeting" that was to have taken place on Wednesday the 9th is because Legal told the Board exactly that.

They call out President Brandon Hersey via a link to an editorial they wrote when he became president of the board. In that particular editorial, they single out Director Hampson as a problem. Hersey is rushing processes and that's no way to govern. I'll venture that if Hampson runs again, the Times is not going to endorse her again. (bold mine)

For the second time in just over a year, board members voted to negotiate a superintendent contract during a special meeting with no opportunity for public comment. This time, they showed an even deeper disregard for their responsibilities as public servants: Aborting a national search for a new superintendent and denying Interim Superintendent Brent Jones a chance to show students, parents and taxpayers that, indeed, he is the best person for the job. 

In an eerie rerun of the board’s February 2021 decision to hire Jones as interim superintendent, board members voted last Friday to authorize board President Brandon Hersey to negotiate with Jones for the permanent position. They did so after several board members bemoaned the flaws in the process, and just as the professional search firm they hired last November was preparing to receive and screen applications for the position. Only District 6 Director Leslie Harris had the courage to vote no.

They note that at least one director apologized for the process but then proceeded to vote yes. Those would be Director Song Maritz. It's a rookie mistake. 

She and other directors expressed confidence in Jones’ leadership, qualifications and experience, noting that he has many of the desirable qualities identified in the foreshortened search. Still, they denied Jones the opportunity to showcase those qualities in a public process that truly engaged and energized the school community.

I note that as former director Zachary DeWolf was leaving, they waived a process in order to help him pass a last-minute amendment that would make him look good. They CANNOT keep doing this kind of thing 

Exactly. If Jones is to be given a new three-year contract which would include creating a new Strategic Plan, why can't the public ask questions? Again, what's the rush?