Well, it looks like the parents of Orange County can expect more of the same when it comes to the attitudes and policies of its public school system.
An article in the Durham Herald Sun, reveals that the Orange County Board of Education is using its Superintendent search process to find a veritable photocopy of Shirley Carraway.
According to the article, "The main response, first of all -- at least from the staff -- was that they want to carry forward a lot of the programs that Dr. Carraway started for the district," Whitling said. "They did not want someone coming in with a lot of initiatives that they thought have been pretty good so far."
Not surprisingly, the OCS Staff wants nothing to change. They don't "want someone coming in with a lot of initiatives" or ideas of their own. Why would they? This Board has done little more than rubber stamp the OCS Staff's plans - including the disastrous decision to disembowel the highest performing school in the district. What could they possibly gain from having someone with actual ideas of their own rock the boat?
I guess I need to check the org chart again, but who works for who here?
Dennis Whitling is also quoted as saying, "During the interview process, we found a number of candidates that fit some of the criteria but not all of it." I can only imagine what they saw lacking in some candidates.
Could it be that they clung to the antiquated notion that schools exist to teach children rather than foster "social justice"? Perhaps they naively felt elected school board members should be answerable to the parents they supposedly serve. Maybe they ethically believed that Board members shouldn't reorganize capital budgets to specifically benefit the school their child attends.
Any one of these things would likely get a candidate dismissed by this Board. Who knows? It's all a secret.
I shiver to think what a Superintendent chosen by these people will be like.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I imagine the central office is quaking in their boots. You see, accountability can be scary. Dr. Shirley didn't challenge her people, didn't expect results. Instead, the only thing they have to do is say "YES DOCTOR CARRAWAY". What happens if you don't say YES? Ask the former Orange High School principal.
Our Board has tremendous potential to remedy our school system. The Board, which we elected, should be held accountable to make a sound, educated decision. Each Board member should ask this question "What is the best person for the students of Orange County?" They can make the right decision. If they make the right decision and select the person who will stop this merger, I ask all of us to support the new superintendent at all times.
It's time we review what really has happened under Dr. Carraway's tenure. Let's find the truth. The Board, however, probably doesn't want to know what happened under her watch. Why? THEY ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR HER ACTIONS!!! When she gets rid of a teacher, an administrator, or some other hopeless soul, questions should be asked by the Board. Throw away the proverbial rubber stamp. The main question is WHY ARE WE LETTING THIS PERSON GO? It's not funny when someone loses their job and no one will even give an honest answer of WHY!
To all of the Board members: we are watching you. We hold you accountable for what happens with our school system. Our tax money goes to the Orange County Schools, and we demand that it is used wisely. It hasn't been used wisely under the current superintendent. It's time you start asking the hard questions to your superintendent, questions she may not want to answer. FYI--when you are use the "slight of hands" trick with the merger, don't think for a second that this is working. There is substantial costs to sloppiness, and our kids will be the ones that have to suffer.
Post a Comment